When I stopped licking, the lady panicked.

Luo Qingxue was speechless.

Seeing Luo Qingxue's confused expression, Lin Xuan smiled and shook his head, saying, "Third Prince's Consort, you've been used as a pawn without even realizing it?"

"What?" Luo Qingxue frowned slightly, looking at Lin Xuan in confusion.

"Why is there no word of such a big event? Why didn't they even draft an imperial edict for my appointment as the Prince of Zhenbei? Think about it carefully," Lin Xuan said meaningfully.

Luo Qingxue had been well-versed in history since childhood and was exceptionally intelligent. With Lin Xuan's reminder, she immediately understood the profound meaning.

But she still refused to believe that the emperor would do such a thing. After all, her father was the Left Chancellor, a man of great power and influence, and there was no reason for the emperor to do so.

"No, my father is the Left Prime Minister. If I were to take the blame, then my father..."

"Your father will also be implicated. When that happens, his political enemies will only need to make a slight move, and even if your father doesn't finish speaking, he will at least be demoted three ranks," Lin Xuan said.

Luo Qingxue's face turned deathly pale instantly. She said, "But... if my father falls, then the Right Chancellor will..."

"The Right Chancellor has been stripped of his power. My father and the Right Chancellor were on good terms, but the Right Chancellor has not appeared since my father died in battle. This means that something has happened to the Right Chancellor," Lin Xuan said.

Luo Qingxue stared at Lin Xuan, speechless.

"If you don't believe me, you can go back and ask your father if he has hardly seen the Right Chancellor attending court recently," Lin Xuan sighed.

Luo Qingxue lowered her head and fell into deep thought.

Having said all that, Luo Qingxue had figured out the situation.

Because the Right Chancellor was implicated by the Prince of Zhenbei, the Emperor, in order to seize military power, made the Left Chancellor take the blame. This weakened the Lin family and balanced the power of the Left and Right Chancellors, preventing one from becoming too powerful.

This emperor has mastered the art of weighing options.

Luo Qingxue looked up at Lin Xuan, her curiosity about the young man in front of her growing even stronger.

He's even younger than me, yet he can see through the implications. I've read countless history books and biographies, but I'm no match for a spoiled brat. I'm truly ashamed.

No, Lin Xuan is probably not as cowardly as the rumors suggest. Now that he is besieged on all sides, playing dumb is the best way for him to protect himself.

Lin Xuan is not stupid; on the contrary, he is very smart.

Upon realizing this, Luo Qingxue couldn't help but gasp.

Despite bearing so much at such a young age, she has never been overwhelmed.

Such a state of mind is far beyond what ordinary people can achieve.

Like father, like son.

"Then what should I do?" Luo Qingxue's voice trembled slightly. At this moment, she had clearly regarded Lin Xuan as her lifeline.

Nowadays, the people in the court are untrustworthy, full of deceit and treachery, and only Lin Xuan, a mature and thoughtful person, can help Luo Qingxue.

Moreover, their previous encounter had already thawed the ice between them; two people who had once been completely exposed to each other were now more able to be honest with one another.

Besides these reasons, Luo Qingxue also had other selfish motives, namely, a deep-seated curiosity, expectation, and longing for Lin Xuan.

The reasons mentioned earlier were merely excuses for her to conceal her true thoughts.

Luo Qingxue, who was suffering from loneliness, seemed to have finally found her own antidote.

Lin Xuan was a perfect match, both physically and mentally.

Faced with Luo Qingxue's request for help, Lin Xuan smiled calmly and said, "The martial arts competition is in a few days. Go back and tell her that I need to focus on preparing for the competition."

"After all, my father stood out from the martial arts competition. As the descendant of the Prince of Zhenbei, I should inherit my father's mantle and follow in his footsteps."

Upon hearing this, Luo Qingxue's eyes lit up, and she said, "That's fine! If His Majesty continues to press the matter, it would be denying the origins of the Prince of Zhenbei. At that time, not only would the people of the world have objections, but even some military families would harbor resentment."

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "Yes."

"Young Master Lin, you are so clever." Luo Qingxue said with a bright smile, her eyes filled with admiration.

But soon, Luo Qingxue's mood calmed down again, and she said, "But, are you sure you can handle the martial arts competition?"

Although Luo Qingxue did not know Lin Xuan's cultivation level, she had heard some rumors about him.

In the past, Lin Xuan often frequented brothels with a group of cronies, spending his free time listening to music in brothels, and even squandering his family fortune to marry Yun Xiyue.

Therefore, in Luo Qingxue's view, Lin Xuan's body must be completely worn out, and he probably wouldn't even be able to lift a finger, let alone take the martial arts exam.

Lin Xuan said, "Didn't you see whether I was capable or not in the Beacon Fire Forest that day?"

Luo Qingxue blushed instantly and said, "If you bring up that day again, I'm leaving."

Lin Xuan shrugged and said, "You don't need to worry about the martial arts tournament. Just do as I say."

"In addition, I think you should seriously consider your relationship with the Third Prince. If you have thought it through, you can come and find me."

"After all, I have a lot of experience with marital infidelity."

Luo Qingxue gave Lin Xuan a meaningful look, then stood up to take her leave.

Lin Xuan escorted Luo Qingxue out of the Lin residence. Before leaving, Luo Qingxue turned back to look at Lin Xuan. When their eyes met, Luo Qingxue hurriedly looked away.

After watching Luo Qingxue leave, Lin Xuan returned to his residence and looked through the storage pouch he had taken from Master Xiaoxiang.

"Although they are high-grade pills, it's a pity that they are all for soul cultivators, and soul cultivation is too unpopular in our area. No matter how good the pills are, they can't be sold," Lin Xuan sighed.

Lin Xuan was racking his brains trying to figure out how to get martial arts pills to help him cultivate when An Bo's voice suddenly came from outside the door.

"Young Master, Young Master Xun has arrived," said Uncle An.

"Xun Fu? What's he doing here?" Lin Xuan asked, puzzled.

Xun Fu was his former cronies. Once upon a time, they frequented brothels, listened to folk songs, and fought crickets together. They were proficient in all kinds of vices, including eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring.

However, Xun Fu always enjoyed the experience while Lin Xuan paid for it.

When it comes to playing games, Xun Fu is much more experienced than Lin Xuan.

Lin Xuan had always treated him as a drinking buddy. However, in his previous life, when the Lin family was massacred and Lin Xuan fled in panic, it was Xun Fu, this same drinking buddy, who risked his life to hide him and gave him some travel money to help him leave Daqing.

Lin Xuan later learned that Xun Fu's entire family had been wiped out because of him.

After that, Lin Xuan's opinion of this fair-weather friend changed somewhat.

Xun Fu may indeed betray you when he's wronging you, but when he's helping you, he'll risk his life for you!

Although Xun Fu only ever indulged in eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring, he accumulated a lot of connections and inside information during his life as a playboy.

For example, he knew everything about which official kept a concubine, which official went to a brothel and chose which lady, and what which official did in private.

After all, men love to leave after the deed is done and then discuss right and wrong in bed.

After the battle, how pleasant it would be to hold a beautiful woman with soft, warm skin in your arms and brag about your achievements.

"Young Master Xun heard that you were blocked at the door by the Third Prince, so he came to check on you," said Uncle An.

Lin Xuan was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this.

He was cornered at the door by Xiao Zhan? It was Xiao Zhan who came to provoke him, but he ended up getting beaten and sent away in defeat.

However, Xun Fu is quite well-informed, and perhaps he can help me open some channels, even if they are not very formal ones, as long as I can exchange these pills for gold and silver, that would be good.