Chapter 76: The Third Prince

After Xie Jingzhi got into the carriage, he watched Lin Baozhen's toes lightly touch the ground and couldn't help but say, "Mother is in a good mood?"

Lin Baozhen had been looking out the window. Hearing Xie Jingzhi's words, she turned her head and nodded at him.

Lin Baozhen's sweet appearance made her look especially charming when she smiled. Xie Jingzhi couldn't help but look at her brow, feeling that she was even more beautiful today.

Lin Baozhen said to Xie Jingzhi, "If I don't tell you the reason for seeing the Third Prince, will I feel bad?"

Xie Jingzhi shook his head, "Mother must have your reasons."

Lin Baozhen laughed, looking lovely, "Indeed, there is a reason, you'll know later."

Her first dream felt like a lifetime, with too many things unclear.

But last night's dream was more comfortable; she saw many things clearly, especially finally knowing who held the imperial throne.

For Lin Baozhen, nothing was more important than this!

Lin Baozhen touched her brow, thinking about the earlier part of the dream again. For some reason, she was also very concerned about the earlier part, especially the koi fish.

And what does it mean to accumulate merit? Is it just about donating more silver?

"Tell me, if the koi itself is radiant with divine light, and after slapping someone with its tail it becomes dim, would it mean its power is exhausted and it will die?"

Hearing Lin Baozhen's words, Xie Jingzhi couldn't help but reach out, covering his lips with a faint smile.

Xie Jingzhi was sitting by the carriage window. His handsome face was already striking, and now the brilliant light falling on him, combined with his hand covering his smile, truly captivated Lin Baozhen. His eyes seemed to be sprinkled with fine golden light.

"What are you smiling at?"

It was clearly winter, yet Lin Baozhen felt as if she were in midsummer, her heart beating so fast she almost suspected Xie Jingzhi could hear it, and her face flushed involuntarily.

"You sometimes seem like a child."

Lin Baozhen felt a sweetness in her heart, pouting, "Am I childish?"

"You are refreshingly innocent," Xie Jingzhi said, "Whether it's divine power or not, it's often just hearsay. As the saying goes, 'A wise man does not speak of strange forces and spirits.' Mother, we should remember the teachings of the sages."

Lin Baozhen nodded, "You're right."

Lin Baozhen couldn't help but ask again, "The temple often talks about accumulating merit. Jingzhi, what do you think it means?"

"Merit silver, probably." Xie Jingzhi suddenly thought of Yan Ji, the little child who entered Fox Fairy Hall alone and still died.

He couldn't help adding, "Mostly monks and Taoists deceive people for silver."

Lin Baozhen thought it made sense; one only needed to send someone to donate some merit silver to the temple regularly to accumulate merit.

/

When they arrived at the Third Prince's residence, Lin Baozhen jumped out of the carriage first, followed by Xie Jingzhi.

Their timing was perfect, coinciding with the Third Prince and Grand Tutor Yao standing together, apparently about to leave.

Lin Baozhen felt fortunate, glad she had decided to go out with Xie Jingzhi early in the morning. If she had chatted more with Xie Yuan, she might have missed the chance to see the Third Prince, wasting the good dream from last night.

Lin Baozhen took a step forward and bowed to the Third Prince Zhao Ting, "Third Prince, may I have a word in private?"

Zhao Ting had planned to go to the palace with Grand Tutor Yao to request the change of the prince's consort to the second daughter. He looked at Lin Baozhen and said, "This lady..."

Xie Jingzhi introduced her, "Your Highness, this is my stepmother, Lady Lin."

"Lady Lin," Zhao Ting looked deeply at Lin Baozhen and said solemnly, "I have matters to discuss with the Emperor today. If you have something to say, perhaps we can talk after I return to the residence?"

Zhao Ting's seriousness towards Lin Baozhen was justified. Everyone in court knew that Concubine Chen's family background was thin, and her greatest and only support was Wei Wuhou Xie Yuan.

Lin Baozhen was Xie Yuan's legitimate wife, though not yet recorded in the jade register or granted an official title, her status as Xie Yuan's wife alone warranted Zhao Ting's respect.

Lin Baozhen shook her head and said meaningfully, "Your Highness, I wouldn't come without a reason. I have something important to discuss with you."

Such seriousness, what could it be?

The Third Prince hesitated, considering that changing the prince's consort from the eldest daughter to the second daughter was no small matter.

Grand Tutor Yao Feng suddenly spoke up, "Your Highness, this old minister will wait here. Why don't you listen to what Lady Hou has to say first?"

Lin Baozhen said to Xie Jingzhi, "Wait for me here for a moment."

Lin Baozhen walked to the side with the Third Prince, dismissed the attendants, and confidently said, "Your Highness, you and Grand Tutor Yao are planning to go to the palace today to change the prince's consort from the eldest daughter to the second daughter."

Lin Baozhen waited for Zhao Ting's surprised expression, but Zhao Ting wasn't surprised.

Because the controversy surrounding the Yao family had been widely discussed, and the details of their dispute were well-known.

Zhao Ting said, "Lady, you are correct. I am preparing to enter the palace."

"If I were you, Your Highness, I wouldn't make this change at this time."

"Because the eldest daughter is about to be kidnapped, doing so would make you appear too cold-hearted."

What does it mean to be about to be kidnapped?

Zhao Ting's brows furrowed as he looked at Lady Wei Wuhou.

Lin Baozhen explained, "Today, there is a market in Liuli Alley, where kidnappers often appear. The eldest daughter of the Yao family, dressed plainly, only accompanied by a wet nurse and some guards, plans to pretend to be a commoner's daughter to be kidnapped."

"But what the eldest daughter doesn't know is that these kidnappers are experienced, and her arrangements are useless against them. She will be forcibly taken away."

This sounded like a tale of the supernatural.

Zhao Ting's heart raced. Why had Lin Baozhen chosen to tell him this?

At that moment, Lin Baozhen stopped speaking.

"Lady of the Marquis. Why did you choose to tell me about this?" Zhao Ting could only take the initiative to speak.

Lin Baozhen smiled faintly again.

Though she said nothing, Zhao Ting felt that this smile alone was full of implications.

The Third Prince looked in the direction of Grand Tutor Yao, "Did you go to the Yao residence first?"

Lin Baozhen shook her head: "I came directly here. If I had gone to the Yao residence, wouldn't it have been too late? And even if I had stopped Miss Yao once, it probably wouldn't have helped much. As long as Miss Yao San has not been found, Miss Yao will still try to catch the kidnappers. I can't tell Miss Yao about my dream. After all, such an opportunity cannot be easily revealed. What if something goes wrong?"

Lin Baozhen stood before the Third Prince to gain his trust. The person before her was the future emperor, and she wanted to align herself early so she could benefit after he ascended the throne.

The Third Prince's hand clenched tightly inside his sleeve, and he took a deep breath, "I wonder what kind of opportunity I have in your dream? Can you not reveal a little more?"

Lin Baozhen smiled sweetly, "Why don't you go to the yamen to verify if what I said is true, and then we can discuss further."

That would work as well.

If Miss Yao hadn't been kidnapped, he wouldn't have been agitated by her words.

The Third Prince made a quick decision and nodded, saying to Lin Baozhen, "Are you sure Miss Yao will be kidnapped?"

"Um." Lin Baozhen nodded, then suddenly thought of Lin Yingxue. The biggest variable was her marriage to Lin Yingxue. She added, "Unless something goes wrong and someone saves her, but she will definitely pass through the hands of the kidnappers. Changing fiancées doesn't need to be rushed, does it?"

The Third Prince Zhao Ting made up his mind, "I understand." He looked deeply at Lin Baozhen, "I will find a way to verify it. Please wait for me, Lady of the Marquis. If it's true, there will be a generous reward."

"I don't seek your immediate reward, Your Highness."

The Third Prince became even more certain that Lin Baozhen was betting on him, his heart racing, "I understand. When do you think I should go to the yamen?"

After telling the Third Prince the time, Lin Baozhen left with Xie Jingzhi.

/

The Third Prince informed Grand Tutor Yao about the delay. Yao's eyelids twitched heavily, feeling as if a bolt of lightning had struck him, "But, Your Highness..."

"Just a little longer," the Third Prince said, "Lady Wei of the Marquis just told me something urgent. I must deal with it first."

With that, Grand Tutor Yao couldn't insist and left.

After sending Grand Tutor Yao away, the Third Prince returned to his residence and waited silently for the time Lin Baozhen had mentioned.

After lunch, the Third Prince went to the yamen as Lin Baozhen had instructed.

When Zhao Ting stepped into the yamen, his first glance was not at Jian Yunyao or Jian He, but at Yao Su.

Yao Su had taken off her man's cloak, revealing a blue robe. Her face was swollen from being beaten, and the marks of fingers were already turning purplish-blue. Although her hair had been combed again, it hung loosely because her scalp had been torn by the kidnappers.

Seeing Yao Su in such a state, the corners of Zhao Ting's mouth curled slightly, and he even smiled. The smile didn't last long, but everyone present, including Magistrate Li, saw it clearly.

"Miss Yao, what happened to you?"

Before Zhao Ting could finish speaking, he heard Magistrate Li cough heavily. Magistrate Li bowed to Zhao Ting, "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress, and General Zhen Guo are here."

He was reminding the Third Prince to pay respects.

The Third Prince quickly turned around and bowed to the two. Seeing Fu Jiaze and Lin Yingxue bowing forward, his expression became complicated. The last time, during the autumn examination fraud case, Fu Jiaze wasn't convicted because the Empress spoke on his behalf, and now they were together again.

And if they hadn't intervened, Miss Yao would have been kidnapped.

Not kidnapped, and now she was lively and well.

The Third Prince took a deep breath, thinking that he needed to ask Lin Baozhen later how to break the deadlock.