Chapter 40 Brainwashing

  Lin Yun'er remained silent after exchanging greetings, sitting on the embroidered stool with her head bowed and eyes cast down, her hands tightly clutching the handkerchief.

  "Does Lin Daguang no longer remember Feier?" The old lady's face was full of harmony and she spoke softly to Lin Yun'er.

  "Returning to the Yin family's home, Cloudy said that she had met her cousin once when she was a child, but he looked completely different now." A faint blush appeared on Lin Yun'er's face. She was a big girl now and rarely saw men, but the one in front of her was her cousin...and also the only straw she could grasp.

  "Although aunt and niece are related by marriage, they still share a common bone. The old lady shook her head, "Your elder aunt is too bound by convention; otherwise, there's no harm in our two families being more sociable."

  As for her daughter-in-law, the old lady really had nothing to say. She was devoted to her husband and also very filial to her mother-in-law, but she was just too easy to believe others.

  On such occasions, Yin Ruofei didn't have much to say, and saying more would only make him appear frivolous and lacking in gravity.

  As for what he said earlier, I'm sure the old lady has already taken it to heart and there's no need for him to say more. Besides, the old lady seems to be in good spirits, and with Lin Yun'er here to keep her company and chat with her, that's even better.

  Making an excuse to bid farewell to the old lady, Yin Ruofei ran to Yin Haicheng's study again.

  At this time, Yin Haicheng was reading a letter, and although Yin Jinyuan said he was going on a military expedition when he left with Yin Ruofei, in fact he had been ordered to suppress bandits.

  A mountain pass three days' journey from the capital, where a group of bandits had taken up residence, intercepting merchants and travelers, killing and robbing countless people. The authorities had long since issued an order to eradicate them. This time, the troops were deployed for two purposes: first, to thoroughly eliminate this group of bandits; second, to temper the bloodlust of the soldiers, for a soldier who has never seen blood cannot be considered a true soldier.

  A small group of bandits, Yin Haicheng didn't take it to heart. He had fought on the battlefield and seen everything. This time he let his eldest son go was just a trial run. However, according to the battle report, this first battle against the bandits ended in victory, local officials have already presented a congratulatory report, and His Majesty personally praised him.

  Yin Haicheng was confident in his heart and at this time he just wanted to take a look at his son's letter and get excited.

  These days, there have been no shortage of frustrating things, but also no shortage of happy things. My elderly mother's illness has been cured, my eldest son has achieved some merit, and my youngest son is quite favored by the king, although at present he seems to have forgotten his father...

  Just then, he heard his attendant come in to report that his youngest son had arrived. Yin Haicheng hastily invited him in.

  "Fei'er, is there something urgent?" Yin Haicheng had the impression that his youngest son rarely came to him, and each time it was basically because of something.

  "Hmm." Yin Ruo Fei hesitated for a moment, "The prince... had his son move to He Xiang Garden."

  "En, you are already the chosen companion of the king, following him to live is also reasonable." Yin Haicheng nodded, "Following the king's side, must not be arrogant and willful, nor can be arbitrary. Must always think about the Town River Marquis Manor, cannot lose the ancestor's face."

  "Remember, son."

  "Fei'er..." Yin Haicheng looked at Yin Ruofei turning around and hastily called out to him, "The scoundrel who tried to kill you has not been found yet, be more careful."

  "Don't worry, Father, He Xiang Garden is heavily guarded, even more secure than your own mansion."

  From Grandfather Yin Haicheng's place, Yin Ruofei took Zi Yun, who had packed her things, to He Xiang Garden, leaving Zi Ling in the Jianyuan Temple. The He Xiang Garden was where Prince Wang lived, especially a domineering prince. Zi Yun was naturally calm and reserved, with few words, making her more suitable for this place. On the other hand, Zi Ling was lively and eloquent, so she stayed at the Jianyuan Temple, which would be convenient if someone came to send or receive things.

  Back at He Xiang Garden, Yin Ruofei instructed Zi Yun to follow Gong Jiu to the cross courtyard assigned to him to put things in order. He himself turned around and went to the main courtyard, telling Rong Jingze everything that had just happened.

  "As expected, you're obedient and listen to me." Rong Jingze glanced at Yin Ruofei who was lowering his head and eyes in front of him. This kid learned quickly, going out for a spin and already knowing how to shift the blame, letting him take the lead. "You want me to help you investigate?"

  Yin Ruofei continued to nod obediently.

  Rong Jingze smiled.

  "Find out the bandits who attacked you, and I'll be your companion. You help me with my eyesight, and I'll introduce you to Mr. Han as your master. You should know that in this world, there's no free lunch, if you want me to help you, you need to pay the price!" Rong Jingze hummed in his heart, "This kid is still too tender, trying to play tricks on me."

  As expected, Rong Jingze was satisfied to see that Yin Ruofei's usual composure had cracked a little, staring at him as if she didn't dare to believe it.

  It is undeniable that he was very interested in this kid, and indeed had a sense of guilt, but he did not intend to let him be bullied and suffer.

  However, this child is now a bit lucky, having received his grandmother's love and entered his father's eyes. Moreover, a great Confucian scholar has accepted him as a disciple, so his state of mind is probably not much different from before. Being able to take advantage of this opportunity to knock him down would be a good chance.

  "Never mind, this time I'll let you off the hook. Next time, it's up to your performance." Rong Jingze patted his hand and jumped down from the house with a guard, but Yin Ruofei had never seen him before.

  Rong Jingze whispered a few words, and the guard turned around and left.

  Rong Jingze turned his head again and looked at Yin Ruofei.

  "I asked you, do you want to be a great loyal minister or a great treacherous minister?"

  "Of course I am a loyal minister." Who would want to be a treacherous minister, Yin Ruo Fei muttered under her breath, but didn't dare say out loud.

  "It's wrong." Rong Jingze pursed his lips, "Loyal officials die early, just like famous generals and beauties, none of them have a good ending."

  "What?"

  "To be a good loyal minister, one must be more cunning than a treacherous minister."

  "More treacherous than a treacherous official... a loyal minister?" Yin Ruofei pondered carefully.

  Rong Jingze was not in a hurry either. He knew that the person in front of him was not really an eight-year-old child, and he could understand his meaning.

  "What's the one thing you most want to do right now?"

  "Study hard and revive the Hou Mansion."

  "Hmm. To be honest."

  "This is the truth." Yin Ruofei's eyes flickered for a moment.

  "Hmph, speaking nonsense in front of me? Have you forgotten your lesson?" Rong Jingze's hand shot out like lightning, pinching a tender piece of flesh on Yin Ruofei's face, gently shaking it back and forth.

  "Ouch ouch ouch!" Yin Ruofei wanted to reach out and peel it off, but looking at Rong Jingze's smile that didn't even reach his eyes, she couldn't help but shudder and dared not make any sudden movements.

  Rong Jingze looked at Yin Ruofei's eyes, which were already welling up with tears, and his heart softened as he let go of her hand. The spot where he had pinched her left a red fingerprint on her pale face.

  "Your mother died under unclear circumstances, your father only has eyes for the children born to his new wife, you've been neglected all these years and finally caught the eye of Duke Yin, only to be assassinated... Can you really remain unmoved by all this?"

  Yin Ruofei's whole body shook, he didn't think that everything in front of him had been investigated by the king. It was also true that with Prince Ze's means and power, this point was almost a matter of course for the Hou Mansion, how could they hide it from him?

  "Your Highness..."

  "I'm just asking you, do you want revenge?"

  "Think!" Yan Ruo Fei's eyes were red, the word "think" seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, carrying a very heavy tone.

  "It's settled then, otherwise I wouldn't want you either." Rong Jingze leaned back and lay down on the soft couch again. "Those naive and romantic kids, I'm not interested in playing with them."

  "...Yin Ruofei's anger in her heart was suddenly dissipated by this sentence, and this prince's words were simply too..."

  "You're so guarded and defensive in your moves, the enemy will first defend against you three times." Rong Jingze looked at Yin Ruofei and said lightly. "First put yourself and your opponent on the same level, then it's easy to make a move."

  "Does the villain behind the scenes discriminate against the gentleman's actions?"

  "Stupid! If he's a good person, there's no need for you to be so ruthless. And if he's a bad person, why bother being sympathetic towards him?" Rong Jingze curled his lip in disdain. "You wouldn't understand the thrill of stabbing someone in the back."

  "Stabbed in the back?" Yin Ruo Fei's previous notion was completely destroyed, and he didn't even know if his original plan to study hard, enter the imperial court as an official, and expose Xiao Lin's evil deeds was wrong.

  What Rong Jingze brought up was completely opposite of what he thought, and even made him feel unbelievable. However... thinking carefully, it seemed that this way was more relieving. Thinking about his mother's unclear death, being designed by Xiao Lin to be estranged from his grandmother and father step by step, if he only drove Xiao Lin out of the Hou Mansion or killed her, it really couldn't relieve the hatred in his heart, let alone there wasn't much evidence in hand now.

  "Of course, grudges must be avenged. But according to your previous idea, reporting your stepmother would not seem to be a good thing for you either." Especially since this stepmother's identity is not ordinary, it's inevitable that she will be attacked by some people. As for those old men in the imperial court who like to stir up trouble, Rong Jingze understood them very well.

  "What does the king think I should do?" Unconsciously, Yin Ruofei's thoughts had followed Rong Jingze.

  "They harm you, you retaliate, let them have no words to say." Rong Jingze also grew up in various conspiracies and intrigues when he was young. Fortunately, after being poisoned that time, his master saved him, and he had a few years of peaceful life. However, there are many things going on here at his imperial brother's place, so he asked for his help; otherwise, who would want to get involved in this muddy water?

  But what he did was also quite successful.

  In the capital, who doesn't know that Prince Ze is deeply favored by the emperor? Even if he spends his days eating, drinking and having fun, without any ambition, riding in a luxurious sedan chair through the streets, indulging those around him to bully the weak... and so on. Yet no one dares to say a word against him. But in reality, his secret identity has been well hidden. Who would know that those secretly investigated cases, those corrupt officials who were caught, all originated from this lazy little prince?

  "What does the king mean, I'm like you, not thinking of advancing and confusing the enemy with a bird in a cage?" Yin Ruofei blinked his eyes and spoke with a dizzy head.

  "How dare you!" Yong Jingze's lazy yet menacing rebuke was laced with danger, "Can you also praise or belittle me?"

  Yin Ruofei's breath caught in his throat, "I didn't mean it that way..." This was really infuriating, he actually said something like this, simply asking for death.

  "Never mind." Yong Jingze waved his hand, "Let's just pretend you never said that."

  "Thank you, Your Highness." Yin Ruo Fei hastily expressed her gratitude, and after speaking, she felt a bit like a sycophant. "Your Highness, I..."

  "Either good or bad." Rong Jingze looked at Yin Ruofei and hummed softly, "Being a bad person isn't that easy, I'm afraid you don't have the skills for it. You'd better be a good person!"