Old General Li was truly a shrewd old fox!

He hid things extremely well. The emotions in his heart, he never revealed them.

Perhaps living long truly made one increasingly cunning!

Jingrong, who had already stepped under the eaves, clasped his hands behind his back, adopting the tone of someone narrating a story.

He continued: “Regardless of what Old General Li’s purpose is, this Prince must advise the General…” After speaking, he turned around and looked at Old General Li sitting in the pear-blossom chair, saying: “When people live long, they should learn to let go. Moreover, the Li family has over a hundred members. If because of one wrong step by the General, they end up with their entire clan executed, that would be too unworthy.”

Indeed, Jingrong’s way of persuading was different from ordinary people!

And in his words, he seemed to have no interest whatsoever in the reasons why Old General Li would do this.

Regarding these words of his, that old man was like fighting on a battlefield—unhurried and unruffled, still maintaining an attitude of “if you’re anxious, you go ahead.”

That face weathered by vicissitudes only wrinkled slightly inadvertently, saying with a smile: “I didn’t expect that the child who was less than three feet tall back then would now be so astute, very much like the Eighth Prince from those days.”

The Eighth Prince referred to the current Emperor Qizhen!

After speaking, Old General Li braced his hands on the armrests of the pear-blossom chair and struggled to lift his somewhat cumbersome body.

He walked toward Jingrong while saying: “It’s been exactly twenty years since the Eighth Prince ascended the throne. Back when he was still the Eighth Prince, he didn’t compete or fight. Among all the princes, he was the most unremarkable. On the contrary, the Prince of Ning back then was outstanding, charging into battle, establishing countless meritorious achievements for Great Lin. Precisely because of this, the position of Crown Prince at that time belonged to none other than him.”

He sighed.

Standing beside Jingrong, he looked up at the bright round moon in the dark sky.

His face full of nostalgia and emotion!

Jingrong didn’t want to interrupt his words, so he silently listened as he continued.

“But when people live long in this world and move about frequently, they come to prefer peace and quiet. Prince of Ning was no exception. He yielded the Crown Prince position to the Eighth Prince. The Eighth Prince at that time was intelligent without being ostentatious—indeed the best choice for heir apparent. But when a person rises to a position of authority, their character and desires will expand. No one can escape this. They won’t allow even the slightest threat to occur. So Prince of Ning was enfeoffed as Duke Yuguo. For his entire life, he would remain beneath the Son of Heaven’s feet, bound by chains, watched by people.”

A tiger whose teeth had been pulled, yet still needing to be chained!

After listening, Jingrong’s heart sank. He seemed to brew his emotions for a moment, then the corners of his mouth turned up as he spoke.

“This Prince still remembers that before Father Emperor ascended the throne, when he was at the Eighth Prince’s Manor, Duke Yuguo would often come to play chess with Father Emperor. The two would chat leisurely for long periods, not discussing political affairs, but talking about elegant matters like clouds and cranes. This Prince was still young then, lying beside them watching the game, able to hear a few sentences. But after Imperial Grandfather issued an edict naming Father Emperor as Crown Prince, everything changed. One was sovereign, one was subject. Sovereign and subject are ultimately different.”

He still remembered that Duke Yuguo, whom he used to call Uncle, would often come to the Eighth Prince’s Manor, lift him up and carry him on his shoulders, and bring him many interesting things. He would never forget that time.

The year Father Emperor was named Crown Prince, he was only three years old. The following autumn, Imperial Grandfather passed away, and Father Emperor ascended the throne.

He witnessed with his own eyes his imperial uncle kneeling before Father Emperor, addressing himself as “subject.”

While Jingrong spoke these words, Old General Li stroked his grizzled beard, as if imagining that scene from over twenty years ago.

He sighed: “It’s passed, it’s all passed. Whether the Late Emperor or Duke Yuguo, it’s all in the past.”

Jingrong said: “If that’s the case, Old General Li should also let go.”

“What does Your Highness mean by ‘let go’?”

“Old grievances!” He spoke indifferently.

These four words made Old General Li’s heart tighten. He turned his head to glance at him: “Doesn’t Your Highness want to ask what kind of old grievances would make this old man come to the capital this time?”

Jingrong wasn’t interested!

He only said: “No matter what it is, this Prince doesn’t care. Coming today, this Prince has only two purposes. First, to inform the General that the batch of lanterns has been removed and replaced. Second, to hope that the General will cease, and not wait until matters become irreconcilable before regretting it.”

“Do you think this old man would regret it?”

Jingrong said seriously: “Even if Old General Li doesn’t think of himself, shouldn’t you also think about the Li family? A hundred lives—why must they all be buried as sacrifices?”

The words “buried as sacrifices” were truly severe.

Yet—

Old General Li laughed disdainfully.

He said: “Since this old man has taken this step, I thought of this long ago. Why would there be any regret?”

“In any case, what this Prince should say has all been said. Whether the General turns back is the General’s affair. This Prince, in consideration of the great military achievements the General has made for our Great Lin, will block this matter for you first. The lantern affair—no one will know about it. But this Prince hopes the General can think clearly and turn back in time, not to continue making mistakes, using the lives of your relatives as your wager.”

Jingrong was truly a good person!

Old General Li seemed somewhat moved by his words.

And Jingrong also intended to strike while the iron was hot: “Whether it was the Eighth Prince back then or Prince of Ning, I believe both would miss those days from twenty years ago—those days of living without strife. Now that the General has retired from military service, you should peacefully enjoy yourself. Why get involved in this storm-tossed capital? No matter what reasons you have, this Prince won’t inquire. But this Prince sincerely advises the General to leave the capital early and return to Qingzhou.”

Old General Li, who had quietly listened to all this, kept a somber face and said nothing.

Jingrong also clasped his hands and bowed!

“Today, let’s treat it as if this Prince never came. The lantern incident—let’s consider it a joke the General made. This won’t happen again. This Prince takes his leave.”

He bowed down and then departed.

And his words continued echoing in Old General Li’s ears.

Shortly after Jingrong left, another person appeared beside Old General Li. That person was none other than the Li Manor’s steward.

The old steward glanced in the direction Jingrong had gone, confirming he had left.

Only then did he say: “Master, should we continue?”

An inquiry.

Old General Li’s chest rose and fell. He didn’t look at him, his gaze still fixed on that round moon in the sky.

After a long while—

He nodded.

The steward understood his meaning and said again: “Prince Rong only discovered the lantern matter. He hasn’t discovered anything else. On the day of the Emperor’s birthday, everything will proceed according to Master’s plan.”

Old General Li was silent for a while.

“This prince is truly too much like the Eighth Prince from those days.” In his eyes was a complex emotion.

Around them, wind suddenly rose!

“The Great Lin Dynasty has never lacked emperors!”