Chapter 367 - Meeting up with an Old Pal
Chapter 367 Meeting up with an Old Pal
“My respects to you, General Lin. I’m the Deputy Commander of the royal guards. Ye Shuanghe.”
Ye Shuanghe had no idea that Lin Nansheng was back. He was supposed to be at one of the border, which was a thousand miles away from the capital city.
Ye Shuanghe looked grim. The young master of the Lin family was known to be very fond of his sister.
Lin Nansheng was not like those good-looking, but useless, royal heirs.
He was among the most distinguished league in Dajin. And he was different from Lin Mengya who had to rely on her background.
He had true power. If Ye Shuanghe irritated him, it would be hard for him to accomplish his mission today.
Ye Shuanghe did not want to give in. His superior had made it clear to him that he should at least bring back Ms. Tian and her son, even if he failed to find any other evidence against Lin Mengya.
He gritted his teeth and saluted, but he was not going to make a concession.
“Deputy command of the royal guards? Forgive me for being impolite, but why are you taking away my sister and our nanny? You’re not even in charge of arresting criminals. It’s the government’s job! Don’t you thinking you’re overstepping your duties?”
Lin Nansheng was being very straightforward, which made Ye Shuanghe feel even more embarrassed.
The young master of the Lin family had already surprised all officials by being so different from his kind and refined father.
He was already a skilled kungfu fighter when he was young, and perceived evil as his enemy.
Later, he left for the border with the army, otherwise all the ruffians in the Capital City would have a hard time.
His serene eyes turned slowly to Ye Shuanghe.
He was his usual calm self, and all the guards were in awe of him.
“You’re right, General Lin. I’m here to investigate into Princess Yu’s case. She had been assaulted. Both Ms. Tian and her son were crucial eyewitnesses. That was why I wanted to take them away.”
Instead of replying, Lin Nansheng walked over to Ms. Tian, whose hair was now completely gray.
Seeing the nanny who had raised him up, the tough guy’s grim face softened and he smiled at her.
He took off his dark red cloak and put it on Ms. Tian. She tried to refuse, but he insisted. His eyes had the same guilty look as Lin Mengya’s. Then he said softly,
“I’m here to visit you. I’m so sorry for what you’ve suffered all these years. This cloak was given to me by His Majesty. No one will dare to offend you as long as you’re in it.”
Tears streamed down from Ms. Tian’s face. Her dry hands held Lin Nansheng’s big, strong hands firmly.
Lin Mengya and Lin Nansheng were just two kids ten years ago, held by Ms. Tian in her arms. Now the two kids had already grown into outstanding adults.
Their mother died at a very young age, and their father was always busy. The two kids had been brought up by her.
Seeing how the two kids did not forget her and was protecting her, she was deeply touched.
She had suffered a lot because of the promise between Mrs. Lin and herself. Now all the pain seemed to disappear.
“General Lin, you’re…”
Ye Shuanghe’s face was a little twisted. He did not need Lin Nansheng’s explanation to know that it was a royal cloak. The seemingly old cloak had a four-claw dragon emblem on it.
Only the Crown Prince and the other powerful princes could use this emblem. That was what Lin Nansheng was indicating.
Whoever touched Ms. Tian now would be held in contempt of lèse-majesté.
Although Ye Shuanghe was unwilling to give up, he was afraid he had to, because he knew clearly what being in contempt of lèse-majesté meant.
“She used to be Princess Yu’s and my nanny. She is no prominent figure but we’re very closely connected. It’s OK if you insist on arresting her, but I’ll have to go back with you and ask the governor why Princess Yu has been hurt on his watch. Why are these thugs allowed to hurt people? Guess I’ll have to report the governor’s neglect of duty to the royal court, and we’ll see how he has been doing his job!”
Lin Nansheng turned around and glared at Ye Shuanghe.
Ye Shuanghe felt the situation very hard for him to settle.
The former governor of the capital city had been transferred to another post several days ago, without any reason.
The new one was quite tricky to get along with.
Ms. Tian and her son were supposed to be put in prison, but now Ye Shuanghe knew he had to drop the plan, because Lin Nansheng was involved.
Lin Mengya had already got over the shock of this incident and was smiling.
She knew Ye Shuanghe might have a slim chance to make it, if it had been someone else who had come.
Unfortunately for him, the one who came was Lin Nansheng.
The young general had been protecting the border. Even the higher officials in the royal court had to respect him, let alone Ye Shuanghe, who was merely a deputy commander.
Lin Mengya supported Ms. Tian with one hand and stroked her gray hair gently. She had to take the poor old woman and her son back home tonight.
“That… that would not be necessary. I can handle these small affairs by myself. You don’t have to bother.”
Ye Shuanghe still wanted to find an excuse, but Lin Nansheng was looking at him with a fierce glare. This young man would definitely grow into a decisive general someday in the future.
Ye Shuanghe had to obey the young man, even though he did not want to. However, before he gave in, another man was speaking loudly behind him. The voice sounded cold and cranky.
“Look at who this is! A fourth-grade general? This is the royal guards’ place, not your bleak and barbarian frontier. If you keep behaving atrociously, I won’t have any mercy on you!”
All the people present looked at the man who had just arrived on the scene.
Lin Mengya watched the man cautiously. The fury inside her could almost burn the man into ashes.
The man looked had a pale face, including his lips. His face looked gloomy and terrifying and half of his face was covered by a black blinder.
The only eye he had left was rife with sinister calculations.
His black gauze hat was decorated with a piece of red jadeite.
He looked so weak as if he might be blown away by a breeze. The skinny body was wrapped in a dark purple costume.
His slender hands dangled casually at his sides. He looked like a civil official, but he was leading dozens of tall and strong guards behind him.
“It’s been a while, Princess Yu. I think I need to say thanks for having helped me that day.”
Lin Mengya could feel the hostility in his cold tone.
Lin Mengya would never forget that voice. That was the man who had held her hostage in order to get away with murder, Baili Wuchen.
No wonder she failed to find any single trace of him, even though she had sent so many people to look for him.
It turned out that Baili Wuchen had sought refuge with the Crown Prince. Now he had been promoted to be the commander of the royal guards, and would be sure to flaunt his powers.
“It’s so nice of the royal guards to harbor a blind dog and even give him a position.”
Lin Mengya did not bother to hide her resentment. She could never forget how much trouble Baili Wuchen’s betrayal had brought to Long Tianyu.
Baili Wuchen was not bothered by Lin Mengya’s words. He smiled gently and turned his eyes to Ms. Tian and her son.
“General Lin, as the general appointed by the royal court, it is also your responsibility to maintain the stability of the emperor’s rule. The hooligans were trying to hurt these people just now, and my people are here to investigate. You stood in their way and wanted to take away our witnesses. Does that mean you have something to do with the hooligans? Are you trying to imprison the hostages, or are you trying to kill them?”
Baili Wuchen tried to smear Lin Nansheng’s by trying to make a case out of this episode. He knew that would completely irritate Lin Nanchang.
Lin Mengya was angry, but she knew she had to stay clear.
Baili Wuchen was typically trying to confuse everyone, and putting the blame on his victims. The situation now was against Lin Mengya and her people. She frowned, but she knew she could never let them take Ms. Tian and Tian Ning away.
“Command Baili, you’re right that we’re all fourth-grade officials, but don’t you ever forget that you’re in charge of the instruction of the royal guards. The other command is in charge of the arrangement of the patrol. I’m a general, so I’m in charge of the diplomacy of the state, and you should be responsible for the internal affairs. Your people just offended Princess Yu, and you should be responsible for it.”
Lin Mengya looked at her brother in surprise, amazed at how eloquent he had become.
Back in the old days, Lin Nansheng was not much of a talker.
His years in the military had really changed him.
“I thought that General Lin only knows how to fight on the battlefield. It turns out you’ve learned much about politics, too. You’re right that I’m in charge of the interior affairs, but the command of the royal guards is my business and the royal court. You’re now standing in our way, an action which can be held as contempt of the royal court. Isn’t that being some kind of rebel?”
Baili Wuchen grinned sinisterly. No one could read his mind. Even his teammate, Ye Shuanghe, quivered slightly.
Ye Shuanghe and other people were not afraid of their commander or the Crown Prince. They feared Baili Wuchen, the new commander who was in charge of interior affairs.
Those who offended the great commander and the Crown Prince would be punished by getting a flogging or deduction of their salary. The worst situation was to be kicked out of the royal guards.
Rumors had it that Baili Wuchen would make those people suffer the most.
He felt sorry for Lin Nansheng, who was arguing with Baili Wuchen.