THE FLOWER PALACE'S SECRET

Chapter 20: Absorbing the Wood Brings

The days are longer than usual at the beginning of winter. The sky is still covered in clouds and the sun has not yet revealed itself even if only a little. The temperature of the air really gets cold. Rouwu City, the capital of the Ling empire became an ice city filled with rain and piles of snow.

The coldness was not only felt outside, but thrust into the palace. The coldness sprang from a sharp gaze like a sword ready to pierce the eyes of anyone who looked at it. The owner of that sharp gaze, was standing in front of the throne whose owner had only arrived just a moment ago.

Lin Zian stared intently at the court officials who were boisterously talking about him. Some of the other officials simply lowered their heads in fear of the authority that the Second Prince had emitted who had only returned from the battlefield a few months ago. Lin Zian grew sharper in his gaze when he heard the voices of the people talking about him, as if intentionally doing so to lure him into emotions and became angry.

The boisterous voice stopped when the Emperor's eunuch servant announced that the court meeting was about to begin. All the officials present fell silent and lowered their heads. Shortly after, the Emperor asked everyone present what was the matter to discuss in such a way that it would be necessary to hold a large meeting like this.

Finance Minister Zhao Jinwu first asked to speak. The half-century-old minister informed him that the results of the surveillance of the sources and use of funds in the westernmost province of the Ling empire were having little trouble. There is a discrepancy between the reporting from the regional governor and the reports from the officers he has directed to require further investigation.

From the information provided by Finance Minister Zhao Jinwu, Lin Zian could confirm that the envoy in question was Zhi Hao’er, a friend of Shen Yanzhia who several months ago met in the Lingxiang pavilion.

After the Minister of Finance finished speaking, other ministers also spoke and reported everything in accordance with their respective duties. Lin Zian watched all the ministers' words one by one lazily.

Really, this court feels very boring. The battlefield is much more fun than a chat like this. He hides his serious face and controls his emotions to make him look like a prince who cares nothing. The emperor occasionally glanced at him, then turned again towards the palace officials.

“Your Highness, I want to report that there was a theft in the office of the Ministry of Justice a few months ago.” The Minister of Justice ended his report by bowing his head.

The expression Lin Zian had seen before the minister lowered his head made Lin Zian think that the Minister of Justice might have nothing to do with the dying man. Moreover, when the minister spouted his words, Lin Zian could understand that the Minister of Justice really felt guilty and scared.

“You take care of it according to the existing procedures. Whoever did it deserves to be punished severely for having dared to steal in my territory,” the Emperor said later.

After all the ministers finished giving the report, Lin Zian asked for permission to speak. He wanted to ask what purpose the Emperor had invited him here. If only to see the process of meeting the court of the palace, he felt it was very unnecessary. After all, his elder brother, the Crown Prince, was more suitable and more deserving of being here than he was.

Lin Zian was only a prince who was educated in the military environment and had never been brought up with warmth, until he will not understand the meaning of the palace environment that became the birthplace and place to grow until the age of fifteen years.

The other with the Crown Prince. She was raised by the late Queen herself, under the affection and care of the Emperor and his concubines. Unlike her, who was born from the same womb but received different treatment. Yeah, it might feel like favoritism. But Lin Zian realized that many other princes whose fate was far more unfortunate than his.

“What caused His Majesty to invite me here?”

“You ask the Minister of Defense. He asked me to invite you.” Lin Zian turned to look at the Minister of Defense, Wang Liu. The defense minister then advanced forward after saluting the Emperor.

“Report, Your Honor. The northern border region has been in turmoil as residents lack clothing and food for the winter that comes sooner this year. Servants have concerns if they start to rebel because they assume the government does not provide assistance.”

“Then what do you want?” ask the Emperor to the Minister of Defense.

“Hamba suggested that His Highness send back the Second Prince to the northern border to help and prevent the occurrence of rebellion.”

Just because of this? Really? Lin Zian held back the frustration. A matter like this was only a small matter, there was no need to invite him to the palace. The problem of the rebellion of the starving little people is not a terrible thing to fear, because the rebellion of the great people should be wary of. The rebellion of the great men in power and hiding in the robes of the office is much more dangerous.

“Your Majesty, if that's the case, I can send my subordinates to take care of it. No need to bother calling me here,” said Lin Zian firmly. The entire officials present were shocked as Lin Zian spoke without a burden. There was no doubt or fear in his voice.

They did not expect that the Second Prince who was so disliked by many of these royal families could speak to his challenger before his own father. The emperor was also stunned for a moment. His heart ached when the son he sent to the military barracks spoke like that. He then agreed to Lin Zian's suggestion.

After all the discussions were over, the officials scattering out of the palace. Before the Emperor left, he asked Lin Zian to visit him at his residence, Roulan Palace. Reluctantly, Lin Zian walked up to the eunuch sent to escort him.

“What do you want to talk about, Your Majesty?” asked Lin Zian without further ado.

“An’er, how are you doing?”

“Your Majesty still remembers my name?”

The Emperor turned his face to the right. Really, this question pierced his heart.

“Do you hate me?”

“Did I ever say that I hate my own father?”

Deep in Lin Zian's heart, there was a flame that was burning brightly and violently. The fire devoured all his patience and conscience. He was crying and screaming that he was not okay all this time. But, if he shouted, all of this would be meaningless again. All his patience and strength of heart would be shattered instantly and end in vain. He might do something crazy if he obeyed his nap.

“Hold, An'er. There will come a time when you will understand everything. And when that time comes, I'll tell you everything you don't know.”

“I don't understand Your Majesty's intentions, and I don't want to understand either. Please forgive your presumptuous and foolish son,” said Lin Zian with an expressionless face. The emperor nodded his head. Eunuch Li who was always beside him poured tea and gave it to the Emperor.

“Is the bulkhead too high to keep me away from my own son?” the Emperor asked in frustration. Really, facing a submissive Lin Zian was much more difficult than calming the officials.

“Your Majesty is the Emperor, and I am the Prince. There is nothing wrong with all that.”

“Do you want to stay back inside the palace?”

“Sorry, Your Grace. My home and my family are far away on the northern border there, I don't deserve to have such high honors.”

The Emperor knew how deep the pain this second son was in. He was born from the womb of his legitimate wife, but never got his affection. Now, this son grew up to be a valiant prince but had a fragile heart.

Yes, Lin Zian's heart was as fragile as a dry twig. Although Lin Zian had never shown it, the Emperor knew that Lin Zian was just trying hard. The clarity and cleanliness of his second son's heart actually felt like a double-edged knife. He knew there was no hatred in Lin Zian's heart, the boy was only angry at his circumstances and treatment. Guilt runs the day of the Emperor and the shadow of the boy always comes into his dreams.

“What do you want, An’er?”

“Have I been able to find out why my foster mother, Consort Rui, died so tragically in this great palace?”

The emperor did not answer. He stared fixedly at his second son, as if searching for something that had long been missing from him. Lin Zian was so similar to her. The boy inherited half of his likeness from him and his late empress. That eye, implying a long-lasting wound was harbored alone. Why was he so helpless before this second son of his?

“If no one wants His Majesty to say anymore, I beg myself.”

The Emperor stared at Lin Zian's departure painfully. He held his chest that rumbled like a wave on the high sea. Before his son's body was completely lost behind the door, he was still able to take the time to say,

“An’er, beware of court officials palace.”***