After I died, the scumbag prince cried down the city wall

Chapter 217 Ambition

However, even though he had doubts in his heart, he still maintained a loyal attitude, turned the ornately decorated carriage, and drove slowly towards the deep and narrow path of Sophora japonica Lane.

His heart was full of curiosity and confusion, but his years of service as a servant had taught him that sometimes execution was more important than questions.

Song Yanyi's gaze fell on her slightly swollen lips. His gentle movements seemed as if he was treating the most precious porcelain in the world. His fingers caressed them lightly, and every touch seemed extremely delicate.

He gently wiped away the bloodstain with his thumb. There was both pity and reluctance in that action, as if at this moment, all the complex emotions were condensed in this subtle action.

Then, he pressed his lips lightly against the top of her head. That kiss was both a farewell and a declaration. His voice was as deep as the night, yet it contained an unspeakable chill.

"Since you miss him so much, I want you to see with your own eyes who he is."

There was an indescribable determination and resolve in these words.

The knock on the door was crisp and loud, and it seemed particularly abrupt in the quiet night.

Su Yue, a smart and gentle maid, stepped forward quickly almost as a conditioned reflex and gently opened the door.

Outside the door, a kind-faced woman was carefully supporting Cui Rong, who looked a little weak. Under the moonlight, their figures seemed a little thin and helpless.

"Miss! What happened to her?"

Su Yue's voice was full of anxiety. She quickly took over Cui Rong, who was almost unable to stand. Her concerned eyes were like the sunshine in winter, warm and bright.

"This young lady seemed to be overwhelmed by the alcohol while dining at my Zuixianlou and ended up getting drunk. Our shopkeeper was kind and asked me to take her home safely. Fortunately, although this girl was in a daze, she still remembered her address."

The woman's voice was gentle and carried a hint of pride, as if she had accomplished a remarkable task.

Su Yue thanked her repeatedly, her gratitude overflowing with words: "Thanks to you, Auntie! I am really sorry to bother you."

"You're welcome. This is what I should do."

The woman's smile was warm, like a warm current in winter, making people feel at ease.

As the door creaked shut, the room returned to silence, with only the candlelight swaying in the breeze, casting mottled light and shadows.

And in that dark place where no one knew, Song Yanyi stood alone on the corner of the street, watching the door slowly close from afar until everything returned to calm.

He was silent for a moment, then turned and left, his steps firm and indifferent, as if nothing that had just happened had happened.

"Go to the prefectural capital and ask the prefect to come see me tomorrow morning."

The command was still brief, but it revealed an irresistible force.

"Yes."

The answer was equally concise, but the firmness in it was self-evident.

---

The first ray of sunlight in the morning came through the window and quietly woke up Lin Han.

He slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying in a bedroom in the government office.

For a moment, the memory seemed a little fuzzy, and the fragments of last night were like scattered beads, difficult to string together.

"How did I get back?"

He whispered, a hint of confusion in his voice.

At this time, the lawyer walked in quickly with a relieved smile on his face: "My lord, are you awake? Yesterday, my lord was out for a social gathering and seemed to have drunk too much. He suddenly fainted on the way back. Thanks to a few clever yamen runners, they carried my lord back safely."

Lin Han frowned and gently massaged his temples with his hands, trying to dispel the remaining dizziness: "I just had one drink, how could I be so drunk?"

There was a sense of disbelief in his tone, and more of it was self-mockery.

Upon hearing this, the master couldn't help but chuckle: "It seems that you really can't drink much, you need to practice more. In the officialdom, there are frequent social events, and drinking capacity is a big test."

Lin Han stood up, walked to the copper basin, scooped up a bucket of cold water and splashed it on his face. The cold touch made him a little more sober. "You said you had something urgent to ask me, what is it?"

The master's eyes suddenly became unusually bright: "Oh! Speaking of this, I am very excited. This morning, a salt merchant named Qian asked to see you, saying that he came all the way from Yangzhou to discuss important matters."

"Salt merchant?"

Lin Han repeated the word, and couldn't help but feel a little curious.

"Yes, Your Excellency may not know that salt merchants are extremely wealthy in Jiangnan. However, because our Qingzhou is located in a remote area with an underdeveloped economy, such merchants usually only choose to operate in prosperous places. This money merchant not only has an extraordinary background, but is also extremely generous!"

The master's words were full of longing for unknown opportunities.

"What does he want from me?"

There was a hint of inquiry in Lin Han's voice, as well as a subtle hint of expectation.

"It is said that he intends to settle down in Shiya County. He is a native of Shiya County and wants to return to his roots as he grows older. Your Excellency should understand that no matter where such a businessman goes, the first thing he should do is to establish good relations with local officials. He obviously wants to seek your protection and support."

The master explained, with a hint of pride in his tone.

A gleam of light flashed in Lin Han's eyes. Since he took over as the county magistrate, although Shiya County was not wealthy, local dignitaries still came to visit him and presented him with various gifts.

What they value is the power in his hands, and for him, it is an honor and a responsibility.

However, it is an indisputable fact that Shiya County is poor. Even the Zhang family, the largest merchant, is far less wealthy than the wealthy people in the south of the Yangtze River. He does not care about those merchants who throw money around.

"Then please ask him to come in."

Lin Han instructed calmly, with a tone of confidence that was not easily revealed.

"Ok."

The lawyer responded and hurried out to start making arrangements.

Lin Han simply tidied up his appearance and sat at the desk, waiting for the arrival of the mysterious salt merchant.

Not long after, a man in his fifties, slightly plump and gorgeously dressed, slowly walked into the room. He was dressed in silk clothes, and every step he took revealed an extraordinary demeanor. It was obvious that he was a wealthy man.

He bowed respectfully to Lin Han, his voice loud and humble: "Master Lin, I am honored to meet you."

Lin Han smiled and waved his hand gently to indicate that he didn't need to be so polite: "You are too polite, please take a seat."

Mr. Qian sat down slowly, with a warm and sincere smile on his face: "Not long after I returned to Shiya County, I heard that Lord Lin had just taken office. He was very heroic and capable. He was so young and could achieve such great things. He will surely become a great man in the future."

"Your Excellency is too kind. I am just a minor official. How dare I talk about promotion?"

Lin Han smiled self-deprecatingly, but his eyes flickered with barely perceptible ambition.

"Alas, sir, you should not be so modest. Your talent and courage are exactly what is scarce nowadays. I am eager to make friends with Lord Lin because I hope to get your help in the future and work together for great things."

Mr. Qian's words were full of sincerity, but also revealed a hint of subtle ambition.