Chen Changqing was born in an ordinary family in Beizhou of the Daning Dynasty. He was gifted and talented in martial arts since childhood. He was a typical example of other people's children in the eyes of other parents.
At the age of five, he joined a prestigious sect in the martial arts world. He quickly stood out in the sect and displayed an extremely extraordinary talent for martial arts. At the age of seventeen, he had already entered the ranks of the world's top five masters.
The headmaster considered him his successor and planned to hand over the sect to him in the future. However, Chen Changqing had great ambitions since he was young and was unwilling to be confined to the sect and the world.
So, at the age of eighteen, he resolutely chose to go down the mountain and head to the capital to seek greater ambitions and prospects.
Chen Changqing, who was proud and ambitious, was full of hope for his future. Facts indeed went as he expected. When he first arrived in the capital, he quickly won the favor of the Secret Heaven Division with his outstanding martial arts skills and successfully joined the Secret Heaven Division.
In the Secret Department, he showed great ability and solved many cases in succession. He was in the limelight for a while. His status and position in the Secret Department rose rapidly. He was promoted all the way and successfully climbed to the position of the leader of the Secret Department before he was 30 years old, reaching the peak of his life.
He thought that was the beginning of his life!
As the leader of the Secret Heaven Division, a sharp sword in the hands of the emperor, he can rely on his own abilities to clear away the darkness of government, eliminate the injustices in the world, and create a prosperous era for the Daning Dynasty.
However, as the old saying goes, all the gifts given by fate actually have a price tag on them.
The fact that Chen Changqing had become the leader of the Secret Heaven Division at the age of less than 30 years old was due to the political game involved that was far beyond his expectations and tolerance.
In the end, Chen Changqing suddenly discovered that even though he became the leader of the Secret Heaven Division, he still had four protectors above his head.
Among the four guardians, there was also a eunuch who was favored by the emperor.
They are the ones who truly hold the power of the Secret Heaven Department.
And Chen Changqing was merely a puppet chosen by them for their favor. While seemingly powerful, he held little power. He was merely a pawn in their backroom dealings, a figure who could be scapegoated at any moment.
Chen Changqing was very angry when he realized this. He was unwilling to accept it and wanted to change everything. But after being hit by reality again and again, he finally gave up in despair!
He can't change anything!
He is just an ordinary person with good martial arts talent, some brains, and a passion for martial arts.
There might not be many "ordinary people" like him in the world, but there are definitely many. With just his passion, without power or influence, he can't change anything.
He was the leader of the Secret Heaven Division, but he was just one of the chosen ones. This person could be him, or not. His usefulness was not irreplaceable.
Chen Changqing was naturally unwilling, but even if he was unwilling, what could he change?
His eyes were gloomy and he grabbed the bottle of wine in his hand, tilted his head back and took a big gulp. Then he looked up at Lin Jiangnian across from him and said, "Your Highness, Prince Lin, did you come here today just to make fun of me?"
"Does this prince look like someone who has so much free time?"
His voice was low: "Then what is it that your Highness wants to see me today?"
"Didn't I say it? I want to make friends with Chen Kuishou."
Lin Jiangnian spoke calmly and looked at him with a slight smile.
Chen Changqing was silent for a moment, his tone slightly cold: "Your Highness is a smart man, there is no need to beat around the bush, just say whatever you want to say."
"This prince really wants to make friends with Chen Kuishou."
Lin Jiangnian spoke calmly, looking at the haggard man in front of him with dull and silent eyes, all the while smiling.
He put down his wine glass and tapped the table: "Of course, besides this, there is indeed another thing I want to talk to Chen Kuishou about..."
He paused and said, "Chen Kuishou hasn't answered my question yet?"
Chen Changqing raised his eyes and stared at Lin Jiangnian: "What exactly does Your Highness want to say?"
Lin Jiangnian also looked into his eyes and chuckled, "Chen Kuishou, are you really willing to accept this?"
Their eyes met calmly, yet seemed to see through something, striking his heart.
Chen Changqing clenched his fists and said in a low voice, "What if I'm willing? What if I'm not willing?"
"If Chen Kuishou is willing to stay in the Secret Heaven Division and become a puppet controlled by others, this prince will naturally have nothing to say and will even send his blessing..."
Having said this, Lin Jiangnian paused: "But if Chen Kuishou is unwilling, this prince can give Chen Kuishou a chance..."
Lin Jiangnian stared into his eyes, still smiling softly, and spoke softly word by word: "Give Chen Kuishou a chance to realize his ambitions, a chance to get revenge, a chance to make a name for himself..."
"how?"
When Lin Jiangnian's words came out, Chen Changqing was stunned and something in his heart seemed to jump suddenly.
He raised his eyes and stared into Lin Jiangnian's. His deep pupils seemed to gleam with something. After a moment, he said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, what do you mean by this?"
"That's what Chen Kuishou thinks it means!"
Lin Jiangnian still chuckled.
Chen Changqing remained silent, his eyes slightly lowered.
He is a smart man, how could he not realize the meaning of the words of the Prince of Lin?
His presence here today means something in itself.
But Chen Changqing didn't expect that he actually wanted to... win him over?
Chen Changqing was silent for a long time before he said expressionlessly, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but I do not have such an idea."
"Chen Kuishou really didn't?"
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes, half smiling, "When Chen Kuishou was young, he had great ambitions and wanted to create a career in this world..."
"In the Secret Heaven Division, Chen Kuishou is one of the few good detectives who is willing to consider the interests of the people and seek justice for them..."
"It's clear from all of this that Chen Kuishou is different from those traitors in the Mi Tiansi who are disrupting the government... but what's the result?"
"Factional strife is rampant within the Secret Heavenly Department. Chen Zhao, relying on the emperor's favor, willfully excludes dissidents from the court and fabricates false cases. Chen Kuishou is furious, but powerless to do anything. Ultimately, he becomes an accomplice of Chen the Eunuch, wielding his butcher knife against innocent people..."
"Could this be what Chen Kuishou wants to pursue?"
Chen Changqing's face was embarrassed and ashen, with a faint red light between his eyes. Under his anger, the blue veins between his arms were slightly exposed.
Lin Jiangnian still chuckled and said, "I think Chen Kuishou's hands are already stained with the blood of countless innocent people. His so-called ambitions ultimately led to him becoming nothing more than a running dog..."
"I'm not a running dog!"
Chen Changqing suddenly looked up and stared at Lin Jiangnian, his face gloomy and slightly ferocious. He stared at Lin Jiangnian, his eyes glowing red, and gritted his teeth as he spoke every word: "I have never killed any innocent people!"
Facing Chen Changqing's icy gaze, Lin Jiangnian remained calm: "Chen Kuishou may not have killed innocent people, but can Chen Kuishou guarantee that those innocent people who were wrongly accused did not die indirectly because of Chen Kuishou?"
Chen Changqing seemed to have been hit in a fatal spot. He stood there in a daze, and all the energy in his body seemed to be drained away in an instant.
He sat down with a blank look in his eyes, mumbling to himself, but unable to utter a single word. He lowered his head, as if he had some emotion he wanted to express, but couldn't utter a single word.
Lin Jiangnian stared at him quietly. Ever since he first saw Chen Changqing at the Lu family's wedding, Lin Jiangnian felt that this person was no ordinary person.
A special person was sent to investigate. It was not difficult to check Chen Changqing's resume for the first half of his life. After the investigation, he realized that this person might be a talent.
For someone who has shown great potential at a young age, has outstanding abilities, and has ambitions and aspirations, yet is frustrated and frustrated by not being able to achieve their goals, this can be a huge blow.
This person's talents and identity are exactly what Lin Jiangnian needs.
"There's no need for Chen Kuishou to blame himself too much. People in the underworld are always at the mercy of fate. However, Chen Kuishou can choose his own life."
"Choose life?"
Chen Changqing looked blankly, muttering to himself, then looked up at Lin Jiangnian and laughed bitterly, "Do I have the power to choose?"
"Why not?"
Lin Jiangnian spoke lightly, as if he had noticed Chen Changqing's hesitation. He sneered, "If Chen Kuishou wants it, this prince will give it to you!"
Listening to the young man in front of me speaking in such a nonchalant, yet bold and even slightly arrogant tone.
Chen Kuishou was stunned!
He stared at the young man in front of him, his handsome appearance, outstanding temperament, and the confidence lingering between his eyebrows.
Young, confident, and energetic...
At this moment, he seemed to vaguely see his past self!
Back then, he was just as confident and proud. But in the end, reality gave him a hard slap in the face!
What about the young man in front of me?
Yeah, he's different.
Chen Changqing suddenly realized something...
The young man in front of me is the Prince of Lin!
He is the only son of Prince Lin, who is famous throughout the world for his outstanding achievements!
He is of noble status and prominent position, and his family has hundreds of thousands of troops...
At this moment, Chen Changqing's heart skipped a beat.
His eyes slowly lowered, and he said in a deep voice: "Your Highness, why are you helping me?"
"Of course there are many reasons. This prince likes you and wants to make friends with you! I also think Chen Kuishou is a talented person. It would be a waste of his talent to stay in the Secret Heaven Division. This prince is moved by his talent. As for the last reason..."
Lin Jiangnian paused and said, "Of course, I want to use Chen Kuishou to get some intelligence."
Chen Changqing was silent.
It seemed that he did not expect that the Prince Lin in front of him would be so straightforward.
He was silent for a moment: "Your Highness, are you here for Zhou Huiguang's matter?"
“That’s right!”
Lin Jiangnian nodded and glanced out the window. "Right now, the rumor in the capital is that it was this prince who killed Zhou Huiguang. What do you think, Chen Kuishou?"
Chen Changqing stared at Lin Jiangnian, then shook his head after a moment: "It wasn't your highness who killed him."
"Oh?" Lin Jiangnian looked up at him: "Did Chen Kuishou find evidence?"
Chen Changqing shook his head and said in a deep voice, "I only had a suspicion at first, but after meeting His Highness today, I've confirmed this..."
He had no evidence, but when he met the Prince of Lin today and talked to him, he found that the Prince of Lin was confident, intelligent, reserved, and steady in his actions, and did not seem like an impulsive or reckless person at all.
Well, the answer is obvious!
"Has Chen Kuishou not found any clues yet?"
When Chen Changqing mentioned this, his face darkened slightly, and he said gloomily, "Zhou Huiguang's death is indeed full of doubts. It's likely that someone else killed him, but..."
Having said that, Chen Changqing glanced at Lin Jiangnian and seemed to be hesitant to speak.
"Chen Kuishou, please tell me what you want to say."
Chen Changqing was silent, and finally said in a deep voice: "I reported this matter, but was blocked by the higher-ups... The guardian above demanded that the case be closed immediately, and asked that the Secret Department no longer be involved in the case. He also determined that the murderer was the Prince of Lin..."
Hearing this, Lin Jiangnian's eyes narrowed suddenly: "Protector?"
"Which guardian of the Secret Heaven Division is this?"
Chen Changqing was silent for a moment: "Chen Feiyang!"
"Chen Feiyang?"
Lin Jiangnian searched for the name in his mind, but had no impression of it.
"He is one of the four guardians of the Secret Heaven Division, and also... a close confidant of the man in the palace." When Chen Kuishou mentioned this man, his eyes were filled with some unconcealable anger.
"Chen Zhao?"
Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes.
The news that Mi Tiansi wanted to close the case quickly was beyond his expectations.
Logically speaking, this is a conflict between Lin Jiangnian, the Zhou family and the third prince. Mi Tiansi does not belong to any of these forces and should be neutral.
But the Secret Service is in a hurry to close the case. In this way, it seems that he wants to completely pin the crime of Zhou Huiguang's murder on Lin Jiangnian?
Why did Mi Tiansi do this?
Lin Jiangnian and Mi Tiansi have no grudges against each other, or is it... the emperor's intention?
The Secret Heaven Division is nominally under the direct command of the emperor. If this is the emperor's intention, then it is worth discussing.
However, now that the emperor is in seclusion, the actual power of the Secret Heaven Department is in the hands of that old eunuch...
Chen Zhao?!
If it wasn't the Emperor's will, then it could only be the intention of this old eunuch in the palace...
Why did he do that?
Lin Jiangnian had never met him before and they had no grudges against each other.
What is his purpose in doing this?
Or...
What is the connection between him and the third prince?
Thinking of this possibility, Lin Jiangnian's eyes suddenly focused.
The situation in the palace was now precarious, with three factions originally vying for supremacy. With the Crown Prince's illness, the situation shifted. This old eunuch's influence was pervasive, practically guaranteeing absolute authority. Even Prime Minister Zhao was completely unable to counter his power.
In the capital, the third prince also secretly cultivated a considerable force, and his intentions had long been obvious.
Now that the Crown Prince is ill, his situation is critical. If these two are colluding...
Lin Jiangnian's pupils shrank.
It would be almost impossible for the Third Prince or the old eunuch to accomplish anything on their own. But if these two colluded, the situation would be completely different...
That old eunuch's influence is so widespread in the palace that he can practically cover the sky with one hand. If he were to join forces with the Third Prince...
Lin Jiangnian's eyes became more serious.
The chaos in the capital was indeed a good thing for the Lin Palace. However, if the Third Prince became the ultimate winner, it would not be a good thing for Lin Jiangnian!
It can even be considered a disaster!
…