How many days can the top rich boyfriend live?

Chapter 626: That Ci Jinglin, is he a couple with Lin Cheng?

Jiang Luo stepped into the gate of Hanlin Academy, feeling a little nervous and full of expectations. Hanlin Academy is the cultural heritage of the court, gathering the best talents in the world. Everyone here is well-read and talented. Although Jiang Luo is the new champion, standing here, he still feels like a young man who has just entered the world, and he can't help feeling a little uneasy.

His boss is an old Hanlin who is over fifty years old. His surname is Li. He is rigorous and kind. When Hanlin Li saw Jiang Luo, he smiled and said, "Master Ci, welcome to the Hanlin Academy. You are so young and have won the top prize. You are really a young man to be feared. From now on, we will work together for the court and benefit the world."

Jiang Luo bowed respectfully and replied, "Master Li, you are too kind. I am new here and I still have a lot to learn. I hope you can give me more guidance."

Li Hanlin nodded and said, "You are too modest. However, the Hanlin Academy has many affairs, especially the editing job, which requires carefulness and patience. These are the memorials and classics you will be responsible for next. Please familiarize yourself with them first."

Jiang Luo took the file from Li Hanlin and was secretly grateful. He knew that Li Hanlin was paving the way for him so that he could adapt to the work of the Hanlin Academy as soon as possible.

Jiang Luo sat at his desk, opened the file, and began to read carefully. As he read, he took notes on paper, carefully sorting out the contents of each memorial. His pen tip danced on the paper, his handwriting was neat and powerful, and every stroke revealed his concentration and seriousness.

Time passed quietly, and it was not until the sky darkened that Jiang Luo raised his head from the files. He stretched himself, feeling extremely fulfilled. He found that he had a great interest in these government affairs, especially those memorials about people's livelihood and governance, which made him feel a great responsibility.

At this moment, Lin Cheng pushed the door open and walked in, holding a pot of hot tea in his hand. Seeing Jiang Luo still busy at the desk, he smiled and said, "Xiao Luo, take a break, don't tire yourself out."

Jiang Luo raised his head and saw Lin Cheng, a smile appeared on his face: "Xiao Linzi, why are you here?"

Lin Cheng placed the teapot on the table and said in a gentle voice, "I saw that you hadn't come back yet so late, so I came to see you. Although the affairs of the Hanlin Academy are important, you should also pay attention to rest."

Jiang Luo nodded, picked up the teacup, and took a sip. The fragrance of the tea spread in his mouth, bringing a hint of warmth. He sighed and said, "The affairs of the Hanlin Academy are more arduous than I thought, but I like the work here very much. Every memorial is related to the livelihood of the people of the world, and I feel a great responsibility. However, I also know that my father's affairs can't be delayed any longer. Li Hanlin was a good friend of my father when he was alive. They were from the same school, and he intended to support me. Xiao Linzi, maybe we can get some clues from Li Hanlin."

Lin Cheng lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, but pointed out a fact: "Li Hanlin is the Fourth Prince's man, and his concubine's daughter married the Fourth Prince as a concubine. Do you think he really wants to help you?"

Jiang Luo was slightly stunned, thinking that he seemed to be really naive. The officialdom was indeed not as simple as he thought.

Jiang Luo's heart sank slightly after hearing Lin Cheng's words, and the smile on his face gradually faded. He put down the teacup in his hand, looked at the file on the table with a complicated look, and whispered: "Xiao Linzi, you are right. I am indeed a little naive. The officialdom is like a battlefield, and people's hearts are unpredictable. Although Li Hanlin was a fellow student of my father, he is now the fourth prince's man. How can he really help me?"

Lin Cheng walked up to him, patted his shoulder gently, and said in a gentle but firm tone: "Xiao Luo, you don't have to blame yourself. You just entered the officialdom, so it's inevitable that you will be a little idealistic. But now that you have seen the situation clearly, you must act more cautiously. We must not only vindicate the Jiang family, but also gain a firm foothold in this officialdom and not be easily used by others."

Jiang Luo nodded, a trace of determination flashed in his eyes: "Xiao Linzi, you are right. I can't be naive anymore. We must find out the truth about my father's affairs by ourselves."

Lin Cheng smiled slightly, with some approval in his eyes: "This is the Jiang Luo I know. Don't worry, no matter how many difficulties and obstacles there are ahead, I will be by your side and face them with you."

Jiang Luo felt warm in his heart, and he nodded gently: "Okay, you have to be careful too. The emperor has not seen you since he returned to Beijing this time, and I don't know what he thinks."

Lin Cheng snorted coldly and said, "The emperor is watching to see which party I am on. He hasn't seen me for so many days, isn't it just to see which prince I want to make friends with."

Jiang Luo asked: "Who has come to see you these days?"

Lin Cheng replied: "The Fourth Prince, the Eldest Prince, the Sixth Prince, and... the Fifth Princess."

Jiang Luo was slightly stunned: "Even the princess came to see you? Why did she... look for you?"

Lin Cheng avoided the question and said, "It's not important. Xiaoluo, you've been in the capital for so long, it's time to go around. Why don't I accompany you to the West Market tomorrow? I heard there are a lot of calligraphy and paintings there. Let's see if there's anything you like."

When Jiang Luo heard Lin Cheng mention the fifth princess, he couldn't help but feel a little puzzled, but seeing that Lin Cheng obviously didn't want to talk more, he didn't ask any more questions. He nodded and followed Lin Cheng's words and said, "Okay, I haven't had a good look around the capital since I came here for so long. I've always wanted to see the calligraphy and paintings in the West Market."

Seeing that he stopped asking questions, Lin Cheng's eyes flashed with relief, and he said with a smile: "Then it's settled. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."

Jiang Luo smiled slightly, picked up the teacup and took a sip. The fragrance of tea spread in his mouth, bringing a hint of warmth. His eyes fell on the files on the case, but he felt a little uneasy. He knew that the situation in the capital was much more complicated than he thought. The fourth prince, the eldest prince, the sixth prince, and even the fifth princess were all competing secretly. And he and Lin Cheng were inevitably involved in this vortex of power.

The next morning, Lin Cheng arrived at Jiang Luo's yard early, and the two went to Xishi together. Xishi is one of the most prosperous markets in Beijing. Shops are lined up on both sides of the street, and the shouts of vendors are heard one after another. The air is filled with various aromas. There are calligraphy and painting shops, cultural and antique shops, and antique stalls, which have attracted many literati and scholars to come to Taobao.

Jiang Luo and Lin Cheng strolled along the street, their eyes wandering among the dazzling array of goods. Jiang Luo was particularly interested in a calligraphy and painting shop, which was full of various calligraphy and paintings, including landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures, with different brushwork and styles.

The shop owner greeted them warmly when they came in and said, "Gentlemen, are you here to look at calligraphy and paintings? We have just received a batch of works by famous artists. If you are interested, you may take a look."

Jiang Luo nodded, his eyes attracted by a landscape painting. The mountains in the painting were undulating, surrounded by clouds and mist, the brushwork was delicate, and the artistic conception was profound. He looked at it carefully and couldn't help but exclaimed: "This painting is powerful and the artistic conception is profound. It is indeed a masterpiece."

Seeing that Jiang Luo knew what he was looking for, the shop owner quickly introduced: "Young Master, you have a good eye. This painting was created by Li Mo, a famous artist from Jiangnan. It is rarely seen on the market."

Jiang Luo was about to ask about the price, but Lin Cheng suddenly pulled his sleeve and whispered, "Xiao Luo, look over there."

Jiang Luo followed Lin Cheng's gaze and saw a group of people standing at the corner of the street. The leader was a young woman in gorgeous clothes, with beautiful appearance and noble temperament. She was followed by several guards, obviously of extraordinary status.

Jiang Luo asked in a low voice: "Who is that?"

Lin Cheng smiled slightly, with a hint of teasing in his tone: "That is the fifth princess."

Jiang Luo was startled, and quickly retracted his gaze, whispering: "Why is she here?"

Lin Cheng shrugged and said in a relaxed tone: "Maybe she is here to go shopping. However, we'd better avoid her to avoid unnecessary trouble."

Jiang Luo nodded, but he felt a little uneasy in his heart. He always felt that the appearance of the fifth princess was not accidental.

The two continued to stroll in the West Market. Jiang Luo took a fancy to an inkstone and was about to buy it when he heard a cold voice behind him: "Sir, can you give me this inkstone?"

Jiang Luo looked back and saw the Fifth Princess standing behind him, her eyes fixed on the inkstone with some anticipation in them.

Jiang Luo's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed: "Greetings, Fifth Princess."

The Fifth Princess smiled slightly and said in a gentle tone: "No need to be polite. I really like this inkstone. I wonder if you would like to give it up?"

Jiang Luo hesitated for a moment and was about to speak, but Lin Cheng spoke first: "Since the Fifth Princess likes it, we naturally dare not take it away from her. The inkstone will be given to the princess."

The Fifth Princess glanced at Lin Cheng, a meaningful smile flashed in her eyes: "General Lin is really generous."

Lin Cheng smiled calmly and said respectfully, "Princess, you are too kind."

The fifth princess nodded, her eyes stayed on Jiang Luo for a moment, then she turned and left.

Jiang Luo looked at the Fifth Princess' back, and his doubts deepened. He whispered, "Xiao Linzi, why did the Fifth Princess suddenly appear? She seems to be quite familiar with you."

Lin Cheng sighed softly, with a bit of helplessness in his tone: "Xiao Luo, we don't need to delve into the Fifth Princess's affairs for now. Her identity is special, and being involved too much may not be a good thing for us."

Jiang Luo nodded. Although he still had some questions in his mind, he did not ask any more questions when he saw that Lin Cheng was unwilling to talk more.

After buying the inkstone, the fifth princess returned to the carriage. There happened to be a young man in gorgeous clothes sitting in the carriage. This man was the fourth prince.

The fourth prince lowered the curtain of the carriage and asked, "Fifth sister, how is it? Do you think this General Lin is okay?"

The Fifth Princess was pretty and the apple of the Emperor's eye. She snorted softly and said rather arrogantly, "It's OK! He is indeed good-looking, but I think that Master Ci beside him is better-looking."

The fourth prince sneered and said, "Fifth sister, don't say that. You stole someone else's things and praised him for his good looks. If you try to steal his husband later, do you think he will have a good impression of you?"

The fifth princess was surprised and asked, "Are you saying that Ci Jinglin and Lin Cheng are a couple? They are both men!"