Chapter 77 - Prince Jing's Plan
Chapter 77 – Prince Jing’s Plan
Soon after Qu Xing Xu left, Lin Xiaofei released a deep sigh.
She's been trying to keep her calm and not show what she was thinking in her face since Qu Xing Xu wasn't an ordinary man and even a little slip of her emotions, he would detect it and find her suspicious.
Taking a sip from her cup, Lin Xiaofei thought that it was indeed fortunate that she was able to keep his attention to their discussions about how to take this opportunity to mess around with the royal family.
She didn't need to mention to him that aside from the royal family, the person whom she wanted to ruin ruthlessly was Yu Fangzhu.
It may appear that her plan was to create a ruckus and trouble the royal family but in truth, the real prey she locked on was the fourth prince.
With his personality, Lin Xiaofei knew that by now he must be pulling his hair out and racking his brain on how should he solve this problem.
Yu Fangzhu was obsessed with gaining power whilst showing a cordial look on the surface to trick everyone else. His siblings didn't even know how twisted he could be behind closed doors because of how gentle and calm he was.
Not many knew how evil Yu Fangzhu was and those who have the knowledge of it didn't dare come out and try to expose him. They knew that in this life, there was no way that they would go against the young prince whom everyone assumed would sit on the golden throne in the future.
They would rather climb the ladder that Yu Fangzhu offered to them to achieve their dreams and not put a lid on their way to success.
It was really unfortunate that the officials inside the imperial court were all people who don't deserve the love and admiration of the commoners.
Lin Xiaofei turned around and sat on her bed when suddenly, Bai Lu announced that Lin Xiaomeng was on his way to her courtyard.
"Come in," she indifferently called out and Bai Lu opened the door for Lin Xiaomeng to enter when he arrived.
Seeing his granddaughter sitting in front of him, Lin Xiaomeng was glad that to see that her pale face was becoming rosy as time passes by.
He had been worried that after she got sick, she would isolate herself forever and try to avoid everyone else. However, it seems that his worries were left unfounded as not only Lin Xiaofei get back to her health, she also willingly went outside and her temperament also changed for the better.
Lin Xiaomeng comfortably sat across Lin Xiaofei. She poured him a cup of tea before looking at him.
"What matters does grandfather have now for you to come rushing to my courtyard?" Her words seemed to be rude towards him but somehow, Lin Xiaomeng heard a hint of warmth in her voice as she said those.
He was happy that she even noticed how he rushed to her courtyard. But how could Lin Xiaofei not noticed it when she could see the thin sweat on his forehead that he tried so hard to wipe.
His breathing was also quicker than the normal thus, Lin Xiaofei guessed that he might have rushed to go to her courtyard the moment his feet stepped into the Lin residence.
Lin Xiaomeng's happy face turned slightly sorrowful as he began, "This morning, I was called out to attend the court meeting to discuss some important matters that concern the Chu empire."
Lin Xiaofei raised her eyebrows. It seems that Emperor Yun was rushing to solve the matters as soon as possible since he even called the great general Lin who was already retired from the court and from the war to discuss it.
But that was not what she found strange. It was the fact that Lin Xiaomeng actually went to her courtyard first and opened up about the empire's concerns with the Chu empire.
And with his dark face that was alternating between anger and guilt, Lin Xiaofei knew that he didn't come to her to discuss with her about the state's matters.
Lin Xiaomeng felt complicated and didn't know how he would convey his words without making his granddaughter hate him.
However, he felt that it would be unfair for her if he didn't say anything.
"This morning… after the meeting, the Empress mentioned your name to me." He watched Lin Xiaofei's face as he continued after swallowing, "She wanted to bestow a marriage between you and Prince Jing."
Suddenly, Lin Xiaomeng felt the air in the room thickening as he saw Lin Xiaofei frowning with her eyes slightly lowered.
Lin Xiaofei's eyes were calm but who knew if a storm was coming right up next…
Lin Xiaofei didn't expect that the empress wanted to bestow her a marriage and with Prince Jing no less.
The empress…. She probably found out about the deed that her biological son did to Song Lin and was in a hurry to have him marry a consort. She might have felt that her son has become more troublesome and as a mother, she thought that she needed to keep him in check by making him marry someone.
But what Lin Xiaofei couldn't understand was why did it have to be her? Out of all the young ladies in the Capital who would want to marry a prince, why did the Empress decided to specifically pick her?
Was it Prince Jing's doing? Lin Xiaofei thought as she remembered how his eyes would frequently fall on her figure during the banquet and thought that the chances that Prince Jing asked his mother to get her to marry him were high.
"And what is grandfather's answer?" Lin Xiaofei stared at him. She had her eyes narrowed at him as if the moment he said that he agreed to the Empress' bestowal, she would smack the pot of tea to his head.
"I refused." Answered Lin Xiaomeng. His face looked like he was in pain, "But the Empress was pretty adamant in bestowing marriage for you."
As much as Lin Xiaomeng didn't want his granddaughter to marry such a wastrel prince, once the Empress sent someone to bestow his granddaughter a marriage, he won't be able to refuse.
That's why he had asked for a few days for him to think this over. Although Lin Xiaomeng was quite a powerful figure in the Zheng empire that only applies when he was still the great general Lin that fought in the West Border against the enemies in the past.
With his retirement, the glory of the great general Lin was slowly disappearing like thin air as young generals and more prominent figures rise to the top.
His granddaughter's engagement broken also Didn't help and made it more difficult for them to avoid the marriage.
Lin Xiaofei also didn't know why people around her were so interested in the marriage. She was already at the marriageable age but she didn't see any reason for her to marry so soon.
But it seems that she has to do something before anyone could force her.
Regarding Prince Jing's wish to marry her, Lin Xiaofei scoffed in disgust. She didn't really think that his appetite to taste new things was over the top that he even wanted to get her.
Unfortunately, Lin Xiaofei won't let him do as he pleases and get what he wished for. She will never marry a prince in this life.
However, it seems that she has to teach this disgusting prince sooner than later.
"Does grandfather want me to marry Prince Jing?" Lin Xiaofei suddenly asked him to which Lin Xiaomeng fiercely shouted, "No!"
He smacked his palm against the flat surface of the table and it shook under the pressure and impact.
Smiling at him, Lin Xiaofei was glad that he didn't agree and wasn't looking forward to accepting it either. If Lin Xiaomeng ended up wanting the marriage and urges her to marry Prince Jing, she might have to change her views on Lin Xiaomeng and put him on her lists of enemies that she has to get rid off
Seeing the way his face contorted in anger, Lin Xiaofei told him, "Grandfather need not worry. Since we both don't want this marriage then, we don't have to force ourselves to accept it."
"But the Empress will soon find a way to send a royal decree."
Shaking her head, Lin Xiaofei reassured him, "Even if the Empress sent us a royal decree. She won't be able to do anything if I am already married."
"What do you mean?" Lin Xiaomeng frowned. His ears perked up to listen to what his granddaughter wanted to say.
Glancing at the comb that was on top of the table, Lin Xiaofei thought that she needed to rush Qu Xing Xu to look for an eligible bachelor for her to marry. She hadn't expected that she needed to do this soon.
"Marrying Prince Jing and marrying someone else… I'd rather choose the latter."