Finest Servant

Chapter 353 The Performance

In terms of their acquaintance, Sister An and Lin Wanrong had not spent much time together. Their encounters on Weishan Lake, a mixture of animosity and friendliness, were some of the most intimate moments they had shared. Beyond that, their time together was often brief and fleeting. Even the most suggestive instance they had been caught in by the Eldest Miss, was a deliberate provocation by Sister An, and it did not compare to the genuine emotions of last night. This independent and unique woman had left an indelible impression on Lin Wanrong. She was sensitive, proud, and lonely. Outsiders only saw her flirtatious, unruly side, but few could understand the solitude and loneliness within her heart.

‘Damn it,’ Lin Wanrong thought, ‘I've let my lust overrule my mind, messing things up at a critical moment. What a lesson!’ He smacked his forehead in frustration.

As he reluctantly left his quarters, a sudden thought struck him. Sister An had mentioned the Miao Village, but he didn't even know where it was. Where should he go to find her? Sichuan, Guizhou, or Yunnan? He shook his head with a bitter smile, ‘I'll just have to search place by place. I refuse to believe that I can't find her.’

When he emerged from his room, Prince Cheng had been waiting for him in the hall. "Master Lin, how was last night?" he asked.

‘How was last night, my ass,’ Lin Wanrong thought, feeling irritated. If it weren't for Prince Cheng pressuring Sister An, would she have left him? He grew even more disdainful of the Prince. He gave a fake laugh and replied, "It was alright. But where is the young lady this morning? Your Highness, do you know where she lives? I would like to see her."

Prince Cheng roared with laughter. "Master Lin, you are indeed a passionate man, I admire that. But this young lady, she is proud and pure, always different from others. She only wishes to spend one night with the man she likes. When the night ends, she leaves. She is a free spirit, even I don't know where she went."

Lin Wanrong quietly acknowledged with a 'hmm', sighed and said, "What a pity, such a pity." He couldn't ask Prince Cheng about the Miao Village; doing so would only put Sister An and her people in danger.

Prince Cheng moved closer and patted his shoulder. "Master Lin, you should be content to have spent a night with such a heavenly beauty. There are countless men in this world who would spend all their fortune just for a glimpse of her."

That was true. With Sister An's stunning beauty, she was undoubtedly the dream woman of countless men. The line of men who wished to see her could probably wrap around from the capital to Jinling twice.

"Well, in that case, thank you for your gracious hospitality, Your Highness. I shall take my leave." Lin Wanrong bowed respectfully.

Prince Cheng's eyes flashed. This man truly had thick skin, acting as if nothing had happened and trying to slip away after having his fun. He laughed heartily and grabbed Lin Wanrong. "Hold on, Master Lin. I have a matter to discuss with you."

"A discussion with me?" Lin Wanrong asked, surprised. "Your Highness, you are of royal blood, with wealth rivaling nations. What could I possibly assist you with? Your Highness is too kind."

Prince Cheng gave a small smile. "Master Lin, do you know the true identity of the lady from last night?"

"I don't," Lin Wanrong feigned ignorance, "Does Your Highness know? Please tell me."

Prince Cheng leisurely took two steps forward, offering a smile, "I suppose I know a bit. Master Lin, I heard you once assisted Xu Wei in Shandong to suppress the White Lotus Sect, even personally eliminating the Holy Mother of White Lotus and capturing Jining City. The Emperor thus holds you in particularly high regard. Is this true?"

"That's true," Lin Wanrong honestly answered, "In the past, I served as a military advisor in General Xu's army, and we did attack the White Lotus Sect."

Prince Cheng narrowed his eyes and smiled, "So, one could say that your fortune was made due to the White Lotus Sect. Is my understanding correct?"

Upon seeing Lin Wanrong nod in agreement, Prince Cheng sighed wistfully, "Master Lin, you are currently enjoying the Emperor's favor, at the zenith of your career. However, you and the White Lotus Sect hold deep-seated grudges against each other. It seems like your rise and potential fall are both due to the White Lotus Sect."

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by that?" Lin Wanrong asked, his innocent eyes wide with incomprehension.

Shaking his head with a bitter smile, Prince Cheng began, "It's due to my oversight. The lady you spent last night with is someone I met in Shandong. At the time, I wasn't aware of her true identity and had people investigating. Only this morning did I get a report back. Unexpectedly, she is..."

"She is what..." Lin Wanrong said in a fearful tone, "Your Majesty, could she be a remnant of the White Lotus..."

"Sigh, indeed, she is a remnant of the White Lotus. Master Lin, I'm afraid I have caused you trouble," Prince Cheng said sincerely, a flicker in his eyes.

Lin Wanrong's face turned ashen, collapsing into a chair, muttering under his breath, "A remnant of the White Lotus... she's actually from the White Lotus Sect. It's over... how could this happen?"

With a mysterious smile, Prince Cheng said, "Master Lin, you initially rose to prominence by crushing the White Lotus Sect, but now you are entangled with one of their remnants. If the Emperor hears of this, not to mention your promising future, you would be lucky to keep your head. Such a pity for a hero like you."

"Your Majesty, what should I do? You must testify for me. I didn't do this on purpose. I had no idea she was a remnant of the White Lotus," Lin Wanrong said, his face deathly pale as he grabbed Prince Cheng's hand.

"Do you think the Emperor would believe you? A ruler only believes in himself," Prince Cheng replied coldly, "Master Lin, you have only recently joined the court and are unaware of its dangerous intrigues. You've received the Emperor's favor at a young age, seemingly glowing with success, but in reality, danger lurks everywhere. Do you know how many people envy you, how many want to bring you down? Not to mention the newly crowned Top Scholar, Su Mubai. Before you appeared, he was the one the Emperor trusted the most. However, everything changed when you arrived. This rise and fall, how could he bear it? And you, at this crucial moment, stumbled in such a way. What would happen if he were to learn of this huge news?"

Lin Wanrong's face turned white, his eyes empty, sweat dripping down his forehead; he looked completely stunned. Prince Cheng was satisfied with this effect. He slowly walked over, patting Lin Wanrong on the shoulder with an amiable smile, "Actually, things aren't as bad as they seem. Since this happened in my mansion, as long as I don't say anything, who else would know? Master Lin, don't you agree?"

"Yes, yes!" Master Lin hastened to nod, a playful twinkle in his eyes. "Your Highness, you mustn't reveal this matter, otherwise my life would be forfeit."

"Of course." Prince Cheng laughed heartily. "You are a talent I value, how could I allow you to be framed so easily? Master Lin, I heard that Xu Wei treats you very well and even recommended you to General Li Tai. Is this true?"

‘Here it comes, the main point at last.’ Lin Wanrong chuckled inwardly. Prince Cheng had been defeated by the seemingly weak and incompetent Old Emperor years ago. People had felt it was unjust, yet who knew how much the Old Emperor had done to ascend the throne smoothly? His cunning was unrivaled in the world and his methods were boundless. As for the relationship between Sister An and himself, only a few people knew, all of them close to him, yet the Old Emperor had managed to verify everything clearly. In this respect, Prince Cheng was far inferior to him.

"Yes, there seems to be such a matter." Lin Wanrong nodded. "General Li has invited me to help him in his camp several times, but I have always been busy with other matters and have declined."

"Master Lin, I don't mean to lecture you, but the position to assist Li Tai is something many people couldn't vie for, how could you refuse? General Li is advanced in years and is about to lead a campaign against the Turkic tribes. Who knows what might happen on the battlefield? With your standing in the Emperor's heart and with the esteem that Xu Wei and Li Tai have for you, as long as you handle matters appropriately, it's not impossible for you to become the Commander of the three armies." Prince Cheng suggested casually, yet every word was as sharp as a bead, shocking the senses.

‘Commander of the three armies?! Prince Cheng wants me to be the Commander of the three armies?!’ Lin Wanrong was startled and immediately understood Prince Cheng's intentions. This old fox was planning to control military power through him. When he said that it was uncertain what could happen to Li Tai on the battlefield, was he implying something? If something happened to Li Tai, it would be a major blow to the Empire. Who else would have Li Tai's prestige and experience to command the troops? Who else would have the ability to lead troops against the Turkic cavalry? The more he thought about it, the more fearful he became. This time, he didn't have to act; cold sweat was already pouring from his body.

"I don't quite understand what Your Highness means." He laughed nervously, feigning confusion.

Prince Cheng smiled faintly. "Master Lin is being too modest. With your intelligence, you can grasp anything at a glance. I won't say more. Go back and think it over, and when you've decided, let me know. I will definitely support you fully."

‘Support me to become the Grand Marshal of the three armies? Come to think of it, with the trust of the Old Emperor, plus Prince Cheng's covert backing, becoming a Grand Marshal might indeed be possible.’ But Lin Wanrong knew his own capabilities. Although he had some prestige in the army, he could not compare with the decades of accomplishments of the old General Li, not to mention military tactics. For the sake of the people of Great Hua and the brothers in the army, it would be better for old Li to remain the commander. Besides, leading troops in battle, such strenuous work, was not suitable for someone who enjoyed comfort like Master Lin.

Prince Cheng, seeing him in deep thought, had a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. He nodded slightly. "Take your time to think, Master Lin. There's no rush." He looked confident as he picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

Joy swelled in Lin Wanrong's heart. This old fox had not finished his words yet wanted to send the guest away. ‘Good, I will make you lose more than you gained. I should catch you off guard and vent Sister An's anger. After this, Sister An and her tribe will be under the protection of me, Lin San, Master Lin, to ensure their safety for a thousand years.’

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