son, don't mess around

Chapter 776: Prime Minister Zhao Urges Marriage
It's quiet at night.

In the hall, lights flickered.

There was no one around except for two figures sitting by the window not far away.

Chen Changqing, the leader of the Secret Heaven Division, was dressed in a black robe and had a calm aura. He raised his eyes and looked across at the figure in white sitting in front of him.

He was dressed in a white robe, with an extraordinary temperament. Although he was only a young man, he had a calmness that other people of the same age did not have.

Some people seem to be born different.

Just like when Chen Kuishou first met him, he never thought that the person in front of him could change his life.

At this moment, Chen Kuishou looked at him as usual, without much emotion changing on his face.

"It's been a long time since we last met. How are you, Mr. Chen?"

There was steam coming out of the tea on the table and the atmosphere was depressing.

Lin Jiangnian was the first to speak, breaking the silence. Looking at Chen Kuishou, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, he was filled with emotion.

"Chen Kuishou has been completely transformed. I heard that he is favored by the emperor. This is cause for celebration!"

The Chen Changqing in front of him no longer had the depressed and frustrated look he had a year ago.

Lin Jiangnian still remembers that a year ago, Chen Changqing was just a tool that was suppressed everywhere and manipulated.

Although he was the head of the Secret Heaven Division at that time, he did not have much power.

Above him, there are the four guardians of the Secret Heaven Division, not to mention the old eunuch Chen Zhao at the top.

At that time, Chen Changqing was just a puppet in the hands of Chen Zhao. He seemed to be in a good position, but in fact he had no control over his own affairs.

Lin Jiangnian saw his frustration and found Chen Changqing, who was drunk and depressed at the time, and supported him. Under Lin Jiangnian's secret manipulation, the four guardians of Mi Tiansi were eliminated and killed one by one. In the end, Chen Zhao was killed for the first time in the imperial city!
With the elimination of the four guardians and the death of Chen Zhao, no one in the Secret Heaven Division could stop him. Thus, today's Chen Changqing came into being!

And Chen Changqing did not disappoint Lin Jiangnian's support. In the past six months, he has completely changed the appearance of the entire Mi Tiansi. Now Chen Changqing's spirit and energy are completely different from before.

Chen Changqing looked calm and said, "Without the help of His Royal Highness, there would be no Chen Changqing today. I will always remember this kindness in my heart."

"You deserve this."

Lin Jiangnian said with a smile: "This capital lacks people like you who have ideals and ambitions. If everyone can be like you, why worry about the chaos in the world?"

Chen Changqing said calmly: "I am just doing my part to serve the court."

"So, has your original ideal been realized?"

Lin Jiangnian looked at him and suddenly asked.

This made Chen Changqing a little dazed. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

Lin Jiang smiled young and picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip.

At the beginning, when Lin Jiangnian met the decadent Chen Changqing, he was depressed and frustrated, but had great ambitions.

He once threatened that if the Secret Heaven Division could be handed over to him, he would plead for the people and seek stability for the people in the capital. He also threatened to rectify the government and return peace to the Daning Dynasty...

I have to say, the ideal is grand!

Even a little naive!

However, Lin Jiangnian admired his passion. Even though he was naive and faced many difficulties, he still had this ideal, which was exactly what Lin Jiangnian liked.

Because of this, Lin Jiangnian decided to help him.

Now, it has been almost a year since Chen Changqing took over the Secret Heaven Division. It was not a long time, but it was not a short time either. At this moment, when Lin Jiangnian asked him about his original ambition again, the leader of the Secret Heaven Division was obviously silent.

After a while, Chen Changqing slowly raised his head and looked at Lin Jiangnian, "I was indeed a little too idealistic at the beginning. The waters of this capital city are very deep, much deeper than what you and I see on the surface."

"If you're not careful, you could end up in pieces!"

After taking over the Secret Department, Chen Changqing has encountered numerous difficulties over the past six months, and the darkness he has faced is much more terrifying than he had imagined.

What he was facing was a situation where, after the rebellion of the third prince, order had collapsed, and various forces were mixed together, almost in a reshuffle.

Even with the emperor's strong support, Chen Changqing still faced many difficulties in realizing his ideal.

"But I have a clear conscience."

Chen Changqing's eyes were firm and had never changed: "Maybe I can't change everyone's fate, but as long as I am in this position during my lifetime, I will swear to eradicate all the darkness in this world."

"I will do my best to restore peace and order to the people of Beijing!"

He spoke calmly, but his words were powerful.

His tone was filled with unprecedented firmness, just like he had half a year ago, he had not forgotten his original intention.

"I feel much more relieved after hearing what you said. This proves that I was not wrong about him half a year ago."

Lin Jiangnian smiled.

Chen Changqing looked at Lin Jiangnian and was silent for a while: "Your Highness, why are you returning to Beijing this time?"

"What do you need my help with tonight?"

Chen Changqing is a smart man, so he could naturally guess the purpose of Lin Jiangnian's visit tonight.

Lin Jiangnian was naturally aware of this, and he nodded lightly.

"I came to you this time because I really need your assistance with something."

"..."

In the evening, at Zhao Mansion.

"Miss, the weather is getting cold, be careful not to catch a cold."

Xiaoyue walked into the backyard and saw her young lady sitting on the swing under the tree as usual, daydreaming aimlessly.

However, compared to the previous time when the young lady looked listless and was in a daze from time to time, today the young lady looked much more energetic.

There was a look of joy in his eyes and brows that had never been seen before.

Xiaoyue naturally knew the reason, which was of course related to His Highness's return.

After all, last night, His Highness and Miss...

Thinking of this, Xiaoyue couldn't help but secretly observe her young lady. After not seeing each other for so long, His Highness and the young lady must be attracted to each other, right?
But why does it look like my young lady is fine?
Xiaoyue was puzzled, so she came to the young lady and reminded her softly.

Zhao Xi sat lazily on the swing, her upper body leaning against the vines. Under her gauze skirt, her pair of bare feet dangled in the air, swaying unconsciously with the slight swing of the swing.

Against the backdrop of the night, this touch of white is extremely dazzling, like a pearl in the dark night, constantly appearing and disappearing under the hem of the skirt.

After hearing Xiaoyue's voice, Zhao Xi came back to his senses and looked outside the courtyard. Not seeing the familiar figure, he seemed a little disappointed, and his bright eyes dimmed.

"Miss, are you thinking about His Highness?"

Xiaoyue walked closer to the young lady, saw her young lady's expression, and spoke with a smile.

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Zhao Xi rolled his eyes at her.

"Definitely."

Xiaoyue came close to the young lady and blinked: "Will your highness come again tonight?"

"He can come if he wants."

Zhao Xi curled her lips. Although she said so, no one knew what she was thinking in her eyes.

Xiaoyue naturally saw that the young lady was not saying what she meant.

"Your Highness said he was going out this morning and would be back late."

Xiaoyue muttered, then looked at her mistress and said with a smile: "Miss, do you need me to help you wait tonight? I will not let anyone get close to you and will make sure I won't disturb you..."

Before Xiaoyue finished her words, Zhao Xi interrupted her angrily: "Xiaoyue, you feel itchy again, right?"

Seeing the young lady's face full of shame and anger, Xiaoyue quickly took two steps back and smiled: "Miss, I was wrong. I won't talk nonsense anymore."

"Humph!"

Zhao Xi snorted, her face slightly red, and glared at her unhappily. She wanted to say that he and that unfaithful man had not slept together. But then she thought...didn't they sleep together last night?

It’s just that the bed is vegetarian.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xi felt a little unsure.

That unfaithful man left early in the morning and there has been no news since then. I don’t know if he will come back... He can come or not, so why should I think so much?
Zhao Xi rolled her eyes and tried not to think about the unfaithful man.

At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the door.

Hearing the footsteps, Zhao Xi looked up out of habit, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.

But soon, the maid's voice rang out from outside the door: "Miss, the master asked me to come and call you. He said he has something to see you about..."

Zhao Xi was stunned when these words were spoken.

What does her father want to see her for at this time?
Xiaoyue was also a little surprised. She turned around and looked at the young lady, asking for her opinion.

Zhao Xi was slightly surprised, but quickly calmed down.

She slowly stood up from the swing, and Xiaoyue beside her put on a coat for her young lady.

"Miss, it's cold outside, don't catch a cold!"

"..."

"father!"

In the front hall.

Zhao Xi walked in and saw his father.

Inside the hall, the gray-haired Zhao Chuan sat in the pavilion, his eyes focused, as if there was an unshakable sorrow between his brows.

As a prime minister who had served three dynasties, this Prime Minister Zhao seemed to be born with an aura of superiority, and he was intimidating without even getting angry.

When Zhao Xi walked into the hall, Prime Minister Zhao's originally solemn expression relaxed slightly when he saw Zhao Xi.

"Xier!"

Prime Minister Zhao spoke in a gentle tone.

Zhao Xiang had a daughter in his old age. Although he was busy with daily affairs and did not have much time to take care of his daughter, he still attached great importance to this precious daughter.

"father."

Zhao Xi stepped forward and asked: "Why are you looking for me so late?"

"Nothing important."

Prime Minister Zhao spoke slowly, looking at his graceful daughter in front of him, and said in a deep voice: "However, I received a message today."

"what news?"

"The prince of Lin from the south has come to the capital again!"

Prime Minister Zhao's tone was slightly solemn.

Hearing this news, Zhao Xi was slightly shocked.

Dad knew that guy was coming?

How do you know?
Dad, why did you bring this up to her for no reason?
"Dad, are you talking about... Lin Jiangnian?" Zhao Xi looked a little strange.

"Exactly."

Zhao Xiang nodded expressionlessly, his face solemn. When he looked at Zhao Xi, he seemed to be thinking: "Dad heard that you had a good relationship with him and were very close to him?"

When this question was asked, Zhao Xi suddenly felt a little panicked.

How can this be called a good relationship?
Getting very close?

It’s almost a negative distance…

Zhao Xi knew that Lin Jiangnian had come to the Zhao residence many times before, and his father could not hide it from him. But his father had never asked about it before, and Zhao Xi did not explain it.

But now so much time has passed, why is Dad suddenly asking this?

Could it be that what happened last night...that unfaithful man broke into her room and was discovered?
Thinking of this, Zhao Xi suddenly felt uneasy, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "Okay."

"My daughter does have a pretty good relationship with him."

It's certainly nice to sleep in the same bed and be open with each other.

"Then be careful!"

Prime Minister Zhao looked at Zhao Xi sternly and said seriously, "If he comes to the capital to see you this time, you'd better be careful."

As soon as these words came out, Zhao Xi felt relieved immediately. It seemed that his father didn't know that he had met Lin Jiangnian last night?
Zhao Xi breathed a sigh of relief, then asked curiously, "Why?"

Prime Minister Zhao's eyes darkened slightly: "Now the court is in chaos and turmoil. In order to suppress the rebellion of Prince Xu's Mansion in the north, the court has tried its best, but the situation on the front line is urgent. Now, the court has no other energy to guard against Prince Lin's Mansion in the south!"

Speaking of this, Prime Minister Zhao's eyes were filled with deep worry.

No one knew better than him the threat posed by the Southern Prince Lin's Palace to the imperial court.

It is even more dangerous than Prince Xu’s Mansion in the north!

"Now that the news has returned to the capital, the purpose is unclear, but I'm afraid the plot is not small."

Prime Minister Zhao's tone was slightly heavy: "You were familiar with him at the beginning. If you are not careful, you may be used by him. If our Zhao family is dragged into it, the consequences will be disastrous..."

Although Lin Jiangnian's whereabouts in Beijing were very secretive, it was impossible for him to hide from everyone, including the current Prime Minister Zhao.

When the war in the north just started, Prime Minister Zhao sent people to closely monitor the movements of the Linwang Mansion. Now, of course, he has found out the whereabouts of Lin Jiangnian. Although the specific location is not determined, it can be almost concluded that this boy has returned to the capital.

As a result, Prime Minister Zhao had to be on guard.

Zhao Xi felt complicated as she listened to her father's reminders and warnings.

She didn't know how to explain to her father that the guy didn't come back to the capital this time to rebel.

However, she couldn't explain this.

If she really explained, her father would definitely ask her how she knew it. Who knows, he might even find out the secret between her and that unfaithful man.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xi felt very conflicted.

At this time, Prime Minister Zhao's expression eased a lot. His daughter was smart since she was young and always knew when to do things. She didn't need him to remind her too much.

After finishing the business, Prime Minister Zhao looked at Zhao Xi again and said, "Xi'er, you are not young anymore. If you calculate the time, it is time for you to get married."

Zhao Xi was stunned when these words were spoken.

No, what does this mean?
Is marriage urging coming?

"There is chaos in the north and turmoil in the capital. Dad is old and I don't know how long he can protect you. While Dad still has some influence in the capital, I plan to find a suitable marriage for you..."

Before Prime Minister Zhao could finish, Zhao Xi interrupted him: "Dad, haven't you been busy with court affairs recently? How do you have time to care about my marriage?"

"No matter how busy the government affairs are, Dad can't forget your lifelong event!"

Prime Minister Zhao frowned and said, "Marriage is a big deal, Dad should pay attention to it."

"father……"

Zhao Xi resisted instinctively.

married?

She had never thought about this question.

But when she thought of this, the face of a familiar ungrateful man emerged in her mind.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xi's heart trembled slightly, and an indescribable strange emotion spread in his heart.

Even if I want to get married, it seems I can only marry that guy, right?
……

(End of this chapter)