EBE Chapter 166 Vision
Chapter 166 Vision
Longhua Kingdom, southern border.
Taocheng.
The southern part of China always feels very cold after the autumn. Strands of cold wind are like fine needles, silently penetrating the gaps in clothes and going straight into the bones.
The sky looked like someone had knocked over an ink bottle. It was always gloomy, with thick clouds hanging low, as if you could touch the wet vapor with just your hand.
Li Chonglin climbed up to the city gate holding Xiao Zhima, and the man and the cat quietly looked out at Nanzhou.
He hadn't seen Lu Yuguan for ten days.
Since that day of separation, Li Chonglin's heart seemed to be tied by an invisible rope, with the other end tightly grasped in Lu Yuguan's hand.
The salty, wet and warm memories seemed to be still in his mind last night. Whenever Li Chonglin woke up in the morning, only the chirping of birds outside the window could bring him more life.
But the pillow was empty.
Little Zhima twisted restlessly in his arms, meowing, as if she could also feel the man's inner melancholy.
Li Chonglin murmured, "Do you miss him too?"
Little Sesame: "Meow."
Li Chonglin gently stroked its soft fur, trying to calm himself down.
"Your Highness, Your Highness!" Zhang Xiu climbed up the city wall breathlessly.
He was wearing traditional Taocheng clothing, which was quite loose and looked like a colorful peacock.
For so many days, he has been taking care of everything in Taocheng for the prince.
Hard work pays off. Under Zhang Xiu's governance, Taocheng quickly returned to normal, and he himself would be respectfully addressed as "Mr. Zhang" by the people when walking on the street.
Zhang Xiu shook his legs, and the cold wind blew straight into his sleeves and trouser legs.
He really couldn't understand why these monks liked to climb high places?
Aren’t you cold?
Li Chonglin turned his head to look at him and asked, "Any news about Yuguan and the others?"
"No...no." Zhang Xiu was choked for a moment.
Li Chonglin turned back in silence.
Zhang Xiu: “…”
have to.
Deserved.
You are only concerned about Mr. Lu, right?
The prince has been losing his appetite and sleep these past few days, and his face has become thinner. If the emperor knew that he had failed to serve the emperor well, he would surely order his head to be chopped off.
The more Zhang Xiu thought about it, the more frightened he became. He couldn't help but shiver and continued, "Your Highness, although there is no news about Master Lu, I have some good news to tell you."
Li Chonglin: "What's the matter?"
Zhang Xiu pulled a letter from his bosom, unfolded it, and read it to Li Chonglin: "The Holy Lord is benevolent and generous, and all under heaven and earth respect their parents... I order the Minister of Personnel, Bai Zheng, to temporarily become the Prince of Zhennan, to provide relief to the soldiers and civilians in the southern border, and to depart immediately."
"Minister Bai was appointed as a prince of a different surname?!" Li Chonglin said in shock.
It is extremely rare in this dynasty to enthronize a person of a different surname, unless he has made great achievements or the situation requires it.
Although Bai Zheng enjoyed considerable prestige in the court and had remarkable political achievements, this sudden appointment still made Li Chonglin feel that things were far more complicated than they seemed.
Zhang Xiu observed Li Chonglin's expression and said cautiously, "Your Highness, His Majesty may be acting to stabilize the situation in the southern border. Minister Bai has always been known for his fairness and strictness, and His Majesty probably values this aspect of him."
Li Chonglin shook his head slightly, paced back and forth in thought for a moment, then said, "The situation in the southern border is extremely complex. Although Minister Bai is a man of great talent, the situation is tense, and he may not be able to familiarize himself with this place quickly."
"Is there any other hidden secret?"
Zhang Xiu hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Your Highness, there have been some rumors circulating in the court recently."
Li Chonglin: "Speak."
"Some people speculate that Your Majesty is trying to balance the forces of all parties. Your prestige in the southern border is growing. Your Majesty may..." Zhang Xiu did not dare to continue speaking here, but just secretly observed Li Chonglin's expression.
Li Chonglin's expression changed slightly. He knew in his heart what Zhang Xiu's unfinished words meant, but when he thought about it again, many strange things came to his mind.
According to previous speculation, this autumn hunt in Nanzhou was clearly intended to select a suitable candidate for the crown prince between him and Li Chongjiu.
Now that Li Chongjiu has been abducted by the evil cultivators and disappeared, his father's goal has naturally been achieved.
But what is the meaning of sending Bai Zheng to the southern border now?
Even conferred the title of prince on someone with a different surname?
"Your Highness, Minister Bai is Mr. Lu's biological father. Is it possible that he volunteered to come to the southern border?" Zhang Xiu said at the right time.
"Impossible. Even if that were the case, Father wouldn't offer the title of King in exchange," Li Zhonglin frowned. "Sending Minister Bai to the Southern Territory couldn't be for the purpose of balancing power."
"Then what exactly does the emperor mean?" Zhang Xiu asked in confusion.
"I don't know either. Father's move is really confusing." Li Chonglin said cautiously.
Zhang Xiu swallowed and felt an unknown fear in his heart.
The Sacred Heart is unpredictable.
Li Zhonglin took a deep breath and said, "Let's put this aside for now. When will Minister Bai arrive? Which city will he go to first?"
Zhang Xiu swung his sleeves and scratched the back of his head. "This... is most likely going to the Ninth Prince's place. After all, that's the closest to the Central Plains. Furthermore, everything is in ruins there, and with only a few officials temporarily stationed there, it's a place that lacks governance."
"Okay, I understand. You can go down now." Li Chonglin said slowly.
Zhang Xiu: "Well, all right, Your Highness, please rest early. It's getting late, and it will be time for dinner soon."
Li Chonglin: "I understand."
Just as Zhang Xiu was about to leave, he hurriedly added, "By the way, Your Highness, when Young Master Chen was here, he ordered some medicinal wine from a winery. Unfortunately, Young Master Chen went to Nanzhou with Young Master Lu, and missed the delivery date. So, I took it upon myself to buy it all. I'll have someone deliver it to your residence later."
"Medicine?"
Li Chonglin's pupils shrank, and he suddenly remembered the last time he was with Lu Yuguan, when there was a strong smell of alcohol in the other person's mouth.
"Send me two jars so I can taste it." Li Chonglin said.
"Got it!"
Zhang Xiu bowed, then turned around with peace of mind, picked up his loose clothes, and happily slipped down the city.
Outside the city gate, it was bleak and the biting autumn wind was like a ruthless blade, whistling across the earth.
The withered yellow leaves trembled in the wind and fell from the branches one after another, like dying butterflies, spinning in the air, and finally scattering helplessly on the dusty road.
Li Chonglin sat in the recliner holding Xiao Zhima, closed his eyes and felt the fluctuations of spiritual power in the air.
Ever since he learned to control the Yinglong Pattern, he has become more and more sensitive to the outside world, and he can quickly sense any disturbance.
"Meow!"
Little Zhima suddenly raised his head and looked towards the northwest sky vigilantly.
"Little thing, what's wrong with you?" Li Chonglin reached out to comfort Xiao Zhima, but unexpectedly felt his hand was covered with hair.
Li Chonglin looked in the direction indicated by Xiao Zhima. The sky was covered with a thick layer of haze, and it seemed that a big storm was brewing.
"Is that... the Fallen Desire Stone Forest?"