Conclusion

Having been imprisoned here for days without seeing the light of day, Qin Zheng was in a state of wishing for death but unable to live. Now that her secret had been exposed, ending her life was naturally the simplest punishment she could receive.

Zhu Ling had once respected Granny Qin, but now she hated her to the core. Her mistress was a woman of great loyalty and affection, and for many years had treated her servants with kindness and consideration, especially Granny Qin, who had practically grown up with her and was truly like family to her. How could she have done such a thing!

She recalled the days before Qingwu died, when Qingwu had shown her deep affection and felt immense guilt for having been manipulated by Qi Shuang'er. If Qingwu knew that it was Granny Qin who had been the one interfering all these years, leading her mistress astray, she would surely be heartbroken even in the afterlife! Thinking of this, she glared fiercely at Granny Qin and gritted her teeth, saying:

"How could that be? You betrayed Madam so much, how could you just die so easily? That would be too good for you! All these years, how you've acted as a heartless spy, how you've betrayed Madam—you must confess every single one of these things!"

Granny Qin, however, paid no heed to the insults. Her cloudy eyes tilted back, seemingly fixed on something. A few strands of gray hair fell beside her ears, and she softly hummed a tune:

"A dream brings spring back to its perfect time, where a hundred flowers bloom on the ancient branches..."

The Empress had ruled the country for many years, and since the Crown Prince was her only child, she naturally doted on him even more. At that time, the Crown Prince was only three or four years old, but he was particularly interested in weapons. Whenever he saw a shiny suit of armor, he would reach out to the eunuchs for it, and would hold it in his arms and play with it for a long time before letting go.

The Empress was always deeply worried whenever she saw such a situation. She was afraid that the Crown Prince might get hurt accidentally, even more afraid that he was too young to learn anything, and even more afraid that she could not disappoint Emperor Su, who valued his eldest son so much.

As she softly hummed a nursery rhyme, Granny Qin recounted her experiences in the palace. She described how she coaxed the then-newborn Crown Prince to sleep and how she comforted the Empress to stop being angry.

She was already very old, and now, after being imprisoned for so long, she seemed to be out of her mind. The words she was calling out had gradually changed from "Miss" to "Your Highness" and "Your Highness".

Lin Xu lowered her eyes, quietly took one last look at Granny Qin, and then walked out the door without hesitation, leaving behind only a very soft sentence.

"Let's do it."

Although Zhu Ling was unwilling for Granny Qin to die so easily, she couldn't help but feel a moment of disorientation when she saw Lin Xu's profile.

Her face, which was always as light as snow and as clear as spring water, now appeared extremely calm and indifferent under the soft morning light.

It was a kind of composure that meant there was nothing else in the world that mattered, and a calmness that could no longer stir any waves in her heart.

Qin Zheng watched as Zhu Ling and Rong Wei, each holding a tiny porcelain bottle, slowly approached her. She felt no fear, except when she saw Lin Xu's receding figure; finally, she couldn't hold back any longer and, with her last strength, raised her hands and cried out hoarsely:

"...Miss, put it down, you're no match for her..."

Lin Xu stood in the morning light, paused for only a moment, and then continued walking forward without any hesitation.

.

As night deepened, a chill crept in. Fortunately, the guards stationed in the house were experienced and quickly cleared everything up.

Lin Xu rubbed his aching temples, then held Mianxue for a full half hour to lull her to sleep before stepping out of the room again, silently gazing at the plants and trees in the courtyard.

Although Granny Qin did not admit her mistakes before she died, all the past events she murmured in her dying moments were enough for her.

Emperor Su had also fought on the battlefield in his early years, and it is said that his agility was no less than that of a valiant general. However, what has been praised by the world for over the years is his profound strategy in governing the country and managing his ministers. Prince Mao, as the head of the military generals, was accustomed to the sound of war drums from a young age. He joined the army as a young boy and achieved many merits. There are even rumors that when he was only three years old, he could distinguish between swords and spears and handle bows and crossbows.

...From this perspective, it's clear that the Third Prince displayed talents identical to Prince Mao's from a young age, which is why the Empress felt increasingly uneasy.

Lin Xu watched quietly as the scattered flowers in the courtyard swayed in the evening breeze, but a chill crept into her heart.

My mother's entry into the palace was an accident. At that palace banquet, Prince Mao returned victorious. During the three-day banquet, he saw the Empress and the Crown Prince, whom he hadn't seen for a long time. In the end, he was careless. My mother probably didn't know why, but that night she inadvertently stumbled upon the Empress's shameful secret, which ultimately led to her death.

However, Granny Qin's final words of advice were indeed an overreaction.

He had already laid out an incredibly meticulous plan, and now, it was only just beginning.

Lin Xu raised his eyes, his gaze passing over the shadows under the corridor to the courtyard, which remained as serene as ever. The air was filled with the fragrance of scattered flowers, the new leaves of the crabapple tree were just sprouting, and amidst the swaying branches, Snowball was running around the tree merrily, its fur as bright as snow in the night.

.

Within three days, the imperial court was thrown into turmoil once again.

He Qijiang led the Imperial Guards, successfully breaking through the ambush and quelling the rebellion led by Yao Qijiang. He even swiftly slew Yao Qijiang with a flying knife at the city gate, killing him on horseback. Yao Qijiang, his eyes bloodshot with rage, cried out to the heavens in despair: "I have spent half my life loyal and brave, never failing the Emperor's grace. My only wish in life is to cleanse the court of corrupt officials, eliminate the traitor Zhao, and restore the Great Yu—that's all!"

The turmoil was finally quelled. With the rebels eliminated, the long-delayed imperial examination dates were once again decided, set for half a month later. This time, it was truly a done deal, and could not be changed.

That evening, Lin Xu had just finished practicing the last Buddhist scripture when Zhu Ling at the door announced that her father, Lin Fu, had come to see her in person. Lin Xu was naturally overjoyed; less than a day after she sent a secret message to her father, he had come in person!

Having not seen her father for a long time, she noticed he had become even thinner, his already slender figure appearing even more frail, and his official robes seemed even more baggy than before. Lin Fu had obviously come straight from court, and upon entering, he carefully examined Lin Xu, only feeling relieved to see her full of energy.

Lin Xu understood perfectly well that her father was afraid she would suffer if she stayed alone in this small courtyard.

She then led her father to the main hall. The courtyard was not as large as the former Lin or Dou mansions, but she had managed it very well, making it a hidden gem.

Looking at the simple and clean surroundings, Lin Fu was filled with emotion. Zhu Ling was busy serving tea, while Rong Wei brought Mian Xue over. The little one, who had been sleeping soundly, was woken up and became very unhappy, opening her mouth wide and wailing.

Lin Fu was delighted with the sight and hugged her tightly, coaxing her affectionately. Although he now had another child, and his family now had two boys, one legitimate and one illegitimate, girls were still the most delicate and lovely flower buds, melting his heart completely.

Unexpectedly, Mianxue was not shy with strangers. Although she rarely saw her maternal grandfather, she inexplicably liked Lin Fu's warm embrace. Her little hands softly fiddled with the jade pendant and embroidery on his official robes, and soon she fell asleep with a giggle.

Lin Fu then freed his stiff hand to take a sip of tea and began to discuss the important business of his visit.

"...On the very day the rebels were quelled, the Duke's mansion was already heavily besieged by the Imperial Guards. As soon as the imperial edict arrived, cries of agony filled the gates. The upheaval in the court this time is unprecedented. You live here alone, so you must be extremely careful in everything you do."

Lin Xu listened quietly; she had already received the news from Liao Yan. Although Emperor Su had condemned Yao Qijiang for treason, he ultimately remembered the Duke of Xu's meritorious service and pardoned his life. The entire Duke's mansion was expelled from the capital, his property was confiscated, his hereditary title was revoked, and he was never to be reinstated.

The fact that the Yao family was not completely wiped out this time is hardly indicative of the involvement of Prime Minister Zhao, who has long suppressed military power and favored civil officials.

After drinking half a cup of tea, Lin Fu remembered another reason for his visit that day.

He took out several neatly folded sheets of paper from his sleeve, looked at the powerful handwriting on them, and sighed, "With such talent in this life, he will surely achieve great things in the future. In fact, I, Lin Fu, have read countless works of literature in my life, but I have never read any that can rival his writing power! He is truly a rare talent!"

That was the collection of Xu Yanqing's lyrics from recent years that Lin Xu had sent to his father by his guards a day ago.

You should know that my father was very learned, and there were very few people in the world who could earn his praise.

Lin Fu slightly raised his teacup, his gaze thoughtful, and said slowly, "I just wonder, which noble family does this talent come from, a son who has received rigorous family education and been influenced by his family since childhood?"

Although Dayu was founded on military force, it has always governed the country through civil administration, and this dynasty is particularly strong in this regard. Ordinary aristocratic families have been hiring tutors to teach their children from a young age, and students trained in this way often have a strong family tradition of learning and a solid foundation in their studies.

Lin Xu shook his head.

"No, he's just a poor student from a poor family who occasionally makes a living by selling paintings."

Lin Fu was even more surprised when he heard this, and his eyes lit up.

He put down the sleeping Mianxue, whom he had been holding in his arms, and solemnly said:

“If that’s the case, then it’s even more remarkable! Such an unpolished genius is rare indeed. Do you know where this student is now? If he is really short of money, it would be good to help him through this difficult time.”

"Father doesn't know that this student has an eccentric personality. Although he is poor and destitute, he is not greedy. On the contrary, he is currently in Mujing, preparing for the spring imperial examination. However, I heard that although he is talented, his luck is not good, and he has failed the exam twice in a row."

Lin Fu shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this. He simply refused to believe it. How could such a rare talent, whose extraordinary abilities were evident in just a few words, be so exceptional that he was destined for success in the examinations, even if he had to fight for the highest rank? How could he have failed repeatedly?

But after hearing Rong Wei's vivid account of Xu Yanqing's two previous unfortunate experiences during the examinations, Lin Fu couldn't help but be shaken.

Such an unlucky and eccentric candidate is truly rare in the world, and it's unlikely that another like him will appear in the next few decades. But if such a talented person fails the imperial examination, wouldn't it be a waste to bury his vast knowledge? Lin Fu sighed inwardly, feeling deeply moved.

He had come in a hurry and only stayed for a few cups of tea before he had to return home. Even so, before leaving, he took with him the only remaining manuscript that Xu Yanqing had used, which was only half-written, from Rongwei's hands, his expression revealing a deep respect that brooked no dissent.

After seeing Lin Fu off, Zhu Ling noticed that Lin Xu was standing blankly in the courtyard, silent for a long time. She found this strange, and upon closer listening, she heard the lady, her face filled with melancholy, softly say:

"It's really true..."

Zhu Ling had no idea what Lin Xu was thinking, but she felt that the lady in front of her seemed to have suddenly realized something. She was both lost and happy, as if she had just experienced some great ups and downs in life.

What lingered in Lin Xu's mind was the bright look and regret in her father's eyes when he talked about Xu Yanqing's experiences. She was so shocked that she couldn't say anything for a moment.

In her past life, the Lin family died unexpectedly. This sudden calamity not only easily destroyed all her happiness but also made it impossible for her to sleep peacefully for the rest of her life. She always believed that her father, who was in charge of the imperial examinations, was framed by villains, and that Dou Huaisheng and Qiu Shanhai were the first to be implicated. This caused her immense pain, and she always wanted to take revenge. She schemed and plotted, and finally, she had reached this point.

But what if, from the very beginning, she was wrong?

No one knew her father's character better than she did; he cherished talent to an almost obsessive degree. This was true in his past life, and it remained true in this one. Therefore, even though he had long suspected that Dou Huaisheng harbored ulterior motives, he still willingly recommended him to higher authorities because of his outstanding writing.

She had invited her father over today to test his reaction. Unexpectedly, though her father didn't show it, he clearly paid close attention to Xu Yanqing. Before leaving, he carefully examined the half-finished manuscript, and his expression was exactly the same as she remembered of her father's drunken night in her past life!

A thought suddenly flashed through her mind—

In her past life, perhaps she had always overlooked this. Even though her father didn't take the imperial examination this year because of her interference, if Xu Yanqing still encountered an accident while taking the exam, based on her understanding, her father would definitely try his best to help him get in smoothly!

It wasn't that Lin Xuzhen suspected her father of leaking the questions or being biased in grading; she just felt that her father couldn't bear to see such a talented person fail to be selected and thus have their life wasted.

The thought came suddenly, but it was so sharp that she was speechless for a moment.