It's getting dark.
Along the official road leading from Yanzhou to Zhongzhou, a row of tents had already been set up on an open flat ground.
The road to Beijing was crisscrossed with villages and inns, so setting up camp in the wilderness was common. After leaving Luma Town, Lin Jiangnian and his group continued north along the official road to their next destination.
Wang Changjin's appearance midway disrupted the original plan. Lin Qingqing had already sent people to set up camp ahead, light a fire and cook, and spend the night there.
On the flat ground, smoke soon rose up. The guards and maids were busy working in an orderly manner with clear division of labor under Lin Qingqing's command.
Lin Jiangnian took Xiaozhu to sit under a tree on a small hill not far away, looking at the scenery as night was about to fall.
As the sky gradually darkened, the cold wind grew stronger. Xiao Zhu, who was standing beside him, wrapped herself in thick autumn clothes, but still felt the cold wind on her face, and subconsciously leaned closer to His Highness.
"Your Highness, how long will it take us to reach the capital?"
"It'll be soon."
Lin Jiangnian thought about it. He had never been to the capital, but according to the description on the map and what Lin Qingqing said, it would take a few days to reach the border of Zhongzhou. Once in Zhongzhou, it would not be far from the capital.
"If everything goes well, we can reach the capital before winter."
Lin Jiangnian was thinking.
"oh."
Xiao Zhu nodded thoughtfully, quietly looked up at the handsome and bright face of His Highness, blinked, seemed to think of something, his face flushed slightly, and then quickly lowered his head, muttering something in a low voice.
"What are you talking about?"
Lin Jiangnian glanced at her.
"I don't know what the Princess looks like, what she likes, or if she's a good person..."
As if thinking of something, Xiao Zhu's face showed a trace of worry: "What if Her Royal Highness the Princess has a bad temper, or is difficult to get along with..."
"What if she hates Xiaozhu?"
Xiaozhu was very worried.
His Highness's visit to the capital to marry the eldest princess meant that the eldest princess would be her future mistress. Xiao Zhu was currently his Highness's personal maid, and she was bound to come into contact with the eldest princess in the future.
What if the eldest princess is difficult to get along with, or even can't tolerate her?
Xiao Zhu couldn't help but worry about these things.
Would a little maid like her be beaten with a club and thrown into a well out of jealousy by her mistress?
While Xiao Zhu was daydreaming, Lin Jiangnian reached out and rubbed her little head, then pinched her pink cheeks: "Don't think too much, it's still early!"
Xiao Zhu was very worried: "We are almost reaching the capital. Your Highness, you won't have much time left to marry the eldest princess..."
"Whether to marry or not is another matter."
Lin Jiangnian half-closed his eyes and spoke in a nonchalant tone.
"Um?"
Xiao Zhu was full of confusion. What did His Highness mean by this?
Just as I was thinking carefully, at this moment, a dark shadow suddenly flashed in front of me.
Xiao Zhu was startled, and then she felt Lin Jiangnian rush out. When he returned a short while later, he was clutching something in his hand.
"Hey, rabbit?!"
Xiao Zhu was surprised to see His Highness holding two gray rabbits in his hands. His eyes widened in delight: "What cute rabbits!"
"cute?"
Lin Jiangnian looked down at the pair of wild rabbits he had caught, but he couldn't see what was so cute about them.
But it should be delicious!
"Let's go, light a fire and set up the pot!"
“…”
Outside the tent, on the open ground.
As the sky darkened, a bonfire was lit, and crackling sounds could be heard from the flames.
Lin Jiangnian squatted by the fire and set up an iron rack. Two plump rabbits, stripped of their fur, were skewered on a sword and roasted over the fire.
As the meat cooked over the bonfire, the aroma gradually spread, and it became shiny and oily, looking very appetizing.
It’s a pity that there is no cumin powder. Adding some barbecue ingredients would be a perfect match!
After the rabbit meat on the fire was cooked and cooled down a little, Lin Jiangnian tore off a piece of meat and went to the little maid who was sulking in the corner.
"It's cooked, want some?"
"No."
The little maid had a stern face and stared at Lin Jiangnian with resentment.
"It's delicious, would you like to try it?"
The little maidservant, Lao Gao, pouted and expressed her extreme dissatisfaction with His Highness's insistence on eating rabbit meat.
And they protested by going on hunger strike.
However, Lin Jiangnian didn't buy it at all and forced the rabbit meat in his hand into the maid's mouth.
“Wuwu… No, don’t… Wuwu…”
The little maid's mouth was stuffed full, and she was forced to swallow the rabbit meat that His Highness forced into her mouth. She had been hungry for a long time, and when the fragrant rabbit meat entered her mouth, even though the little maid was extremely reluctant, her appetite was aroused.
Hmm...rabbit meat smells so good!
“…”
“Beast!”
Not far from the bonfire, Shen Lingjun saw this scene and couldn't help but spit, with a look of contempt.
Along the way, she and her uncle followed Lin Jiangnian's carriage, which was considered convenient.
Combined with what happened a few days ago, Shen Lingjun's attitude towards Lin Jiangnian has indeed changed. Some of his previous firm ideas have begun to stir, which is very complicated.
But when I saw this scene, I couldn't help but condemn it subconsciously.
Lin Jiangnian looked up and glanced at her: "How can this prince bully his own maidservant? What kind of beast is that?"
Shen Lingjun knew that she was in the wrong, but she was not convinced and didn't know what to say, so she could only turn her head away and snorted.
It was rare to see her in the wrong, so Lin Jiangnian looked happy and his eyes fell on the old man next to Shen Lingjun.
Shen Lingjun's uncle.
The old man was not good at speaking and remained silent most of the time along the way, which was consistent with Lin Jiangnian's impression of a peerless master.
The old man carries a box on his side, which he almost never takes off. The box is square and doesn't look like a sword box. I wonder what is hidden inside.
Lin Jiangnian returned to the campfire, tore off a piece of rabbit meat, and glanced at Shen Lingjun across from him: "Do you want to eat it?"
“I don’t want to eat it!”
Shen Lingjun glared at him and said unhappily.
She would never accept charity.
She would rather starve to death than eat anything from this bastard prince.
"It's just right that you don't eat it. Don't steal it later!"
Shen Lingjun's eyes widened immediately: "I know how to steal?"
"Who knows?"
Lin Jiangnian's nonchalant tone easily broke Shen Lingjun's defense.
She was so angry that her face turned red, her breathing became rapid, and she stared at Lin Jiangnian. After taking a few deep breaths, she gradually calmed down.
"Don't be angry, don't be angry. Don't bother with him..."
Even though he comforted himself in this way, he still felt aggrieved. The slight hesitation he had felt towards this bastard prince was now completely forgotten.
Lin Jiangnian ignored her and continued to eat his rabbit. In this desolate wilderness, there were countless gamey dishes. Although it wasn't overly flavorful without much seasoning, it was a unique experience for Lin Jiangnian, who had been fed with delicacies from land and sea.
When Meimei finished eating the rabbit leg in his hand, he looked up and saw a pair of hateful eyes staring at him across the campfire.
But there seemed to be a bit of... greed in his eyes as he stared at the remaining roasted rabbit in front of him.
Seeing Lin Jiangnian's gaze, he seemed to look away inadvertently.
Lin Jiangnian acted as if he hadn't noticed and glanced at her. "Hey, Miss Shen, you don't have to be so hostile to me. If you truly want to uphold justice and fight for justice, I can show you a way."
Shen Lingjun stared at him expressionlessly with disdain in her eyes. Was this bastard trying to fool her again?
She didn't believe that this bastard prince could spit out any ivory from his mouth.
Lin Jiangnian wiped his mouth and shook his head gently: "You don't have to keep staring at me. There are so many playboys in this world. There are countless people who are more evil than me, more cruel and ruthless, and who are against the will of heaven and earth..."
Shen Lingjun sneered in her heart. Is there any playboy in this world who is worse than this dog prince and has a higher status?
She doesn't believe it.
"Don't be skeptical. Take, for example, the Third Prince in the capital and the Prince Xu of Xuzhou in the north. They're both complete bastards..."
Lin Jiangnian seemed to see what she was thinking and shook his head gently: "The two of them have done far more evil things than this prince... Compared to them, this prince can be considered pure and innocent..."
Shen Lingjun sneered: "Everyone knows that Prince Xu is kind and generous. He holds a high position, but he never bullies the people. Unlike you..."
Shen Lingjun's eyes were full of contempt. This bastard prince actually wanted to frame Prince Xu?
She didn't know about the Third Prince, but Prince Xu was well-known in the north. Even though Shen Lingjun had never seen him in person, she had heard of him.
Both of them are princes, but as the only two princes of different surnames in the Daning Dynasty, why are they so different?
Isn't this bastard ashamed?
"A kind person? A person who loves charity?"
Lin Jiangnian was stunned.
Although he had never met the Prince of Xu, he didn't think the fellow from the north, who was as famous as him, was a kind person. The Prince of Xu, and the Prince of Xu... were not good people!
I have to say that this heroine in front of me is still too naive!
Lin Jiangnian shook his head, too lazy to pay attention to her. He picked up the last roasted rabbit on the grill and walked towards Lin Qingqing not far away.
Shen Lingjun watched this scene, gnashing his teeth secretly, and turned to look at his uncle-master beside him: "Uncle-master, look at this son of a bitch, he's full of nonsense, and he even framed Prince Xu. He's not a good person."
Shen Lingjun's uncle was indifferent and sighed softly: "Lingjun, actually, His Royal Highness the Prince of Lin is not wrong. You judge people too superficially."
Shen Lingjun was stunned: "Uncle Master, are you also speaking for him?"
"You are my uncle."
Shen Lingjun felt somewhat aggrieved.
"It is precisely because I am your uncle that I can see things more clearly than you."
The old man sighed, "You said that Prince Lin was extremely vicious, but he didn't do anything excessive during this journey... Lingjun, you provoked me time and again, and spoke rudely, but Prince Lin didn't make things difficult for you..."
Hearing this, Shen Lingjun was slightly stunned.
Seems a little dazed.
The old man raised his head and looked at the figure not far away.
"This Prince Lin has a calm and steady character and will surely become a great man in the future. Lingjun, don't underestimate him!"
“…”
When Lin Jiangnian returned to the campfire, Shen Lingjun had disappeared, leaving only her uncle sitting by the fire.
The cold wind was howling, but the old man stood still, his eyes closed, resting.
"Senior, I haven't asked for your advice yet."
Lin Jiangnian came to the old man and asked casually.
The old man slowly opened his eyes and shook his head slightly: "Your Highness, there is no need to be so polite. My surname is Shen, and I am just a commoner!"
"Senior Shen doesn't seem like a commoner!"
Lin Jiangnian took a look and said softly, "I see that Senior Shen has a long and lingering aura. He must be a great master of the inner martial arts. His martial arts attainments must be quite high, right?"
Elder Shen raised his head slightly, as if a little surprised: "Your Highness knows martial arts?"
"I know a little bit!"
Lin Jiang laughed young: "I learned some martial arts to protect myself when I was free, but I can't compare with Senior Shen."
Elder Shen sighed, "His Royal Highness is so noble, yet he is willing to endure hardships to learn martial arts. This perseverance is truly admirable!"
Lin Jiangnian said with a chuckle, "This prince yearns for the martial arts world. In the past, I wanted to emulate the chivalrous warriors, traveling the world, making friends from all corners of the world, and bravely doing what is right... Unfortunately, I lack the strength, so I had to give up."
Elder Shen looked Lin Jiangnian up and down and said, "Your Highness has a good foundation and is a good material for martial arts training. If you are willing to study hard for a few years, you will definitely achieve success."
"oh?"
Lin Jiangnian seemed a little surprised: "Then according to Elder Shen, if this prince studies hard and practices diligently, what realm can he reach?"
"Prince Lin is a renowned master martial artist. Your Highness has inherited Prince Lin's martial arts talent. He also has access to Ruyi Tower, the world's treasure trove of martial arts, and is surrounded by numerous masters and renowned teachers to offer guidance..."
"With so many unique advantages, Your Highness's achievements are limitless."
Lin Jiangnian smiled and said, "Then I'll take Shen Laoji's advice!"
As he spoke, Lin Jiangnian waved his hand: "Bring the wine!"
Soon, several guards brought a few jars of wine.
"It's fate that we met. The weather is cold now, and I have a few jars of good wine. Would you like to have a few bowls, Senior Shen?"
Mr. Shen's cloudy eyes fell on the wine jar beside him. As he smelled the aroma of wine in the air, his eyes lit up slightly.
"Well, in that case, thank you very much for your hospitality, Your Highness!"
“…”
It's late at night and everyone is asleep.
Lin Jiang walked slowly back to the tent with the help of his maid, with unsteady steps.
His eyes were half closed, his face was flushed, and he was staggering as if he was very drunk.
The maidservant busied herself helping His Highness take off his clothes, wipe his face and body, and then helped him lie down on the bed.
"You guys stand guard at the door, and be on hand to serve His Highness if he wakes up in the middle of the night."
"yes!"
At the door, after Lin Qingqing gave her instructions to the maid, she hurried to arrange the night patrol.
The lights in the tent dimmed and the surroundings were dark and quiet.
Several maids were standing guard outside the tent.
The bonfire was still burning not far away, and the world gradually became quiet.
Inside the tent, it was pitch black and silent.
After an unknown amount of time, a strange black shadow appeared silently in the tent.
His footsteps made no sound on the ground as he slowly walked towards the bed in the tent.
"call out!"
As he walked, he drew a dagger from his waist and bent down.
In the darkness, the cold light dimly illuminates a beautiful and cold face.
"Your Highness, tonight is the day you die!"
Shen Lingjun gritted her teeth.
Taking advantage of the fact that this bastard prince was drunk tonight, Shen Lingjun took the opportunity to sneak in and prepared to kill this bastard prince.
She deliberately hid in the dark, watching Lin Jiangnian drinking with her uncle-master, and witnessed with her own eyes Lin Jiangnian being sent into the room after getting drunk.
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Shen Lingjun doesn't plan to wait any longer!
Don’t miss this opportunity!
Holding the dagger, he slowly walked to the bed.
Lin Jiangnian lay quietly on the bed, motionless.
The previous assassinations had failed, so Shen Lingjun was very cautious this time. He was sure that the person lying on the bed was Lin Jiangnian, and he was also sure that this bastard was drunk and unconscious.
Thinking of this, Shen Lingjun suddenly raised the dagger in his hand and pointed it at Lin Jiangnian's heart.
With one strike of the knife, this evil prince will surely die!
The opportunity was right in front of him, and Shen Lingjun was breathing rapidly.
But just as she was about to take action, she hesitated when she saw Lin Jiangnian's handsome face sleeping on the bed!
The determination to kill in his heart seemed to be shaken.
I can't make up my mind!
…