Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 406 A tacit understanding
Lin Zhiqing nodded: "I believe you."

Although the cave was a bit cold, two warm hearts drew closer in that instant.

After thinking for a moment, Lu Huai decided to recount his initial visit to the Lin family in detail:
"Aqing, I don't want you to misunderstand even the slightest bit."

"The matter of secretly going to the Lin family to investigate the imperial gifts was not ordered by the Ministry of Revenue, but by my father."

Lin Zhiqing was slightly surprised:
“Lu Huai, I believe you. You said before that this matter was related to Uncle Lu, but I didn’t expect that the Ministry of Revenue was unaware of it.”

She then sighed softly and smiled slightly: "But none of these things matter anymore. I will no longer doubt you."

“No, you should know these things.” Lu Huai sat down beside her and spoke slowly:
"Although my father and your father seemed like enemies, when your father died, my father also spoke out in his defense."

"But my father was far removed from the court and had no power to help the Lin family."

"When the Ministry of Revenue announced that it would investigate the imperial gifts, I knew that my father was concerned about the Lin family, so I told him."

"He instructed me to find out the truth and clear the Lin family's name, so I used the excuse of helping you investigate the case to enter the Lin family."

"Uncle Lu trusted the Lin family from the very beginning, didn't he?" Lin Zhiqing asked.

“That’s right.” Lu Huai nodded. “He believes there’s something going on with the Lin family.”

Lin Zhiqing took a deep breath: "Hearing these words will make my grandfather and my father happy."

Lin Zhiqing just felt that Lin Congrong had suffered too much, and trust was a kind of comfort.

"Ah Qing, there's something else I want to tell you." Lu Huai's eyes were very serious.

"Hmm? Is there anything else?" Lin Zhiqing asked.

Lu Huai gripped Lin Zhiqing's hand tightly: "At first, I really didn't have any intention of being promoted or given a higher rank in the Ministry of Revenue."

"Knowing that I deeply understand your hardships and the difficulties faced by the Lin family, I don't want you to fight this battle alone."

"At the same time, I also realized that only by holding power in my own hands can I have the right to speak."

"Therefore, my pursuit of a career in government is not for personal gain, but to stand by your side and do what you want to do."

Lin Zhiqing felt a warm current welling up inside her. She turned her head to look at Lu Huai and smiled slightly.

"Another reason is that you like me, right?"

Her gaze was intense.

Lu Huai hadn't expected Lin Zhiqing to say such a thing, but he quickly nodded:
"That's right, that's how it is."

Then he smiled:

"You have no idea how happy I was when I learned Jiang Liuyun's true colors."

“I knew from that moment on that you would not choose him again.”

Lin Zhiqing didn't expect Lu Huai to admit it so readily, and smiled as well:
“Lu Huai, even if he is the same Jiang Liuyun as before, I will not be with him.”

"You should have some faith in me, but I'm very happy to hear you say these words."

Seeing Lin Zhiqing's smile, Lu Huai couldn't help but curl up the corners of his mouth as well.

He stood up and looked outside the cave, feeling that such a dangerous environment now had a unique charm.

However, he didn't forget the important matter:
"Ah Qing, did you jump off the cliff because you had a plan?"

Lin Zhiqing stood beside him and did not deny it: "How did you find out?"

“You won’t give up on yourself.” Lu Huai’s tone was very firm.

Lu Huai understands Lin Zhiqing well; he knows her struggles and her hardships.

Lin Zhiqing looked outside and said, "There is indeed a plan."

"Do you think the Jiang family now believes that I am dead and no longer a threat?"

“As long as you’re not standing in court three days from now, they’ve won. Now…” Lu Huai was very sharp:
"If we want to go back, I'm afraid someone will do everything in their power to stop us."

After saying that, he grabbed Lin Zhiqing's hand: "You arranged for someone from the Lin family to meet you?"

"But it's already the second day, and tomorrow is the last day." "If we keep waiting for them, it might not be good."

“Indeed.” Lin Zhiqing nodded. “If we want to get out of here, we’ll probably have to put in some effort ourselves.”

She gazed into the distance, her mind racing with a myriad of thoughts.

Yes, from the very beginning, this was a setup.

Lin Zhiqing knew very well that the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion would definitely take action against her.

The first thing to do is to use the snipe as a plot device.

Someone saw a person resembling a shrew on Qiwu Mountain.

This was actually a false rumor spread by the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence.

Lin Zhiqing knew from the beginning that Yan Yu could not possibly appear at Qiwu Mountain.

The Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion spread false information indirectly, simply to lure Lin Zhiqing out so they could take advantage of her.

Furthermore, they specifically hired two people trained in mind-reading to pose as woodcutters in order to gain Lin Zhiqing's trust.

If Lin Zhiqing hadn't known that Yan Yu wouldn't appear at Qiwu Mountain, he might have been tricked by the two woodcutters.

From this, Lin Zhiqing realized that the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion had set a trap for Qiwu Mountain.

Therefore, after discussing with Lin Shi'an, Lin Yangyang, and Chaoyan, she decided to lure the snake out of its hole.

But before visiting the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence, she needed to pay her respects to it.

If the Marquis of Zhenyuan's mansion wants to harm her, then she certainly can't take the bait too easily.

Because both Jiang Yunhe and Jiang Liuyun were very wary of her.

Therefore, she chose to stay indoors and retreat as a strategic move.

The Lin family handled the whole drama of searching for Yan Yu at Qiwu Mountain very well.

Lin Zhiqing did not appear on the surface, leaving the matter to Lin Shi'an.

In fact, under the protection of the people of Jianxintang, she worked with Lin Shi'an to thoroughly study the terrain of Qiwu Mountain.

On the surface, Lin Zhiqing's absence meant that the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion could not harm her.

So, after whetting Jiang Yunhe's appetite, Lin Zhiqing deliberately sent Lin Yangyang and Chaoyan to Bianliang.

Both of them were very close to Lin Zhiqing, and the Lin family sent them away in a very discreet way, not wanting anyone to know.

Based on this, the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion deduced that Lin Zhiqing felt he had no way out, which was why he sent Chaoyan and Lin Yangyang away.

So they kidnapped the two women, intending to use them to threaten Lin Zhiqing into leaving the Lin family home.

Lin Zhiqing turned the tables on him, pretending to take the bait, and went to Qiwu Mountain.

She knew Jiang Yunhe harbored murderous intent, so she had already arranged for people to be on her way to find Yan Yu at Qiwu Mountain.

Once the scene becomes chaotic, they will rescue Lin Yangyang and Chaoyan, and then proceed with the next step.

The next step, of course, is the incident of Lin Zhiqing jumping off the cliff.

Hearing this, Lu Huai nodded slightly:
"You want the people of the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion to think you're dead, or that you're no longer a threat, right?"

"Not bad." Lin Zhiqing nodded.

“If I stay at the Lin family for the next three days, I believe the Zhenyuan Marquis’s mansion will have even more ruthless methods to force me to leave.”

"In that case, I can only defend passively and live in constant fear."

Lu Huai pondered:

"So that's why you chose to take the initiative and put yourself in a dangerous situation, in order to lower the guard of the Jiang family father and son and prevent them from doing something even more irreversible?"

Lin Zhiqing nodded slightly: "That's right, that's exactly it."

Lu Huai pondered for a moment: "I suspect you have other motives."