Chapter 260: Chapter 194: Let’s see what this little man he’s interested in really wants to do_i

After meeting with Lin Xiuming, Lu Chen said with a smile, “General Lin, why aren’t you hurrying back to the Capital city with the court’s soldiers? Why meet with me in private? Don’t you know that I’ve offended quite a few people by now?”

“If someone finds out that General Lin has been in contact with me, I’m afraid you will have a hard time once you return to the Capital city.”

Hearing this, Lin Xiuming quickly said, “Prince is joking. As long as the Prince doesn’t speak out, no one will know that I have seen the Prince.”

Lu Chen spoke directly, “I’ll get straight to the point, then. Say, General Lin, what do you need from me?”

Lin Xiuming replied, “The reason I wanted to meet with the Prince mainly comes from my father’s intentions.”

“My father wants to know what the Prince’s plans are for the future.”

Hearing this, Lu Chen smiled slightly and then said, “Prime Minister Lin really doesn’t consider me an outsider, sending you to ask about my future plans?”

“Could it be that Prime Minister Lin and the Lin Family plan to support me in the struggle for inheritance?”

Lin Xiuming did not hide anything. The tavern had been cleared out for this meeting, there were no outsiders, and he could speak his mind openly and boldly.

“Prince, indeed my father intends to support you in the struggle for inheritance. He believes that the Prince is good at biding his time and will certainly be able to achieve great things in the future.”

At that moment, Lu Chen said, “I have a question for General Lin.”

Lin Xiuming replied respectfully, “Please, Prince, speak.”

Lu Chen asked, “Did Prime Minister Lin tell you to relay this to me before you set off for North Country, or did he send you a letter afterwards, instructing you to see me privately when you leave North Country?”

There’s a big difference between the two.

If Lin Xiuming had been instructed by Lin Gaoyuan before his departure to meet privately and discuss these matters, it would only prove that Lin Gaoyuan was entertaining the idea of supporting the North Prince Mansion, but it wouldn’t necessarily indicate a strong commitment.

However, if Lin Gaoyuan had later sent a letter asking Lin Xiuming to approach the North Prince privately upon departing North Country to express their family’s support, it would mean that Lin Gaoyuan was seriously intending to back him.

After all, he had just offended all the Aristocratic Families in Great Sum and even angered the Scholar Officials class. If Lin Gaoyuan was still willing to support him under these circumstances, it would mean that Lin Gaoyuan truly valued him greatly.

Hearing Lu Chen’s question, Lin Xiuming immediately understood what he meant and promptly answered, “Prince, it was only after the reforms in North Country that I received a letter from my father. He is steadfast in standing by your side, regardless of the difficulties you face now, he continues to support you.”

Lu Chen said with a smile, “Oh? Does Prime Minister Lin really have that much faith that I will eventually take that position?”

Lin Xiuming said, “My father is always accurate in judging people. He believes that you, Prince, are a dragon lying in wait, destined to soar to great heights one day.”

At Lin Xiuming’s words, Lu Chen smiled. Prime Minister Lin, who had always been non-committal and never openly supported any Prince in the court, unexpectedly decided to support him; he truly had a discerning eye.

Then, Lin Xiuming said tentatively, “Prince, my father also asked me to convey a message. He heard that my sworn sister is serving at the North Prince Mansion. My father wonders what you think of my sworn sister, and if the Prince is fond of her, the Lin Family is willing to form an alliance through marriage, giving my sworn sister’s hand in marriage to you.”

On hearing this, Lu Chen paused before asking, “Sworn sister? Are you talking about Lin Wanyun?”

Lin Xiumingconfirmed, “Yes.”

Lu Chen said with a smile, “As far as I am aware, Lin Wanyun is now part of the Mysterious Moon Palace and seems to have little to do with the Lin Family, doesn’t she?”

Lin Xiuming replied, “Prince is jesting. She was sworn to my father as a daughter with the witness of your mother, and she grew up in the Lin Family. Even though she has now left the Lin Family, she is still a member of our family.”

Lu Chen continued, “However, she seems to be in her thirties this year. Don’t you think your sworn sister is a bit too old for me, General Lin?”

Lin Xiuming said with neither humble nor arrogant tone, “Prince, age is not an issue as long as the Prince likes her.”

Lu Chen thought to himself that Lin Gaoyuan really intended to support him, even contemplating marrying Lin Wanyun to him.

In that case, Lin Wanyun would inevitably become his woman sooner or later.

Even without the Lin Family’s support, one day Lin Wanyun would still become his woman. However, with her family’s backing, her marriage to him would be more justified.

Then Lu Chen said, “General Lin, go back and tell Prime Minister Lin that I am grateful for his support at this time, but as for the struggle for inheritance, I will not be partaking in it. That position is too small to contain me.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Xiuming was taken aback.

What did the North Prince mean?

Too small a position? Was he saying that the place of the Crown Prince was too small for him? Could it be that the North Prince intended to bypass the role of Crown Prince and become the Emperor directly?

In other words, was he planning a direct rebellion?

The thought made Lin Xiuming’s forehead break out in beads of sweat.

Was this something he was supposed to hear?

Now that he knew the North Prince’s intentions, would he be silenced by the North Prince in the future?

Lu Chen then continued, “General Lin, if there’s nothing else, I shall take my leave. It’s risky for you to be away from the camp for too long; it could raise suspicions.”