son, don't mess around

Chapter 888 (Extra): Meeting You Again in the Season of Falling Flowers (Part 1)

The imperial city and harem of the Great Ning Dynasty.

This wasn't Lin Jiangnian's first time here; he was quite familiar with the place.

After Li Piaomiao returned to the capital in triumph, she officially ascended the throne. As the emperor's closest confidante, and given that Li Piaomiao was pregnant, Lin Jiangnian spent a considerable amount of time visiting the harem during that period.

Over time, Lin Jiangnian became intimately familiar with every brick and tile, every winding path in the harem, and even the palaces of the neglected concubines left behind by the previous emperors…

Although according to ancestral rules, foreign officials are forbidden from entering the inner palace, let alone men.
But Lin Jiangnian is clearly an exception.

As the heir apparent of the Prince of Lin and the man of the current Empress, he naturally received great preferential treatment.

The Prince of Lin's residence is now highly trusted by the Empress, who showers him with favor. This heir apparent wields immense power in the capital. Under such circumstances, naturally, no one dares to be so foolish as to meddle.

He can go into the harem if he wants, as long as he doesn't interfere in politics or openly seduce the late emperor's concubines, everyone will turn a blind eye.

Walking through the fragrant alleyways of the inner palace, Lin Jiangnian greeted the concubines and palace maids who passed by as he arrived at Yongle Palace.

As soon as I stepped through the palace gate, I heard the voices of palace maids coming from the courtyard.

"Your Highness, please slow down!"

Immediately afterward, a child came into Lin Jiangnian's view, taking unsteady steps. The little boy looked to be less than two years old, as if he had just learned to walk. Behind the child followed two palace maids.

As the two palace maids appeared at the palace gate, one on each side of the child, they suddenly noticed Lin Jiangnian standing there.

The two palace maids were taken aback at first, then their faces showed a tense and respectful expression. Just as they were about to kneel down to pay their respects, Lin Jiangnian waved his hand to interrupt them.

At that moment, the little boy also noticed Lin Jiangnian at the door. He raised his head and stared at the man in front of him with wide eyes, looking curiously at him.

His eyes were innocent and naive.

Lin Jiangnian looked at the chubby-faced little boy, then squatted down in front of him, staring at him intently. Seeing that the little brat still looked confused, Lin Jiangnian simply reached out and pinched his cheek.

"What are you looking at? Don't you recognize me? Hurry up and call me Dad!"

The child's expression changed instantly.

Her little face fell, and she burst into tears.

The two palace maids standing nearby saw this and wanted to laugh, but they didn't dare to laugh out loud.

"Hey, you're crying now?"

Lin Jiangnian hadn't expected that his pinch would cause the little one to burst into tears. He immediately straightened his face and said sternly, "Don't cry!"

The little boy seemed to be intimidated by Lin Jiangnian's imposing presence, and froze on the spot, staring blankly at the man in front of him. For a moment, he actually forgot to cry.

"Such a young age, crying all the time, isn't that shameful?"

Lin Jiangnian reprimanded him gently with a stern face.

The little kid didn't understand either, and stood there blankly, looking a bit lost and flustered.

The palace maid standing to the side was even more uncomfortable... No, this scene of father and son interacting was a bit too much for her to bear.

The usually mischievous Crown Prince was suddenly stunned, and his obedient and honest appearance surprised the palace maids beside him.

Is this what bloodline suppression is?

"what happened?"

Just then, a commotion was heard in the courtyard, and a soft, silvery voice came from the room next door.

Immediately afterwards, a familiar figure in purple emerged from the room.

The little kid who had been standing there dumbfounded seemed to have found his anchor and finally came to his senses. He immediately burst into an even louder wail.

She cried as she staggered toward the figure in purple.

The figure in purple who had just stepped out saw His Highness the Crown Prince rushing towards her, sobbing, and instinctively bent down and picked him up.

"What's wrong? Why are you crying like this? Who bullied you?"

The figure in purple comforted him while looking up. Upon seeing Lin Jiangnian squatting in the courtyard, she quickly understood what had happened.

"Your Highness, why are you bullying the Crown Prince again!"

The figure in purple who spoke was Jinxiu. Holding the little prince in her arms, she dismissed the palace maids beside her and then carried the little prince to Lin Jiangnian.

“What are you saying? I’m teaching him how to become an excellent crown prince,” Lin Jiangnian said matter-of-factly.

Jinxiu chuckled softly, "How old is he? Your Highness is already teaching him?"

"You don't understand, education must start from childhood!"

Jinxiu rolled her eyes, refusing to listen to his nonsense. Even though he's a father now, His Highness still doesn't act like a proper person.

But soon, Jinxiu couldn't help but sigh again. It wasn't just His Highness who was so unserious; her own princess was pretty much the same.

No, he's His Majesty now!
The child was born, but neither parent was any peace of mind. Not long after the child was born, His Highness returned to Linzhou, leaving the child in the capital.

Of course, His Highness wanted to take the child away, but the princess refused, and the entire court was unwilling.

They naturally did not want the crown prince of Da Ning to be taken away by Lin Jiangnian, even if the child was Lin Jiangnian's.

His Highness's departure lasted for more than a year.

As for His Majesty, he was naturally extremely busy, attending to state affairs every day, and had no time to take care of the children. The responsibility of caring for the children naturally fell on Jinxiu's shoulders.

This also led to her becoming the person who had the most contact with the young prince over the past year, and the person he relied on the most.

She became a mother at a very young age without any pain!
At this moment, the little brat was nestled in Jinxiu's arms, crying his eyes out, looking extremely aggrieved.

"You're still crying, kid?"

As Lin Jiangnian spoke, he reached out his hand and said, "Come on, hand him over to me, and I'll teach him properly."

Fear flashed across the young prince's face as he clung tightly to Jinxiu's neck, refusing to let go.

"Your Highness, please don't frighten him."

Jinxiu was both annoyed and amused: "He's your son, and you're still scaring him like that."

"Hey, he didn't call me dad."

As Lin Jiangnian spoke, he leaned closer to the little boy and said, "Call me 'Dad' first, let me hear it."

beautiful:"……"

Jinxiu said in a low voice, "Your Highness came here today just to hear the Crown Prince call you 'Father'?"

"Not necessarily. If he doesn't shout, Jinxiu, you can shout."

"Pooh!"

Jinxiu immediately understood, her face flushed, and she instinctively covered the little boy's ears in her arms in a flustered manner: "The child is still here, what nonsense is Your Highness spouting?!"

"What's there to be afraid of? He can't understand anyway."

"You mustn't talk nonsense."

"So, are you going to shout or not?"

"Don't shout, ptooey!"

Jinxiu blushed even more. This prince really had no manners and was shameless.

She lightly stamped her foot, her face flushed: "Your Highness, I'm ignoring you!"

With that, Jinxiu turned and ran away with the child in her arms, not giving His Highness a chance to continue teasing her.

Lin Jiangnian stood there, amusedly watching Jinxiu flee in disarray. Although their relationship had long since progressed to that point, Jinxiu was still easily embarrassed. Especially in front of the child, she naturally couldn't bear to hear Lin Jiangnian's 'wild and inappropriate' words.

Now, Jinxiu has gradually become the backbone of the harem.

As Li Piaomiao's closest and most trusted maid, Jinxiu's prestige in the harem grew. When the rebellion in Xuzhou was quelled, Jinxiu followed Li Piaomiao and assisted her.

This also honed Jinxiu's mental abilities, making her increasingly mature. Now, she navigates the harem with ease, helping Li Piaomiao stabilize the situation and handle trivial matters, ensuring Li Piaomiao has no worries.

For Li Piaomiao, Jinxiu was just like Lin Qingqing, who was now by Lin Jiangnian's side; both were his most important right-hand women.

Just as Lin Jiangnian was feeling sentimental, he suddenly seemed to realize something and turned around.

Ahead, under the eaves of the palace, a girl in white appeared out of nowhere.

Over the years, the girl seemed to have grown taller, her figure becoming even more slender, almost reaching Lin Jiangnian's eyes, standing gracefully.

She has lost some of her childishness and looks like a budding flower, with a hint of maturity in her eyes and brows.

But what remained unchanged was the girl's aloof and refined demeanor, and her clear, bright eyes. They were like a pristine, unpolluted lake, calm and undisturbed.

Dressed in pure white, as pristine as winter snow, she blended seamlessly with the surrounding scenery. The young woman still clutched her ever-present longsword, standing beneath the eaves, quietly watching him.

Lin Jiangnian's gaze met the girl's, and then a smile appeared on his face.

"peaceful!"

Lin Jiangnian, with a big smile on his face, quickly stepped forward, came to the girl, and opened his arms as if to hug her.

The girl subtly retreated, avoiding Lin Jiangnian's embrace.

She had a cool and aloof demeanor, and her expressionless face showed no emotion.

Lin Jiangnian then realized something, and upon closer inspection, he saw that the girl was expressionless, just like she had been before.

"what happened?"

Lin Jiangnian continued forward, arriving in front of An Ning, gazing at the graceful young woman before him.

He watched with his own eyes as this timid little girl gradually grew into a young woman.

But her personality and courage remained unchanged.

An Ning looked up at Lin Jiangnian, pursed her lips, and remained silent.

Seeing this, Lin Jiangnian took the opportunity to pull her small hand.

The girl's hands were small and slender, as if she had been holding a sword for many years, and her palms were very elastic.

An Ning shook her hand, as if trying to break free, but failed.

"It's been so long, have you missed me?"

Lin Jiangnian spoke with a smile.

An Ning turned her face away, her expression unnatural, and didn't look at Lin Jiangnian again.

"No."

A cool and brief voice.

"Really not?"

Lin Jiangnian leaned closer to An Ning, staring at her porcelain doll-like face so close to his eyes: "Lying is a bad habit, you know."

Slightly indulgent, with a tone that's like coaxing a child.

A blush was visible on An Ning's fair skin.

She was naturally shy, so how could she stand being stared at like that? She immediately panicked and wanted to back away.

But as soon as she made a move, a strong arm appeared behind her, blocking her retreat.

Then, Lin Jiangnian went a step further and took the opportunity to put his arm around the girl's slender waist.

An Ning panicked and lost her composure, trying to struggle.

"You've been naughty again!"

Lin Jiangnian leaned close to the girl's ear and sighed softly, "You really don't want to see me?"

Upon hearing this, An Ning's delicate body trembled slightly.

Then, suddenly there was no sound.

Lin Jiangnian reached out with some affection and gently brushed a strand of hair from the girl's temple.

The girl before me is still as lively as she was back then, making one feel tenderness for her.

His relationship with Anning has been quite strange over the past few years.

Three years ago in Xuzhou, their relationship had grown closer. However, due to the turmoil of war in the north and An Ning's deliberate avoidance, their relationship gradually became strained again.

Afterwards, peace returned to the land, but a series of events followed. Later, their relationship improved somewhat. However, due to Jinxiu's strict guarding and the girl's shyness and evasive nature, their feelings for each other never crossed that final line.

Lin Jiangnian could clearly sense the girl's thoughts, but often at this moment, the girl would unconsciously begin to run away.

This was the case three years ago, and it was the same when Lin Jiangnian left Beijing a year ago.

And that's the case right now too!

The girl seemed very nervous and wanted to turn around and leave.

But she was held firmly in place by Lin Jiangnian's strong arms, making her unable to move.

She seemed flustered, and her face flushed even more. She hurriedly lowered her head, as if trying to hide her emotions.

"without……"

Her voice was very soft, and it sounded somewhat muffled.

"What?" Lin Jiangnian didn't hear clearly.

But the girl pursed her lips and said nothing more.

Lin Jiangnian smiled as he gazed quietly at the girl's delicate, jade-like face and her clear, yet shy, eyes.

He lowered his head, leaned closer, and kissed the girl's thin, cicada-wing-like lips.

An Ning's whole body tensed up, as if she had been stimulated by something, and she stared blankly at Lin Jiangnian.

Lin Jiangnian then pulled her into his arms, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Tonight, I'll come see you..."

An Ning stood there, her body tense, clutching the sword in her arms, her mind blank.

But the girl's fair face was already covered with a blush.

The beauty is beyond compare.

……

After leaving the palace, Lin Jiangnian returned to the Jiang residence in the capital.

After learning of Chen Zhao's identity and whereabouts, Lin Jiangnian secretly entered the capital, and not many people knew about it.

Now that Chen Zhao has been brought to justice, all worries about the future have been eliminated.

Besides, after a year's absence, many people were still waiting for him to visit him upon his return to the capital.

On the Jiang family's side in the capital, Jiang Ningkang and his wife have also returned to the capital.

When Old Master Jiang fell seriously ill, they returned to Jiangnan with their entire family. Later, due to the rebellion of Prince Xu's mansion and the turmoil in the capital, they remained in the Jiang family in Jiangnan.

After the country was at peace and the Empress ascended the throne, she restored order to the court, and Jiang Ningkang and his wife returned to the capital. Jiang Ningkang not only regained his original position, but also rose further in rank among the Six Ministries.

When Lin Jiangnian returned to the Jiang family, he was warmly received by Jiang Ningkang and his wife. Just like when Lin Jiangnian first arrived in the capital, the affection these uncle and aunt showed him had never diminished.

In addition, Jiang Shaoan, Lin Jiangnian's nominal cousin, also returned to the capital. It seems that after experiencing the harsh realities of society in Jiangnan, Jiang Shaoan has become much more mature and composed since returning to the capital.

He grew from that little brat into an adult and no longer acted like a domineering, good-for-nothing playboy in the capital.

However, he still hasn't shaken off his old habit of boasting.

Furthermore, his adoration for Lin Jiangnian bordered on fanaticism.

Over the years, he has frequently boasted about Lin Jiangnian's achievements to outsiders. He described how Lin Jiangnian led the Linwang army north to resist the Xuwang rebels. He boasted that Lin Jiangnian single-handedly penetrated deep into enemy territory, fighting against hundreds of enemies, causing the Xuwang rebels to flee in terror...

In recent years, Lin Jiangnian's reputation has been able to turn around thanks not only to Li Piaomiao's subtle and underhanded help, but also to Jiang Shaoan's exaggerated praise, which portrayed him as a hero who was willing to risk his life for the country and its people.

And every time he saw Lin Jiangnian, this young master of the Jiang family would hug his leg, begging Lin Jiangnian to teach him martial arts with tears streaming down his face.

In any case, the once unruly young master of the Jiang family has finally gradually gotten back on the right track.

Back in Jiangnan, Grandpa Jiang's health has improved considerably over the past few years. Although that serious illness almost cost him his life, he was ultimately strong and healthy in his younger days and pulled through.

Judging from the situation, he should be able to live for several more years.

With Old Master Jiang in charge, and the Lin Prince's Mansion interfering in Jiangnan over the years, it can be said that most of the power in Jiangnan has now fallen into the hands of the Lin Prince's Mansion.

Although many ministers in the court protested against this, no one dared to confront the powerful Prince Lin's residence or the relationship between His Majesty and Lin Jiangnian.

In this situation, things can remain peaceful for a few years.

Lin Jiangnian brought only a few people with him when he came to the capital, including Lin Qingqing and a small number of guards. Originally, Zhiyuan wanted to come along, but she was pregnant and it was inconvenient for her to move around, so Lin Jiangnian asked her to stay at the Prince Lin's residence to rest and prepare for childbirth.

Xu Lan and Xiao Zhu also stayed in Linjiang City to take care of and accompany Zhiyuan.

Of course, Miss Xu didn't want to stay in Linjiang City. She wanted to go to the capital with Lin Jiangnian, but Lin Jiangnian refused.

This caused her to be sullen and even throw a tantrum. It wasn't until Lin Jiangnian repeatedly assured her that he would definitely take her with him next time that Miss Xu calmed down and obediently stayed in Linjiang City.

After the rebellion of Prince Xu was quelled, the power structure of the Da Ning Dynasty underwent a new reshuffling.

This upheaval lasted a long time and had a far-reaching impact.

The biggest winners were naturally the imperial court and the Prince Lin's residence. As the imperial court and the Prince Lin's residence shook hands and made peace, the confrontation that had lasted for several years gradually ended.

With the assistance of the Prince of Lin's residence, Li Piaomiao, as the Empress of the Great Ning Dynasty, began sweeping reforms to improve people's livelihoods and boost productivity. She also cracked down on corrupt officials, eliminating the parasites that had plagued the dynasty for years.

Meanwhile, the Prince Lin's residence, also aided by the imperial court, allowed itself to recuperate and rebuild. At the same time, the prestige accumulated over many years gradually became apparent. The people's perception of the Prince Lin's residence was no longer that of wild beasts and tigers. The battle against the Xu Prince's rebel army completely reversed the Prince Lin's reputation.

This can be considered a true win-win situation!
In addition, the various forces that had followed Li Piaomiao and Lin Jiangnian from the beginning also naturally benefited.

Among them, the most prominent was Yuan Zhongnan, the governor of Yanzhou.

When the Prince of Lin's mansion first announced its uprising, Governor Yuan couldn't wait to follow suit and raise an army to defend the emperor.

It must be said that he had a good eye for opportunity, and facts have proven that he made the right move.

As for Xuzhou, reconstruction began after the rebellion was quelled. Military and political power in Xuzhou was once again returned to the control of the imperial court. At the same time, Li Piaomiao sent his trusted confidants to take over the power in Xuzhou and to be responsible for protecting the northern border of the imperial court.

Of course, Lin Jiangnian's help was indispensable in this process.

The imperial court was severely weakened after this great battle and was no longer able to defend the borders against a formidable enemy. Therefore, the Prince Lin's army, which had been sent north, remained stationed there to assist the imperial court in protecting the border forces.

Many people in the imperial court had concerns about this, but ultimately nothing came of it.

The reason is quite simple... The current imperial court is severely weakened and can no longer afford to make any further moves.

There are many things I'm already powerless to do.

After the rebellion of Prince Xu was quelled, several other northern grassland tribes that had rebelled also surrendered. In recent years, under Li Piaomiao's direction, the imperial court's influence had penetrated deep into the grassland tribes, weakening their fighting capacity.

After this upheaval, the northern grassland tribes will be unable to cause any trouble for at least ten years.

As for the capital city, it has also undergone tremendous changes.

After a year away from the capital, this once most prosperous city has regained its former glory.

The security situation in the capital has improved dramatically, and the people of the city are living in peace and contentment, seemingly having long forgotten the turmoil that occurred not long ago.

And the Secret Observatory deserves much credit for this.

After Li Piaomiao returned to the capital and ascended the throne, at Lin Jiangnian's behest, she heavily relied on Chen Changqing, granting him a gold medal and the power to execute without prior approval.

At this point, Chen Changqing was finally able to unleash his ambitions and realize his ideals.

Under his rule, the capital city enjoyed the most peaceful and prosperous period since the founding of the Great Ning Dynasty. The name of the Secret Observatory would eventually instill fear and tremble in the hearts of all villains.

In recent years, under his rule, all people have been treated equally, without the protection of powerful figures. Incidents of the wealthy and powerful oppressing the common people are virtually nonexistent in the capital. This head of the Secret Observatory truly demonstrated his methods and abilities to everyone.

This is why the leader truly won the love and respect of the people.

He ultimately did not disappoint Lin Jiangnian!

He did not lose sight of his original aspirations and realized his initial ideals and ambitions.

Lin Jiangnian was very pleased with this.

In addition, there is Xu Zhongshan.

Xu Lan's older brother!
When he chose to stay in the capital, Lin Jiangnian gave him an opportunity to join the Secret Observatory.

He did not disappoint Lin Jiangnian either. After several years of hard work and struggle within the Secret Observatory, he gradually grew into a core figure within the Secret Observatory and successfully became the new Protector of the Secret Observatory.

Admittedly, Chen Changqing's instructions were largely due to his consideration for Lin Jiangnian. However, Chen Changqing's upright and incorruptible character is enough to prove Xu Zhongshan's outstanding abilities.

Otherwise, he would never have been able to sit in that position.

At this point, he had finally brought honor to his family and proven himself to everyone.

Upon returning to the capital, Lin Jiangnian, following the instructions of Prince Lin, visited various powerful figures.

Lin Jiangnian could see that the Prince Lin was intentionally training him, sending him to negotiate with various forces and cultivate his own power and connections.

Although Lin Hengzhong is currently in his prime, a time for adventure, it seems that this Prince Lin already has the idea of ​​abdicating and enjoying his later years. Naturally, Lin Jiangnian disagrees with this.

He was perfectly content being a spoiled young master, never intending to clash with the powerful and influential generals of the Prince Lin's mansion.

Following the battle against Xu Wang's rebel army, many people changed their opinion of Lin Jiangnian, this纨绔世子 (spoiled young master). However, Lin Jiangnian still has a long way to go to gain their approval.

Lin Jiangnian's trip to the capital served two purposes: first, to eliminate the potential threat posed by Chen Zhao; and second, to negotiate with various factions as the heir apparent of the Prince of Lin, striving to consolidate the Prince of Lin's position and power.

Besides that, Lin Jiangnian had something even more important to do.

……

As night fell, the imperial city was shrouded in darkness.

Only a few palaces in the center of the imperial city were still lit up. In the dead of winter night, the imperial guards on patrol passed by from time to time, and there was still snow in the corners.

Peace reigned between heaven and earth.

There are few palace maids in Yongle Palace.

This is the current empress's bedroom, but because Her Majesty is diligent in governing, she often sleeps in the front hall and rarely comes here.

Therefore, this place was mostly inhabited by the two closest maids of the Empress.

In the side courtyard, a dim light shone from inside a room.

An Ning sat on the edge of the bed, holding her sword, glancing at the night outside the window. Her clear eyes seemed somewhat lost in thought, as if she were pondering something.

After bathing and changing, she put on a loose, light white dress. Her profile was smooth as jade, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

She sat upright, like an obedient child, and when she looked away, her gaze fell on the sword in her arms. She gently stroked the exquisite scabbard, lost in thought.

Until the dead of night, when all was quiet!

The lamp on the table suddenly flickered.

An Ning seemed to realize something, and suddenly looked up, glancing warily out the window.

Night had fallen outside the window, and there was no one in sight.

An Ning paused for a moment, a look of disappointment and sadness appearing in her clear eyes.

Just as she turned her gaze away, a soft voice suddenly rang out from the side.

"Oh, you've already washed up and are waiting for me, young master?"

An Ning tensed up suddenly and raised her head.

In her line of sight, that familiar face appeared, staring at her with a wicked, amused smile.

In an instant, An Ning felt numb all over, and a feeling of shame and fear spread throughout her body.

Her face flushed red instantly, and her mind went blank!

She suddenly stood up and started to leave.

As soon as he made a move, his hand was grabbed.

Then, with a forceful tug, An Ning stumbled, lost her balance, and fell into the familiar, warm embrace beside her.

"open……"

The girl holding the sword struggled violently.

Her voice was flustered, shy, and nervous.

Lin Jiangnian didn't let go; instead, he hugged her even tighter, holding the girl's soft, delicate body close to his chest, as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Today is different from the past.

Lin Jiangnian today is no longer the weakling who couldn't even beat An Ning.

Having reached the level of a first-grade grandmaster, Lin Jiangnian is now a top-tier expert in the world! Apart from being unable to defeat Li Piaomiao, there is no one in the world that Lin Jiangnian can fear.

The fierce sword-wielding girls of yesteryear have now become timid little rabbits.

Lin Jiangnian held the girl tightly in his arms, cupped her blushing and flustered face, and gazed into her eyes in the dim light.

"Anning, have you missed me?"

An Ning tensed up, frantically trying to look away: "No... um..."

Before she could even speak, Lin Jiangnian forcefully and savagely silenced her with a kiss.

That girl who says one thing but means another deserves to be severely punished!

A cold wind rushed in through the window, and the flickering firelight reflected two figures embracing and kissing passionately.

At some point, the girl's stiff body gradually softened, and the sword that rarely left her side was taken away. Even the girl herself somehow managed to move from under the bed to the bed.

As the sand curtain fell, it obscured the two figures in a hazy, indistinct way.

Late at night, the girl remained tense and afraid.

She hurriedly closed her eyes, her flushed face turning pale, her breathing rapid, and an uneasy feeling pervading her.

However, the girl never backed down.

She bit her lower lip tightly, as if silently enduring it all.

Until, in a fleeting moment, she slightly opened her starry eyes. Her gaze was hazy, reflecting the rare blush that graced the usually cool and aloof girl's face.

She quietly and tightly hugged the guy in front of her, burying her head in his arms.

"think……"

The sound was soft and light, and was quickly drowned out by other sounds and disappeared.

……

early morning.

"Dengdengdeng!"

"peaceful?!"

A familiar voice rang out, accompanied by the sound of a door being suddenly pushed open.

Then, it came to an abrupt end.

The atmosphere in the room was frozen in silence.

The bed was in disarray, with Lin Jiangnian and An Ning just awakened. Jinxiu stood to the side, staring in astonishment at the scene before her.

The picture freezes!

Next scene.

"Your Highness?!?!" "What did you do to Anning?!?"

Jinxiu's angry voice suddenly rang out.

……

Half an hour later.

Lin Jiangnian dressed neatly and went to the courtyard outside the room.

Inside the courtyard stood a stunningly beautiful woman. But at this moment, her face was terribly gloomy and angry.

"beautiful."

Lin Jiangnian, quite shameless, went straight up to her and tried to hug her.

Jinxiu took a step back, glaring angrily at Lin Jiangnian.

"Calm down first!"

Lin Jiangnian spoke up to comfort him.

He could understand Jinxiu's feelings at that moment.

Not long ago, she caught him sleeping in the same bed with her younger sister. Anyone would be angry in that situation!
Therefore, Lin Jiangnian's attitude in admitting his mistake was very sincere.

"It's all my fault. I was blinded by lust. I'm not human..."

Before Jinxiu could speak, Lin Jiangnian took the initiative to self-criticize and take all the blame upon himself.

Jinxiu listened to Lin Jiangnian's explanation with a stern face, her expression still angry.

"Your Highness, do you know what you've done?!"

Lin Jiangnian nodded: "I know."

"Does Your Highness remember what you promised me before?"

"I remember too."

"Then why did Your Highness... why did you..."

Jinxiu's face flushed red with anger: "You've gone after Anning?!"

"Because Your Highness is not human, but a beast."

beautiful:"……"

Lin Jiangnian's attitude in admitting his mistake was so good that Jinxiu was filled with anger and suddenly didn't know how to vent it.

She gritted her teeth and stared at Lin Jiangnian with wide eyes.

"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have made you angry."

Lin Jiangnian continued to sincerely admit his mistakes.

Jinxiu gritted her teeth and glared at him: "Is that why I'm angry?"

"I shouldn't have attacked Anning."

Lin Jiangnian began, "I apologize, I reflect on my actions!"

"Does Your Highness regret it?"

"That's not true."

"you!"

These words infuriated Jinxiu even more: "Your Highness, what did you say?!"

Knowing you're wrong, but not correcting it.

do you mean this?

Upon hearing this, Lin Jiangnian sighed and walked up to Jinxiu: "It was indeed unfair of me to do this, but since it has already happened, I will naturally not regret it."

"And Anning, she..."

Lin Jiangnian wanted to say that he and An Ning were in love, but when the words came to his lips, he seemed to feel that there was no need to say them.

Saying this in front of Jinxiu sounds a bit like a petty person who has gotten their way.

Jinxiu's body trembled slightly. She moved away and did not look at Lin Jiangnian.

But the anger on her face had subsided considerably. After a long while, she sighed softly, "I know, that girl has long harbored feelings for Your Highness... I knew this day would come!"

"Unstoppable!"

The two sisters spent every day together, so how could Jinxiu not know Anning's thoughts?
Over the years, she had seen that girl completely distracted countless times, her heart clearly stolen away.

She had long anticipated this day would come!
Her younger sister would likely fall into His Highness's clutches sooner or later. Even if she wanted to stop him, it would be useless.

as predicted.

Right under her nose, the two of them secretly slept in the same bed?
It's unbearable to look at, absolutely unbearable to look at!

"Your Highness, how could you do this behind my back..."

As if remembering something, Jinxiu's expression turned angry again. She couldn't help but reach out and pinch Lin Jiangnian's waist hard: "How could you sleep with Anning behind my back?!"

Lin Jiangnian winced in pain, then took Jinxiu's small hand in his. Seeing Jinxiu's expression, Lin Jiangnian knew she wasn't really angry, but was just venting her emotions and dissatisfaction.

Lin Jiangnian chimed in, "So you mean, as long as it's not done behind your back, it's fine?"

"you dare?!"

Jinxiu's eyes widened: "No!"

But as soon as he said that, he quickly lost heart.

What's the point of her saying no?

Since they'd already slept together, Anning, like her, had fallen for this guy.

Thinking this, Jinxiu felt even more aggrieved.

"Your Highness..."

After a long while, Jinxiu's slightly dejected voice rang out.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

Lin Jiangnian hugged Jinxiu from behind and looked down at her.

"you……"

Jinxiu bit her lower lip: "From now on, you must not let Anning down."

Hearing this, Lin Jiang chuckled lightly.

Jinxiu glared at him: "What are you laughing at?!"

Lin Jiangnian pulled her closer to his chest and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I won't let you or Anning down. In my heart, you are both the same."

"Ha, all talk and no action, I don't believe it!"

Jinxiu gritted her teeth and looked away.

Lin Jiangnian smiled happily. Looking at Jinxiu, who was struggling to compromise in his arms, he sighed, "I thought you would try everything to stop me."

"Would it be useful to stop it?"

Jinxiu's voice was muffled; she was still sulking.

She had anticipated this situation, and now things are simply unfolding as expected.

angry?

I was indeed a little emotional, but I wouldn't say I was particularly angry.

However, it's still important to make your emotions clear!
"Hmph, Your Highness, don't think you're off the hook. I haven't forgiven you yet."

Jinxiu suddenly struggled out of Lin Jiangnian's arms and snorted, "I don't want to see you, Your Highness, and don't expect me to forgive you so quickly!"

Lin Jiangnian raised an eyebrow: "Are you still going to stay angry?"

"That's right!!"

Jinxiu nodded vigorously.

"That……"

Lin Jiangnian raised an eyebrow and made a gesture as if to turn around: "I'm going to find An Ning?"

beautiful:"……"

"Your Highness!!!"

"..."

Behind Yongle Palace, in the garden.

A cold wind howled, sweeping across the land.

In a corner unnoticed by anyone, a figure in white robes stood quietly, sword in hand, gaze lost in thought.

However, one could still see the blush that occasionally appeared on the girl's face, as well as her dazed expression.

Until, footsteps sounded behind me.

The girl became alert and turned to leave.

"peaceful."

The familiar voice behind her made the girl's urge to run even stronger.

"Don't go, I have something to tell you!"

"Stop!"

The girl finally stopped, but she turned her back to him, remained silent, and kept her head down, as if she had done something wrong.

delicate and charming.

Behind her, Jinxiu approached and stood in front of Anning. Looking at Anning, who looked guilty and furtive after doing something wrong, she almost laughed.

Having grown up with Anning since childhood, the two sisters had always been rivals, and this was the first time she had ever seen Anning so submissive.

"Now you know it was wrong?"

Jinxiu said irritably.

The girl lowered her head and pretended to be dead in silence.

"Alright, what's done is done, there's no point in pretending now."

Jinxiu was exasperated: "I told you not to fall for this, but you still wouldn't listen and got tricked by him!"

"You can explain it to the princess yourself later."

The girl clutched the sword tightly to her chest, her head bowed even lower.

"Alright, I'm not here to criticize you."

Jinxiu, who had originally intended to give Anning a good lecture, didn't know how to start when she saw Anning's expression.

After a long pause, he asked her, "Tell me, do you really... like His Highness?"

The question startled the girl.

She still didn't answer, but her expression was somewhat dazed.

But her reaction has already provided the answer.

Jinxiu sighed, "This is your own choice. I just hope you won't regret it. As your older sister, I can't force you."

"Since it has already happened, let it be."

Upon hearing this, the girl seemed stunned for a long time.

After a long while, she finally raised her head slightly and her gaze fell on Jinxiu.

Her face seemed slightly flushed, and she averted her gaze. After a long while, she suddenly spoke.

"You're not angry?"

"Why should I be angry?"

The girl remained silent, unsure how to respond.

Seeing this, Jinxiu knew exactly what she was thinking. She sighed softly, stepped forward, took Anning's hand, and said irritably, "Of course I'm angry, angry at myself for being so useless, and angry at you for being so useless."

"But I'm not angry. After all, you're my sister."

Jinxiu sighed, "Our parents passed away early, and you are my only sister in this world. How could I bear to make you sad..."

“His Highness is indeed a good person, and he will not let you down. Following him is definitely the best choice for you. As his older sister, I can finally rest assured.”

The girl stood frozen in place, staring blankly at the brocade before her.

From Jinxiu's eyes, she saw affection, concern, and also... the unique connection between the sisters.

The girl was in a daze, and there seemed to be something crystal clear in her eyes.

"Hey, why are you crying from being so touched?"

"You take it first!"

“Let’s get this straight from the start… I arrived first this time, so no matter what, you have to call me sister this time.”

"elder sister."

His voice was very soft, with a slight tremor.

Jinxiu's smile froze, and she stared at the girl in front of her in disbelief.

He just shouted it?
For over a decade, she had never heard Anning acknowledge that she was her sister. She never expected it to happen today…

The two gazed at each other silently.

At that moment, it seemed as if some emotion was slowly flowing between the two of them.

Jinxiu smiled, a radiant, heartfelt smile. As she smiled, it seemed as if glistening tears were welling up in her eyes.

She suddenly stepped forward and hugged the girl in front of her, her voice trembling slightly.

"My silly little sister!"

"..."

……

A cold wind howled, but the fire in the stove inside the room burned brightly, making the room warm and cozy.

The steaming tea on the table filled the air, and two figures were reflected in the water.

"Prime Minister Zhao, it's been a long time since we last met. How are you doing?"

In his line of sight, Zhao Xiang's hair had turned even whiter, and his figure was even more hunched. He glanced at the young man opposite him and snorted coldly, "Don't be a weasel paying respects to a chicken."

"Hey, Prime Minister Zhao, that's an unpleasant thing to say. What's wrong with me, as a junior, caring about my elders?"

"There's nothing wrong with it, but I just don't feel good when I see you."

"..."

As expected of Zhao Xiang, a veteran of four dynasties, he is indeed willful.

The older people get, the more they resemble children.

Lin Jiangnian didn't bother arguing with the old man and took a sip of the tea on the table.

"I've been missing Zhao Xiang terribly all year."

Zhao Xiang glanced at him, expressionless: "Do you miss me, or my daughter?"

"Of course I want both," Lin Jiangnian said frankly.

"hehe!"

Clearly, Zhao Xiang's attitude towards Lin Jiangnian was very bad.

Even though the imperial court and the Prince of Lin's mansion have reconciled and are in a crucial honeymoon period, Prime Minister Zhao still doesn't like Lin Jiangnian.

They didn't even give him the slightest bit of face.

The reason is self-evident.

Lin Jiangnian was already used to it, and his visit today was not really to catch up with Zhao Xiang.

"Speak, what exactly is your purpose in coming to see me this time?" Zhao Xiang stared at Lin Jiangnian.

Although he didn't like this boy, he had to admit that the boy was no longer the same as before.

With his methods, vision, and abilities, he will surely become the most powerful figure in the Great Ning Dynasty in the future.

I can only hope that if that day comes, it won't be a bad thing for the Great Ning Dynasty...

"I have come here on behalf of my father to send my regards to Prime Minister Zhao. At the same time, I also have a small matter that I would like to ask you about."

Zhao Xiang said calmly, "Speak."

Lin Jiangnian put down his teacup and suddenly spoke up: "Prime Minister Zhao should have known long ago that I am not the heir apparent of the Prince of Lin, right?"

Zhao Xiang's gaze sharpened: "Your Highness, what makes you say such a thing?"

"To be precise, I am not the previous Prince Lin... he is dead. And I, strictly speaking, am the one who took his place."

Lin Jiang tapped the tea table slowly and began to speak.

Zhao Xiang's expression turned serious: "What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"

Lin Jiangnian looked at him and chuckled, "Even at this point, does Prime Minister Zhao still intend to continue hiding the truth?"

"Does Prime Minister Zhao think I can still hide the fact that I'm sitting here today?"

Zhao Xiang stared at Lin Jiangnian for a long time, his gaze gradually calming. "What does Your Highness wish to say?"

"Twenty-three years ago, Princess Consort Lin was assassinated in the southern border region. In the critical moment, a mysterious force appeared and blocked the assassins' attack, ultimately allowing Prince Lin to come to her rescue..."

"Unfortunately, this mysterious force is too mysterious. It seems to have vanished into thin air over the years, as if it never existed."

"The Princess Consort of Lin was so frightened that she gave birth to twins prematurely. Strangely, when the Prince of Lin arrived, he only saw one child, while the other child was missing..."

Lin Jiangnian's gaze fell on Zhao Xiang, and he said, word by word, "That mysterious force back then was probably inseparable from Zhao Xiang, wasn't it?"

"That child from back then... Zhao Xiang should know very well where he is?"

silence!

The atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze and become tense at some point, as if a sword was about to be drawn.

In his line of sight, Zhao Xiang's gaze remained calm.

Why would Your Highness suspect me?

“There aren’t many people in this world who can do this quietly, but Prime Minister Zhao, you are definitely one of them…”

"Prime Minister Zhao should have known my identity and everything about the Prince of Lin's residence long ago... However, I am very curious!"

Lin Jiangnian asked, "What exactly is Zhao Xiang's purpose in doing all this? Why did he take that child away back then? And why did he send that child back to the Prince of Lin's residence five years ago?"

"What exactly is Prime Minister Zhao trying to achieve with this move?"

In the dim light, Zhao Xiang stared at Lin Jiangnian before him and gently shook his head. "You're wrong!"

"The force that took that child away back then was indeed related to Benxiang. However, this matter has nothing to do with Benxiang's illness."

Lin Jiangnian's gaze sharpened: "What do you mean by that, Prime Minister Zhao?"

Zhao Xiang calmly uttered two words: "The Way of the Sword!"

These two words flashed through Lin Jiangnian's mind. Many things suddenly became clear.

kendo!

Lin Jiangnian was no stranger to this mysterious place.

This was once the largest martial arts sect in the Jianghu, and a sacred place where swordsmanship reached its pinnacle.

Lin Jiangnian has no direct connection with swordsmanship, but the presence of swordsmanship can be seen everywhere in the martial arts world.

The 'Autumn Water Sword' given to him by Elder Li was crafted by a master swordsmith. Lin Jiangnian's ultimate technique, the 'Nine Arts of the Sword,' is also the highest level of swordsmanship.

Li Piaomiao grew up practicing swordsmanship and was hailed as a sword genius. Even Jinxiu and Anning came from a swordsmanship background.

Both of them possess martial arts talent that should not be underestimated.

It can be said that Kendo is the representative of martial arts, and there are countless masters in Kendo.

However, after submitting to the imperial court several decades ago, Kendo ceased to be practiced in the world. Over the years, it has maintained an extremely low profile, to the point that it has gradually been forgotten by the world.

Now, Zhao Xiang's sudden mention of swordsmanship instantly reminded Lin Jiangnian of many things.

"The person who saved Princess Lin and took away that child back then, was he a swordsman?"

Lin Jiangnian stared at Zhao Xiang: "Or... are you one of Emperor Ning's men?!"

With swordsmanship now subservient to the imperial court, the mastermind behind it all is self-evident.

Zhao Xiang's eyes were cloudy as he spoke slowly, "I can no longer recall many things from back then. However, this was indeed a scheme the late emperor devised against your father!"

"Back when your father quelled the various kingdoms in the southern borderlands, he enjoyed extremely high prestige in the army and among the people. His achievements were so great that they threatened the emperor's authority, and it was only natural that he would be made a king."

"Under such circumstances, the late emperor naturally needed to have a backup plan. Coincidentally, your mother gave birth to twins just as she was assassinated. Therefore, your appearance made you an important pawn in the late emperor's hands..."

"The late emperor regarded you as an important pawn, secretly took you away, raised you, and planned to play a great role at some point in the future."

Lin Jiangnian stared at Zhao Xiang: "If that's the case, why did he send me back five years ago?"

Zhao Xiang looked at him and sighed, "Originally, we kept you around to limit our ability to deal with the Prince of Lin's residence. But later, the late emperor discovered something even more serious..."

"The Xu Prince's Mansion in the north poses a greater threat than the Lin Prince's Mansion!"

Zhao Xiang's gaze was deep as he said in a deep voice, "The late emperor discovered that the Xu family was plotting a rebellion. The Xu family had been preparing for decades, with several generations secretly plotting, and had already quietly gained a great deal of influence in the court."

"If the Xu Prince's Mansion were to rebel, it would be a heavy blow to the Great Ning Dynasty. For the late emperor, he had to face this reality..."

"Therefore, the late emperor changed his attitude and issued an edict to marry the eldest princess to the Prince of Lin's mansion, thus easing the tension between the court and the Prince of Lin's mansion."

"At the same time, we also want to use the identity of the eldest princess to restrain and control your Prince Lin's mansion."

"However, the late emperor was still wary of the Lin Prince's Mansion becoming too powerful; your father's abilities made him extremely cautious. Therefore, five years ago, the late emperor secretly sent you back, intending for you to fight and kill your brother, vying for power, thereby further weakening the Lin Prince's Mansion's influence while stabilizing the situation..."

"..."

The lights flickered, and the night was deep and quiet.

Inside the room, the hot tea was still steaming.

Lin Jiangnian pondered Zhao Xiang's words.

The truth has finally come to light!
This truth, however, left him somewhat bewildered.

After so many years of investigation, the truth that was finally uncovered is nothing more than this.

It wasn't what he had imagined.

Lin Jiangnian then asked, "Why didn't Prime Minister Zhao tell me these things sooner? Why didn't he say anything when we first arrived in the capital?"

Zhao Xiang looked at him and sighed: "No one would have thought that your brother would suddenly die, and that you would inexplicably take his place, passing off the fake as real. This caused the late emperor's plan to instigate internal strife within the Prince of Lin's mansion to fail... More importantly, you have lost your memory!"

"Your sudden amnesia has completely deprived the late emperor of any chance to control you..."

"Therefore, the late emperor had no choice but to change his plans and force you to come to the capital, hoping to put you under control and prevent Lin Hengzhong from making any rash moves."

"No one expected that Chen Zhao would be a remnant of the Southern Frontier, who would assassinate the late emperor after hiding for many years, causing the late emperor's plan to ultimately fail..."

Zhao Xiang's voice was low and deep.

Lin Jiangnian looked at Zhao Xiang: "Isn't this the best outcome for the Great Ning Dynasty?"

"Yes!"

Zhao Xiang sighed and gave Lin Jiangnian a deep look: "You are not as good as your brother, but you have indeed done better than him."

"Is Prime Minister Zhao praising me or scolding me?"

"As long as your Prince Lin's Mansion doesn't rebel, that's already a compliment."

Lin Jiangnian smiled and said, "Then Prime Minister Zhao can rest assured, I, the Prince of Lin's Mansion, am an absolutely loyal subject."

"hope so."

Lin Jiangnian looked at Zhao Xiang in front of him, and then he suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Zhao Xiang.

Zhao Xiang was taken aback, a look of doubt on his face: "What are you doing?"

"Thank you, Prime Minister Zhao, for telling me the truth."

Lin Jiangnian spoke up: "Although Prime Minister Zhao did not say it explicitly, I am aware that when I was kidnapped, if it were not for Prime Minister Zhao's secret care, I might not have been able to return to the Prince of Lin's residence alive."

Zhao Xiang was silent for a moment, then said, "I am acting for the sake of the Great Ning dynasty, it has nothing to do with you!"

"Regardless, I must thank Prime Minister Zhao. Of course, besides that, there is something else I'm not sure if I should say..."

"What's the matter?"

Lin Jiangnian looked at Zhao Xiang, a hint of embarrassment on his face: "My marriage to Xi'er."

Zhao Xiang: "..."

"Get out! I won't marry you!"

This guy has finally revealed his true colors!

Lin Jiangnian sighed: "Xi'er and I are deeply in love, and I hope Prime Minister Zhao can grant our wish!"

Zhao Xi said with a straight face, "Dream on. I would never marry Xi'er to you."

"Why must Prime Minister Zhao be so heartless, determined to separate us lovers? Can't you be a little more accommodating?"

"cannot!"

Zhao Xiang remained expressionless: "You're already married, and you still want to marry my daughter? Don't even think about it!!"

Seeing that the old man suddenly turned his back on her the moment he mentioned marrying her daughter, Lin Jiangnian decided not to tolerate it anymore: "Hey, you old man, don't be so shameless. You're really pushing your luck."

"What do you want?"

"You have to marry her, whether you like it or not. If you don't marry your daughter to me, believe me, I'll burn down your Zhao mansion!"

"you dare?!"

"You wait, old man!"

"You scoundrel, you scoundrel... Even if I starve to death, die here, or am burned to death in a fire, I would never marry my daughter to a scoundrel like you!"

"!!!"

"..."

(I originally thought I could finish writing the whole plot in the last chapter, but the more I wrote about the ending, the more there was to write. I couldn't finish it all, so I had to split it into two chapters. The final plot and the arrangements for the female characters are still left. I will release them in the next day or two at the latest.)
(End of this chapter)