Long Tianyu took off his cloak and sat across from Lin Mengya.
In a practiced manner, Baishao took Long Tianyu’s cloak and hung it behind the door.
“Baishao’s here too, is it cold outside?”
Baiji glanced at Baishao as a pained look appeared in her eyes.
Baiji would never expect Baishao to come to Restaurant Ruyi with the prince.
She called to mind what her mother used to say about people whose eyes were shaped like the petal of a peach flower. Baishao’s eyes were like that. Perhaps for this reason, Baiji thought she could never become good sisters with Baishao.
“It’s fine. I’ve brought a hand heater for Master.”
There was a look of panic in Baishao’s eyes, as if she had touched something burning hot.
Holding on to the hand warmer that Lin Mengya always carried with her, Baishao placed some small pieces of burning coal into it gently.
“You appear to have regained your energy,” said Long Tianyu.
His eyes had been focused on Lin Mengya since he came into the restaurant despite the fact that there were other pretty ladies in the room and that the room was filled with paintings by famous artists.
He only had eyes for Lin Mengya.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I’m feeling much better. The weather is freezing. I wonder if my father and brother had put on winter clothes.”
Lin Mengya reached out her hand and lightly touched the delicate squarish bronze bells hanging on the window with her fingers.
Qinghu was the one who had hung the bells there for Lin Mengya to enjoy and entertain herself.
“Actually, I have something I wanted to discuss with you,” said Long Tianyu.
The moment Long Tianyu’s words came out of his mouth, the intelligent servants in the room nudged each other and started leaving the room.
“What is it that the prince would like me to do? If it’s something I can help with, I’ll try my best to do it,” said Lin Mengya.
She fiddled with the squarish bells as a series of crispy clear clicks sounded, which were indeed pleasing to the ears.
He would only think of her whenever there were serious matters to talk to her about.
Somehow, Lin Mengya felt a little melancholic.
Long Tianyu twiddled with a white teacup with green patterns on it. The light yellow tea in the teacup emitted a subtle fragrance to the surroundings.
He was perplexed as to why he was lately at a loss for words whenever he saw Lin Mengya.
In fact, he felt a sense of satisfaction just by looking at her in silence.
As for Lin Mengya, she was always gentle and calm, which was unlike how she used to be.
He adored that clever and witty look on Lin Mengya’s face when she was sizing people up.
Even more, he loved to see the poise and confidence in her when she faced a crisis.
Her neat little face was always exuberating eye-catching brilliance.
However, even though he could not say he disliked such a quiet Lin Mengya, she was not as vibrant as before.
For this reason, he would deliberately create some trouble for Lin Mengya as an excuse to meet with her.
“I suppose your elder brother would have an idea who was behind the poisoning of Qin Mo by now.”
Long Tianyu retracted his hand and covered his cold fingertips.
Lin Mengya turned to him and their eyes met for a moment.
“That is for my elder to worry about. I don’t want to be involved. I would advise Your Highness to withdraw your secret agent from there. My elder brother and father would definitely purge all the secret agents planted in the army. It would be such a waste to sacrifice a talent whom you’ve nurtured over the years.”
Lin Mengya had found out his secret. Regardless of being in an anxious state, she was still able to sense the situation quickly.
“Recently, someone in the courts had suggested that you enter the palace to help diagnose and provide treatment to the emperor, my father,” said Long Tianyu.
This matter was what was troubling Long Tianyu the most in his heart. The person who raised the suggestion was a supporter of the Crown Prince.
The fact that Lin Mengya went into the army camp to treat Qin Mo had been spread all over the capital city.
There was even someone who revealed that her mother was once the most skilled physician in the capital city.
There was nothing to worry about if Lin Mengya went into the palace just to diagnose and treat the emperor’s ailment.
However, since the suggestion was raised by someone who supported the Crown Prince, Long Tianyu could not help but be guarded.
“Oh? I’m only a little more accomplished in dealing with poisons and toxins. As for other illnesses, I’m not an expert,” said Lin Mengya.
Doubts arose in Lin Mengya’s heart.
The reason she concealed her identity as the founder of Sanjue Hall was so her identity would not be exposed.
As for saving Qin Mo, it was an emergency, so she had no other options.
“With regards to this matter, I will try to mediate, so don’t you worry. The reason I’m telling you about it is so you will at least be aware of it.”
In fact, Long Tianyu did seriously consider letting Lin Mengya enter the palace to treat his father.
The emperor had been bedridden for many years now. He had actually not seen his father for a long time.
He had once queried the imperial physicians about his father’s illness.
However, all the imperial physicians merely replied to him by saying that his father was suffering from a chronic illness and that he was generally weak and in poor health.
But the emperor’s medical records were kept by the queen in her bedroom. Otherwise, Long Tianyu would have taken a good look at them.
Even if Long Tiaohao had the intention to send Lin Mengya into the palace, now was not the right time.
“Erm, I get what you are trying to say,” said Lin Mengya.
The Crown Prince and his supporters were thinking to get their hands on her.
Although the return of Lin Mengya’s father and brother had given her much advantage, it would simultaneously bring danger upon her.
Qinghu and Lin Zhongyu had been working very hard in the last few days. In addition, Long Tianyu had also allocated skilled men to guard the areas surrounding Lin Mengya’s courtyard.
It was said that up to now, there were three batches of spies who had been sent there.
Baisu had, all the more, stayed by Lin Mengya’s side at all times.
If this continued, all the people in the Liuxin Courtyard would tire out.
“Your Highness the Prince, the army has arrived outside the city gates. It’s time for you and Princess Yu to come down and welcome their return.” The voice of Lin Kui sounded from outside the room.
Long Tianyu and Lin Mengya exchanged looks, then stood up simultaneously.
Those who were expected to come had arrived.
Outside the city gates, the Crown Prince stood on the imperial chariot as he regarded his subjects superciliously.
Lin Muzhi, the Marquis Zhennan, had been guarding the borders for years. This was an arduous task and he naturally should be venerated and given the highest honor.
Moreover, while his heart was loyal to the country, he had never thought himself higher than he should, but continued serving the royal family with meekness and humility.
Therefore, all the subjects in the courts were full of praises and admiration for him.
The various powers all the more were trying with all means to rope him in.
Apart from the fact that the queen took matters into her own hands and forced the daughter of the Lin family to marry Prince Yu, Lin Muzhi had neither offended nor sucked up to any prominent powers.
For this reason, the Lin family was in a rather delicate position.
“Seventh Younger Brother, this is your father-in-law coming. How do you feel? Are you excited?” asked the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince was dressed in a bright-yellow court dress embroidered with patterns of dragons, which made him look exceptionally honorable.
After going through some quiet cultivation for a while, the Crown Prince appeared much more mature and reserved.
However, he could not contain his resentment when he saw Long Tianyu and Lin Mengya.
If not for those two damned people, why would he be grounded in his mansion by his mother, the queen?
“Marquis Zhennan is a highly regarded minister in the court and should rightfully be greatly honored,” said Long Tianyu flatly.
These words were spoken to the Crown Prince as a tit-for-tat.
Lin Mengya instinctively shot the Crown Prince a look of disdain, thinking that he was always missing the larger scheme of things.
Under such a circumstance as today, he should at least pretend to be gracious even if he did not feel so in his heart.
The Crown Prince was obviously far beneath Prince Yu.
As the army entered the city gates, all the officials went up to greet and welcome them.
From afar, Lin Mengya spotted her father riding on a fine horse.
The impression she had of her father from her memory was that of a steady and reserved man.
However, at this moment, he appeared to be battered, as if he had been through many hardships in life.
Nevertheless, Lin Muzhi’s features still possessed the charm he had in his prime even though he was over 50 years old now.
It had been said that back then, the emperor, who was still the Crown Prince at that time, could not compete with the well-dressed Marquis Zhennan in terms of popularity among the people.
That said, time had caught up with her father and left a mark on her father’s face.
However, the uncanny workmanship of time had carved a staid, poised, charmingly handsome face.
In today’s world, Lin Muzhi would be equivalent to a charmingly mature middle-aged man whom girls would scrabble after.
Following behind Lin Mengya’s father were the elite troops under the Lin family.
They were silent and somber, despite their family standing just an arm’s length away.
Their eyes were focused and determined, their formation orderly, and they were proceeding as normal.
Lin Mengya could hear the commoners along the streets calling out to their family members.
However, none of the soldiers left the troop.
Although they had already come home, each held on to his identity as a soldier and behaved like one.
Lin Mengya finally understood why the troops under the Lin generals were able to strike fear into the foreign tribes.
At this thought, she felt a sense of pride rising up in her.
She was a member of the Lin family after all.
As the commanders of the troops, Lin Muzhi and Lin Nansheng remained modest and composed.
The moment they saw the Crown Prince from afar, they nimbly dismounted from their horses to show their respect as subjects to the Crown Prince.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince, from your old subject, Lin Muzhi.”
As he straightened his clothes and got down on his knees before the Crown Prince, the entire army followed suit.
However, the Crown Prince merely looked at the army and smiled smugly without alighting from the imperial chariot.
“It must have been an arduous journey for you, General Lin. I have prepared a feast in the palace to welcome and refresh all of you. This way please, General Lin.”
Lin Mengya looked on with cold eyes, only to catch many of the court officials and senior ministers shaking their heads.
She leered at the one-of-a-kind Crown Prince.
She should find time to visit the issue of how this dumb Crown Prince had been raised.
The soldiers had been camping at the borders where the conditions were harsh while they served their nation with a sense of duty.
If the Crown Prince was wise enough, he would at least show his concern by asking about their health. He could at least pretend to show his gratitude to the soldiers.
Instead, being a fool, he had tried to display his power over these soldiers who had returned victorious.
This was definitely a bad time to show off his power over his subjects.
In this way, he had not only made the court officials standing behind disappointed, the army that had just returned were probably as disheartened.
“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you for your grace in preparing a feast,” responded Lin Muzhi.
Lin Muzhi got up from his respectful bow to the Crown Prince as he spoke.
Instead of looking at the Crown Prince, the first person Lin Muzhi saw was his precious daughter, whom he had doted on for a dozen years, standing next to Prince Yu.
As the father and daughter pair finally got to meet each other, they were not aware that they were separated in life and death.
The mixed expression of concern and gratification in Lin Muzhi’s eyes brought tears to Lin Mengya’s eyes in that instant.
She willed herself against such a reaction, but her soul seemed to have been weaved tightly together with this space and time.
She was no longer feeling like she was just an onlooker.
She had unknowingly accepted her current identity.
Su Qingge had died in that experiment. Lin Mengya in this space and time was the one who survived.
