Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 175 Psychological Game
Lin Zhiqing was taken aback and looked towards the door.

Aunt Mu was panting heavily, her eyes filled with heartache and sorrow as she looked at her.

"Miss, you actually left me alone at the Lu family home. Do you think I'm in your way and want to abandon me?"

Dislike? How could I possibly dislike it?

Lin Zhiqing had long anticipated that the Lin family might face such a day, so before going to Liu Mang's residence, he instructed Aunt Mu to go to the Lu family.

If something happens to the Lin family, out of respect for them, Lu Huai and Lu Nanyue will at least give Aunt Mu a way out.

Lin Zhiqing didn't say it, but she knew very well that when she first arrived in the unfamiliar Dasheng, only Aunt Mu was protecting her.

In recent days, Aunt Mu has been doing her best for her without holding back at all.

Human hearts are made of flesh and blood; how could she not be moved?

She knew that Aunt Mu understood what she had done, and that those words were just said in anger.

Lin Zhiqing's eyes immediately reddened: "Why did you come back? What brings you back?"

Aunt Mu quickly stepped behind her, just as she had done countless times before:
"Miss, this old woman is determined to follow you for the rest of her life."

Lin Zhiqing held back her tears and didn't mention letting her leave again.

Lin Shi'an, who was standing nearby, was quietly comforting Lin Yangyang and Xiao Cui, and noticed that Lin Zhiqing was also choking up.

He raised his hand, intending to pat Lin Zhiqing on the shoulder, but in the end he withdrew his hand.

Seeing everyone crying, Lin Congli, who had his back to them, sighed softly.

He turned around, intending to take charge, but before he could even open his mouth, Lin Zhiqing composed himself and began making arrangements.

The servants, who had been crying just moments before, immediately sprang into action upon hearing her words.

Lin Congli was taken aback, then a smile appeared on his face.

At this moment, he could clearly feel that Lin Zhiqing had completely become the pillar of the Lin family.

And I... am getting old after all.

This day was destined to be long for the Lin family.

After nightfall, the Lin family finally fell into complete silence.

The main hall was brightly lit.

Lin Shi'an took out the indentures of the remaining servants: "There were originally 257 servants, and now there are 48 left."

Lin Yangyang flipped over the contract: "There are still thirteen guards left. I have already instructed them to guard several key locations of the Lin family."

Upon hearing their report, Lin Zhiqing nodded, then looked at Lin Congli sitting to the side: "Uncle, is there anything else you would like to add?"

“No.” Lin Congli shook his head: “You did very well.”

Lin Zhiqing was taken aback; her uncle's praise was truly rare.

After realizing what was happening, she smiled and was about to speak when Aunt Mu knocked on the door:
"Miss, Young Master Jiang, Young Master Lu, and Miss Lu have arrived."

Before the officials from the Dali Temple came to read the imperial edict, Lin Zhiqing had Lu Huai, Jiang Liuyun, and Lu Nanyue leave the Lin family.

Now that things have quieted down at the Lin family's place, they've returned.

"Quickly, invite them in." Lin Zhiqing was somewhat uneasy: "Did anyone see them?"

Before Aunt Mu could answer, Jiang Liuyun's voice came into the hall: "No, Qing'er, you can rest assured about what we do."

As he spoke, he stepped inside.

Lu Huai and Lu Nanyue followed closely behind.

Lu Huai also shook his head, indicating that no one had seen them.

Lin Zhiqing felt relieved, and then asked about the situation outside: "How is it? Is there any unusual activity around the Lin family?"

"Little Qing'er, you're amazing!" Lu Nanyue stepped forward with great interest, and Lin Shi'an stood up and gave up his seat.

After Lu Nanyue sat down, she continued, "As you predicted, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review didn't leave many guards on the surface; he only symbolically placed a few people at a few exits." "That's right," Jiang Liuyun chimed in.
“We went to the location you mentioned and indeed found quite a few fully armed Imperial Guards in the shadows.”

The Imperial Guards—those are the people of the royal family.

Lu Huai looked at Lin Zhiqing: "Aqing, you succeeded. They fell for it."

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiqing was taken aback, and Lu Huai quickly realized something was amiss.

Ever since he learned that he and Lin Zhiqing had the same dream, he had habitually called out "Aqing".

But with so many people around, he has made a mistake!
Everyone was stunned.

Lu Nanyue squinted at Lu Huai, her gaze shifting back and forth between him and Lin Zhiqing.

Lin Shi'an immediately looked at Jiang Liuyun.

Jiang Liuyun frowned and stared at Lu Huai with a serious expression.

Lu Huai noticed his gaze and pressed his lips together tightly: "Brother Jiang, I..."

“Brother Lu, you’re supposed to be a scholar, but this ‘Aqing’ is really awful. My ‘Qing’ is much better.” He grinned.

The others were speechless for a moment.

Lin Yangyang replied with great interest: "My Qing sister sounds better. You all call her so formally, not as simple and straightforward as mine."

"Right, Qing-mei?"

Seeing the expectant look in her eyes, Lin Zhiqing nodded: "That's right, that's right."

Lin Yangyang pouted at Jiang Liuyun and Lu Huai, looking incredibly happy.

Seeing that the topic had gone astray, Lin Zhiqing coughed lightly and brought the subject back on track: "Are you sure they are the Imperial Guards of the royal family?"

“That’s right,” Lu Huai quickly replied.

"Now that you have not been imprisoned, the royal family has indeed been tricked."

According to the laws of the Great Sheng Dynasty, after being sentenced to military service and exile, the Ministry of Justice was to imprison the Lin family.

However, the Lin family members have not only not been imprisoned, but their freedom has not been restricted, which is inconsistent with the law.

Lu Nanyue looked excited:
"Zhiqing, if it weren't for your intelligence in finding a way to persuade the royal family to lift the restrictions on your freedom, the Lin family would probably be under control right now."

“If you get caught, our operation will be much more difficult.”

Indeed, the freedom we enjoy today was achieved through Lin Zhiqing's scheme, specifically his plan to "rescue the execution ground."

Before the person who was supposed to read the imperial edict arrived, Lin Zhiqing had already considered that if they wanted to carry out their plan, the Lin family members could not be restricted in their freedom.

How can the Lin family avoid having their freedom restricted? Of course, they must meet the current demands of the royal family.

What does the royal family want now? They want to wipe out the Lin family in one fell swoop.

However, the other members of the Lin family did not deserve to die, and the reasons were insufficient. If they were forcibly executed, it would leave room for criticism and affect the stability of the country.

How could the other members of the Lin family also meet the requirements for being sentenced to death? That would be for the other members of the Lin family to also commit serious crimes.

Therefore, Lin Zhiqing deliberately went out without any precautions, observed the route with Lin Shi'an, and talked about the "rescue from the execution ground".

She knew that royal spies were behind her, and deliberately leaking the news of the "execution break" was an attempt to create an opportunity for the royal family.

Because storming the execution ground is a serious crime, if the Lin family members are caught, their entire clan will be wiped out.

This was exactly what the royal family wanted.

Lin Zhiqing understood the royal family's desire to remove the Lin family as a thorn in their side as soon as possible, which is why he deliberately and openly familiarized himself with the route.

One step leads to another, culminating in the release of a smokescreen to rescue the execution ground.

This was a psychological game, and Lin Zhiqing succeeded.

The royal family took the bait.