Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 370 False Affection, True Conflict

Moreover, they were using his sincerity to put on an act.

Lin Zhiqing glanced at Jiang Liuyun, then looked away like a startled rabbit.

This is all done for others to see.

Jiang Liuyun could clearly see the indifference and provocation hidden beneath her gentle eyes.

That look pierced Jiang Liuyun's heart like a thorn.

What is he feeling right now?

I was indeed angry; it was the anger of being deceived.

Relief? Perhaps there was some relief. Relief that Lin Zhiqing was unharmed?

No, no!

Jiang Liuyun suppressed these feelings.

Lin Zhiqing was unaware of Jiang Liuyun's thoughts. Her eyes were red as she looked at the Minister of Justice and his wife.
"This humble woman greets Your Excellency, Minister and Madam."

"Why have you summoned me here, sir?"

The Minister's wife did not speak, but her eyes were slightly swollen, clearly from crying.

The Minister of Justice sat upright at the head of the table, expressionless, surrounded by a chilling aura.

Looking around, there was no one around, only a few guards guarding the outside.

It seems the Minister of Justice still doesn't want his son's scandalous affairs to be exposed.

Firstly, since the person is already dead, it would be really unpleasant to be branded with a reputation for being lustful and lewd.

Secondly, this would hinder the Minister of Justice's career advancement.

Regardless of the truth, this matter is unlikely to cause a major uproar.

The Minister of Justice only wanted to find the real culprit; as for how to deal with him, Lin Zhiqing had no idea.

Just as she was pondering, the Minister of Justice squinted and looked at her closely before speaking:
"We are all well aware of the long-standing feud between the Jiang and Lin families."

"Whatever you argue or fight about on a regular basis has nothing to do with me, but you absolutely shouldn't..."

As he said this, his chest heaved violently:
"You should never have laid a hand on my Jin'er!"

Hearing this, Lin Zhiqing already had a good idea of ​​what was going on.

Before she arrived, the Minister of Justice had spoken with Jiang Liuyun.

It is unclear what Jiang Liuyun said, but the Minister of Justice concluded that this was a dispute stemming from the feud between the Lin and Jiang families.

The Minister of Justice directly pointed it out, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.

In other words, the Minister of Justice now believes that Lin Zhiqing and Jiang Liuyun are the ones who caused Li Jinzhi's death.

That is indeed the case, but that is not the fact that Lin Zhiqing wants.

She moved her facial muscles, lifting the corners of her eyes and slightly widening her lips:
"My lord, our Lin family and the Jiang family do have a conflict, but today's matter has nothing to do with me!"

Lin Zhiqing's straightforward attitude added a touch of innocence to her.

This contrasted sharply with Jiang Liuyun's previous vehement defense and attempts to shift the blame onto Lin Zhiqing, causing the Minister of Justice's eyelids to twitch.

He didn't speak because he knew Jiang Liuyun would.

"Qing'er, I used to think you were pure and kind, but now I know you have such a vicious heart." Jiang Liuyun finally spoke:

"You've always known I care about you and worry about your safety, and you used this to your advantage, conspiring with your maid to lure me into a trap." "Even if there are some misunderstandings between our families, why are you so heartless as to frame me like this?"

Lin Zhiqing frowned slightly. It seemed that Jiang Liuyun wasn't the only one who had called him ruthless lately.

She closed her eyes briefly, squeezing out two tears that clung to her cheeks.
“Young Master Jiang, I have heard about today’s events from my maid, Chaoyan. All the things you’ve said that framed you are utter nonsense.”

"I got separated from my maid, and in her panic, she went to my former fiancé, hoping to get your help."

"It's because she felt that your deep affection for me was doomed to fail, and she was genuinely worried about my safety, that she turned to you for help despite the current situation between our two families."

"But if I had known I would be caught up in such an undeserved disaster, I certainly wouldn't have come here today."

"I'd like to ask you, you keep saying you're deeply in love with me, so why are you now slandering me?"

Jiang Liuyun attacked Lin Zhiqing with deep affection, so Lin Zhiqing retaliated with deep affection in return.

Jiang Liuyun frowned:

“When your maid came to me that day, she kept saying that you had been captured by Li Jinzhi’s men. I was worried about you, so I rushed to the back mountain.”

"But I didn't expect that as soon as I arrived, Li Jinzhi collapsed to the ground and couldn't get up, and your maid also disappeared halfway through."

"Such an obvious trap, and you still won't admit it?"

"Young Master Jiang!" Lin Zhiqing's voice clearly indicated extreme anger.

All of this is based on your words alone.

"My maidservant fell behind halfway through the journey due to exhaustion. She then discovered my injury and took me to the private room at the front first."

"That's why she didn't have time to inform you."

"Now you falsely accuse her of leading you to the back mountain. Let me ask you, how could she be so sure you would go?"

This question made Jiang Liuyun's breath catch in his throat slightly, and he was somewhat at a loss for words.

Because even he himself didn't know why he went there; at that moment, all his reason seemed to have been abandoned.

Noticing Jiang Liuyun's momentary lapse in concentration, Lin Zhiqing, seemingly unable to control her emotions, took a few steps forward:
"You say I set you up, but I haven't stepped into the back mountain today. If I can be the murderer for that, don't you think it's ridiculous?"

These words were very convincing. Jiang Liuyun paused slightly because he knew very well that he had never seen Lin Zhiqing appear in the back mountain.

Just because he hasn't seen it doesn't mean others haven't.

Seeing that he couldn't get any results from questioning the maid's whereabouts, Jiang Liuyun decisively changed his approach:
"You said you didn't go to the back mountain, but fell and injured yourself in the front, which is why you got separated from the maid. Can you recount everything?"

“Why not?” Lin Zhiqing recited the prepared statement in detail.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Liuyun knew that Lin Zhiqing had made thorough preparations, but he was determined to find a flaw in her plan.

"Just like you said, this is only your opinion. I don't believe that no one has encountered you since you fell and injured yourself."

"You've been wandering around for so long, don't you think anyone remembers you?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiqing narrowed her eyes slightly.

She knew Jiang Liuyun was asking her for an alibi, so she deliberately slowed down her speech.
"I... I remember meeting some people, but I can't remember exactly who they were."

This way of speaking is a skill. If someone can clearly describe every person and every place during an interrogation, it is bound to raise suspicions that they have prepared in advance.

Therefore, Lin Zhiqing's way of speaking, which reveals his ignorance, makes him seem more like someone who knows nothing at all.

But to Jiang Liuyun, these words clearly indicated that Lin Zhiqing had not prepared in advance, hence her guilty conscience and shortness of breath.

He sneered:
"If you can't tell me, Your Excellency can ask the people outside. Surely they can remember someone like you?"

Lin Zhiqing, dressed in red today, is indeed very eye-catching.