Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 443 The Power of the Patriarch
After Lin Qingshan left his seat, several elders also stood up, leaving the space for the younger generation to speak.

Lin Yangyang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Yu, wanting to add fuel to the fire, blurted out, "What, are you afraid the Marquis will play matchmaker?"

"You eat yours!" Lin Yangyang put a big chicken leg on his plate, clearly trying to shut him up.

This lighthearted banter eased the awkward situation.

Lin Shi'an cleared his throat and looked at Lu Huai:
“Brother Lu, Grandfather and Uncle Lu will surely get drunk tonight. I have already arranged rooms for you to stay in.”

“No need,” Lu Huai refused. “We’ve come all this way in such a grand manner. If we stay here, people will inevitably gossip.”

The reason I stayed overnight at the Lin family's house was mostly due to some emergency, and no outsiders knew about it.

But the situation is different now, so it's naturally not suitable to stay there.

As soon as Lu Huai finished speaking, Lu Nanyue waved her hand:
"Go back by yourself. I haven't spoken to Xiao Qing'er in a long time."

Lin Zhiqing smiled and said, "No problem, my courtyard can accommodate everyone."

Why do I always feel like I've been abandoned...? But Lu Huai didn't say much.

Lin Zhiqing and Lu Nanyue were already very close friends.

Seeing the lively atmosphere at the table, Lin Jiusi consciously played the role of a quail, only burying his head in eating and not saying a word.

Lin Jingya pursed her lips, realizing she couldn't join their conversation, and looked at Lin Zhiqing: "Come out with me for a moment."

As he spoke, he got up and started to walk out.

The others remained silent, their expressions unchanged, and instead looked at Lin Zhiqing.

Lin Zhiqing put down his wine glass: "Jingya, according to the Lin family rules, you should call me cousin."

Lin Jingya was taken aback. Lin Zhiqing rarely put on airs, so his words clearly indicated that he disliked her.

However, the Lin family is different now than before, and she spoke again:

"Cousin, could you come out with me for a moment? I have something I want to tell you."

Lin Zhiqing raised her chin: "Just say what you want to say. Everyone here is an outsider."

Lin Jingya pursed her lips, struggled internally for a moment, and then sat down:

"Cousin, I was wrong about what happened before, and I apologize to you."

"Lin Jingya, you're so stupid! Don't let yourself be used as a pawn next time!" Lin Yangyang couldn't help but speak up.

Lin Jingya pursed her lips and slowly lowered her head. Being reprimanded in public made her feel embarrassed.

The others didn't seem to care; some ate their food, while others drank their wine.

Lin Zhiqing gave Lin Yangyang a wink, and Lin Yangyang stopped talking.

Seeing this, Lin Zhiqing turned to Lin Jingya and asked, "What do you want to say?"

Lin Jingya's eyes reddened: "Cousins, are you still blaming me?"

"Of course," Lin Zhiqing answered without hesitation.

This answer surprised Lin Jingya. She had thought that Lin Zhiqing would be mindful of the propriety between sisters and say something high-sounding.

Lin Zhiqing ignored Lin Jingya's surprised gaze and instead spoke:

"Come out with me."

With that, he got up and walked outside.

She had thought that Lin Jingya would have made some progress after staying in Bianliang for so long.

But to my surprise, Lin Jingya's mind wasn't exactly clear.

Her words were unpleasant; there's no need to save face for a woman in front of others.

Seeing Lin Jingya follow him out of the courtyard, Lin Zhiqing waved his hand, and all the servants in the courtyard left.

Lin Jingya knew this was Lin Zhiqing giving her face, and the embarrassment of being publicly humiliated earlier had lessened somewhat. Lin Zhiqing took a deep breath: "You were just about to ask about Jiang Liuyun?"

Lin Jingya paused, but did not speak, which was obviously an admission.

Lin Zhiqing rolled her eyes without any mercy:
"Lin Jingya, wake up! The person who plotted against you is Jiang Liuyun, and the person who wants to wipe out the Lin family is also Jiang Liuyun."

"Jiang Liuyun was the one who framed my father, causing the Lin family to decline."

"What do you like about someone like that?"

Do you like his cunning and treacherous nature, or his womanizing ways?

Lin Jingya was almost brought to tears:
"Cousin, that's not what I meant. I... I just wanted to ask him about what he did to me back then..."

Lin Zhiqing shook her head, interrupting her directly:
"Lin Jingya, how old are you? All he did to get close to you was to harm the Lin family, and you still want genuine affection?"

"You're incredibly stupid."

Lin Zhiqing had never seen such a typical love-struck person before; she really wanted to send Lin Jingya to dig for wild vegetables.

Lin Jingya couldn't help but shed tears after hearing what was said:
"Cousin, I know, I know I was wrong."

If you can recognize that you're wrong, then you're not completely stupid.

Lin Zhiqing spoke again:
"Lin Jingya, the reason I can live under the same roof with you is because sisters share the same fate, and we share the same fate."

"But that doesn't mean I like you."

"If you still want to stay in Shengjing, you should think carefully about what you can and cannot do."

“You are greedy, selfish, and self-righteous. You concealed the truth, which allowed the thief to remain lurking in the Lin family. I can overlook all of these things.”

“I know the Lin family better than you do yourselves.”

“If you stay at home, I can pretend you don’t exist, but if you’re up to no good, I don’t mind giving up a sister.”

Lin Jingya was stunned by these words. Only now did she realize that Lin Zhiqing was no longer the weak and easily bullied woman she once was.

She is the head of the Lin family!

Lin Zhiqing walked past her and went inside.

Lin Jingya's body trembled uncontrollably; she knew that what Lin Zhiqing said was true.

If Lin Jingya were to turn around and leave now, it would be disrespectful to the people at the table inside, and even more so to Lin Zhiqing.

She has absolutely no right to offend Lin Zhiqing.

The Lin family is indeed quite different from before.

Lin Jingya wiped away her tears, turned around, and returned to the table.

Seeing that Lin Jingya had returned, Lin Zhiqing knew that Lin Jingya had taken her words to heart, so she ate a few bites and then invited everyone to leave the table.

Lin Jiusi and Lin Jingya returned to their respective courtyards.

Lu Huai and the others went to Shuqing Pavilion; they had other matters to discuss.

"Qing-meimei, what did you say to Lin Jingya just now? Why is she crying?" Lin Yangyang asked curiously.

"They're all trivial matters," Lin Zhiqing replied simply, then looked at Lu Huai.

"Lu Huai, you said you had news to share. What news is it?"

Lu Huai immediately spoke:
"I sent the weapons of those who blocked the road to the Ministry of Works and had someone take a look. They were indeed from the Great Liang."

"Where is the body?" Yan Yu asked.

"I had a coroner examine them, and apart from the poison master, there was nothing wrong with the others." Lu Huai frowned slightly.
"What I'm considering now is whether or not to report the body."

In other words, the matter of the Zhenyuan Marquis's Mansion colluding with the people of Daliang was reported to the imperial court.

“This matter is of great importance. I have no objection to reporting it,” Lin Zhiqing said.