Lin Feilu trotted back with Kong Kong and handed the letter to Lin Ting.
After seeing it, he also sighed, "I'm afraid it won't be very peaceful in the next few years."
This year's New Year had arrived with such worries.
Empress Dowager was getting older by the year, and was too tired to make many trips back and forth. She had not returned to the palace to celebrate the New Year for several years as she remained at Mount Wutai. Even if many palace servants accompanied her, staying in such a place alone was still rather lonely.
This time, Empress Dowager finally had two of her grandchildren to accompany her. As she was delighted, she ordered the palace servants to go down the mountain to buy some New Year's goods. She wanted nothing more than to have her two good grandchildren feel the lively atmosphere and have a good New Year on the mountain.
It was also the first time Lin Feilu spent the New Year outside the palace, so she planned for her and her Imperial Grandmother to cut several couplet window decals together. In the serene place filled with Buddhism, fireworks and firecrackers couldn't be put out, but the palace servants bought a lot of Qitian lanterns. After the reunion dinner on New Year's Eve, Lin Feilu and Lin Ting accompanied Empress Dowager to the gates of the mountain to set up Qitian lanterns.
Lin Feilu was a little worried that playing with the Qitian lanterns on Mount Wutai would cause a mountain fire, but it snowed a lot that night. Besides, the palace servants have also tried one in advance, which eased her worries.
Empress Dowager also said, "It's okay to just have a few of them fly, and they don't have to fly too high; as long as we are sincere, the Heavens will hear our prayers."
The three of them each took a Qitian lantern, wrote their wishes on the paper, and released them into the sky amidst the wind and snow.
The Qitian lantern that flickered in the snow looked hazy and beautiful. Lin Feilu couldn't help thinking of the Qitian lantern that she and Song Jinglan watched from the top of the tower on the night of the Qixi Festival.
That day, she was very close to the stars and was also very close to him.
The drifting snow poured down as the mountain wind whistled, blowing the Qitian lantern aside as it swayed.
Before it was completely extinguished, Lin Feilu quickly folded her hands and closed her eyes, making a sincere wish.
Although this wish sounded hypocritical, to the point where it could even be considered a joke in the place where she once lived before her transmigration, she reverently made a wish word by word— hoping for peace in the world.
Even if it's for a better life in the future, please don't fight. Please just let this peace stay forever.
Next to her, Lin Ting took Empress Dowager's hand and said softly, "Imperial Grandmother, please stay healthy all the time."
Empress Dowager smiled, but there were tears in her eyes, "Of course, I still want to see you get married and have children."
Lin Feilu opened his eyes and saw that several Qitian lanterns were finally extinguished as they drifted towards the valley by the wind.
After the New Year celebration, Lin Feilu stayed on Mount Wutai for a few more months. It wasn't until the snow melted in the spring and the trees in the mountain sprouted new shoots that the two people said their goodbyes to Empress Dowager as they set off for the palace.
A year had almost passed since the day they started their travels. Due to being apart for such a long time, Lin Feilu somewhat missed Xiao Lan and Lin Zhanyuan.
She was a little worried about Lin Ting's state and carefully observed him all the way back to the capital. She found that he didn't seem unwilling to return to the palace, even though she wished the opposite for him.
But as King Qi, Lin Ting still had his responsibilities even if he did not participate in the fight for the throne.
The carriage swayed all the way home, and on the day they returned, the spring flowers at the city's gates were blooming just in time.
The capital city didn't seem to be affected by the war with the Song Empire due to the fight over the unoccupied land, as the bustling crowd was still there. Lin Feilu turned to look at Lin Ting and found that he was obviously relieved.
The carriage took them to King Qi's residence first. The servants and butlers who received the news had long been waiting at the gates of the residence. When they saw Lin Ting getting off the carriage, they all greeted them with tears. Lin Ting smiled to reassure them and handed over the luggage to them. Then, he returned to his chambers for a change of clothes before entering the palace with Lin Feilu.
The palace had also already caught wind of the news upon their arrival. Lin Ting went to see Emperor Lin whereas Lin Feilu darted off to the Mingyue Palace first.
From a distance, she could see Qingyan with Xiao Lan as Songyu and Lin Zhanyuan waited at the intersection. Upon seeing her, Lin Zhanyuan ran over shouting, "Little sister!"
When he got closer, he saw Kong Kong in her arms as he screamed and jumped, "Monkey! It's a little monkey!"
Lin Feilu smiled and asked, "Does my big brother miss me more, or do you miss the little monkey more?"
Lin Zhanyuan thought about it and didn't want to reply to her, "I miss my sister!" He pursed his lower lip, looking like he wanted to cry, as he said aggrievedly, "I haven't seen my little sister for a long time— I miss you."
Lin Feilu smiled and hugged him in return, "I missed you too."
Lin Zhanyuan was slightly embarrassed again before he muttered, "Mother said that men and women can't share kisses freely, but let me give my little sister a hug," After speaking, he looked at the little monkey in her arms curiously and hesitantly stretched out his index finger.
Lin Feilu touched Kong Kong's head and said in a negotiating tone, "Kong Kong, would you like to give me a hug? In the future, big brother will feed you a lot of bananas."
Kong Kong gave a cry and took the initiative to stretch out two of its thin arms towards Lin Zhanyuan, making the boy very happy.
Xiao Lan also came over. Lin Feilu called out 'Mother Consort' and Xiao Lan burst into tears. She had never been separated from her daughter for such a long time. Needless to say, she missed her as they have not seen each other for a year. She had grown a little taller and her complexion had turned a lot more rosy than it was when she was in the palace before.
She looked like a big girl now.
Several people were crying as they gathered around and Lin Feilu couldn't finish comforting all of them, "Okay, okay, I'll go back and change my clothes to freshen up. Then, I'm going to greet Father Emperor."
The entourage then walked towards the Mingyue Palace where Lin Feilu hurriedly changed her outfit and headed to the Yangxin Palace.
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The palace servants in the Yangxin Palace smiled when they saw Lin Feilu, "After a year of being away, the Fifth Princess is finally back in the palace. His Majesty could never stop ranting about it. His Highness King Qi is inside as well, so please enter, Your Highness."
When Lin Feilu walked into the hall, she saw that Emperor Lin was leaning on the soft cushion. The stove in the halls was burning and steaming, warming the room. Lin Ting was sitting on the chair below as the father and son duo were chatting with a smile.
She shouted 'Father Emperor' happily, and Emperor Lin couldn't help but sit up straighter, "My Little Five has finally returned ; come over and let me take a good look."
Lin Feilu ran over with a smile as she hugged his arm and acted coquettishly. Emperor Lin patted her head and his slightly worn out expression couldn't help but be a bit sad, "It's been no longer than a year. And yet, it seems like I have gotten older; even my Little Fifth Princess has become a big girl now."
Lin Feilu said, "Father Emperor is not old; you're in your prime!"
Emperor Lin smiled and said, "It's just your sweet mouth. Just now I was just telling your Imperial Eldest brother that you will be ready to marry after the spring. I already have a few houses outside the palace prepared for you, but you can choose one of them another day. Then, we'll pick an auspicious day to give the plaque of the house a repair, and after your birthday, you can leave the palace and live alone."
Lin Feilu forgot about it.
Lin Ting said with a smile, "Father Emperor said that our Fourth brother was the one who handled the selection of the houses. Once the year started, he started to busy himself with this matter— apparently seeming to be more concerned about it than you are."
Lin Jingyuan secured the title of King Jing last year and was given a mansion outside the palace. He was also engaged with Mu Tingyun, the daughter of the Left Imperial Clerk.
The Imperial Clerks were of the second rank. The Metropolitan Court, together with the Ministry of Punishment and the Da Li Temple, was also known as the Three Judicial Divisions.
The Metropolitan Court was also divided into the left and right positions. In fact, the boy Ran Ye, who Xi Xingjiang violently beat up due to his desire to pursue Lin Feilu, was the son of the Right Imperial Clerk.
Lin Feilu did not expect that even Lin Jingyuan would have a wife selected for him within a year, so she was surprised and delighted, "I'll go and find the Imperial Fourth brother in a while and thank him in person!"
The three of them chatted about the interesting things they had seen while traveling around over the past year. Lin Feilu also handed over his notebook to Emperor Lin, which recorded the unruly court officials that she had encountered and some suspected injustices. She hoped that Emperor Lin would follow up with investigations later on.
Lin Ting had already sent a letter to inform about the matter of King Pingyu before. Emperor Lin had no feelings for this royal brother, but because of his royal blood, he named him the King of a county.
Now that the Emperor had heard about the unjust deeds and flamboyant lifestyle, who was actually living a more debauched life than himself, Emperor Lin had already sent some officials to investigate. In the end, the matter was as true as the information that he had received from Lin Ting. He revoked the title of King Pingyu, took ownership of the Jinling City and demoted him to a commoner.
For a person like that, such a punishment might be worse than killing him outright.
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Emperor Lin turned over the small book and said with a smile, "My Little Five is not only a little lucky star, but also a little blue sky. With you being so good and impressive, I truly don't know how many men under this sky are worthy of my Fifth Princess."
There was a hidden meaning in his words. Lin Feilu knew that the marriage she had been avoiding two years ago was about to be brought up again, so she quickly said, "No one deserves it! Let me enjoy my own beauty!"
Emperor Lin laughed, "You silly girl."
After chatting for a while, Lin Feilu was so hot that she was sweating. Seeing that it was spring and the weather was not particularly cold, she wondered why the stove in Emperor Lin's Yangxin Palace was still burning vigorously. She looked at the palace servants around her and realised that everyone, including Lin Ting, were all flushed.
After a while, a palace servant brought a glass of water and reminded, "Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine."
Lin Feilu was startled, "Father Emperor is sick?"
Emperor Lin merely shook his head and said with a smile, "It's just some tonic pills."
Lin Feilu, "Tonic???"
She walked over and watched Peng Man open a box. There was a red marble-sized pill in the box, and Emperor Lin ate the pill with some water.
Lin Feilu frowned and asked, "Where did you get the pill? Did the Imperial Hospital make it?"
Peng Man smiled and said, "It was from a Taoist priest who travelled to the capital. His Majesty discussed Taoism with him for three days. The Taoist leader said that His Majesty's position as a True Dragon Emperor was fated with the Taoist practices, so he made a special trip to the capital to refine medicinal pills for His Majesty."
Lin Feilu was simply appalled.
Was he trying to repeat the mistakes of Emperors such as Emperor Taizong and Emperor Yongzheng of the Tang Dynasty(1)?
(T/N: Both Emperors were historical figures and recognised as strategic yet wise Emperors of their time. Unfortunately, both passed away due to their consumption of quack miracle elixirs or medicinal pills that were thought to benefit their health)
Were all Emperors easily confused once they reached old age?
Emperor Lin was nearly fifty. When he was younger, he was very diligent in handling political affairs and was, in fact, a tad too hardworking. Now that he was getting older, he had gotten less powerful. After taking this medicinal pill, he recovered a lot of energy, making him seem to have regained his youthfulness. Therefore, he highly respected this Taoist priest.
Lin Feilu originally wanted to persuade him to be cautious, but Emperor Lin's stubborn temper made him even more arrogant in his old age. He wouldn't listen to her words at all, not to mention that this elixir's effect was very significant. She had merely questioned him once, but when she saw that his eyes were gradually showing signs of displeasure, she consciously shut up.
Not long after, there were court officials who wanted to meet the Emperor, so Lin Feilu and Lin Ting retreated.
After walking out of the Yangxin Palace, Lin Feilu breathed a sigh of relief, "The heat was truly killing me."
Lin Ting fanned her with his sleeves, and his tone was slightly laced with worry, "Father Emperor's body doesn't seem to be as healthy as before."
Lin Feilu said, "We merely left for a year, and Father Emperor was already starting to take medicinal pills? What sort of good stuff is that anyways, and why didn't the Imperial Doctors advise him about it?"
Lin Ting said, "Since Father Emperor is taking it, it probably does work, so you don't have to worry about it too much. Besides, you should know of Father Emperor's temperament. Hence, don't bring this matter up again, lest he starts to dislike you."
Lin Feilu didn't know how to explain to him that unknown elixirs were equivalent to poison. After all, she didn't gain this knowledge through her studies, so she could not bring up the examples of the past Emperors' causes of death. In the end, she only let out a sigh but said nothing more.
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Lin Ting walked out with her, and when they reached the intersection, they saw someone walking towards them.
Lin Feilu raised her eyes and ran over excitedly, "Brother Crown Prince!"
Lin Qing was just thinking about something when he heard her voice and looked up. A smile spread on his usually solemn face, "Little Fifth Princess is back."
He turned his eyes and saw Lin Ting also standing across from him. His smile faded a little, but he still greeted him warmly, "Eldest Brother, are you feeling better?"
Lin Ting nodded and smiled, "My health has improved a lot, thank you for your concern, Third Brother."
The two of them were polite to each other, no longer confronting nor being involved in conflicts, but the way they treated each other also lacked the warmth that was present in their childhood.
Lin Feilu said, "Brother Crown Prince, I will go to the Eastern Palace later to visit you and sister-in-law— I brought you gifts!"
Lin Qing retracted his gaze, and when he looked at her, his eyes were much softer, "Okay, I'll go and meet Father Emperor first."
The three said goodbye, and it was not until Lin Qing walked away that Lin Feilu glanced at Lin Ting a little worriedly. Upon seeing his drooping eyebrows and gentle expression, she felt a little uncomfortable as she said in a low voice, "Eldest Imperial Brother, Brother Crown Prince still respects you a lot."
Lin Ting did not answer her, but changed the line of conversation to another topic, "In the Palace just now, I asked Father Emperor about the situation between the Great Lin Empire and the Song Empire. He said that the two countries have their own dependencies— our Empire needed to train our troops whereas the Song Empire had to strengthen their country. Hence, the agreement placed between our countries would temporarily be unbroken, and there won't be any wars or conflicts occuring anytime soon."
He looked at the swaying flower in the pot not far away from him and smiled, "Third Brother is calm, Second Brother is steadily thriving in the army, and Fourth Brother also began learning how to handle political matters. There is no place for me to help in this court, so now, I can leave in peace."
Lin Feilu was startled, "Leave? Where are you going?"
Lin Ting laughed, "Someone is still waiting for me."
Lin Feilu knew who he was talking about, so she questioned, "Then, what about Noble Consort Ruan..?"
Lin Ting said warmly, "I will say my goodbyes to them one by one before finally bidding farewell to the Father Emperor. I will return if the peace is broken and the Palace needs me."
Lin Feilu had a thought. To him, perhaps this Palace would be the best final destination.
Even if the Ruan's family faction had fallen, he would still be regarded as a thorn in the Crown Prince's faction as long as he was present in the Imperial Court. It would definitely be better for him to be free and safe.
Lin Feilu solemnly patted his shoulder and said firmly, "No matter what the Eldest Imperial Brother does, I will always support you!"
Lin Ting smiled and shook his head, "You shouldn't say these kinds of words so carelessly. Come on, you can go and find Fourth Brother; I should also go to visit my Mother Consort."
Lin Feilu nodded obediently, and after parting with him, she subconsciously headed towards Consort Xian's Changming Palace. It wasn't until she was halfway there that she realized Lin Jingyuan had already left the palace and had moved to his own. Hence, she changed her route and headed towards his residence.
Lin Jingyuan's King Jing's Residence was selected by himself through layers of research and investigation. Not only was the location excellent, but all the buildings in the mansion were built according to his preferences. Lin Feilu came to the mansion's door, and at a glance, she saw two mighty and majestic stones standing at the door…
Stone books???
Lin Jingyuan, are you insane?
People would usually have stone sculptures of lions outside their doors, so why were there two humongous books outside his?!
When did he love studying so much???
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When did he love studying so much???
Lin Feilu stood in front of the two tall stone books for a long time, unable to guess what was going on in Lin Jingyuan's brain.
The guards who stood by the door didn't recognise her at first. They were still a little wary of her lingering in front of the door. It wasn't until she approached closer that the guards recognised her as the Fifth Princess, hurriedly greeting her.
As soon as she stepped into the mansion's gates, Lin Jingyuan, who heard the announcement, walked out quickly. His face was full of excitement and joy when he saw her, "Little Lu! You are finally back!"
Lin Feilu smiled and said sweetly, "Brother Jingyuan."
Although Lin Jingyuan has grown into a suave and dashing young man, his behaviour was still the same as it was before. He took her by the wrist and walked in, "You're finally back. I'll show you my mansion! You have no idea how much thought I put into it; it's definitely one of the top ten mansions in the capital!"
Lin Feilu asked the question that she was most curious about, "Brother Jingyuan, why are there two stone books standing outside your house? Wouldn't one usually place a stone lion or two?"
Lin Jingyuan said seriously, "Since it is used to ward off evil spirits from entering the house, it is only natural to use the most ferocious thing in the world. I think books are much scarier than lions, so we must set up books!"
Lin Feilu, "?"
Lin Jingyuan was also proud of it, "There's actually people who often come up to worship it. Besides, I'm the only one who has it in the entire capital; you can't find a second residence in the capital that has these."
Lin Feilu, "…"
Yes, after all, there is no other in this capital who is as ignorant as you are.
Ultimately, she had to admit that his mansion was really well repaired. Lin Feilu had been to Princess Lin Nianzhi's REsidence and Lin Ting's Prince Qi Residence, both of which were of orthodox architectural patterns. This King Jing's mansion had an ingenious beauty to it, filled with pavilions and luxurious courtyards. The corridors were scattered, providing an atmosphere that was filled with life.
It was just like Lin Jingyuan since he was always full of unexpected vigour.
After visiting the mansion, Lin Jingyuan asked people to serve her favourite refreshments and began to ask them about their journey in the martial world. Lin Feilu told him interesting things about her travels while eating the snacks. Hearing about them, Lin Jingyuan was very moved, and he repeatedly said that he would travel with her to see it for himself next time.
In the end, Lin Feilu had sated her appetite and finally asked about the more serious matters, "Brother Jingyuan, I heard that you are engaged?"
As soon as she said this, Lin Jingyuan's face suddenly darkened, and he became unhappy, "Don't mention this."
Lin Feilu asked curiously, "What? Don't you like my sister-in-law?"
Lin Jingyuan almost jumped up at that, "What do you mean 'sister-in-law'?! Don't call her that! She hasn't passed the gates yet(2), so why is she your sister-in-law? Besides, it's not certain whether I will marry or not!"
(T/N: Chinese traditional weddings require the bride to walk into the groom's house from the front door and pass their gates. It's a sign that she will henceforth enter the family)
Seeing his annoyed appearance, Lin Feilu hurriedly calmed him down. After asking about it for a long time, she found out that Consort Xian and Emperor Lin ordered this marriage. He didn't like any of the ten young girls presented to him at that time. Consort Xian had practically picked out the most suitable young ladies of the right age in the capital, but he still didn't agree.
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In the end, both Consort Xian and Emperor Lin became angry as they directly decided on Tingyun, the daughter of the Left Imperial Clerk. The Emperor also issued an edict to confer his marriage, deciding they should marry by summer.
Because of this, Lin Jingyuan and Consort Xian have been angry at each other for a long time. In fact, the mother and son duo were still in a cold war.
Lin Feilu took a sip of her tea and asked carefully, "You don't like Lady Mu? Then do you have someone you like? If there is, I will accompany you to intercede with Consort Xian and the Father Emperor. There will always be a way to cancel the engagement and get married with a girl that you like."
In the end, Lin Jingyuan said, "No, I don't even know who it is or what is the type that I like. However, I don't like whoever they chose."
Lin Feilu, "…"
I got it— this child is in his rebellious phase.
She said, "So, you don't know Lady Mu's character? You haven't seen her and you don't understand her yet, so how can you decide that you don't like her?"
Lin Jingyuan said dully, "What else can these noble ladies from the capital be like? Aren't they all the same?! All of them would have polite mannerisms and behaviour, paired with a rational yet virtuous attitude whilst smiling without showing their teeth!"
Lin Feilu, "…"
Isn't being polite, knowledgeable, rational, and virtuous a good thing? Why is he complaining about it as if he was telling someone off?
Lin Jingyuan added, "What's more is that she is the daughter of the Left Imperial Clerk. The Left Imperial Clerk has a fierce expression, and he doesn't need to use punishments or torture methods to interrogate his prisoners. Just relying on his facial expressions, he could probably scare the prisoner into confessing, so what kind of daughter can she be?! She might as well be a tigress!"
I almost forgot; this person loves softer girls.
Lin Feilu comforted him, "If her character and appearance were not good, Father Emperor wouldn't have considered the marriage. Hence, she won't be too bad."
Lin Jingyuan asked unhappily, "Whose side are you actually on?!"
Lin Feilu, "Of course I'm on Brother Jingyuan's side! How about this— I'll help you do some digging and see what sort of person Lady Mu is."
Lin Jingyuan said in an irritated tone, "I don't want that! No matter what kind of person she is, I just don't want others to force me into marrying! I'm going to figure out a way to have this marriage cancelled."
The character of the little overlord in this young man's personality had not changed in the slightest. He was going to get what he wanted, and in that sense, he was definitely the son that was most similar to Emperor Lin.
Lin Feilu didn't say anything else upon seeing him behave as such. The two then had some refreshments before going out to see the residences Emperor Lin had included. The earlier she decided, the earlier the decorations and final touches could be completed.
These houses were all chosen by Lin Jingyuan and were submitted to Emperor Lin for approval after carefully selecting them. He had always placed Lin Feilu's matters ahead of his own, and this time was no different. Each house had its own distinct advantages, but he ensured each one was clean and spacious.
Lin Jingyuan's first recommendation was the mansion that was closest to his own. Probably wanting his Fifth Sister to live closer to him, he ensured that the cleanliness and the facilities for the residence in question were especially satisfactory.
Lin Feilu pretended not to notice his intentions as she smiled, "I'll take this one then. I'll go back and report my decision to Father Emperor. If Imperial Brother Jingyuan has ample time, do help me design it. After all, I like the layout of your place very much."
Lin Jingyuan was very happy, "I have time! I have a lot of time!"
Lin Feilu, "Really? Then why did I hear from Father Emperor that you have started participating in political discussions in the court? His Highness King Jing must actively carry out the royal duties without slacking off."
Lin Jingyuan smiled and poked her head.
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After returning to the capital, Lin Feilu went all over the palace and chose the most suitable gifts for everyone. Seeing the happy smiles on their faces when they received the gifts gave her a sense of accomplishment.
Now that the situation in the court was stable, Prime Minister Ruan had returned to his hometown as the Ruan family had wholly given up the idea of winning the war for the throne.
Lin Qing's status as the Crown Prince was completely stable, but he had never been a rash person either. Now, he just needed to abide by his duty and retain his sharpness. By waiting patiently, that position would be his sooner or later. Before that happened, there was absolutely no need to cause Emperor Lin to be dissatisfied or jealous of the Crown Prince. Then again, Lin Qing himself was too much of a filial son even to consider such a thing.
Without anything holding him back any longer, Lin Ting announced his departure to Emperor Lin after bidding his farewells one by one.
As King Qi, he still held an official position in the court, but this resignation meant his complete farewell to the officialdom.
According to Emperor Lin's wishes, as long as the Ruan family halted their attempts, Lin Ting, as King Qi, would still be able to participate in the politics of the royal court. After all, he was the eldest son, who was both erudite and talented. The child that had a heart big enough for the world, paired with amazing talents and practical skills.
However, Lin Ting was determined to leave. Considering his previous depressive mental state, Emperor Lin couldn't force him to stay, so he could only agree.
Lin Feilu originally wanted to stay with him for another month and leave after his 15th birthday, but she didn't insist much, thinking that there was a girl in red waiting atop the Qin Mountains. Since Xiaobai and Xiaohei have been there, they sent Lin Ting on his way to the Qin Mountains after deciding on a date.
The day before he left, Lin Jingyuan held a banquet in his mansion as a farewell to his Eldest Imperial Brother. The royal siblings in the palace, including Lin Qing, all came to participate.
Lin Jingyuan was good at doing stuff like this, after all. Thus, King Jing's Residence was full of hilarity all day long.
But outside the usually-deserted King Qi's Residence, a girl in red came that evening.
The girl led a black horse and carried a broadsword on her back. Her long hair was fastened in a high bun with a wooden hairpin, revealing her fair and slender neck. Her expression on her face was indifferent, but her eyes were pure as she gazed at the mansion in front of her with curiosity.
The guards at the door saw her lingering around for a long time. Since she had a broadsword strapped to her body, the guards looked at each other and walked over, vigilantly armed with sabres,"Who are you? Why are you lingering around here?"
Yan Xin gave them a greeting by palming her fist, "These two soldiers, I'm here to find someone. Can I inquire if His Highness King Qi is in the residence?"
Her appearance was fatigued, and she did not look like the nobles in the capital at all, but the guards under Lin Ting were not rogues. They remained businesslike and unbiased, "His Highness is not currently in residence. Do you have the permitted Slip of Greeting required to see His Highness?"
Yan Xin shook her head.
The guard continued, "Then you should go to Jing Zhaoyin to get registered first. Leave the motive or any other information about your visit there, and someone will verify it. After three days, you will receive the invitation should your visit be approved."
Yan Xin didn't know that there were so many rules in the capital. However, she understood that when in Rome, do as the Romans do(1). Hence, she naturally had to abide by the rules here.
(T/N: It means that one should follow the traditions, customs, or rules in a place that is being visited)
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After thanking the two of them, Yan Xin asked for directions to the office. After explaining the purpose of her visit, she went through layers of review, and it was already dark by the time she finished the entire process.
Yan Xin thought that since it would take three days to receive the invitation to see Lin Ting, she should first find an inn to stay in. She led her horse all the way down the long street, but noticed that the capital was particularly lively after night fell. She watched the nightlife as she walked and suddenly saw a vendor selling cotton candy in a corner.
The cotton candy was bigger than she saw in Jinling City and looked very sweet.
Yan Xin was a little excited and planned to buy one to eat whilst returning to the inn. Just after taking a few steps forward, she saw a familiar figure pacing on the corner of the street.
It was then that Lin Ting came out of King Jing's Residence. His schedule had been packed all day, and it was truly eventful. After drinking some wine at the banquet, he didn't have anyone escort him home as he planned to take a walk and sober up.
People were coming and going on the long street as he looked up at will, but then, he saw a girl in red with a horse not far away.
The moonlight on a spring night was hazy, but the lanterns on the street were bright, clearly illuminating even the wooden hairpin on her head. Lin Ting stayed where he was and watched for a brief moment before finally smiling.
He walked towards her, and only when he was in front of her did he confirm that this was not a dream nor an illusion.
"Lady Yan Xin, why are you here?"
Yan Xin saw him, and the smile in her eyes became obvious, "I came to pick you up."
The horse beside her lowered its head and rubbed against Lin Ting's arm. He raised his hand and touched the horse's head, speaking softly, "Didn't I send a letter over already? I can't possibly break my word."
Yan Xin's ears were a little red, but her tone was still serious, "I miss Little Lu too, so I wanted to come and see her."
Lin Ting took the reins in her hand, "She would be very happy to know that you are here. But first, let's return to the house first."
Yan Xin said, "But I haven't gotten the slip."
Lin Ting was stunned for a moment, "What sort of slip?"
Yan Xin repeated what the guards at the gate of the residence said to her today.
After hearing this, Lin Ting couldn't help laughing, "So you went to Jing Zhaoyin?"
Yan Xin nodded.
He looked at the girl in front of him and shook his head with a smile. Raising his hand, he touched the ends of her hair that had been ruffled by the night wind, "Silly girl, those are the rules for outsiders; you, however, don't have to go through all that."
The guards at the gate of King Qi's Residence still remembered Yan Xin. At this moment, seeing her walking back with her Eldest Prince and behaving seemingly close with him made the two guards rather nervous.
However, their attitude in the afternoon wasn't bad towards her as they were merely following protocol, so Lin Ting naturally didn't blame them for anything. After handing over the dark horse to them, he brought Yan Xin into the house.
Besides a few Princesses from the palace, no other female had ever come to King Qi's Residence. The steward and servants in the residence were surprised when they saw a young girl being brought in by the Imperial Prince. Lin Ting instructed the steward to arrange a room for her and had the chef start making some dishes.
Although the Thousand Blades Sect was large, the environment and architecture of the sect was full of natural wildness, which was completely different from the luxurious and exquisite mansion of the capital.
So this is his home?
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So this is his home?
Yan Xin looked around silently while eating. Lin Ting saw that she looked a little restrained and uncomfortable, so he said warmly, "Just treat this place as your own home. You don't have to be that nervous."
The eyelids of the servants who were waiting aside flickered, and they were all excited in their hearts. They all had the same thought— were they going to have a Princess for this residence now?
Lin Ting took a piece of marinated meat for her and said, "I originally planned to leave the capital tomorrow, but since you are here, we can stay for a few more days. I will send someone into the palace tomorrow to inform Little Lu."
Yan Xin nodded and agreed to it.
Early the next morning, Lin Feilu, who had received the letter, flew out of the palace.
Yan Xin's arrival was a huge surprise to her. As soon as she entered King Qi's Residence, she rushed towards Yan Xin and gave her a bear hug.
Although Yan Xin was only slightly taller than her, her strength was much stronger. Therefore, supporting the Princess, who practically jumped and clung onto her, wasn't that difficult. She smiled and raised her hand to pat the back of her head, "Long time no see."
Lin Ting smiled beside her, "You're not going to get down?"
Lin Feilu pouted at him and obediently released Yan Xin, but her eyes were still sparkling. Lin Feilu then bombarded her with questions before taking her to the streets to have some of the best food in the capital.
She wanted to let the entire palace know she had made a friend who ranked 10th on the List of Heroes of the martial world. Hence, she invited Yan Xin to visit the palace.
Before, Lin Feilu was worried about making Yan Xin wait too long, which was why she didn't ask Lin Ting to stay a month longer to celebrate her birthday. Now that Yan Xin had come to the capital, Lin Feilu simply asked both of them to stay with her until the celebration.
For women, reaching the age of 15 was also a coming-of-age day. As it was considered a very important event, Yan Xin and Lin Ting naturally agreed.
After the Princess's residence was chosen, Lin Jingyuan took over the architecture plans and helped her design the mansion in an orderly manner. Lin Feilu felt the excitement of renovating a new house, so she dragged Yan Xin out to different parts of the streets every day, purchasing items to add to her new place.
To round up the total distance the two covered for their shopping spree, it was the equivalent of journeying through several sets of courtyards in the capital, covering an area of several hundred acres!
Knowing that she liked to adore flowers and rear animals, Lin Jingyuan also specially designed a flower field and animal house for her. She did not touch anything from the flower garden of the Mingyue Palace. However, the Imperial Household Department workers went back and forth to help her fill the flower field with newly cultivated flowers and plants.
As it was spring, the flowers were blooming in varying shades of purple and red, which was truly a sight to behold.
The day Lin Feilu went to move all the small animals she raised out of the palace and into her new home, Lin Zhanyuan burst into tears.
Through the explanations of Xiao Lan and Qingyan over the past few days, he already knew that in the future, his sister would be living outside the palace and would no longer be here. It was hard to bear, but with the small animals leaving him, things were becoming harder to accept for the boy.
Holding onto Kong Kong and tugging at the corner of Lin Feilu's clothes, he said, "Little sister, please don't leave, okay?"
Lin Feilu took his hand and coaxed him, "I'm not leaving, I'm just moving to a new house. Will brother come to the new house with me from now on? There are more pretty flowers and cute animals in the new house."
Lin Zhanyuan was stunned. With tears still hanging from his eyelashes, he asked in a daze, "Can I go too?"
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Lin Zhanyuan was stunned. With tears still hanging from his eyelashes, he asked in a daze, "Can I go too?"
Lin Feilu smiled and said, "Of course, you can. Brother can live with me from now on."
Lin Zhanyuan laughed happily. After laughing, he thought of something as he turned to look at Xiao Lan next to him, "What about mother?"
Lin Feilu said, "Mother would naturally have to live in the palace with Father Emperor. Husband and wife can't be separated, after all. One day, when you get married, you can't live separately from your wife either."
Xiao Lan laughed along and raised her hand to wipe away her tears.
According to Lin Zhanyuan's age, it was about time for him to live outside the palace. However, everyone was aware that he couldn't be left alone. Even so, as he got older, he couldn't remain in the Mingyue Palace either.
Lin Feilu asked Emperor Lin for a decree to move Lin Zhanyuan out of the palace so he could live with her.
As it was the best solution, Emperor Lin naturally agreed.
Although Xiao Lan was reluctant to part away with her children, it was an ancestral tradition. Besides, there wasn't anything much to worry about either.
Her initial wish for them to grow up safely and happily had already come true. She wasn't a greedy person, so as long as her children could continue to flourish in their lives peacefully, it would be enough.
Lin Zhanyuan felt happy when he learned he would move out of the palace. The excitement even doubled to know that he would be living with his sister henceforth.
Although he was a little reluctant to leave his mother, thinking with the mindset of a child, he still preferred his sister, who always played with him and gave him interesting gifts. Besides, his sister reassured him they could frequently return to visit their mother. So after a moment of deliberation, he accepted the fact, happily starting to pack his belongings.
Seeing that the day of Lin Feilu's coming-of-age day was approaching, Emperor Lin ordered the Ministry of Rites to draw up a page of promising titles.
Lin Feilu sat cross-legged on the soft cushion of the Yangxin Palace whilst eating snacks as she sorted the titles she liked.
These titles, in ancient times, conveyed a dignified and skilful vibe. She spent a long time choosing and felt that the title of 'Yong An(1)' had the best meaning. It sounded good as well, so she happily pointed it to Emperor Lin, "Father Emperor, I'm done choosing!"
(T/N: Yong An means 'eternal peace' or 'eternal safety')
Emperor Lin looked at it and pondered, "Yong An? The meaning is excellent. If you like it, then let's make it yours."
Lin Feilu nodded with a smile, but before she had finished, Emperor Lin took out a stack of portraits and handed them over, "Choose one from here as well."
Lin Feilu, "?"
The portraits consisted of men of the right age, and this scene seemed familiar to her. Didn't this resemble when she assisted Lin Nianzhi in selecting her future husband candidates?
Lin Feilu panicked slightly and swallowed a gulp of saliva, observing Emperor Lin's expression. Seeing him smiling and looking at her, she could only lower her head and sift through the portraits. The last one was actually Xi Xingjiang's profile, and Lin Feilu's hands trembled.
After looking at them, Emperor Lin asked, "Do you like anyone?"
She pouted and shook her head.
Emperor Lin was not surprised as he just said, "You have had a good relationship with the Fourth Prince since you were a child, but you are indeed the same as him when it comes to marriage— making those around you worry."
Lin Feilu pursed her lower lip as she inched closer slowly. Then, she hugged his arm coquettishly, "Father Emperor, I just don't want to get married so early. My mansion has just been built, and I haven't experienced the happy life of living alone. If I get married now, I will regret it for my entire life."
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Lin Feilu pursed her lower lip as she inched closer slowly. Then, she hugged his arm coquettishly, "Father Emperor, I just don't want to get married so early. My mansion has just been built, and I haven't experienced the happy life of living alone. If I get married now, I will regret it for my entire life."
Emperor Lin was unmoved, "You can make a decision first and then get married next year."
Lin Feilu pursed her lips, eyes turning red as they twitched in an aggrieved manner, "Father Emperor doesn't like Little Lu anymore, so you can toss me aside like you would with a bucket of water. Father Emperor doesn't want Little Lu anymore, boohoo…"
Emperor Lin was helpless yet amused, "Sneaky thing, you just knew this would work on me."
Lin Feilu, "He he…Boohoo…"
Emperor Lin sighed. His expression was quite relaxed, but he said, "I do hope you can marry the man you like, and I won't force you otherwise. However, the marriage has to be carried out. I'll give you a bit more time, so choose wisely."
Lin Feilu didn't expect that she, who didn't have to experience the horrible feeling of being placed in an arranged marriage in her past life, would have to go through it now. Her emotions became a jumbled mess at that thought.
She decided that if she couldn't escape, then she would secretly run to the Qin Mountains to find Lin Ting!
If her Eldest Brother could hide in the mountains, so could she! It really didn't work. It wouldn't be bad to fake her death and explore the outer world in the future. Either way, she had more plans than she had worries.
When she left the Yangxin Palace, Lin Feilu felt very calm.
As soon as she stepped down the staircase in front of the palace, a soldier dressed in armour walked towards him. The spring sunlight shone on his black armour, reflecting the cold yet shimmering light. Lin Feilu was stunned for a long time and didn't realise who it was until he walked up to her.
"Xi Xingjiang? When did you return to the capital?"
She hadn't seen him for more than a year. He has matured a lot, and his expression has become slightly more rigid. Paired with the armour on his body, she couldn't recognise him immediately.
She saw his old self in him when his mouth broke into a wide smile.
"I just arrived to report the military situation to His Majesty. Did Little Bean miss Brother Viscount at all?"
Lin Feilu made a disgusted expression, "You haven't even changed your clothes, how filthy. You go on your way, I'm leaving."
Xi Xingjiang grabbed her and said, "Wait for me here! I haven't seen you for so long, so how can you not even say a few things to me? You little girl with no conscience— I can't believe I was even concerned about you all along."
Lin Feilu patted his hand away, "I'm busy, so just go in quickly."
Xi Xingjiang let go of her hand speechlessly and saw her jumping away. He shook his head and hooked the corner of his lower lip before straightening his face again, and walking up to the Yangxin Palace.
In addition to his experience in the frontier over the years, he took over many important military tasks. In fact, he had completed quite a number of errands and discharged his duties very well.
Emperor Lin was naturally very delighted when he saw him. After listening to his report on the military situation, they talked a bit more about military affairs. The Emperor's eyes darted over the portraits that he hadn't kept and asked abruptly, "Xingjiang, you are not engaged yet, are you?"
Xi Xingjiang paused, "Yes, I'm not."
Emperor Lin smiled, "You are not very young either, and I mentioned this to Noble Consort Xi as well last time. Do you have a girl that you like?"
Xi Xingjiang was stunned for a moment before he said slowly, "No."
Emperor Lin smiled and said, "Very good."
Xi Xingjiang, "…"
What do you mean 'good'?
Xi Xingjiang decided not to question it. Thinking that he had to find his Little Bean and seeing that Emperor Lin didn't have anything else to say, he excused himself.
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Unexpectedly, a few days later, news broke out that Emperor Lin planned to have Viscount Xi and the Fifth Imperial Princess get married.
Lin Feilu was stunned when she heard about it. Her first reaction was to wonder whether Xi Xingjiang was the one who asked Emperor Lin if he could marry her. However, he denied it in a flash. Although Xi Xingjiang was inconspicuous, he respected boundaries. Since she had clearly refused him previously, he definitely didn't try to force her.
When Xi Xingjiang heard the news, he was also very horrified. He immediately came to Lin Feilu and repeatedly denied, "I didn't do it! Even if I wanted to marry you, I would still use my ability to make you marry me willingly. I would never pull a trick like this from behind by any means!"
The parties involved were very confused about this matter, but others were very enthusiastic, and everyone had different opinions.
In the end, rumours were spreading around that Viscount Xi and the Fifth Imperial Princess had already agreed to have each other for life. It was also said that when the Fifth Imperial Princess was born, Emperor Lin had already destined their marriage.
Lin Feilu felt that the gossip spread by these ancient busybodies were no better than the media of the modern world.
Even Yan Xin came to ask her, "I heard that you got engaged?"
Lin Feilu, "Where is the Yellow River? I want to jump in there and drown."
…
Spring left and summer was approaching. In the late days of spring, Lin Feilu's 15th birthday was finally ushered in.
Naturally, the palace threw a big banquet to celebrate the Fifth Princess's birthday. At the banquet, Emperor Lin issued a decree to the world, declaring Lin Feilu as 'Princess Yong An' and bestowed her with the 'Princess Yong An Residence'.
After hearing about the gossip for so long, those who waited for Emperor Lin to grant her marriage were disappointed that there wasn't an imperial edict for it in the end.
Although Emperor Lin felt that his most well-behaved Princess should marry the most heroic young general in the world, he still considered Lin Feilu's thoughts and agreed to give her some time to think about it. Unless he got her consent, the marriage would not be decided so simply.
Lin Feilu's birthday banquet ended with her feeling trepid but happily moved out of the palace with Lin Zhanyuan the next day.
Everything in Princess Yong An's Residence had been taken care of. Besides Songyu and another maid who had taken care of Lin Zhanyuan his entire life, there was a new batch of stewards in the mansion. Lin Feilu officially became the head of the residence and, naturally, paid equal attention to the tiniest details. With that, she managed the residence in an orderly manner.
After Lin Feilu's birthday, it was time for Yan Xin and Lin Ting to leave.
The night before their departure, she set up a banquet in the mansion. She did not invite anyone else, intending to send the two on their way by herself.
Lin Feilu knew that he probably wouldn't come back these few years after Lin Ting left. Although she was happy that he had gained his love and freedom, she was also reluctant to leave her Eldest Brother.
After three rounds of drinking, she excused herself to watch the night sky with Yan Xin and went alone with her.
It was not until that night that Lin Feilu told Yan Xin that Lin Ting took poison back then.
He was her brother, and she wished him to be safe and healthy and hoped that he could live happily and peacefully forever.
She talked a lot to Yan Xin— about the succession battle in the capital, about the innocent people who died in the battle, and the guilt Lin Ting couldn't let go of. In the end, she just smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, I'll leave my brother to you."
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Lin Feilu talked a lot to Yan Xin— about the succession battle in the capital, about the innocent people who died in the battle, and the guilt Lin Ting couldn't let go of. In the end, she just smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, I'll leave my brother to you."
There were tears in Lin Feilu's eyes, but she was clearly smiling. Yan Xin looked into her eyes and nodded seriously.
With the moon hanging above the forest of trees, illuminating the sky dimly, the stars of late spring were particularly bright.
Lin Feilu rubbed her eyes casually and happily walked back, "Then let's go back. I'm going to be lazily sleeping in tomorrow, so I won't send you off."
Yan Xin nodded.
The two walked back along the long street, chatting casually. When they passed a wine shop, there were the sounds of a brawl happening. Yan Xin's auricle moved as she tilted her head and said to Lin Feilu, "There is a martial arts Master inside."
Lin Feilu didn't feel much about the fight, but after hearing what she said, she suddenly became interested in the aforementioned Master. Dragging her along inside, she said, "Let's go and have a look."
As soon as the two of them reached the corridor, a few chairs toppled down as Yan Xin pulled Lin Feilu away to avoid them. Lin Feilu looked up but saw a man in black wearing a mask brawling with a man dressed in blue.
She was initially here to spectate the scene, but the more she watched, the more she felt like something had gone wrong. With a crack in her voice, she shouted, "It's Xi Xingjiang!"
The man in blue was Xi Xingjiang. He was drinking here alone tonight when suddenly, a masked man appeared. The unknown man's moves were killer techniques, and it was obvious that he was trying to take his life.
The two wrestled for a while, but it was notable that the opponent's martial skills were better than the Viscount's. Xi Xingjiang gradually lost as he was also rather tipsy from the amount of alcohol he drank. The opponent then thrust his blade into Xi Xingjiang's shoulder, spraying a trail of blood as he aimed for his heart next.
Lin Feilu said anxiously, "Yan Xin, help him!"
Yan Xin frowned before she drew her broadsword and flew up.
Yan Xin's interference temporarily slowed down the situation. Taking advantage of the moment when Yan Xin and the masked man were fighting, Xi Xingjiang retreated in time, clutching onto the wound on his shoulder and taking a breath.
Lin Feilu initially thought that with Yan Xin there, the masked man would not be able to resist for a long time before being subdued. Unexpectedly, after a while, Yan Xin was gradually forced back again and again by the long sword in the opponent's hand, proving that the Master was indeed formidable.
She was ranked 10th on the Hero List, yet the other party was even stronger than Yan Xin?
Lin Feilu was extremely shocked as she stared fixedly at the black figure before the solemnity in her eyes slowly turned into a trace of unbelievable astonishment. Next to her, Xi Xingjiang got a hold of himself as he took his sword and wanted to join the battle, but the masked man glanced down at them. Taking advantage of the moment Yan Xin turned around, he flew out from the skylight.
Xi Xingjiang tried to chase him as he took two steps forward, but Lin Feilu yelled, "Stop chasing!"
The wine shop was a mess, and Xi Xingjiang's face showed he was in pain. He gritted his teeth and said, "If it weren't for you, I might have been dead tonight. I don't know where this person came from, but his swordsmanship skills were very mighty."
Lin Feilu's heart was beating extremely fast, but she forced herself to be calm, "Let's go home first."
In case the masked man was to appear again, the two sent Xi Xingjiang back to the General's Residence before he sent a team of guards to escort the girls back.
Yan Xin looked at Lin Feilu, who was silent all the way, and comforted her, "Although I am no match for him, I won't let him hurt you, so don't worry."
Lin Feilu forced herself to smile. After returning to the Princess's Residence, Yan Xin wanted to stay behind and protect her. Lin Feilu countered, "Even if that person appears again, he will go to Xi Xingjiang instead of me. You still have a journey ahead of you tomorrow, so you should return."
That being said, Yan Xin still waited in the residence until late at night before finally leaving.
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Lin Feilu had her attendants retire for the night before she turned off the lights and sat on the bed.
She closed her eyes, recalling the figure just now in the dark night.
Was she mistaken?
But… it was clearly him.
That mask was the one they wore together that night in Qiqiao.
But how was it possible? How did he manage to infiltrate the Great Lin Empire's capital? Now that the relationship between Song and Lin was so tense, wasn't that simply a death wish? Moreover, he even dared to assassinate Xi Xingjiang in the capital.
If she hadn't happened to pass by tonight, Xi Xingjiang might have died by now.
Why did he want to kill him?
Lin Feilu hugged her knees and felt her brain buzzing. She was thinking wildly when two thumps sounded from her window very softly.
It was the sound of pebbles.
She trembled and didn't have time to put on her shoes before jumping out of bed. Running to the window, she opened it abruptly.
The night wind carried the scent of spring flowers across the tip of her nose, and a figure jumped down from the wall, landing lightly in front of her window.
He was dressed in black, adorned with that familiar mask on his face. Having not seen him for two years, he seemed taller than before, and his figure became even more slender.
Lin Feilu's breathing was a little short as she looked up at him halfway.
No one spoke. After a long while, Lin Feilu stood on tiptoe and slowly stretched out her hand to remove the mask on his face. He didn't move away but bent slightly to cooperate with her movements, allowing her to remove the mask.
The face under the mask was the familiar face in her memory.
He curled his lips, looked down at her tenderly, and said with a low smile, "Princess, we meet again."
The fragrance of the late spring's flowers was getting rather strong.
She stared at that unparalleled face in a daze, feeling like she had knocked over an unknown seasoning bottle as she was unable to determine the flavour.
His facial features were tougher than before, and his eyes seemed to hide a piece of night sky since they were so dark and deep. Besides sporting a small smile, no other emotions could be seen. Those terrible rumours surrounding him made her unable to separate the person in front of her from the gentle boy in her memory.
Lin Feilu held the cold mask and swallowed subconsciously.
Song Jinglan still leaned slightly towards her, but his expression remained unchanged. He only asked her suspiciously, "What is the Princess afraid of?"
Lin Feilu shuddered and repeatedly denied, "I… I'm not afraid of anything!" She pursed her lower lip and stammered, "Your Highness, how could you… why are you here?"
Song Jinglan smiled, reached out, and took out a box from his arms before handing it to her, "I'm two days late, but it shouldn't be too late. Princess, happy birthday."
Lin Feilu's pupils dilated, and she stared at the box for a long time before taking it slowly and opening it.
Inside the box was a small jade carving.
Long ago, she also received a small yet lifelike wooden sculpture from him.
Back then, she said, "When Your Highness becomes rich in the future, carve me again on a jadeite next time— it'll last longer."
Now, it was finally delivered to her.
She held the little jade figure in her hand and looked at it for a long time. Finally, she raised her eyes to look at him and asked belatedly, "Did Your Highness risk your life and travel all the way here just to give me a birthday present?"
Song Jinglan nodded.
She pursed her lips, her voice muffle: "Then why did you want to kill Xi Xingjiang?"
His tone was light and casual as if he just did something unimportant, "He wants to marry you, so of course, I was going to kill him."
Lin Feilu looked at him in disbelief, rendered speechless for a long time.
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Song Jinglan looked down at her for a while before he reached out and touched her head gently. He asked with a soft smile, "Are you angry?"
Lin Feilu choked onto her own saliva for a moment, but still, she didn't utter a single word.
His palm slowly moved back from the top, stroking the back of her head before finally pressing on the back of her neck, pulling her forward. He was not weak, so Lin Feilu plunged into his arms half an inch away from the window sill.
He lightly pinched the back of her neck with his fingers, seeming to be smiling, but not having any emotions, "Is the Princess reluctant to let him die?"
Lin Feilu smelled the faint yet cold scent on his body as she murmured twice and stretched out her hand to push him away.
Song Jinglan let go of her unexpectedly, which made her gasp, but placed his hands on the back of her neck as if he was locking her in an embrace and looked down at her.
Lin Feilu's heart was beating very fast, frightened by such a strange and somewhat eccentric Little Pretty Boy. But the paradoxical fact remained that she was not afraid of him since she knew very well that he would never hurt her.
Supporting his chest with her two small hands, she leaned back. Her gaze met his cold eyes when she looked at him with her head half up.
Lin Feilu sighed, "Your Highness, don't do this."
He smiled, "Do what?"
She said, "Don't kill people indiscriminately."
Song Jinglan looked at her for a while as the smile on his lips deepened. He lowered his head slightly, and his forehead almost touched hers, but they never came in contact. He asked softly in a discussing tone, "If the Princess doesn't want me to kill him, you should know what to do, right?"
This incident was the first time they were physically so close to each other, so if she raised her head, her lips could practically touch his chin.
Lin Feilu froze and didn't dare to move. She felt that his aura surrounded her entire body and magnified every sensory nerve in her tiny frame. He was still pinching the back of her neck with his fingers, rubbing gently with his fingertips. As if she was electrocuted, there was even a tingling feeling that ran through her scalp.
After trembling slightly for a long time, she stammered and said, "It's…it's just a rumour! I won't marry him!"
Atop her head, he smiled and slowly let go of his hands.
Lin Feilu blushed and panted. She had never felt her heart beating so fast.
She understood that there was something in his words.
She wanted to ask something along the lines of, "Then if I don't marry him, I'm bound to marry someone else too. Are you perhaps going to kill every last one of the candidates? Or am I to only marry you?"
However, she dared not ask.
She knew that he would give her an affirmative answer once she did. Despite that confirmation, she didn't know if she would be able to do it. There were too many unknown factors ahead, and she didn't want to completely seal her future overnight.
Fortunately, Song Jinglan didn't force her to.
He withdrew his hands and stepped back a little. The night wind lifted the black hair he had tied behind as he morphed back into a gentle and charming young man.
Lin Feilu sighed involuntarily.
He smiled and asked, "What's the matter?"
Lin Feilu glanced at him, a little depressed, "It's nothing, I just think that the best actor award should be handed over to you."
Song Jinglan raised his eyebrows.
She was silent for a while and couldn't help asking, "Were those rumours true? You…killed your father?"
Song Jinglan smiled: "Yes."
Lin Feilu, "…and killed many courtiers? Imprisoned the Prince?"
Song Jinglan lowered his head and brushed off the dust on the cuffs of his sleeves, "Yes."
Lin Feilu stopped talking.