Chapter 149: She Might Very Well Be A Pawn The Enemy Planted In Advance
Everyone’s faces changed. Zhao Jie was the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, and even he had been bought off by the Third Prince. One could imagine the situation with the Imperial Guards. They didn’t even dare to imagine what kind of situation the Emperor was facing now.
After discussing enough, everyone made a joint decision: set off for the Capital City immediately.
“No need,” Lin Xin pressed down on Mo Ziyuan’s arm, “come with me for a moment.”
Mo Ziyuan nodded and followed Lin Xin out of the room.
“I’ll take Nan Nan and Tao Tao and go first. You all leave according to the original plan.”
“But…”
“No buts. I’ve been to the Capital City a few times already and won’t take the wrong road. Plus, this is the safest way, but it will require you to act as decoys. The road probably won’t be peaceful. Although the Third Prince’s plan didn’t succeed, who knows if he prepared a backup. So relatively speaking, you are the ones in danger.”
“We’re not afraid.”
“I know you’re not afraid. Actually, it won’t take too long. Once we meet the Emperor, you’ll be safe too.”
“I know.” Mo Ziyuan thought Lin Xin’s plan was pretty good. “I’ll go discuss it with them. We’ll arrange for someone to go with you then, otherwise I’m afraid you won’t be able to see Your Majesty.”
“Alright, you handle that. But…”
“I know, I won’t tell your secret. Don’t worry!”
Lin Xin looked into his eyes, nodded after a moment, “I’ll go back and make preparations. If nothing unexpected happens, we’ll set off tonight.”
“Good!” Mo Ziyuan felt that Lin Xin was practically glowing in his eyes right now. He forced himself to turn his head away and not look at her, or else he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to resist pulling her into his arms and hiding her away forever so no one else could see her.
After the two finished discussing, they began to act separately.
Lin Xin returned home and saw Lin Nan leading Lin Tao as they sat in the courtyard reciting their books diligently word for word.
“Nan Nan, Tao Tao, after you finish reciting today’s lessons, pack up the things that need packing. We’ll leave tonight.” Lin Xin seized the moment when they paused to speak.
“Leaving tonight?” Lin Nan asked in surprise.
“Mm, your Master might come with us. Big Brother Mo and the others have other matters, so they can’t travel with us.” Lin Xin looked at Lin Nan who was trying hard to put on a serious little adult face, feeling like laughing inside while not wanting him to know how bad the situation they were about to face really was.
However, what Lin Nan had learned from Meng Yichen over these years wasn’t just book knowledge. Although he didn’t see through what Lin Xin wanted to hide, he instinctively knew this trip wouldn’t be simple.
“Will there be danger?” He thought for a moment and then asked seriously.
Lin Xin faltered, shook her head, “Don’t worry, with older sister here, the ones in danger will only be others.”
Although he knew his own older sister had off-the-charts combat power, he still couldn’t help but worry. Lin Nan’s little brows furrowed so tightly they could squash a fly. “Is it because of Tao Tao?”
Lin Xin wanted to slap her forehead. She looked down again at Lin Tao staring at her with his big pitch-black eyes, and a sudden wave of exhaustion rose in her heart. These kids were too hard to handle. She couldn’t figure out if they were too smart or if she was too dumb.
But thinking of what Lin Tao would face in the future, she still brought them into the room. The three sat neatly on the kang, and then she began to explain everything to them in detail.
“Is Tao Tao’s father in great danger now?” Lin Tao blinked his big eyes and asked.
“We don’t know yet, so we need to leave early to go check. That way, when your Uncle Mo and the others face the bad guys, they won’t hold back.”
“Then good, we’ll leave tonight.” Lin Tao said seriously with a straight little face.
“What about Nan Nan? Anything you want to ask?” Lin Xin looked at Lin Nan again.
Lin Nan hesitated, glanced at Lin Tao, and asked hesitantly, “Sis, the bad guys have already tried to delay our departure time. If we leave early, won’t they know?”
“This…” Lin Xin was stumped. She had forgotten to ask that Zhao Jie if any of the people he brought were his accomplices. But on second thought, when Mo Ziyuan took Zhao Jie away, it probably already alerted his partners in the group. Asking him now wouldn’t make much difference.
“So should we still leave together, but not take that very ornate horse carriage?” Lin Nan said again.
“No need,” Lin Xin shook her head. “You two have figures that stand out and are hard to hide. Once exposed, they’ll only target you two. Then Big Brother Mo and the others will inevitably be caught off guard.”
“You’re right, it was my consideration that was lacking.” Lin Nan looked down at his and Lin Tao’s short and stout builds, pursed his lips, and had to admit that although his older sister’s words stung, they were very true.
“Alright, height is something that will grow eventually. You’re only six now.” Lin Xin ruffled Lin Nan’s head and then solemnly reminded him, “But if you keep endlessly pondering these things, how tall you’ll grow in the future is uncertain. Haven’t you heard the old saying ‘all brains and no brawn’?”
“I… Hmph!” Lin Nan angrily turned his little face away, refusing to look at Lin Xin.
“It’s fine. No matter what, aren’t you still taller than me?” Lin Tao’s eyes darted around, and he ran to Lin Nan’s side to comfort him.
Looking at Lin Tao, who was three years younger than him but already up to his nose in height, and then at his older sister beside him who was holding back laughter to the point of cramping, Lin Nan felt even more stifled.
Lin Xin easily convinced the two little beans here. The three began packing their things, but things weren’t going as smoothly for Mo Ziyuan.
“No, I disagree.” Fu Jing said.
“Tell me your reason.” Mo Ziyuan tapped the table with one hand, looking at Fu Jing expressionlessly. The tension between the two grew thicker.
“Although Miss Lin has strong martial arts, she still has to bring Lin Nan. Who can guarantee that when facing danger, she won’t prioritize her own younger brother and put Your Highness in danger?”
“I can guarantee it!” Mo Ziyuan answered forcefully.
“You!” Veins bulged on Fu Jing’s forehead. He held back again and again before suppressing his full anger, trying to reason with Mo Ziyuan. “Zi Yuan, this isn’t the time for letting emotions cloud judgment. That’s His Majesty’s only heir, the nailed-down Crown Prince. If anything happens, none of us can bear the responsibility.”
“I understand Xin’er. She’s not that kind of person. For anything she agrees to, she’d rather die than fail to fulfill her promise.”
“Zi Yuan!” Seeing Mo Ziyuan stubbornly sticking to his view of Lin Xin, Fu Jing finally got angry. “Can you wake up? How much do you really know about Lin Xin? Look at everything she’s done. Which of those is something a village girl who’s never left her mountain valley could do? Even the villagers who lived with her day in and day out didn’t notice anything off. What does that mean? It means she’s not just a simple village girl. She’s very likely a chess piece the enemy arranged in advance. Wake up!”
