My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

Upon hearing this, Lin Yunzhen's voice faltered slightly, and his expression turned rather unsightly as he said, "After all, she was one of my household, and once my woman for a time. Even if she was just a lowly woman, even though she's dead now, she's not someone outsiders can touch."

"If she were left behind, how would you handle her? Give her a grand and honorable burial?"

Cheng Guang became curious.

Lin Yunzhen was taken aback by the question. He simply didn't want Zhang Shunlong to take Liu Yuting away—his dislike for Zhang Shunlong was one reason.

The other reason was that Zhang Shunlong's deep affection for the deceased Liu Yuting annoyed him to the point it was unbearable.

How could such lowly people have any love?

If there really was deep love and passion, why did that woman just strip and run to his bed with a mere flick of his hand?

Faced with Cheng Guang's question, Lin Yunzhen fell silent for a moment. Dealing with someone like Liu Yuting would naturally not involve a grand and honorable burial. Most likely, she'd be wrapped in a mat and carelessly discarded on some mass grave.

But such words, Lin Yunzhen couldn't bring himself to say.

He simply said:

"Princely Heir, you needn't concern yourself with how I deal with her."

"In any case."

"She cannot be taken away by him."

As Lin Yunzhen spoke in this manner, Cheng Guang couldn't help but sneer with amusement.

When that woman was alive, she was just like a plaything—discarded carelessly once done with her. Now, for the sake of his own face, he wouldn't even allow someone to take away her body. Enjoy more content from m-v l'e|-NovelBin.net

"What if I want to take her away?"

Cheng Guang looked intently at Lin Yunzhen.

Lin Yunzhen's complexion turned ugly, clearly not expecting that Cheng Guang would offend him for the sake of Zhang Shunlong and a woman so lowly she was beneath contempt.

Even though Cheng Guang was the noble Duke of the State's Heir, Lin Yunzhen was, after all, the son of the Prime Minister. There was a gap in status, but not a significant one.

To come to his mansion and act in such a manner, it was indeed disrespectful to him.

A twitch appeared at the corner of Lin Yunzhen's eyes, and his lips quivered slightly as he started to say something, only to realize an invisible force had sealed his throat, leaving him unable to utter a word.

A faint smile appeared on the face of Lin Gongfu standing beside him, who then stood up a little and let out a hearty laugh.

"Princely Heir, my son is somewhat thoughtless. If the Princely Heir wishes to take this woman away, then please do so."

"It really is a fickle world, isn't it? How did this woman come to commit suicide in my mansion?"

"If only I had noticed earlier, perhaps I could have saved a life," said Lin Gongfu, his aged face showing a hint of sorrow and self-reprisal. "From now on, I suppose I must instruct the stewards in my mansion to pay closer attention; such incidents must not occur again."

Cheng Guang watched the old face of Lin Gongfu, and after a moment felt that this old fox was being extremely discreet, even though he cared as little for Liu Yuting's life as anyone else.

Yet on the surface, he had given Cheng Guang some respect and exhibited a degree of care and self-reproach.

If the Prime Minister himself was like this, how many amongst all the nobles in the entire Great Zhou truly cared for those of the lower strata?

There are many who come from humble beginnings that eventually rise, but how many more remain that cannot even be considered humble?

Their lives are probably as insignificant as ants; upon their deaths, they probably won't even make a splash, right?

Cheng Guang found Lin Gongfu's act at the moment utterly distasteful. Had they shown disrespect to himself, he could have lashed out, teaching Lin Yunzhen a lesson.

However, both Lin Gongfu and Lin Yunzhen were men of deep cunning. Lin Yunzhen might still have some youthful zeal, letting emotions get the better of him to the point of recklessness.

But Lin Gongfu was different—he would never offend Cheng Guang rashly.

And he most certainly wouldn't offend Cheng Guang over a lowly woman who had already died; hence, he consented for Cheng Guang to take the person and leave.

Cheng Guang said no more and slowly stood up, walking toward the throne room exit.

Liu Hao, who was nearby, also didn't dare to stay any longer. Regardless that his daughter died in Prime Minister's Mansion, regardless of the grievous nature of her death, and regardless of the unknown torment she suffered before her death,

Liu Hao didn't dare to express a trace of dissatisfaction towards Lin Yunzhen or Lin Gongfu.

With his head bowed, supporting the already fainted Mrs. Wu, he quickly followed in Cheng Guang's footsteps, heading out of Prime Minister's Mansion.

Watching Cheng Guang leave the hall, Lin Gongfu patted Lin Yunzhen and gave him a look of slight helplessness.

"Yunzhen, you must control your emotions in front of the Princely Heir. He is not someone you can compare yourself with."

Lin Yunzhen rubbed his throat, coughed once, and then, with a slightly heavy expression, looked towards Lin Gongfu.

"Father, your status and influence are not less than Cheng Zhihai's or the Duke's, and your power is even slightly greater. Why are you so cautious around the Princely Heir?"

Lin Gongfu shook his head: "You don't understand, our Prime Minister's Mansion holds its power by the grace of the Emperor. If the Emperor wishes it, I can no longer be Prime Minister, and our mansion could crumble overnight."

"But the Duke Zhen's Mansion is different. Even if the Emperor wishes otherwise, it won't change the fact that the Duke is a Sky-Man, nor can he touch the million-strong Northern Expedition Army under the Duke's command."

"Perhaps, previously they could have done something to challenge Cheng Zhihai's Bureau of the Lamp, but after the incident with the crown prince, the Emperor can't touch the Bureau of the Lamp, for the moment at least," he added.

Pausing slightly, Lin Gongfu's expression turned strange, "Moreover, do you know that the Princely Heir was also involved? Almost single-handedly, he rooted out the crown prince. With the Bureau of the Lamp soon to be in the hands of the Princely Heir, I doubt even the Emperor could interfere."