son, don't mess around

The next morning.

When Lin Jiangnian woke up, stood up and opened the door, the two little maids outside the door had been waiting for a long time. When they saw that the prince had woken up, they hurried forward to serve him.

"Your Highness is awake?"

"Your Highness, I will help you change your clothes and wash up..."

"Breakfast is ready. When will Your Highness eat?"

While enjoying the service of the two maids, Lin Jiangnian was thinking about today's itinerary.

After returning to Prince Lin's Mansion, he no longer had to be as cautious as he had been in the capital, but Lin Jiangnian still had a lot to do.

Chen Junru's case is still unsolved. Lin Jiangnian underestimated this playboy who would rather die than surrender.

On the other hand, Lin Qingqing is also secretly investigating and looking for Sun Yuan’s wife, who is the key witness in this case.

Now the people in Linjiang City are paying attention to this matter. No matter what, Lin Jiangnian has to give an explanation to the people. After all, he was the one who made the boast in public.

On the other hand, he also had to find some time to go to Ruyi Tower to visit Senior Li and find out what he talked about with Li Piaomiao yesterday.

Of course, there is one more thing...

Lin Jiangnian planned to find time to find An Ning and apologize to her.

I was originally planning to go find An Ning last night, but Jin Xiu got there first. I'll see if there's a chance to talk to An Ning today.

After all, no matter what, I took advantage of her last night. Given the girl's timid personality, I'm afraid she still doesn't know what's going on.

While thinking about today's itinerary, he dressed, washed, and ate with the help of the maid. Just after finishing breakfast, a servant came to inform him that the prince wanted to see him.

"Dad, are you looking for me?"

In the front yard hall, Lin Jiangnian walked into the yard and saw Lin Hengzhong had been waiting in the hall for a long time.

He was restrained and stood quietly at the bottom of the hall, like an immovable pine mountain, giving people an indescribable sense of oppression.

However, when his eyes fell on Lin Jiangnian, that sense of oppression disappeared instantly.

"Jiang Nian, you're here?"

Lin Hengzhong's tone softened and he glanced at him a few times: "Did you sleep well these few days since you came back?"

"Everything is fine."

"That's good."

Lin Hengzhong nodded slightly: "You have been away from home for so many years, and you just came back last year. You went to the capital again. It must have been hard for you to travel all the way..."

Lin Jiangnian stood aside, listening quietly to the Prince Lin in front of him chatting with him about trivial matters as if he was talking about his daily life.

Lin Jiangnian was not impatient, but answered Prince Lin's words very seriously.

To be honest, Lin Jiangnian didn't have such deep feelings for this "real father" in front of him. After all, they had never been together day and night, let alone the so-called father-son relationship.

But from the first time Lin Jiangnian saw him, he could feel the "doting" of Prince Lin towards him!
Yes, it's that level of 'spoiling'!

Perhaps he realized early on that Lin Jiangnian was his long-lost child, or perhaps he wanted to compensate him for what he had lost over the years.

Therefore, even though he did not have much affection for Prince Lin in his heart, Lin Jiangnian still respected him very much.

And this Prince Lin seemed to have not found someone he could talk to in this way for a long time, and he talked a lot to Lin Jiangnian.

Some asked about Lin Jiangnian's experiences along the way, and some about his views on the things that happened in Beijing. These things had been investigated by the Prince Lin's Mansion a long time ago, and Lin Hengzhong also knew about them.

But he still asked Lin Jiangnian again in person, and Lin Jiangnian answered him in detail.

Until Lin Hengzhong suddenly asked something.

"Jiang Nian, what do you think of the princess you brought back?"

This sudden question made Lin Jiangnian stunned.

"Dad, what are you asking?"

"Why did you come back with her this time?" Lin Hengzhong asked.

Lin Jiangnian replied: "The princess once saved my life. I owe her a favor and promised her a favor..."

"On the way back this time, thanks to her presence, I was able to return home safely."

Lin Hengzhong looked at Lin Jiangnian: "So what do you think of her?"

Lin Hengzhong's words left Lin Jiangnian a little confused: "What is Dad asking about?"

"Tell me everything?"

Lin Jiangnian thought for a moment and said, "She is a very smart and terrifying woman!"

“How come you see?”

"She is very calm and ruthless. I have had confrontations with her before, and she always sees through my intentions..."

Lin Jiangnian had to admit that, as the eldest princess, Li Piaomiao was indeed quite capable.

Lin Jiangnian doesn't like smart women very much. Such women are usually not easy to fool.

Li Piaomiao, that's it.

"She is very skilled in martial arts, and her talent in martial arts is ridiculously high... If she becomes an enemy of our Lin Wang Mansion, it will be extremely disadvantageous to us."

"But fortunately, I have some friendship with her..."

Lin Jiangnian didn't know what Lin Hengzhong wanted to ask, so he just gave a simple comment.

After listening to this, Lin Hengzhong looked at Lin Jiangnian thoughtfully and asked, "Is Jiangnian afraid of her?"

This question made Lin Jiangnian a little confused, but he still shook his head: "I'm not afraid."

"Why?"

“I can’t tell…”

Lin Jiangnian shook his head. Why not be afraid?
He himself doesn't know the reason.

However, every time he saw Li Piaomiao, Lin Jiangnian did not feel that fear in his heart. In fact, when he saw Li Piaomiao's cold and abstinent face, Lin Jiangnian could not help but want to go up and tease her.

He was not worried that Li Piaomiao would be angry... This was probably what they called being fearless?

"Well, suppose..."

Lin Hengzhong suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly: "If one day, Jiang Nian, you inherit your father's throne. And she becomes the empress of the Daning Dynasty. At that time, Jiang Nian, will you be afraid?"

After hearing these words, Lin Jiangnian was stunned.

He looked up in surprise and saw Lin Hengzhong looking at him with a warm gaze.

Very indifferent.

But this look said a lot.

"Dad, what do you mean by this?"

Li Piaomiao, will she be the empress?

Wait, the 'again' that Li Piaomiao mentioned last night, could it be referring to Lin Hengzhong?

In an instant, thoughts flashed through my mind.

"Dad, do you know something?"

"Li Piaomiao, does she want to compete for the throne?"

Lin Jiangnian asked.

Lin Hengzhong shook his head slightly: "The situation in the world is still uncertain."

"But she is the most likely person, you should understand, right?"

Lin Jiangnian was silent.

He really did understand.

I also know that Li Piaomiao is the best choice for the dynasty now!

In fact, last night he spared no effort to encourage Li Piaomiao to take the path of becoming an empress that no one else has taken.

But now that he heard Lin Hengzhong mention it, he always felt that there was some conspiracy behind it... "Dad, are you worried that I won't be able to protect the Lin family in the future and will lose to her?"

After a long silence, Lin Jiangnian asked.

"Dad doesn't worry about that."

Lin Hengzhong shook his head and looked at Lin Jiangnian: "Dad believes in you."

Just a few simple words made Lin Jiangnian silent.

A lot of pressure.

"Jiang Nian hasn't answered his father's question yet, are you afraid?" Lin Heng asked again.

Lin Jiangnian thought about it and shook his head: "I'm not afraid."

If he was afraid, he wouldn't have instigated Li Piaomiao last night.

For him, Li Piaomiao's ascension to the throne might not necessarily be a bad thing.

"That's good."

Lin Hengzhong nodded slightly, narrowed his eyes, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, as if he was very satisfied.

Then, he looked at Lin Jiangnian with a smile, "Dad will ask you another question..."

"If you were asked to marry her now, would you be willing?"

Lin Hengzhong's words left Lin Jiangnian stunned.

Marry?
Marry Li Piaomiao?

"This……"

"Why, Jiang Nian doesn't want to?"

Lin Jiangnian's thoughts were a little confused: "What on earth is going on?"

"Dad, why did you bring this up for no reason?"

Lin Hengzhong looked at him with a smile on his face: "How can it be considered unprovoked?"

"When you came to Beijing a year ago, weren't you there to marry her? Now that you've brought her back, aren't you planning on marrying her?"

"This is different from what we agreed on, right?"

Lin Jiangnian was stunned.

What he discussed with Lin Hengzhong a year ago was clearly to act according to circumstances when the time came.

Whether to marry or break off the engagement ultimately depends on Lin Jiangnian himself.

Why did Lin Hengzhong suddenly change his mind now?

"Dad, things are not as you imagined..."

Lin Jiangnian opened his mouth to explain something, but Lin Hengzhong waved his hand: "None of this matters. She is your fiancée. It makes sense for you to marry her, doesn't it?"

Lin Jiangnian was silent. There was no way Lin Hengzhong would bring this up for no reason. Yesterday...what did Li Piaomiao talk to him about?
"Dad, why don't you just speak directly?"

He was somewhat unsure of Lin Hengzhong's thoughts.

Lin Hengzhong laughed and said, "Jiang Nian thinks, if she wants to become the empress, can she succeed?"

Lin Jiangnian thought for a while and shook his head: "It's hard to say."

It was too shocking for a woman to become an emperor, and no one could guarantee whether she would succeed.

Lin Hengzhong narrowed his eyes slightly: "It's almost impossible for her to do it alone."

Hearing this, Lin Jiangnian was a little surprised. He just felt that it was difficult, not that there was no chance, but what Lin Hengzhong said was... absolutely impossible?
As if seeing Lin Jiangnian's doubts, Lin Hengzhong put his hands behind his back and shook his head lightly: "What you see is just the surface. She is indeed very outstanding and is indeed a qualified emperor. The previous emperor intended to train her, but finally gave up..."

"The reason is very simple. This road is too difficult, almost impossible!"

"She is only a woman after all. A woman being an emperor is not tolerated by the world. And she is weak and alone. How can she convince the world?"

"Within the empire, the noble families and the officials in various regions will never accept a woman as the emperor. If the world is in chaos, will she be able to suppress the gossips of the people?"

Lin Hengzhong saw things more clearly than Lin Jiangnian. He was the Prince Lin and knew the situation of the common people and the noble families best. The eldest princess was weak and had no sufficient support. Even if she ascended the throne and became the emperor, she would soon be hated by everyone.

How could ideas that have been deeply rooted for thousands of years be easily changed?

not to mention……

"The one in the north will never let go of this golden opportunity!"

Lin Hengzhong's eyes were deep. The man surnamed Xu had been waiting for a suitable opportunity to start a rebellion. Once he was determined to restore the old system and start a rebellion under the pretext of clearing the emperor's side and not allowing women to trample on the ancestral law, he would surely receive a response from the world.

At that time, how could the royal family sit and wait for death?
By then, she will most likely end up being deserted by everyone.

……

After listening to Lin Hengzhong's words, Lin Jiangnian fell silent.

He really thought it was too simple!

This era thinks too simply, and also thinks too simply about Li Piaomiao!
It would be difficult to accomplish anything just relying on her and her brother...

That being said, this approach is almost impossible.

but……

Lin Jiangnian soon realized something. Since the path of becoming the empress was not feasible, why did his father mention this matter?
Lin Jiangnian looked up in confusion and met Lin Hengzhong's gaze.

Lin Hengzhong smiled and said, "Do you want to ask why Dad thinks she can't be the empress, and whether you are afraid of her becoming the emperor?"

Lin Jiangnian nodded.

"Actually, it's very simple."

Lin Hengzhong chuckled: "There is nothing completely impossible in this world. Dad has led troops in battles for so many years, and governed Linzhou for so many years. He has summed up a great truth in life."

At this point, Lin Hengzhong looked at Lin Jiangnian and slowly said, "In this world, whoever has the bigger fist is always right!"

"That girl can't accomplish anything because her fist is not strong enough. She doesn't have enough power and background to suppress the gossips of the world!"

Lin Hengzhong's eyes were deep: "If she had a huge force behind her, it would be enough for her to suppress those aristocratic families who refused to obey and those forces that tried to rebel..."

"Do you think there will be anyone who objects to her becoming the empress?"

Lin Jiangnian: "..."

The words are indeed a bit crude, but it is true...it seems to be the case?

In this world, it is a world where the strong prey on the weak and whoever has the bigger fist is right. Even if Li Piaomiao has a bigger fist, he can't change anything. As Lin Hengzhong said, unless he has a big enough force...

and many more!

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration flashed through Lin Jiangnian's mind.

A big enough force?

Lin Jiangnian suddenly raised his head and looked at Lin Hengzhong in disbelief: "Dad, what do you mean..."

"That huge force...could it be our Lin Wang Mansion?"

……

Lin Hengzhong left, and Lin Jiangnian stayed where he was, feeling a little dazed.

He still has a lot to digest!
The Prince Lin's Mansion is going to support Li Piaomiao in becoming emperor?
This news is somewhat shocking and a bit... outrageous!
The Lin Wang Mansion has always been at odds with the imperial court, but now it is supporting an enemy to take the throne?
But it’s true, once the Lin Wang Mansion gets involved, Li Piaomiao’s path to becoming emperor will become much easier.

And Lin Jiangnian also realized Lin Hengzhong's true purpose from Lin Hengzhong's last words.

"The imperial court has always wanted to weaken the power of our Lin Wang Mansion. Sooner or later, there will be grievances and frictions with the Lin Wang Mansion..."

"Instead of just sitting there and waiting for death, why don't we take the initiative and support a new emperor..."

"Jiang Nian, this Li girl is indeed a qualified emperor, but she is very smart and will never be easily controlled by our Lin Wang Mansion, so Daddy gives you the right to choose!"

"If you don't agree, then just pretend that I didn't say anything about what happened today. If you agree, I need you to do something..."

"Let her give you a baby first!"

"..." (End of this chapter)