The imperial envoy and his party had entered the prince's residence and were now in its reception hall, where Haitang was instructing the servants to serve tea.
The guards of the residence, however, were not looking at them very kindly. Every one of them looked ready to come over and stab them a few times.
As the imperial envoy, Zhang Huisheng felt as though he were sitting on a bed of needles, uncomfortable all over. The way the guards looked at him made his blood run cold and his heart pound wildly.
He was beginning to regret stepping forward in the first place.
"What's wrong, my lord? Are you feeling unwell?" A trace of a smile flashed across Haitang's face, but she pretended to be concerned.
Hmph!
Zhang Huisheng said nothing. The way this woman looked at him also made his scalp tingle, so he had not even drunk the tea she poured, afraid she might have drugged it. Naturally, he had no desire to answer her either.
He said in a deep voice, "Quickly, have your heir come out and receive the imperial decree. I have important business to attend to and must return as soon as I have delivered it."
He did not want to stay here a moment longer. He felt uncomfortable all over and would be better off leaving sooner.
Otherwise, if word spread that he had impeached Lin Yi at court, Lin Rusong might not let him off. He had to leave quickly.
"I'm already here!"
Lin Yi walked slowly into the reception hall. Given his status, he naturally had no need to fear an imperial envoy. Even if the man was the emperor's messenger, he was still only a messenger.
Phew!
At the sight of Lin Yi, Zhang Huisheng frowned slightly. His instincts told him the brat was arrogant, but he paid it no mind. Right now, he needed to finish delivering the decree and run.
This place was far too dangerous!
"Lin Yi, heir of Northern Liang, receive the imperial decree!"
"The decree states: Lin Yi, heir of Northern Liang, possesses peerless talent, can decide great affairs, and does not trouble himself with trifles. He has the makings of a capable minister and has won Our favor. He is hereby bestowed the title of Marquis of Xiliang. Furthermore, Our eldest daughter, Princess Shenle, awaits marriage in her chambers. We hereby select the heir Lin Yi as the eldest princess's consort."
Fuck!
Upon hearing the decree, Lin Yi could not help but feel his brow twitch!
Well played, Li Anlan. He had actually used a honey trap against him, even sending out his own eldest princess. It was a ruthless move. It looked like a reward, but in truth, he wanted to place Lin Yi under house arrest in the capital, didn't he?
As for the purge of Northern Liang City, the emperor had not even mentioned it. Clearly, a few thousand deaths meant nothing to him.
If he had not known about it, he would not have made Lin Yi the Marquis of Xiliang. He was openly trying to drive a wedge between father and son.
As for the praise about his peerless talent, his ability to decide great affairs, and his disregard for trifles, Lin Yi only sneered. The emperor was spouting nonsense with such a straight face; he was definitely up to no good.
Seeing that Lin Yi was not taking the bait, Zhang Huisheng gritted his teeth and said, "Your Highness, the emperor holds you in the highest regard. Please make your preparations and return to the capital with me. From now on, you will be the eldest princess of Great Ning's consort."
Hmph!
Lin Yi glanced at him. Like hell I believe you. If he believed this fellow's nonsense, he might never find it easy to return to Northern Liang.
Once he entered the capital, Li Anlan would probably try every means to keep him there as a hostage.
Trying to reason with an emperor about family affection was simply asking to be snubbed.
But the emperor had ordered him to become the princess's consort by imperial decree, and that really was not easy to refuse. With his father absent, it was even harder to handle.
After pondering for a moment, his eyes suddenly lit up.
He had an idea!
Lin Yi cleared his throat, then said solemnly, "While the barbarians remain undefeated, how can I start a family? The barbarians killed my mother. Ever since I was a child, I have vowed to wipe out the barbarians of the Northern Region. Heaven and earth can bear witness to this oath. Forgive me, but I cannot obey!"
At these words, not only was Zhang Huisheng utterly dumbfounded, but the others were also left gaping.
They had never seen the heir look so full of righteous purpose. Besides, they had always been at his side. When had he ever made such an oath?
Zhang Huisheng looked as though he had swallowed shit. This fellow was utterly shameless.
Who doesn't know what you've been up to in Northern Liang, brat? And now you're putting on this impassioned act? If you vowed to kill the enemy as a child, why did you spend more than a decade playing around? Do you take me for a fool?
He gave a dry laugh. "Your Highness, this is the emperor's decree. Please don't make things difficult for me..."
"My mind is made up. There is no need to say more. It is only right and proper that I avenge my mother. I trust the emperor will understand," Lin Yi said calmly.
Zhang Huisheng was about to say more when a thunderous laugh suddenly came from outside.
"Hahaha! Well said! 'While the barbarians remain undefeated, how can I start a family?' Your Highness has grown up!" The newcomer strode straight into the reception hall, and the guards did not dare stop him.
When Zhang Huisheng saw the man, his expression changed drastically. He swallowed the words he had been about to say and dared not speak again.
Lin Yi recognized him too. He was Wang Ziwen, the chief steward and second-in-command of Northern Liang. He was also an old man who treated Lin Yi as family. Lin Yi had not expected him to return in person.
"Uncle Wang, you're back."
"Hahaha! Your Highness has uncovered so many spies and assassins for Northern Liang that the prince sent me back to take a look. I never expected to find the imperial envoy delivering a decree. What a coincidence!" Wang Ziwen nodded slightly to Lin Yi, then looked at Zhang Huisheng with a smile.
As for the matter of becoming the princess's consort, he did not mention it at all. How could the heir of Northern Liang possibly go to the Great Ning Dynasty to become a princess's consort? If anything, Princess Shenle should be the one marrying into Northern Liang.
Uh...
The corner of Zhang Huisheng's mouth twitched, and his heart filled with bitterness.
What do you mean, what a coincidence? You old fellow probably knew when I was coming all along and arranged to wait for me here.
That King of Northern Liang! He really can blot out the sky with one hand. He even knows my itinerary like the back of his hand. He's terrifying.
He thought of another problem: they probably already knew that he had impeached Lin Yi in the capital, too.
This is bad. I have to leave quickly!
At that thought, Zhang Huisheng steeled himself and said, "Since Your Highness harbors such lofty ambitions, I will not trouble you any further. I have important business to attend to and must turn back at once!"
"The mountains are high and the road is long. Take care on your journey, Lord Envoy!" Wang Ziwen nodded with a smile, but his words struck Zhang Huisheng like a bolt of lightning.
What does he mean by that? Is the King of Northern Liang really going to make a move against me?
He could not spare a thought for anything else. He turned and led the delegation away at once, then fled without stopping.
It was simply too dangerous to stay here.
Wang Ziwen was known as Wang Half-City, a man on the level of an old fox. He would naturally see through the emperor's intentions and would surely make a move against Zhang Huisheng when the time came.
Watching him leave, Wang Ziwen could not help laughing. "That fellow must have been scared out of his wits. He really thinks the prince wants to kill him. He's truly underestimated the prince!"
"Kill him?" Lin Yi was slightly taken aback. The one behind this should be the emperor, Li Anlan. This man was only a messenger.
Seeing his confusion, Wang Ziwen explained with a smile, "That fellow impeached Your Highness at court for going on a killing spree in Northern Liang City. Now that he's seen me return, he's naturally afraid. That's why he was in such a hurry to leave."