Chapter 343

It was always Lin Feilu who went to the Eastern Palace to find him, so he rarely ever came to the Mingyue Palace. As soon as the little eunuch saw the Crown Prince, he immediately knelt down and wanted to report his arrival, but Lin Qing reached out his hand to stop him.

When he entered, Lin Feilu was practising swordsmanship in the yard, using the sword given by Noble Consort Xi.

While she was practising, Lin Zhanyuan clapped and applauded vigorously. If anything, it was rather amusing to see him behave that way.

Lin Qing stood under the porch for a while before Lin Feilu noticed him. When she drew her sword and ran towards him, there were beads of sweat on her nose. The girl was dainty and beautiful, bright and radiant. She was someone that he watched grow with every passing year. Over the years, everyone had changed— including himself. But only in her could he find the innocence and warmth that he was familiar with in his childhood days.

Lin Feilu raised her hand to wipe off the sweat before she asked him with a smile, "Why did brother Crown Prince come here?"

Lin Qing also smiled, "I heard that you are leaving the capital?"

She looked flustered for a moment, and her body trembled involuntarily, but she covered it up in a flash. Trying to keep her tone light, she answered, "Yes, I plan to go to the Wutai Mountain to visit Grandmother Empress Dowager."

Lin Qing was much taller than her. When he stood in front of her and looked down at her, he felt a sense of oppression as his tone was also heavy, "Little Fifth Princess, were you afraid of me just now?"

The smile on the girl's face seemed to be unable to remain on her face. Her eyes glanced to the side with a guilty conscience, not daring to look at him.

Lin Qing didn't know whether he should be angry or feel amused, "You have never been afraid of me before."

She didn't speak for a while as her fingers dangled from her side and ruffled her clothes, a clear sign of nervousness.

Lin Qing squeezed his fists tightly, but finally just said in a deep voice, "You don't have to be afraid, I won't do anything to you and eldest brother."

Lin Feilu turned her eyes a little bit as the tip of her nose was a little red. She looked rather aggrieved, but asked in a meek voice, "Really?"

Lin Qing knew that she was smart since she was a child.

She seemed innocent and carefree, but in her heart, she was very clear about the battle between him and Lin Ting. Once he overheard her secretly talking to the 4th Prince, asking him why couldn't the two brothers be as harmonious as before. She also asked exasperatedly if the throne was something worth that much trouble.

Lin Qing didn't know how good the throne was, but what belonged to him could not be taken away by anyone.

Now, because Lin Ting was seriously ill, the Ruan family was obviously planning to give up the seizure of power. However, Lin Qing couldn't let them retreat from the throne battle completely without repercussions. He intended to clear up every single one of the grudges built up over the years with them.

This settlement, however, did not include Lin Ting in the grand scheme of things.

But even if he wanted to do something to him, now was not the time.

Lin Qing nodded, "Really."