son, don't mess around

Chapter 801 Tao Ya's Secret

At that moment, a look of astonishment mixed with a hint of panic flashed across Tao Ya's eyes.

But then, he quickly calmed down.

She forced a smile: "Your Highness is joking. I did learn some martial arts from the guards in the manor when I was young, but it was just fancy footwork and I can't compare to Your Highness. I am not the kind of expert Your Highness is talking about."

"Your Highness must have misunderstood!"

She tried to remain calm as she began to speak.

"is it?"

Lin Jiangnian stared at her face with a meaningful look in his eyes, his gaze casual.

Tao Ya felt stiff all over and her back felt cold.

For some reason, she felt a strange sense of panic when she was being stared at by the Prince of Lin.

What exactly does this Crown Prince of Lin want to do?
What is he implying?
Even though it was already late autumn, Tao Ya was already covered in sweat.

"Then it seems that I have indeed misunderstood."

Lin Jiang chuckled softly and gradually looked away.

Upon hearing this, Tao Ya breathed a slight sigh of relief. But when she came to her senses, she realized that the Prince of Lin's gaze was still fixed on her.

And, he was very close to her.

It seemed to be full of aggression, which gave Tao Ya the creeps.

"Your Highness..."

Tao Ya suppressed her discomfort and fear, and asked through trembling teeth, "Your Highness, what important matter brings you to see me today?"

"Please explain, Your Highness."

Lin Jiangnian looked at her with a half-smile: "Are you nervous?"

"I am indeed nervous."

Why are you nervous?

"Your Highness, Your Highness is of noble status, and I dare not look directly at you. Please forgive me..."

"Oh, that's how it is!"

Lin Jiangnian's smile deepened as he stared at her face: "I thought you were feeling guilty."

The seemingly casual words sent a shiver down Tao Ya's spine.

"Absolutely not... How could I possibly feel guilty?"

"Really!"

Lin Jiangnian nodded, seemingly believing him, and did not dwell on the matter further.

He sat back down in the main seat, glanced at Tao Ya who was sitting upright beside him, and said indifferently, "I have a question that I do not understand. May I ask Madam Lü for clarification?"

"Your Highness, please speak."

"How did you manage to seduce Lü Xuan, persuade Minister Lü, and successfully marry him?"

This question startled Tao Ya, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.

"Your Highness, why do you ask this?"

"I am curious."

Lin Jiangnian looked at her with interest: "I heard that Minister Lü was extremely opposed to this marriage... Your Tao family is not a good match for the Lü family at that time."

"How did you finally manage to persuade them?"

Her words, though still casual, caused Tao Ya's expression to shift repeatedly. After a long pause, she gritted her teeth and said, "Your Highness, my husband and I are truly in love..."

Before Tao Ya could finish speaking, Lin Jiangnian interrupted her with a sneer.

"Love?"

Lin Jiangnian looked at her with amusement: "As a scion of a prominent family, does Mrs. Lü also believe in true love?"

Tao Ya was speechless, not knowing what to say for a moment. How could she not understand the unexpected words of the Prince of Lin?

only……

"Then, what answer does Your Highness hope to receive?"

"I don't know, otherwise why would I be asking you?"

Lin Jiangnian said casually, "Young Madam Lü, you've been hiding it quite well, haven't you?"

It was a very calm sentence, but it sent chills down Tao Ya's spine once again.

She forced herself to suppress the violent beating of her heart and to suppress the fear that was almost impossible to hide on her face.

"This humble servant does not understand what Your Highness is saying."

"You understand."

Lin Jiangnian spoke calmly.

A storm raged in Tao Ya's heart.

"That's really strange!"

Lin Jiangnian sighed, "Back then, you must have paid a considerable price to marry into the Lü family. Your Tao family couldn't possibly be worthy of the Lü family's door. I don't know what methods you used to achieve upward social mobility, but I imagine they weren't exactly honorable."

Watching Tao Ya's ever-changing, almost faltering expression, Lin Jiangnian's tone remained nonchalant: "But strangely enough, after all your hard work marrying into a wealthy family and becoming the glamorous young mistress of the Lü family, the Lü family was subsequently embroiled in the Third Prince's rebellion, plummeting to rock bottom overnight, and your dream of marrying into wealth was shattered..."

"But you suddenly became so devoted, staying by Lü Xuan's side for the past year, completely disregarding the current situation of the Lü family, which is even worse than your Tao family... Is this true love?"

"Could true love really change a person's personality all of a sudden?"

Faced with Lin Jiangnian's mocking gaze, Tao Ya felt flustered, terrified, and frightened... How could he know everything?

At this moment, Tao Ya's face paled, but she still forced herself to maintain her composure.

“My husband and I are truly in love. Your Highness thinks I am a vain person, but I have never had such thoughts.”

"is it?"

Lin Jiangnian's two casually uttered words sent a shiver down Tao Ya's spine.

As Tao Ya's composure began to crumble, Lin Jiangnian glanced at the courtyard outside the hall.

"You say you and your husband truly love each other, yet he leaves you here alone. Is he really that careless with you?"

Lin Jiangnian chuckled: "Or are you saying you trust this young master?"

Tao Ya's expression changed drastically, but she still forced herself to remain calm: "Why would Your Highness say such things to sow discord between me and my husband?"

"This is not provocation."

Lin Jiangnian glanced at her: "Leaving your newlywed wife alone with another man, if word gets out, what do you think people will think?"

"Can you really maintain your reputation as the eldest daughter of the prestigious Tao family?"

Tao Ya's face was pale, but she still gritted her teeth and said, "Your Highness, why do you have to humiliate me like this? I trust my husband. Your Highness is the Crown Prince, how could you possibly look down on a vulgar woman like me?"

Looking at the young mistress of the Lu family who was barely holding on but was still stubbornly trying to maintain her composure, Lin Jiangnian sneered inwardly.

"Then I, the young master, wish you two a long and happy marriage!"

With that, Lin Jiangnian smiled knowingly. Then he stood up, flicked his sleeves, and said, "It's getting late, so I'll be taking my leave now."

"Mrs. Lü, see you next time!"

With that, Lin Jiangnian gave her a meaningful smile and turned to leave.

Tao Ya remained seated, her face pale, beads of cold sweat dripping down her face.

Even long after Lin Jiangnian's figure disappeared, she remained sitting stiffly in the same spot, motionless.

His face was extremely pale, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

"Ya'er?!"

An anxious and concerned voice rang out from outside the door, followed by Lü Xuan's hurried figure walking quickly into the hall.

"Ya'er, are you alright?!"

Lu Xuan's expression changed drastically. He strode into the hall and approached Tao Ya, his eyes filled with anxiety as he looked her up and down. Seeing that his wife was properly dressed and had not suffered any humiliation, Lu Xuan finally relaxed.

However, seeing Tao Ya's pale and unpleasant face, Lü Xuan immediately became nervous again.

He quickly pressed, "Ya'er, what happened? Did the Prince of Lin do anything to you?" "What did he do?"

Lu Xuan's words brought Tao Ya back to her senses. Looking at Lu Xuan's worried face, Tao Ya suppressed her unease and shook her head: "Husband, don't worry, he didn't do anything."

"real?!"

At this moment, Lü Xuan was still somewhat suspicious.

Did nothing?

The Crown Prince of Nalin drove him out, leaving his wife alone, and really did nothing.

Tao Ya lowered her gaze: "Does my husband not believe me?"

"no……"

Lu Xuan quickly waved his hand and explained, "Of course I believe in Ya'er, but what exactly is the purpose of this Prince Lin's son? Why did he keep you here alone, Ya'er?"

Tao Ya seemed uninterested. When asked by Lü Xuan, she paused for a moment and said, "He did it on purpose."

"on purpose?"

“He did nothing but deliberately sent you away, leaving me behind, just to sabotage the relationship between you and me.”

"what?!"

Lu Xuan's eyes widened, anger surging within them: "Why would he do this? I have no grudge against him, why would he go so far!"

"It's probably related to His Highness the Third Prince."

Tao Ya bit her lower lip.

"What?!" Lu Xuan's expression changed.

Tao Ya said softly, "Our Lü family used to be close to the Third Prince, while this Crown Prince is at odds with him. His return to the capital this time is probably to spite and target our Lü family..."

As he listened to Ya'er's explanation, Lü Xuan's gaze gradually became serious.

He had suspected this when the Crown Prince visited last time. Now, it seems that this possibility cannot be ruled out.

Rumor has it that the Crown Prince of Lin is a vengeful man, and his past feud with the Third Prince is known throughout the capital. Since the Lü family, as part of the Third Prince's faction, escaped the purge, they naturally attracted the attention of the Crown Prince of Lin.

Now that he has returned to the capital, it's understandable that he would be hostile towards the Lü family.

"Too deceiving!"

Thinking of this, Lü Xuan's face showed anger.

"If he has a problem with my Lü family, he can come at me directly. Why does he have to bully Ya'er?"

Lu Xuan's face was grim. Seeing Ya'er's low spirits and pale face, Lu Xuan hugged her tightly, feeling sorry for her: "Ya'er, don't worry, I will definitely give you an explanation for this matter."

"If Lin Jiangnian dares to do this again, don't blame me for being impolite! Although my Lü family has fallen to this state, we will not be bullied like this!"

The Lü family, after all, was a prominent clan in the capital with deep roots. When Lü Fusheng was Minister of Personnel, his protégés were spread throughout the land, and his influence was unfathomable.

Although they have fallen from grace and are unable to recover completely, their former foundation and power have not entirely vanished. If a real fight were to break out, even if they were no match for the Prince of Lin, they would never allow him to bully them like this.

Tao Ya buried her head in Lü Xuan's chest, her pale face showing a heavy expression, lost in thought. Hearing Lü Xuan's assurance, she nodded vigorously.

"Ah."

"..."

Night falls.

The Lü residence was brightly lit.

Although the Lü family has fallen on hard times and is no longer as glorious as it once was, it is still a top family in the capital and cannot truly be reduced to commoners.

Lu Xuan found his father and told him what had happened that day.

After listening, Lü Fusheng frowned deeply.

Compared to Lü Xuan's outrage at the Crown Prince's humiliation of his wife, Lü Fusheng clearly thought things through more deeply.

The Crown Prince of Lin's sudden visit today, staying at the Lü family's residence, has unclear motives. His subsequent inexplicable encounter with Tao Ya further fuels Lü Fusheng's suspicions that there might be a connection between the two events.

"Tao Ya, is she acquainted with the Crown Prince of Lin?"

Lu Fusheng asked in a deep voice.

Lu Xuan shook his head blankly: "I've never heard of it. Ya'er said she never knew the Prince of Lin. The last time we met, it was the first time, so it's impossible for her to be familiar with him."

"That's weird."

Lu Fusheng's gaze was deep and focused.

Since they weren't familiar with each other, why did the Crown Prince of Lin suddenly approach Tao Ya?

Lu Fusheng naturally did not believe that the Prince of Lin had a fondness for married women and had taken a liking to his daughter-in-law.

Although his daughter-in-law, as the eldest daughter of the Tao family, is indeed beautiful, elegant, and possesses an ethereal charm, who is that Prince Lin's heir? Has he ever lacked stunning women by his side?

Why would the Crown Prince of Lin go to such lengths?
His actions today were extremely obvious, very deliberate, almost intentional...

Lu Fusheng was completely baffled, his brows furrowing even deeper. After a long while, he suddenly asked in a deep voice, "Where is Tao Ya?"

Lu Xuan said, "Ya'er was frightened today and has already gone back to her room to rest. Father, what happened?"

After pondering for a long time, Lü Fusheng said with a solemn expression, "Go and keep an eye on her, be careful that nothing goes wrong."

Upon hearing this, Lü Xuan's expression changed: "Father, what do you mean by that? What kind of accident might happen?"

"do not know."

Lu Fusheng frowned and said in a deep voice, "But things aren't that simple. The Prince of Lin's son definitely has a purpose in coming to my Lu family this time. In short, be careful!"

"Okay, I'll go check on Ya'er now."

Upon hearing this, Lü Xuan's expression changed slightly, he nodded, and hurriedly left.

Lu Fusheng stood there, lost in thought, his face grim.

After a long while, he muttered something to himself.

"I hope I'm wrong..."

"..."

The inner courtyard of the Lü residence.

An oil lamp was lit in the quiet, dimly lit room.

A cold wind howled outside, causing the lights in the room to flicker and the shadows cast on the wall to sway.

Behind the screen, in front of the window, a wisp of cold wind rushed in through the slightly pushed-open window sill.

A beautiful figure was sitting on the windowsill, writing something with a pen.

"Shhhhh!"

Silence reigned all around, with only the sound of the brush tip touching the rice paper breaking the silence.

After an unknown amount of time, the dust settled.

Tao Ya looked up at the Xuan paper on the table and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

"Hopefully, it's not too late!"

She muttered to herself, then carefully gathered up the Xuan paper on the table and folded it neatly. As she stood up and was about to turn around, a sudden murderous intent swept in from the window sill where a cold wind was blowing in.

Tao Ya's pupils suddenly contracted, and her expression changed drastically.

She immediately flicked her sleeve and retreated abruptly.

"Clap!"

A tearing sound came from the table, as if a teapot had been ripped apart by a strong gust of wind. The powerful impact created a dull thud that echoed through the room.

"boom!"

Tao Ya swayed suddenly, taking three or four steps back, her eyes wide with horror as she looked into the darkness of the room.

"Who?!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a figure appeared silently beside the screen, arms crossed, scrutinizing her.

"Madam Lü, you still say you don't know martial arts?!"

(End of this chapter)