Finest Servant

Chapter 302 The Virtuous Prince

"Long live the Prince." Upon hearing of the arrival of the Virtuous Prince, the commoners and officials admiring flowers in the garden were filled with trepidation and fell to their knees in unison.

The Virtuous Prince was a paternal half-brother of the current emperor, superior to all but one, standing at the pinnacle of nobility. Every official had to show their respect upon his arrival, let alone the commoners.

Ye Yuchuan, who was standing beside Miss Xu, hurriedly kneeled. Xu Zhiqing furrowed her brows slightly. Even though she was a learned scholar, she was still the daughter of Xu Wei. Despite her status, she had to abide by these hierarchical formalities. Sighing lightly, she reluctantly bent down to kneel.

Lin Wanrong snorted secretly. 'Damn it, what kind of prince is he? He's still a man, isn't he? Expecting me to kowtow? No way.' Even though he was usually carefree, he never faltered when it mattered. If he said he wouldn't kneel to the Virtuous Prince, he meant it.

The Eldest Miss noticed that while everyone else was kneeling in greeting, only Lin San stood there with a defiant expression, erect and motionless. In her haste, she grabbed him and said in a charmingly reproachful tone, "What's the matter with you? You won't bow even before the prince? Do you have a death wish?"

Lin Wanrong laughed, "A man's knees are as precious as gold! In the world, one only kneels to the heaven, the earth, and his parents. What kind of thing does this prince think he is that I should kneel to him?"

The Eldest Miss was stunned. She wondered if he was living in the same world as her. How could he utter such rebellious words? It was lucky she was the one who heard him. If someone else had, would he still be alive? This man, carefree most of the time, chose to show his stubbornness at this moment.

Xu Zhiqing gave him a surprised look. This man had a proud backbone, a trait not often seen. It did him justice as a man. However, recalling his refusal of Li Tai's goodwill and his refusal to serve his country, she realized he was a person of complex character, indeed a mystery to her.

Seeing the Eldest Miss's anxious expression, Lin Wanrong let out a sad sigh. It was tough to be powerless. He was clearly at odds with the Virtuous Prince, yet he was still expected to kowtow to him. Thinking of power, his mind suddenly sparked. That day outside the Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, he met an elegantly dressed old man who had given him a strange golden plaque. He said that with this plaque, Lin San could find him in any government office in the capital. Judging by his aura and demeanor, he was far superior to Xu Wei, certainly a powerful figure. But being busy in the capital, Lin San had completely forgotten about it.

His thoughts racing, he looked at Xu Zhiqing and an idea came to him. Miss Xu, with her extensive knowledge and experience, might recognize this object. With this in mind, he reached into his pocket to take out the heavy golden plaque. Just as he was about to produce it, the Virtuous Prince lifted his hand with a smile and declared loudly, "Please rise, everyone. Today, I am here to admire the flowers, to enjoy the beautiful scenery, and to rejoice with the people. Let's forego these formalities."

"Your highness is wise." Everyone rose, clasping their fists in respect. The peach garden was vast, and with so many people present, no one noticed that Lin Wanrong, standing behind a tree in the garden, had never kneeled in the first place.

Prince Cheng was surrounded by a throng of officials. Young Prince Zhao Kangning was walking by his side. However, Sister An, with her fox-like charm, was mysteriously absent, her figure nowhere to be seen. The peach blossoms, which typically bloomed in the third month, had burst forth a month early, thanks to the warm springs benefiting Grand Prime Minister Temple. This unusual occurrence made the vibrant peach blossoms even more startling. The garden was a riot of scattered petals, with red and white creating a stunning contrast. It looked like a true paradise of peach blossoms.

Prince Cheng and his entourage slowly made their way into the garden. In front of them, a group of monks from Grand Prime Minister Temple were explaining and narrating, serving them with the utmost attention and meticulousness, fearing any negligence might offend the royal guest.

Young Prince Zhao Kangning, with his keen eye, only needed a few steps to spot Miss Xiao and Lin Wanrong standing under a peach tree. He paused, his face betraying a hint of surprise. A cold smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth as he leaned over to whisper something into his father's ear.

Prince Cheng gave a low grunt of acknowledgment. His tiger-like eyes flashed like lightning, scanning the place where the two stood. Prince Cheng indeed carried an aura of authority; his gaze was so intense that it felt tangible, compelling people to avoid his stare.

Miss Xiao bit her lip lightly but defiantly raised her head and squared her shoulders, refusing to show any sign of fear. Lin Wanrong, however, appeared nonchalant, seemingly ready for a fight, as he had been numerous times before. He wasn't afraid at all. He offered a slight smile to Prince Cheng, completely at ease.

Taking tiger-like strides, Prince Cheng slowly walked over, laughing, "Isn't this Miss Xu Zhiqing? Are you here to enjoy the blossoms too?"

Xu Zhiqing gave a slight bow, "Your Highness, it's a pleasure to see you. This is Grand Prime Minister Temple's flower appreciation banquet. I'm here to join in the fun and I didn't expect to run into you, Your Highness. It's truly my great fortune."

Prince Cheng laughed heartily, "What fortune? Miss Zhiqing, you're too polite. I have been friends with your father for many years. Seeing you grow into a confident and courageous young woman makes me happy for my old friend."

Xu Zhiqing offered a small, silent smile. Prince Cheng laughed again, his gaze swept across Miss Xiao and Lin Wanrong, he pondered for a moment, "And these two are..."

Gritting her teeth, Miss Xiao curtsied, "Xiao Yuruo of Jinling's Xiao family greets Your Highness Prince Cheng."

Prince Cheng gave a sound of acknowledgment, laughing, "The Xiao family from Jinling? You must be the descendant of Elder Xiao, please rise, Miss Xiao." His gaze landed on Lin Wanrong, "Looking at this young man's clear and energetic aura, and his impressive appearance, could this be the Brother Lin San?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "So, the majestic figure whom everyone respects is His Highness Prince Cheng? I'm Lin San. I wish Your Highness a long and prosperous reign and to rule all under heaven."

Zhao Kangning's face changed, as if he was about to explode with anger, but Prince Cheng slightly shook his head to stop him, bursting into laughter, "Interesting! Lin San, you truly live up to your reputation, very interesting indeed. Although I live in the capital, I have heard many stories about you in Jinling. Making perfume, washing hands with hot oil, burning copper coins, you really are a clever one!"

"Too kind, too kind." Lin Wanrong laughed, "These are just some trinkets, tricks to fool others, not to be brought onto the stage. It's nothing compared to Your Highness who manages 'chickens' every day, and 'labors' day and night for the sake of the country and its people. I truly admire your ambition, Your Highness."

Prince Cheng took a few steps forward, smiling warmly, he came to stand before Lin Wanrong. He affectionately took hold of Lin's hand, "Lin San, there's no need to be so modest. Although your remarkable achievements haven't been officially recognized by the court, I'm well aware of them. A talent like you is indeed a sign of auspiciousness, a blessing to our Great Hua. My son, Kangning, being young and inexperienced, may have made some mistakes in the past. I ask you not to bear grudges against him. On his behalf, I offer you an apology."

As Prince Cheng spoke, he surprisingly bowed to Lin Wanrong. The spectators were stunned to see the royal prince offer such a gesture to a commoner. This act of appreciating talent and treating virtuous scholars well instantly earned Prince Cheng respect from the crowd.

Such a tactful move. If Lin Wanrong wasn't aware of Prince Cheng's covert scheming, he might have been taken in by his sincere expression. People like Prince Cheng were either extremely good or extremely wicked, never walking the middle road. Lin Wanrong couldn't help but marvel internally, acknowledging Prince Cheng as a remarkable character of the times; possessing magnanimity, courage, and willingness to overlook minor details in order to achieve great things - a true 'heroic overlord'.

"Your Highness is too kind," Lin Wanrong helped him up, feigning confusion and waiting for the prince to complete his bow before reacting - a deliberate move to assert some advantage over the prince. "Young Prince Kangning and I share a good friendship. We've competed in poetry contests in Jinling, where did he ever act improperly? He's a rare gem among men. Your Highness, having such a son, is indeed enviable."

Prince Cheng had long been aware of Lin Wanrong's abilities. His failed plans in Jiangnan were largely due to Lin San's interference - from thwarting his plot to rob the Xiao family, to ruining the Jiangsu and Zhejiang Merchant Association, to destroying the White Lotus Cult, and even the destruction of his own ‘granaries’ in Jiangnan. Yet, the more obstacles Lin San posed, the more it demonstrated his unparalleled talent. If Prince Cheng could win him over, his loss in Jiangnan would be insignificant.

As a man of great ambition, Prince Cheng had lofty vision and profound cunning. He never wore his emotions on his sleeve. Grasping Lin Wanrong's hand, he smiled, "That's good to hear. Kangning is young and there's a lot he can learn from you. I hope you'll continue to guide him in the future."

As he spoke, he waved his hand and several attendants stepped forward with gift trays. Prince Cheng chuckled, "I've long heard of Mr. Lin's great reputation. Today, being our first meeting, I've come unprepared. Please accept this humble gift."

At his signal, an attendant pulled away the red silk covering the trays, revealing dazzling gold leaves that instantly caught the eye. There was enough gold to amount to a hundred taels.

From 'Brother Lin', to 'Lin San', to 'Mr. Lin', Prince Cheng's mode of addressing Lin Wanrong kept evolving, elevating Lin San's status to an incomparable height. Even the proud Prince Cheng addressed him as 'Mr. Lin', a title that escalated Lin Wanrong's status immensely.

Ye Yuchuan, standing beside Miss Xu, looked at Lin Wanrong in astonishment. Prince Cheng, known for his relentless pursuit of talent and given the nickname 'Virtuous Prince', had an unquestionable eye for talent. His extraordinary treatment of Lin San suggested that Lin San might indeed possess an unrivaled talent.

Although Xu Zhiqing had heard of some of Lin San's exploits, most of what she knew came from others, even the fact that he had secretly learned Arabic numerals. She had never actually witnessed his capabilities. Seeing Prince Cheng's action piqued her interest. She turned her gaze to Lin Wanrong, curious about his response.

In the crowd, the most anxious of all was Xiao Yuruo. Regardless of Lin San's actual abilities, he had already become the cornerstone of the Xiao family. Prince Cheng, upon first meeting Lin San, presented him with such generous gifts, which showed how highly he valued him. If Lin San were to be tempted, and choose to follow Prince Cheng, her Xiao family would be utterly doomed.

With anxiety surging in her heart, she hurriedly tugged at Lin San's sleeve, her eyes filled with intense hope and anticipation.

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