Too many female prisoners, a special forces soldier transmigrates and marries wildly.

The princess personally offered him a toast, a great honor that also thrust Lin Feng into the spotlight once again.

Countless gazes were focused here, some filled with envy, some with jealousy, and even more with deep vigilance. The atmosphere was almost frozen, especially around Prince Lin's seats.

Lin Feng looked at the smiling princess before him, then glanced at the emperor on the throne, whose expression was inscrutable. A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. Should he drink this cup of wine? And if so, how?

He slowly raised his hand and accepted the cup of imperial wine. Their fingertips touched briefly before separating.

"Your Highness's kindness is too much for me to bear," Lin Feng said, raising his cup in a steady voice. "Defending the borders and protecting the country is the duty of a soldier. On behalf of the tens of thousands of soldiers in the Northern Frontier, I thank Your Majesty for your great favor and Your Highness for your concern."

Having said that, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. His movements were still decisive, but with a hint of composure than before.

Princess Pingyang's smile deepened, as if she had completed some interesting game, and she gracefully returned to her seat.

The banquet continued, but the undercurrents grew increasingly turbulent. The princess's sudden intervention was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples whose depths no one could fathom.

The imperial banquet finally ended in a subtle and deliberate atmosphere. The emperor departed first to return to the palace, leaving behind his civil and military officials.

Lin Feng walked out of Xiefang Palace. The night breeze carried the fragrance of flowers and plants from the imperial garden, dispelling some of the stale air and perfume smell inside the palace.

"Lord Lin, please wait." A gentle voice sounded from behind.

Lin Feng turned around and saw a middle-aged official with a refined appearance, dressed in a purple casual robe, standing with a smile. It was none other than Li Gang, the current prime minister and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion. This was one of the few old ministers in the court who did not rely on Prince Lin and had a good reputation for integrity.

"Prime Minister Li," Lin Feng said, bowing.

"How does Lord Lin feel about his first visit to the capital?" Li Gang and Lin Feng walked side by side along the dimly lit imperial road, with Bai Xiaohe following a few steps behind.

"A prosperous place is full of hidden talents," Lin Feng replied succinctly.

Li Gang stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes revealing a clear understanding of the world: "Beneath the prosperity lies a whirlpool. Lord Lin's words in court today were resounding and I admire them greatly. However... the strong are easily broken. The capital is not like the border. Some things don't necessarily need to be resolved with swords, and some words don't necessarily need to be said so clearly."

This was a well-intentioned reminder. Lin Feng could sense the sincerity in the prime minister's words.

"Thank you for your guidance, Prime Minister Li," Lin Feng said. "However, matters at the border are matters of life and death, and cannot be ambiguous. I am of a simple nature and only know how to speak the truth. If I have offended anyone, it was truly not my intention."

"Well said, 'Speaking the truth'." Li Gang stopped and looked at Lin Feng, his gaze deep. "I admire your sharpness and sense of responsibility. His Majesty... also needs this kind of sharpness. However, Lord Lin, the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind. You are now standing at the forefront of the storm. It's easy to dodge open attacks, but hard to guard against hidden arrows. Prince Lin has been cultivating his influence in court for many years, and his influence is deep and widespread. Today's banquet was just a small test. In the future, you must be even more cautious."

"I will remember this in my heart," Lin Feng said earnestly. This Prime Minister Li might be an ally that could be won over.

"Hmm," Li Gang nodded, saying no more, but said meaningfully, "Princess Pingyang...is exceptionally intelligent and quite favored by the Emperor. Her actions today are rather intriguing. Lord Lin, take care of yourself." With that, he bowed and took his leave, his figure disappearing around the corner illuminated by the palace lanterns.

Princess Pingyang...

Lin Feng pondered the name before turning and walking out of the palace. Bai Xiaohe quickly followed, whispering, "Commander, Prime Minister Li seems to have something in mind. Also, on our way out of the palace, at least a group of people from the west have been following and monitoring us at different distances. There are people from Prince Lin, people from the Privy Council, and possibly people from the palace."

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"Let them follow," Lin Feng said calmly. "It'll be a good opportunity for them to see if I, Lin Feng, am just a reckless bully in the capital."

……

It was nearly midnight when we returned to the inn. The courtyard was completely silent, but the feeling of being watched had not disappeared.

After washing up, Lin Feng did not rest immediately. He opened the window and looked at the night sky of the capital. Here, he could not see the dazzling Milky Way like in the North, only a sky tinged with dark red by the lights, and the blurry outline of the imperial palace in the distance.

"Guard, it's late," Bai Xiaohe reminded him from outside the door.

"Xiao He, what do you think is the main purpose of the banquet the Emperor is hosting today?" Lin Feng suddenly asked.

Bai Xiaohe paused for a moment: "Demonstration, appeasement, probing, perhaps... also observation."

"Observe what?"

"Observe how you deal with the court officials' difficulties, observe your reactions to various forces, and also observe... whether you will be corrupted by the prosperity and power struggles of the capital." Bai Xiaohe analyzed calmly.

"Princess Pingyang's appearance may not have been part of his initial plan, but he acquiesced to it. This in itself is a form of observation, or even... a new test or arrangement."

Lin Feng nodded: "The emperor's control over the court has declined, and he needs a new force to counterbalance Prince Lin. I am the knife he has chosen, but this knife is too sharp. He must both use it and guard against it. Princess Pingyang... her seemingly willful actions today have brought the conflict between me and Prince Lin's faction to the forefront for the first time, and have also pushed herself, or rather, the force she represents, in front of me."

"Does the princess want to win you over?" Bai Xiaohe asked.

He closed the window.

"Let's rest. Tomorrow, we'll go out for a stroll. Since we're here, we can't leave empty-handed. Let's see what else this capital city has besides its literary splendor and intrigues."

……

翌日清晨，天光微亮.

Lin Feng changed into an ordinary indigo cotton robe, his hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin, deliberately concealing his battlefield aura, looking like an ordinary martial artist or merchant with a cold and aloof demeanor. Bai Xiaohe also changed her attire, dressing as an attendant.

The two walked out of the inn. The spies watching them were clearly not expecting them to leave so early and in such ordinary clothes, and were momentarily flustered, only able to follow them from a distance.

The capital city in the early morning is completely different from the dazzling and decadent night. The fog has not yet dissipated, and the air is filled with the aroma of cooking smoke, the fragrance of breakfast stalls, and a faint smell of coal smoke.

Lin Feng walked slowly, his gaze sweeping over the shops and houses on both sides of the street, observing the true pulse of the heart of this empire. He saw people in teahouses discussing border wars with great enthusiasm, spittle flying as they evaluated his "merits and demerits"; he saw people arguing with shopkeepers over a few coins' worth of rice in front of grain shops; he saw beggars huddled in corners, a stark contrast to the elegantly dressed young men riding horses not far away.

"Shoulder, the West Market is just ahead, it's much more lively there," Bai Xiaohe whispered.

"Let's go take a look."

The West Market was indeed bustling with activity, a cacophony of accents, with merchants from all over the world, porters, and craftsmen all mingling together. Lin Feng noticed a prominent stall selling used books ahead, so he stopped and casually browsed through them.

The stall owner, a thin old man, tentatively struck up a conversation: "Sir, are you interested in miscellaneous historical anecdotes? I have a book on local customs from a previous dynasty, as well as some frontier tales, all unique copies that you can't find anywhere else..."

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