“What are you doing?”
To her surprise, Qin Mo’an’s expression darkened as he turned his face away.
He tossed a profound black cloak toward her from across the room.
“Your Highness… didn’t you say… you wanted me to become your person?” Lin Tangtang asked cautiously, confusion evident in her voice.
“Countless women have tried to use their charms to approach me. Do you think I’m some lust-driven fool?”
Qin Mo’an let out a derisive laugh. “Though you possess some beauty, you overestimate your value. I have no interest in women.”
Lin Tangtang’s heart sank, embarrassment washing over her.
So she had misunderstood his meaning earlier, nearly stripping completely naked in the main hall.
“Your Highness, this humble girl deserves punishment.” She immediately knelt on the ground, her face flushing so deeply it seemed about to bleed.
“To become my person and pledge loyalty to me – you are not qualified enough.” Qin Mo’an spoke with deliberate ambiguity.
Lin Tangtang looked directly at Qin Mo’an. “If Your Highness is willing to support my father and brother, both I and the Beiwei General Manor are willing to serve you.”
Her father Lin Yulang was an upright official who had never aligned with any faction. Though multiple princes had extended olive branches to him, he had always scorned them.
But now, the General’s Mansion had no retreat left.
Only by aligning with the Crown Prince could they seek new life.
“As a mere woman, how can you represent the General’s Mansion?” Qin Mo’an asked, lowering his gaze.
“Your Highness need not worry.” She removed a jade pendant from her neck and respectfully presented it. “When I left the northern border, my father entrusted me with the Lin Family Head Jade Pendant. I can make any decision on behalf of the General’s Mansion.”
Qin Mo’an accepted the pendant.
Their fingertips brushed accidentally in the exchange.
The cold, unfamiliar contact made Lin Tangtang instantly withdraw her finger.
Qin Mo’an showed no emotion as he carefully traced the jade’s patterns with his fingers, lost in thought.
“Your token of allegiance is received. The night grows late – we shall end here for today.”
“Yes.” Lin Tangtang bowed her head and exited through the side door.
She knew the matter of reinforcements was complex and intricate. The Crown Prince wouldn’t make a decision based on a single meeting.
Though anxious and worried in her heart, all she could do now was wait.
Wait for the Crown Prince’s next summons.
After she left the main hall, white-haired Grand Tutor Lu entered from a side chamber, pushing his wheelchair.
Upon closer inspection, his eyes couldn’t focus on distant objects.
“Just as you predicted, Teacher, the northern border has fallen into chaos,” Qin Mo’an said as he approached him.
“Our people haven’t received any news from the northern border for half a month – this has never happened before. Fortunately, you recognized they came from the northern border by their clothing and saved them, leading to today’s pledge of allegiance.”
Grand Tutor Lu looked at his beloved student with admiration – such clever strategy!
He stroked his snow-white beard. “What does Your Highness plan to do next?”
“First, send two teams to investigate the northern border. Simultaneously, leak news of the barbarian attacks to Duke Chen without leaving traces – he’ll ensure the Emperor learns of it.”
“Excellent, thoroughly considered.”
Grand Tutor Lu and Qin Mo’an exchanged glances, understanding passing between them without words.
The current Emperor had five sons. As the legitimate eldest son, Qin Mo’an faced four ambitious younger brothers who refused to remain content, creating a deadlock of four competing factions in the court.
If they could use the northern border situation to break this stalemate, it might work to their advantage.
“Now, the Lin girl has become the most active piece on this chessboard.”
The two sat around the chessboard as Grand Tutor Lu placed the first black piece. “How does Your Highness plan to make your move?”
“Sleeper cells.”
Qin Mo’an placed the white piece in the center of the board.
The night breeze whispered, carrying a slight chill.
Lin Tangtang tightened the cloak around her and returned to the entrance of Qianyue Pavilion deep in thought. It was already midnight.
“Sister!” A woman’s voice called out.
Lin Tangtang stiffened instantly.
It was Lin Jiaojiao.
Her train of thought disrupted, memories of past lives surfaced. Hatred surged through Lin Tangtang’s heart—she wished she could strangle Lin Jiaojiao right then and there.
But mere death would be too merciful. True vengeance meant destroying one’s spirit.
Having been reborn, she would strip away everything Lin Jiaojiao held dear, repaying double the suffering she’d endured in her previous life. Let Lin Jiaojiao taste the bitterness of having her heart crushed.
Her nails nearly drawing blood from her palms, Lin Tangtang struggled to suppress the raging murderous intent within her.
“Sister, where have you been? I heard you’d awakened and have been waiting for you!” Lin Jiaojiao approached, carrying a food box.
She recognized the profound black cloak Lin Tangtang wore—it seemed to belong to the Crown Prince… Had her sister met with him? A pang of jealousy struck as she feigned nonchalance: “Sister, were you out for a walk? This cloak doesn’t seem to be yours…”
“His Highness gifted it to me. What, are you jealous?” Lin Tangtang’s tone was icy, leaving Lin Jiaojiao speechless.
Lin Jiaojiao lowered her gaze slightly, a shadow flashing in her eyes before she regained composure.
“I was merely concerned about you. It’s late, and you’re wearing unfamiliar clothing—I feared you might have encountered ill-intentioned people…”
Before she could finish.
Slap.
A sharp slap struck Lin Jiaojiao’s face.
“This is the Crown Prince’s residence, guarded by numerous soldiers. Your repeated mentions of ‘ill-intentioned people’ could be misinterpreted as questioning His Highness’s capabilities!”
Lin Jiaojiao stared in shock.
Her sister, who had always doted on her, had actually slapped her in public!
How dare she!
“Sister, you misunderstand me. I merely spoke without thinking…”
Lin Jiaojiao covered her cheek, tears welling in her eyes, her expression full of grievance.
“Speaking carelessly is still a fault. This slap is for your own good. Lin Jiaojiao, this isn’t the General’s Mansion.”
This reprimand was heard by all the night-shift maids in the courtyard.
Their eyes turned toward Lin Jiaojiao.
Under public scrutiny, Lin Jiaojiao could only curtsy and admit her fault, swallowing her humiliation.
“Enough. Be more cautious with your words in the future.” Lin Tangtang snatched the food box from her hands, her expression softening. “You remembered I haven’t eaten supper. Thank you, cousin.”
“My food box…” Lin Jiaojiao gasped, wanting to reclaim the meal prepared for the Crown Prince.
“Oh? Wasn’t this prepared for me, cousin?” Lin Tangtang’s gaze turned profound.
“It… it was for you, sister…” Lin Jiaojiao’s face flushed crimson, fists clenched, unable to refute.
“In that case, I’ll accept your kindness. You may retrieve the box after I finish my meal.” Lin Tangtang smiled faintly.
In her previous life, Lin Jiaojiao had nearly daily carried food boxes to the main hall waiting for the Crown Prince.
But having left hastily back then, Lin Jiaojiao had few opportunities to interact with him. In this life, Lin Tangtang would naturally not let her succeed.
Returning to her room, Lin Jiaojiao seethed with resentment.
That wretched Lin Tangtang!
Awake for merely a day, she’d already met the Crown Prince and obtained his cloak.
Yet despite repeatedly bringing food boxes to the main hall, she herself had been turned away by the Crown Prince.
Could something be happening between them…? No, she couldn’t just wait passively for defeat.
Immediately, Lin Jiaojiao wrote a letter to Jingbei Hou Mansion and had it delivered overnight.