Luo Jingxin clenched her fist, her eyes filled with hatred. She paused for a moment, her venomous gaze locking onto her before she left the Grand Tutor's mansion without another word.
After Luo Jingxin's departure, Lin Yanxi pondered whether her relationship with Shen Muzhou could be considered one of affection.
Affection comes in many forms, not necessarily romantic love. They had faced life and death together several times, which could also be considered a form of affection.
Tsk tsk, she quickly shook her head, wondering why she was comparing these things. It must be that her mother's death had clouded her judgment.
After leaving the Grand Tutor's mansion, Luo Jingxin went to the Fifth Prince's residence.
Her intention was to beg everyone, to let the entire capital witness her deep devotion to Shen Muzhou, thus forever making Shen Muzhou indebted to her.
Furthermore, Shen Yu might be the only one in the imperial palace willing to help Shen Muzhou.
Shen Yu was drunk, holding a jade wine cup in his hand, and had to be supported by two dancers just to leave the room.
The two dancers were provocatively dressed, with graceful figures.
Luo Jingxin frowned, covering her nose with a handkerchief, disgusted by his boorish breath.
Upon seeing Luo Jingxin, Shen Yu smiled, "What a rare visitor. Even the aloof Princess Zhaoyang deigns to visit me."
Luo Jingxin curtsied and said, "I have come on behalf of the Ninth Prince. Could you please intercede with His Majesty on his behalf?"
Shen Yu gave a bitter smile, released the two dancers, and sat down dejectedly on the floor, saying, "Don't you know? I am the prince most disliked by my father. How can I plead for Ninth Brother?"
In reality, Luo Jingxin saw through the palace dynamics. She didn't believe Shen Yu was the least favored. On the contrary, the Empress doted on her youngest son immensely. Although the Emperor publicly showed disdain, he privately indulged and favored him.
Otherwise, given his uselessness, he would have been banished from the capital long ago.
It was simply that the royal family did not need a prince like him.
Shen Yu was also a loyal and righteous person, but also a coward who did not wish to offend his father and elder brothers. He would undoubtedly need some persuasion to be willing to risk his life to help Shen Muzhou get out of prison.
"If you are willing to plead for the Ninth Prince and ask the Emperor to release him, my Anchang Prince's mansion is willing to form a marriage alliance with the Fifth Prince."
"Are you serious? Jingxin, you are willing..." Shen Yu felt his drunkenness suddenly clear. The beautiful woman's hairpin swayed in the breeze, adding a touch of elegance and nobility to her.
Luo Jingxin impatiently interrupted him, "Can my Anchang Prince's mansion lie to you?"
"So, do you agree or not?"
Shen Yu joyfully exclaimed, "Good, wait for me. I, I will go to the palace to beg my father right now."
He staggered a bit due to his drunkenness and walked back into the room to change his clothes before heading to the palace.
Luo Jingxin had already made her plans. Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, she let out a cold laugh.
---
The guests had dispersed from the mourning hall. Madam Xu entered the hall, rubbing her waist, and sighed at Lin Ze, "Ah, this day has exhausted me."
"With so many guests coming to pay their respects, it's a good thing I helped you receive and send them off, ensuring no disrespect to these noble families."
"My Lord, since the Madam has passed away so suddenly, perhaps I should manage the inner household affairs for now."
Lin Yanxi knelt on the ground and let out a cold laugh. Her almond eyes narrowed slightly, her expression mournful yet tinged with mockery, "Aunt Xu, your scheming is so loud that my mother can hear it from the netherworld."
"I find it strange that in this mansion, with my father, the legitimate daughter, and a descendant of the Jiang family present, not a single guest among the crowd came for you, Madam Xu. What are you busy rushing around for?"
"If one didn't know better, they would think that the Grand Tutor's mansion has no one, and a mere concubine is handling them."
Madam Xu trembled with anger, "Hmph, as I am blessed with long life, of course, the guests did not come for me."
Lin Yanxi stood up from the ground, her legs numb from kneeling for too long, causing her to sway.
She pursed her lips, her eyes red from crying. Her originally graceful almond eyes turned fierce and unruly. She enunciated each word, grinding her teeth and asking, "Blessed with long life?"
Madam Xu was intimidated by her aura and stepped back repeatedly, fearing she might go mad and do something.
Lin Yanxi looked at her and said, "So you are saying my mother lacked blessings and deserved to die so early?"
"People like you can only live in the gutter your entire life. What blessings do you deserve?"
Lin Ze shook his head, "Enough, Zhaozhao, you are too tired. Go back and rest."
Lin Yanxi turned her head to look at Lin Ze. Her eyes, initially filled with confusion, then flashed with disappointment before she lowered her gaze.
Her father was siding with Madam Xu.
Madam Xu knew that Lin Yanxi was not to be trifled with. Her gaze fell on Lin Ruoyan, and she said to Lin Ze, "With so many significant events happening in the mansion, Ruoyan will have no one to look after her when she returns. Perhaps it would be better to send her to Yuán Yù for her studies. In two years, my lord can arrange a good marriage for our third girl."
Lin Ze hesitated after hearing Madam Xu's words.
Lin Ruoyan hid behind Lin Yanxi and whispered, "I... I can take care of myself."
Madam Xu smiled, "This third girl speaks foolishly. How can you take care of yourself? Raising a young lady in the capital is not as simple as eating and dressing."
Lin Ruoyan grabbed Lin Yanxi's hand, lowering her head sadly. She had promised her mother that she would not be sent away again. Now that her mother was gone, she had no one to back her up.
Lin Yanxi squeezed Ruoyan's small hand and said, "She doesn't want to leave. My sister doesn't want to leave the Grand Tutor's mansion."
"As long as I am here, if Ruoyan doesn't want to leave, no one will take her away."
Lin Ze also agreed. He sternly said to Madam Xu, "I don't want to hear you say such things again. Can't my grand Grand Tutor's mansion raise two young ladies? If you truly find it too much to manage with the number of people here, then send your own daughter away."
"I have already said that I would send you and Lin Yuan back to the ancestral villa. This is perfect for both of us."
Lin Ruoyan's eyes filled with tears. She looked gratefully at her elder sister and father, who were her foundation in the Grand Tutor's mansion.
Madam Xu was rebuffed, "Yuan'er is not feeling well lately and cannot travel far. I was merely casually mentioning Ruoyan's matter. If you disagree, then forget it. Why get angry?"
Lin Ze said displeased, "I was not speaking casually. Alright, everyone go back and rest."
After everyone had left the main hall, Lin Yanxi glanced back. Lin Ze was looking down at the coffin. Because Jiang Wan's death was tragic and horrifying, the coffin was only slightly ajar.
Lin Ze's gaze was filled with grief. His hand trembled as he touched the coffin, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
Lin Yanxi turned her gaze away, her heart complex.
After everyone had dispersed, Lin Ze murmured to himself, "I'm sorry..."
Lin Yanxi returned to her room and summoned Si Yue.
On the table lay a broad saber, a piece of soft golden armor, and a bundle.
Si Yue immediately knelt on the ground, "Miss, what are you doing?"
Lin Yanxi looked at him and asked, "I ask you, have you ever done anything to wrong me?"
The Dark Guard had discovered that Lin Ruoyan had been drugged with an aphrodisiac. It had taken effect just as she entered the palace. Lin Yanxi had asked Ruoyan if she had eaten anything. Ruoyan had mentioned eating some snacks outside and Si Yue's osmanthus cake that day.
Although she didn't want to suspect Si Yue, it was indeed strange that Si Yue had brought the osmanthus cake that day.
Si Yue paused, then shook his head, "No. Miss, even if I die, I would never harm you."
His dark eyes looked directly at Lin Yanxi, filled with sincerity and determination.
Lin Yanxi was taken aback by his sincere and bright eyes. She had been through too much recently.
Including her mother's death, which made her more sensitive and suspicious. She believed in Si Yue's loyalty and shouldn't have doubted him.
However, she failed to notice that as Si Yue lowered his head, a hint of guilty panic flickered in his eyes, quickly concealed.
He was not lying. He would rather die than harm Lin Yanxi. As for others, he had no choice but to do what he did to protect his younger brother.
Lin Yanxi had him rise from the ground and touched the soft golden armor, "Try this on. I bought it from a blacksmith. He said it's impenetrable to blades and spears."
"And this broad saber, its blade is sharp and its hardness is moderate. If you keep it with you at all times, you will be able to break through any encirclement and carve out a path for yourself."
"In this bundle, I have packed some clothes and travel expenses."
Si Yue's voice trembled slightly as he asked, "Miss, you don't trust me?"
Lin Yanxi shook her head, "I trust you. I have seen your loyalty in the two months we have been together. Now that my mother has experienced such a tragedy, I suspect the Crown Prince is involved."
Mentioning the Crown Prince, Si Yue's expression clearly became unnatural.
"If I want to contend with the Crown Prince, I need my own forces. You are my forces. Don't forget I said you are destined to be a great general."
"I will wait for the day you become a general and return to help me."
Si Yue was silent for a long time, then nodded heavily.
Lin Yanxi continued, "The Jiang Changshi in the military camp is my maternal uncle. With my personal letter, he will arrange everything for you."
Si Yue, tears welling up, wiped his eyes, "Miss, I will definitely become a great general. When the road ahead is perilous, Si Yue will help Miss clear the path."
Miss, Si Yue has kept track of every day for these two months. I will do my best to climb to the position of general as soon as possible, escape the threat of the black cloak, ensure your safety, and help you achieve your goals soon.
---
Zongzheng Temple.
Shen Muzhou was bound to a wooden frame, his body covered in blood. Two jailers held short cowhide whips with barbs, the barbs soaked in brine. With every lash, strips of flesh were torn away, revealing raw, tender red meat.
The Zongzheng Temple Minister sat on a wooden chair, drinking tea. A few drops of blood from the whip accidentally splattered on his face.
"Hiss, watch it! Where is all this blood splashing?"
He wiped his face with disdain and then chuckled as he looked at Shen Muzhou's tortured state.
The whip whistled through the air before landing heavily on Shen Muzhou's body. The barbs on the whip, mixed with brine, dug into his flesh before being quickly pulled away.
The Zongzheng Temple Minister took a sip of his tea and said, "Ninth Prince, I bet you never expected to be in this situation."
"Heh heh, not just you, even I never expected the once high and mighty Ninth Prince to be like this today."
"Back then, when I was just a junior minister, I was working with the Ninth Prince. I merely overlooked one hidden detail, and the Ninth Prince actually ordered me to be tied to the mansion gates and whipped a hundred times."
"A hundred times! At that time, my son was only five years old. He was so young and had to watch his own father being whipped. My child was so frightened. He knelt on the ground crying 'Daddy, Daddy,' begging you to stop hitting his father."
"Since then, my son has suffered from heart palpitations, which he has not been able to cure to this day."
"In the days that followed, I thought day and night, praying that the Ninth Prince would never fall into my hands. Otherwise, I would definitely make him taste the humiliation and torture I experienced. But you probably already know, which official in the court have you not offended?"
"I can be considered kind and merciful."
Hearing this, Shen Muzhou weakly lifted his eyelids, his breath shallow, and said, "Do you know that detail was crucial for the conviction? You caused the deaths of six people, an entire family, leaving behind only a helpless little girl."
"That little girl also had to watch her parents and grandparents die before her eyes."
"Who could she have asked to spare her family's lives?"
However, he had indeed killed too many people, and he couldn't recall if the Temple Minister's son had been present begging him when he reprimanded the minister that day.
The Zongzheng Temple Minister waved his hand and smashed the teacup to the ground, "Enough, why are you acting like a saint here?"
"Who in this capital doesn't know that you, Ninth Prince, are ruthless and cruel? If you anger you, you wouldn't spare even women and children."
"Go, sign this. It will be easier for both of us."
The jailer took the confession from his hand and presented it to Shen Muzhou, which included an admission of guilt for stealing the jade talisman.