Yusui Chang'an

Chapter 1239 Shortsightedness
As Feng Siyao expected, after sending the people off, Chu Chengye followed his uncle to the Han Mansion, showing the people's envy for the Dingbei Army.

Looking at his nephew, who was upset because Xiao Siming was framed by King Jin and missed the chance to marry Lin Jinyan, Han Yaohui felt helpless:
It would be fine if he was just an ordinary family, but as a prince who wants to seize the throne, how could his vision be so short-sighted?

"Even if the Xiao family's son was not killed by the King of Jin, because my Han family controls the army, your father is the least likely to let you or your people marry the girl from the Lin family among the princes."

Chu Chengye was just eager for quick success, but he was not stupid. He understood the meaning after a little thought:
If the Zhenxi Army and the Dingbei Army all sided with him, he would be the most powerful prince among the Tianchu mercenaries. His father would never tolerate such a threat.

Chu Chengye smacked his lips and sighed reluctantly:

"It would be great if the Gu family could form a private alliance with me..."

Knowing that this was just a dream, Chu Chengye put the matter aside and turned to talk about the things that had been worrying him recently:
"Uncle, yesterday you personally presented the fine wine to the emperor, but the emperor asked Zheng Cheng to check it before drinking it. Could it be that he knew something and was on guard?"

Han Yaohui was calm and composed, his tense nerves finally relaxed:

According to the rules, the emperor's food must be inspected. Yesterday, he met the emperor on the pretext of government affairs and offered him wine to test him. The emperor and Zheng Cheng looked normal. After checking, he drank a small glass and praised him, just like he treated other ministers in the past.

"If your father had drunk it directly, I would have been even more worried. To prevent disaster, the troops prepared outside the city also dispersed a little yesterday.

After I leave the capital, I will properly place the troops and hand them over to my confidants. If there is any danger, you can let Sun Jian dispatch them. Your Majesty is getting older, and the party struggles will inevitably become more intense. If it cannot be saved, save your life first.

It would be better if we can follow the will of heaven, but if we can’t, then man will conquer nature.”
-
The Duke's Mansion of the State of Qin.

The prince, who was also jealous of the Dingbei Army, once again looked at Lin Jinyan.

The prince was still under house arrest, and if it wasn't for the expedition today, he wouldn't have had the chance to leave the palace. After visiting the old Duke who was still bedridden, the prince and Qin Zongliang went to the study to talk about this matter. At the Queen Mother's birthday banquet, the prince and several others asked for marriage at the same time. The next day, the Gu and Lin families accompanied Lin Jinyan to see the emperor alone, and the marriage proposal was left unresolved, and no news could be heard.

Qin Zongliang asked Hua Ling and Sun Lingxiu to befriend Lin Jinyan and create opportunities for them to get along with the prince, but Lin Jinyan did not show any admiration.

After Lin Jinyan was assassinated, she told Sun Lingxiu that she did not want to marry into a wealthy family.

Qin Zongliang frowned slightly, his eyes fell on the birdcage under the corridor. The newly found starling was looking around curiously in the cage:

“I don’t know what the Gu and Lin families discussed with Your Majesty the day after the Queen Mother’s birthday banquet. But… Your Majesty asked the imperial physician to check Lin Jinyan’s pulse.

Judging from His Majesty's attitude, when Lin Jinyan met the emperor, she probably used her frail body as an excuse to express her intention not to marry into the royal family. His Majesty didn't say anything, so he must be using Lin Jinyan as bait.

That’s why I didn’t let Your Highness contact her again. The reason why the King of Jin set his sights on the concubine of the Lin family was not only because he already had a legal wife, but also because he understood the matter clearly.”

The prince said worriedly:

"The second and third brothers both have wives, but I am the only one who can allow her to be the principal wife. The Crown Princess of Tianchu will definitely be the future queen mother. Anyone with a bit of vision will fight for it.

But she was a member of the Lin family who had become stupid because of reading too much. She was aloof and didn't know why. Lin Yanqing had a close personal relationship with Grand Tutor Yao. Hui Ning went to Ronghua Hall and became close friends with Lin Jinyan.

With the Yao family standing in the way, and me being under house arrest, this is even more difficult.”