Zuo Qiuchen was stupefied and he burst out laughing after a moment of pause.
Lin Mengya thought she saw the look on his face which seemed to say that he had been seen through. However, she also glimpsed a flash of light in his eyes.
This eldest cousin of hers was not an ordinary person. She knew for a fact that the internal strife in the Pavilion of Herbs only involved the upper-class nobles of Lintian.
How would the mere maidservants be aware of it?
They must have received instruction from Zuo Qiuchen, so they could make known his predicament to her.
Moreover, Zuo Qiuyu had known her personality for a long time.
The two brothers had treated her so well, and thus she would return present for present.
“I’ve already said that this method wouldn’t work, but Yu had insisted on doing this. It seemed like that I’m right. The Lins and the Zuos have the most preeminent bloodline. You are a very outstanding person indeed.”
Despite Zuo Qiuchen relaxing the expression on his face, Lin Mengya was feeling, for the time, that Zuo Qiuchen was finally treating her as an equal.
He was not treating her merely as a little girl.
“I believe Zuo Qiuyu had reacted in this way because knows my temperament well. What would you like me to do, cousin? Is it to help you look for the music score for the green stringed instrument, or do you want me to succeed in the position of the chief elder?”Under the moonlight, the expression on Lin Mengya’s face was that of gentleness and warmth. There was no sign of anger or other emotions.
From afar, it appeared that the cousins were just having a casual chat.
No one would have imagined what seemed like a cordial conversation was actually a discussion on a secret that could topple a nation.
“If I let you take over the chief elder’s position now, it will be as good as pushing into a furnace. If possible, I hope you will lend me the music score for the green stringed instrument for a while.”
Zuo Qiuchen might sound like he was negotiating with Lin Mengya, but she could sense from the way he spoke that he had a ploy in mind.
In response, Lin Mengya showed a knowing smile and tapped her head with her left hand as she said, “The music score for the green stringed instrument had really been destroyed…”
In response, Zuo Qiuchen smiled as if he was not bothered by Lin Mengya’s reply. Imitating Lin Mengya, he looked up at the moon in the sky and said, “If you help me fulfill my wishes, I will allow your people to monopolize all the businesses in the Nation of Lintian. How’s that?”
There was a hint of persuasion in Zuo Qiuchen’s casual voice.
Suddenly, Lin Mengya was alarmed by the thought that flashed across her mind.
Had her status as the master of Sanjue Hall been exposed? However, after second thoughts, she thought it was unlikely.
Even Long Tianyu, who had numerous spies in the Capital City, did not manage to find this out.
Moreover, her eldest cousin was a foreign emperor.
“It’s useless, my dear cousin. I don’t reside here. Even if you allow me to monopolize the businesses, it’s not going to be of use to me.”
The unwavering look in her eyes did not betray any other emotion.
Lin Mengya turned around and smiled at Zuo Qiuchen. Like a sly fox, the two exchanged looks as if trying to size up each other and guess each other’s trump card.
“Power, I know you’re not interested in power, so wealth is what I can give you. Your prince may hold exceedingly great power and is the most outstanding man, but don’t you think you need to provide support for your mother’s family?”
Zuo Qiuchen coaxed her using a tone that seemed to imply that he was doing all these for Lin Mengya’s sake.
Lin Mengya laughed softly as she looked down.
“You’re rather ambitious, my dear cousin. Alright, I’ll find the music score for the green stringed instrument for you. But on condition that I take over the management of the Pavilion of Herbs, but of course, you know I won’t lay my hands on the iron ores.”
Cunningness ran in their blood. It was as if they were dancing the tango, sometimes taking a step forward, sometimes retreating a step. It was in this alternating advancing and retreating movement that they gradually figured out each other’s intentions.
“Alright, but it wouldn’t be so easy to get hold of the music score for the green stringed instrument. How about I give you three months as the time limit for you to find it for me?”
Three months? Was her eldest cousin not being too impatient?
Lin Mengya cocked her head as if she was pondering. It was only after a while later that she slowly reached out a finger.
“Please extend the time limit to a year. If my right arm doesn’t recover soon enough, it would be difficult for me to go about searching for the music score for the green stringed instrument, right?”
Zuo Qiuchen quickly understood Lin Mengya’s intention. He shook his head and smiling, he said, “You’re indeed more thoughtful. One year it would be. Please accept my thanks for fulfilling my wish.”
Bowing awkwardly, the two of them exchanged a glance and a smile.
Something did not need to be spoken to be expressed to be understood.
“I still have something to attend to, so I shall not remain to chit chat with you. In a few days, let’s set out for the old capital to look for those from the Pavilion of Herbs to treat your injury.”
Lin Mengya nodded, then she called for a maidservant to help her back into her room slowly.
Zuo Qiuchen who was standing in the shade smiled a mysterious smile as he strode out of the courtyard of Prince Shen’s mansion.
Lin Mengya’s body remained frail. It only took a few steps from the courtyard to the bed in her room, but she was already feeling weak.
Perhaps she had exhausted too much of her strength during the day.
Baishao had already made her bed the way she liked earlier on.
She helped Lin Mengya change into something comfortable before she lay down on the bed. At the same time, Baishao had brought in her blanket, insisting to make her bed on the floor so she could keep Lin Mengya company in her room.
“Why would you do this? There are so many rooms in the prince’s mansion. How are you going rest well sleeping here?”
At this moment, only a candle was lit in the room.
Lin Mengya cocked her head as she looked at Baishao who was lying down on the floor by her bed.
“No way. You’re not feeling well now. If you become thirsty at night, there’ll be no one to pour a cup of water for you. I’m at your service. I won’t leave your side.”
Baishao was not bothered at all, anyways she could have all the blankets she needed in this room.
Moreover, the flooring of the room was made from cottonwood, so it was more comfortable than the beds in poor people’s homes.
She was carrying with her sisters’ expectations. In fact, she was already extremely upset that her master got injured.
She would not forgive herself if she failed to serve her master well.
Lin Mengya tried to dissuade her, but Baishao remained stubborn and refused to leave her side.
Lin Mengya, unable to dissuade her, commanded Baishao to lay a fleece blanket on top of the soft mattress, so they finally reached a compromise.
“What do you think of the Nation of Lintian, Baishao?”
Lying on the bed, Lin Mengya began chatting with Baishao casually with her eyes closed.
“It’s not too bad. Compared to Dajin, the girls here seem to be more quick-witted. Oh yes, Master, on the way here, I heard that there are many good things here which we can’t find in Dajin. Nevertheless, no place is better than home.”
This was, in fact, the first time in her life that she had been so far away from home. The further she was away from home, the more she felt the warmth and the preciousness of her homeland.
How she wished she could fly back to Dajin immediately! How she yearned to be back in her blissful home so she could be with her sisters.
“Surely this is the case. However, it could be said that this place is also considered part of my homeland. Baishao, if I remain behind, would you stay here with me?”
Baishao had no idea why her master would suddenly make this statement.
The first thought that came to her was that her master would certainly not reside in the Nation of Lintian permanently because she was Dajin’s princess.
Then again, she also realized that her master was also a princess of the Nation of Lintian.
Moreover, that Prince Shen and the emperor of the Nation of Lintian treated her master really well. On top of that, this place was considered her master’s homeland. If her master remained here, she would definitely stay behind with her.
“Of course. Wherever you are, I’ll be there, Master, but I would also like all of us from our courtyard to be brought here.”
At Baishao’s words, Lin Mengya slowly opened her eyes.
In reality, while she got to know Long Tianyu deeper and loved him, she somehow had a dark shadow that was holding her back.
Back in Dajin, she had already learned about the truth of some matters.
Although the Crown Prince had been born in the empress’s palace, he had a petty and narrow-minded personality and lacked magnanimity.
If he could not even be called a real man, how could he be the emperor of a nation?
Even if Long Tianyu kept quiet and did not attempt to usurp his place, the Crown Prince would eventually be involved in the power struggle with the others who were fighting for power.
Given Long Tianyu’s potential and capabilities, he would at least become an important official in the imperial courts even if did not eventually ascend the throne.
By then, would she be able to remain by his side like now, so as to assist him in all he was going to do?
Lin Mengya was not confident of this.
Moreover, the most critical reason, which was also what she was most uneasy about, was the fact that Long Tianyu had never verbalized his love for her.
He had never even said anything about him fancying her.
Was this not funny? After all, Long Tianyu had stayed by her side all the time when she was hurt and fallen unconscious. He did not even bother to change his clothes during that period of time.
Furthermore, he attended to her with such tender loving care after she woke up.
However, once a woman fell in love, she would need to be assured like a little animal. She needed a promise.
Even if it were an empty promise, a woman would still hold on to her belief like a silly girl.
She might be good at dealing with people with authority, but she was still a novice in matters of romantic love.
“Alas…”
Perhaps she had been too greedy. Maybe she had wanted more than what she deserved.
“Master, are you worrying over your injured arm? Today, Imperial Physician Qiu, oops, I mean Prince Shen said that after a few days, he will bring you to his teacher so that his teacher can have a look at your condition. Rest assured that his teacher will be an outstanding physician, given Prince Shen himself was such a skillful physician.”
Baishao tried to comfort Lin Mengya. However, Lin Mengya was worried about another matter in her heart.
Since she was in possession of the music score for the green stringed instrument, the injury on her right shoulder was not a problem that could be solved last night.
The prescription found in the music score for the green stringed instrument was the best cure for difficult ailments. She was certain that such a prescription was only briefly mentioned in any other medical manuals.
From Tranquil Lotus to Prancing Dragon Herb, and subsequently to the prescription for her own illness.
If she were to come up with these medicines too frequently, the fact that she was in possession of the music score for the green stringed instrument would be exposed sooner or later.
By then, the music score would only bring countless trouble for her.
In reality, back at the Immortal Road, the people were also not sure if she had the music score for the green stringed instrument.
Otherwise, they only had to take hostage of someone whom she cared and asked for the music score in exchange.
This was yet another reminder of the fear that the people around her had to suffer from this on because of her.
