0p0 Chapter 392 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (3)
Chapter 392 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (3)
Yun Qing!
The name struck Lin Shen like a thunderclap, exploding in his mind.
All the fog was instantly cleaved away, and he finally understood where that lingering sense of familiarity came from!
The floodgates of memory burst open.
That was back when he belonged to the "Male Lead Role Playing Department".
He traverses this small world, his mission being to ascend to the throne.
At that time, he was a prince in the cold palace, neglected and suffering from hunger and cold.
Yun Qing was not the high-ranking Imperial Preceptor at that time, but a slave who was considered a "monster" because of his unusual appearance—white hair and supposedly unusual eye color. He was presented to the emperor by local officials as a rare treasure for their amusement.
However, all those who tried to humiliate or get close to him would inexplicably suffer misfortune. The emperor became wary and abandoned him in the cold palace.
Two people abandoned by the world met in a desolate palace overgrown with weeds and with mottled walls.
From mutual distrust to mutual reliance, the two found warmth in each other within the cold palace walls.
Later, Lin Shen began his scheme, step by step treading through blood and bones to reach the pinnacle of power. Yun Qing was always by his side, using his mysterious and unpredictable abilities to clear away many invisible obstacles for him.
Lin Shen narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze suddenly turning to Emperor Qi on the throne.
Emperor Qi? Lin Lisheng?
He quickly searched his memory.
When he left that mission world, he left in a hurry. At that time, the adopted son he had helped to rise to power, the child he personally named Lin Lisheng, was only ten years old.
The records of this world do not mention the name of the current Qi Emperor, but at this moment, Lin Shen is absolutely certain that the emperor in front of him, whose brows are gloomy and who calls him "A Bao," is the child who relied on him, looked up to him, and was pushed onto the dragon throne by his own hands!
The outline of his face still faintly resembles his childhood features, but they have been eroded by time and power, making them unfamiliar.
In the blink of an eye, Lin Shen had figured out this astonishing connection.
She lowered her eyelashes, concealing the turbulent emotions churning within her eyes, and downed the slightly cool liquor in her glass in one gulp. A burning sensation filled her throat, but it paled in comparison to the chilling feeling in her heart at that moment.
The flickering candlelight inside the hall illuminated everyone's expressions with exceptional clarity.
Lin Lisheng, seated high on the throne, never took his gaze off Lin Shen.
He clearly caught the fleeting look of realization and shock in Lin Shen's eyes when he heard the name "Yun Qing".
Did he remember?
Lin Lisheng narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling not much surprise, but rather a surge of excitement.
In fact, from the time A Bao was five years old, when he looked at the way the child held the pen, at his unconsciously furrowed brows, and at some of his most subtle habits, Lin Lisheng was certain that this was not a new soul, but his beloved father whom he had longed for but could not have.
It was his adoptive father, Lin Shen, who had once controlled the court with an iron fist but ultimately abandoned him and left in haste!
That deep-seated familiarity is absolutely unmistakable.
In a mysterious way, he defied all opposition and named the child "Lin Shen".
To have his name clash with that of the late emperor was a grave act of treason, drawing constant criticism from the court and the public. But at that moment, he had only one crazy thought in his mind.
He wanted this name! He wanted heaven and earth, gods and ghosts, to watch as this person was kept firmly by his side.
As the boy's appearance matured, his features and expression increasingly overlapped with the figure in his memory, and Lin Lisheng's joy grew day by day.
This is his father, his god, his lost treasure.
Now, Yun Qing, that hypocrite, is back.
Lin Lisheng could almost guess the reason. It must be that this old fellow who lived in seclusion in the mountains had heard about the Crown Prince's name and recent situation, and couldn't sit still. He wanted to come and warn him, remind him, or even... stop him.
But he certainly couldn't have imagined that beneath the surface of this young crown prince was the very person he had once served.
Lin Lisheng watched the impending confrontation below, a faint smile playing on his lips.
Below, Lin Shen had quickly calmed down from his initial shock.
He turned around and looked at Yun Qing, who was walking towards him step by step.
After many years, this person still had that otherworldly appearance, as if he might ascend to immortality at any moment. However, the aura around him seemed even colder and more somber than he remembered.
Lin Shen suppressed the complex emotions surging in his heart and showed a slight smile on his face that was appropriate for the status of the crown prince, with a touch of distant politeness.
"National Division."
Yun Qing stopped in front of him.
Even through the white cloth, Lin Shen could feel the scorching gaze fixed intently on him from behind.
He acted as if no one else was around, as if the entire hall was empty except for the two of them.
Amidst the astonished and uncertain gazes of the crowd, Yun Qing slowly raised her hand, her palm holding a jade pendant with a warm texture and intricate cloud patterns.
In the center of the jade pendant, the character "深" (deep) is clearly engraved.
"Here you go." Yun Qing's voice was cold and indifferent, without the slightest hint of emotion.
Lin Shen was slightly taken aback.
He remembered this jade pendant.
It was carved by him and given to Yun Qing after the situation had stabilized somewhat while he was in the Cold Palace.
His name was engraved on it, intended to announce to everyone that Yun Qing was someone Lin Shen protected, and seeing the jade pendant was like seeing him in person.
This is a symbol of the trust and protection he gave to Yunqing back then.
Unexpectedly, after so many years, Yun Qing would return it in front of everyone at this moment.
Lin Shen's gaze sharpened slightly, then he slowly shook his head, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable air.
"How can something given to the Imperial Preceptor be taken back? The Imperial Preceptor should keep it safe."
Yun Qing curled his fingers, clutching the jade pendant tightly in his palm; the icy touch seemed to sting his skin.
He stopped insisting and silently took back the jade pendant, as if he had simply completed a necessary ritual.
Then, without giving Lin Shen another glance, he turned around, walked to the second row of seats on the right, sat down quietly, and transformed back into the aloof and untainted white-robed national advisor.
However, this brief but intense exchange had already been noticed by all those present who were paying attention.
The eldest prince and the third prince, who were sitting next to Lin Shen, exchanged a glance, their brows furrowed, looking at the newly arrived imperial advisor with great vigilance.
Why is the Crown Prince treated so specially? And what is that jade pendant?
Meanwhile, in the first row on the right, Jiu Fangcheng, dressed in a magnificent purple robe and exuding an arrogant air, was staring fiercely at Yun Qing's back. His sharp eyes were almost spitting fire, and his fingers gripping the wine glass were turning white from the force.