Chapter 425: Ridiculous Trap
Thinking of yesterday's unpleasantness, Gu Nianting showed a bit of impatience.
"There is no rest for a moment. It is not the busy hour yet. What is he doing here? No."
Lin Mu stopped the servant in time and turned to persuade Gu Nianting with kind words.
"I have heard that the two masters Qi and Tao have worked together for many years. They always arrive early every day despite being busy with work, and they have become role models for the Eighth Taiwan. Your Highness should cherish such talents. How can you turn them away?"
"Lord Qi has come in person, so he must have something important to tell you. I beg Your Majesty to allow you to see him."
Gu Nianting disagreed and tried to please by refuting.
"What kind of talents are these two? You are enough for me."
Lin Mu was pleased and smiled happily.
"I am overjoyed that Your Majesty has attached great importance to me."
After responding, he changed the subject and expressed his concerns.
"However, the prince's favor will inevitably lead to jealousy. The two adults are definitely not vindictive people. What we are afraid of is that there are hostile villains hidden in the Fengzhengtai, who may directly make things difficult, or spread rumors and lead others to confront each other."
"I'm new here, and I'm really nervous."
Gu Nianting smiled, still not taking it seriously.
"Master Lin, you are wrong. Fools have no strategy. How can they be your opponents?"
Lin Mu got to the point and his words were concise and persuasive.
"I was so focused on serving the prince that I didn't think about dealing with my colleagues, so I was inevitably schemed against."
After hearing this, Gu Nianting suddenly realized and nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, that makes sense."
For Lin Mu's safety, he agreed reluctantly.
"Then, let's see him."
Lin Mu immediately gave him a warm smile.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."
Gu Nianting couldn't help but smile.
"You and I are close friends, no need to thank me."
The scene of them smiling at each other seemed even more intimate than yesterday. Qi Lei walked into the dining room and took in everything. His heart sank and he could not smile at all.
He was unwilling to perform the ceremony, holding a document and a book of Feng Zhengtai in his hands.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
When Lin Mu heard this, he stood up and saluted.
"I wish you the best of luck, Master Qi."
Not wanting to see him tired, Gu Nianting gently tugged at Lin Mu's sleeve, motioning him to return to his seat.
"Just a casual greeting is enough. We are family, so we don't need to be so particular about these details."
Qi Lei was still being polite while paying attention to Lin Mu, but Gu Nianting didn't notice it at all. He picked up the chopsticks and started to pick up some food for Lin Mu.
"This dish is your favorite. Try the cook's cooking to see if it suits your taste."
Just this matter made Qi Lei so angry that he bowed again and couldn't help but remind him loudly.
"Greetings to His Majesty!"
Gu Nianting was frightened by him and couldn't sit still.
Lin Mu quickly reached out to help, deliberately showing concern, which formed a sharp contrast with Qi Lei's ferocious expression.
"Be careful, my lord."
After looking around, the difference was obvious. Gu Nianting glared at Qi Lei and immediately attacked.
"Why are you shouting so loudly? Are you disrespecting me?"
Lin Mu took the initiative to explain for him.
"Your Highness is very observant. Lord Qi is still being polite."
Gu Nianting was so furious that he couldn't suppress it at all.
"Didn't I just say that we are one family, so we don't have to worry about these little things? This means that you don't need to be polite, don't you understand? How can you plan things if you are so slow?"
As he was talking, he brought up yesterday's old account.
"With your talent, you still suspected that Lord Lin was faking his surrender yesterday? Even if he was faking his surrender, you couldn't have easily seen through it. Fools are often complacent. Do you think you are the smartest person in the world?"
Lin Mu gently stroked his back and comforted him in a soft voice.
"Why do you mean that, Lord Qi? Yesterday, it was just a misunderstanding."
"You are so intimidating. I am deeply frightened. Please calm down, Your Majesty."
Just a little coaxing and Gu Nianting started laughing.
"A few words of reprimand frightened him. Lord Lin is a very timid person."
Lin Mu lowered his eyes slightly to show respect.
"It is the majesty of the prince, enough to shock all living things. Who wouldn't be afraid?"
Gu Nianting's vanity was especially satisfied.
"You are such a chatterbox."
Sensing the atmosphere was quite strange, Qi Lei made a bold guess.
"Your Majesty... are you tempted by male beauty?"
Gu Nianting thought he had heard it wrong.
"what?"
Qi Lei once again spoke earnestly and patiently pointed out the strategy.
"Lord Lin used a beauty trap."
"There is no such thing as love between men. How could Your Majesty fall into such a ridiculous trap?"
When Gu Nianting first heard such remarks, he found them absurd and ridiculous, and he angrily rebuked them in a stern voice.
"My uncle said something that is so true. For a person with a dirty heart, everything he sees is dirty!"
"The king and Lord Lin are close friends, bosom confidants. How can there be any male beauty? This is nonsense!"
"Who says there is no affection between men? Is family affection an emotion? Is friendship an emotion?"
"In Lord Qi's opinion, love is the only thing left in the world? It's incomprehensible."
Qi Lei felt helpless and totally unable to understand.
"But this is obviously a honey trap. How can Your Majesty not see it?"
Gu Nianting refuted as a matter of course.
"How can two men use honey traps? Nonsense."
Fearing that he would be stigmatized, he emphasized the facts.
"You must not misunderstand me. I live in my own bedroom and arranged for Lord Lin to live in Jianjiaju. We have never had any intimate behavior!"
Qi Lei was speechless again, just like yesterday.
"This...I..."
Whatever he wanted to say, he couldn't say it, he could only think about it in his mind.
He didn't gain any advantage but just fell into the trap so hastily. Is Your Highness stupid?
On the other hand, Lin Mu was in a really difficult situation.
Just a few words are enough to complete a plan. This man's eloquence and strategy are well-deserved.
Alas, it would be great if Alliance Leader Qi was here.
Seeing through his thoughts, Lin Mu sneered quietly, turned around, and easily revealed a hint of innocence.
"In ancient times, most male favorites were weak. I guess it was because I was so thin and weak that Lord Qi misunderstood me."
Qi Lei looked at him with disdain and rolled his eyes at him without any hesitation.
"Whether it is a misunderstanding or not, Lord Lin knows it clearly."
Lin Mu didn't care about it and took it easy.
"It is indeed a misunderstanding. I know it clearly in my heart."
Qi Lei thought about how to deal with the situation and soon came up with an idea.
"Lord Lin is engaged. If this matter gets out, it will bring shame to the Gao and Lin clans. Lord Lin, please think twice before acting."
Lin Mu said something provocative without thinking.
"Master Qi, do you mean to spread rumors?"
When Gu Nianting heard this, he was immediately dissatisfied and ordered them to leave in a bad mood.
"Do you have any business here? If not, please return. I'm sorry I won't see you off."
Qi Lei glanced at Lin Mu and signaled to Gu Nianting in a deep voice.
"With outsiders present, it is difficult for me to report the serious matters. Your Majesty, please ask the attendants to leave."
Gu Nianting pretended not to understand what he meant and waved his sleeves to send the servant away.
"Go down."
Qi Lei was also dissatisfied when he saw this.
"Your Majesty knows who I am referring to."
Gu Nianting looked unmoved.
"If you want to talk, then talk. If you don't want to talk, then go away. This king doesn't have time to play dumb with you."
Qi Lei had no choice but to take a high stance against Lin Mu.
"If Lord Lin knows what's best for him, he should step away!"
Due to his high position, Lin Mu had no choice but to respond.
"I humble my duty and obey my orders."