The Royal Secret: Princess in the Prince's Arms

Fengyu Inn - Lianzhou City

Lianzhou, the thriving city of business, was alive with the chatter of merchants, travelers, and scholars. Among its many bustling establishments, Fengyu Inn stood out as one of the most esteemed places for lodging. Its private rooms offered a sanctuary for those who preferred discretion in their conversations.

Inside one such private room, Lin Liangchen and Zhou Jinyu sat at a well-crafted wooden table as a waiter silently set down steaming dishes before them. The aroma of braised pork, fragrant rice, and warm soup filled the air.

Zhou Jinyu took a sip of his tea before glancing at Lin Liangchen. "Lord Lin, our journey has been long. The roads from Mingzhu Village to here were not easy, but I must say, the experience has been worthwhile."

Lin Liangchen, resting one arm on the table, nodded. "Indeed. We've encountered many things, and yet, it feels as though the real journey has just begun."

Zhou Jinyu leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a teasing tone. "Speaking of encounters... I wonder where Miss Feng has reached by now?"

Lin Liangchen raised an eyebrow, feigning indifference. "Why do you ask?"

Zhou Jinyu smirked. "Oh? You don't care? Yet, you kept glancing back when we parted ways. It was rather amusing."

Lin Liangchen scoffed, picking up his chopsticks. "She's capable enough to handle herself. I doubt she needs anyone's concern."

Zhou Jinyu chuckled, watching him. "Ah, is that so? Then what about your fiancée? Have you forgotten you were betrothed before leaving the capital?"

At the mention of his betrothal, Lin Liangchen's expression stiffened slightly. "That is a matter of the past. There is no need to discuss it. As I don't know her and she doesn't know me."

Zhou Jinyu tapped his chopsticks against the edge of his bowl. "A matter of the past, perhaps. But does the past not have a way of catching up with us?"

Before Lin Liangchen could respond, a voice drifted from below. A voice he recognized.

Lin Liangchen turned his head sharply and looked down from the balcony of the private dining area. Below, standing at the counter, was none other than Feng Xiangling, speaking to a waiter. Her brother, Feng Yichen, stood beside her, appearing somewhat weary from their travels.

Zhou Jinyu, noticing Lin Liangchen's reaction, smirked. "Fate does work in mysterious ways, doesn't it, Lord Lin?"

Lin Liangchen ignored his remark. "Go and call them up."

Zhou Jinyu nodded, making his way down the staircase. Upon reaching the ground floor, he walked towards Feng Xiangling and bowed slightly. "Miss Feng, what a surprise to see you here. Lord Lin and I were just discussing fate, and it appears it has brought us together once again. Would you care to join us upstairs?"

Feng Xiangling's eyes widened slightly before she exchanged a look with her brother. "I suppose we should accept. What do you say, Yichen?"

Feng Yichen gave a small nod. "It would be rude to refuse."

As they ascended the stairs, Zhou Jinyu chuckled. "Miss Feng, you wouldn't happen to have followed us here on purpose, would you?"

Feng Xiangling smiled, playfully rolling her eyes. "I could ask you the same thing. Perhaps Lord Lin missed us so much that he had to send someone to fetch us the moment he saw us."

Lin Liangchen, who had been taking a sip of his tea, nearly choked but recovered quickly. "I simply thought it would be wise for us to dine together one last time before we go our separate ways."

The meal that followed was filled with warm conversation, laughter, and the lingering feeling that perhaps their paths were not meant to diverge so soon.

Zhonghe Court - Capital

As the moon cast its glow over Zhonghe Court, the corridors stood eerily silent. The guards, though vigilant, were unaware of the danger lurking in the darkness.

A masked man, clad in black, moved like a phantom, his footsteps silent. His target: the evidence stored within the court's halls.

He reached the study where crucial documents were kept, but as he made his way to the entrance, his foot barely grazed a loose tile. The slight sound was enough.

"Intruder!" a guard shouted.

The courtyard erupted into chaos as guards rushed in from all sides. The masked man, undeterred, unsheathed his weapon and moved with lethal precision. He wielded a forbidden martial art known as Venomous Orchid Arts, a technique so deadly that even seasoned fighters hesitated to face it.

One by one, the guards fell, clutching their wounds as the masked man moved swiftly toward the evidence room. Just as he was about to breach the door, reinforcements arrived, forcing him to abandon his mission.

With one final move, he vanished into the night, leaving behind only injured men and a chilling reminder—someone was desperate enough to erase all traces of the flood fund theft.

The masked intruder had failed in his mission but had left behind a terrifying message—someone was willing to go to any lengths to hide the truth.

Jinliang House - Capital

In the grand halls of Jinliang House, Prime Minister Feng Wehao sat alone in a private chamber, his cup of wine resting untouched on the table. His eyes were deep with thought.

Outside, his loyal advisor Zhang Zhongyuan stood guard. Moments later, the sound of approaching footsteps signaled the arrival of an esteemed guest.

"Her Highness, the Imperial Princess Xu Jiayi, has arrived," Zhang Zhongyuan announced, stepping aside as the princess entered.

Prime Minister Feng Wehao stood and bowed. "Your Highness."

Xu Jiayi nodded, taking a seat across from him. "Prime Minister, I trust you have heard the latest developments. The Grand Chancellor grows bolder by the day. We cannot allow him to continue unchecked."

Feng Wehao sighed. "Indeed. He seeks to use the chaos surrounding the stolen flood funds to push his own agenda. His influence within the court is growing."

Xu Jiayi leaned forward slightly. "Then we must act. We must strike before he tightens his grip further."

Feng Wehao smirked. "And do you have a plan, Your Highness?"

Xu Jiayi's eyes glowed with determination. "A plan, yes. But first, we must ensure that those loyal to us remain protected. The Grand Chancellor will not hesitate to eliminate obstacles in his way."

A cold wind blew through the open window, flickering the candlelight as the two conspirators exchanged knowing looks.

The night was long but as the sun will rise high tomorrow there was more conspiracy to deal with.....

To be continue....