12dz Chapter 417 Childhood Sweethearts
Chapter 417 Childhood Sweethearts
Lin Zhi stood steadily behind Murong Yanhui. Seeing him turn around, she couldn't help but smile brightly. "Don't you think we should find a place to have a good chat, Brother Yan?"
Murong Yanhui had the same idea. He simply ignored Yu Zhenzhen who tried to come forward to talk to him, and left the palace with Lin Zhi.
Those who were discerning thought to themselves that it seemed that Concubine Lin was much more favored than Concubine Yu.
Yu Zhenzhen was extremely embarrassed for a moment, feeling that the gazes of the people around her were like knives carving into her body. She tried hard to maintain her dignified face and pretended to leave as if she didn't care, but she didn't know that she had already become a laughing stock.
Talking about Linzhi, we have to go back to Murong Yanhui's youth. At that time, the late emperor was still alive, and the current emperor was still the prince. When the enemy country invaded, the emperor took Murong Yanhui to fight together. It was on the battlefield filled with smoke that Murong Yanhui met Linzhi, who was dressed as a man. Oh, at that time she was not called Linzhi. She used her brother's name and was called Linye.
General Lin has always had strict family rules and was born into a military family, so his children were treated equally. Girls also had to learn riding and shooting. Therefore, little Lin Zhi followed her father, who was the general in front of the emperor at the time, to go to war.
After witnessing the grandeur and freedom of the frontier, Linzhi's heart became wilder and she fell in love with that land more and more. Therefore, over the years, although her father urged her again and again, she was unwilling to return to the capital until she heard the news that the man she had liked for many years was preparing to choose a concubine.
Talking about the origin of their relationship, it is a legend. One is a young prince with superb martial arts and great strategy, and the other is the daughter of a proud yet loyal general. Moreover, during those years when people were afraid of death, Murong Yanhui, who did not know Lin Zhi's true identity, became the most devoted brothers with her!
They drank together, ate meat together, killed enemies together, and sang together with all their might, having a great time.
Murong Yanhui would never forget such a day, especially since the woman in front of him was once his savior, and back then, he didn't even have the chance to say thank you!
Murong Yan looked up and down at Lin Zhi in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh that time flies. The tomboy of the past has now grown into such a graceful young girl. If it weren't for the kung fu she showed, she really wouldn't have recognized her for a moment.
Murong Yanhui's eyes were somewhat complicated, but Lin Zhi, who was sitting opposite him, laughed. "What's the matter? After not seeing each other for many years, Brother Yan seems to be restrained. This doesn't seem like the carefree God of War he used to be."
Murong Yanhui smiled upon hearing this and said, "It seems that even though you've changed your attire, Brother Lin, your personality hasn't changed at all."
These words washed away years of estrangement, and after so many years, it seemed as if they had never left each other.
Lin Zhi did not respond, but her eyes dimmed. As expected, all these years, this person still treated her as just a brother. She laughed at herself in her heart. Yes, how could the King of Yan, who had seen countless beauties, fall for a tomboy like her?
"Come to think of it, I was really shocked just now. Why did you come to participate in the Hundred Flowers Conference?"
Lin Zhi laughed at herself, "I'm old now, so my family is naturally worried."
Murong Yanhui was speechless for a moment. To be honest, Lin Zhi was about the same age as him. If she was a man, it would be fine, but she was a woman after all. Even though General Lin had always raised her as a man, they still had to talk about marriage. What's more, for a woman, it was indeed a bit embarrassing for her to be unmarried at this age.
"This is precisely why I've left your name here. However, if you become a concubine in the palace and you meet a man you like in the future, I'm afraid it will be bad for your reputation."
"Thank you for your help, Your Highness." Lin Zhi picked up the tea in front of her and drank it all in one gulp. "I probably won't meet that person again in this lifetime."
There was a hint of bitterness in the words. Murong Yanhui was a little curious, but since they hadn't seen each other for many years, he didn't want to ask rashly. After all, everyone has their own privacy, right?
Linzhi looked at the man in front of her. Unlike the immature man in her memory, he had grown up completely. His eyes were bright and shining like the stars in the sky. This man was always so moving. His broad shoulders must be very warm to lean on, and his big hands were also very strong. It was a pity that in his heart, he seemed to have always regarded her as only a brother.
Linzhi missed those green years very much. They were still young, and the boy who had always followed his father had not been as strong and sexy as he is now. At that time, he was dark and thin, and could not be seen as a girl at all. But it was also because of this that they could drink and chat happily and gallop on horseback.
In the vast frontier, during the expeditions against the invading enemy countries, they had a life-and-death friendship.
"Brother Yan, the tea in the Imperial Capital is really bland. Why don't you have something to drink?"
Linzhi suddenly suggested, and the flame that had been hidden in her heart for many years seemed to burst out in an instant, burning her internal organs with pain. She needed something to numb her nerves, and also needed a reason to indulge herself.
Murong Yanhui did not refuse. He admired the woman in front of him. In addition to admiration, he also felt a hint of gratitude. If it weren't for Lin Zhi's risking her life to save him, he would not be who he is today.
He clearly remembered that time. He was young and frivolous, and had not thought many things through clearly. With a spirit of not admitting defeat, he rashly broke into the enemy camp and tried to take the enemy general's head. Although he succeeded in the end, he also suffered heavy losses. Of the 300 elite generals who went with him, only eight returned. The young Lin Zhi was shot by an arrow in order to cover his retreat. It was at that time that he learned of Lin Zhi's true identity.
To say he wasn't moved would be a lie. This woman was indeed admirable, but he wasn't moved. Perhaps if he had known from the beginning that she was a woman, Murong Yanhui's feelings would have been completely different. But now, he only treated her as a brother! A brother for life and death!
The wine was served quickly. It was a thirty-year-old girl's red wine that Linzhi had specially ordered. She decided to take a brave step for herself today. No matter what the result was, at least she wanted this person to know her feelings.
They toasted each other, but neither of them was drunk. Lin Zhi's face gradually turned red, and her behavior became more straightforward. The character she had developed in the frontier for many years could not be changed easily. Even though she changed into women's clothes and learned etiquette, she was still the proud and freedom-loving Lin Zhi in her bones.
"Bang!" Lin Zhi smashed the empty wine glass in her hand onto the table. "Murong Yanhui! I have something to tell you!"
Murong Yanhui frowned slightly, seeing her expression was a little complicated. He vaguely knew her intention, but didn't know whether he should stop her.
Who was Murong Yanhui? The unruly Prince of Yan, even if he hadn't noticed Lin Zhi's feelings back when he was at the frontier, had already become fully acquainted with the affairs of men and women after returning to the imperial capital and pretending to hang out with various women. So when Lin Zhi appeared and looked at him with such deep affection, Murong Yanhui knew it in his heart.
He knew exactly what Lin Zhi wanted, and he also knew exactly what the Lin family wanted. If it weren't for their life-long friendship, he would have completely rejected this woman. But now, he had to consider the Lin family's views and requirements of Lin Zhi. Moreover, even if it wasn't her, the Lin family would have other women coming.
It is not difficult to see from the emperor's arrangements that this Hundred Flowers Conference is simply the emperor's way of finding someone to place by his side with legitimate reasons. Li Yingying is from the Li family, representing the power behind Murong Feng. Lin Zhi is from the Lin family, from the prince's lineage. As for Yu Zhenzhen, she is probably the emperor's person.
However, Queen Li probably didn't expect that Li Yingying would change her mind at the last minute, and in front of so many people. Fortunately, there was still Yu Zhenzhen. As far as she knew, the emperor had now given the Anbu to Murong Feng. It seemed that he supported Murong Feng to take the throne.
The current situation in the court can be described as extremely tense, maintaining a delicate balance. All forces are plotting a fight, and any movement will lead to the collapse of the overall situation. At this time, he, who has always been neutral, has become the most important chess piece influencing the situation. No matter who he sides with, the balance will collapse.
It seems that the emperor really thinks highly of him!
Murong Yanhui collected her thoughts and stopped thinking about those bad things. This was also a difficult problem at the moment!
“Linzhi, you’re drunk!”
"I'm not drunk! Murong Yanhui, I like you! For so many years, I have never married, just waiting for you. Murong Yanhui, do you know that my heart has never changed in all these years? I remember you said that you like the scenery and freedom outside the Great Wall, and you like the unrestrainedness of the wind there. So, I have been waiting for you there! I think you will definitely come back."
Lin Zhi's voice was very soft, but it struck Murong Yanhui's heart like a hammer. Although he knew what Lin Zhi thought of him, he didn't expect that she had fallen so deeply.
The debt of love is indeed the hardest debt to repay.
Lin Zhi's hand was tugging at Murong Yanhui's sleeve, her fingertips even turning white from excessive force. She seemed to be trying to grab this man with all her courage, even though she knew that it might be in vain.
Murong Yanhui did not say anything. He was always eloquent but was speechless for a moment. Faced with such deep affection, any more words would seem pale.
Murong Yanhui sighed, "Linzhi, you are really drunk."
"I'm not, Brother Yan, I'm not drunk. Everything I said is true. I just haven't had the courage to tell you that I really regret it. I should have kept you back then!"