Finest Servant

Chapter 501 Hidden Secrets

"Thank you, Master Gu, for your enlightening words," the Emperor nodded, putting an end to Xu Wei's continued argument. He spoke firmly, "We are all connected by blood. If others can be heartless, how could I be unjust? My ministers, say no more. My decision is final, and it shall not change! Gao Ping, draft the imperial decree immediately and announce it to the entire realm."

Once the Emperor had made up his mind, who else would dare to speak further? Chen Biqing stood up and shouted, "Your Majesty is broad-minded, full of loyalty, compassion, and virtue. Your love for the people is evident for all under Heaven to witness. This act will surely win the admiration of the realm and the allegiance of all nations. Long live the Emperor, long live, long live!"

"All nations will admire and pledge allegiance; long live the Emperor, long live, long live," the assembled ministers intoned in unison as they bowed deeply.

The Emperor sighed, his expression tinged with fatigue, "Then let the discussion end here. I shall visit my royal brother later. I hope he doesn't hold any grudges against me."

Treating Prince Cheng so generously—if the prince still bore any complaints—it would indeed defy all reason. The ministers sighed in awe and reverence, bowing as they watched the Emperor's silhouette gradually disappear behind the curtain.

So such a monumental issue was decided just like that? Lin Wanrong and Xu Wei exchanged glances. There were no beheadings, no rivers of blood; not even a word of blame had been uttered. Was the old man treating Prince Cheng this kindly?

As they stepped out of the hall, Xu Wei looked around to make sure no one was in the vicinity, then lowered his voice and said, "Little brother, what do you think has come over His Majesty? Why is he so indecisive at such a critical moment? Even without his legs, Prince Cheng is still a fearsome tiger, and his enmity runs even deeper. If we let him roam free in the north of the river, isn't that like letting a tiger return to the mountain?"

Lin Wanrong spread his hands in a wry smile, "What good does it do for you and me to discuss this? The old man has already made up his mind, and he hasn't given anyone else a chance to get a word in. In Sichuan, where the imperial influence is weak, the local women are all extremely beautiful. Prince Cheng would find life there quite comfortable. This is what's called turning a misfortune into a blessing. Ah, why don't I have such luck?"

This equivocal lament only made Xu Wei more anxious. He paused, ensured they were alone, then suddenly grabbed Lin Wanrong's sleeve and whispered, "Little brother Lin, do you remember Tong Cheng, the man who bombarded you during the suppression of the White Lotus Cult?"

‘Of course, I remember. If it weren't for him, how could I have met Sister An?’ Lin Wanrong nodded and smiled, "Mr. Xu, why do you suddenly bring him up?"

"What do I care about him?" Xu Wei shook his head, a cold smile on his face, "I'm talking about his fate—can't we enforce the same here?"

"Mr. Xu, are you suggesting that we take action on the way?" Lin Wanrong was a bit shocked; when it came to struggles, Old Xu was really no pushover.

Xu Wei nodded slightly, "Brother Lin, we've already offended Prince Cheng deeply. Every day he stays is a potential disaster. Since the Emperor is unwilling to act, it falls on us, his subjects, to take action. What do you think?"

Before Lin Wanrong could reply, Gao Ping hurriedly approached, "Lord Lin, His Majesty summons you!"

‘The Emperor wants to see me?’ Lin Wanrong was slightly taken aback. At this point, everything had already been decided; what could he possibly want to talk to him about?

"Since His Majesty has summoned you, you should go quickly. Also, please consider carefully what this old man has told you," Xu Wei signaled to him, before hurriedly turning away.

‘I've never been involved in behind-the-scenes killings,’ Lin Wanrong thought, feeling somewhat conflicted. He wasn't sure if he should heed Old Xu's advice.

As he entered the Hall of Extended Years, the elderly Emperor sat with his eyes slightly closed, his face as calm as still water. He appeared to be meditating, seemingly oblivious to Lin Wanrong's arrival. Gao Ping wheeled Lin Wanrong into place and then silently withdrew, leaving the spacious Hall of Extended Years empty except for the two of them.

The Emperor continued to meditate, his face pale but with a hint of flush, revealing an indisguisable sign of illness. Seeing that the old master remained silent, Lin Wanrong decided to close his eyes as well. He had been exceedingly tired these past few days, and even the presence of the Emperor, the revered ruler of the realm, couldn't fend off his drowsiness.

"You certainly have the gall—" the Emperor hummed disdainfully, "—daring to doze off in my Hall of Extended Years! If it were anyone else, they would lose their heads, all ten of them."

Lin Wanrong chuckled and replied at a leisurely pace, "Your Majesty's kindness and love are well noted, and I keep them in my heart. But why has Your Majesty summoned me so late at night? What guidance do you have for me?"

The Emperor's eyes narrowed sharply, fixing on him. "Are you mocking me?"

"Not at all," Lin Wanrong responded calmly. "Your Majesty's reach extends everywhere, like rain and sunshine, who would dare to mock you? I'm not eager to meet with gunpowder—I'd like to live a few more years!"

"You already know?!" The Emperor's expression remained unchanged as he turned and burst into laughter. "Lin San, when did you become such a fool? A smart man should do smart things. Some words are better left unsaid."

Lin Wanrong shook his head slightly, his face suddenly turning gloomy. "I'm not the one who's become a fool. There are certain things that I would never say to anyone else. I only wish that, in the eyes of Xian'er and Qingxuan, their father remains forever kind and amiable, without a shadow of darkness—"

"How dare you!" The Emperor erupted in anger, abruptly rising from his seat and pointing at Lin Wanrong. "Lin San, are you lecturing me?"

"Lecturing?" Lin Wanrong chuckled and gestured to his crippled leg. "Could someone with a nearly severed leg like me possibly lecture the current Emperor? Your Majesty, you're overestimating me."

The Emperor glanced at Lin Wanrong's injured leg and, recalling all that he had done, his expression gradually eased. He suddenly broke into laughter. "Let's just say I'm overestimating you then. I understand, you're afraid that the methods I used on my brother might be applied to you one day. You're a bit apprehensive, aren't you?"

Lin Wanrong merely chuckled, neither admitting nor denying the accusation.

The Emperor slowly stepped in front of him, lightly patting Lin Wanrong's shoulder and sighing with resignation, "You're not me, how could you understand my feelings? As a ruler of a nation, if you don't have strict measures, how can you establish authority and command the respect of the people? True, Zhao Wu was my planted spy beside Prince Cheng, and even the explosives tied to him were carefully crafted by my order. Unfortunately, their potency was less than I had hoped. Still, being able to make him a cripple and taste some suffering pleases me greatly. Lin San, you've done well. In these twenty years, I have never been so satisfied." The old Emperor laughed heartily, his face flushed. Amid his laughter, a bout of severe coughing broke out, causing tears to appear at the corners of his eyes.

Lin Wanrong was still shocked, despite having had his suspicions. If Prince Cheng was indeed guilty of treason, why not just kill him swiftly? Why did the old man take pleasure in tormenting his own brother?

"You may condemn me as ruthless, cold-hearted, and unfeeling," the Emperor's face was pale as he waved his hand dismissively, "But what's cause without effect? Compared to the immense pain he brought me, what does breaking his legs count for?" He paused, "After Xian'er, I have no more descendants. Lin San, do you know why?"

A light flashed in Lin Wanrong's mind, "Could it be because of Prince Cheng—"

"Who else could it be?" The Emperor howled, his voice hoarse and piercing. "Twenty years ago, on the eve of my father's death, he incited a rebellion, stormed into the Great Prime Minister Temple, and killed my young son. During the chaos, I was hit by a stray arrow, leaving me incapable of producing heirs. The royal lineage ends with me! And now, when Miss Guo reappears by my side, I am left broken, both in body and spirit, without the vigor of my youth. Have you ever experienced this kind of humiliation? Do you understand what I've been through for the past twenty years? Lin San, tell me, who's the ruthless one, him or me?"

The Emperor's eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched tightly against his lips, appearing almost insane. Lin Wanrong was also stunned. He hadn't expected this plot against the throne to be rooted in such deep-seated grudges and vendettas. The old man had been rendered impotent in his prime, incapable of leaving an heir—what could be more devastating than that? No wonder he resorted to such measures.

Lin Wanrong shook his head, speechless. The grievances between these brothers were truly complicated and difficult to untangle.

The atmosphere inside the Hall of Extended Years grew eerily silent, neither of them speaking. The only sound was the flickering candlelight, its soft noise echoing in their ears.

"What do you think?" The Emperor, always an Emperor, was unsurpassable in his cunning and guile. After his burst of rage, he had returned to calm in a mere moment, his face as impassive as if nothing had occurred, "Did I wrong him by breaking his legs?"

"Perhaps not," Lin Wanrong shook his head and sighed softly, feeling weary inside. The power struggles within the royal family had always been ruthless, with intricate schemes and relentless plotting, even among true brothers and fathers and sons. The case between Prince Cheng and the Emperor was just one glaring example, and it was no wonder the old man had developed such a suspicious and ruthless character.

"Rest assured," the Emperor patted Lin Wanrong on the shoulder, his voice filled with gravitas. "I will never use that method against you, not only because you are the husband of Qingxuan and Xian'er, but there's a more important reason: you are a man without ambition. Even the things that everyone in the world dreams of, you can easily let go of! This is the very reason that particularly irritates me. You have intelligence, cunning, a grasp of human nature, and your talent for scheming is no less than mine. Why, then, do you lack ambition? You should know that the Empire I've built through painstaking efforts will eventually have to rely on you—"

"Hold on, hold on!" Hearing the Emperor going around in circles, bringing the topic back to the familiar road, Lin Wanrong felt his head swell and hurriedly interrupted. "Your Majesty, did you summon me here just to say these things?"

"Is that what I want to say?" The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "In my heart, Qingxuan and Xian'er are as important to me as my Empire. If you dare to threaten me with them again, I will surely behead you. Have you got that?"

"Understood, understood!" Lin Wanrong nodded hastily.

The Emperor snorted coldly. "I called you here tonight to entrust you with something. As for the matter concerning Prince Cheng, I have made up my mind. Don't play any tricks behind my back."

Could this old man predict the future? How did he find out about the matter that he had just discussed with Old Xu? Cold sweat trickled down Lin Wanrong's back. Lowering his voice, he said, "Your Majesty, since this is a matter you've decided, how would I dare to play tricks? I am someone who values my reputation!"

"Good that you value your reputation!" The Emperor sighed, once again emphasizing his words. "Though you've earned some merit, your foundation is still shallow. Don't be greedy for credit in this matter and know when to pull out. Be aware that the eyes of both the civil and military officials are on you. Present yourself in a lofty manner so that everyone knows that the credit is yours, but you are not a treacherous villain who would kick someone when they are down. Then public opinion will naturally be on your side. Once you return from the north, holding military power, then you can—"

"Your Majesty, let's talk about something else!" Lin Wanrong felt a chill run down his spine and quickly interrupted him. Lowering his voice, he added, "Aren't you afraid that Prince Cheng will rebel again if you exile him to the north?"

The Emperor's expression remained indifferent. "I've already told you, my mind is made up. This is none of your concern. Just focus on your tasks; no one will hold you back."

For a moment, both were silent. Seeing that it was getting late, Lin Wanrong was about to bow and take his leave when the Emperor grunted, "So, you're leaving?"

Seeing that the old man looked displeased, Lin Wanrong felt a tightening in his heart. "Your Majesty, do you have more instructions?"

The old Emperor spoke unhurriedly, "The confidential matters I just discussed with you are known to only three people in the world, including myself. Do you think anyone can hear them?"

"Really? Your Majesty, are you planning to kill the messenger?" Lin Wanrong cautiously inquired.

"I'd actually like to," the Emperor smiled, seeing his wary look. "But I'm afraid my two princesses wouldn't forgive me. Well then, you may be spared the death penalty, but you can't escape a lesser punishment!"

Lin Wanrong chuckled awkwardly, "What's this about death penalties and lesser punishments, Your Majesty? I don't quite understand!"

The old Emperor sighed, his voice suddenly growing solemn. "In one more day, the hundreds of thousands strong army of my Great Hua will march northward. You should remember that, right?"

Lin Wanrong nodded, "Of course I remember. Even a cripple like me is going with the army!"

"Very well!" The Emperor abruptly stood up. "Lin San, I will pardon your death penalty as a cripple, but you must promise me one thing!"

"What is it?"

The Emperor's thick brows furrowed, an aura of killing intent subtly emanating from him. "—Capture the Khan of the Turks!"

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