diskusbooks Chapter 43 The Prince's Teacher
Chapter 43 The Prince's Teacher
"What conditions?"
Lin Ruobing hurriedly asked a question.
Li Lan smiled slightly: "Keep my knowledge of martial arts a secret. Don't tell anyone."
Making a move on Seeking the Dao Mountain was actually against Li Lan's original intention. He didn't want people to know that he could actually cultivate martial arts, and he didn't want people to know that he knew the True Dragon Skill.
However, Lin Ruobing could no longer keep it a secret.
Therefore, we had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure.
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruobing breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought Li Lan would make some unreasonable demands, and now she nodded and said, "Okay, I agree."
"But what about my sister...?"
She asked out of curiosity.
After spending time together, her attitude towards Li Lan had unknowingly changed. Li Lan was someone who was strong enough to be admired, both in terms of ability and character.
His only weakness is his poor talent in martial arts.
But now, Li Lan's talent is so amazing that if word gets out, not only will the martial arts world be shocked, but her sister will also take notice. Li Lan will then have the opportunity to develop a good relationship with Lin Ruoxue.
"No, not your father, not your sister, not your mother."
Li Lan shook his head and said, "If you dare tell anyone, then you owe me a bet... hehehe, and I won't let you off the hook then!"
He glanced at her, his eyes filled with a chilling threat and cruelty, and deliberately revealed a greedy scrutinizing look as he swept his gaze over Lin Ruobing.
Lin Ruobing blushed under his gaze, but then suddenly realized something and understood!
"No, brother-in-law, you're just trying to scare me!"
She suddenly realized that Li Lan was deeply in love with her sister and was not a lecherous person at all. Back then, he remained unmoved even when faced with Xueyue Fairy, the most beautiful courtesan of Zuiyue Tower!
How could he possibly lust after his own beauty?
I was just scared by Li Lan!
Thinking of this, she couldn't help but smile, her tension dissipating, and said, "You wouldn't do anything to me! But don't worry, my master said that everyone has their own secrets, so since you don't want to tell me, I won't tell anyone else either."
"However, I'm very curious, how exactly did you train like that? Your speed... is just too fast!"
Li Lan knew that Lin Ruobing, though seemingly willful, was actually kind-hearted and absolutely unambiguous on matters of principle. Her promise to keep it a secret reassured him considerably, but he still said:
"I don't know martial arts,"
He then reached out his hand to her.
Lin Ruobing placed her slender fingers on Li Lan's pulse and was immediately startled, because Li Lan's pulse was that of an ordinary person, without any trace of the strength of a martial artist.
"How could this be!"
She was even more confused.
"My ancestors had a connection to the immortals. I just relied on that connection to unleash some extraordinary power. It has nothing to do with myself."
Li Lan smiled and casually covered it up.
Lin Ruobing's promise was only the first layer of insurance; using this so-called "fate of immortality" as an explanation for his martial arts skills was the second layer of cover-up.
Lin Ruobing suddenly realized that Li Lan, who could read pulses, was definitely not a martial artist. Therefore, the only possibility for him to help her on the Mountain of Seeking the Dao was that he relied on external objects.
Thinking about this, she felt a pang of regret for some reason.
"Oh, right, my sister is coming back."
Lin Ruobing suddenly brought up the matter, then looked at Li Lan with a somewhat expectant expression.
"She's coming back, and you're getting married too."
Li Lan said calmly, "This was a decision made by His Majesty in front of the entire court, and there was nothing I could do about it."
"Ah, you're just going to stand by and watch me marry that Li Yue?"
Lin Ruobing felt even more aggrieved when Li Lan guessed her thoughts: "Brother-in-law, please help me! You're his teacher, you must have a way, right..."
She grabbed Li Lan's hand and shook it, looking utterly aggrieved and pitiful. Li Lan's heart stirred, and he said, "You can't escape marriage... However, if you don't want to lose your virginity, I might be able to help you delay it. When you are strong enough in the future, you can divorce him."
"However, that depends on your performance..."
Thus, Li Lan gained another way to manipulate her.
Knowing that Lin Ruobing knew martial arts, she was already a destabilizing factor in a sense. Even though she was kind, Li Lan would not place her hopes on her character.
Only by having threats and leverage can you firmly control people's hearts!
This is the third layer of protection!
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruobing's eyes crinkled with joy as she said, "Brother-in-law, I knew you were the best!"
"Don't worry, I'll definitely listen to you from now on!"
In this way, even if she gets married, it will only be a formality.
"Okay, I'll be going now, I won't bother you anymore."
After saying that, she turned and climbed out the window.
……
The next morning.
"Hmm? Today's breakfast is different?"
Li Lan looked at the soup that Yue Ran brought over, somewhat puzzled.
Yue Ran blushed slightly and said, "Young Master, this is tonic. You were too tired last night, so drink more."
Ever since Li Lan was attacked at Zuiyue Tower, she has rarely left his side, and she pays close attention at night, clearly hearing the banging sounds coming from her son-in-law's room...
That's so embarrassing!
However, she was inexplicably happy for Li Lan. After so much effort, her son-in-law had finally won her over, and the two had consummated their marriage.
Upon hearing this, Li Lan was completely bewildered. It took him a while to realize that Yue Ran might have been eavesdropping last night.
She mistook the sound of him spanking Lin Ruobing for...
"Never mind," Li Lan said, too lazy to explain. She smiled casually and picked up her soup to drink.
"Young Master, the First Prince has arrived. The Master requests your presence!"
Iron Mountain has arrived.
Li Lan immediately stood up and soon entered the main hall of the Lin residence. The handsome and refined eldest prince, Li Yue, was already discussing the engagement with Lin Zheng.
Li Yue attached great importance to the marriage alliance with the Lin family, and brought a great many gifts on this visit alone.
After all, he was practically isolated and helpless in the court. Now that the Third Prince Li Guan had become famous throughout the land, people from all sides would flock to Li Guan. There were very few people standing on his chariot, and the only heavyweight among them was his future father-in-law.
They talked for a long time.
"Students pay respects to their teachers,"
Li Yue stood up and gave Li Lan a deep bow.
Li Lan stood up, but accepted the gift with composure. This was a ceremony to formally become a disciple, and it was not considered presumptuous of Li Lan to accept it. He helped the Third Prince up and said, "Li Lan is of limited talent and learning, and I am truly uneasy about holding this position."
"Teacher, you are too kind. I would like to begin my cultivation journey with you today. May I ask that you move to the Brocade Palace?"
The Junior Tutor to the Princes resides directly in the Brocade Palace, instructing the princes at any time.
Li Lan thought for a moment and then said, "Very well, Li Lan obeys."
Li Yue smiled and immediately left the mansion with Li Lan, with only her personal maid Yue Ran following behind.
Lin Zheng saw them off.
After leaving the Lin family, Li Lan and Li Yue boarded the carriage together. The prince's carriage of the Jinxiu Palace was naturally luxurious and extraordinary, with brocade and silk curtains and precious redwood beams. Three snow-white horses slowly pulled the carriage, and the people on both sides of the street bowed to them.
Everyone knows this person is a member of the royal family.
"These three horses look very fine; they must be well-fed."
Inside the carriage, Li Lan suddenly praised Li Yue's horses. Li Yue was slightly puzzled, but still said, "Teacher is right. These three horses are fed by nine grooms. In addition to grass, they also need seasonal fruits such as peaches and pears, as well as fine grains such as millet and barley."
"If you like it, teacher, I'll have someone send one to your residence later."
Everyone knows that Li Lan has been appointed a Hanlin Academician. Such a high-ranking official is already entitled to have his own residence in the capital. It's just that he hasn't made arrangements yet, but it's only a matter of time.
"The monthly cost of such a fine horse is roughly equivalent to the annual livelihood of a family."
Li Lan shook his head and said, "Your Highness, how about we go somewhere together?"
Li Yue was even more puzzled, but still nodded.
Immediately, the carriage turned around, leaving the bustling central street and heading towards the desolate and bleak slums. Soon after, it arrived in front of a cluster of low and dilapidated houses.
The place was incredibly filthy and chaotic. The roads were full of potholes and puddles, and there were large numbers of homeless people and beggars lying on both sides. It even emitted a stench similar to that of corpses.
"Your Highness, this place... is not a safe place."
The eldest prince's personal maid, Xiuzhu, spoke up to remind him.
But Li Lan had already gotten out of the car, so Li Yue had no choice but to follow. His embroidered shoes stepped into a patch of mud, and he couldn't help but frown.
"What brings the young master here?"
Yue Ran was also curious.
The surrounding refugees all turned to look.
They usually wandered around the capital begging, constantly being driven away and beaten. They were always on the margins, ignored by everyone, and no high-ranking officials or nobles would ever come to this area.
These people were dressed in tattered and filthy clothes, hiding among dilapidated and abandoned houses. Their bodies were emaciated, and their eyes showed fear, terror, hatred, and scrutiny.
“These people are all homeless migrants,”
Li Lan calmly said, "Over the years, not to mention the influx of refugees from outside, even in the capital, there are many wealthy families who have become one of them because of a single word, an order, or a trivial mistake made by the court."
Li Yue sighed and said, "The court's policies in recent years... have indeed been quite biased."
He naturally couldn't criticize Emperor Xianxian too directly.
"Does Your Highness have any money on you?"
Li Yue shook his head and turned to look at the maid Xiuzhu. Xiuzhu said, "...I brought some, but not much."
"Please give them to them, Your Highness."
As he spoke, he took out a large bag of copper coins from his person and handed it to Li Yue.
-- Lin's Cloth Shop is doing very well now, and Li Lan receives a lot of money from the account every month, so he made some preparations in advance.
Li Yue was puzzled, but he did as he was told. He took the money and said awkwardly, "Everyone... come and collect your money!"
Upon hearing this, the surrounding slums erupted in commotion. Some of the bolder vagrants, their eyes gleaming, rushed towards Li Yue, attempting to snatch the item.
However, Yue Ran and Xiu Zhu, who were both extraordinary martial artists, immediately stepped forward and easily kicked the group away. The others who were itching to make a move also dared not move anymore.
"Line up, one family, three copper coins each!"
Li Lan spoke.
Li Yue nodded: "Yes, everyone line up..."
Under the forceful suppression, the refugees were quickly organized into order. Li Yue personally distributed the money. At first, his actions and words were very unnatural, and he was somewhat evasive when touching those dark hands, but he still forced himself to endure it and distributed all the money.
"Thank you so much, kind sir!"
"My benefactor!"
"Kind sir, may you live a long and healthy life!"
In an instant, the displaced people who received the money all knelt down excitedly and shouted.
Li Yue had never experienced such a scene before and was momentarily stunned. Li Lan calmly stepped forward and said, "This is the current Crown Prince Li Yue. He cares about the poor and will send someone to deliver porridge tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, the poor were even more excited and chanted the name of Le Viet.
"His Highness Li Yue is such a kind person!"
"Your Highness Li Yue, you have the people's best interests at heart!"
"Great!"
Everyone was overjoyed!
Having lived deep within the palace and experienced countless intrigues and treacherous storms in the court, Li Yue was moved by the scene before him and felt compelled to say something.
But Li Lan was already whispering beside him, "Your Highness, shall you try the True Dragon Technique?"
Upon hearing this, Li Yue seemed to have thought of something. He immediately closed his eyes and began to circulate the True Dragon Technique. Shortly after, he suddenly opened his eyes and exclaimed in shock, "The True Dragon Technique... it actually seems to have activated a tiny bit?!"
He stared at Li Lan in disbelief!
As a direct descendant of the royal family, he was naturally very familiar with the True Dragon Technique, but he had tried it hundreds of times without any success!
He even concluded that since he was ultimately a woman disguised as a man and not a true dragon, he could not succeed in cultivation.
Why has things changed now? It's like a tightly sealed barrier has finally started to loosen a little!
……