New and dark light years

Chapter 420 You Cannot Be a Military Governor
The capital city is very large and prosperous. Because it is so big and there are so many people, some things seem very small.

For example, the head of the Ji family died.

Aside from those directly involved, it caused almost no stir in other circles.

A high-ranking official of the imperial court died mysteriously, without revealing the reason, only issuing an obituary.

But... those with good connections, combining yesterday's events with a quick guess, knew what had happened.

He was killed by Xie Feng.

Li Lin sat in the living room of the waterside pavilion, a gentle breeze carrying a bit of moisture that dampened his clothes.

Opposite him was the Second Prince, Zhu Huan.

"Young Master Li, I've brought you the Ji family's obituary. Whether you go or not is up to you," Zhu Huan said with a smile.

Li Lin frowned slightly: "I'm not familiar with the Ji family, so why would they send me an obituary?"

“Although we’re not close, you saved Jiang Yan yesterday… Now everyone thinks that although your strength isn’t as good as those old masters from the Demon Extermination Division, you’re still one of the best among the young people.” Zhu Huan sighed, “Martial arts masters are easy to find, you can find plenty of third-rank ones. But… in the profession of Spirit Hunters, which relies heavily on talent, masters are quite rare. They might need your help.”

Li Lin pondered deeply.

He came to the capital to obtain a 'legitimate separatist' status, not to expand his network of connections, nor was there any need for it.

Youth-preserving pills and body-strengthening pills are hard currency, in short supply, and it's currently a seller's market.

However, the emperor has not yet woken up, and if the crown prince is ruthless, he may never wake up.

So... just in case, it's still necessary to maintain some connections.

After all, he has already started to have conflicts with the Huang family in the capital, and he may not be able to count on them.

"Then let's go and see. Is Young Master Zhu also going? If so, shall we go together?"

Zhu Huan smiled and said, "I was just about to invite you to come with me. Wait a moment, I'll change my clothes and come over."

Li Lin nodded.

Then Huang Qing came out and asked, "My lord, shall I come along too?"

"No need. You can stay in the inn and rest, or you can go shopping, but you must bring this paper figure with you."

Li Lin placed a paper figure of a tree fairy on the table.

Huang Qing picked it up and said with a smile, "You've painted Sister Liu so beautifully; she'll be very happy to see it."

This little paper doll of the Tree Fairy is made in the cute style of big-headed dolls, and it retains the coldness of the Tree Fairy very well. It looks both cute and cool.

"Just don't let her tail hit my face."

Huang Qing covered his mouth and laughed.

After all, everyone involved was well aware that the Tree Fairy Goddess used her tail to whip people.

Not long after, Zhu Huan arrived dressed in black.

Li Lin was wearing a grayish long dress at the time, so there was no need to change.

"The Ji residence isn't far from here; we can walk there."

Li Lin nodded.

Upon arriving at the inn's entrance, Li Lin said to the guards standing beside him, "Madam and Hongluan are resting inside. If they want to go out shopping, you few will follow behind and watch over them."

"As ordered!"

The guards clasped their hands in a gesture of respect.

Li Lin then left the inn.

Zhu Huan was followed by several guards, all of whom were clearly martial arts experts, one of whom might even be a third-rank master.

As Zhu Huan had said before, there are plenty of third-rank martial artists, which is probably what he meant.

Zhu Huan waved his fan and said, "The Ji family has been favored by the imperial court for more than sixty years, and continues to do so to this day."

"Because... they played a significant role in dealing with the Empress back then, right?"

"Of course, they were also extremely ruthless towards your Jin County Li family."

"I'm not……"

Zhu Huan smiled, looking like he was saying whatever he wanted and would believe him or not.

Li Lin was also helpless.

He had actually clarified this matter several times, but no one believed him, and there was nothing he could do.

He also felt helpless about this coincidence.

After all, he was indeed surnamed Li, was skilled in alchemy, and even... appeared "suddenly" in Jin County.

One or two factors might not matter, but with all three factors combined, it's hard to believe he's not a descendant of the Li family of Jin County.

The street was bustling, but as you walked, the number of people ahead of you dwindled.

Pedestrians seemed to be deliberately avoiding this place.

Then Li Lin heard faint sounds of mournful music coming from ahead.

Throughout history, most people have actually been quite averse to this kind of thing.

"We're almost there," Zhu Huan said with a smile.

The two arrived at the Ji family's house, where an elderly man dressed entirely in white was greeting guests at the door.

Zhu Huan stepped forward, and the old man paused for a moment before calling out, "His Highness the Second Prince has come to offer condolences."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a middle-aged man led three young men out hastily. He first straightened his clothes before bowing to Zhu Huan: "I am a lowly person, my family has suffered misfortune, and my father has been afflicted. How dare I disrespect Your Highness and condescend to visit my humble abode? I, your humble servant, and my family respectfully welcome Your Highness."

Zhu Huan sighed softly, "Lord Ji, please accept my condolences. The passing of the old master is as painful as losing a family member. I hope that you will take care of your health and continue the old master's family tradition of learning, which is the true way to show filial piety. If your household needs any assistance, please feel free to send someone to my residence to let me know. Please do not stand on ceremony."

The middle-aged man immediately burst into tears and bowed again, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness!"

A young man stepped forward and said to Zhu Huan, "Your Highness, please come in."

Zhu Huan nodded and went inside.

Then Li Lin clasped his hands and said, "I am Li Lin, the garrison commander of Jin County, and I have come to pay my respects to Lord Ji."

He spoke concisely and to the point, displaying the directness characteristic of a military officer.

The middle-aged man was taken aback for a moment, then looked Li Lin up and down. He cupped his hands and said, "Commander Li, please come to the vicinity for a chat."

Li Lin was taken aback for a moment, but still followed the middle-aged man to the side.

The other person was clearly a scholar, so he wasn't worried that the other person would do him any harm. It was much quieter here, and the mournful music was faintly audible.

"Many thanks to Commander Li for coming." The middle-aged man bowed, then straightened up and said, "I am deeply grateful."

Li Lin returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Lord Ji, you are too kind."

Since Li Lin did not know the other party's official rank, he could only respectfully address him as "Sir".

“I mean it sincerely. My father once told me that the Ji family wronged the most more than sixty years ago was the Li family of Jin County.”

Li Lin wore a slightly bitter expression; how could someone mistake him for a descendant of the Li family again?

He wanted to explain, but the middle-aged man didn't give him the chance, saying, "My father's sudden passing was also to pay off the debts of my great-grandfather for what happened more than sixty years ago. The Evil Phoenix has appeared, and the Li family of Jin County has also arrived. This is the fate of our Ji family."

Li Lin sighed and said, "I really didn't come here to cause you trouble, and besides, I'm not a descendant of the Li family of Jin County."

The middle-aged man showed an expression similar to Zhu Huan's before. He said, "Since Commander Li is unwilling to pursue the matter from before, I am not an ungrateful wretch. The Ji family will fully support you in the matter of becoming the military governor."

"but I……"

Just then, the gatekeeper's voice came from outside.

"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived..."

His voice was trembling.

"Commander Li, I'm so sorry, I have to go greet the guests."

After finishing his sentence, the middle-aged man hurriedly left.

Li Lin sighed and followed behind helplessly.

When Li Lin arrived at the mourning hall, he saw a group of women and children dressed in mourning clothes, weeping and wailing.

The black coffin was placed in the center of the hall, the lid still closed.

A little boy handed over three incense sticks. Li Lin held the incense, bowed three times before the coffin, and then inserted the incense into the incense burner.

Then they came to the coffin and looked at the person lying inside.

Different places have different rules for placing a body for mourning.

Some places don't allow people to see the deceased's face, while others do.

The Ji family seems to be the kind that can handle it.

The deceased was an old man, dressed in fine clothes, with a mouthful of white jade in his mouth.

Li Lin noticed that the deceased's face was pale and bloodless, clearly indicating that his life force had been drained.

Therefore, it is highly likely that it was the work of Xie Feng.

She really does kill one or two people every day.

Who knows who will be the next victim?

After paying his respects to the deceased for a while, Li Lin left the hall, where Zhu Huan was already waiting.

"What did Lord Ji say to you?"

"He mistook me for a descendant of the Li family of Jin County."

"You'll probably say no again, won't you?" Zhu Huan laughed.

Li Lin sighed helplessly.

At that moment, the crown prince walked in.

His gaze first fell on Zhu Huan, then on Li Lin.

Zhu Huan and Li Lin bowed slightly to each other as a gesture of respect.

The crown prince nodded and went into the mourning hall.

Zhu Huan said, "Let's go first."

Li Lin also didn't like these kinds of occasions, as they were too oppressive.

As they stepped out the door, they ran into Yue Zhong.

Upon seeing Li Lin, Yue Zhong was overjoyed: "Commander Li, I was just about to look for you. I didn't expect to run into you here. Don't go. I'll come find you as soon as I finish paying my respects to Lord Ji. Don't leave!"

Zhu Huan smiled and said, "Then I'll head back first."

Li Lin said apologetically, "Young Master Zhu, please take care on your journey."

"Don't worry, I have several experts protecting me."

After saying this, he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Li Lin and then left with several guards.

Li Lin stood outside the door for a while, but instead of Yue Zhong coming out, the Crown Prince came to find him.

"Commander Li, have you come here to reconcile with the Ji family?"

again!
Li Lin didn't even bother to refute: "Your Highness, I've only come to pay my respects to Elder Ji."

“Indeed, respect for the dead is paramount; we can discuss other matters later.” The Crown Prince smiled and said, “Youth-preserving pills and body-strengthening pills are both rare and precious medicinal pills. Why don’t Father have them?”

"Foreign elixirs cannot pass the test of the imperial physicians and Taoist priests."

"Hahahaha!" The Crown Prince laughed, and said with satisfaction, "It's good that you didn't think of offering the elixir to the Emperor to gain favor. But the seal of the military governor is not so easy to obtain."

Li Lin pondered for a moment, then asked directly, "What does the Crown Prince need me to do?"

"Direct, as expected of a talented young man cultivated by a prominent family in the Southern Frontier. I don't like beating around the bush either, so I'll just tell you straight: anyone can sit in the position of Jiedushi, but not you."

Li Lin wasn't in a hurry; he simply asked calmly, "Why?"

"Because you are a descendant of the Li family of Jin County."

“I’m not.” Li Lin’s tone remained calm.

"You don't have to be, but... there's already an emperor in the palace who cultivates immortality and refines elixirs. I don't want another frontier minister who cultivates immortality and refines elixirs to come to this important border town. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

The crown prince stared at Li Lin, his eyes unblinking.

Li Lin nodded and said, "Understood. If there is an imperial decree, I will return to Jin County tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, the crown prince was stunned.

This was beyond his expectations.

Logically speaking, after he said that, shouldn't Li Lin have acted very agitated?
After all, he had blocked the promotion.

(End of this chapter)