Lin Ze stared at Lin Yanxi for a moment, and after confirming that no one else was in the room besides Tang Chao, he said, "Zhaozhao, what do you mean by this?"
Lin Yanxi questioned, "Father, do you think I really can't tell? Every time something happens, Tang Chao always disappears for a while during the chaos. Where did she go?"
Tang Chao's teacup fell to the floor in panic, shattering with a crisp sound as tea splashed everywhere.
She knelt on the ground, her head bowed, not daring to speak.
Lin Ze said, "It was my arrangement. I never agreed to you staying alone in Prince Mu's manor. You insisted on going, and as your father, I worried about your safety. I asked Tang Chao to report everything back to me. Is that wrong?"
Lin Yanxi retorted, "Is it only about my affairs?"
"The Dark Night Division encountered an ambush on their way back to the capital with the Jade Talisman. Who revealed the Dark Night Division's route back to the capital? Xiao Liu is always meticulous, but he never guarded against Tang Chao."
Lin Ze said, "Speak softer, walls have ears. Are you questioning me because of these things?"
He nervously walked to the door and looked outside. Fortunately, Shen Muzhou seemed unwilling to disturb their conversation and was waiting outside the courtyard, unable to hear their talk inside the room.
Lin Yanxi's gaze fell on Tang Chao. "You were the one who leaked the information."
Tang Chao, kneeling on the ground, trembled slightly, tears falling onto the floor one by one. "Miss..."
Lin Yanxi moved her gaze away, her lips trembling. She said coldly, "Tang Chao, you can go. Return to the Grand Tutor's manor and never follow me again."
Tang Chao shook her head frantically. She crawled forward two steps on her knees to Lin Yanxi's feet, grabbing her sleeve and crying, "Please, Miss, don't send me away. I've served you since I was little. I... I was foolish for a moment."
"Miss, don't send Tang Chao away. Let me serve you for the rest of my life."
Lin Yanxi closed her eyes, a crystal tear tracing a path down her cheek. Tang Chao was lively and clever, she understood her thoughts the best, and was the most favored.
Memories from past and present life flashed before her eyes. She couldn't bear to, nor could she be soft-hearted.
She opened her eyes and looked at her, asking calmly, "If you truly wanted to serve me for the rest of your life, why would you do such a thing?"
Tang Chao froze, and hesitantly asked in disbelief, "Miss, you... you know everything?"
Lin Yanxi had long sensed her strangeness and had investigated privately. She learned that Tang Chao had a deep relationship with Lin Shibai, and they often met in secret. Lin Shibai even wanted to take Tang Chao as a concubine, which led to several arguments with Lin Ze.
"If you had other intentions, you could have just told me directly and let me decide for you."
Tang Chao knelt on the ground, repeatedly kowtowing. She cried so hard she couldn't catch her breath, looking very disheveled and pathetic. "The First Young Master and I are truly in love. Shibai treats me very well. Since Father has been hesitant to give me a proper status, I had no choice. I was momentarily bewitched and agreed to be Father's informant."
"I also thought about telling you, but... but your relationship with the First Young Master isn't good. I was worried, worried you would also object."
This Lin Shibai was a prodigal son. He treated his wife, daughters, and family well. If Tang Chao insisted on becoming his concubine, Lin Yanxi wouldn't have objected, but there was no point in saying this now.
Lin Ze saw that Tang Chao had confessed everything. He didn't speak, only frowned and glanced at her dismissively before stepping aside.
A trace of blood seeped from Tang Chao's forehead. Lin Yanxi's heart softened. She reached out and supported her, saying, "You have put the entire Prince Mu's manor and me in danger. I cannot keep you by my side."
A betrayer would betray again.
"However, we have been master and servant, like sisters. When you marry Lin Shibai as a concubine, I will give you a dowry."
"Consider it my utmost kindness."
Tang Chao didn't know why, even though her wish had been granted by her Miss, she also understood that her relationship with her Miss would end here. She choked back tears, holding tightly onto Lin Yanxi's long sleeve, unwilling to let go.
"Miss, I'm sorry. I... I didn't know Miss would be hurt by this. Tang Chao owes Miss her entire life."
Lin Yanxi's tears hung in her eyes, silently falling.
She had lost another person by her side.
Tang Chao's emotions slightly calmed. Lin Yanxi still had things to discuss with Lin Ze alone, so she sent her off to pack.
After Tang Chao left, only father and daughter remained in the room.
Lin Yanxi clutched her aching chest and lowered her arm. "Tang Chao obtained the route map of the Dark Night Division's return to the capital from Xiao Liu and gave it to you. You then had the Crown Prince lead his men to intercept the Jade Talisman and hide it in the study."
"You knew full well that I would go to the Grand Tutor's manor to retrieve the Jade Talisman and deliberately placed it in a hidden compartment whose mechanism I knew, to let me steal it."
"Father, I just want to ask you one thing."
"Do you truly wish to support the Crown Prince?"
This entire charade had first intensified the conflict between the Crown Prince and Shen Muzhou, placing them in an irreconcilable opposition. After Shen Muzhou retrieved the Jade Talisman, he directly handed it to His Majesty, thereby escalating the conflict between His Majesty and the Crown Prince.
It seemed that neither of them gained any advantage. What was the purpose of doing this?
Lin Ze showed no reaction to her question. He calmly turned and looked at her. "Zhaozhao, you are overthinking things."
He walked closer step by step, embraced Lin Yanxi, and helped her sit back on the bed. "Alas, no matter what, I am your father. I scheme against everyone in the world only to prevent them from harming you in the slightest. How could I intentionally lead you into danger?"
"Father is not as omnipotent as you think. There were so many of the Crown Prince's guards in the Grand Tutor's manor. I never expected you to slip in successfully, nor did I expect you to steal the Jade Talisman."
She raised her eyes to look at him. When Lin Ze smiled, deep wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes. She nodded, choosing to believe him.
Lin Ze said, "Zhaozhao, be obedient. Come home with Father."
Lin Yanxi hesitated and said, "I haven't found the killer of Mother yet. I can't give up now."
Although there was still no clue about the perpetrator, she felt that she was very close to the truth, just a little bit away, but this little bit was where she couldn't start investigating.
Lin Ze knew her temperament. Seeing her thin and frail appearance, he couldn't bear to speak harshly to her and had to go along with her wishes. The matter was temporarily put aside.
"Alright then, you should first recover from your injuries."
"But you must remember, you cannot say those words again, especially not to Shen Muzhou."
Lin Yanxi nodded and said, "Father, don't worry. I know the importance of this."
In this regard, Lin Yanxi had never disappointed Lin Ze. She was much smarter than Lin Ruoyan.
The father and daughter talked about family matters, such as handing over the management of the household back to Madam Xu.
Lin Yanxi was too lazy to bother with these matters. Anyway, Madam Xu wouldn't dare to scheme for Mother's dowry anymore. Moreover, given the previous incident, Madam Xu wouldn't dare to squander so extravagantly again for some time.
As Lin Ze was about to leave, Lin Yanxi thought for a moment and finally spoke, "Father, I beg you, stop helping the Crown Prince plot against Shen Muzhou."
Lin Ze's footsteps paused. He didn't know if he agreed, but he only responded with an "Mm" and left.
Tang Chao had already packed her bags and was standing in the courtyard, waiting for Lin Ze to come out.
He glanced at Tang Chao and said coldly, "Let's go."
Tang Chao held her bag and looked back at her Miss, who was sitting on the bed and watching her quietly.
Li Zi didn't know what had happened. She ran back into the room and knelt on the ground, begging for Tang Chao. "Miss, please don't send Tang Chao away. She has been by your side since childhood. Where else can she go besides here, Miss?"
"The second branch is in charge of the Grand Tutor's manor now, and we have always been at odds with the second branch. She won't have a good life under Aunt Xu when she returns."
Lin Yanxi's expression was cold. She watched Tang Chao leave, looking back repeatedly, until she disappeared around the corner of the courtyard.
She lowered her gaze to Li Zi. "Go see her off. She will not return."
Li Zi remained kneeling, unwilling to get up. Seeing her Miss's firm stance, she wiped away her tears and said, "Then I will go see her off on behalf of Miss."
After speaking, Li Zi hurried to the manor gate. Lin Ze had already boarded the carriage and was slowly heading to the Grand Tutor's manor, with Tang Chao following behind the carriage.
Li Zi stopped her and gave her a small purse. "This is what I've saved over the years. I had good food and clothing by Miss's side, so I didn't need money. Take this for your use when you return to the Grand Tutor's manor."
Tang Chao insisted on not accepting it. "Please take good care of Miss for me. I have hurt her heart and have no face to accept your things. We will meet again if fate allows."
After speaking, she was about to catch up with the carriage that had already driven far away and return to the Grand Tutor's manor. She took two steps forward and saw a man holding a saber standing by the wall, silently watching her leave.
It was Xiao Liu.
The two exchanged a glance. Tang Chao's steps faltered for a moment, then she continued to walk forward.
Xiao Liu remained standing there, unmoving, until her figure disappeared from sight.
---
Moonfall Pavilion.
A faint sobbing could be heard from under a quilt on the bed.
Shen Muzhou walked in slowly, pulled back the quilt, and Lin Yanxi, with her red eyes, looked at him like a little rabbit.
He reached out his hand and wiped away her tears. "Cry, don't cry alone. I'm with you."
Lin Yanxi threw herself into his arms, trembling. She was not only sad about Tang Chao's departure.
The girl's small body sobbed in his arms for a while before she sniffled and looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with tears, deeply touching.
Shen Muzhou poured some warm water, wet a handkerchief, and gently wiped her tear-streaked face. He didn't ask a single question about Tang Chao's departure.
Her emotions gradually stabilized. "Has your cold ailment been cured?"
Shen Muzhou placed his hand on her face. A man's palm was always warmer than a woman's. Her soft, delicate face felt a gentle warmth emanating from his palm.
He said, "It has been cured."
"And the poison from the Rebirth Pill? Has that also been resolved?"
Shen Muzhou said, "It disappeared along with the cold ailment."
Only then did she relax and lie back on the bed. She asked again, "What about the Crown Prince's matter?"
He truthfully said, "Some evidence of his selling official positions and amassing wealth has been obtained, but there's no rush. A smart prey only gives you one chance to catch it. The net has been cast; we need to wait for the opportune moment to ensnare him."
"Compared to the Crown Prince's affairs, the drought in Nanmin is more distressing. Thousands of refugees pour into the capital every day. If this continues, the capital will not be able to bear so many disaster victims."
In her past life, too many refugees flooded the capital. At first, the Emperor still issued treasury silver for disaster relief, and the government set up porridge stations to aid the victims. This, precisely, attracted even more refugees, exceeding the government's capacity, and the porridge distribution was halted.
After the porridge distribution stopped, the refugees rioted and began to brazenly seize territory and food in the streets. The capital was plunged into bloodshed for a time, suffering heavy losses.
Lin Yanxi lay on the bed, her breathing still somewhat weak. "Don't worry, the drought in Nanmin will end in a while."
Shen Muzhou stared at her with a hint of confusion in his eyes and asked, "How do you know?"