Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 160 Underground Friendship
"What? Lin Xuan is dead?"

At the dinner table, Shen Qingya's face showed surprise upon hearing this, which then turned into deep regret.

Although he suffered a great loss at Lin Xuan's hands, he couldn't say he hated Lin Xuan that much.

Lin Xuan made him realize that he was not actually suited for officialdom, and that the glamorous world of the capital was more suitable for him.

The fact that such a person could emerge from a small place like the Southwest actually made him somewhat appreciative.

Little did anyone expect that Lin Xuan would die in the line of duty not long after he left…

Shen Qingya shook his head and sighed, "What a pity, what a pity..."

Prince Yu remained silent for a moment, then could only sigh and say, "Such talent should have been given important responsibilities by the court. It is truly a pity that he died so young..."

Even if he disliked men getting so close to A-Yue, he couldn't possibly argue with a dead man.

The banquet continued, and the atmosphere became even more lively.

At one point, Prince Yu looked at everyone and asked casually, "Chen Yu of the Sixteen Guards has really stole the show in this competition. Did you hear about him when you were in the Southwest?"

Du Yunzhou shook his head and said, "I've never heard of him before. It's like he suddenly appeared out of nowhere. The last time I heard his name was not long ago in the capital. At that time, he was already one of the Sixteen Guards and had even received a marriage decree from His Majesty..."

Others also spoke up.

"Yes, I thought he was a relative of Commander Chen!"

"I also thought he was sent to the Sixteen Guards by the commander to increase his seniority, but I didn't expect that he actually got in on his own merits."

"I heard that he personally infiltrated the Yang family, obtained a lot of confidential information, and also had contact with the Jiuli tribe. He made great contributions to the annihilation of the Yang family. Without him, the imperial court might not have been able to take down the Yang family in the Battle of Longya Mountain..."

……

As Prince Yu listened to everyone's words, the weight in his heart gradually lifted.

After the Yang family was destroyed, A-Yue left the southwest and returned to the capital. The two should not have had any special interactions. However, they are now officials in the same government office and neighbors, so it is normal for them to go to and from the government office together. I was just being too sensitive.

Once he understood this, he felt much better, and the smile on his face returned to normal.

He drank a few more cups with everyone, then ended the banquet, citing that he was "not a strong drinker".

After seeing the guests off, Prince Yu stood alone in the courtyard, gazing at the cold moon in the night sky.

"Lin Xuan..."

He murmured the name, and the last trace of resentment in his heart dissipated with the wind.

A dead man is not worth his time.

As for Chen Yu, his relationship with A Yue was probably just that of colleagues. Besides, the Emperor had already bestowed that talented woman upon him. No matter what, A Yue wouldn't give up her future as Empress to fall for a married man...

Of course, just in case, we should still send someone to keep a close eye on him.

at this time.

In the small courtyard of the Chen residence.

Lin Xuan and Wenren Yue sat together in the courtyard watching the moon.

From her, Lin Xuan learned about her affair with Prince Yu.

His Majesty is obsessed with the Dao of Immortality. Before ascending the throne, he was already devoted to alchemy. After ascending the throne, he held even greater power and became even more uncontrollable. He often spends a lot of money to search for precious medicinal herbs from all over the country to meet his daily alchemy needs.

Aside from alchemy and important court affairs, he had no interest in anything else.

It wasn't until he was nearly forty years old that, under pressure from his ministers, he began to work on ensuring the continuation of the royal bloodline.

The late empress died from severe bleeding during childbirth due to her advanced age.

As the only son of the late Empress and His Majesty, Prince Yu was made Crown Prince from birth.

When Prince Yu was nine years old, she was seven, and the two met for the first time.

At that time, Prince Yu announced in front of everyone that he would marry her as his concubine.

After being warned by Prince Yu, several of her male playmates gradually stopped associating with her.

She was only temporarily free from Prince Yu's surveillance when she left the capital and went to the southwest.

Over the years, apart from her family, she has never had any male friends.

Lin Xuan is the only one.

The moonlight, like water, poured down on the two people sitting side by side on the stone steps.

“From then on, almost everyone thought that I would become the Crown Princess of Prince Yu in the future, but no one ever asked me.” Wenren Yue’s voice was cold, as if she were telling a story that had nothing to do with her.

But Lin Xuan could still detect a hint of helplessness from her long-term constraints beneath her calm tone.

Lin Xuan asked, "You don't like Prince Yu?"

In front of Lin Xuan, Wenren Yue made no attempt to hide her feelings. Her eyes showed deep disgust as she said in a deep voice, "I hate him."

Lin Xuan couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

When she was still a child, she encountered a very possessive and powerful figure. It's not hard to imagine how she has managed to get through all these years.

Her current personality is inextricably linked to this incident.

As the emperor's only son and the future emperor, no one dared to oppose Prince Yu.

His affection for Wenren Yue had reached a pathological and obsessive level.

Wenren Yue turned to look at Lin Xuan and asked, "Are you scared?"

Lin Xuan said, "What are you afraid of?"

Wenren Yue said softly, "You are my only male friend. If Prince Yu finds out, he will definitely deal with you. Are you afraid?"

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "I'm scared."

He put his arm behind his head and said, "That's the Crown Prince, the future emperor, someone even the commander can't afford to offend. Even the Grand Secretary, who holds immense power in the court, has to bow down and pay his respects. How can a mere Sixteenth Guard like me compete with him?"

Wenren Yue's eyes dimmed. Even though she knew he was telling the truth, she couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Many of her childhood playmates cut off contact with her after she said those words.

Even if he never sees her again, she can understand his decision.

Lin Xuan looked at her and earnestly instructed, "So when you come to my house in the future, remember not to use the door, lest you be discovered by Prince Yu's men..."

Wenren Yue paused for a moment, a faint smile appearing on her lips, and nodded slightly.

She still didn't know what the future held, but at least at this moment, in this small courtyard, there was someone willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, ignoring overwhelming power, just to protect this pure friendship.

This is enough.

She looked at Lin Xuan and said, "Why don't you come to my place? No one usually comes to my courtyard..."

Watching Wenren Yue fly away, Lin Xuan sighed softly.

Wenren Yue was one of the few women he knew with whom he had a purely platonic friendship.

Unexpectedly, even being friends with her as a purely platonic friend required secrecy, as if the two of them were having some kind of illicit affair...

Lin Xuan shook his head, returned to his room, took out his telescope, and reported to Qingluan as usual.

During Lin Xuan's absence, the Tian family's business expanded even further.

Fortunately, thanks to the many arrangements he made before leaving, everything went very smoothly and without any obstacles.

According to Qingluan, outside of Sizhou, the villages built by the imperial court for the Xuanwu tribe have been completed and handed over.

Youmeng returned to the tribe and began selecting the first batch of tribespeople to move in.

At that time, all their expenses while traveling will be borne by the Tian family.

The business in Bozhou is on track, and Qingluan has returned to Sizhou, planning to build an even larger business empire.

The next moment, a line of crooked handwriting appeared on the telescope: "Big brother, when are you coming back!"

Lin Xuan picked up the cinnabar brush, but didn't know how to respond to Aya.

Lin Xuan had only intended to come to the capital on official business, but unexpectedly His Majesty arranged another home for him here. It seems that Lin Xuan will not be able to leave for the time being, and can only wait and see if he can get a mission to the southwest.

If all else fails, he can ask the commander in a few months to fulfill his promise to the Xuanwu tribe and stay in the southwest for at least three months.

The next morning, Lin Xuan got up, ate breakfast, and went to the Commandery alone without waiting for Wenren Yue.

He could feel that the two tails behind him were still there. They were certainly dutiful; they probably had kept watch here all night.

Prince Yu kept a very close eye on Wenren Yue.

A quarter of an hour after Lin Xuan left home, Wenren Yue finally stepped out of the mansion.

She arrived at the Commander's Office around noon, carrying a file, and went to Lin Xuan's duty room.

Not long after, a heated argument broke out in the duty room.

Lin Xuan's voice, tinged with obvious displeasure, drifted through the slightly ajar door: "This matter is far too risky. Mobilizing a large number of people to conduct surveillance based on a single, unverified piece of information is extremely dangerous. If anything goes wrong, it could easily alert the enemy and ruin everything..."

Wenren Yue's cold voice followed closely, not giving an inch: "The intelligence source is reliable. If you miss a good opportunity because of your timidity and let the Nanzhao spies escape, can you bear the responsibility?"

Lin Xuan sneered and said, "Lord Wenren, when I was out there fighting wits and courage against the spies of Nanzhao in the southwest, you hadn't even joined the Jingye Division yet. I have more experience than you in dealing with Nanzhao spies, so you don't need to worry about it..."

"Is your experience to be inactive when faced with great opportunities?"

"Lord Wenren, do I have to spell it out for you? You know perfectly well why you were able to become one of the Sixteen Guards. If it weren't for Elder Wenren's influence, you wouldn't even be able to enter the Jingye Division, let alone have the right to stand here and speak to me. So don't even try to tell me what to do..."

"What did you say!"

"Am I not telling the truth?"

……

The argument between the two grew louder and louder, causing several guards passing by in the corridor to exchange glances and slow their pace, not daring to linger.

After walking a little further away, they stood in the same spot again, listening intently.

The two people in the duty room were both very important figures.

Lord Chen Yu, who fought against four opponents in the internal competition, is the greatest contributor to the downfall of the Yang family in the southwest. He truly risked his life to earn the position of the Sixteenth Guard and is currently enjoying the Emperor's favor.

Miss Wenren's background is even more extraordinary. Her grandfather is Grand Secretary Wenren, one of the nine most powerful people in the Grand Secretariat and the Great Yong Dynasty. He is also the Crown Princess and future Empress appointed by Prince Yu. No one in the capital dares to offend her.

When these two meet, it's truly like thunder from the heavens meeting fire from the earth.

Perhaps only Lord Chen would dare to be so sarcastic and cynical towards Miss Wenren.

But he really does have the right to say that.

Everyone knows that Miss Wenren's current position is due to the Wenren family's background.

She didn't need to actually risk her life to rise from a captain to a centurion, then be selected as one of the Earthly Fiends Guards within six months, and then challenge the Sixteen Guards in the grand competition to take their place...

She is strong, but in terms of seniority and merit, she is probably not as good as most of the Earthly Fiend Guards.

Only someone like Lord Chen, who has earned his position and status through sheer hard work and risking his life, would dare to speak to Miss Wenren like that, without anyone questioning his qualifications.

boom!
The crowd outside was engrossed in watching the spectacle when suddenly they heard a loud bang.

The door to Chen Yu's duty room collapsed with a loud crash from the inside.

Wenren Yue walked out of the duty room with a cold face and strode away without looking back.

A moment later, Chen Yu emerged from the duty room, his face ashen. He beckoned someone over and said in a deep voice, "Find someone to repair these two doors..."

Many people inside the Commandery witnessed what just happened.

Miss Wenren is known for her icy demeanor, and Lord Chen Yu doesn't seem to be a gentle person either, as evidenced by his one-against-four performance during the competition. These two are jointly in charge of affairs in the capital region, making them a perfect match, and there's likely to be quite a show to watch in the future...

Prince Yu's Mansion.

A guard in black stood in the hall and respectfully reported, "Your Highness, today at the Commandery, Chen Yu and Miss Wenren had a heated argument over a case involving spies from Nanzhao, and the argument ended badly..."

Prince Yu was practicing calligraphy when he heard this, his brush paused, he looked up, and immediately said, "Oh, tell me more..."

The guard in black said, "It seems they disagreed on the action plan. Miss Wenren advocated for an immediate manhunt and arrest, while Lord Chen believed the clues were insufficient and the risk was too great. The two argued fiercely in the duty room, and many people heard it. Chen Yu said some very nasty things, saying that Miss Wenren only rose to her position because of Elder Wenren. When Miss Wenren left, she even kicked the door to Chen Yu's duty room open..."

Prince Yu chuckled lightly, dipped his brush in ink again, and said leisurely, "A-Yue is aloof by nature, but she is always decisive in her actions. Chen Yu is a talented man, but he is still young, so it is normal for him to be cautious. It is inevitable that the two will disagree. His words were a bit harsh, but considering his great contributions to the court, I will not hold it against him..."

A Yue's intense conflict with Chen Yu actually made him feel better.

He had indeed overthought things before.

Lin Xuan was already dead, and Chen Yu and A Yue were at odds. With this news, the last trace of doubt in his heart vanished.

Prince Yu waved his hand, his attention returning to the Xuan paper in front of him, and casually said, "Just keep an eye on things. If there are no other anomalies, there's no need to report every detail..."

The guard in black bowed and said, "Yes."

The Zhao residence, the embroidered tower.

Zhao Wan sat by the window, holding a book of poems in her hands, but her gaze was fixed on the crabapple tree in full bloom in the courtyard, her mind elsewhere.

Liuli walked in lightly, leaned close to Zhao Wan, and whispered, "Miss, Miss, I just heard the servants say that the young master got into a huge argument with someone at the yamen today..."

Zhao Wan's slender fingers trembled slightly, and the scroll in her hand almost slipped from her grasp.

Before Zhao Wan could ask for details, Liuli recounted the version she had heard from the gatekeeper, which had already been embellished several times: "The one arguing with the young master was Miss Wenren, the one who's as famous as Miss Wenren. I heard it was about official business. The two of them had a fierce argument in the duty room. The young master was so angry that he smashed the table, and Miss Wenren even kicked the door of the young master's duty room off..."

As Liuli spoke, she patted her chest, looking as if she still had lingering fear: "The young master is really amazing. During the competition, he fought four people by himself, and he even dared to defy a big shot like Miss Wenren. He wasn't afraid of the Wenren family or Prince Yu. Everyone outside is talking about this now..."

Zhao Wan listened quietly, her face gradually turning pale.

Liuli's words swirled in her mind, gradually sketching out the image of a future husband who was short-tempered, uncompromising, and prone to thunderous rage.

Looking at her pale face, Liuli comforted her, "Miss, don't be afraid. The officials of the Jingye Division are all decisive and ruthless. The young master is so young and already holds such a high position. How can he keep his subordinates in check if he doesn't have a temper?"

These words struck Zhao Wan's heart like another heavy blow.

Yes, he was so young yet held such a high position and great power, so naturally he was the type to have the final say. He even dared to treat Miss Wenren, who was also a member of the Sixteen Guards and came from a prominent family, in this way, let alone his wife, who had no powerful family to support her and only some empty reputation as a talented woman.

She seemed to already foresee how apprehensive and precarious her married life would be, constantly facing a hot-tempered husband who was prone to anger. With her timid and submissive nature, she feared that being beaten would be a frequent occurrence...

The news of the two Sixteen Guards arguing in court spread like wildfire, becoming the most popular topic of conversation in the streets, alleys, teahouses, and taverns of the capital in just half a day.

After all, neither of them had a simple background.

Both were newly appointed members of the Sixteen Guards, one a figure who had made unparalleled contributions and was enjoying the Emperor's favor, and who had just stirred up a storm.

The other one is the granddaughter of Grand Secretary Wenren, the Crown Princess chosen by Prince Yu, and the eldest daughter of the Wenren family with extremely high cultivation talent.

The two of them naturally generate a lot of buzz.

Now, almost everyone knows that Chen Yu, the newly appointed Azure Dragon Guard, is a hot-tempered and fearless individual. His angry rebuke of Miss Wenren at the Commandery's Office blatantly exposed some of the unspoken rules among the upper echelons of power. Few people besides him would dare to say such things...

Evening, the secluded inner courtyard of the Chen residence.

Lin Xuan had already closed the gate to the inner courtyard, forbidding the maids from approaching.

In stark contrast to the tense atmosphere of the daytime command, the atmosphere in the courtyard was quite warm, with faint wisps of smoke and the aroma of food wafting through the air.

Inside the kitchen, Lin Xuan, sleeves rolled up, was skillfully stirring the ingredients in the pan.

Wenren Yue sat quietly on a small stool to the side, peeling bamboo shoots with her head down. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a soft halo on her beautiful face.

The two worked together seamlessly, and soon, a simple meal of three dishes and a soup was served.

The turmoil at the Commandery was, of course, a play they staged.

Lin Xuan only made the suggestion yesterday, but he didn't expect Wenren Yue to be so cooperative.

Prince Yu is, after all, the Crown Prince. If he wants to deal with Lin Xuan, he really has no good way to do it except to leave.

My friendship with Wenren Yue will have to go underground for now.

The two sat facing each other before the stone table, as if they had returned to the time in the southwest, when A'Luo and Qingluan were in Sizhou, and it was only the two of them who spent time together...

Remembering something, Lin Xuan suddenly asked, "Won't Elder Wenren be angry if I said that?"

Wenren Yue shook her head, completely unconcerned, and said calmly, "No, what you said is the truth. Without my grandfather's influence, I wouldn't even be qualified to participate in the competition..."

At this moment, in the main dining hall of the Wenren Mansion.

A beautiful woman frowned and said, "This Chen Yu is our neighbor, how can he say such things about Yue'er!"

A refined-looking middle-aged man sat quietly eating beside her, without saying a word.

At the head of the table, an elderly man with a gaunt face and white hair and beard smiled and said nonchalantly, "He rose to his position through merit, so it's normal for him to have some grievances. Besides, what he said isn't wrong. Yue'er's rapid promotion is precisely because Chen Bing is giving me face..."

The woman put down her chopsticks, sighed deeply, and said worriedly, "After Yue'er came back, she locked herself in the courtyard and wouldn't see anyone, not even come over for meals. I'm afraid she was angered by that Chen Yu..."

(End of this chapter)