RPAGF Chapter 757 You and I were childhood playmates.
Chapter 757 You and I were childhood playmates.
In an instant, all his thoughts were completely wiped away by Lin Jiayou.
The Fifth Prince's men are watching him.
Zhao Zhang, that seemingly upright and suspicious fool, ultimately couldn't bear to give up this tremendous military achievement.
He verbally disagreed, but secretly sent people to keep an eye on him. Was he trying to reap the benefits without lifting a finger, or did he want to eliminate him and the evidence at a crucial moment?
Lin Jiayou's heart felt as cold as if it had been repeatedly whipped by the winter wind.
The thin piece of paper in his hand might have been a death warrant at the entrance of an ordinary government office.
But if it's delivered to the right place, to the person who most wants the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince dead, then it will be his pledge of allegiance to secure his future.
Lin Jiayou remained calm and continued walking at a leisurely pace. However, at the next intersection, he turned into a crowded general store.
He squeezed into the crowd of people buying New Year's goods, quietly slipped out through the back door, and wandered around, completely immersing himself in the intricate network of streets and alleys of the capital.
After an incense stick had burned, Lin Jiayou stood before the majestic gates of the East Palace.
The guards here exuded an even more menacing aura; their gleaming armor and sharp eyes were enough to deter anyone with ulterior motives.
"Halt! Who goes there!" A captain of guards stepped forward and pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Lin Jiayou straightened his clothes, bowed deeply, his posture extremely humble, but his tone carried an urgent tone that left no room for argument.
"My name is Lin Jiayou. I have an extremely urgent matter concerning the Fifth Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the military affairs of the Northern Frontier. I request an audience with Your Highness the Crown Prince! If this matter is delayed, it may lead to a great disaster of treason and collusion with the enemy!"
The four words "treason and collusion with the enemy" are like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.
The captain of the guards' expression changed instantly.
He looked Lin Jiayou up and down, his eyes filled with suspicion and scrutiny that seemed to pierce him.
"Wait here." The head guard dared not be negligent, nor did he dare to trust anyone. He gave the order in a deep voice, then turned and quickly went inside to report.
Every moment of waiting felt like torture.
Lin Jiayou stood with his hands at his sides, seemingly calm, but his fingers inside his sleeves were already clenched so tightly they turned white. He was betting on Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an's ambition.
After an unknown amount of time, the captain of the guards finally returned, his expression even more grave than before.
"His Highness summons you in."
Lin Jiayou took a deep breath and followed the head guard across the high threshold.
Inside the Eastern Palace, it was far simpler than he had imagined, lacking some of the extravagance of royalty, yet exuding a calm and dignified atmosphere.
He was led to a study to wait again.
"come in."
The Crown Prince's gentle voice came from the study.
Lin Jiayou pushed open the door and entered. He saw Crown Prince Zhao Chen'an sitting behind his desk, dressed in ordinary dark blue casual clothes, holding a scroll in his hand. Upon seeing him, Zhao Chen'an slowly put the scroll down.
His gaze was calm and unwavering, showing neither surprise nor disgust, as if he were looking at a complete stranger.
“Lin Jiayou,” Zhao Chen’an spoke first, his voice not loud, but carrying the majesty of a nobleman, “You say there is a serious matter of treason and collusion with the enemy. My time is precious, speak.”
"Yes." Lin Jiayou didn't dare to raise his head, knelt down again, took out the paper that had been warmed by his body heat from his bosom, and raised his hands high above his head.
"Your Highness, this is a prescription given to me by the Seventh Prince's confidant, who instructed me to deliver it to the Qi Family Pharmacy. The Seventh Prince intends to substitute inferior ingredients, such as 'Frost Flower Grass,' for the life-saving medicine 'Snowfield Ice Silkworm Flower,' which is supplied to the Northern Frontier, in order to make exorbitant profits. This act disregards the lives of the soldiers on the frontier and is no different from treason!"
A palace attendant stepped forward and presented the note to the crown prince.
Zhao Chen'an took the paper and his gaze fell on it. When he saw the three characters "Frost Flower Grass" circled in red ink, a faint glint of cold light finally flashed in his usually calm eyes.
The study was deathly silent, save for the occasional soft crackling of the candlelight.
"Is Fifth Brother aware of this matter?" Zhao Chen'an's voice remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"His Highness the Fifth Prince was aware of this matter, but... he did not agree to using inferior goods as superior ones."
Lin Jiayou knelt on the ground, carefully choosing his words, "His Highness the Fifth Prince has always valued military merit and integrity, and disdains such methods. However, His Highness the Seventh Prince is determined to do as he pleases, and although His Highness the Fifth Prince has tried to dissuade him, he..."
Before he could finish speaking, he had already casually pinned the charge of "failing to report what he knew and condoning the cover-up" on Zhao Zhang.
Zhao Chen'an placed the note on the table and gently tapped it with his slender fingers.
"Lin Jiayou, how did you know about this?"
The crown prince's voice remained gentle, but beneath that gentleness lay a chilling scrutiny.
"Your Highness, because this was a trap from beginning to end!"
Lin Jiayou raised his head, his handsome face filled with sorrow and self-mockery. "This was a scheme personally set up by Miss Gu of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion. It all started with that forged military report from the northern frontier; it was bait she used to lure the Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince into the trap!"
"She calculated that the Fifth Prince valued military merit, the Seventh Prince coveted wealth, and that after suffering losses, they would be eager to turn things around. Therefore, she had me deliver this 'wealth' to them, waiting for them to be blinded by greed and jump into this trap themselves!"
"boom!"
With a loud crash, Zhao Chen'an slammed his hand on the desk, finally tearing away his gentle mask and revealing the suppressed rage beneath.
"Nonsense!"
He abruptly stood up and paced back and forth in the study, his eyes filled with disbelief and anger.
"Has Qian Zhenyun gone mad! He actually joined in her nonsense! Framed a prince, this is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his family!"
This angry rebuke was less of a scolding and more of a deterrent.
Lin Jiayou lay on the ground and said what he had prepared beforehand.
“Your Highness, if the two princes did not have such intentions, then this cannot be considered a trap; at most, it is a slander that no one will heed.”
His voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear; every word sounded like it was being struck on a drum.
"It was their own greed that turned Gu Qingchen's 'trap' into reality. I... I was merely unable to resist her and became her accomplice."
Zhao Chen'an's steps suddenly stopped.
He slowly turned around and looked again at the light note on the desk, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
The study fell silent once again.
Lin Chia-yu is right.
This is not a trap, it is a mirror.
Gu Qingchen used the most direct and daring method to expose the deepest desires and ugliness in the hearts of his two younger brothers.
Seeing this, Lin Jiayou knew he had made the right bet. He seized the opportunity and kowtowed again, his tone filled with the most humble earnestness.
"Your Highness, I misjudged people and made many mistakes, deserving of death. Now I have come to my senses and am willing to serve Your Highness like a slave, only asking that Your Highness give me a chance to atone for my sins!"
After a long while, Zhao Chen'an slowly walked back to his desk and sat down. He did not immediately ask Lin Jiayou to get up, but simply watched him quietly.
That gaze seemed to penetrate his skin and flesh, revealing all the scheming and ambition in his bones.
Just as Lin Jiayou was about to be crushed by the heavy silence, the Crown Prince's voice rang out again, but this time, the anger had completely subsided, leaving only a profound and unfathomable calm.
"Get up."
He looked at Lin Jiayou, a faint yet meaningful smile curving his lips.
"You and I were childhood playmates."