Chapter Thirty-Four: Encounter with an Acquaintance at the Wine House

  A black shadow flashed outside, and Lin Ruhai and Daiyu, who had just calmed down, didn't notice. The black shadow passed through several corridors and finally stopped in front of Kangxi's room, flying onto the roof. Inside, Kangxi casually asked Yinxiang questions, and Yinxiang was tense in his heart, not knowing what Kangxi meant, why he suddenly found himself?

  "Lao Ba, what do you think if someone forms a clique for personal gain?" Kangxi suddenly changed the subject while chatting casually, and Yongzheng's heart skipped a beat. Is the Emperor talking about himself?

  "It's natural to be punished." Although Yong Yi was surprised in his heart, he still maintained a calm expression on his face.

  "It's indeed deserving of punishment, otherwise it would be a calamity for the Qing dynasty." Kangxi's face remained calm, but his words were profound and meaningful. Yinreng felt himself becoming unsteady in front of Kangxi, and he could feel sweat all over his back.

  "You may go." Kangxi had achieved his goal and ended the conversation, waving his hand for Yinreng to leave.

  He bowed and withdrew.

  Heiying fell to the ground after Yunxi left, "As expected by the Emperor, Lord Lin scolded the princess. Lord Lin probably knew that the Emperor had already sensed something."

  Kangxi nodded and saw a somewhat embarrassed expression on Heiying's face. "Is there anything else? Just say it."

  "Mr. Lin slapped the princess because the princess..."

  "What did this jade maiden say to me?" Kangxi's dragon eyes stared, absolutely not a good word, Lin Daiyu really had some unbridled arrogance, once making him think she was bold, twice making him think it was fun, but if it happened again, he wouldn't have the good temper.

  "It's said that His Majesty is..."

  "Never mind." Kangxi interrupted Hei Ying's words, "I don't want to know anymore, I know nothing."

  "The slave withdraws." The dark shadow retreated. Kangxi walked to the window, pushed it open, Lin Daiyu, you are very clever and very confused, don't think that I don't know what you're doing, as long as you don't interfere with state affairs and behave like a proper princess, I naturally won't make things difficult for you, otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless.

  Daiyu was slapped by Lin Ruhai, although the wound on her face wasn't a big deal, but the unease in her heart kept her from appearing before everyone for two days. Many people thought she was ill and wanted to visit her, but were turned away, including Lin Ruhai. Yongzheng stood outside Daiyu's courtyard, looking at the tightly closed door without approaching, sighed and left. Yongqi felt uneasy due to Kangxi's words and temporarily didn't bother with Daiyu either, hiding in his room contemplating his own problems.

  On the third day, the tightly closed door opened and Daiyu came out with a veil on her face, followed by Xueyan and Zijuan.

  "Where is the young lady going?" Lin Fang asked as he approached.

  "I'll take a walk outside." Daiyu said calmly, actually she had made many plans for the past two days and now wanted to see how to implement such a plan.

  "Good." Lin Fang didn't ask any more questions, and Daiyu was most satisfied with this point of his. He had always been clever and never asked too many questions, but would go all out to make a perfect effort to complete the task.

  Daiyu sat in the horse-drawn carriage and left Lin's residence. Soon, Prince Hongyi's army and Lin Ruhai learned of the news. Lin Ruhai, who was playing chess with Kangxi, shook his hand slightly, causing a piece to fall into an inappropriate place, allowing Kangxi, who had been at a disadvantage, to turn the tables and capture a large number of pieces.

  "I lost." There was no one else in the house, and there were not so many rules between Lin Ruhai and Kangxi, this was the result of Kangxi's coercion and temptation.

  "Your mind is not at peace. Although some things have happened recently, they will not affect Yu'er, let alone you." Kangxi pierced the root of Lin Ruhai's distraction with one remark.

  "Thank you, Your Majesty." Lin Ruhai stood up and bowed, indeed the Emperor had already known, the imperial guards were not to be underestimated, every move of the Lin family in recent days was under Kangxi's surveillance, Yu'er was too careless.

  "What does your brother say? Besides, Yu'er is going to be my daughter-in-law, what do you think of the 13th?" Kangxi said with a smile.

  "Big brother, you gave Yu'er the imperial edict for a self-arranged marriage. I hope you won't force her." Lin Ruhai sighed, knowing that Kangxi was intentionally saying this, which also conveyed a message - Kangxi would not let Daiyu marry into another family.

  Kangxi did not speak, after a while, the two of them tacitly changed the subject together.

  Daiyu came again to Lin's wine shop, she wrote some menus, ready to hand them over to the chefs, this is Lin's family business, naturally want to flourish.

  "Boss, hand these over to the chef. Once they're done, have them sent over for me to try. If I say they're okay, launch them immediately."

  "It's a young lady." The shopkeeper took the menu and was about to leave, "Bring some light dishes." Daiyu's clear and cold voice came from behind.

  "Don't worry, miss." The shopkeeper left and soon returned with four small dishes on the table, all of which were green and looked very appetizing.

  "Miss." Xueyan, who was arranged by Daiyu to go downstairs and check, came up, only to see her frowning, as if something big had happened just now.

  "What's wrong?" Daiyu stopped her chopsticks and asked, who dares to bully me in my own territory?

  "Miss, I think I just saw Miss Liu," said Xueyan, blinking her eyes uncertainly. It was only a back view and she wasn't very sure, but the person following behind Miss Liu she did know, one of Yangzhou's notorious hoodlums.

  "Miss Liu?" Daiyu thought for a moment, did she know a Miss Liu?

  "Miss, it's the same young lady you lent your zither to last time." Zi Juan reminded her with a knowing smile.

  "Yu Xiue is not supposed to be preparing for the imperial exam? How can she afford to go out and eat at this time? But it's not a big deal." Xueyan didn't explain clearly, so Daiyu thought Yu Xiue was alone.

  "No, Miss, it's Miss Liu and a hoodlum having dinner together." Xueyan's tone rose in excitement, causing Daiyu to furrow her brow. Xueyan's voice was somewhat shrill, but given the circumstances, it was indeed unseemly for a young lady like Liu Xishuang to be dining with a man at such a sensitive time.

  Before Lin Daiyu could think further, a young servant ran up to her and said, "Miss, someone has come looking for Miss Liu." Earlier, Xueyan had been watching Liu Xiyue closely, so the young servant probably guessed that something was amiss and hurried over to inform Lin Daiyu as soon as he sensed any movement.

  "Are you a clever one, from the Liu family?" Could it be that Liu Xiyue is going to elope with her lover? Is she such a bold person? "Bring Miss Liu up carefully, and then tell those searching people that Miss Liu is having dinner with the princess." Daiyu decided to help Liu Xiyue out, which also counted as helping women of this era who were willing to resist.