son, don't mess around

Lin Jiangnian looked up.

A cold wind howled, and the chill of late autumn penetrated through thin clothing, with a faint sense of oppression in the air.

It makes people feel uneasy.

At the same time, it also makes people wary!

Sensing danger, Lin Jiangnian stopped and looked up abruptly. In his line of sight, several figures appeared in the direction of the courtyard gate.

It seemed they had been waiting for a long time.

These figures appeared at the courtyard gate at some unknown time, and a cold gaze fell upon him.

The already cold weather seemed to have gotten even colder!
"Prime Minister Zhao?!"

When Lin Jiangnian saw the figures clearly, he was stunned and caught off guard.

In my line of sight, an elderly man with gray hair appeared at the gate of the courtyard. He looked old, but he was radiant, especially his hawk-like eyes, which shone with a strong light.

He was staring at Lin Jiangnian with a calm and profound gaze. Although he showed no expression, Lin Jiangnian instantly felt a chill run down his spine.

As expected of Zhao Xiang, a veteran of three dynasties, his innate imposing aura was enough to make anyone feel intimidated.

Only then did Lin Jiangnian finally realize what was happening.

Finished!

Caught red-handed?!

Lin Jiangnian was a little confused at this moment... No, why would Prime Minister Zhao be here so early in the morning?

Why did he come here?

There have been no warnings yet?
Lin Jiangnian took another look and saw that, besides Zhao Xiang, there was another middle-aged man at the entrance of the courtyard, whom he recognized.

Zhao Jing!

The Zhao family's steward had met Lin Jiangnian a few times.

At this moment, Zhao Jing was also extremely surprised and astonished, looking him up and down in disbelief.

Besides, there was also the maid Xiaoyue... Xiaoyue was hiding at the courtyard gate, head down, pale-faced, looking nervous and guilty.

It's over!

Even with his extensive experience, Lin Jiangnian felt that the situation was somewhat tricky.

The current situation seems a bit bad...

"Ahem, Prime Minister Zhao, what a coincidence, you're here too?"

Lin Jiangnian forced himself to remain calm, showing no sign of fear on his face, and greeted him with a smile: "Butler Zhao, you're here too?"

"Why are you all here today?"

In a different setting, Lin Jiangnian's composed demeanor would naturally be perfectly acceptable.

But clearly, something is wrong right now!
This is not just any place.

This is the boudoir of the eldest daughter of the Zhao family. Early in the morning, Lin Jiangnian walked out of the eldest daughter of the Zhao family's boudoir... Is this right?

At the courtyard gate, Zhao Xiang remained silent, the atmosphere around him eerily quiet, an invisible, oppressive aura enveloping everyone's hearts.

He stared at Lin Jiangnian with a blank expression.

Early in the morning, this boy came out of Xi'er's room, tidying his clothes as he went... What did that mean?
it goes without saying!

All explanations and cover-ups now seem utterly futile!
No one around made a sound.

Except for Lin Jiangnian.

He remained calm... It is precisely at times like these that one must remain calm and absolutely not show any weakness.

He quickly considered how to respond to the situation, and at the same time met Zhao's gaze. His expression was fearless and extremely calm.

Their eyes met, and they stared at each other for a long time.

Lin Jiangnian tentatively asked, "Prime Minister Zhao, is there some misunderstanding?"

Zhao Xiang stared coldly at him: "Did I really misunderstand?"

His cold tone, devoid of any emotion, sent chills down one's spine.

Anyone could see that Prime Minister Zhao was very angry. Zhao Jing glanced back and couldn't help but feel worried. It had been so many years since he had seen his master so angry.

No wonder, given what happened.
This morning, the master planned to discuss matters with the young lady after she woke up. Zhao Jing realized that the matter was probably serious, as the master had sought him out early in the morning.

For some reason, the young lady did not get up for a long time today. The master, who had been waiting for a long time, brought her to check on the situation. However, when they saw Xiaoyue at the door, she looked strange. The maid's suspicious and nervous behavior immediately aroused suspicion.

And then, this is what happened!

Lin Jiangnian, the heir apparent of the Prince of Lin, walked out of the young lady's room.

They witnessed this scene perfectly!

Zhao Jing was surprised and astonished. He was quite familiar with this Prince Lin's heir; they had crossed paths a year ago. In fact, it was he who introduced his young mistress to this Prince Lin's heir at their first meeting.

Can……

Zhao Jing knew that his young lady had a good relationship with the Prince of Lin and that they had met before, but he did not expect that their relationship could be this good.
Given this situation, it's probably not just a normal recovery, right?
I'm afraid not...

Zhao Jing couldn't help but turn his head to look at the master's cold and gloomy face again, and sighed in his heart... It's over!
This is a really big deal!

If Miss really gets involved with the Prince of Lin, this could lead to a major disaster!

……

Zhao Xiang's cold and oppressive aura made Lin Jiangnian sigh. He had originally planned to struggle a little, but he simply gave up on the rescue.

They've already been caught anyway!

Given the current situation, no matter how much he tries to argue, it will probably be to no avail.

After all, who comes looking for someone's daughter so early in the morning?

He walked out of the girl's room and said nothing happened, that they were just friends?

Obviously not realistic!
As for the relationship between Lin Jiangnian and Zhao Xi, it was already settled, and the deed was done, so there was no point in making excuses.

Lin Jiangnian originally intended to find an opportunity to have a proper talk with this Prime Minister Zhao.

Now that he'd been caught red-handed, Lin Jiangnian simply gave up on making excuses. He sighed as he looked at Zhao Xiang, who was staring at him with a cold expression.

"No misunderstanding!"

"Prime Minister Zhao truly lives up to his reputation for brilliant strategy and keen insight; he saw through the essence of things at a glance..."

Under Zhao Xiang's increasingly cold gaze, Lin Jiangnian smiled shyly: "Well, Xi'er and I are truly in love."

"..."

"..."

"..."

At this moment, all around was silent.

Zhao Jing, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but look at Lin Jiangnian with undisguised surprise in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected the Prince of Lin to admit it so readily.
I thought that since the Prince of Lin had been caught red-handed by the Master, he would try everything to exonerate himself and deny his relationship with the young lady. But to my surprise, he readily admitted it?
This made Zhao Jing look at the Prince of Lin in a new light.

Although the outside world's evaluation of this prince is not very good, at least he is quite responsible, worthy of being Lin Hengzhong's son.

only……

True love?

Did he really start an affair with a prostitute?
But isn't he just courting death?
How could you, sir, let him off?

Xiao Yue, who had been hiding at the very back, looking pitiful and trembling, widened her eyes in disbelief when she heard Lin Jiangnian's words.

Your Highness, have you admitted it?

In front of the master, admit to having an affair with the young lady... ptooey, ptooey, truly in love?

Your Highness is truly brave!
Xiaoyue's eyes widened in astonishment, filled with disbelief. Didn't he know that Miss was the master's darling?

Does Your Highness not know that this will anger the Master?
After all, His Highness secretly pledging his life to Miss... this is a major taboo in the Zhao family!

The wealthier the family, the more they care about etiquette and face!

How could a large family like the Zhao family, and a person of Zhao Xiang's status, tolerate such a thing happening?

The two have no reputation and no connection whatsoever. If word gets out, the young lady and the Zhao family's reputation will be ruined.

Wouldn't the master be furious?
Thinking of this, Xiaoyue felt a little envious, while nervously looking at the master.

At the entrance of the courtyard, Zhao Xiang remained calm throughout.

Even when he saw Lin Jiangnian walk out of his daughter's room, even when he heard Lin Jiangnian admit his relationship with Zhao Xi, his face remained expressionless, and his weathered eyes remained devoid of emotion.

Even when he was very angry, he still maintained a good mood.

He stared at Lin Jiangnian under the eaves for a long, long time. The surroundings were silent, and a suffocating atmosphere enveloped everyone's hearts.

"We need to have a serious talk."

A calm voice rang out.

"it is good."

Lin Jiangnian nodded calmly in return.

Zhao Xiang gave him a deep look, then looked away and turned to walk out of the courtyard.

This scene left Zhao Jing and Xiao Yue, who was hiding, somewhat stunned.

What's going on?

Then, Lin Jiangnian, with the same calm expression, walked out from under the eaves and followed Zhao Xiang away.

As he passed Zhao Jing, the steward looked at Lin Jiangnian with a touch of melancholy. He glanced in the direction the master had left, then followed after him.

Finally, only Xiaoyue, who was hiding in the shadows, remained, still somewhat bewildered by what had happened.

Talk about it?
Does the master want to speak with His Highness?
Could this lead to something big?

After all, the master caught us red-handed today!
The cabbages I painstakingly raised were eaten by pigs... and in this way, the situation is very serious!

Realizing this, Xiaoyue no longer cared about being nervous or scared. She quickly looked around to make sure no one was around, then hurriedly ran into the courtyard, went to the door of her young lady's room, and began to knock.

"Miss, Miss, wake up! Something terrible has happened..."

Xiaoyue knocked on the door. Inside the room, Zhao Xi was still lying on the bed behind the screen, feeling weak all over.

She had heard the commotion outside the door earlier, but she hadn't listened carefully and hadn't paid it any mind.

She was exhausted and dazed after being tormented by that scoundrel early in the morning. It took her a while to recover.

Then, they heard Xiaoyue knocking urgently on the door.

Something terrible has happened?

"come in."

Zhao Xi struggled to sit up, glancing at the messy bed, her face slightly flushed. She tried to get dressed, but couldn't find any clothes.

Outside the door, Xiaoyue quickly pushed it open and went inside. When she reached the screen, she saw this messy scene.

She blushed slightly; indeed, the young lady and the prince were engaging in 'daytime debauchery' so early in the morning.

Judging from the situation, the battle seems to be quite intense?
However, Xiaoyue couldn't care less about that right now. She rushed to the bedside, her face anxious: "Miss, something terrible has happened! His Highness has been summoned by the Master for a talk..."

Zhao Xi, who had been somewhat dazed, suddenly looked up in surprise: "What's going on? Why would Father want to see him?"

"Your affair... has been discovered by the master!"

Xiaoyue's eyes were filled with complicated emotions. She quickly told her mistress what had happened outside. After hearing the story, Zhao Xi's face turned pale instantly, and she was completely distraught.

"Father, you've found out?!"

At that moment, her mind went completely blank.

Finished!

Completely finished!

This was the first thought that came to her mind.

He got caught like that?
It's all that bastard's fault, if it weren't for him...

Zhao Xi panicked, her face turning red and white, unsure of what to do.

She had been keeping this a secret from her father for a long time, not daring to let him know. After all, how could she, as the daughter of Prime Minister Zhao, have an affair with the son of a prince?
If this gets out, it will negatively impact my father's position in court. Besides, that guy is nominally the eldest princess's fiancé?

Therefore, Zhao Xi never knew how to bring it up.

She never imagined such a situation, that her father would catch her red-handed outside the door.

The exposure was completely unexpected!
Zhao Xi felt a burning shame on her face, covering her face in embarrassment and anger, too ashamed to face anyone.

Seeing this, Xiaoyue quickly said, "Miss, don't be shy, hurry up and think of a solution... His Highness has been summoned by the Master, I'm worried something might happen..."

"What if the master, in a fit of anger, does something to harm His Highness?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi suddenly came to her senses and realized the seriousness of the situation.

Yeah, what if Dad gets angry and tries to hurt that guy?
Although that guy was the heir apparent of the Prince of Lin, a man of noble status, her father was no pushover either. Knowing his temper, he wouldn't care about the heir apparent; even if the Prince of Lin himself came, her father wouldn't give him any face!
What if Dad really gets impulsive and causes someone's death? Even if they don't actually fight, it's definitely not what Zhao Xi wants to see if the two of them have a falling out.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xi couldn't sit still any longer and immediately got up anxiously: "Quickly, Xiao Yue, help me change my clothes!"

"I want to go and take a look!"

"!!!"

"..."

Few people in the Zhao residence knew what had happened that day.

The mansion remained quiet. After changing her clothes and tidying herself up, Zhao Xi hurriedly headed to her father's courtyard, only to be stopped by Zhao Jing at the gate.

"Miss, the master is having a private meeting with His Highness the Prince of Lin. Please do not disturb him."

"Butler Zhao!"

Zhao Xi was extremely anxious: "Is my father...very angry?"

Zhao Jing glanced at the young lady he had watched grow up and sighed softly, "Master is very angry."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xi's face paled even more, and she quickly asked, "How is the situation inside?"

"Dad, I didn't tell you to bury axemen in the yard, did I?"

Zhao Xi was extremely anxious and worried.

"That's not true."

Zhao Jing chuckled, "Miss, there's no need to worry too much. Although Master is angry, he won't do anything to His Highness. He just plans to have a good talk with him. Please be patient, Miss, there should be a result later."

Hearing this, Zhao Xi finally felt a little relieved.

It's good that no one took action.

However, she was still very worried... What would that guy say to her father?
What if Father objects? Won't that guy turn against Father?

...Would he hit her father?

Thinking this way, Zhao Xi became increasingly worried.

...That bastard is really capable of doing something like that.

He absolutely mustn't hit her dad!
Zhao Xi was extremely worried.

...(End of chapter)