Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 174 Parting and Reunion Are Inevitable

Then, he stepped forward and accepted the imperial edict without the slightest panic, as if he did not know Lin Congyan at all.

A look of regret appeared on the eunuch's face: "When I served in front of the Emperor, I heard that Lord Lin was well-versed in law and etiquette. Now it seems that this is indeed true."

“If your younger brother were like you, he wouldn’t have ended up like this today.”

"What a pity, what a pity!"

"You flatter me, Father-in-law." Lin Congli's face showed no particular expression, but his hands clenched tightly.

He knew that the phrase "your younger brother" referred not only to Lin Congyan, but also to Lin Zhiqing's father, Lin Congrong.

The eunuch, not noticing the fear or bewilderment on Lin Congli's face, remained silent.

Throughout the entire process, the eunuch's expression remained largely unchanged, appearing remarkably composed.

Seeing this, Zhou Chongzheng waved his hand, and the people behind him filed in to begin searching the Lin family's property.

Lin Zhiqing ignored those people and instead carefully considered the contents of the imperial edict.

Aside from all the irrelevant details, the core content of the imperial edict consisted of only two points.

First, the Fourth Uncle was sentenced to immediate execution. Although the specific time was not mentioned, judging from the past records of the Dali Temple, it was only a matter of one or two days.

Secondly, the men of the Lin family were sentenced to military service, and the women were sentenced to exile.

On the surface, it appears that the emperor showed leniency and spared their lives.

But the truth is probably that Lin Congyan's crimes were not found to be related to other members of the Lin family on the surface.

It would be unreasonable to order the deaths of other members of the Lin family directly.

The royal family is extremely concerned about their image and wants to have a legitimate reason for their actions, so as not to leave any cause for criticism.

This can be seen from Lin Zhiqing's father.

That is why the royal family chose to deal with other people in such a roundabout way.

However, it is not true that military service and exile were the only ways for the Lin family to survive.

Judging from the current situation of the Lin family, the biggest label hanging over them is treason and collusion with the enemy.

What kind of place is a military camp?
It contains soldiers full of passion, ready to sacrifice themselves for their country at any time.

The soldiers were naturally extremely disgusted and even abhorrent towards the traitor.

When the men of the Lin family went to the military camp, they were no different from people from the enemy country, and their final fate was certainly not good.

As for the exiled women, needless to say, the court had a hundred reasons to make them die quietly and unjustly during their exile.

Even without interference, the destinations for exile are mostly wild and desolate places, and it's uncertain whether they can even make it there on their own.

Although the imperial edict did not explicitly state that the rest of the Lin family were to be executed, it was no different from being ordered to commit suicide.

This is certainly not good news.

While Lin Zhiqing was thinking, everyone in the Lin family, except for the fourth aunt who occasionally let out very low sobs, remained very calm.

Zhou Chongzheng, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was slightly surprised by the Lin family's behavior.

Apart from Lin Congyan's wife, the rest of the Lin family were initially frightened when they heard the imperial edict, but they were surprisingly calm afterwards.

Especially... Zhou Chongzheng looked at the woman standing at the back of the crowd.

She wore a simple blue dress and no makeup, but her features had an aggressive quality.

This must be Lin Zhiqing.

Zhou Chongzheng narrowed his eyes; he knew Lin Congrong had a daughter.

Outsiders say she is stupid and not presentable.

But she looks very calm now.

Was their calmness due to despair, or was it true, as they had previously gathered, that the Lin family planned to storm the execution ground?

Most likely.

Zhou Chongzheng silently affirmed his own thoughts in his heart.

Otherwise, why would the authorities issue such an imperial edict to spare the Lin family from imprisonment?

He was quite clear about it, though others might not.

Rather than slowly boiling a frog, the royal family definitely wants to wipe out the Lin family in one fell swoop, leaving no future trouble.

However, the Lin family was still too foolish.

A rescue operation? They'll only be facing a trap.

The Lin family's fate is sealed!
Zhou Chongzheng's gaze towards the Lin family members carried a hint of barely perceptible disgust; their behavior was utterly foolish. Noticing Zhou Chongzheng's gaze, Lin Zhiqing raised her head and met his eyes.

Those were cold eyes, containing the gaze of someone in a superior position.

He looked at himself as if he were looking at an ant on the roadside.

From the moment he entered, Lin Zhiqing observed that Zhou Chongzheng mostly had a pout on his lips, though his face did not reveal much joy or happiness.

But there was an air of arrogance in his eyes when he looked at the Lin family.

Other than that, nothing else.

Lin Zhiqing didn't see anything special and looked away.

Soon, the Lin family's property was completely ransacked.

Zhou Chongzheng and the eunuch seemed to have no intention of staying at the Lin family's residence for even a moment longer, and turned to leave.

Watching the Dali Temple procession depart, Lin Zhiqing's first order was to have his devastated fourth aunt taken away.

"Zhiqing!" Fourth Aunt grasped Lin Zhiqing's hand, her eyes already swollen: "Aren't we all going to die?"

Lin Zhiqing did not speak.

Fourth Aunt was not giving up and looked at Lin Congli again.

Lin Congli sighed, turned to face the main hall, and avoided her gaze.

Although they didn't speak, Aunt Si understood what they meant: they were all going to die.

Overwhelmed with grief, she could no longer hold back and burst into tears.

Hearing the mournful cries, Lin Shi'an and Lin Yangyang looked away with some reluctance.

Lin Zhiqing gave Lin Yangyang a wink, and Lin Yangyang understood. She helped her fourth aunt up and walked out.

At the same time, many servants gathered around the main hall, most of them with expressions of confusion and despair on their faces.

Because they had all heard the imperial edict and the Fourth Madam's cries.

The Lin family is finished!

The Lin family's servants are finished!
Before those people could speak, Lin Zhiqing said loudly, "His Majesty is merciful and has not implicated the servants of the Lin family."

"Parting is inevitable. As masters and servants, the Lin family will not make things difficult for you. My cousin has already compiled everyone's indentures. If anyone wants to leave, they can come and collect them later."

The Lin family's affairs are complex and unpredictable. Lin Zhiqing does not want to involve innocent people until she has a completely certain outcome.

Upon hearing this, most of the servants knelt down and kowtowed, loudly proclaiming the Emperor's mercy, and then walked towards Lin Shi'an with snot and tears streaming down their faces.

But some people remained standing still.

"We were born into the Lin family, and we will die as members of the Lin family. Miss Zhiqing, we will not leave; we will live and die with the Lin family!"

"I'm not leaving! My mother was seriously ill at home, and I was so bewitched that I stole the rhinoceros lacquer tea set. I was then framed for murdering Miss Yangyang."

Miss Zhiqing not only cleared my name, but also secretly found a doctor to save my mother. I will follow Miss Zhiqing for the rest of my life.

"My life was saved by the Fourth Master. I will be wherever the Fourth Master is."

“I want to stay. My young master can’t do without me. He doesn’t even know how to make tea. What will he do without me?”

Upon hearing this last sentence, Lin Jiusi, who had been sitting silently to the side, was taken aback.

He looked up and saw the servant who had been with him for a long time wiping away tears as he looked at him.

For some reason, his eyes also reddened.

Not only him, but Lin Yangyang, seeing Xiao Cui's tearful eyes, couldn't help but step forward and push her away:

"Silly Xiao Cui, what are you still doing here? After you leave the manor, find someone to live with and don't do any more work serving others."

Xiao Cui shook her head, crying, and grabbed Lin Yangyang's arm tightly:

"Miss, please don't send me away. I've been with you since I was a child. Before Madam passed away, she told me to take good care of you. I won't leave."

The master and servant embraced.

Hearing these words, Lin Zhiqing couldn't help but feel a little sad.

She suppressed the bitterness in her heart and looked closely. Most of the people who said they wanted to stay were familiar faces; they were almost all the personal maids and servants of the Lin family.

After silently memorizing these faces, she nodded: "Alright, we'll live and die with the Lin family!"

As soon as she finished speaking, an aged, familiar voice came from the doorway:
"Miss, how cruel you are!"

(End of this chapter)