Three days later.
In front of Weiyang Palace.
Tian Zhongxun stood at the forefront.
His expression was incredibly grim at this moment.
He had already received news.
Princess Samuer had already turned the corner and was out of danger.
Emperor Feng was furious and demanded a thorough investigation of the case.
At the same time, the national letter would be signed a few days in advance.
And elite Yulin Army soldiers were dispatched to protect the Ning Royal Mansion.
Chang'an Patrol Inspectorate was under martial law.
No matter who it was, they had to undergo investigation.
Anyone without a special pass would be immediately detained.
Tian Zhongxun wasn't afraid of Emperor Feng's pursuit.
He hadn't interfered in this matter from beginning to end.
No matter how much they investigated, they wouldn't find anything related to him.
But today, the national letter of alliance was to be signed...
As long as Ning Que signed it, the wager would officially take effect.
He would then be Great Feng's true and only Prince!
At the same time, he would also gain Linzi County!
Useless!
They were all useless!
Such a meticulously designed plan had actually failed.
Since that was the case, he couldn't be blamed.
Just as Gu Yuan had said.
What he couldn't get, no one else should even think of having!
He had secretly given orders to transfer his assets.
All the wealth of Linzi would be moved out!
Granaries, workshops, sea salt, cloth...
All of it taken away!
Before the official handover, Tian Zhongxun planned to relocate all the wealthy households.
Then, he would move all the criminals to Linzi and release them without charge.
So what if Ning Que got Linzi County?
He would only inherit a mess!
With nothing at all!
As for the common people's lives?
What did that have to do with him?
If he wasn't doing well, Ning Que shouldn't expect to do well either!
Tian Zhongxun glanced at Ning Que.
Many high-ranking court officials were gathered around him.
“When will Your Highness host a banquet?”
“It is said that the chefs at the Ning Royal Mansion are exquisitely skilled. We are all eagerly looking forward to it. How about this, I'll send the incompetent chefs from my mansion to the Ning Royal Mansion and let the chefs help train them a bit.”
“Go, go, go, how could it be your turn?”
“Your Highness, I have a few maids in my mansion. They are all still virgins, and I've long heard that Your Highness enjoys such things. If Your Highness likes them, I will have them sent to the Ning Royal Mansion as soon as I return.”
“Pah, are those people even worthy?”
“What do you take His Highness for?”
“Exactly, exactly!”
“Your Highness...”
Ning Que was also getting a headache from the annoyance.
He smiled outwardly, but inwardly, he was cursing.
These people were all old hands at flattery.
And regular customers of Heaven on Earth.
They were all people who adapted to the situation.
Seeing that the overall situation was settled, they all came to curry favor with him.
However, Ning Que didn't completely show his displeasure.
As the saying goes, it's easier to deal with the king of hell than with the little devils.
They would speak to people as people and to ghosts as ghosts.
He would inevitably have to deal with these people in the future.
He couldn't afford to offend them all completely.
“Gentlemen, please don't rush.”
“It is only right to host a banquet and invite you all.”
“However, this matter will have to wait a little longer.”
“Well said, well said.” Cao Du stroked his beard and said with a chuckle, “The day before yesterday, my humble wife entered the palace and met the Empress Dowager. She taught her how to play mahjong. She said it was quite interesting, and the Empress Dowager liked it very much. It also came from Your Highness's handiwork. I wonder if this humble official can buy a set of mahjong?”
“You don't need to ask this Prince about that.”
Ning Que smiled knowingly.
See, the business is coming, isn't it?
“Baibao Pavilion has them.”
“All kinds of grades are available.”
“If you gentlemen like them, you can also go and take a look.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Cao Du raised his hand in thanks.
Baibao Pavilion...
This was Great Feng's number one business enterprise.
Great Shang, Liao, Goguryeo... their presence was everywhere, their footprints covering the entire Divine Land. It was rumored that they even had the support of Shenji Pavilion, and its master was Bu Suanzi, the world's foremost divine calculator.
The method for making mahjong was not complicated.
It would be very easy to imitate.
You could just carve them out of wood and play.
But what kind of people were they?
If it got out that they were using wooden mahjong, they would surely be ridiculed. They all cared about their reputation, so if they were going to use it, they had to use the best!
It didn't matter if money was lost, but face could not be lost!
...
Lin Jiang stood trembling at the very back.
He looked at Ning Que from a distance.
At this moment, he was regretting it so much his guts turned green.
If Lin Xianhong hadn't been divorced, he would now be the Prince Ning's father-in-law. Leaving aside other things, with the connections of Ning Royal Mansion, who would his Lin family fear in Chang'an City in the future?
But now?
This time, Lin Chao was back in Dali Temple.
Lin Xianhong was also arrested.
That's right, Gu Yuan said he would help.
But what could he do?
He who tied the bell must untie it...
Looking at Ning Que's high spirits, Lin Jiang was filled with remorse. No matter how promising Gu Yuan was, he would at most only be a Duke in this life, while Ning Que was Great Feng's only Prince!
“Son-in-law...”
Finally, Lin Jiang found an opportunity to step forward.
As soon as he appeared, he received countless disgusted looks.
“Patriarch Lin, don't just call out randomly.”
“This Prince has already divorced his wife!”
Lin Jiang's face showed difficulty, and he quickly said, “Yes, yes, yes, this humble one forgot. But I still ask Your Highness to consider the feelings of these past years and help my Lin family later. Chao'er and Xianhong cannot be in trouble...”
“What does that have to do with me?”
Ning Que just found it amusing and said mockingly, “If this Prince remembers correctly, your Lin family never cared about this Prince before. Oh, and General Gu is also here. Why don't you let him plead for you?”
Gu Yuan's expression suddenly changed.
He quickly turned around.
He simply pretended not to hear.
He now wished he could quickly distance himself.
How could he possibly help the Lin family?
Lin Jiang, however, shamelessly continued to approach. He naturally knew Gu Yuan's current predicament, as he was his future son-in-law, so it was definitely better for him not to show up at this time.
Moreover, Gu Yuan couldn't help him much.
This time, Emperor Feng had ordered a thorough investigation.
Dali Temple was responsible for the investigation.
Besides Ning Que, who could help?
Before he could speak, he heard a powerful and resonant voice. Turning around, he saw the Minister of War, Jiang Quan, dressed in crimson robes!
“So it's the in-law?”
“Does Patriarch Lin like to call people randomly?”
Jiang Quan frowned.
He used to be a subordinate general under Old Prince Ning. He followed Old Prince Ning in campaigns in the Yan Yun Sixteen Prefectures, repeatedly achieving military merits such as being the first to climb walls and capture flags. Later, he was noticed by the late emperor and was promoted all the way to Minister of War.
He looked at Ning Que.
The latter was unperturbed, simply nodding in acknowledgment.
Only then did Jiang Quan glance at Lin Jiang.
He had no good feelings towards the Lin family.
He had agreed to the marriage at that time purely for Ning Que's sake. In order to make the Lin family retreat in the face of difficulties, he deliberately proposed an exorbitant dowry. He didn't expect the Lin family to still agree, and the source of the dowry was even Ning Royal Mansion...
Jiang Quan had nothing to say about this either.
After all, it was all Ning Que's intention.
But now it was different!
Ning Que had already severed ties with the Lin family.
Since that was the case, the marriage must surely be called off!
“Lord Jiang is joking.”
Lin Jiang was like a clown.
Making everyone laugh.
He was merely a Master of Records in the Ministry of Personnel.
A petty official of no importance.
According to the rules, he wasn't even qualified to participate in court discussions.
Calling him into the palace this time was naturally for something important.
“This official never jokes.”
Jiang Quan came from a military background.
His every move exuded decisiveness.
He looked at Lin Jiang and said coldly, “Everyone knows about your Lin family's affairs. This official will not waste words with you. The marriage between your Lin family and my Jiang Family family is hereby canceled. The marriage contract will be retrieved tomorrow.”
“Ah?!”
Lin Jiang was instantly shocked.
This was truly adding insult to injury.
Lin Qinghuan had finally managed to cling to the Jiang Family family.
If she were to be rejected, she would never be able to marry again in this life!
After all, who would marry someone who had been rejected?
“Lord Jiang!”
“You can't do things like this!”
“I wonder where my Lin family offended you?”
“You don't even know who you've offended.”
Jiang Quan turned away coldly, no longer bothering with him.
Lin Jiang felt a chill throughout his body.
He looked at Ning Que beside him again.
Could it be that this was also his revenge?!