"who?"

The sudden noise outside the door instantly attracted the attention of the two people in the room.

As Lin Jiang's inner strength became more and more powerful, his senses became sharper than before, and any slight movement would not escape his ears.

There was a sudden sound outside the door, someone was there!

The kite's reaction was even greater.

In terms of martial arts and internal strength, she is far superior to Lin Jiangnian, and her keen perception of the outside world is becoming more and more acute.

The two looked at each other and saw the confusion in each other's eyes.

The courtyard where Zhiyuan lived was very quiet, with few people coming here on weekdays. Zhiyuan was aloof and aloof, so she didn't even have a maid or anything like that in the courtyard.

Apart from Xiaozhu, whom she had forced to come before, there were very few people coming here on weekdays.

What's more, it's this hour?

Following Lin Jiangnian's light shout, there was silence outside the room. There was no response and no sound.

It was as if everything that just happened was an illusion.

But, this is obviously impossible!

If one person is hallucinating but two people hear it, then there is a problem!

"I'll go check it out!"

Lin Jiangnian gave Zhiyuan a look, and Zhiyuan struggled to get up from Lin Jiangnian's arms, quickly walked to the side, and straightened her clothes. She took a deep breath, and a hint of blush still remained on her cold face.

Lin Jiangnian stood up, walked to the door and opened it.

The cold wind rushed in from outside, the moonlight swayed, and the trees in the yard rustled.

The courtyard was cold and empty, with no one there.

No one?

Lin Jiangnian glanced around but didn't see any figure.

He looked doubtful. Was what he just heard really an illusion?

Before coming, Lin Jiangnian specifically told Xiaozhu not to come with him. Xiaozhu was very obedient and definitely would not come.

Apart from Xiao Zhu, who else dares to come here without permission?

Lin Jiangnian frowned and looked around carefully again. When he was sure that he didn't see any figure, he returned to the room.

"No one, maybe I heard it wrong?"

Lin Jiangnian thought about it before speaking.

Not far away, at the table in front of the screen, Zhiyuan stood there quietly, with his eyes lowered and not saying a word.

As Lin Jiangnian slowly approached, he saw Zhiyuan glance at him coldly and said calmly, "Go back."

"Um?"

"I'm sleepy."

Zhiyuan retracted her cold gaze and said, "I want to sleep."

This reaction...

Lin Jiangnian took a closer look and still didn't realize what was going on.

How can this mean you are sleepy?

It was obvious that he was angry after hearing what Lin Jiangnian just said!

However, these were also within Lin Jiangnian's expectations.

It would be even stranger if Zhiyuan wasn't angry.

Thinking of this, Lin Jiangnian walked over to her side, grabbed her slender little hand, and sighed softly: "I didn't intend to hide these things from you. I know you must be unhappy and angry..."

Zhiyuan slightly turned her body to reveal a face with delicate features.

"I don't."

She said expressionlessly.

"You're almost angry written all over your face."

Lin Jiangnian was a little amused and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He stepped forward and hugged Zhiyuan from behind. However, Zhiyuan struggled and resisted.

"Look, you still say you're not angry?"

Lin Jiangnian hugged her slender waist from behind, held her small and delicate hands with green fingers, pinched her little face, and then smiled.

"But you know what, little Kite, you look pretty cute when you're angry and jealous!"

As soon as these words were spoken, a blush appeared on Zhiyuan's cold face. She turned around angrily and glared at Lin Jiangnian.

After struggling for a while, he suddenly fell silent again.

After a while, she raised her eyes and said, "I'm not angry!"

Her answer was still so concise, but after a pause, she spoke again.

This time, the voice was much softer.

There also seemed to be a hint of inexplicable emotion mixed in.

"After all, you were with her earlier... I came later."

For some reason, Lin Jiangnian felt inexplicably distressed when he heard Zhiyuan say this.

Especially Zhiyuan's stubborn little face, which makes people feel pity for her.

"What's the first come, first served? You're all the same in my eyes... How can there be a first come, first served?"

Lin Jiangnian was holding Zhiyuan in his arms, about to comfort her, when he suddenly felt a pain in his lower abdomen. He took a deep breath and looked up, only to see Zhiyuan's cold, expressionless eyes staring at him.

"You've really been thinking about this for a long time, haven't you?"

Lin Jiangnian was slightly stunned. What idea?

We were just talking fine, why did you suddenly change your attitude?

"I……"

Lin Jiangnian was about to speak when Zhiyuan turned sideways, no longer looking at him, and said in a cold voice, "You go back first."

"Kite..."

"I'm not angry."

Zhiyuan's tone was calm, without any emotion in it.

But she didn't look angry at all.

Zhiyuan lowered her eyes, not knowing what she was thinking, and said lightly: "I don't want to pay attention to you now."

"Go out, I need to calm down!"

Hearing this, Lin Jiangnian fell silent. Looking at Zhiyuan's expression, he hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded.

Kite is the worst at lying.

She said she wasn't angry, and most likely she wasn't angry.

This made Lin Jiangnian feel slightly relieved. He had originally planned to spend a long time coaxing her. Now Zhiyuan was not angry, which was good news.

But when she said she didn't want to bother with Lin Jiangnian, she was probably not lying...

After all, it would take her some time to calm down after hearing such news in person.

“…”

Lin Jiangnian left Zhiyuan's room.

In the room.

Zhiyuan stood there quietly, in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking about.

After a long time, she raised her eyes slightly and looked outside the door.

Then he walked out of the room and into the yard.

The courtyard was dark and cold. The cold wind blew on her, making her dress messy and her long black hair fly.

The cold wind seemed to be about to blow her frail body away at any moment.

Zhiyuan stared at a corner of the yard for a long time, with various complex emotions flashing in her eyes.

After a while, she retracted her gaze slightly, lowered her eyes, and glanced at the door of the next courtyard.

After a long time, a soft hum was finally heard, followed by the sound of someone mumbling to himself and then dissipated in the wind.

"He must have been planning to take over everything..."

“…He’s not going to make it!”

“…”

After leaving Zhiyuan's room, Lin Jiangnian returned to the courtyard next door.

"Hey, Your Highness, you're back?"

Under the eaves of the courtyard, Xiao Zhu was sitting at the doorway, looking very charming. Seeing His Highness return, she quickly stood up in surprise. After running two steps, she seemed to remember something and blinked her lively eyes: "Your Highness, why are you back?"

Didn’t Your Highness go to look for Sister Zhiyuan?

I even specifically told her not to go over and cause trouble... It's obvious that she wants to bully Sister Zhiyuan!

Xiaozhu's heart is as clear as a mirror.

I thought His Highness would stay in Sister Zhiyuan's room tonight, but I didn't expect him to come back so soon?

Could it be that he was kicked out by Sister Zhiyuan?

Seeing Xiao Zhu's cunning eyes looking at him, Lin Jiangnian knew that this little maid must have had bad intentions. He reached out and tapped her head lightly: "Didn't I come back to accompany you?"

"snort!"

Xiao Zhu looked in pain, holding her head with her hands, and angrily said with a face full of grievance: "Humph, I don't believe it... Your Highness must have been kicked out by Sister Zhiyuan!"

Lin Jiangnian didn't argue with her and asked, "By the way, did you see anyone else coming here just now?"

"Others?"

The little maid looked bewildered.

"Is there?"

"No."

The little maid shook her head: "I have been here the whole time, no one has been here."

"No one?"

Lin Jiangnian became more and more confused. No one?

This is a bit strange. Did I really hear it wrong?

But even if he heard it wrong, Zhiyuan shouldn't have heard it wrong too, right?

If it was someone from the mansion, why was there no movement?

Could it be that he is someone from outside the mansion... ?

"Your Highness, what's wrong?"

Seeing His Highness frowning, Xiao Zhu couldn't help but ask.

"fine……"

Lin Jiangnian's heart moved, and he glanced at the little maid: "It's getting late, you go back and rest first, I'll go out for a walk!"

"ah?"

Xiao Zhu opened his eyes wide: "Where are you going, Your Highness?"

"Go out for a walk."

Lin Jiangnian waved his hand and walked out of the courtyard. However, not long after he left the courtyard, a figure hurried towards him.

"Your Highness?!"

Lin Jiangnian raised his eyes and saw a woman in black clothes rushing towards him.

"Qingqing?"

Lin Jiangnian was a little surprised: "You're back?!"

"Your Highness."

Lin Qingqing quickly walked up to Lin Jiangnian and said in a deep voice, "I have fulfilled my mission and brought you important information!"

Seeing that Lin Qingqing looked tired and walked hurriedly, Lin Jiangnian waved his hand and said, "No hurry, speak slowly."

"Your Highness, there's been some movement outside the city. Two days ago, I discovered traces of the Third Prince's private army and have been following them to investigate..."

Lin Qingqing's expression was slightly solemn. "After two days of tracking, I discovered that the Third Prince's private army seemed to have received some orders and began to move more frequently... Many unfamiliar figures appeared near the capital..."

"I suspect, Third Prince, that there will be a major operation in the near future..."

“…”

Listening to Lin Qingqing's report, Lin Jiangnian's expression gradually became solemn.

Judging from all these signs, something was indeed amiss. The Third Prince's private army was operating on such a large scale, and it seemed... they were probably really going to make a move.

Could it be that the Third Prince can't wait to take action first?

Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes and recalled the current situation in the capital.

As the year draws to a close, the capital is already in chaos and the situation is complicated. The emperor is not in showup, and the Crown Prince, who is acting as regent, is seriously ill, causing panic among the court and everyone feels insecure.

For the third prince, this is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Thinking back to what Dongfang Guanshan said today...

Lin Hengzhong reminded him that there would be big changes in the capital soon.

Could it be that this is what you are referring to?

"It doesn't seem like this is groundless. It seems the Third Prince is really impatient and wants to take action!"

Lin Jiangnian murmured.

Now that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is still alive, there is only one way for the Third Prince to ascend to the throne.

"Your Highness, what should we do next..." Lin Qingqing asked.

Since Your Highness has decided to intervene, it is time to take action.

Unexpectedly, Lin Jiangnian shook his head slightly and said, "Next, do nothing. Continue to send people to monitor the private army outside the Third Prince's city and keep them in place."

Lin Qingqing looked puzzled: "Your Highness, didn't you say before..."

"This is a struggle for imperial power. It's better for outsiders like us not to get involved."

After listening to His Highness' words, Lin Qingqing became even more confused.

Your Highness said this some time ago. Why do you suddenly decide not to intervene now?

Just as she was about to ask something, Lin Qingqing saw the faint smile on His Highness's face and the flash of depth in his eyes.

Lin Qingqing quickly realized... His Highness might have other plans.

"Your Highness, you mean..."

"Since this is a struggle for imperial power, let them fight it out among their own people."

Lin Jiangnian said calmly, "We just need to add fuel to the fire. There's no need to get involved personally..."

Lin Jiangnian didn't explain it clearly. He had his own plans. He glanced at Lin Qingqing and said, "You've been working hard recently. Go down and have a good rest first."

"Rest well from now on, and don't worry about the rest."

"yes."

Although Lin Qingqing was confused, she nodded. When she was about to leave, Lin Jiangnian called her back.

"By the way, Qingqing, when you came back just now, did you see any strangers in the mansion?"

"stranger?"

Lin Qingqing was stunned and a little confused. How could there be a stranger in the Jiang Mansion?

She had just returned from outside the city and immediately came to report the information to His Highness, without having time to pay attention to anything else.

“No…”

Lin Qingqing shook her head.

"Okay, it's okay, you can go down."

Lin Jiangnian waved his hand, asked Lin Qingqing to go down and rest, and then left the Jiang Mansion.

He must have heard correctly just now. There were indeed other people in the yard outside Zhiyuan's room.

Lin Jiangnian already had a guess in his mind. After excluding the people in the mansion, the rest of the answer was obvious.

Although the Jiang Mansion is not a wealthy family, it is not easy for ordinary people to sneak in.

There are not many people in the world who have such ability.

Coincidentally, Lin Jiangnian knew such a person.

And, rich experience.

After leaving Jiang Mansion, Lin Jiangnian did not alarm anyone. His figure was hidden in the night and appeared on the street.

Two streets away from the Jiang residence was a bustling place, bustling with music and revelry every night. Lin Jiangnian walked around the street twice, but found nothing.

However, one can see some detectives from the Secret Service rushing through the capital at night. I don't know what they are doing.

After turning around a few times, he found nothing. Lin Jiangnian sighed, wondering if he had already left.

So he returned the same way and planned to go back home.

However, just as he was about to go home, he suddenly realized something, raised his head and looked in the direction not far above his head.

The sky was dark and the cold wind was howling.

Located on the roof of an attic, from here you can have a panoramic view of half of the capital city at night.

"call!"

In the night sky, accompanied by the sound of cold wind blowing clothes rustling, a figure landed nimbly on the roof of the attic.

"Why are you hiding here? I've been looking for you for ages!"

Lin Jiangnian smiled as he moved closer and sat down next to her. Turning his head, he saw a cold and beautiful face, and a mysterious red dress in the night.

"Did you just go to look for me?"

“…”