Volume One, Chapter 13: The Invitation

“Lin Che!”

The moment he saw Lin Che, Xiao Chen flew into a rage, his eyes seeming to spit fire.

The last time Lin Che had beaten him, not a single person had believed him!

“Lin Che, what are you doing here again? This is no longer your home!” Xiao Boqing was already in a foul mood, and Lin Che’s arrival only made him angrier.

Lin Che looked at him as though he were an idiot. “I’m here to collect the silver your family owes me. Are you planning to welsh on the debt?”

“Bullshit!” Xiao Boqing’s face flushed crimson. “The Xiao family is a distinguished clan. How could we ever commit such a disgraceful act?”

“Exactly! We would never be like certain people—ungrateful and utterly vile!” Xiao Chen shouted, as though trying to prove that the Xiao family stood on a completely different level from Lin Che.

Lin Che paid him no heed. “Then hand it over.”

“Yu’er, give it to him!” Xiao Boqing commanded with a grand wave of his hand.

“Wait!”

“Wangzhi!”

Xiao Aoyu called out, her voice filled with affection.

Lin Wangzhi wore a white robe, and even his stride seemed to stir the wind. His expression was as dark as water.

“Surely you must be Brother Mengwen?”

Lin Che’s courtesy name was Mengwen.

The servants looked at Lin Che with amusement in their eyes.

In their view, Lin Che could not possibly compare with their new master.

Besides, the Prince of Liang was in a foul mood today. Lin Che had chosen the worst possible time to come, and he was bound to suffer for it!

Lin Che stared at the man for a moment, a cold glint flashing through his eyes.

He knew that this man was the Prince of Liang.

He had heard of Lin Wangzhi’s reputation. Though a feudal prince, he was devoted to the battlefield and had never suffered defeat, striking such fear into the Xiongnu that they fled at the mere mention of his name.

And despite his refined appearance, he was exceptionally formidable. On the battlefield, he could take on five men at once.

He was one of the outstanding figures of the younger generation—and the dream lover of countless women.

Now that Lin Che had seen him for himself, he had to admit that the man’s reputation was well deserved.

But the moment he remembered that Lin Wangzhi stood together with those corrupt ministers, all favorable feelings vanished.

“So you are the Prince of Liang. My apologies for failing to recognize you,” Lin Che said with a smile, making no move to kneel.

He was the emperor now. If anyone was to kneel, it ought to be the Prince of Liang before him!

“How dare you! You stand before His Highness the Prince of Liang and still refuse to kneel?” Xiao Chen interjected, his gaze full of mockery.

The Prince of Liang waved a hand. “There is no need.”

He did not even spare Lin Che a proper glance. After all, Lin Che was an insignificant figure. Were it not for Xiao Aoyu, their paths would never have crossed.

“So the Prince of Liang is indeed magnanimous,” Lin Che said approvingly. Then he asked, “Are you paying the silver on their behalf?”

Lin Wangzhi replied in a low voice, “I am.”

At that, Lin Che shook his head. He had treated Xiao Aoyu so well, only to find that all of it had come to nothing.

Lin Wangzhi certainly knew how to spend lavishly.

For a moment, Lin Che seemed to see his former self in the man.

“Yu’er, go and bring the silver,” Lin Wangzhi instructed.

Xiao Aoyu nodded obediently and carried the silver over.

It was worth remembering that, in the past, she had constantly insisted that a woman ought to be the head of the household and should never obey a man’s commands.

That was why she had never listened to anything Lin Che said. Nor had he ever forced her; he had always given her the respect she demanded.

But now, all he felt was sorrow.

Seeing the natural ease with which Xiao Aoyu obeyed Lin Wangzhi, Lin Che could not possibly feel no resentment.

Perhaps women did not truly dislike doing anything. Perhaps the only question was whether they loved you enough.

Xiao Aoyu handed Lin Che a chest, her expression indifferent. “Now we are even.”

“Farewell.” Lin Che had no intention of lingering. He took the chest and turned to leave.

“Wait.”

To his surprise, Xiao Aoyu walked over, drew an invitation from her sleeve, and held it out to him. “The day after tomorrow is Wangzhi’s and my betrothal ceremony. You should come.”

Her words were filled with ridicule.

She wanted Lin Che to see just how exceptional her life had become.

“I have no time.” Lin Che did not take the invitation.

“You good-for-nothing have always idled away your days at home. How could you possibly have no time now?” Xiao Chen taunted. “Could it be that you still love my sister and are afraid you cannot bear to attend?”

Xiao Boqing stood to the side, watching with interest.

Seeing Lin Che humiliated brought him immense pleasure.

The others also assumed that Lin Che still loved Xiao Aoyu and therefore lacked the courage to attend, fearing the pain it would cause him.

Some of them even laughed aloud as they looked at him.

Lin Che remained calm. “Whether I love her or not is decided by a single thought of mine.”

Yet they took his words as proof that he still loved Xiao Aoyu.

Xiao Aoyu looked down on him even more. “Then why not come?”

Lin Che laughed and glanced at the invitation. “I am not refusing because I fear humiliation. I am simply worried that my attendance might cause trouble for the two of you on your betrothal day.”

Given Lin Che’s current identity, once they learned the truth, they would be thrown into a panic.

And if more people learned of the affair between Lin Che and the Xiao family, they would surely despise the family even more. Their betrothal celebration might well turn into a tragedy.

Xiao Boqing and the others, however, clearly misunderstood him.

“What? You still intend to come and cause trouble?” Xiao Chen demanded angrily.

Xiao Aoyu’s voice turned cold as well. “Lin Che, you had better not act recklessly. Otherwise, you will regret it too late.”

She was not afraid in the least. What sort of status did the Prince of Liang possess? No one in the world would dare cause trouble for him.

If Lin Che disrupted the betrothal ceremony, the household guards alone would make him pay dearly.

Besides, only an incompetent man would come seeking trouble at a time like this.

Lin Che was obviously acting on a momentary impulse, heedless of the consequences.

Such a man was hopelessly childish.

All he knew was how to rage impotently.

Lin Che sighed, accepted the invitation from her hand, and said nothing.

That was enough for everyone to realize that he had agreed to attend.

He put the invitation away. “Since you insist so earnestly, it would be rude to refuse. I shall certainly come.”

“Good! We shall await your grand arrival!” Xiao Aoyu said deliberately. Then she took Lin Wangzhi’s hand, her eyes overflowing with affection.

In her eyes, Lin Che had clearly been provoked into anger.

In this contest, she had won without lifting a finger.

The thought delighted Xiao Aoyu. Lin Che had been far too arrogant these past few days.

Now he could see just how outstanding her man truly was.

Her future position would be one he could never hope to attain.

She was not worried that Lin Che would cause trouble. If he truly dared to do so, he would only be bringing disaster upon himself. His fate had nothing to do with her anymore.

Xiao Chen, on the other hand, hoped Lin Che would make a scene so that he could teach him a lesson.

“Hahahaha! Now that everything is settled, let us return inside. Wangzhi, I shall drink with you!” Xiao Boqing was in high spirits, much of the gloom in his heart having dissipated.

Lin Wangzhi nodded. “Yu’er, after dinner, I will take you to the market to purchase some jewelry for you to wear the day after tomorrow.”

Xiao Aoyu buried her face against Lin Wangzhi’s chest and replied sweetly, “All right.”

When Lin Che returned to the carriage, Han Zong relaxed only after seeing that he appeared calm.

Lin Che said indifferently, “Once we return, inform the Grand Groom that he is to go to the Prince of Liang’s residence the day after tomorrow and attend the betrothal ceremony.”

Han Zong’s heart jolted.

He immediately guessed the reason.

He also knew that the emperor must have been humiliated.

A chill rose in Han Zong’s heart.

The Xiao family had gone too far!

No wonder His Majesty had forbidden anyone from accompanying him inside. Given the Xiao family’s attitude toward him, they had done more than enough to deserve extermination to the last member.

And the Prince of Liang—he had once cast his eyes upon the imperial throne, and now he had even taken the emperor’s woman. Did he truly believe that the support of the court ministers allowed him to do whatever he pleased?