Chapter 315: The Ultimate Goal

Time passed by, and the whispers grew louder. Some speculated why Lin Dong was so bold, while others discussed how the new prefect would handle this situation. At noon, beautifully dressed maids arrived with trays, and the courtyard fell silent once again.
Everyone knew the master was about to arrive. They sat upright, occasionally glancing at the dishes on the table, slightly stunned.
Braised beef, steamed soft-shelled turtles, lotus-leaf chicken… To ordinary people, these were fine dishes. But the guests here were all wealthy or noble—either high-ranking officials in Autumn Wind City or top-ranking elites from various industries, each with fortunes of millions of silver taels. They didn’t even bother to glance at these dishes.
When all the dishes were served, seeing the table full of chicken, duck, fish, and meat, the guests showed disdain and even forgot about Lin Dong for a moment.
Since this was a banquet for prominent figures in Autumn Wind Mansion, even if the new prefect wasn’t a prince and was a bit short on funds, he should have brought rare beasts or precious materials, or at least duck tongues and bear paws. Such shabby arrangements were worse than not having a banquet at all. Just because he was the new prefect, wouldn’t people from Autumn Wind City flock to host a welcome banquet? Why go through such trouble for no reward?
“Thyme…” A plump elite noticed a note on the wine jar and instinctively looked up at Lin Dong, who was sitting alone at his table. Seeing the dishes on his table, his eyes widened in shock.
Turtle stewed with maple leaves, energetic beef balls, steamed wind-snow fish… Anger began to rise in the elite’s heart. He had eaten almost all these dishes at Lin’s Inn, which used rare beasts and precious materials. Aside from two signature dishes that were slightly cheaper—only two taels of silver—each other dish consisted of third- or fourth-tier rare materials, costing at least five taels per plate.
In fact, any one of the over thirty dishes on the main table was worth as much as several dishes from the other tables combined.
Poor-quality dishes meant the host was stingy or financially strained. The dishes here were hundreds of times worse than those on the main table—this was tantamount to ignoring or even insulting everyone else but the guests at the main table.
Whether it was as a prince or the new prefect, the guests were outraged. They might not dare to retaliate, but they surely harbored resentment.
Suddenly, the entire courtyard became eerily quiet, and the atmosphere grew increasingly strange.
“The prefect has arrived!”

Nearly two hundred pairs of eyes all turned toward the corner of the courtyard leading to the back house, where a young man dressed in official robes, about sixteen or seventeen years old with a delicate appearance, stepped out slowly. Two bailiffs followed closely behind him. The young man was not tall, and his face still carried a hint of youthfulness, but the aura of someone in a position of authority, along with his stern gaze, made it impossible to underestimate him. Although they were upset, everyone forced a smile, stood up, and bowed to greet him. At the main table, Lin Dong secretly sighed. This young man was none other than Liu Xiu, the best employee at the inn. After glancing at everyone’s slightly flattering smiles, Liu Xiu slowly turned his gaze toward Lin Dong, his eyes filled with indescribable excitement and joy. Taking a deep breath, Liu Xiu strode over to the main table and, under everyone’s intense stares, came to stand in front of Lin Dong. Before Lin Dong could speak, he bowed and said, “Congratulations, Brother Lin, on your growing business.” Gasps could be heard everywhere. Whether they had come to watch a show or were worried about Lin Dong, everyone was utterly astonished. This prince actually knew Manager Lin. And judging by his attitude, he seemed to hold him in great respect. That maid hadn’t been wrong after all. If even the prince showed such respect, just how high must Manager Lin’s status be? “Thanks to the prince, business is indeed going well,” Lin Dong replied with a bow. “It’s been years—why do you seem so distant, Brother Lin?” Liu Xiu said disappointedly. “In Liu Xiu’s heart, Brother Lin has always been the person he respects and admires the most. But it seems Brother Lin has forgotten about Liu Xiu, the younger brother who once taught and helped him.” “Then… shall I call you Liu Xiu as before?” Lin Dong asked with a smile. “Thank you so much for your kindness, Brother Lin!” Liu Xiu nodded eagerly. The wealthy families and officials stared at Lin Dong with growing enthusiasm. This Manager Lin was truly extraordinary! It was one thing to have a close relationship with Deputy Magistrate Li Jiancheng before, but although surprising, it was still within acceptable limits. But look at this new prefect and prince—his attitude went far beyond a simple close relationship; it was almost unbelievable. Anyway, the facts were clear. With such an attitude, Manager Lin would likely be able to do as he pleased within the territory of Qiufeng Mansion. To establish a relationship with him would be no less valuable than doing so with the new prefect.

While everyone was still thinking, Liu Xiu had already sat down beside Lin Dong and whispered, “To be honest with Brother Lin, I actually arrived three days ago. It’s a pity Brother Lin wasn’t here, and I also wanted to give him a surprise. I originally planned to have Ma Chun deliver the surprise to him, but unexpectedly, I ran into Brother Lin returning. Is Brother Lin satisfied with my arrangements for today?”
“What’s there to be satisfied or not? You know well that I’m not very interested in vanity,” Lin Dong replied casually.
“There must be a little bit, right?” Liu Xiu said with a smile.
“Just a tiny bit…” Lin Dong laughed.
Liu Xiu’s smile grew wider. “Just a little bit is enough to make all my efforts worthwhile. By the way, I can thank Brother Lin for allowing me to come to Qiufeng Mansion.”
“How does that relate to me?” Lin Dong asked in confusion. “Weren’t all the princes cleared in the assessment this time?”
“Well, I had to survive until now too. Brother Lin doesn’t know,” Liu Xiu explained softly. “As soon as I returned to the capital, I encountered big trouble. If it weren’t for learning from Brother Lin what it means to remain calm and fearless, I wouldn’t be alive today.”
“What happened? Tell me,” Lin Dong asked curiously.
Liu Xiu nodded and recounted everything that had happened to him since returning to the capital.
Sitting at the same table as a prince, with himself at the head seat, Lin Dong didn’t feel the slightest discomfort. Watching Liu Xiu, who was smiling and talking about his experiences over the past two years, Lin Dong also smiled and interjected from time to time, pretending to restore their old familiarity, while constantly weighing the pros and cons in his mind.
Lin Dong believed that two years ago, given his status in Liu Xiu’s eyes, Liu Xiu would die if ordered to, and a single word from him would carry as much weight as an imperial edict.
After three days, he had to look at Liu Xiu differently. Now, Lin Dong was certain that the Liu Xiu before him was definitely not the same as the one from two years ago. The Liu Xiu from two years ago, though clever, was timid, kind, and indecisive. Based on the information he’d gathered over these days, Lin Dong concluded that the current Liu Xiu was calm, decisive, and shrewd.
Of course, the current Lin Dong was also not the same as the one from two years ago. After so many years of trials and hardships, plus daily practice in the Four Illusion Arrays, his judgment and composure were far beyond what Liu Xiu remembered of him.
By quietly subduing the officials in the mansion, Lin Dong was sure that Liu Xiu had been in Qiufeng City for at least half a month.

It’s been over half a month since he arrived, yet not a single word has come from the government office. Such ability is definitely beyond what an ordinary person can achieve. Likewise, it’s impossible to say there’s no purpose behind it.

The only thing Lin Dong can’t figure out right now is Liu Xiu’s goal—whether it’s to seize the throne or to benefit the people.

Judging from the tactics Liu Xiu has shown, he very likely has ambitions to claim the throne. But the timing seems a bit too late. In terms of power, status, and wealth, he’s almost negligible compared to the previous princes. More importantly, unless Emperor Qianwei lives another ten years or so, there won’t be enough time for Liu Xiu to build the strength needed to compete for the throne.

As for benefiting the people, his methods seem somewhat ruthless. Lin Dong believes that within the Han Dynasty, aside from Zhou Zhengye, who was trained by him and Fu Chunjian, it’s extremely difficult to find another honest official with such ruthless tactics.

Any honest or upright official would never stoop to using such methods to suppress and torment subordinates and the wealthy merchants in the city.

After talking about his experiences over the past two years, Liu Xiu personally poured wine and served dishes for Lin Dong, his gaze fixed on him the whole time. It seemed as if Lin Dong was the only guest at this banquet, and the other nineteen tables of guests didn’t even exist.

Seeing this, the more than two hundred wealthy merchants, officials, and nobles who stood there, too afraid to sit down, first felt awkward, then annoyed, then angry, and finally, their expressions became anxious. Each of them looked at Liu Xiu, who acted as if no one else was around, still wearing a faintly flattering expression, but their hearts were tumultuous.

With such an attitude, the new prefect was clearly trying to establish his authority.

To establish authority, killing a chicken to scare the others is an inevitable tactic.

The reason everyone was anxious was that they might be the “chicken” or that the new prefect saw them all as such.

If it was the former, it depended on who would be unlucky. If it was the latter, then it was unclear to what extent the new prefect intended to go.

If the new prefect didn’t have much backing, they could unite and overthrow him. With their combined strength, they could easily neutralize him. The problem was that the new prefect also had the status of a prince—a status that was extremely sensitive. One misstep could lead to disaster.

To what extent should the bottom line be lowered?

Everyone racked their brains to figure out their own bottom line and exchanged glances with acquaintances around them. At the main table, Lin Dong chatted cheerfully with Liu Xiu, occasionally patting his shoulder, as if he truly regarded Liu Xiu as a junior.

Finally, all five pots of red wine on the table were drunk, and every kind of spiritual beast and material on the table had been tasted. Lin Dong patted his round belly, took the handkerchief handed to him by the maid, wiped his mouth, and said leisurely, “I’m full!”
Liu Xiu, who was about to pick up a beef ball, put down his chopsticks and said with a smile, “Brother Lin, how about I accompany you back to the inn later? Over the past two years, aside from you giving me a new life, the person I’m most grateful to and will never forget is Old Master Ding.”
“Of course!” Lin Dong nodded with a smile. “The old man is still the same—in this world, drinking and sleeping come first.”
Liu Xiu’s eyes sparkled with longing. After a moment, as if coming back to his senses, he asked, “Brother Lin, can I sit here for a while and watch a good show before leaving?”
“I knew you would come up with so many tricks—there’s definitely nothing good about it.” Lin Dong leaned back in the wooden chair and waved his hand lazily. His part in the show was over, and it had gone well—probably in line with his style from two years ago. Now, Liu Xiu was the main character again, while he would have to shift from a supporting role to a background figure.
“Brother Lin is truly unique—you see through everything.” Liu Xiu smiled gently and scratched his head.
“Call me if you need help!” Lin Dong smiled at Liu Xiu. If it were the him from two years ago, he might have seen Liu Xiu’s cunning, but he would never have noticed his pretense. He would still see him as the Liu Xiu who had sworn to repay him at any cost.
To be honest, Lin Dong believed Liu Xiu wasn’t completely fake; otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted so exaggeratedly. Just treating him equally would be enough to make everyone remember that there was someone in Qiufeng Mansion who could influence the new prefect.
Half true, half false!
Although half of it was true, Lin Dong didn’t have any goodwill toward the current Liu Xiu.
He wasn’t used to being used as a tool, and now, to ensure the continued development of Lin’s Inn while avoiding risks, he had to play along as a tool—this was what really annoyed him.
“Thank you, Brother Lin!”
Liu Xiu expressed his gratitude, and for the first time since sitting down, his gaze shifted toward the guests who had been ignored for over half an hour.
The stiff smiles on everyone’s faces deepened even more.
Ignoring their smiles, Liu Xiu stretched out his right hand, and a stack of rice paper covered in dense handwriting appeared in his hand.
He placed the stack on the table, pulled out a sheet from the middle, glanced at it, and said with a cold look in his eyes, “I wonder which one of you is the owner of Hengyang Gold Shop?”

“Your Majesty, the Prince.” Ye Laisheng, the owner of Hengyang Gold Shop, was heartbroken. He tried to step forward, but his legs trembled so badly that he couldn’t move.
“My current title is the magistrate of Qiufeng Mansion, not a prince,” Liu Xiu said calmly. “Remember that.”
“Yes, sir, the magistrate.” Not only Ye Laisheng but everyone else nodded eagerly.
“Boss Ye, please come here. I have some questions for you,” Liu Xiu waved him over.
Ye Laisheng’s face was ashen. Not long ago, he had muttered that Manager Lin would suffer misfortune, but now, not only had Manager Lin avoided misfortune, but he was also highly respected by Liu Xiu. As for him, he had become the first to be used as a scarecrow.
If he had known this would happen, he should have strongly advised Manager Lin to leave his seat back then. Now, Manager Lin would at least show some face.
Like everyone else, they believed Ye Laisheng was doomed, but unlike their attitude toward Lin Dong before, they were now anxious, fearing they might become the next Ye Laisheng. Only those who had some acquaintance with Lin Dong remained somewhat calm.
Watching Ye Laisheng tremble and take only a few steps after a long while, Liu Xiu’s delicate face showed no sign of irritation. Instead, everyone wished they could push Ye Laisheng in front of him so the matter could be resolved quickly, so they could know the outcome and stop worrying.
Finally, Ye Laisheng reached three meters from the main table. Sweating profusely, he felt exhausted as if he had climbed several mountains. His body shook violently, as if he might collapse at any moment.
Liu Xiu picked up the rice paper in his hand and slowly read aloud, “In the 17th year of Qianwei, Ye Laisheng forced Xiao Cui, a woman from Xiliu Street, to be his concubine, injured three people, and settled the matter by paying 1,000 taels of silver. In the 21st year of Qianwei, his eldest son got into a dispute in Wuli County; his followers blinded the other man’s right eye, and he paid 500 taels of silver to settle it. In the 23rd year of Qianwei, he had a business conflict with the owner of Yang’s Gold Shop, bribed the then magistrate Lu Qian, and falsely accused him of selling fake gold jewelry, forcing him to close down. In the 28th year of Qianwei…”
With a thud, Ye Laisheng knelt on the ground, begging for mercy, “Sir, please spare my life!”
Liu Xiu continued to list Ye Laisheng’s crimes one by one before finally looking up and asking, “Ye Laisheng, do you admit your guilt?”
“I’m innocent! Sir, please see the truth—I’m innocent!” Ye Laisheng dared not admit guilt and quickly changed his plea from asking for mercy to claiming innocence, praying inwardly that the prince’s intention was merely to extort silver rather than seek justice for the people. If it were the latter, he would surely be doomed.
“Innocent?”

Liu Xiu tore the rice paper in his hand into pieces and threw them on the ground. Then, with a motion of his right hand, a gleaming sword appeared in his grasp. In a flash, he was right in front of Ye Laisheng and thrust the sword fiercely at his chest. With a hiss, Ye Laisheng widened his eyes in disbelief, slowly looking down at the sword in his chest. Moments later, as Liu Xiu slowly pulled the sword out, Ye Laisheng collapsed helplessly. The crowd was in shock, all showing signs of panic. Without even giving them a chance to explain, this new prefect appeared in the eyes of everyone as a brutal murderer. “Daring to slander the prince? Execute them on the spot!” Liu Xiu glanced at the panicked crowd and said coldly, “I hope no one will dare to leave their seats or show disrespect to the prince.” Those who had intended to leave stopped in fear. Their gazes at Liu Xiu were filled with terror, as if they were looking at demons from hell. First, he wouldn’t let people address him as “Your Highness,” and now he used his prince status to intimidate them. Add to that everything that had happened before—this 58th prince was clearly insane! Only a madman would act in such a way without leaving a trace. Lin Dong frowned slightly; he finally understood Liu Xiu’s ultimate goal. The dragon throne! Such extreme measures were undoubtedly meant to bring all the influential people in Qiufeng City under his control at once. It was a highly risky move. After all, even princes couldn’t control everything on their own. The people present were either wealthy or noble, especially some officials who had connections higher up. Though this method was bloody and shocking, it couldn’t guarantee that no one bold enough would report it. If that happened, Liu Xiu would likely become the target of other princes and suffer severe consequences. The failure would bring huge losses, while the benefits of success were minimal. Once successful, by using coercion to control these people and then appealing to their interests under the guise of being a prince, he could firmly take control of Qiufeng City within a month or two. Such benefits meant little to a prince. Unless he wanted to quickly gain the capital to compete for the throne, using his status as a prince to resort to such methods would prevent the situation from becoming high-risk with low returns. “Brother Lin, is my speed okay?” Liu Xiu suddenly turned to look at Lin Dong. “After taking the Reverse Meridian Pill, it took you two years to go from the first level of the Agile Phase to the sixth level. How dare you show off…” Lin Dong said bluntly. Liu Xiu smiled sourly, turned around, and flipped through the stack of rice paper on the table. Under the gazes of over two hundred terrified people, he pulled out one sheet from the bottom.