Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 155 Wenren Yue's Suspicion

Commandery.

Chen Bing looked at Lin Xuan and said, "You don't need to worry about Princess Yongchun anymore. His Majesty has already reprimanded her and confined her to her quarters for three days. She shouldn't cause you any more trouble..."

Lin Xuan clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you, Commander."

Chen Bing waved his hand and said, "If you encounter similar situations in the future, feel free to come to me. My Jingye Division serves the imperial court and is not to be bullied by just anyone."

A moment later, Lin Xuan walked out of the main hall.

Lu Feng walked over and handed Lin Xuan a carefully written gift list, saying with a smile, "Brother Lin, this is the betrothal gift list that His Majesty ordered the Imperial Household Department to prepare. Take a look. If there is anything else you want, just say so. His Majesty said that your wedding must be held in a grand and glorious manner."

Lin Xuan took the gift list and glanced at the densely written words on it.

Ten bushels of pearls from the East China Sea, a hundred pieces of precious jade from the Western Regions, a thousand bolts of brocade from Jiangnan… The betrothal gifts were dazzling. Lin Xuan only glanced at them before returning the list, saying, “Your Majesty’s kindness is too much for me. I am humbled. Everything can be handled according to the proper etiquette. I have no objection.”

Lu Feng nodded and added, "By the way, the Ministry of Rites has set your wedding date for the fifteenth of next month based on your birth dates and times. I'm informing you in advance so that the people from the Ministry of Rites can contact you beforehand."

It's the 10th of April now, and the 15th of next month, which means there's still a month to go.

After pondering for a moment, Lin Xuan tentatively asked, "Brother Lu, before the wedding, may I meet Miss Zhao?"

Lu Feng patted his shoulder lightly and said, "I understand how you feel, but I'm afraid that won't work. The Zhao family values ​​propriety above all else, and it's absolutely impossible for you to meet Miss Zhao before the wedding..."

Lin Xuan had originally wanted to meet the other party beforehand to sound out her opinion, but upon hearing this, she had no choice but to give up.

Unexpectedly, in his lifetime, he also experienced what an arranged marriage felt like.

After returning home, Lin Xuan went to his study and fell silent.

A luxurious mansion in the heart of the capital, equivalent to a first-class Jing'an Medal (a get-out-of-jail-free card), four Qi Gathering Pills (a rare and highly sought-after item) bestowed upon him at once, the two beauties of the capital, who were as famous as Wenren Yue, were casually betrothed to him, a lavish wedding fully sponsored by the Ministry of Rites, and the royal princess being punished by being confined to her quarters for three days because of him...

Given the current situation, a normal resignation is probably not an option.

His Majesty has treated him so well; if he were to back down, it would be disrespectful, and everyone would think he had failed the Emperor's grace.

At that time, it's likely that not only he, but also Qingluan and the Tian family will be affected.

He took out his telescope and began to write slowly on its surface.

At this time, thousands of miles away, in Bozhou...

Tian Qingluan looked at the contents of the telescope and sighed softly.

What she was most worried about happened.

Although she had long convinced herself that as long as he was alive and as long as he could return to her side, she could do without any title and could quietly be his little woman, she still couldn't help feeling resentful when another woman took her place and married him openly and formally.

But she also knew that this was not something they could change.

They could not disobey the emperor's orders, and they could not afford the consequences of defying the decree.

Moreover, she couldn't let personal feelings for her children ruin his promising future.

She could only comfort him in return.

She didn't care about titles or status, as long as he returned to the southwest for a few months each year. She and Sister Youmeng both understood his difficulties...

Beijing.

Lin Xuan put down the telescope and sighed deeply.

Qingluan remained as obedient and sensible as ever. In the end, she even comforted him, which made Lin Xuan feel even more guilty.

Perhaps the same tactics used on mandalas can be applied to the imperial court as well.

However, if one manages to escape the imperial court by faking death, obtaining the subsequent techniques of the Zhenyue Gong will be virtually impossible...

The imperial court's move was truly brilliant...

Just then, Chen Fu's voice rang out from outside the door: "Master, we have a guest. Would you like to see him?"

Lin Xuan composed himself, straightened his robes, and said, "Please wait in the front hall, I'll be right there."

These days, he has been busy with his spiritual practice and has already turned away many visitors.

Lu Feng once said that although he was in the Jingye Division, he should blend in with the world and not be too arrogant. Even if he did not take sides, he should still maintain a superficial harmony.

Before long, Lin Xuan entered the front hall.

A middle-aged official in a blue robe with a lean face was sitting in the guest seat, sipping tea. Upon seeing Lin Xuan arrive, he immediately put down his teacup, stood up with a smile, and bowed: "I am Li Wenyuan, a secretary in the Ministry of Rites. I live next door to Lord Chen. I heard that you have moved to a new house, so I came to pay my respects. I hope you will take good care of me in the future."

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites was a fifth-rank official, belonging to the group of upright officials who served as secondary ministers.

Lin Xuan smiled and returned the greeting, saying, "Lord Li, you are too kind. I am new here, and it should be I asking Lord Li to take good care of me."

After exchanging pleasantries and taking their seats, Li Wenyuan spoke very politely, first praising Lin Xuan for his youth and achievements and for his great contributions to the court, and then subtly shifting the topic to current affairs in the court.

Over the past few days, they have already figured out the background of the owner of this mansion.

Chen Yu, one of the Sixteen Guards of the Jingye Division, made great contributions in the southwest and received a great reward from His Majesty. Even Princess Yongchun, whom His Majesty favored, offended him and was confined to her quarters for three days, which shows how much His Majesty valued him.

Such a promising young official is someone that every faction in the court would want to win over.

Li Wenyuan sighed softly, his face showing worry: "Lord Chen has been in the southwest for a long time, so you may not know this, but nowadays in the court, some people are controlling the government, appointing relatives and friends, and suppressing dissidents, making the court a mess. It's truly worrying..."

Although he did not name names, his words were undoubtedly directed at the Prime Minister's faction.

Lin Xuan smiled and echoed, "Lord Li's concern for the country and its people is truly admirable. I, Chen, am new to the capital and am not yet very familiar with the affairs of the court..."

He was mild-mannered in his attitude toward this upright official, but never made any statement.

Seeing that he couldn't get any information out of him, Li Wenyuan chatted for a few more minutes before tactfully getting up to take his leave.

No sooner had he left than his steward, Chen Fu, came to report that a guest had arrived. This time, the visitor was Song Yi, an assistant minister in the Ministry of Personnel.

After recalling for a moment, Lin Xuan remembered that this person was a member of the Grand Secretary's faction.

Unlike Li Wenyuan's slender build, Song Yi was slightly plump. He warmly cupped his hands and said, "Lord Chen, I've heard so much about you. I live not far from the front street and should have come to visit you long ago, but I've been too busy with official duties and only had time today. I hope you will forgive me."

Lin Xuan returned the greeting with clasped hands: "No, no..."

After exchanging pleasantries, Song Yi's tone also shifted to the political situation.

He patted his slightly rounded belly and said, "The Grand Secretary has worked diligently to govern the country and implemented new laws, which have gradually filled the national treasury. This is the way to strengthen the nation. Some stubborn and inflexible people, who do not understand the big picture, obstruct the process and are truly harming the country and its people..."

He shook his head, looking heartbroken, and then smiled at Lin Xuan, saying, "Lord Chen has achieved such success in the Southwest, so he must be a wise man who understands the necessity of reform and strengthening the country. In the future, when we serve as officials in the capital, we should work together to serve His Majesty and the court."

Lin Xuan smiled, remaining silent and noncommittal, making Song Yi's attempts to win him over seem like hitting cotton.

After seeing the man off, Chen Fu reappeared before Lin Xuan, saying helplessly, "Master, another guest has arrived..."

Half a day later, Lin Xuan returned to his study and rubbed his temples.

In this short period of time, he has already received three or four groups of visitors.

People from the Qingliu Party and the Chief Minister Party appeared alternately, their words sometimes subtle and sometimes direct, but their purpose was the same—to test his stance and try to pull him into their camp.

Zhiqin served tea at the right moment and said softly, "Young master, you must be tired. Have some ginseng tea."

Lin Xuan took the teacup, gazing at the deepening night outside the window with a deep look in his eyes.

The waters of the capital are indeed unfathomable. He is now like bait that has suddenly fallen into the water, attracting fish from all sides to take a bite.

But he knew very well that he could not side with either side. Once he took a side, he would be caught in the vortex of factional strife and would find it difficult to escape.

The maids and servants in the mansion seem obedient, but in reality, they don't know which ones are His Majesty's eyes and ears. The Jingye Division has a special identity, independent of the court factions, and only obeys the Emperor. As the Emperor, he certainly wouldn't want Lin Xuan to take sides between the two parties.

Lin Xuan was about to take a bath and rest when Siqi walked in slowly from outside and said, "Young Master, Miss Wenren is here to visit."

Zhiqin looked at Lin Xuan and asked softly, "Young Master, it's too late today. Should I tell Miss Wenren that you've already rested...?"

Lin Xuan shook his head and said, "No need."

If it were someone else, he might have disappeared.

But since Wenren Yue said so, let's meet her anyway...

Lin Xuan straightened his slightly wrinkled robes and went to the front hall.

A figure stood silently in the hall with her back to him. She was still wearing an elegant long dress, her posture upright like bamboo, giving people the feeling of an ancient and unyielding iceberg. But Lin Xuan knew very well that this was just her appearance.

Only after getting to know her can you realize that she has a cold exterior but a warm heart.

Lin Xuan cupped his hands in greeting and said calmly, "Miss Wenren."

Wenren Yue nodded slightly in return, her voice as cool as ever, "You had too many guests during the day, so I had to come now. I hope I haven't disturbed you."

Lin Xuan smiled and said, "I won't disturb you."

The two took their seats as host and guest, and after Zhiqin and Siqi served fragrant tea, they quietly withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the hall, where the atmosphere became somewhat quiet.

Wenren Yue broke the silence first, asking softly, "The climate and customs of the capital are quite different from those of the southwest. Lord Chen, are you getting used to it now that you've just arrived in the capital?"

Lin Xuan smiled and replied, "It's alright, but not as carefree as the Southwest."

Wenren Yue gazed ahead and calmly said, "The Sixteen Guards of Jingye wield immense power, and countless eyes are watching them. Of course, they can't be at ease..."

The air was silent for a moment. Wenren Yue hesitated for a moment, then softened her tone and asked, "How have Qingluan and A'luo been these past few days?"

Even now, she still feels that she owes Qingluan and A'luo a lot.

If she hadn't insisted that Lin Xuan go to Bozhou, they would probably be very happy now, right?

Lin Xuan nodded slightly and said, "She's doing well. The Tian family is now a major merchant family in the southwest, with many affairs to attend to. Although Miss Tian is a bit busy, everything is going smoothly. Miss A'Luo..."

He paused when he mentioned A'Luo, then said, "She has already left Bozhou, but as for where she went, I don't know..."

Wenren Yue then asked, "I heard that it was you who suggested to the court that the Tian family become imperial merchants?"

Lin Xuan did not hide anything and said, "Giving the imperial merchant to the An family and the Song family is tantamount to raising a tiger to cause trouble. The Tian family is the most suitable choice."

Wenren Yue looked at him and said, "Qingluan is my good friend. Thank you for the matter of the Imperial Merchants..."

Lin Xuan said, "Miss Wenren, you are too kind. I am only thinking of the court."

Wenren Yue nodded, but didn't say anything more. She said, "It's late, so I won't bother you any longer. Farewell."

Lin Xuan stood up and said, "Miss Wenren, please take care."

Wenren Yue got up and left, quickly disappearing into the night.

Lin Xuan stood at the door, gazing in the direction she had left, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

Lin Xuan could guess that she had come to him to inquire about Qingluan and A'luo. He was actually quite conflicted about Wenren Yue.

If I had told her the truth back then, I wouldn't need to hide my identity now.

But having chosen to keep it a secret, he couldn't bring himself to speak up again.

It wasn't that Lin Xuan was worried she would leak the secret, but after telling countless lies, he no longer knew how to tell her the truth...

……

As night deepened, the Prince Yu's mansion remained brightly lit.

In the study, a young man dressed in a python robe sat upright in front of a chessboard. He had a handsome face and an air of elegance and nobility between his brows.

There was no one on the other side of the chessboard. He held white in one hand and black in the other, playing chess against himself.

A guard in black entered the study silently, knelt on one knee, and reported in a low voice: "Your Highness, Miss Wenren left the mansion half an hour ago and went to the residence of Chen Yu, the newly appointed Sixteenth Guard of the Jingye Division. She stayed for about a quarter of an hour before leaving and has now returned to the Wenren mansion."

Prince Yu paused slightly as the chess piece landed on the board with a crisp sound.

"Chen Yu..."

He murmured the name, his gaze fixed on the deep night outside the window, and asked, "Is this the Chen Yu who just returned from the southwest, whom Father Emperor highly values, rewarding him with many fine things and even betrothing the talented Zhao Wan to him?"

The guard replied respectfully, "Indeed."

Prince Yu stood up, walked to the table, his gaze calm, and tapped the surface lightly with his knuckles.

It's normal for A-Yue to have had some interaction with this person since she had been to the Southwest.

However, given her personality, it was still somewhat strange for her to visit a young man late at night, even though that man lived only a wall away from the Wenren residence.

There must be something he doesn't know.

The slight doubt in his mind vanished in an instant.

Although A-Yue never reciprocated his feelings, he didn't believe that there was anything beyond old friendship between her and Chen Yu; he was confident in that.

Prince Yu's tone was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger: "He and A-Yue have a past friendship, so it's normal for them to have contact. Send someone to keep an eye on them, but don't interfere. If they have any further contact in the future, report it to me immediately."

"Yes!"

The guard accepted the order and quietly withdrew.

Silence returned to the study.

Prince Yu sat back down at the chessboard, gazing intently at the unfinished game.

He was naturally familiar with the name Chen Yu.

Despite his meager strength, this man accomplished something truly remarkable in the southwest. He not only resolved the court's financial crisis but also eliminated a major hidden danger in the southwest. During those days, the Emperor's smiles were much more frequent than usual.

The Emperor has always been generous in rewarding such capable ministers.

As the crown prince, even though he had met countless capable ministers over the years, he had to admit that this person was outstanding among them.

But so what?
Even the most capable ministers throughout history are nothing more than pawns on a chessboard.

And he will eventually become the one who plays the game.

He picked up a chess piece in each hand and slowly placed them down...

……

Chen Mansion.

After several waves of guests arrived, Lin Xuan's residence finally quieted down.

These days, the Commandery has not assigned him any tasks, as if they have completely forgotten about him.

However, Lin Xuan also knew that the benefits from the imperial court were not given away for free. They didn't usually look for him, but when they did, it was probably for some extremely dangerous mission.

So whenever he had free time, he was almost always practicing meditation.

During this time, an official from the Ministry of Rites came by, saying he wanted to have clothes tailored to his measurements.

Lin Xuan really had no worries about this marriage.

He hardly had to do anything; the Ministry of Rites had regulations governing when and what to do.

Inside the kitchen.

Lin Xuan looked at the dishes on the table, picked up a few bites, and then put them down again.

Seeing this, Zhiqin quickly asked, "Young master, what's wrong? Is the food not to your liking? What would you like to eat? I'll have the kitchen prepare something new..."

Lin Xuan waved his hand and said, "No need."

The two chefs in the family are very skilled, and the dishes are plentiful every day, but unfortunately, there is no one to eat with him.

Eating alone always feels like something's missing.

Lin Xuan looked at Zhiqin and Siqi behind him and gestured, "Why don't you sit down and eat with us? There are so many dishes, I can't finish them all."

Zhiqin quickly said, "Young Master, this won't do. We are just servants; we can't eat at the same table as you..."

Seeing how frightened they were, Lin Xuan didn't force them. He stood up and said, "Then you can sit down and eat. I don't have much of an appetite. If you can't finish, call a few more sisters. Don't waste food."

Zhiqin wanted to say something more, but Lin Xuan said, "This is an order."

The two maids sat obediently at the table, their mouths watering as they looked at the sumptuous meal laid out before them.

They had never eaten such a sumptuous meal before.

Lin Xuan walked out of the dining room on her own and came to the kitchen, but neither of the two cooks were there.

Lin Xuan cooked a bowl of mushroom soup noodles himself, brought it to the courtyard, and sat down at the stone table.

I've been eating too much fancy food these past few days, and I'm really craving a bowl of vegetarian noodles.

He picked up the spoon, took a small sip of the soup, and a satisfied expression appeared on his face...

at the same time.

Another courtyard separated by two walls.

Wenren Yue, who was meditating in the courtyard, suddenly opened her eyes.

Lin Xuan had just picked up his chopsticks and hadn't even taken his first bite of noodles when a figure in white suddenly descended from the sky.

Wenren Yueluo stood in the courtyard, her gaze fixed on him, or rather, on the bowl of noodles in front of him.

Without saying a word, she went straight into the small kitchen, took a new pair of chopsticks and a spoon, and in front of Lin Xuan, took a sip of soup and a bite of noodles. Then, she stared intently at him, her voice trembling slightly, and asked, "Who cooked this bowl of noodles?"

Lin Xuan knew that Wenren's family lived next door, but he didn't expect that she could smell the noodles he was cooking over there.

Could it be that her place is right next door to mine?

The capital city is not like Sizhou or Bozhou, where there are many powerful people. While it's not to say that Rank 3 experts are everywhere, it's always better to be cautious. Since moving here, he hasn't dared to use his spiritual power to detect anything. If there is a Rank 4 mage nearby, he will sense it immediately.

Lin Xuan showed just the right amount of surprise, then said, "I cooked it, is there a problem?"

Wenren Yue pressed further, "Who taught you how to cook this?"

Lin Xuan said, "My mother, in the southwest, mushroom soup noodles are all cooked this way. It's a pity that the mushrooms in the capital are not as good as those in the southwest, so it can't taste like home. So, Miss Wenren, do you also like mushroom soup noodles? Would you like me to cook you a bowl?"

Wenren Yue stared intently at Lin Xuan and nodded, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble you."

After a while.

In the small courtyard.

Lin Xuan was busy in the small kitchen.

Wenren Yue stood at the kitchen doorway, her gaze never leaving him.

As Lin Xuan cooked, he regretted it all. He blamed himself for his stubborn mouth. Why did he have to crave mushroom soup noodles? Now, Wenren Yue's favorite dish was this, and his identity, which he had been hiding for so long, might be exposed.

Fortunately, the secret seasoning he used to make in the Southwest wasn't at home, so the taste of this bowl of noodles wasn't exactly the same as before.

Lin Xuan was extra careful when cooking the noodles.

His kneading technique, cooking temperature, and cooking time were all different from before.

A moment later, Lin Xuan brought out a bowl of noodles and said, "Miss Wenren, the noodles are ready."

Wenren Yue glanced at him and said softly, "Thank you."

She tasted the soup with a spoon, then tasted the noodles, and couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

She's really gone mad. When she smelled that familiar scent just now, she actually thought that Chen Yu was Lin Xuan.

After returning to Beijing, she asked her grandfather to retrieve all of Lin Xuan's files.

All evidence suggests that he died in the line of duty during the mission to transport the telescope.

However, the Yang family denied this.

This left her with a glimmer of hope.

She would rather he was on an important mission that required him to conceal his identity and never see her again than for him to have truly died in the line of duty.

Since it wasn't him, there's no need to eat this bowl of noodles anymore.

She put down her chopsticks and said again, "Thank you."

After saying that, she rose into the air and flew into the neighboring yard.

Lin Xuan looked at the two bowls of noodles on the table, both of which she had already taken a bite of, and was unsure whether to eat them or not...

Half an hour later.

Wanshou Palace.

Emperor Dayong held a scroll of scriptures in his hands, listening to a report from a eunuch, his face showing no change in expression.

The eunuch in charge of the seal behind him looked puzzled and asked, "Why does this boy refuse to use his real name and insist on using a false identity? He doesn't even recognize his old friends anymore. Does he think that the remnants of the Yang family or the Western Tibetan rebels would dare to harm Miss Wenren? He overestimates them..."

The Emperor of Dayong turned to a page in the scripture and said calmly, "Whether he is Lin Xuan or Chen Yu, as long as he is loyal to the court, it's just a name and an identity; it's not that important..."

(End of this chapter)