Chapter Thirteen: Sympathy in Shared Misfortune

Page 1/3

Chen Yingying is dead! Right before Lin Jiangnian’s eyes, she bit her tongue and took her own life. Of course, the cause of death might also be the poison concealed in her mouth. Lin Jiangnian had no time to stop her, nor could he—such an act would be unbefitting of the Crown Prince of Lin. Yet... as Lin Jiangnian gazed blankly at Chen Yingying’s lifeless body, her head drooping and breath ceased, no matter how much he tried to restrain himself, he could not suppress the chill and shock that gripped his heart.

He had seen many corpses before, in that ruined temple, but this was the first time he had witnessed a living person die right before his eyes. Worse still... she died because of him!

At that moment, Lin Jiangnian felt an icy coldness coursing through his entire body, the proximity of death like a tangible presence. In mere moments, a life that had just exchanged harsh words and angry glares vanished completely. His heart suddenly grew unbearably heavy, tinged with a sorrowful resonance akin to the grief of a fox mourning a fallen rabbit.

She had attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince; exposed, she chose suicide to avoid torture and to protect those behind her. And what of him? If his impersonation of the Crown Prince were discovered, his fate would likely be even worse!

“Why? Does Your Highness find it hard to part with her?” At that moment, a voice came from behind—Zhi Yuan. Lin Jiangnian jolted and turned to see her cool, steady gaze fixed upon him, her eyes calm and unreadable. Yet Lin Jiangnian’s wariness blossomed; just as he was about to deny it, he suddenly recalled the relationship between the Crown Prince and Chen Yingying.

“Find it hard to part with her?” Lin Jiangnian quickly suppressed his emotions, casting a glance at the breathless Chen Yingying. His voice was indifferent: “I merely find it somewhat regrettable... If she hadn’t died, I could have kept her alive until I grew tired of her and then killed her. After all, she was a renowned courtesan—such a waste to die like this.”

Zhi Yuan stared at him, gradually withdrawing the suspicion from her eyes, lowering her gaze softly: “A woman of ill repute is unworthy of Your Highness; it would be best if you avoided such entanglements in the future.”

“Are you instructing me how to act?” Lin Jiangnian scoffed.

Zhi Yuan’s expression remained calm: “I am only reminding Your Highness.”

“That’s none of your concern!” Lin Jiangnian snorted coldly, glancing again at the lifeless Chen Yingying; a flicker of heaviness crossed his eyes.

“But now that she’s dead, doesn’t that sever the clue to the assassin targeting the Crown Prince?” Lin Jiangnian looked at her sharply. “Why didn’t you stop her?”

She was so intelligent; how could she not foresee Chen Yingying’s suicide?

Zhi Yuan’s gaze was indifferent as she replied lightly, “She was insignificant. Dead is dead.” Even if Chen Yingying hadn’t taken her own life, she wouldn’t have survived long. Assassinating the Crown Prince was a capital offense, her fate sealed the moment she stepped into the Lin residence.

Her life or death was irrelevant to Zhi Yuan.

“As for those behind her...” Zhi Yuan’s eyes grew cold, a trace of frost flashing through them. “I already know.”

Lin Jiangnian’s eyes narrowed sharply. “Who is it?”

Page 2/3

Zhi Yuan lifted her gaze to Lin Jiangnian and said slowly, “My investigations reveal that behind these people is the remnant force of another faction, and the figure behind that faction is... the Third Prince.”

“The Third Prince?!” Lin Jiangnian’s heart jolted. The current Third Prince of the Daning Dynasty? Why had the woman in red never mentioned this man?

Lin Jiangnian asked in a low voice, “Are you sure it’s him?”

Zhi Yuan’s face was expressionless: “Even if it’s not exactly him, he cannot escape involvement!”

She knew clearly. In recent years, the relationship between the Prince and the court had grown increasingly strained. The ministers had been scheming to weaken the Prince’s power, engaging in covert machinations. This time, they had targeted the Crown Prince himself.

“The Third Prince and His Highness have a longstanding grudge; it is entirely possible this is a vendetta against the Crown Prince,” Zhi Yuan said calmly. “I will investigate this matter thoroughly.”

Lin Jiangnian made a mental note and glanced at her. “That’s best.”

With that, Lin Jiangnian swept his sleeve and strode out of the prison cell.

Zhi Yuan stood still, watching Lin Jiangnian’s retreating figure. Seemingly recalling something, she glanced back at the wooden frame and frowned slightly.

...

“Spare me! I am innocent!”

“I, a mere commoner, would never harm His Highness—please make a fair judgment!”

“Your Highness, please spare me! I truly know nothing!”

...

Lin Jiangnian had just left the dungeon when he heard a cacophony of desperate pleas. He looked toward a courtyard not far ahead, where several figures knelt, men and women alike, faces filled with fear and despair.

Surrounding them were fully armed guards, and in front stood a young guard, expressionless, watching them intently.

Noticing Lin Jiangnian’s arrival, the guard turned with a slight bow: “Your Highness!”

Lin Jiangnian’s gaze was calm as he looked at the guard.

Lin Kong.

Commander of the Lin Prince’s personal guards.

Lin Kong had been adopted by Lin Hengzhong since childhood, essentially making him a foster son of the Lin Prince. Lin Hengzhong had taken him in to groom him as a trusted aide to the Crown Prince.

Yet, the Crown Prince seemed not to favor this trusted subordinate.

The woman in red had mentioned last night that although Lin Kong was nominally loyal to the Crown Prince, he actually took orders from Zhi Yuan. Naturally, this bred friction between Lin Kong and the Crown Prince.

Moreover, Lin Kong was an upright man by nature and despised the Crown Prince’s reckless tyranny and oppression of the common people. Though a subordinate, he looked down on the Crown Prince from the bottom of his heart.

Thus, when Lin Kong saw the Crown Prince now, his expression was superficially respectful but lacked the attitude due a master.

Lin Jiangnian ignored it and glanced behind Lin Kong, asking, “Who are these people?”

Lin Kong answered calmly, “Your Highness, they are all associates of Qingfeng Pavilion and closely connected to the assassination attempt. I was ordered to bring them in for punishment.”

Lin Jiangnian understood. Chen Yingying, the courtesan of Qingfeng Pavilion, had been involved in the assassination plot against the Crown Prince. Naturally, the entire Qingfeng Pavilion would be implicated.

Judging by their number, it seemed the whole establishment had been raided.

Page 3/3

“What do you intend to do with them?”

Lin Kong did not answer immediately but looked behind Lin Jiangnian.

Lin Jiangnian glanced back to see Zhi Yuan approaching slowly, her slender figure dressed in flowing blue robes. Her cool eyes swept the courtyard, then rested on Lin Jiangnian and Lin Kong.

Seeing this, Lin Jiangnian understood the situation clearly.

“I’m asking you!” Lin Jiangnian raised his voice deliberately as Zhi Yuan drew near.

According to the woman in red, this was precisely how the Crown Prince spoke to his subordinates.

Lin Kong lowered his head, expressionless: “How does Your Highness wish to proceed?”

Lin Jiangnian sneered and countered, “Do you think I have the final say?”

Lin Kong replied, “Your commands are naturally decisive.”

“Is that so?” Lin Jiangnian looked at Zhi Yuan, who remained impassive, then let out a cold laugh: “What if I tell you to release them all?”

Lin Kong was stunned, clearly not expecting such a request. His gaze instinctively flicked to Zhi Yuan, who remained expressionless and unreadable.

Lin Kong’s heart sank. Facing the Crown Prince’s imposing demeanor, he knew this was a deliberate test.

After a moment’s silence, Lin Kong said, “If Your Highness commands their release, I will obey.”

Turning, he moved to free the prisoners.

“Wait.”

At last, Zhi Yuan spoke, calling out to Lin Kong and then turning to Lin Jiangnian with a calm, unruffled expression: “Your Highness, please stop. They cannot be released.”

Lin Jiangnian glared coldly at her. “Are you defying the Crown Prince’s orders?”

“I dare not,” Zhi Yuan said evenly. “This attack on Your Highness is a grave matter. These people are connected. Until it is confirmed they are not collaborators, for Your Highness’s safety, they cannot be freed.”

Lin Jiangnian retorted, “And if I insist on releasing them?”

Zhi Yuan’s face remained serene: “That is the Prince’s will.”

“Using my father to pressure me again?” Lin Jiangnian looked at Zhi Yuan, then Lin Kong, laughing bitterly. “Fine, very fine. You’re all going to pay for this...”

With a final harsh word, Lin Jiangnian stormed away.

Lin Kong watched his retreating figure and murmured, “His Highness is angry.”

Zhi Yuan folded her hands behind her back, her expression calm as clouds drifting in the sky: “He is always like this. Let him be.”

Lin Kong bowed his head and asked gravely, “Then, what shall we do with these people?”

Zhi Yuan looked toward the courtyard, her eyes gradually growing colder.

“Leave not a single one alive.”

“...”