0p0 Chapter 245 Extra (6) Looking Back on the Road Ahead 02
Chapter 245 Extra (6) Looking Back on the Road Ahead 02
"Welcome, Your Highness."
Despite Lu Xingzhou's murderous gaze, Lin Wanghui, in a very good mood, leisurely wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief before slowly standing up and giving a very perfunctory bow.
"It's a pity I couldn't greet Your Highness. But now it's all right, the meal is finished. The side hall is messy and not suitable for Your Highness's status. Shall I lead Your Highness to the main hall?"
Go to your damn main hall!
He did it on purpose!!!
Lu Xingzhou felt like he was about to burst into flames with anger. He had deliberately skipped dinner just to catch Lin Wanghui and eat together! Now that you've finished eating, what am I supposed to do?!
In an instant, the air pressure within a meter of Lu Xingzhou dropped to its lowest point, and the thin air made it impossible for his attendants behind him to breathe.
Lin Ze was different. Hearing Lu Xingzhou's grinding teeth, he almost burst out laughing at his young master's antics.
"Your Highness?"
Having received no response, Lin Wang called out again.
I'm so angry I can't live anymore. I hope this prince doesn't drive me crazy.
Hahahahaha!
Lin Wanghui's eyes were practically overflowing with amusement, which Lu Xingzhou easily saw clearly.
This is important! This is important!
Lu Xingzhou kept telling himself to suppress his anger. He gritted his teeth and forced a smile.
"Alright, thank you for your reply."
*
Lu Xingzhou, hungry, was led back to the main hall by Lin Wang.
Several maids brought in tea and then stood by.
Wow, he's not even willing to have a snack. Lu Xingzhou was too exhausted to be angry anymore; Lin Wanghui wasn't even pretending.
"Go down."
Lu Xingzhou had no interest in building any emotional connection or saying anything polite. He picked up his teacup, took a sip to tide him over, and then waved his hand to dismiss the servants.
Soon, only the two of them remained in the main hall.
"Are the Crown Prince and the Duke of Zhenguo still angry with the Emperor?"
Lin Wang glanced at him but didn't say anything.
"I know that you and your son harbor resentment, but Father Emperor only ordered the disbandment of the Tingyun Army to stabilize the court and because he was worried about the Duke of Zhenguo's injuries. The Lin family has been passed down for hundreds of years, working tirelessly for the country. So I think the Duke of Zhenguo and his son can understand Father Emperor's feelings. With 100,000 troops under the control of one family for generations, and the imperial power divided, how can the people of the world feel at ease?"
Lu Xingzhou seemed to be speaking earnestly and wholeheartedly for the Lin family's sake.
"Besides, the Lin family has produced an empress and taken a prince with them, which is already extremely honorable. They should be content and step down to give other families a chance to breathe."
In reality, what he said was quite shameless.
But Lin Wanghui didn't argue with him. Instead, he picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then brought up another matter.
"Your Majesty and His Highness are both rulers who came to power later in life, and they are somewhat unaware of the legitimate lineage of Changping."
The words "halfway king" made Lu Xingzhou's face stiffen.
Lin Wanghui pretended not to see it and continued to speak ruthlessly, "The curse between the royal family and the Lin family has never been triggered by something as trivial as 'relinquishing power.' The Lin family doesn't care about that. The root of the problem lies in the hurt and malice passed down from generation to generation between the two families."
Lu Xingzhou's face instantly turned from black to white.
Despite the summer heat, a chill ran down his spine from the back of his neck. Lu Xingzhou felt as if he were entering an abyss, and dared not meet Lin Wanghui's gaze.
They knew, they always knew…
Looking at the seemingly glamorous but actually weak Crown Prince before him, Lin Wanghui silently mocked the late Emperor's shortsightedness for the umpteenth time.
He sneered and unleashed his ultimate attack right in the face.
"Your Majesty has been unconscious for so long without any apparent reason. You must be quite ill. What did the imperial physicians say? I heard that Your Highness invited many Taoist priests and high-ranking monks to the palace to pray for blessings. Did they help?"
Lu Xingzhou looked up instantly, his terrified yet fierce gaze meeting Lin Wanghui's.
Lin Wanghui didn't back down at all, and leaned back in a relaxed manner, looking extremely lazy.
"Over time, those who are now bursting with confidence will begin to doubt the facts of the past. Changping has been established for over three hundred years, and the country has been peaceful and prosperous. Without any precedents for you to learn from, and with you constantly taking credit for everything, you and your son really don't take the abilities of my Lin family ancestors seriously."
As he spoke, Lin Wang looked at Lu Xingzhou with a smile, "What, you don't really think that this world was all conquered by your Lu family, no, by you and your son, do you?"
"Lin Wang, how dare you!"
"presumptuous?"
Lin Wanghui smiled and leisurely straightened his sleeves. "Look at Your Highness's magnanimity. You're taking my words as an insult."
Lu Xingzhou trembled with rage. He pointed a vicious finger at Lin Wanghui and said, "I am the Crown Prince. How can you speak so arrogantly? Don't think that just because your Lin family has existed for a long time, you can be above my royal family!"
"what!"
Lin Wanghui was completely amused.
"How interesting. Does Your Highness really think you can represent the entire Lu family's royal lineage?"
As he spoke, Lin Wang withdrew his hand from adjusting his cuffs, suddenly stood up, and met Lu Xingzhou's gaze directly without backing down.
“If one’s name is not correct, his words will not be proper; if one’s conduct is not upright, his virtue will not match his position.”
Each word forced Lu Xingzhou to retreat repeatedly.
"You and I both know perfectly well how you, father and son, colluded with court officials to coerce and deceive the late emperor into abdicating the throne. Therefore, Your Highness, please stop displaying your imperial authority in front of me. I'm too busy to watch your monkey tricks all day long!"
"Lin Wanghui... I am the Crown Prince, and your Lin family's Tingyun Army is nothing but a thing of the past! Now that I hold military power, I can kill you traitors and rebels at any time!"
"Oh?" Lin Wang flicked his long sleeves. "Please do as you wish."
"you--"
"However, I still suggest that Your Highness resign from the position of Crown Prince before taking action, otherwise the curse might backfire... The example of His Majesty being half-dead is still in the palace!"
"Your Highness, please don't follow in His Majesty's footsteps! Otherwise, you'll lose your lives, and the throne you and your father painstakingly plotted for will all have gone down the drain."
"Lin Wanghui!"
Lin Wanghui raised his hand and picked at his ear. "Hey! Alive! You can die right now, it just depends on when you make your move."
A surge of anger welled up inside Lu Xingzhou, and he felt a momentary blackout before collapsing into his chair.
"Tsk, that's it?"
Lin Wanghui chuckled and stepped forward to kick the slumped man twice, but there was no reaction.
With such a low level of ambition, he can't even compare to a PhD like me who is dedicated to academic research. And he calls himself the crown prince? Doesn't he fear being laughed at?
Lin Wang gave him a mocking look, then left without looking back.
A group of servants were standing guard at a distance under the eaves. Lin Wang raised his hand, and they quickly jogged over.
"Sir."
"His Highness the Crown Prince has fainted from hunger. Quickly carry him back to the palace and have a royal chef take a look."
Yi Yu's expression immediately changed, and he rushed into the house without even having time to reply, followed quickly by several imperial guards.
Lin Wanghui did not stop him.
He then summoned Lin Ze and gave him a few instructions: "Remember to have someone clean the main hall inside and out later. Also, send a message to the Prince of Chu's residence that I will go to see him at Chenshi (7-9 AM) tomorrow."
Lin Ze bowed respectfully, then quickly turned and left.
Inside the main hall, Yi Yu was also directing the Imperial Guards as they carried Lu Xingzhou out. As they passed Lin Wanghui, Yi Yu couldn't help but ask, "His Highness the Crown Prince fainted at the Duke of Zhenguo's residence; hasn't the Heir Apparent offered any explanation?"
Lin Wanghui chuckled, "What explanation do you want, Eunuch? Is the palace so poor that it only knows how to beg? Even if you faint from hunger, you're blaming us?"
Yi Yu's face turned bright red from holding it in.
"It would be best if the Crown Prince said so!"
Lin Wang smiled and said, "I'll wait."