In fact, it was they who... uh, did away with Prime Minister Lin.
But neither dared speak of it and could only maintain their silence.
So in the study, Yuwen Luanfei sobbed like a little wife, while Bai Junjun and Li Wenli guiltily looked everywhere but at him.
After Yuwen Luanfei had cried enough, the two shook their heads.
Indeed, Yuwen Luanfei only suited times of peace, inheriting the mantle smoothly; the slightest turbulence in troubled times terrified him. Yet, the future held perils a hundredfold more dangerous than Prime Minister Lin’s disappearance; what would he do then?
"With Prime Minister Lin missing, Your Highness mustn’t grieve. Although there’s a chance that other forces meddled, there’s an even greater possibility."
"He himself belonged to a different faction; he simply left in secret."
"Impossible," Yuwen Luanfei shook his head vigorously like a rattle-drum, "He even gave me his daughter in marriage. How could he harbor double intentions? He’s not foolish enough to earn my trust at the cost of his own daughter, is he?"
Bai Junjun and Li Wenli responded with silence.
"..." Yuwen Luanfei: "No, it can’t be, right?"
"You are part of the Royal Family; you have seen many more shady dealings than us. Whether it’s possible, you judge for yourself."
Yuwen Luanfei opened his mouth as if to speak, then fell silent, having nothing to say.
"Not just Prime Minister Lin, in fact, the Imperial Court you’re dealing with is the mess the Former Emperor left behind. Yet, were all these people loyal to the Former Emperor? Not necessarily.
Just like Prime Minister Lin, perhaps he was initially aligned with another prince’s faction, only to drift towards you and then play the double agent.
If those in the Imperial Court are not ones you have personally supported, it’s impossible to entrust them with your heart; even those you have, must be handled with care.
So let it be if he’s gone; there’s nothing to fret over."
Hearing these words, Yuwen Luanfei’s eyes were filled with weariness.
"I should never have come to the Imperial Capital. Had I not handled this hot potato, I would still be an idle prince today."
"That’s not necessarily true," Li Wenli shook his head, "If you hadn’t made do and taken control of the Imperial Capital back then, by now you would already be under a mound of earth."
After all, it was a struggle for succession; even if he wanted to slack off, others wouldn’t have believed it.
Yuwen Luanfei slumped, feeling that being born into the imperial family was probably the most distressing affair of his life.
Quietly, Yuwen Luanfei took a Heart-protection Pill from his sleeve and swallowed it. He always felt miserable when he thought about the birth he couldn’t choose.
Watching Yuwen Luanfei resort to medication at the drop of a hat, Bai Junjun couldn’t help but say, "You really are something else, perfectly healthy yet determined to imagine yourself sick."
Yuwen Luanfei managed a wan smile, "It’s like the canary, bound to fall ill from pining for the freedom outside someday.
I don’t know how long I can hold out, so let’s just take it one step at a time.
Speaking of which, I’m truly happy to have reconnected with you both; if there’s one benefit to the nation’s chaos, it’s the chance to reacquaint with and befriend you two once again."
Upon hearing Yuwen Luanfei’s flattering words, Bai Junjun sensed something amiss, and sure enough, Yuwen Luanfei quickly switched gears, "I’m really in a tough spot at the moment. Could you help me out first? My demands aren’t high. After the meeting with the Three Kings, whether you wish to stay here or go somewhere else, I’ll fulfill your wishes, and even gift you luxury carriages, beauties, gold, and silver if you desire!"
Sometimes it was hard to tell whether Yuwen Luanfei was genuinely naïve or just pretending to be.