Capital city.
Xu Mansion.
This mansion, located in the west of the inner city of Beijing, is inconspicuous.
Although the old man of the Xu family was the Minister of Rites, his influence in the capital was weak. The Xu family's roots were in Linzhou, and their close relationship with the Linzhou Lin family meant that their development in the capital was not smooth.
As Mr. Xu is getting old and is about to retire, the Xu family's influence in Beijing is getting smaller and smaller, and they are now in an awkward situation.
After a heavy snowfall in the capital, the weather gradually cleared up, but it was still cold.
Xu family's inner courtyard.
Under the eaves, a young girl was sitting there bored, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she had some girlish troubles that were difficult to resolve.
The girl was wearing a light-colored robe that reached her waist, with a white lining and a light green long skirt, which added a touch of heroic spirit to her.
But at this moment, she seemed somewhat depressed, her gaze fixed on the courtyard with boredom. As if thinking of something, her eyes dimmed slightly, and she gritted her teeth secretly: "Is that guy still alive?"
Several days have passed since the news of the murder of Prince Lin spread in the capital, and the circumstances are still unknown.
A few days ago, ever since her brother went to attend the Lu family's wedding and came back, he no longer allowed her to continue to inquire about intelligence in the capital.
This made Xu Lan very anxious!
Now there is still no news from that guy, and no one knows whether he is dead or alive. How can she not be anxious?
"Humph, they must be hiding something from me."
The girl looked indignant, her delicate, fair, and slightly pretty face full of anger.
But then, some deep worries and uneasiness emerged.
This time she finally persuaded her father and ran to the capital, wanting to give him a surprise before that guy arrived.
result……
The surprise turned into a shock!
Thinking of this, Xu Lan's face became more worried.
At this moment, a figure quietly appeared in another corner of the courtyard. After carefully checking the surroundings and making sure that no one was around, he approached stealthily.
"Miss……"
The sound is very soft.
Xu Lan looked up and saw the figure at the corner of the wall not far away. His eyes lit up and he quickly stood up and walked over.
"how's it going?"
"There's news..."
The speaker was a pretty maid who had been with Xu Lan for many years. She lowered her voice and said, "The Second Young Master doesn't allow me to go out, so I snuck out today while he was buying groceries and got some information..."
"Tell me now!"
Xu Lan grabbed her and asked anxiously, "Is there any news about him?"
"Um."
The maid nodded heavily and said, "Yes, Prince Lin is not only still alive, but... he has arrived safely in the capital!"
After hearing the news, Xu Lan finally let go of the worry that had been hanging in the balance for many days, and an inexplicable joy surged in her heart.
"Great! I knew he wasn't dead... How could that evil creature of his die so easily?!"
Xu Lan's face was filled with joy, and he secretly clenched his fists. Then he realized something and hurriedly asked, "Where is he now? Where is he?"
"Prince Lin has now arrived in the capital. I heard he's staying at the Jiang Mansion in the capital..."
The news that Prince Lin was in the capital had already spread throughout the capital. She went out and made some inquiries, and she found out everything.
His Royal Highness the Prince of Lin is in big trouble!
"In the Jiang Mansion?!"
Xu Lan quickly remembered that the guy in the Jiang Mansion in Beijing seemed to be that guy's second uncle? I heard that the aunt who came from Jiangnan some time ago is also in the Jiang Mansion now.
"Let's go and take a look!"
After learning that Lin Jiangnian was still alive and where he lived now, Xu Lan could no longer sit still and excitedly planned to leave the house.
However, after she left the backyard with the maid, she ran into Xu Zhongshan after just a few steps.
"Xiao Lan, where are you going?"
Xu Zhongshan looked at Xu Lan who was walking out excitedly and asked in confusion.
Xu Lan remained calm and said, "I've been stuck at home for a few days. Let's go out and get some fresh air."
As she said this, she wanted to leave.
However, after taking just two steps, Xu Zhongshan stopped him: "No, Grandpa said you are not allowed to go out during this period."
“Why?!”
When Xu Lan heard this, he glared at her, not convinced.
"Grandpa is doing this for your own good."
Xu Zhongshan sighed, then glanced at Xu Lan and the furtive maid behind her: "You're not going out just to get some fresh air, are you?"
Xu Lan felt a little guilty and snorted.
Xu Zhongshan also quickly realized that his younger sister should have known the news about Prince Lin.
Although he had deliberately concealed the news from the mansion these days, the news outside was spreading too fast after all, and his little sister was very clever, so it was difficult to hide it completely from her.
Xu Zhongshan sighed: "Grandpa said that you are not allowed to go to him."
"Why?"
"Our Xu family is in a bad situation in Beijing right now, and we are walking on thin ice... If you go to find him now, I'm afraid you will cause a lot of trouble." Xu Zhongshan advised earnestly.
Xu Lan was silent for a moment, then raised her eyes and stared at him: "But, aren't our Xu family and the Lin family old friends? Didn't our two families always have a good relationship in the past? Why is it not working now?"
Xu Zhongshan sighed, "The past is the past, and the present is the present... You know, Grandpa is about to retire, and our Xu family has no roots in the capital. Once Grandpa retires, I'm afraid there will be no place for our Xu family in the capital."
"so what?"
Xu Lan questioned, "We, the Xu family, are not from the capital. There is no room for us in the capital. Why can't we return to Linzhou? Why do we have to stay here?"
Xu Zhongshan was silent: "Xiao Lan, many things are not as simple as you think..."
"Don't treat me like a child."
Xu Lan snorted coldly: "Grandpa, Dad, and you are all the same. In order to stay in the capital, you are going to betray the Lin family, right?"
"Absolutely not!"
Xu Zhongshan shook his head and said in a deep voice: "The Lin family has done us a favor. I absolutely cannot betray the Lin family, but..."
Xu Zhongshan didn't know how to explain further.
The conflict between the imperial court and the feudal lords was becoming increasingly serious, and sooner or later, the reduction of feudal power would be put on the agenda. When the conflict between the two sides became irreconcilable, the Xu family would be caught in the middle and would inevitably face a choice.
Either stay in the capital and stand on the side of the imperial court, or stay in Linzhou and completely side with the Lin family.
But if that happens, their Xu family will become traitors.
This crime is too serious for them to bear!
The old man had lived an upright life and did not want to end up like this. In order to protect his reputation and to preserve the Xu family business, they had to make a decision.
"Humph, after all, it's all for your own benefit..."
Speaking of this, Xu Lan's expression was filled with indignation, his eyes tinged with disdain. "Grandpa did save Uncle Lin back then, but the Lin family has never wronged our Xu family over the years. We've long since repaid that favor, even more than that... But now, for your own sake, you're surrendering to the imperial court. Do you think you're being worthy of Uncle Lin? Do you think you're being worthy of your conscience?"
Faced with his sister's accusations, Xu Zhongshan remained silent.
They were indeed ashamed of the Lin family in this matter. But that was a decision made by their father and grandfather, and it not only determined their own fate, but also the future of the Xu family.
The Xu family is loyal to the emperor. If they still stubbornly stand on the side of the Lin family, once the court and the Lin family break up, the Xu family will definitely become the first victim.
The Xu family had to make a decision. This time, the father allowed his sister to come to the capital, which obviously meant that he had already made the decision.
"Our Xu family has indeed wronged the Lin family, but we will never betray the Lin family, it's just..."
Xu Zhongshan wanted to say something, but Xu Lan interrupted him coldly: "Hypocrisy!"
"Second brother, I originally thought you were one of the few sober people in the family. But now it seems that you are just like Daddy and the others..."
Xu Lan looked at him disappointedly and turned away.
Xu Zhongshan stood there, listening to his little sister's words, with a dazed look on his face and a bit embarrassed.
There was silence for a long time, unable to utter a word.
In the courtyard.
Xu Lan returned in silence, looking very unhappy.
"Miss……"
The maid behind him asked cautiously: "What should we do now?"
"How should I know?"
Xu Lan had a cold expression and spoke in a bad mood.
There was a look of hesitation and confusion between his brows.
Although she cursed her second brother and father, she knew in her heart that her father and second brother had no choice but to make such a choice.
Xu Lan did not agree with their decision, but the matter was done and it was too late now.
Now that the Xu family had decided to side with His Majesty and the court, they were bound to sever ties with the Lin family. If she still insisted on going to see Lin Jiangnian, it would definitely harm the Xu family, her grandfather, and her second brother.
"Then, aren't you going to see Prince Lin?" the maid asked again.
Xu Lan was silent for a moment, a look of hesitation flashed across her brows, and after a moment, she suddenly gritted her teeth.
"Yes, of course!"
"Since I can't see him, can't I just change my identity?!"
“…”
It was a rare sunny day in the capital after a heavy snowfall. The weather was gloomy and the cold wind was howling, but it could not dampen the enthusiasm of the city residents.
The streets are bustling with traffic, and this most prosperous city in the Daning Dynasty is thriving.
In the western suburbs of Beijing, there is a western alley in a prosperous area. This place is deserted, cold and quiet.
Lin Jiangnian's figure appeared in the alley and stopped at the door of a courtyard in the corner.
The gate of the courtyard is lightly covered.
Lin Jiangnian stood there for a moment, then pushed the door and walked in.
The yard wasn't large, and the entire front yard was visible. The grass and trees in the yard were withered and covered with fallen leaves. In the corner not far away, two towering trees stood alone, adding a sense of loneliness to the world.
The courtyard was still empty.
Lin Jiangnian walked into the yard and came to the eaves on one side.
It was quiet all around, and everything was silent.
Lin Jiangnian stood under the eaves and waited for a long time, but still there was no movement.
"Why do you all like to play this game?"
Lin Jiangnian sighed.
Invite people to your home, but don't see the guests.
Very rude and uncultured.
Just like the young lady from the Zhao family whom I met not long ago.
...No wonder they can become good sisters.
There is still silence between heaven and earth.
When the cold wind blew the fallen leaves in the yard, a silver bell-like laughter suddenly rang out.
"Sir, long time no see!"
A clear, silver bell-like sound rang out not far from his ear, and a familiar figure appeared in Lin Jiangnian's sight.
She was wearing a waist-length skirt, a graceful figure, an elegant temperament, and a delicate and pretty face with a bright smile. She stood quietly under the eaves. With her hands behind her back, she looked at Lin Jiangnian with a smile and blinked: "What a coincidence, I can actually meet you here!"
The girl's smile remained on her face, with a hint of mischief in her eyes as she looked at Lin Jiangnian with a smile.
Playful and cute!
Lin Jiangnian quietly looked at the familiar girl in front of him, and the last bit of speculation in his heart was settled.
"It's you."
"What do you mean, sir?"
The girl seemed confused. She rolled her eyes and said with a smile, "It is fate that I can see Your Highness again. Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?"
Lin Jiangnian remained calm and nodded, "Alright."
"Sir, please!"
The girl in a skirt pushed open the door under the eaves, bent down slightly, and made a gesture of invitation.
Lin Jiangnian withdrew his gaze from her and stepped into the room.
The cold room was also empty. On a table not far away, a fire was burning, and hot water was boiling slightly.
The girl in a skirt followed Lin Jiangnian into the room. After Lin Jiangnian sat down, she skillfully made tea for him and poured it in front of him.
"Sir, have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up."
Lin Jiangnian picked up the scalding hot tea and took a sip. Looking up, he saw the girl in the skirt standing beside him, still looking at him with a half-smile.
With unconcealed curiosity in his eyes, he just looked at Lin Jiangnian without saying a word.
Lin Jiangnian stared at her quietly: "Where is your young lady?"
"My lady is not at home."
The girl in a skirt winked at him: "Sir, you want to see my young lady?"
Lin Jiangnian was silent for a moment, then sighed, "Miss Jinxiu, why do you have to pretend to be confused?"
The girl in a skirt in front of him was the beautiful girl who took care of Lin Jiangnian after he was injured and unconscious when he first arrived in the capital not long ago.
Last night, Xiaozhu delivered a letter.
The letter asked him to meet here today. Although it was unsigned, Lin Jiangnian guessed the other party's identity. Now Jinxiu's appearance here also fully verified Lin Jiangnian's guess.
"What do you mean, sir? Jinxiu doesn't understand."
Jinxiu smiled sweetly at Lin Jiangnian and continued to play dumb.
Lin Jiangnian didn't say anything, just staring at her face. Jinxiu blinked innocently: "Sir, why are you looking at me like that?"
"Miss Jinxiu is pretty." Lin Jiangnian said, suddenly stood up and walked towards Jinxiu.
Jinxiu seemed stunned for a moment, staring blankly at Lin Jiangnian as he walked towards her. Before she could react, her hand under her sleeve was suddenly grabbed.
This sudden move made Jinxiu stand there in a daze. Before she could react, she felt a hot breath on her palm, making her pretty face slightly blush.
"Sir..."
"Last time we parted, I missed Miss Jinxiu's favor and regretted it deeply. After returning, I couldn't forget Miss Jinxiu. Now that I see her again, Miss Jinxiu is still as beautiful as ever. This time, I won't be polite... Since your young lady is not here, why don't you let Miss Jinxiu accompany me first..."
A slightly joking and frivolous tone.
Jinxiu stood there in a daze, her pretty face flushed instantly, her eyes panicked: "Sir, no, no..."
Her face flushed, her tone was flustered, and her mind went blank for a moment. She seemed not to have expected that Lin Jiangnian in front of her would suddenly be so bold.
In a panic, he quickly wanted to refuse: "No..."
But before she could finish her words, her willow waist was suddenly hugged. The next second, a hot and scorching body approached.
Jinxiu, who had never had such close contact with a man, completely froze in her tracks, her face flushed red, and for a moment she forgot to resist.
Just as Lin Jiangnian was about to take a step closer, a cold wind suddenly blew in from outside the door behind him.
Like ice in winter, cold to the bone.
Lin Jiangnian paused what he was doing, turned his head and looked outside the door, with a half-smile on his face.
"Finally, you've shown up..."
"My Princess?!"
“…”