flstandardbreds Chapter 752 Once cherished, but lost, lost forever.
Chapter 752 Once cherished, but lost, lost forever.
Lin Jiayou glanced at Zhao Rui seemingly casually, "Most of the medicinal herbs on this list are not available on the market at all. The only way to get them is through the Qi family in Jiangnan."
Qi family!
It was the maternal clan of the Seventh Prince Zhao Rui.
The atmosphere in the study instantly became subtle.
Zhao Zhang's hawk-like eyes immediately shifted from Lin Jiayou to Zhao Rui's face. His gaze was filled with undisguised scrutiny and suspicion.
How did this matter get involved with Lao Qi's mother's family? Could it be that this was all a setup by Lao Qi from beginning to end?
He wanted to use military merits as bait to lure him into trouble, then make him take the blame while he reaped all the benefits.
Zhao Rui's face also darkened. He knew, of course, that Lin Jiayou was trying to sow discord, but the insidious thing about this blatant scheme was that he couldn't defend himself.
The Qi family does indeed run a medicinal herb business, and it's a unique one at that. If this order really exists, the Qi family will definitely get involved.
He looked at Lin Jiayou, his tone icy: "Lin Jiayou, how dare you spread rumors and sow discord between us brothers!"
Lin Jiayou knelt down again, looking extremely terrified: "This humble official dares not! This humble official is only telling the truth! It is precisely because this matter involves the Qi family that this humble official dares not offer it to only one of the princes!"
"If we present it to the Fifth Prince, the Seventh Prince will think that the Fifth Prince wants to use this opportunity to suppress the Qi family. If we present it to the Seventh Prince, how can the Fifth Prince believe that such a great military achievement would fall into your lap for nothing?"
"Therefore, after much deliberation, I believe the only foolproof plan is to lay out the whole matter and let Your Highnesses decide together!"
"At that time, the Fifth Prince will gain military merit, and the Seventh Prince will gain a source of wealth. Everyone will get what they want. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation? As for Gu Qingchen and the Crown Prince, let them end up with nothing!"
His words were like a precise key, simultaneously unlocking the deepest desires in the hearts of both princes.
Military merits lead to wealth.
Zhao Zhang fell silent, staring at the sand table, his mind already calculating how much prestige this matter would bring him in the court and the army if it succeeded.
A calculating glint flashed in Zhao Rui's eyes as he weighed the profits and risks involved.
They were well aware of Lin Jiayou's instigation.
But the temptation was simply too great. So great that they were willing to risk being schemed against just to try their luck.
After a long silence, Zhao Zhang finally spoke, his voice deep and resonant: "Leave your things here. You, get out. If there is even the slightest falsehood in this matter, I'll make sure you don't see the sun tomorrow."
"Yes, yes!" Lin Jiayou felt as if he had been granted a pardon and scrambled out of the study.
The moment the door closed, the study fell into a deathly silence.
Zhao Rui stood up and slowly walked to Zhao Zhang's side. He looked at the list filled with rare medicinal herbs and gave a cryptic smile.
"Fifth Brother, it seems that our Young Master Lin is determined to give us a big gift."
Zhao Zhang didn't look at him, his gaze still fixed on the sand table, his voice cold and hard: "Whether he's sincere or not is not important. What's important is whether this order is real or fake."
"What if it's true?" Zhao Rui pressed, his tone low and menacing. "This batch of medicinal herbs, after passing through the Qi family's hands, was delivered to your people, and the final military credit reported will belong to you, Zhao Zhang, alone. Fifth Brother, do you think this deal is worthwhile?"
Zhao Zhang finally turned his head and looked directly at his younger brother, who was always shrewd and calculating, his eyes devoid of warmth.
"Whether it's worth it or not depends on seeing the goods. If the goods are not as described, not only will we lose our military merits, but we will also be in deep trouble. At that time, I'm afraid even your Qi family will not be able to bear the responsibility."
Before the words were even finished, the two brothers exchanged a glance, both seeing unfathomable greed and an equally unfathomable suspicion in each other's eyes.
The night was as dark as ink, and an inconspicuous blue cloth carriage was parked in a quiet, narrow alley in the capital.
The carriage curtain was lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles, and Lin Jiayou bent down and crawled in.
Only a small lantern was lit inside the carriage, its dim yellow light flickering and casting shadows on Gu Qingchen's profile.
He sat down opposite him, and an invisible sense of oppression immediately filled the small space of the carriage.
“The matter is settled.” Lin Jiayou spoke first, straightening his robes and trying to appear calm and composed. “The Fifth Prince and the Seventh Prince have accepted the order.”
Gu Qingchen sat motionless, not even lifting his eyelids, only letting out a soft "hmm" through his nose, as if he were merely reporting on the day's weather.
Seeing her coldness, Lin Jiayou felt an even stronger sense of humiliation at being used as a pawn.
He suppressed his displeasure, leaned forward slightly, and put a hint of what he thought was genuine worry in his voice.
"Qingchen, what exactly do you mean by this? This is no small matter. You've set up such a huge scheme to offend two princes at the same time. If you're not careful, not only you, but the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion will likely be..."
"Do I need to explain what I do to you?" Gu Qingchen finally raised his eyes, his gaze frighteningly clear in the dim light, carrying a chillingly insightful aura.
Lin Jiayou felt a tightness in his chest when she looked at him, and all the words he wanted to say stuck in his throat.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before him, a strong sense of resentment welled up within him.
He couldn't accept that the girl who once had his heart and soul completely devoted to him, who would blush and her heart race at the mere mention of his words, would now look at him with such eyes.
He adopted a tearful expression, his voice becoming hoarse and affectionate: "Qingchen, I'm not questioning you. I'm just... just worried about you."
He tried to pull Gu Qingchen's hand, which was resting on the small table, but she subtly avoided it.
“We grew up together. When have I ever hurt you? Have you forgotten that when we were kids at Bailu Academy, we made mistakes together and were punished by copying books together…”
"No matter how worthless I, Lin Jiayou, am, I will never stand by and watch you step into danger!"
His voice was filled with grievance and heartache, as if Gu Qingchen's actions were the cruelest trampling on their past friendship.
"Perilous situation?" Gu Qingchen suddenly laughed. The laughter was very soft, but it was like a knife chilled to the bone, scraping inch by inch across Lin Jiayou's face.
She finally looked at him directly, her gaze filled with undisguised mockery and contempt.
"Lin Jiayou, the danger you mentioned, did I set it up, or did you bring it here?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear, striking Lin Jiayou's heart like a heavy hammer.
As soon as she finished speaking, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
Gu Qingchen withdrew his gaze, his voice returning to its initial calm and even tone: "We've arrived, let's get off the bus."
Lin Jiayou looked at that face, so close yet so far away, his eyes churning with humiliation, resentment, and a hint of regret that even he himself was unaware of.
He awkwardly lifted the carriage curtain and tumbled out.
The carriage curtain fell, shutting out the chilly wind from the alley. Gu Qingchen sat quietly, listening to the rumble of the carriage starting to move again, and slowly closed his eyes.
The friendship of the past is like the wooden horse that Zhao Heng stole; it was once cherished, but once lost, it is lost forever.
Now, the empty space should be used to put something more useful.