Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 258 Framed! Treason!

"This young master looks so proper and polite, why is he in such a hurry?" The madam flicked a handkerchief at Lin Zhiqing's face.

Lin Zhiqing held her breath, but still couldn't block out the overwhelming scent of face powder.

She gave Lin Yangyang a wink, and Lin Yangyang walked through the group of men of varying heights, weights, and builds to catch up with her.

Wanliu Pavilion may look unremarkable, but it is actually a hidden gem inside.

The madam quickly crossed the hall and went to the backyard, where she stopped in front of a courtyard that was so magnificent it was almost extravagant.

Lin Zhiqing stepped forward and knocked on the door. A lazy yet flamboyant voice came out: "Who is it?"

Lin Zhiqing got straight to the point: "I heard from others that there is a beautiful white goose in Yongqing County, so I came here."

Upon hearing this, the madam frowned, but remembering that the master inside was difficult to please, she remained silent.

Upon hearing this, Yan Yu inside chuckled: "If you're looking for geese, can't you go to Master Wang's place?"

“Wang’s place is rather boring; it’s nowhere near as nice as Wanliu Pavilion.” Lin Zhiqing pointed out two key clues in his words.

Zheng Kuo's son only provided clues pointing to Yan Yu's identity, without providing any coded messages.

Therefore, Lin Zhiqing could probably conclude that Yan Yu must also know about the white goose and the willow tree.

As expected, Yan Yu remained silent for a long time after hearing these two seemingly incomprehensible sentences.

The madam, not understanding what this meant, was about to ask when Yan Yu's bubbly voice rang out again:
"Then come in and take a look. This Wanliu Pavilion is indeed interesting."

Upon hearing this, the madam immediately beamed with joy and beckoned to Lin Zhiqing:
"Come in quickly, come in quickly."

Lin Zhiqing and Lin Yangyang exchanged a glance and pushed open the door, which was so luxurious it was almost extravagant.

After the two entered the room, Lin Yangyang finally spoke, "What is she laughing at? Her laughter gave me goosebumps."

Before Lin Zhiqing could respond, that sickeningly sweet, bubbly voice came through again:

"Anyone who enters this door must leave a thousand taels of silver to leave. She earned two thousand taels without doing anything. How could she not be happy?"

"Hmm, young lady?"

Lin Yangyang looked into the inner room and picked at her ear: "Two thousand taels of silver, why don't you just rob me? And can't you speak properly?"

"No, how did you figure out I was a young lady? My disguise is so bad?"

She started to doubt herself.

“Those stinky men who come in are all eager to see me, how come you two are so calm?” Yan Yu’s voice became even more cloying.

Lin Zhiqing pulled Lin Yangyang back: "Why don't you come out and let us see your beautiful face? Let's see if you're worth two thousand taels."

"What's the rush?" With a rustling sound, Yan Yu slowly lifted the beaded curtain.

A face as beautiful as a peach blossom appeared before Lin Zhiqing and Lin Yangyang.

He was dressed in a red robe adorned with beads, looking as flamboyant as could be.

Seeing that Lin Zhiqing and Lin Yangyang were both staring at him without saying a word, he raised his chin high:

"Admit it, you're all fascinated by me too, aren't you?"

Lin Yangyang rolled her eyes and couldn't hold back any longer: "No, who told you to dress like that? You're such a waste of your face."

The snipe is indeed very beautiful, in a kind of aggressive beauty, a point Lin Zhiqing acknowledges.

However, he is still three points inferior to Lu Huai.

Speaking of Lu Huai, she couldn't help but wonder, is Lu Huai safe now? Has he returned to Shengjing?
Thinking of all this, she sighed softly in her heart and interrupted the unreliable Yan Yu:

"You should know why I'm here. Time is limited. Where are the people?"

She was asking Zheng Kuo.

Yan Yu chuckled softly: "Are you from Shengjing?"

“Not bad.” Lin Zhiqing had observed the surroundings and also Yan Yu.

At least for now, the surrounding area is safe, and the snipes do not seem to have any ill intentions towards them.

He asked this question to confirm his identity. Thinking of this, Lin Zhiqing spoke again:
Our surname is Lin.

"That's right, come with me." Yan Yu's voice was much more normal.

He lifted the beaded curtain, walked to the bedside, and then pointed to the bed frame: "Who wants to go first?"

Clearly, it was a secret passage, and something was hidden underneath.

Lin Yangyang clenched her fist: "What do you think?"

Yan Yu pursed his lips, opened the bed board, and stepped down first.

Lin Yangyang took Lin Zhiqing's hand and quickly followed.

The passage wasn't long, but it was very narrow. After walking for a short while, they arrived at a stone door.

Lin Zhiqing noticed that Yan Yu's expression gradually became serious.

He took a deep breath, opened the stone door, and stepped aside.

Lin Zhiqing turned her head and heard an extremely faint breathing sound.

Zheng Kuo?

Lin Yangyang heard it too. She went in first and looked around. She found that the dark room was very simple, with only some basic living supplies and a bed.

After confirming there was no danger, she nodded to Lin Zhiqing.

"Go in, he's been waiting too long." Yan Yu knew they were worried, so he walked past them and went inside.

He quickly walked to the bedside.

Lin Zhiqing stepped into the dark room, and the candlelight flickered.

Yan Yu kicked the bed: "Hey, old man, wake up, she's here."

"Coming...coming?" A faint voice sounded, sounding very heavy.

This is a very old man.

Lin Zhiqing approached the bedside and saw Zheng Kuo, whose face was full of wrinkles, whose hair was gray, and whose eyes were cloudy.

On his face was a scar that snaked down from the upper left, which looked somewhat terrifying in the candlelight.

He seemed to have used all his strength to utter those two simple words.

"Deputy General Zheng, this is Lin Zhiqing." Lin Zhiqing raised his voice.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Kuo, who was lying in bed, began to tremble involuntarily.

"Zhiqing?"

His chest heaved violently, and with a strength he didn't know he had, he struggled to sit up: "Alive, you're still alive?"

His gaze gradually focused and landed on Lin Zhiqing's face.

Lin Zhiqing saw obvious joy and emotion in Zheng Kuo's eyes, and she nodded emphatically:

"I'm alive."

Zheng Kuo smiled, his body seemed much lighter, and he clasped his hands in a gesture of respect:

"This humble general, Zheng Kuo, pays his respects to Miss Zhiqing."

Lin Zhiqing took a step to the side to avoid the bow: "Uncle Zheng, please don't be so polite. I've come today to ask you about an old matter."

“Miss Zhiqing, I’ve waited for you all these years because I wanted to tell you an old story.” Zheng Kuo’s words became more and more coherent, and his speech became faster and faster, as if he would never be able to say it if he didn’t say it now.

Lin Zhiqing assumed he was referring to the imperial gift and immediately nodded.

Zheng Kuo took a deep breath: "Wang Shuberlin's joining the army and betraying the country was a frame-up!"

"Deputy General Jiang Yunhe shot an arrow from behind the army while the Earl was leading his troops in battle against the Great Liang, causing the Earl to disappear and the entire army of 500,000 to be wiped out!"

Upon hearing this, the already cramped and dark room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.