son, don't mess around

Chapter 810 The Imperial Uncle Enters the Capital

The Empress Dowager stood there stunned for a long time before gradually coming back to her senses.

Her expression shifted rapidly, eventually settling into silence. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and when she opened them again, she was calm and composed.

"He's still alive?"

Li Cining nodded slightly: "My royal uncle is still alive."

"More than a decade ago, he left the capital and disappeared. Over the years, my father has been searching for him. Until a few months ago, Piaomiao accidentally learned of his whereabouts..."

The Empress Dowager's expression was complex: "Where did he go?"

Li Cining looked at his mother and said, "Lin Prince's Residence."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager remained silent for a long time, a look of sudden realization appearing on her face. She murmured, "No wonder..."

"He was close to Prince Lin back then; the two hit it off immediately. In this whole world, only Prince Lin could..."

He murmured to himself, his voice very soft.

In the courtyard, a cold wind howled, adding a touch of loneliness and chill to the world.

"Since he's been hiding for so many years, why is he coming back now?"

The Empress Dowager turned to look at Li Cining, staring at him as if questioning him.

Then, in a flash, she realized what was happening, and the Empress Dowager's gaze sharpened: "So, Piaomiao went to the Prince Lin's residence to see him?"

"Was all of this at your behest?"

Facing his mother's scrutinizing and questioning gaze, Li Cining gave a bitter smile: "Your subject only learned about this matter later. It was Piaomiao who found out about the whereabouts of the Imperial Uncle. She went to the Prince Lin's residence to see the Imperial Uncle, and it was only later that your subject learned about this matter."

"but……"

Li Cining paused for a moment, then nodded in acknowledgment: "Piaomiao's meaning is indeed also my own."

Li Piaomiao went to the Prince of Lin's residence to ask the Imperial Uncle to come out of seclusion, which was also something Li Cining wanted to do.

Back then, the Imperial Uncle enjoyed immense prestige in the court, and he still wields considerable influence today. Most of the officials in the court had some connection with him in the past.

Even the imperial uncle of that time only lost to the emperor!

The imperial court is now facing numerous crises, including the Third Prince of the North's plot to rebel under the guise of Xu Hong. In this critical juncture, the only one capable of breaking the deadlock is the Second Prince!
"If Second Imperial Uncle is willing to appear, your son is willing..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Empress Dowager interrupted him: "Foolish, utterly foolish!"

The Empress Dowager suddenly looked up and stared at him: "He has been away from the capital for more than a decade, and the world has changed drastically since then. Even if he comes back, what can he change?"

"You are the reigning emperor, the supreme ruler. This position was fought for by your father with his life. How can you just give it up? Do you want the dignity of the royal family to be completely destroyed, or do you think the throne is like a bustling marketplace where people can easily change it?!"

"You just give up like that, treating everything like a game?!"

The Empress Dowager's sudden outburst of emotion caught Li Cining off guard. A bitter smile appeared on his pale face: "Your subject is aware of this matter, but..."

He didn't continue speaking, and the Empress Dowager didn't speak again either, but her expression became very complicated.

Clearly, she knew the reason, but was unwilling to accept it.

Her face was ashen, and she remained silent for a long time, lost in thought, before finally taking a deep breath and asking, "Where is he now?"

"The Imperial Uncle has arrived in the capital."

Li Cining looked up at her mother and asked, "Mother, do you wish to see him?"

The Empress Dowager closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. Finally, her tone became somewhat cold, devoid of any emotion.

"Let him come."

"..."

A cold wind howled as two figures walked one after the other within the imperial city.

Wearing a blue robe and skirt, Zhao Xi was tall and slender, walking briskly with her long, slender legs, heading quickly towards the outside of the palace.

Not far behind her, Lin Jiangnian quickly caught up.

Just as she was about to catch up, Zhao Xi quickened her pace. The two of them, one in front and one behind, continued to chase each other as they walked out of the palace.

When he was about to be caught up, Zhao went from walking to jogging. But even so, he still couldn't shake off Lin Jiangnian behind him.

Finally, she was so exhausted that she could no longer run. She stopped, panting, patting her chest, her breathing rapid.

Lin Jiangnian, who had caught up, slowed down, crossed his arms, and looked her over: "Why did you stop running?"

Zhao Xi glanced at him sideways but didn't say anything.

I can't run anymore!

Seeing this, Lin Jiangnian slowly walked up to her and said, "Keep running. Weren't you being pretty cocky just now?"

"Humph!"

Zhao Xi snorted lightly. After leaving Jingning Palace, the two of them deliberately competed here.

Lin Jiangnian naturally intended to teach this woman a lesson for deliberately provoking the Empress Dowager earlier. Zhao Xi, however, was not convinced and, after catching her breath, straightened up again.

"Aren't you the one who's so smug?"

Zhao Xi glanced at him, sneered, and said with a hint of jealousy, "I wonder who it is, that they become so obsequious when they see the Empress Dowager, calling her so affectionately and doing whatever she's told."

"Anyone who didn't know better would think the Empress Dowager was your mother-in-law!"

Tsk, that tone...

Lin Jiangnian looked at the sneering face before him, his eyes filled with resentment, and raised an eyebrow: "Jealous?"

"How dare you?"

Zhao Xi pouted: "The Empress Dowager is your mother-in-law, how could I dare to be jealous?"

"Your Highness is truly remarkable! Your fiancée is none other than the dignified Princess Changping! And even before the marriage, your future mother-in-law is already so attentive to you. You should hurry up and fulfill the Empress Dowager's wishes, get married quickly, and have a big, healthy baby with the Princess Changping..."

Lin Jiangnian didn't even need to look at her expression; just by listening to her tone, he could sense the deep resentment in Miss Zhao's words.

No wonder it walked so fast just now; even eight donkeys could hardly hold it back.

Lin Jiangnian couldn't help but chuckle, and even felt a little like laughing.

He looked at the gentle and elegant Miss Zhao in front of him. She was clearly very gentle, but the words she spoke were completely different from her appearance.

Lin Jiangnian finally couldn't help but laugh out loud.

This laugh infuriated Zhao Xi.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I remember happy things."

"Oh, you must be overjoyed thinking about your upcoming marriage to Princess Chang, right?"

"Yes!"

Lin Jiangnian looked at her with a smile and raised an eyebrow: "Then, Miss Zhao, would you like to come for a drink at the wedding?"

"you……"

Zhao Xi had intended to provoke and mock, but she never expected this scoundrel to actually chime in.
Listen to what he's saying!
Attending a wedding banquet?
He invited me to his wedding?
He really dares to think that way.

Zhao Xi knew that this jerk was doing it on purpose, but his words still made her feel both sour and a little angry.

"Hurrah!"

Zhao Xi gritted her teeth: "I will definitely be there, and I will definitely have a good drink at His Highness's wedding!"

These words came from Zhao Xi's throat, clenched through his teeth, emphasizing the words "have a drink".

Seeing the woman staring at him with those deep, mysterious eyes, Lin Jiangnian decided to stop while he was ahead.

"Alright, alright, I was just kidding. You actually took it seriously?"

"Who's joking with you?!"

"Of course it's you!" Lin Jiangnian strode closer to Zhao Xi. Zhao Xi seemed to have expected this, taking a step back with wary eyes.

Lin Jiangnian shrugged and sighed, "You know perfectly well that I can't marry Piaomiao, so you'll never get to drink at the wedding banquet."

Are you deliberately trying to spite me?

"Who's angry with you?"

Zhao Xi gritted her teeth and glared at the scoundrel.

Knowing that this jerk was deliberately saying that to annoy her, she wasn't really angry, but she felt uneasy.

However, after hearing Lin Jiangnian say that he would not marry Piaomiao, Zhao Xi fell silent again, lost in thought.

"You really don't plan to marry her?"

Lin Jiangnian nodded: "This matter is not so simple. Even if I really want to marry her, there will be many difficulties, and I will face great resistance in the capital. Moreover, this is not the result we want."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi fell silent.

After a long pause, he looked away somewhat awkwardly and muttered, "What's the difference?"

"If you don't marry her, aren't you just having an affair with her?"

"That's a really harsh way to put it. What do you mean by 'flirting'?"

"Is not it?"

"So, am I also having an affair with you?"

"Pah, who's flirting with you?"

"You're denying it now, huh? Last night..."

"Shut your mouth!!"

"..."

Within the desolate imperial city, a woman's shy yet angry voice drifted far into the air.

Meanwhile, news of the Prince of Lin's heir breaking into the Lü residence at night and harassing the young mistress of the Lü family continued to spread and develop in the capital.

The matter has escalated and become the hottest topic on the Beijing Evening News.

Everywhere you go, in the streets and alleys, you can hear the untold secret between the Crown Prince of Lin and the young mistress of the Lü family. More and more versions emerge, and the story becomes increasingly outrageous and bizarre.

Lin Qingqing, who was behind the scenes spreading this rumor on His Highness's orders, was also completely bewildered.

"Sister Paper Kite, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with me..."

At the Jiang residence, Lin Qingqing's face was full of bitterness, almost as if she were raising her hand to swear: "Your Highness instructed me to spread the news about him and the young mistress of the Lü family. Your Highness intended to use this to expose the person behind the Lü family, but I never expected the rumors to spread like this..."

"Your Highness, I am utterly loyal and have absolutely not spread any rumors..."

Lin Qingqing repeatedly protested her innocence.

The rumors circulating outside weren't her doing, but they're inextricably linked to her.

After all, she was the one who started it all.

In the courtyard, a woman dressed in white with a cool and aloof demeanor stood with a calm gaze. She shook her head slightly and said, "This matter has nothing to do with you."

Seeing that Sister Paper Kite didn't seem to blame her, Lin Qingqing breathed a sigh of relief, then cautiously asked, "What about His Highness...?"

"It's alright, he has his own plans."

Zhiyuan's gaze was indifferent: "You can go down now, but keep a close eye on the Lü family."

"Yes."

Lin Qingqing nodded, turned around, and quickly left.

Zhiyuan stood in the courtyard, the cold autumn wind blowing, making her hair disheveled and revealing her delicate and fair face, with no flaws in her exquisite features.

The cold wind made her skirt flutter, and she stood alone in the courtyard, exuding an ethereal aura.

"Sister Paper Kite".

Just then, a voice came from behind: "What if His Highness really is with that young mistress Lü...?"

Below the courtyard appeared a maid with a gentle temperament and a pure and beautiful appearance.

It is jasmine
Paper Kite turned around and glanced at her.

Seeing the worried look on Jasmine's face, Paper Kite lowered her eyes slightly and said calmly, "He won't."

Jasmine wanted to say something more, but seeing Paper Kite's calm expression, she held back.

Upon further reflection, although the rumors were rampant outside, His Highness was probably not that kind of person.

Although we don't know exactly how beautiful Mrs. Lü is, she could never be as pretty or elegant as Sister Paper Kite.

Compared to Sister Paper Kite, how could His Highness possibly have had an affair with that Young Madam Lü so early, as rumored outside?
Besides, even if His Highness is fickle and prefers the thrill of a concubine over a wife, and a stolen affair over a concubine... then there's still her and Fengling, isn't there?
Since being rescued by His Highness a year ago and taken in by his side, the sisters Jasmine and Wind Chime have always stayed by Paper Kite's side.

In terms of looks, these sisters were specially trained to be stunning beauties. Their appearance and temperament were impeccable, and every gesture they made exuded an allure that would seduce men.

In terms of novelty and excitement, she offers a buy-one-get-one-free deal, and besides her, her sister Fengling is also there... Isn't that exciting enough?

But His Highness has shown no ill will towards the two sisters over the past year, and has displayed absolutely no interest in them. This even left Jasmine, who had already mentally prepared herself, feeling inexplicably disappointed…

"How's the investigation going?"

The kite opened its mouth, interrupting Jasmine's reverie.

Upon hearing this, Jasmine looked troubled and sighed, "Wind Chime has been following up on this, but things seem to have reached a dead end..."

"The only thing that can be confirmed now is that this matter may have something to do with the imperial court."

"Court?"

Upon hearing this, Zhiyuan's gaze remained indifferent, lost in thought.

Jasmine asked, "Sister Paper Kite, should we tell His Highness this news?"

Paper Kite paused for a moment, then shook her head slightly: "Don't tell him for now."

"But……"

Jasmine hesitated. For more than half a year, Sister Paper Kite had been secretly investigating that matter. They had traced it all the way from Jiangnan to the present, and now the truth was getting closer and closer.

The trail suddenly went cold!
The clues point to the imperial palace, but given the vast size of the court, it would be difficult for Sister Paper Kite alone to investigate.

Sister Paper Kite, aren't you going to tell His Highness about this?
"He's busy, don't bother him right now."

Zhiyuan raised her eyes and looked towards the courtyard not far away.

She knew that Lin Jiangnian was playing a long game. Now was a crucial moment, and no mistakes could be tolerated.

Her cool and aloof demeanor and ethereal expression left Jasmine somewhat mesmerized, lost in a daze of envy.

Paper Kite Sister, you're really beautiful.

In terms of looks and temperament, she was ashamed of herself.

As if remembering something, Jasmine hesitated.

"Sister Paper Kite, there's something I need to tell you..."

"Ok?"

"Your Highness, he..."

Jasmine hesitated, glanced at Paper Kite, gritted her teeth, and finally couldn't help but speak.

"The other day..."