son, don't mess around

In Linjiang City.

When Mr. Zhao visited Prince Lin's mansion, he was despised and offended by Prince Lin's son. The news that Mr. Zhao left the mansion in anger soon spread throughout the city.

As things progressed to this point, every move of the Lin Wang Mansion was always under the eyes of various aristocratic families. Especially this time, Mr. Zhao made a special trip to the Lin Wang Mansion, which attracted a lot of attention.

After all, this old Zhao's identity is not ordinary. In the past, he was in a high position and had great prestige. He was also one of the meritorious officials who made Lin Hengzhong the king. With this relationship, in Linzhou, this old Zhao's identity and status will always be a special existence.

Even in the Linwang Palace, he holds a very important position.

This time he comes forward, he will definitely be able to find out the details of Prince Lin's Mansion.

However, to everyone's surprise, even though Mr. Zhao, who was so old, came in person, he still couldn't see Prince Lin!

Lin Hengzhong, still no news!

When this news came out, the various noble families and forces that had been waiting and watching finally could no longer sit still!
This almost clearly conveyed a message... Lin Hengzhong, something might have really happened!

Even Elder Zhao himself came to the door but failed to ask Lin Hengzhong to come out. If it wasn't because something happened to Prince Lin, what else could be the reason? !

If the previous speculation was just suspicious, then after Mr. Zhao, the news that Lin Hengzhong had been in trouble spread completely out of control among the various family forces.

The situation in Linjiang City suddenly became extremely serious!

Undercurrent is surging!

Something happened to Lin Hengzhong?
what does this mean?
it goes without saying!

Linjiang City was still able to maintain its superficial calm, and the various noble families still did not take any overt actions, because they were afraid of Lin Hengzhong. But once it was confirmed that Lin Hengzhong was in trouble, things would definitely develop in an uncontrollable direction!
The Linwang Mansion will be in chaos, Linjiang City will be in chaos, and even the entire Linzhou will be in chaos!

Once this news reaches the imperial court, it will surely cause an uproar. The imperial court will definitely not miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and will most likely send a large army to suppress the turmoil in the Lin Wang Palace!

For the noble families and various forces in Linjiang City, it is extremely important to figure out how to survive in this turmoil, or even... to stand out early in this turmoil and grab more benefits while the Linwang Mansion collapses!

……

In Linjiang City, in the prosperous central area.

A tall mansion with antique decorations shows that the owner of the mansion has an extraordinary status.

At this moment, in the center of the courtyard.

The atmosphere was dull.

In the octagonal pavilion, the gray-haired old man Zhao was sitting in the pavilion, looking at a figure opposite him with deep eyes.

There was a pot of steaming tea on the table in the pavilion. Zhao Jing stood respectfully behind his grandfather, his eyes occasionally looking at the figure in front of him.

He was a man in his thirties. He looked young, but he had a temperament that was totally inconsistent with his youth.

It's hard to describe!

The man was dressed in plain clothes, without a single piece of fancy clothing on his body, but even at first glance, it would be hard to forget him.

He seemed to have an innate cold temperament, and his face looked calm, but from time to time he vaguely revealed a bit of solemnity, which made people feel a little frightened and dared not underestimate him.

At this moment, the man stood in the pavilion, looking at Mr. Zhao in his sight, and spoke slowly, with a tone that was neither humble nor arrogant: "I wonder what Mr. Zhao wants me to come here today?"

"General Wu, it's been a few years since we last met, right?"

Mr. Zhao looked at the man in front of him and spoke slowly.

The man nodded: "It's been a few years indeed."

"Time flies by so fast. In the blink of an eye, I am already an old man. I don't have many days left to live!"

Mr. Zhao said with emotion.

The man remained silent.

After Mr. Zhao sighed, he looked at the man in front of him again: "I have no other intention in inviting you here today, but there are some things I want to ask General Wu..."

Hearing this, Wu Yue's eyes flashed with a gleam of light: "What does Mr. Zhao want to ask about the prince?"

Elder Zhao said, "General Wu must be aware that the prince has not shown up for a long time. Rumors are spreading all over Linjiang City. I have known the prince for many years and I am very concerned about him."

Wu Yue said: "Thank you, Mr. Zhao, for your concern. The prince is doing well."

Elder Zhao stared at Wu Yue: "My Lord, is everything really okay?!"

Wu Yue's eyes narrowed slightly: "Mr. Zhao, what do you mean by this?"

"General Wu, you and I have known each other for many years. I watched you join the army. Why do you have to hide it from me?"

Mr. Zhao spoke slowly.

Wu Yue was silent.

The old Mr. Zhao in front of him did help him a lot in the past.

The fact that he was able to join the Prince Lin's army and become Prince Lin's right-hand man was more or less inseparable from the support of Mr. Zhao.

"My Lord, I'm afraid something has happened?"

Seeing Wu Yue silent, Mr. Zhao stared at Wu Yue's expression and suddenly asked.

In the pavilion, Wu Yue's face darkened slightly, and he looked at Mr. Zhao calmly: "Why do you think so, Mr. Zhao?"

"General Wu, can you answer this question of mine? ...What is the current situation of the prince?!"

Wu Yue met Mr. Zhao's gaze. The old man in front of him was in his seventies, with gray hair and a face full of wrinkles. However, his deep eye sockets revealed a brilliance that was inconsistent with his youth, and he was staring at him intently.

Wu Yue's expression remained unchanged, and he said calmly: "This matter is a secret of the palace, I'm sorry I can't tell Mr. Zhao!"

"General Wu is loyal to the palace. I know this, but..."

Old Zhao was still staring at Wu Yue, and his tone suddenly changed: "But General Wu should also be aware of the difficulties and dangers facing the Linwang Mansion now, right?"

Wu Yue said: "Please speak frankly, Mr. Zhao."

"Then I will say it straight. Now all the forces in Linjiang City are eyeing your Linwang Mansion. How many eyes are watching?"

"During this period, Prince Lin has never shown up. Do you know how much speculation and suspicion this will cause? Prince Lin is the backbone of the entire Linjiang City, and even the entire Linzhou. Does General Wu know the consequences of not having Prince Lin?"

"Do you know how many things have happened in Prince Lin's Mansion during this period of time?"

"I never thought that all the affairs of the Linwang Mansion would be handed over to your prince?"

"...This is simply nonsense. How can a young boy like him support such a huge Linwang Mansion? How can he convince the Linzhou noble families and various forces?!"

Wu Yue remained silent, just looking coldly at the white-haired old man in front of him.

"I am already old and originally did not want to get involved, but I cannot watch as Prince Lin's wealth, which he has built up over the years, is squandered and destroyed in an instant!"

Old Zhao looked angry, as if he was really thinking about the Lin Palace. He said angrily: "Look at how many conflicts he has caused during this period of time, and how many people he has offended? He has turned the entire Linjiang City upside down, and how many people have criticized him?"

"And this time, he arrested the head of the Chen family for no reason, causing public outrage... What kind of person is the head of the Chen family? Even your prince wouldn't dare to arrest him, but what about him? He arrested him without saying a word. He is so stupid and arrogant..."

"Doesn't he know that this move will cause panic and fear among the noble families? If the Lin Palace arrests people from noble families at will, how can the Palace still have credibility? Who among the noble families would dare to trust your Palace?!"

"His actions have offended the various noble families and caused conflicts and grievances between the royal palace and the noble families. This is simply stupid!!"

Old Zhao spoke angrily as he eloquently recounted the crimes of Prince Lin.

It was as if he was venting the humiliation he had suffered before!

Wu Yue listened quietly, but his face did not show much emotion. "So what does Mr. Zhao mean?"

"If we continue to indulge him in this way, the consequences will be disastrous!" Elder Zhao said in a deep voice, "Now that your prince has not shown up... you can't let him continue to act recklessly like this, right?"

"What does Mr. Zhao mean?"

Elder Zhao stared at Wu Yue: "General Wu has followed Prince Lin for many years and is the most trusted confidant of Prince Lin. Since the prince is not convenient to show up now, how can General Wu sit idly by?"

"Mr. Zhao wants me to stop His Highness?" A gleam of light flashed in Wu Yue's eyes.

"Exactly!"

Mr. Zhao spoke slowly.

The Prince Lin's arbitrary arrest of the heads of aristocratic families must not be allowed to set a precedent, otherwise the situation in the future will be disastrous.

Wu Yue was silent for a while before he said, "Mr. Zhao should know that I don't have such great power."

"What? Is General Wu still afraid of that kid?"

Mr. Zhao stared at Wu Yue.

Wu Yue said: "He is the prince's child, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"But this Lin Wang Mansion was also conquered by General Wu and Lord Lin. General Wu contributed a lot to this Lin Wang Mansion!"

Elder Zhao said in a cold voice, "He is just a dandy boy who has accomplished nothing. How can General Wu watch helplessly as the Prince Lin's Mansion, which he fought so hard to conquer, is destroyed by this dandy prince?"

Wu Yue was silent and said nothing.

But there seemed to be hesitation on his face.

Seeing this, Mr. Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly and suddenly said, "I have heard a rumor before..."

"I heard that your prince was assassinated a year ago... and then, his temperament suddenly changed?"

Hearing this, Wu Yue suddenly looked up: "What do you mean, Mr. Zhao?!"

Elder Zhao looked at him and said calmly, "I'll just say it straight... Doesn't General Wu have any doubts?"

"After your prince was assassinated a year ago, his personality suddenly changed drastically, as if he had become a different person... General Wu, have you ever thought about the problem?"

"There are rumors outside that the current prince is a fake... The news does not seem to be groundless. Could it be that Prince Lin's Mansion has never suspected that there is something hidden?"

"General Wu has no doubt that the current Prince Lin... is a fake?!"

Wu Yue was silent and said nothing.

Elder Zhao said in a low voice, "General Wu is a smart man. I don't believe that General Wu has no doubts...Now that Lord Lin is unable to show up, and the Prince Lin's Mansion has fallen into the hands of this unknown prince, isn't General Wu worried that this prince is really a fake and has usurped the throne?!"

"The hard work of the Lin Palace over the years has now been used to benefit others?!"

Wu Yue's expression changed unpredictably: "Mr. Zhao, is there any solution?"

A sneer appeared on the old face of Zhao Lao: "I have known the prince for many years, so I naturally don't want the prince's hard work over the years to be wasted on others. If General Wu trusts me, I can naturally show General Wu a clear way..."

Wu Yue looked at Mr. Zhao with a calm expression, lowered his head and said, "Please give me some advice, Mr. Zhao!"

"..."

"..."

The courtyard was quiet.

Wu Yue has left.

The only person left in the pavilion was Mr. Zhao, who closed his eyes to rest. The tea on the table had already gone cold.

Old Zhao held out his hand, and Zhao Jing's expression changed again and again. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, you said that Lin Jiangnian... is he really fake?!"

Mr. Zhao opened his eyes slightly and glanced at him, his expression calm: "Is it true or false? Does it matter?"

Zhao Jing was stunned, a little confused: "Is it not important?"

Isn’t this important?
If that Lin Jiangnian was a fake, could he still be so arrogant?

Zhao Jing will definitely not let him go!

The previous humiliation must be returned a hundredfold!
Zhao Jing gritted his teeth secretly.

Elder Zhao looked calm and glanced at him, "Jing'er, you still have a long way to go. Learn more from your two brothers on weekdays."

Hearing this, Zhao Jing's eyes flashed with a hint of gloom, he lowered his head and said obediently: "Okay, Grandpa."

"I'm afraid something really happened to Lin Hengzhong..."

Mr. Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly and understood.

If he still had doubts in his heart when he met the arrogant Lin Jiangnian before, then after meeting Wu Yue, his guess was basically confirmed in his mind.

"Grandpa, why did you go to so much trouble to win over Wu Yue?"

Zhao Jing thought of something again and couldn't help but ask.

"This Wu Yue is not simple."

Mr. Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly, "He is a very important person!"

Prince Lin has four trusted masters and a military advisor who cannot be hidden. The military advisor has hardly ever shown up. As for the remaining four trusted men, one is stationed in the army in southern Xinjiang. Among the remaining three, Zheng Zhiming is too arrogant, while Dongfang Guanshan behaves strangely and is unpredictable.

The remaining Wu Yue has a calm and rational personality. Although he is not as good as Zheng Zhiming, he also has considerable influence in Lin Wang’s army and is indeed the best candidate.

"He is the core figure in the Linwang Mansion. With the internal turmoil in the Linwang Mansion, he is also the last person who may replace Lin Jiangnian!"

"Replace Lin Jiangnian?!"

Zhao Jing was shocked when he heard this, his eyes widened. He didn't expect that his grandfather would come up with this idea? !
Replace that prince?

Wouldn't that mean...

"He is a very ambitious man. He just needs an opportunity, a chance..."

There was a gleam of light in Mr. Zhao's eyes: "Grandpa will not make a mistake!"

Zhao Jing was shocked: "Grandpa, are you sure he will listen to you?"

"He will."

Elder Zhao spoke with a firm tone, his expression calm and confident: "He has a grudge against Lin Jiangnian. Once Lin Jiangnian completely controls the Lin Palace, he will definitely take action against him. He is not a person who will sit and wait for death, so..."

"He has no choice!"

"..."

Linwangfu.

In the cold and quiet backyard.

Wu Yue looked respectful, standing quietly in the yard with his head lowered, feeling extremely terrified.

Under the eaves in the courtyard, a middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes and a smile appeared on his face.

"This old man has a good plan!"

"..." (End of this chapter)