Chadan's face darkened, his eyes fierce and coercive as he questioned sharply: "What did you say?"
Lin Guli was unafraid of power: "Lin Cheng is dead. I won't allow anyone to desecrate his remains unless I die."
The Second Prince tried to dissuade: "Big brother..."
But was ignored by Chadan.
Chadan stared at Lin Guli, with the merciless eyes of an imperial king looking upon a treasonous minister, and asked again: "Does the Prince really not intend to help?"
Lin Guli didn't speak, but directly met Chadan's gaze.
The meaning was already very clear.
The Crown Prince nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth moving: "Very well, but I must tell you, you have no choice."
Then he ordered the attendants loudly: "You few stay here until the Prince makes a choice. Notify me as soon as he agrees to help."
"Yes sir!"
With that, Chadan strode away arrogantly.
"Big brother?" The Second Prince looked at his departing elder brother, frowning, his expression solemn.
He looked at Lin Guli worriedly and guiltily.
Lin Guli snorted coldly, seeming to mock and laugh coldly: "Is the King trying to put me under house arrest and coerce me?"
Second Prince: "No, my elder brother didn't mean to offend you. It's just that the situation is critical, and my elder brother is too..."
Lin Guli interrupted him: "I was the first to wrong you when I left C Country. But I've done enough for C Country, these years Lin Cheng has also devoted himself wholeheartedly to C Country."
Lin Guli looked at him: "He was several years younger than you, younger than you brothers, yet his miserable life had already lost freedom. Now lying lifeless in this morgue, even his pitiful life is gone. Whether C Country belongs to your clan or not, it will not perish, yet he is dead. He died under the power struggles and conspiracies of your royal family. Dead, yet you still won't let him rest in peace!"
"It was you, all of you, who together drove him to his death by forcing him to marry Karina and become the heir!"
The Second Prince recoiled, his face slightly pale.
Lin Guli said he did not know whether it was heartbreaking disappointment or angry hatred. He shook his head: "...Even the dead you will not leave in peace. It seems that choosing C Country was a mistake from the beginning."
Second Prince: "My Prince..." Ashamed, the Second Prince didn't dare meet Lin Guli's eyes.
Lin Guli took a deep breath, suppressing the grief and indignation in his heart.
"Tell the King that if he dares make plans for Lin Cheng again, as long as I, Lin Guli, live, your royal house's actions will be made public."
Second Prince: "My Prince..."
Lin Guli closed his eyes, no longer looking at the Second Prince.
Seeing this, the Second Prince could only take his leave.
Before leaving, he ordered the attendants left by the elder brother: "Do not make things difficult for the Prince, even more do not restrict the Prince's freedom."
Karina was in the ward accompanying her father. Seeing the elder brother return, she eagerly asked: "Did Prince Lin agree?"
Chadan shook his head.
The light in the Old King's eyes dimmed.
Chadan said weakly: "Prince Lin was very angry, saying that he and Duke Lin will have no further relations with our royal house in the future. And also that our royal house..."
Karina: "What did he say?"
The bedridden Old King looked at his eldest son.
Chadan seemed conflicted, as if unable to speak it out, so he didn't say, but seeing his expression, one could guess Lin Guli must have said some harsh words.
Chadan: "Prince Lin also said he would take Duke Lin away and have him properly buried."
"I'll go speak with him. Prince Lin is gentle by nature, emotional yet reasonable too. He cares about the big picture - he will surely be willing to help us." As Karina spoke, she made to leave.
Chadan stopped her: "Useless, didn't you see his manner earlier? If appeals to emotion worked, I would have knelt before him just now. He said even if Father yourself went to plead, it would be useless. There is simply no room for discussion in this matter."
Karina urged: "Then what do we do now? How long can we evade this? Duke Lin's death, Father's illness - they will know of it in a few days."
Chadan: "I'll go out first to try and stabilize them."
The Old King arduously moved his rigid mouth corners, calling Chadan to a stop, then slowly told his eldest son: "Don't...mind them...Return...to the palace...Bring me...the seal...From today...You handle...state affairs...in my stead..."
The Crown Prince's heart shuddered, his pupils contracting. In that instant his breathing grew rapid.
"Father..." Unconcealed shock and delight filled his eyes. Even as he desperately controlled his excitement, his body still trembled slightly. Chadan solemnly pledged to his father: "I definitely won't fail your expectations!"
When the Second Prince returned, he saw his elder brother had already received the order.
Chadan's face darkened, his eyes fierce and coercive as he questioned sharply: "What did you say?"
Lin Guli was unafraid of power: "Lin Cheng is dead. I won't allow anyone to desecrate his remains unless I die."
The Second Prince tried to dissuade: "Big brother..."
But was ignored by Chadan.
Chadan stared at Lin Guli, with the merciless eyes of an imperial king looking upon a treasonous minister, and asked again: "Does the Prince really not intend to help?"
Lin Guli didn't speak, but directly met Chadan's gaze.
The meaning was already very clear.
The Crown Prince nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth moving: "Very well, but I must tell you, you have no choice."
Then he ordered the attendants loudly: "You few stay here until the Prince makes a choice. Notify me as soon as he agrees to help."
"Yes sir!"
With that, Chadan strode away arrogantly.
"Big brother?" The Second Prince looked at his departing elder brother, frowning, his expression solemn.
He looked at Lin Guli worriedly and guiltily.
Lin Guli snorted coldly, seeming to mock and laugh coldly: "Is the King trying to put me under house arrest and coerce me?"
Second Prince: "No, my elder brother didn't mean to offend you. It's just that the situation is critical, and my elder brother is too..."
Lin Guli interrupted him: "I was the first to wrong you when I left C Country. But I've done enough for C Country, these years Lin Cheng has also devoted himself wholeheartedly to C Country."
Lin Guli looked at him: "He was several years younger than you, younger than you brothers, yet his miserable life had already lost freedom. Now lying lifeless in this morgue, even his pitiful life is gone. Whether C Country belongs to your clan or not, it will not perish, yet he is dead. He died under the power struggles and conspiracies of your royal family. Dead, yet you still won't let him rest in peace!"
"It was you, all of you, who together drove him to his death by forcing him to marry Karina and become the heir!"
The Second Prince recoiled, his face slightly pale.
Lin Guli said he did not know whether it was heartbreaking disappointment or angry hatred. He shook his head: "...Even the dead you will not leave in peace. It seems that choosing C Country was a mistake from the beginning."
Second Prince: "My Prince..." Ashamed, the Second Prince didn't dare meet Lin Guli's eyes.
Lin Guli took a deep breath, suppressing the grief and indignation in his heart.
"Tell the King that if he dares make plans for Lin Cheng again, as long as I, Lin Guli, live, your royal house's actions will be made public."
Second Prince: "My Prince..."
Lin Guli closed his eyes, no longer looking at the Second Prince.
Seeing this, the Second Prince could only take his leave.
Before leaving, he ordered the attendants left by the elder brother: "Do not make things difficult for the Prince, even more do not restrict the Prince's freedom."
Karina was in the ward accompanying her father. Seeing the elder brother return, she eagerly asked: "Did Prince Lin agree?"
Chadan shook his head.
The light in the Old King's eyes dimmed.
Chadan said weakly: "Prince Lin was very angry, saying that he and Duke Lin will have no further relations with our royal house in the future. And also that our royal house..."
Karina: "What did he say?"
The bedridden Old King looked at his eldest son.
Chadan seemed conflicted, as if unable to speak it out, so he didn't say, but seeing his expression, one could guess Lin Guli must have said some harsh words.
Chadan: "Prince Lin also said he would take Duke Lin away and have him properly buried."
"I'll go speak with him. Prince Lin is gentle by nature, emotional yet reasonable too. He cares about the big picture - he will surely be willing to help us." As Karina spoke, she made to leave.
Chadan stopped her: "Useless, didn't you see his manner earlier? If appeals to emotion worked, I would have knelt before him just now. He said even if Father yourself went to plead, it would be useless. There is simply no room for discussion in this matter."
Karina urged: "Then what do we do now? How long can we evade this? Duke Lin's death, Father's illness - they will know of it in a few days."
Chadan: "I'll go out first to try and stabilize them."
The Old King arduously moved his rigid mouth corners, calling Chadan to a stop, then slowly told his eldest son: "Don't...mind them...Return...to the palace...Bring me...the seal...From today...You handle...state affairs...in my stead..."
The Crown Prince's heart shuddered, his pupils contracting. In that instant his breathing grew rapid.
"Father..." Unconcealed shock and delight filled his eyes. Even as he desperately controlled his excitement, his body still trembled slightly. Chadan solemnly pledged to his father: "I definitely won't fail your expectations!"
When the Second Prince returned, he saw his elder brother had already received the order.
