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墨書 Inktalez
In the Golden Luan Hall, the Emperor sat on the Dragon Throne, his gaze sharp and profound, sweeping over the gathered officials like two piercing arrows. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn and heavy, with civil and military officials lined up on either side, each holding their breath in reverence, not daring to show any signs of negligence.
Amidst this grave ambiance, the Emperor's attention focused on the Lin Brothers. Lin Xiu Wen and Lin Xiu Wu stood side by side, their contrasting temperaments both exuding an extraordinary presence. Lin Xiu Wen wore a long blue robe, his handsome features radiating an air of scholarly elegance, with a glimmer of wisdom in his eyes; Lin Xiu Wu, clad in armor, was robust and resolute, his expression fierce and determined. Together, they represented the pillars of the nation—rare talents in the court.
"Lin Xiu Wen, Lin Xiu Wu," the Emperor spoke slowly, his voice booming and authoritative, echoing throughout the hall. "You two brothers, one scholarly and one martial, are indeed the backbone of our country. I wish to employ you both; what are your aspirations?"
Lin Xiu Wen stepped forward respectfully and bowed deeply. "Your Majesty," he began earnestly, "I wish to enter the Hanlin Academy to offer counsel for the court's reforms. I am well aware that our court faces numerous longstanding issues that urgently require sweeping reforms. I am willing to contribute my modest efforts to strategize for the court and advance the reform process, hoping for a more prosperous nation."
Lin Xiu Wu also stepped forward and clasped his fists. "I wish to join the Imperial Guards to train an elite force for Your Majesty. Having practiced martial arts since childhood, I understand the importance of a strong military. With the Northern Border and Northern Barbarians eyeing us covetously and tensions rising at the border, I am eager to train a formidable force for Your Majesty to ensure our nation's security."
The Emperor nodded in satisfaction and praised them. "Excellent! Your ambitions are commendable; you are indeed my capable arms. It is granted! However..." He paused slightly, his gaze flickering. "I have heard that you have a close relationship with Liu Rumei, the commander of the Imperial Guard?"
Lin Xiu Wen felt a pang of anxiety as he was about to explain when hurried footsteps echoed from outside the hall. Everyone turned to see Liu Rumei striding in confidently. Her tall figure and stern expression radiated authority enhanced by her Imperial Guard attire. She knelt on one knee and declared loudly, "I am Liu Rumei, here to pay my respects to Your Majesty."
"Rise," the Emperor gestured for her to stand and then asked, "Are these Lin Brothers indeed your recommendations?"
Liu Rumei stood up and nodded slightly. "Your Majesty, they are indeed my recommendations. However, I believe in promoting talent without avoiding personal connections. They possess genuine skills—both civil and military—and are rare talents for our court. I would stake my life on their integrity."
The Emperor laughed heartily at her words, exuding confidence and boldness. "What a fine principle of promoting talent without avoiding kinship! In that case, I appoint Lin Xiu Wen as an editor at the Hanlin Academy and Lin Xiu Wu as an instructor in the Imperial Guards. As for Liu Rumei..." He gave her a meaningful glance before continuing, "You will continue as commander of the Imperial Guard but must assist the Lin Brothers in investigating the Eastern Depot's remnants. Though it has been destroyed, I know there must be remnants that pose a threat to our court. As commander of the Imperial Guard, you must help them eliminate these remnants completely."
"We obey your command," all three responded in unison with loud and resolute voices that conveyed loyalty and responsibility.
After leaving court, Liu Rumei led the brothers to the Imperial Guard headquarters. Inside was bustling with activity; guards were moving about handling various affairs. With a serious expression, Liu Rumei brought them into a secret chamber where a large map displayed various terrains, passes, and military deployments.
"The situation is not yet resolved," Liu Rumei said solemnly, worry evident in her tone. "While we have thwarted Eastern Depot's conspiracy, there are still issues at the Northern Border with the Northern Barbarians..." She unfurled the map and pointed at the Northern Border region. "According to recent intelligence, they are gathering troops and seem prepared to march southward. Their movements are becoming increasingly frequent; tensions at the border are escalating."
Lin Xiu Wu frowned and asked, "Could it be that Eastern Depot was merely their pawn?"
"That is likely," Liu Rumei nodded gravely. "Eastern Depot aimed to control our court while Northern Barbarians seek to invade during this turmoil. Although Eastern Depot has been destroyed, the threat from Northern Barbarians remains. Moreover, current intelligence suggests some unknown collusion between Eastern Depot and Northern Barbarians; they seem to be using each other to disrupt our stability."
Lin Xiu Wen pondered for a moment before speaking up: "We need a strategy that can both deter Northern Barbarians and reassure our people. Their audacity stems from perceiving instability within our ranks. If we can stabilize our situation and show them we are not easy prey, perhaps they will think twice."
"What do you propose?" Liu Rumei asked with a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes.
Lin Xiu Wen's eyes sparkled with inspiration as he said: "A Marriage Alliance."
"A Marriage Alliance?" Lin Xiu Wu exclaimed in surprise with confusion evident in his voice. "You mean..."
"Exactly," Lin Xiu Wen affirmed with a nod. "I have heard that Barbarian Khan has a daughter who is wise and has always opposed war. If we can arrange her marriage with our Crown Prince, it might resolve this crisis at its roots. Barbarian Khan dotes on this daughter; if she marries our Crown Prince and becomes our Crown Princess, he would surely hesitate before launching an attack against us. Furthermore, marriage alliances have historically been effective in resolving ethnic conflicts—they can showcase our nation's grace while soothing public sentiment and stabilizing our situation."
Liu Rumei's eyes lit up as she responded: "That's a brilliant idea! However, this matter requires careful planning. A Marriage Alliance involves significant implications—not only does it affect relations between our two nations but also touches upon royal dignity and interests. We must proceed cautiously without revealing our intentions too soon lest we alert Northern Barbarians."
Just then, an Imperial Guard rushed in hurriedly with a panicked expression and breathless urgency: "Commander! It's bad news! Miss Su has been kidnapped!"
"What?" Lin Xiu Wen exclaimed in shock as worry washed over his face. Su Wanqing was his childhood friend; they had grown up together with deep feelings for one another. Hearing that she had been kidnapped sent him into a state of panic.
Liu Rumei was taken aback and quickly asked, "What happened?"
The Imperial Guard hurriedly replied, "Miss Su was kidnapped by a group of men in black on her way back to the manor. A letter was left at the scene, stating: 'If you want her alive, bring the Lin Brothers in exchange.'"
Lin Xiu Wu clenched his fists in anger and said, "It’s the Eastern Depot Remnants! These Remnants are so audacious to kidnap Miss Su to threaten us!"
Liu Rumei immediately ordered, "Search the entire city! We must find Miss Su and bring her back safely!"
However, Lin Xiu Wen suddenly interjected, "No, we can't make a big show of it."
"Why not?" Lin Xiu Wu asked, puzzled, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Lin Xiu Wen explained, "Since they dared to kidnap Miss Su, they must have some backing. If we search too openly, it will alert them and give them a chance to harm her. Moreover, since they know our identities, it indicates they are aware of our situation. Their purpose in kidnapping Miss Su may not just be to threaten us; it could also be to lure us into a trap and take advantage of us. Therefore, we must act without letting them notice our movements and proceed secretly."
Liu Rumei nodded and said, "Lin Xiu Wen is right. Since they dared to leave a letter, it shows they came prepared. We cannot fall into their trap easily; we must be cautious. Lin Xiu Wen, do you have any plans?"
Lin Xiu Wen smiled slightly and said, "Since they want us to exchange for Miss Su, then we might as well go along with it. However, we must not let them realize our true intentions. We can pretend to agree to their demands while secretly setting a trap to catch them all at once. This way, we can rescue Miss Su and capture these Remnants."
Both Liu Rumei and Lin Xiu Wu nodded in agreement. The three then began discussing the specifics of their plan. After some deliberation, they decided to act that very night.
That evening, the Lin Brothers arrived alone at an abandoned temple on the outskirts of the city. The temple was dilapidated, surrounded by overgrown weeds, giving it an eerie atmosphere. As Lin Xiu Wen and Lin Xiu Wu approached the temple's entrance, they saw a group of men in black escorting Su Wanqing out. She was tightly bound and wore an expression of fear and worry; however, upon seeing Lin Xiu Wen and Lin Xiu Wu, a glimmer of relief flashed in her eyes.
"Lin Brothers, you truly keep your word," sneered the leader of the black-clad men with a hint of mockery in his tone. "But do you think this will save Miss Su?"
Lin Xiu Wen replied calmly, "What do you want?"
"Very simple," the man said with a cruel glint in his eyes. "Your lives for Miss Su's life!"
Before he finished speaking, countless torches suddenly lit up around them. Liu Rumei led the Imperial Guard to surround the temple completely; the firelight cast fierce shadows on everyone’s faces.
Lin Xiu Wu shouted loudly, "You've fallen into our trap!" With that, he and Lin Xiu Wen sprang into action simultaneously. The brothers worked seamlessly together—Lin Xiu Wen was agile and quick with his strikes while Lin Xiu Wu was immensely powerful with each blow. Their combination of soft and hard techniques proved flawless as they quickly subdued the men in black.
After rescuing Su Wanqing, Lin Xiu Wen noticed she was tightly clutching a piece of paper. He quickly took it from her hands and unfolded it to reveal a map. Lin Xiu Wen exclaimed, "This is... a troop deployment map of the Northern Barbarians!"
It turned out that while being kidnapped, Su Wanqing had inadvertently overheard the black-clad men talking and learned about their connection with the Northern Barbarians. Risking her life, she had secretly drawn this map. Knowing its importance, she had held onto it tightly until she could pass it to Lin Xiu Wen.
Liu Rumei looked at the map with a grave expression and said, "It seems we must implement the Marriage Alliance as soon as possible. This map is enough to prove the collusion between the Northern Barbarians and the Eastern Depot Remnants. They are already prepared for invasion; if we don't act quickly, the consequences will be dire."
Lin Xiu Wen nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, we must act swiftly. I will report this matter to His Majesty immediately and request approval for the Marriage Alliance. At the same time, we need to strengthen border defenses to prevent any opportunistic invasion by the Northern Barbarians."
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