Chapter 498: Fermentation

Chapter 498: Chapter 498: Fermentation

These days, Yang Lin was deeply irritable; the rumors outside gave him the unpleasant sense of being manipulated.

"Have you found out anything?"

"Reporting to Your Highness, the news has already spread. It started when a certain guard of the Qin family blabbed about Miss Xiangyu’s experience in Fengri City. After that, the story spread on the streets and eventually involved you as well. However, there’s no solid evidence yet as to who is secretly spreading these rumors."

Yang Lin frowned and said, "So you mean it’s not an accident, but someone is deliberately stirring up trouble? Is there any indication of who is most likely behind it?"

"The Qin Family is a possibility."

But Yang Lin shook his head. "It won’t be the Qin Family. Qin Wenhe is nothing but a blockhead—not cunning enough for such tricks. Besides, if the rumors upset me enough to break off the betrothal, in the end, isn’t it the Qin Family who stands to lose the most? Keep a close watch on my brothers. I believe their shadows are all over this affair!"

"The other Princes? There’s been no sign so far of them involving themselves."

"Hmph. Just because you haven’t found anything doesn’t mean nothing’s happening. Don’t be fooled by appearances. The Qin Family is merely being used—they’re not worth your attention. Keep your eyes on my brothers; the crucial moment is nearly upon us, so we must be vigilant."

"Understood."

"But now that the matter with the Qin Family has blown up, I can’t ignore it. Yesterday, my mother summoned me to the palace for questioning and instructed me not to break the engagement with the Qin Family just because of a few rumors—that would damage my reputation. So now, the Qin Family’s issue is falling to me. Do you have any advice?"

Yang Lin sat upright in his chair, his face cold as he looked at the advisor standing with hands clasped before him. This was someone he’d recently promoted last month, a man skilled in analysis and strategy. Thanks to this man’s plans, he’d managed to deal a harsh blow to his eldest brother, Yang Baicheng, leaving Yang Lin highly satisfied. That’s why he’d kept him close lately.

"Your Highness, if you want the marriage with the Qin Family to continue, then this matter becomes a problem of reputation for you. In essence, it doesn’t actually influence much, but I fear someone might seize on this to undermine your prestige."

Reputation and prestige—sometimes trivial, sometimes crucial. At other times, Yang Lin might have chosen to keep his head down and do nothing; maybe the flatterers would even praise him as "modest and broad-minded."

But now, the Emperor was clearly letting the Princes compete, and only the best would inherit the throne. At such a time, not to say just Yang Lin—what Prince could afford a single slip?

Anyone who’s literate and has looked at the succession of the Jingjiu Dynasty knows that it’s nearly impossible for Princes to "negotiate peacefully." Most regimes were founded after bloodshed, welcoming a new Emperor. In essence, they might be brothers, but they’re also bloodthirsty enemies.

Yang Lin said nothing; his stance was clear. Swallowing his anger was not an option now. It remained to be seen what the advisor would say next.

"If Your Highness wishes to pressure Fengri City, you can directly hold Commander Pang Ban accountable. According to the Dynasty’s laws, while you don’t directly control the Xuanqing Guard, you can rectify their misdeeds and even petition Your Majesty."

Yang Lin shook his head in displeasure. "So you just want me to run around complaining everywhere? Can’t I just deal with that bastard in Fengri City myself?"

"Your Highness must not be impulsive. Wu Changhe was executed by Pang Ban on a trumped-up charge precisely to sever your hopes of meddling in the Xuanqing Guard. If you confront that Hundred Households of Shen head-on, Pang Ban will see it as a challenge. Given Pang Ban’s character, he will certainly respond, and things will get far more complicated."

"My advice is not to rush. First, apply pressure to the Xuanqing Guard through the proper channels. At the same time, observe whether there are further developments in this matter before deciding how to adapt."

With this explanation, Yang Lin detected something more, and asked with suspicion: "You think there will be further developments?"

"Yes, Your Highness. I have always felt this affair isn’t so simple. In the current circumstances, neither you nor the Xuanqing Guard stand to gain or lose decisively. Such inconclusive matters are meaningless to whoever’s manipulating events in secret; they’re bound to make more moves."

That was the truth, but Yang Lin’s expression soured, as if the advisor was implying he couldn’t even contend with a mere Hundred Households of Xuanqing Guard.

"Very well, you’re dismissed. Keep a close watch on this matter and report any new developments immediately."

"Understood."

Suddenly, Yang Lin found he was no longer so fond of the advisor who’d recently helped improve his standing. Perhaps there was talent, but the man was too rigid and tactless; his opinion of him was steadily falling. Perhaps in a few days, he’d swap in another advisor?

As a Prince, especially in changing times such as these, Yang Lin hardly lacked for capable men. All he wanted was an advisor both competent and satisfying to work with. Unfortunately, he’d switched several, but none had proven quite the right fit.

In fact, for the advisors in the Prince Mansion, things were perfectly clear in their own minds.

The advisors were certainly not fools; at the very least, they all had some specialty to earn a place. Then, over time, they’d have to prove their value and win the Prince’s favor. It’s not like serving as an official within the system—this was harsher, more grueling. Those who became advisors were either blocked from advancement in officialdom or ambitious enough to gamble for everything. Unless they became confidants or helped a Prince to the throne, everything during their time as an advisor was nothing but mist—vanishing in an instant.

Yang Lin could select his advisors, but the advisors could not select their Prince. Even if one Prince grew displeased with them, there was no switching allegiances. That was the rule—breaking it would offend both the previous master and society at large; once your reputation was ruined, you’d never make a living as an advisor again.

So, Yang Lin’s chosen advisors were already speaking with much restraint to accommodate his temperament, though he apparently didn’t see it that way.

Events moved even faster than Yang Lin expected. No sooner had he inquired about the matter than, the very next day, the advisor he already considered "unsuitable" brought new information.

"Your Highness, early this morning, a dozen or so commoners blocked Minister of Justice Ma Xuanlin’s carriage on Junhou Street to seek redress. Ma Xuanlin questioned them in public, and it turned out all of them were family members of three Black Shirt men who died in prison after being arrested with Miss Qin in Fengri City. They accused the Xuanqing Guard of indiscriminate slaughter and begged Ma Xuanlin to uphold justice."

At these words, Yang Lin burst into laughter, his morning drowsiness swept clean. "Suing the Xuanqing Guard? Are these people brain-dead? Or just crazy? As if Ma Xuanlin would dare take on a case like that!"

The advisor hesitated to speak.

"What else? Out with it!"

"That is, Your Highness, after Ma Xuanlin questioned their reasons in the street, he took all ten or so of them back to the Ministry of Justice." The advisor still spoke as tactfully as possible.