378: Chapter 378 To Marry or Not to Marry

"Daoist Cang Zhu, so it turns out you are the 'old Taoist' she was talking about..."

"Look at the fine disciple you've taught! Like teacher, like student!"

Taoist Master Cangshuzi curled his toes in embarrassment and feigned composure, saying, "I am ashamed... when wandering the world, one's pockets are bound to be tight at times."

When he first met Princess Li Xinglan, he took her for a little beggar in the martial world. They ate chicken, drank wine, robbed the rich to help the poor—it was a carefree life!

Who would have known that this girl would later become a princess of the imperial family?

"Don't bring up the past! It's a cursed fate!"

"Lin Xiao... oh no, Prince, you have to help me. Look at how this smelly Taoist is bullying me!" Princess Li Xinglan said coquettishly.

"Princess, please behave yourself. My relationship with you is perfectly innocent. How did you suddenly become my woman?" Lin Xiao said, displeased.

Princess Li Xinglan blinked and said with a pure and lovely face, "Back then, it was the Prince who led the Zhenbei Army to reclaim the Yan Region for us. The Prince has the merit of restoring our land!"

"In my heart, I admire the Prince. I learn from the Prince in everything and support any decision the Prince makes. Naturally, I count as the Prince's person. Is there a problem with that?"

"Has the Prince forgotten? In the entire Great Gan, only our Three Prefectures of Yan are completely open to the Northern Trade Alliance. Is that not enough sincerity?"

The people around them suddenly realized that this was what she meant.

The relationship between the Yan Region and the Northern Border was no secret.

Lin Xiao didn't want to hear her nonsense and frowned, "Enough. This Prince only has a business partnership with you. Why exactly are you here?"

Princess Li Xinglan gave him a resentful glare, brushed her long hair with her elegant hand, and said nonchalantly:

"The Emperor wants to betroth me to the Crown Prince. I am the Prince's person, so I ask the Prince: should I marry or not?"

"..."

...

The Capital, the Imperial Palace.

In the Imperial Garden, Emperor Hong accompanied the Empress and several concubines to admire flowers and drink wine.

A young eunuch ran behind Zheng Yangwei, handed him a note, and quietly withdrew.

Zheng Yangwei opened the note and looked shocked, his eyes glancing at Emperor Hong with trepidation.

Emperor Hong frowned and gave a look, signaling Zheng Yangwei to hand over the note.

Zheng Yangwei had no choice but to present the intelligence sent back by the carrier pigeon.

As soon as Emperor Hong finished reading those few lines of small characters, his eyes filled with disbelief!

"Kill... killed?!"

A grand Master of the Academy was killed just like that!?

Although he had anticipated many possibilities beforehand, he never expected that Lin Xiao would dare to kill a Master of the Academy in public!!

"Your Majesty, that Lin Xiao is too ruthless. He didn't give Wu Zike any chance to explain at all..." Zheng Yangwei sighed bitterly.

Emperor Hong's brows were tightly locked, a hint of helplessness showing in his eyes.

Since learning that Lin Xiao's wife was actually the fallen Empress of Western Shu, he had been waiting for an opportunity to put Lin Xiao in a dilemma in a public setting.

The higher one climbs, the harder they fall.

Therefore, Emperor Hong had been waiting patiently for the Tianwu Grand Tournament, when the Prince of Zhenbei would attend with his family in all his glory.

Regardless of whether Lin Xiao admitted it or not, he would fall into a very unfavorable situation.

At that time, he could take the initiative and use the identity of the Empress to restrain the Northern Border.

But he hadn't expected that such a 'heavyweight' pawn prepared early on, Wu Zike, would be killed before he could even speak clearly!?

Emperor Hong's teeth itched with hatred, but what annoyed him even more was that deep in his heart, he actually felt a few more points of admiration...

This kid, so young, yet always able to use extraordinary tactics to turn danger into safety. He truly is a talent!

In comparison, his own Crown Prince...

"Your Majesty? Your Majesty?"

Seeing Emperor Hong's grim expression, the Empress beside him asked with concern, "What happened?"

Emperor Hong snapped out of it and forced a smile, "Just some trivial matters of the court, not worth mentioning."

The harem does not interfere in politics, so the Empress did not pry further. Instead, she said, "Since Your Majesty is here to admire the flowers today, don't worry about those things. Why not try the fine wine I recently found?"

Emperor Hong was somewhat surprised, "The Empress has always disliked my drinking. Why are you taking the initiative to offer wine today?"

"Times change. Your Majesty's health has been robust lately, so drinking a little won't hurt."

As she spoke, the Empress poured the wine herself and ordered a maid to hand it over.

Emperor Hong took the cup and sniffed it, his eyes lighting up. "The aroma is striking. I truly haven't tasted this wine before."

With one gulp, Emperor Hong felt refreshed, and the frustration in his mind instantly diminished.

"Good wine! Empress, what is this wine called?"

The Empress was delighted and said, "This wine is called 'Xinghua Village'."

"Xinghua Village?"

Emperor Hong suddenly remembered something and turned to ask Zheng Yangwei.

"That World's Number One Wine Competition... wasn't it held in a place called Xinghua Village?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, it seems so," Zheng Yangwei nodded.

Emperor Hong narrowed his eyes and murmured softly, "No wonder... so this is the wine produced by 'Northern Liquor'. The taste is so mellow; I wonder what kind of brewing technique is used."

"So Your Majesty also knows about Xinghua Village?"

The Empress said with a smile, "To be honest, this wine was presented to me by the Crown Prince. He is filial. Having obtained two bottles of Xinghua Village, he wanted to present them to Your Majesty but was afraid I would scold him, so I am presenting the wine on his behalf."

"Oh?"

Emperor Hong smiled half-heartedly, "So the Crown Prince found this wine?"

"Indeed. The Crown Prince also said that Xinghua Village has a wine called 'flying fairy' that is even more extraordinary. Once he finds it, he will present it to Your Majesty."

As the Empress spoke, the other concubines also began to praise the Crown Prince.

For example, Crown Prince Li Chenghao had bought them the extremely hard-to-get Snow Skin Cream, limited edition Essential Oil Soaps, and so on...

Emperor Hong smiled on the surface, but his mood grew increasingly irritable.

He stood up and said, "This wine is strong. I'm feeling a bit tired. Let's end it here for today."

After saying that, he ignored the Empress and the other concubines' farewells and strode out of the Imperial Garden.

Unable to wait until he returned to the Zichen Hall where he rested and worked, Emperor Hong began to curse halfway there:

"Useless! After being scolded by me, he thinks of relying on the women of the harem to whisper pillow talk into my ear?!"

"He uses products from Lin Xiao's industries to curry favor with my women!?"

"Tell me, what is in that useless fool's head!? No... he has no brain at all!!"

Zheng Yangwei's heart trembled as he listened, secretly cursing the Crown Prince for being truly out of touch. Could he not even see Emperor Hong's attitude toward the Prince of Zhenbei!?

"If only the eldest were still here. That child understood everything with just a hint..."

Emperor Hong suddenly stopped, looked up, and sighed deeply, his eyes full of nostalgia and sadness.

Zheng Yangwei shuddered. He naturally knew who 'the eldest' was.

First Prince Li Chengqi, once the most heavily relied-upon prince.

If not for his mother's foreign origin and the issue of bloodline, he would have been the most suitable candidate for Crown Prince.

Years ago, on his way to reward the Border Army on behalf of Emperor Hong, First Prince Li Chengqi was attacked by mountain bandits, and his body was never found.

Although there were many rumors outside, this matter had always been a royal taboo that no one dared to uncover.

"Is Consort De... still in the Cold Palace?"

Zheng Yangwei nodded, "Yes, she has been looked after."

First Prince Li Chengqi's birth mother, Consort De, was a princess of the foreign Great Peacock Kingdom.

Since First Prince Li Chengqi's death, Consort De had become as if she had lost her mind, cursing the Empress and Emperor Hong every day.

For this reason, Emperor Hong had no choice but to banish her to the Cold Palace.

"I have failed their mother and son. Find the nearest auspicious day to bring Consort De back to the Peacock Palace. Just send more people to look after her."

Zheng Yangwei showed a look of surprise, "Then the Empress's side..."

"I am the Emperor! Do I still need to listen to her!?"

"This servant dares not! This servant obeys your command!!"