Chapter 287: Transfer Order

Chapter 287: Transfer Order

The Lin family did owe Countess Huai'en a debt of gratitude, but Lin Congrong's second daughter-in-law kept her head down, stung by the words. Her family's status was not as high as the Lin family's—her father was only a local prefect—so she'd married up. What her husband's aunt had just said was a slap in her face.

After finishing her jabs at her own family, Lin Conghui put her countess airs back on. Holding her head high and looking down her nose at others, she said, "Meng Fulang, you've traveled a great distance to pay your respects to my parents. That must've been quite the trip. But as you can see, the Lin family's in a tight spot right now. I'm afraid my brother won't be able to help your husband with anything. Now that my mother has passed, there's no need for you to keep in touch with the Lin family."

Though she had been cold toward Meng Wan before, at least she'd talked like a normal person. But now that they weren't in the capital anymore, and with Xiang Yun dead, Lin Conghui wanted Meng Wan to back off and stop latching onto her brother, a second-rank official.

Meng Wan was used to being mocked, and he didn't take it to heart. He stood quietly in the back, choosing to let it slide for Lin Congrong's sake.

His master had just passed away—what would it look like if he started arguing with Lin Conghui here?

Before Meng Wan could say anything, Lin Congrong was so furious at his sister's words he nearly choked. "Now that you're a countess, you think you can speak so recklessly? Since when does the Lin family answer to you?"

Liu Shi chimed in only after her husband spoke. "Sister, Wan Geer was Mother's personal disciple and has always been close to our family. We let your remarks about Er Lang's wife slide, but why must you drag Wan Geer into this?"

Lin Er Lang's wife snorted and muttered under her breath, "Exactly."

"When elders speak, where do you get off interrupting? Is this how your family raised you? No wonder you're from some backwater." Lin Conghui had always favored her second nephew and was furious that Lin Congrong and his wife hadn't let him marry the noblewoman she'd picked out for him. So she was even angrier at this niece-in-law than at Meng Wan, who she saw as a "moocher."

Lin Congrong was every bit the scholar and didn't wish to argue with his sister in front of so many people. He said coldly, "The Lin family is too small a house for the wife of Count Huai'en's household. Countess, you should see yourself out. As for Lin family matters, don't trouble yourself with them."

"Brother!" Lin Conghui's face changed. "Why would you speak to me this way over two kids? Aren't I doing this for the Lin family, for Er Lang?"

"Mind your own children. The Lin family is a family of scholars—we don't scheme and claw our way up like you do." Lin Congrong knew she was somewhat stubborn. She'd insisted on marrying into the count's household back then, which had infuriated Xiang Yun and her husband at the time. After entering that household, she'd suffered at her mother-in-law's hands, and it had been rough on her. Since he'd been serving as an official elsewhere and couldn't stand up for her, she harbored some resentment toward her own family. He'd indulged her because of that, but he never expected her to say such nonsense now.

"Brother, you—!"

"Mother, let's return to the capital first. Uncle and Aunt have been exhausted these past days—let them rest properly." Lin Conghui's son smiled stiffly, took his mother by the arm, and steered her toward the count's carriage.

His uncle was, after all, a second-rank official who had been highly regarded by His Majesty before he went into mourning. The real worry was what might change in the court over these two years. Prince Lian was on a roll—if he took the throne, he would surely promote officials who supported him. Whether his uncle could return to court was uncertain, which is why his mother was so worked up.

His mother ultimately meant well for her brother's family, but unfortunately her words fell on deaf ears. Uncle and Aunt weren't having any of it.

Well, it was time to return to the capital. Perhaps if he could curry favor with the new emperor, he might still plead on his uncle's behalf.

Lin Conghui left Yangzhou with a sour expression, and it was time for Meng Wan and the others to take their leave as well. But just as he was about to bid Lin Congrong farewell, Lin Congrong stopped him. "I just received news from the capital. Jingxing's position is likely to change. Don't hurry back to Xiwu Prefecture—stay here in Yangzhou with me and wait for the court's transfer order."

Yangzhou was closer to the capital, so news would reach them faster. If there was an emergency, Meng Wan would hear about it sooner here.

Though Lin Congrong was in mourning in Yangzhou, he had spent years in court and had close friends there—including his second daughter-in-law's father.

Lin Congrong had considered many factors when choosing this in-law. The Sun family wasn't rich and wasn't particularly talented; the father had only reached the rank of fourth-rank local prefect in his fifties. But his one virtue was being content. He didn't mind not staying in the capital—he packed up, went to the provinces, and had been there for twenty years without ever complaining to his friend.

When his eldest son wanted to marry a gē (a young man) who couldn't even read, the couple worried all night. But by the next morning, they'd made peace with it. They never mistreated the gē, never looked down on him for his humble background, and gave him all the proper rites—the wedding went off without a hitch.

At last winter's court audience, Sun Da Lang was transferred from the provinces to the Ministry of Personnel in the capital, appointed as a sixth-rank secretary. Though not a high position, it was still a capital official post. Others fought tooth and nail for it without success—the higher-ups had considered everything and chosen Sun Da Lang partly as a nod to Lin Congrong.

Now it was Sun Da Lang who had written to Lin Congrong, mentioning that the Minister of Personnel had requested Song Tingzhou's performance records be brought to the palace—likely for the emperor's review. Knowing that Lin Congrong had been anticipating Song Tingzhou's transfer order since last year, he sent this letter to give him a heads-up.

Go back to the capital now? It seemed earlier than they'd expected.

Meng Wan and Song Tingzhou had discussed it privately and both assumed they'd have at least another year in Xiwu Prefecture, with something coming down the pipe at the end of this year or early next. Now, out of nowhere, word was leaking out—it felt like there was some scheme behind it all.

"Why now?" Meng Wan racked his brain but couldn't figure out why. Many people dreamed of returning to the capital, and if not for Lin Congrong, he and Song Tingzhou wouldn't have a clue.

Lin Congrong, being a seasoned official, was calmer than Meng Wan. "I'll write to my other colleagues and ask if anything has changed in the capital recently."

His letters had only been sent a few days when he received replies from Sun Da Lang and several other officials who knew Lin Congrong was connected to Song Tingzhou.

Song Tingzhou's position had indeed changed—and it was a post handpicked by the emperor himself: Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture.

When Lin Congrong said those four words, Meng Wan's eyes went wide.

Third-rank Prefect of Shuntian?

!!!!!!

The third-rank title was nothing compared to the weight of "Shuntian Prefecture."

Not technically a capital official, but it carried even more weight than one!

As the top official of the capital region, he'd be in charge of imperial rituals, exam supplies, and keeping the capital running. It was a key post that served the emperor directly, and it usually went to the emperor's most trusted officials.

And because the capital was filled with nobles and powerful figures, the Prefect of Shuntian had to be both capable and good at navigating all the personal connections. Every single holder of this office had to thoroughly investigate the web of relationships in the capital before daring to pass judgment.

In other words—even if Lin Congrong were transferred to this post, no one would call it a demotion. They'd come to congratulate him on having earned the emperor's favor.

"How did my husband end up with this post?" Meng Wan found it hard to believe.

Lin Congrong smoothed out the wrinkles in the letter, reading it over and over, his frown deepening with every read. "From your master's father's time in court to my own transfer back to the capital, I've never heard of any Prefect of Shuntian being under fifty years old."

He was equally puzzled. Though Song Tingzhou was exceptionally capable, he didn't have the seniority for the post. Moreover, everyone had their eyes on capital posts. The previous Prefect of Shuntian had been handpicked by His Majesty as a trusted confidant—why would the position suddenly open up for Song Tingzhou?

—

In Qinzhou city, Prince Lian had already launched an attack. The enemy, Annam, hadn't expected them to actually strike and, caught off guard, took a hit.

Though he was at odds with Prince Lian, the enemy who had killed the Crown Prince was the one he hated more. Qin Jiao went berserk on the battlefield, literally ripping the head off the Annam commander. His ferocity not only intimidated the Annam forces but even had their own soldiers doing a double take.

Prince Lian sat at the rear, his Adam's apple bobbing as he hoarsely snapped at the terrified clerk beside him, nearly pissing himself, "What are you standing there for? Write that under my leadership, Commander Qin fought bravely and, together with me, killed the enemy general."

If the battlefield had been full of only his own men, Prince Lian could have claimed all the credit. Unfortunately, with so many eyes watching, Qin Jiao's contribution couldn't be swept under the rug.

With the first victory won, it was time to report to the court via express messenger.

The military camp wasn't fit for human habitation. After leaving the "battlefield," Prince Lian retreated with his people into Qinzhou city. They'd only won one battle so far, but he couldn't wait to throw a celebration banquet.

Silk strings and small drums, delicate hands plucking at strings—the musicians were lost in their melodious tunes while dancers with sinuous figures twirled gracefully in the hall.

Behind the screens sat basins of slowly melting ice, giving off wisps of cool air. Prince Lian sat in the seat of honor, raising a gleaming glazed wine cup, before him a jade plate piled with plump lychees.

The lead dancer looked at his handsome face, her cheeks flushing slightly, her gaze clinging to Prince Lian like honey. He returned it with a faint, amused smile.

The dancer's heart pounded. Thinking of how noble and exalted this man before her was, she finally couldn't resist—she danced up to him and "accidentally" stumbled, landing at his feet.

She looked up at him with a pitiful, pleading look.

"So careless?" Prince Lian raised an eyebrow, sounding intrigued.

"My lord~" The dancer extended an arm as white as jade, but got no sympathy from the man.

Prince Lian didn't make a move to help her up. The interest in his eyes remained, but it wasn't desire...

"Can't even dance properly—useless. Someone, cut off her legs and throw them in the backyard for the dogs."

The moment he spoke, the guards at the door sprang into action, grabbing the dancer who had no idea what was happening.

"No! Please, my lord, I was wrong! Spare me—mmph... mmph!"

By the time the dancer came to her senses and begged for mercy, she was already being dragged away by the guards, a hand clamped over her mouth. Judging by their movements, the person in their grasp was not a delicate beauty but a slab of rotten meat.

The remaining dancers trembled in fear, yet they forced themselves to keep moving, their forced smiles looking more like grimaces.

"Qinzhou is truly barren, nothing but common, vulgar types. Yan's dancing is far better." Prince Lian was visibly bored.

The Qinzhou officials on either side of the hall knelt on the ground, terrified that this powerful prince might, in a fit of displeasure, have their legs chopped off as well.

Prince Lian ignored them, leaving them all kneeling there. Feng Chu, standing beside him, spoke up: "Lord Li has sent over two young men, twins."

Prince Lian finally perked up a bit. "Oh? Bring them in for me to see."

"Report!"

A scout from the military camp arrived at the tent entrance. "Your Highness, Annam has appointed a new general and is currently at the camp's front, issuing a challenge."

Prince Lian waved his hand impatiently. "Tell Qin Jiao to go face the enemy." He had no intention of going back to the battlefield. His status was too noble for that, and though Feng Chu was with him, Qin Jiao was no slouch either—what if something went wrong?

Going once was enough to check that box; he had no plans to set foot in the camp again.

"But... Commander Qin said that if you, Your Highness, don't go, he... he won't go either."

"Damn it!" Prince Lian slammed the table and shot to his feet, grinding his teeth in fury. Few could provoke him, but Qin Jiao was one of them—and the worst of the bunch.

But he had no choice. His influence didn't reach Qinzhou, and the "upright" Governor Song Tingzhou, who ruled Lingnan, couldn't care less about his princely status. He was the absolute boss in the region, and from Qinzhou to Xiwu Prefecture, no official dared defy him—his authority even outranked the prince.

Prince Lian ultimately went, but he never expected this battle to be far more grueling than he had imagined. No, to be precise, he'd never imagined the battlefield could be so brutal and merciless.

Compared to this battle, the last one seemed like child's play. Annam hadn't expected Qin Jiao to kill their general.

So—this time, they got serious too.

War drums beat one after another, making everyone's heart pound. The cries of slaughter and screams of agony mixed together, impossible to tell where they came from, yet coming from everywhere at once.

Severed limbs and broken arms were not hidden away by subordinates in dark corners but were right there in plain sight.

Blood stained the earth and rivers red, and no one had time to look up and see if the sky was still blue.

Prince Lian had originally been positioned at the rear, but his guards had been scattered at some point, leaving only Feng Chu at his side. Feeling the hot blood splattered on his face, Prince Lian's skin crawled with terror, and he longed to retreat into the camp.

As his weak legs took a step back, an arrow flew straight toward his head, only for Feng Chu, who had been keeping a close eye on him, to cut it down with his sword. But immediately, another arrow, faster than the last, shot forth. Feng Chu's sword was still mid-swing, so he could only grab at it with his bare hand.

He was a top-tier martial artist; catching an arrow with one hand was child's play.

The next second, a surge of heat spread through his palm. The arrow, with unstoppable force, pierced through his hand, sheared off Prince Lian's precious crown, and embedded itself in the banner fluttering behind him.

The tall banner snapped clean in two.

Prince Lian... pissed his pants.

"Truly useless. Even if the entire army were handed to him, it wouldn't do any good." On the distant battlefield, a soldier fighting said coldly.

Two soldiers flanked him, one of them, a big burly guy, said, "Your Highness, why not take this opportunity to eliminate him?"

The prince, disguised as a soldier, kept hacking away at enemies. "Over the years, if I had wanted to kill him, I would have had a thousand chances. But Duke Dingxiang holds great power. Kill him, and a second, a third would pop up in his place."

Better to leave this idiot in charge.

He warned the burly man, "General Qin, keep your lips sealed. Don't let Qin Jiao know of our little scheme."

Qin Xiaoyun pressed his lips together. Seeing Qin Jiao's pitiful state, he had indeed almost let it slip.

"Cough, young Ge, your skills are pretty damn impressive. Wanna join the Qin Family Army?" Qin Xiaoyun said to the other man beside the prince.

That man was none other than Ge Quan, who had just hurled the arrow that knocked off Prince Lian's crown with his own strength. "No."

"Mr. Ge will return to the capital with me. The border troops—you'll be on your own!" The prince, caught up in the bloodlust, let out a hearty laugh and charged straight into the enemy camp, with Qin Xiaoyun and Ge Quan right on his heels.