son, don't mess around

Royal palace, side courtyard.

There was a small stream running through the courtyard, and on the stream stood an octagonal pavilion. In the center of the pavilion stood a stone table, on which was displayed a piece of intelligence.

Lin Hengzhong, dressed in a black brocade robe, was sitting at the table, looking at the information on the table and falling into deep thought.

At one side of the pavilion, a man in his thirties was standing respectfully, not saying a word.

Apart from that, it was quiet and there was no one else around.

After a while, Lin Hengzhong withdrew his gaze, without showing any displeasure, and spoke calmly in a low voice.

"It seems that I have been too gentle to them over the years. They are just short of reaching out to my palace!"

The calm tone gives people a sense of urgency, as if a storm is about to come.

The man beside him was shocked when he heard this: "Your Highness, these noble families have been restless in the past few years. Many of them have had secret dealings with the imperial court, and some families have even had connections with the Xu family in the north, and even..."

Having said that, Wu Yue suddenly shut up.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again: "Your Majesty, we must be on guard against these people... If we ever fall out with the imperial court in the future, these people will definitely become a big threat to our rear."

Lin Hengzhong's eyes were deep, "We need to warn them."

Wu Yue bowed his head and said respectfully: "I am willing to go and deal with them."

Lin Hengzhong glanced at him, as if seeing through his thoughts: "Wu Yue, how many years have you been with me?"

Wu Yue said, "Your Majesty, I have been following you into the army since I was sixteen, and it has been seventeen years now."

"Seventeen years!"

Lin Hengzhong narrowed his eyes slightly, with a look of emotion: "Time flies so fast."

Seventeen years ago, Lin Hengzhong was just a small general in the army. Most of the brothers who followed him at that time are no longer with us.

Wu Yue lowered his head, feeling vaguely uneasy for some reason.

After a while, Lin Heng looked at him again and said, "You have been with me for these years and have made countless contributions, big and small. I think you have worked hard."

Wu Yue said in a deep voice: "This is what I should do. If it weren't for the trust and promotion of the prince, I would never be where I am today."

For some reason, Wu Yue felt a slight tremor in his heart, as if the prince was hinting at something.

"I naturally believe that you are loyal, so you don't have to be nervous."

Lin Hengzhong's tone was light, but it made Wu Yue feel even more nervous.

Lin Hengzhong looked into the distance and said slowly, "These noble families control the economies of various regions and hold public opinion, which is indeed a big hidden danger. But at the same time, I need to keep them to govern my fiefdom and stabilize public order."

Back then, after Lin Hengzhong was crowned king, he was able to make the economy of Linjiang City develop rapidly in just ten years, and it became the largest city in the south. These noble families played a big role in this. Without their help, it would be hard to say whether the Linwang Mansion could fully control the fiefdom, let alone vigorously develop the economy.

These noble families have existed for dozens or even hundreds of years, and their power is deeply rooted. The common people have a strong sense of clan. For the common people, the emperor and the princes are too far away, and their fear and obedience to the imperial power are far less than those of these noble families.

"You can never eliminate all the aristocratic families. Once you kill one group, another will appear soon."

Lin Hengzhong glanced at Wu Yue calmly and casually said, "I heard that Jiang Nian had some conflicts with the young master of the Chen family recently? How is the Chen family doing?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Wu Yue's expression suddenly changed.

"thump."

Wu Yue knelt on the ground, sweating profusely: "Your Majesty, I have no intention of colluding with the Chen family!"

"Your Majesty, please understand!"

What hasn't Wu Yue understood yet?

The prince suddenly mentioned this... to warn him!

It turns out that the prince already knew about his private relationship with the Chen family? !
Wu Yue's face turned pale. "I do know Chen Hongsheng, the head of the Chen family. Chen Hongsheng approached me a few years ago and tried to make friends with me. But I have no ulterior motives. I don't have much communication with him on weekdays. We are just nodding acquaintances..."

"I have never colluded with him, and I will never betray you, my Lord!"

Wu Yue's voice trembled slightly, and he lowered his head and spoke through gritted teeth.

Lin Hengzhong looked at him quietly, his tone neither cold nor indifferent: "Have you seen him a few days ago?"

As soon as these words came out, Wu Yue's heart trembled even more: "A few days ago, Chen Hongsheng did meet with me... Chen Hongsheng wanted to ask me about His Highness..."

"In recent days, there have been rumors among the people that His Highness is a fake. Chen Hongsheng wants to get the news from his subordinates."

"But I guarantee that I have never told him a word!"

"I, your subordinate, have no second thoughts about you, Your Majesty!"

"..."

"Get up."

Lin Hengzhong's expression remained neither cold nor indifferent.

Wu Yue knelt on the ground, motionless.

"I know you have no second thoughts!"

Lin Hengzhong sighed lightly: "If you were really disloyal to the palace, you wouldn't have the chance to appear here."

Wu Yue's heart trembled and he was horrified!
It turns out... the prince knows everything.

All his actions are under the control of the prince? !

"You and Zhiming are both from the army who followed me. You have made contributions to me and the palace, so I naturally cannot treat you unfairly."

"I have turned a blind eye to all the little actions you have performed behind the scenes over the years, but..."

When he said this, Lin Heng looked at him again: "Some things are the bottom line of the palace, do you understand?"

At just one glance, Wu Yue's whole body trembled violently, and cold sweat dripped down his face.

At this moment, he felt as if he had gone through a life and death experience.

"Subordinates, I understand!"

Wu Yue spoke with difficulty.

This was a warning to him from the prince.

At this moment, the voice of a servant suddenly came from outside the yard.

"Your Majesty, Dongfang Guanshan has been waiting outside the door for a long time."

Lin Hengzhong looked calm and said, "Let him in."

He glanced at Wu Yue who was kneeling beside him, picked up the tea on the table and took a sip: "Get up."

Wu Yue then slowly got up from the ground, retreated behind the prince, lowered his head and looked extremely respectful.

Soon, a fat figure appeared in the yard and walked towards the pavilion.

Although he was tall, strong and fat, his steps were quick and agile, and he was not affected at all.

A flexible fat man!

Dongfang Guanshan walked quickly into the pavilion, saluted the prince, and noticed that Wu Yue's expression was not right.

"Mr. Wu, what's wrong with you? Why do you act like your wife is dead?"

Dongfang Guanshan looked surprised and smeared honey on his face as soon as he opened his mouth.

What was even more surprising was that Wu Yue just looked at him expressionlessly and said nothing, which made Dongfang Guanshan even more surprised!

Something is wrong!

In the past, wouldn’t this guy named Wu have cursed at him?

The man surnamed Wu is different from the man surnamed Zheng. The man surnamed Zheng is a taciturn person who can't say a few words for a long time and can only use violence.

This Wu and he didn't get along well in the past. They usually cursed at each other and it was common for them to get into fights. But today, something was wrong?
Why does your face look a little strange?

"Is your wife really dead?"

Dongfang Guanshan was surprised and said, "It's only been half a year since we last met, and you've tortured your wife to death?"

"It's really yours!"

Wu Yue stared at him with cold eyes.

"Still glaring at me?! Look at your behavior. I've told you that even if your wife doesn't die, she'll run away with someone else."

Dongfang Guanshan shook his head, and with his slightly fat body, he looked extremely funny.

"Okay, just say a few words."

Lin Hengzhong interrupted Dongfang Guanshan's chatter and looked at him: "How is Xuzhou doing?"

Dongfang Guanshan looked at the prince and then talked about business: "Your Highness, you guessed correctly. Xu Hong, the old dog, really admitted his weakness on the surface, but secretly wanted to kill Zheng."

"Zheng is a fool. He really thinks Xu Hong dare not touch him? If I hadn't arrived in time, Zheng would have died... Zheng owes me a life. Your Majesty, you must take care of me when the time comes!"

"However, Zheng was too ruthless and killed too many people. He almost went to Prince Xu's mansion. No wonder old dog Xu couldn't sit still. This time, old dog Xu Hong suffered heavy losses. I feel so sorry for him, hahaha..."

"I followed your instructions and secretly investigated Prince Xu's palace. I have confirmed that old dog Xu is indeed plotting a rebellion and has been secretly expanding his army in Xuzhou..."

"The spies I have planted in the northern grassland tribes have also sent back intelligence. Since a few years ago, someone in the north has been contacting them and sending them food and weapons. Needless to say, most of them are Xu Laogou's men. A few years ago, these grassland tribes suddenly gathered their forces to invade the border of Xuzhou. It was also Xu Laogou's instruction, in order to expand their armaments in a legitimate way... Xu Laogou's wolfish ambitions are known to everyone!"

"I have collected evidence of correspondence between Xu Laogou and the chief of the grassland tribe. With this evidence, it is enough to make him drink a pot of wine..."

At this point, Dongfang Guanshan's eyes were excited: "Your Majesty, this is a great opportunity!"

Lin Hengzhong looked at him: "Why?"

"According to what I have learned, that old dog Xu is not fully prepared for rebellion yet. He has not yet reached the right time to start a rebellion. He still needs some time to secretly develop his army and store food. It will take at least half a year..."

"I guess that Old Dog Xu will most likely start a rebellion by the end of this year, or at the latest early next year..."

"We should take advantage of his inadequate preparations to send the evidence to the imperial court and catch him off guard... He hastily raised an army and will most likely be defeated. Even if he doesn't, they will become a rebel army and lose the support of the people, so failure is only a matter of time..."

I have to say, this is indeed a good opportunity.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Xu family is currently underdeveloped, he took advantage of the situation to attack the Xu family by surprise. With the help of the imperial court, eliminating Xuzhou would also be considered as removing a major threat for the Lin family!

"It's a good idea."

Lin Heng nodded.

"Then Your Majesty, shall I have someone send the evidence to the court?!" Dongfang Guanshan was overjoyed.

He loves to kick someone when he's down, especially to stab his enemies in the back.

The Lin family and the Xu family have a deep grudge against each other, and Dongfang Guanshan has always been thinking about revenge and settling accounts with the Xu family.

"Not urgent."

Lin Hengzhong shook his head: "It is indeed a good plan to use the imperial court to eliminate the Xu family, but it is not the right time yet."

"not the right time yet?"

Dongfang Guanshan was puzzled: "Your Majesty, isn't this the best time? The Xu family is frantically expanding their army and storing food. By the time they are ready, it will be too late..."

He is an impatient person, how could he just watch the enemy develop without interfering?
"Don't worry."

Lin Hengzhong's eyes were deep: "The enemies of our palace are not just the Xu family."

Dongfang Guanshan was stunned for a moment, then he reacted.

"Subordinate, I understand!"

He was eager to deal with the Xu family and almost forgot that besides the Xu family, the palace’s biggest enemy was... the imperial court!
Dongfang Guanshan is no fool, as he has managed to get to this position. He instantly understood what the prince meant.

Once the Xu family falls easily, the imperial army will take advantage of the situation to suppress the rebel princes, and its prestige in the court and among the people will surely reach its peak, and morale will be high.

By then, the next target of the imperial court would naturally be the Lin family.

Once the Xu family falls, the imperial court will even have a legitimate reason to reduce the power of the feudal lords.

In this way, the Lin family's situation will become unfavorable.

"Your Majesty, that's a good idea!"

Dongfang Guanshan praised repeatedly.

"If you have nothing else to do, you can go down first. There are many things to do in the army, so go and prepare early."

"Yes."

Wu Yue spoke respectfully.

Dongfang Guanshan was also about to leave, but after taking two steps, he remembered something: "Oh, my Lord, there is one more thing!"

"What's the matter?"

Dongfang Guanshan hesitated for a while, put away the smile on his face, his expression gradually became solemn, and looked at the prince: "I came back from Linzhou. On the way, I heard some rumors about His Royal Highness. I don't know whether I should tell you or not..."

Lin Hengzhong looked at him and said calmly: "If you have anything to say, just say it."

"Your subordinate, I just went to see His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Dongfang Guanshan said, "A few months ago in the capital, I also met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. I didn't think much of it then, but today... I went to confirm it once more!"

"His Royal Highness, he is indeed not the same Royal Highness as before!"

When Dongfang Guanshan said this, he looked at his own prince and his voice was extremely solemn.

With doubts, questions, and a bit of... uneasiness.

This matter is of no trivial importance!
Wu Yue, who was about to leave, also stopped and looked towards Dongfang Guanshan, with a strange look in his eyes.

This is what he has always wanted to ask.

Your Highness, not the same Highness as before.

He had no doubts at first. After all, His Highness was still the same His Highness, and his appearance was exactly the same, so no one would speculate in this direction.

But since the rumors spread among the people, Wu Yue had to admit... His Highness had indeed changed.

dramatic change!

Apart from the same appearance, it's almost like a completely different person.

Indeed, it was a different person!

This is Wu Yue’s guess.

How could these people not know His Royal Highness the Crown Prince?
But since the last time he asked, and was ignored by the prince, Wu Yue did not ask again, but the doubts in his heart were never solved. Until today, Dongfang Guanshan brought up the matter again.

There is something fishy about this matter!

Where did this rumor come from?

What is the purpose?

More importantly... even these generals could tell that something was wrong with the Crown Prince.

Your Majesty, how could you not find out?

Or...is there some hidden story behind this?
Facing the suspicious gazes of the two people in the pavilion, Lin Hengzhong took a sip of the tea on the table and nodded lightly.

"You guessed it right. Jiang Nian is indeed not the same Jiang Nian as before!"

"..." (End of this chapter)