“I’ll come with you, let’s go.”
A pair of big warm hands grabbed onto Lin Mengya’s small hands.
Long Tianyu’s deep voice was her greatest reassurance in times when she felt the most helpless.
Nodding, Lin Mengya held back her tears and followed Long Tianyu up the horse carriage.
In anticipation of the return of the great army, all the shops were fabulously decorated and the sound of firecrackers continued non-stop.
The troops led by the Lins had been battling to guard the borders so they could protect the Dajin against enemy attacks. For this reason, they held an exceptional status in the country.
“The Lin family is indeed an interesting one.”
In an conspicuous teahouse, Xin Li, who was dressed in a bright-red, embroidered robe looked lasciviously at the troops of the Lins.
Dajin, being guarded by Lin Muzhi, would be almost impossible to invade even if he was merely talking about besieging just one of her cities.
Unfortunately, the Crown Prince of Dajin was a fool dressed in luxurious clothes.
“Young Master, I heard that the little bastard has become the godson of the Lin family. If we didn’t get rid of him now, I’m afraid things would turn for the worse for us.”
The men surrounding Xin Li were all wearing patterned masks.
In addition, their voices sounded so hoarse that it was hard to distinguish their gender.
“Do you think I would have allowed him to live until now if I could get rid of him so easily?”
The tone of Xin Li’s voice was so bizarre that no one was able to tell his emotions from hearing it.
A glance from Xin Li’s long slit eyes sent his men trembling with fear, and the man who had spoken quickly fell to the floor, asking for forgiveness.
“Your slave did not mean to offend you, Young Master. Please forgive me!”
The man sounded so terrified, as if this handsome young man in front of him would do something horrifying to him once he was provoked.
“We are not at home, I won’t do anything to harm you. Moreover, what you said was right.”
Xin Li’s temperamental disposition was something the entire Xin family found hard to deal with.
Unfortunately, Old Master Qin had doted on him and spoiled him, such that he always did as he pleased and nothing could stop him.
No one was able to guess this young master’s intention.
“Do you know how much energy I exhausted just to secretly get into Miss Lin’s courtyard? She is not your regular girl. Not only was she surrounded by highly skilled masters, but the smell of poison on her body could be compared to that of our chief priest.”
Xin Li took a sip of the strong alcohol in his cup, and a murderous look appeared in his eyes.
He was more interested in Lin Mengya than that little bastard.
How he wished he could slash her snow-white neck and taste her blood to see if it was as sweet as poison.
“Go, keep a close eye on Princess Yu. Also, tell the shepherds that our agreement to cooperate with each other still stands.”
Lin Mengya shuddered. She was completely unaware that an extremely evil man had had his eyes on her.
“Are you feeling cold?”
Long Tianyu instinctively drew Lin Mengya into his arms. His warm embrace drove away the cold in her body.
“I’m all right. Perhaps it’s because I did not sleep well last night and might have caught a cold.”
The excitement of seeing her father had finally died down.
Sitting in the horse carriage, Lin Mengya looked out at the procession of troops through its window and sighed in her heart.
This was the ugliest side of politics. While the Lin family was out offering up their vigor and lives, what was given in exchange was someone scheming against them.
What good was it to help conquer more land for the nation? Eventually, they would have to bow down to this foolish Crown Prince, who was only good at plotting schemes against them.
“It was indeed such a waste for Father and the rest to give their lives to serving the Crown Prince.”
Long Tianyu totally understood what Lin Mengya said. The behavior of the Crown Prince would definitely leave the soldiers talking.
“The Crown Prince has always been like this. His status is his greatest asset and reliance.”
Since youth, Long Tianyu had been aware that there was a difference between the Crown Prince and the rest of the princes.
However, at that time, the Crown Prince still behaved like a big brother to him.
“Hmph, so what if he’s the Crown Prince? The emperor should be someone with competence. It’s such a waste to have him in that position of power.”
Long Tianyu supposed that Lin Mengya was about the only person in all of Dajin who would dare to make such a comment.
He stared at this girl sitting beside him and his eyes were immediately filled with a mix of expressions.
He had underestimated this girl all along.
What an imposing attitude she possessed! Suddenly, Long Tianyu felt a little ashamed and inadequate as a man.
“You’ll be in big trouble if these words reach the Crown Prince’s ears.”
Lin Mengya put on a carefree smile as she lifted her eyes to look straight into Long Tianyu’s.
“Are you scared, Your Highness?” she asked.
There was a hint of pride in Lin Mengya’s eyes as she spoke, as if she was not afraid of anything at all.
Long Tianyu felt something quiver in his heart. The pride that he had so carefully concealed since youth was suddenly rekindled and burned hot in him.
Even a young lady like her was not scared, why should he be?
A commanding smile appeared on his face as the wild and untamable spirit that was deeply hidden in his bones got provoked by Lin Mengya.
“Scared? I’m no longer scared!”
If it was destined that there should only be one sovereign in this land, why should it be that fool who came from the queen’s womb?
“If Your Highness sets your heart to fight for it, I’ll be with you all the way.”
This was not just about her romantic love for Prince Yu, rather, she had seen through the hopelessness of the situation.
There was no way she or the entire Lin family could withdraw from this battle.
In this battle to win or die, even if the step forward meant jumping down a cliff, she would have to clench her teeth and do it.
“All right.”
The softest spot in his heart had been aroused by her words.
A tender look, which could cause one’s heart to quiver, appeared in his eyes. Somehow, this girl was always able to touch his heart so easily.
“Prince Yu and Princess Yu, we’ve arrived at the marquis’s mansion.”
Liu Kui’s voice echoed from outside the horse carriage.
The two exchanged a smile. The rapport between them was a given by now.
As the mistress of Marquis Zhennna’s wife, Shangguan Qing had started preparing for her husband’s return three days ago.
Without Lin Mengya at home, she and Wu’er had been living a peaceful and relatively happy life.
Little did she expect to see the elegantly and beautifully adorned Lin Mengya the moment she stepped out of her gate, anticipating to see the husband she had been missing so much.
“Why is she here, Mother?”
Lin Mengwu looked at her half-sister with resentment in her eyes. When she was at Prince Yu’s mansion, she had failed to catch Prince Yu’s attention no matter what she did.
Her elder sister had drawn all the attention to herself.
Today, it was all about the Lin family, so she wondered why this bearer of bad luck would appear here!
“Although she is a princess, she is also one of the daughters of the Lin family. It is only right that she came.”
There was no doubt that Shangguan Qing was resentful toward Lin Mengya as well.
This lass was looking more and more like her mother.
Shangguan Qing’s sharp nails were almost going to pierce into her palm. However, she was not childish like Lin Mengya.
She was seasoned at displaying friendly manners belying hypocritical intentions.
Seeing that her “daughter” and “son-in-law” had come, it was only right that as a mother-in-law she would go up to greet and welcome them into the house.
In addition, she forced herself to wear a loving smile so it appeared that she loved Lin Mengya the way she would her own daughter.
“Greetings and welcome, Prince Yu and Princess Yu.”
Lin Mengya also wore a gentle smile on her face as she held on to Shangguan Qing, who was about to bow to them.
She would never allow Shangguan Qing to bow down her in plain sight, lest those outsiders who saw it would accuse her of disrespecting her step-mother due to her elevated status.
“Please don’t, Mother. We’re a family after all. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
For the sake of their reputation, they acted as if they were a pair of loving mother and filial daughter. In this way, no one would be able to make a mockery of them.
“Prince Yu is here as well! All thanks to Father, otherwise it would be impossible for Prince Yu to visit during normal times.”
Today, Lin Mengwu had dressed up to be a beautiful lady, who would likely cause many young mean to be smitten by her.
Unfortunately, she was to be overtaken by Lin Mengya in her presence and be the second most beautiful lady here.
Long Tianyu simply glanced at Lin Mengwu, and thereafter, ignored her presence.
“Oh, I’m so muddle-headed to have allowed you to remain standing at the gates to talk. Please come in quickly.”
Although this was also Lin Mengya’s home, Shangguan Qing was carrying herself as if she were the hostess of this household.
Despite being the lady of the Lin family in name, there was only one lady of this household in the hearts of Lin Mengya, Lin Muzhi, and Lin Nansheng.
As Lin Mengya stepped into the mansion, there was a cold look in her eyes.
Every plant in the courtyard had been carefully planted by her mother.
However, at this moment, Shangguan Qing had replaced all of her mother’s hard work with distasteful decorations.
Lin Mengya smirked. It was no wonder that Shangguan Qing was unable to win her father’s heart over the years.
She was indeed in a sad state.
“Come to think of it, we haven’t seen each other for quite some time. How have you been in the prince’s mansion?”
Shangguan Qing pretended to be concerned about Lin Mengya. In response, Lin Mengya simply smiled and portrayed the look of a happy, contented, young wife.
“Thank you for your concern, Mother. The prince treats me exceptionally well.”
At Lin Mengya’s answer, Lin Mengwu clenched her teeth in rage. However, she knew better than to lose her temper since her father and elder brother would be home soon.
While they were still chatting, a steward rushed in from outside.
“Madam, First Miss, and Second Miss, Senior and Junior Master Lin are back!”
Shangguan Qing stood up excitedly, took a look at herself, then went out to greet and welcome them.
The father and son had gone to the palace to pay their respects and send their greetings to the emperor before coming home.
Having taken off their armor, the father and son were a charming pair as they rode on their fine horses.
The entire family had come out to the gates to welcome them, and rightfully, their emotions were high.
“Old Master—you’re finally back!”
Lin Muzhi, regardless of the fact that his marriage to this second wife had been forced on him, still had a sense of responsibility toward her.
He had been out leading the troops all year round, and it was surely tough for Shangguan Qing to manage the entire household alone.
Since he was unable to reciprocate her love, he had decided to compensate her with honor and respect.
“Please rise, my wife. It must have been very hard on you all these years handling all the household matters by yourself.”
They were more polite than intimate with each other as a couple.
Although they had been married for more than a dozen years, Lin Muzhi had always respectfully kept her at arm’s length, and there was little display of affection.
“You’re too kind with your words. I’ve only done what it is my duty to do.”
In fact, Shangguan Qing’s eyes were welling up with tears. She indeed felt she had been having a hard life.
All these years, all the tenderness she showed toward him had failed to win his heart.
