portrait
Qin Mama simply raised her head, revealing deep wrinkles on her forehead that were etched into her skin. The furrows at the corners of her eyes, which usually made her seem kind and approachable, now gave off a slightly frightening aura.
Although Rongwei nimbly escaped from the scissors in Qin Mama's hand, she was still terrified by the intense gaze fixed on her. Despite lingering fear, she couldn't help but look at Lin Xu with great admiration. The Madam was indeed incredibly insightful; no wonder she had secretly given them a signal before summoning Qin Mama in!
"Madam, when did you discover that Granny Qin was a traitor?"
Lin Xu stood up and slowly walked towards Qin Mama, who was pinned down and unable to move at all.
She looked down at the person sent by the Empress who had been lying in wait in the Lin family.
Yes. When exactly did she begin to have doubts?
Is it because Granny Qin always returns to her hometown to visit relatives regularly, and these days it's become more and more frequent? Or is it because whenever Granny Qin recalls her childhood and Liang Shuangyu from the past, a series of complex emotions always unconsciously flash through her eyes?
Or perhaps, she had just barely escaped from the Dou family's side gate after exhausting all her strength, and at that time, Zhu Ling and Rong Wei had been sent away. When Bai Shi and Aunt Guo broke into the other courtyard without explanation and found the so-called "evidence" in her dressing case without lifting a finger, it was obvious that there was an inside traitor involved?
She had long suspected and sensed that there was a spy lurking in the shadows beside her. She had racked her brains, convinced that this person must be connected to the Dou family, the culprits who had harmed the Lin family in her past life.
She had suspected Nongyu, suspected the elusive bodyguard by Dou Yanxun's side, and even suspected Fangxing, whom Zhou Weikan had sent to protect her... So many passersby came and went in her life, yet she had never been able to truly harden her heart and doubt the people closest to her.
After Liang Shuangyu died when Lin Xu was seven years old, he was unable to get over it for a long time. Lin Fu was busy with government affairs during the day, so he selected some older nannies to come into the mansion to help raise and care for Lin Xu. Because of her careful and considerate work, Granny Qin quickly stood out and has been kept there ever since.
Looking back now, Qin Mama saw all the mischievous things she did in her childhood, but she never truly guided her onto the path of a well-bred young lady. Other nannies sometimes couldn't bear to see Lin Xu cause trouble and would inevitably nag a bit, but only Qin Mama always made excuses for her and spoke up for her... Over time, it's no wonder that she developed a spoiled personality in her previous life, and everything was so ridiculous and foolish!
These events of the past decade, each and every one of them, pierced Lin Xu's heart like a sword, drawing blood. She was already exhausted and had no strength left, but now that she was a mother, and Mianxue needed her support, how could she possibly weaken again!
"Granny Qin, in all these years, when has the Lin family ever mistreated you? Even I consider you one of the closest people to me. Betraying the Lin family and being hired by the Empress, what are your true intentions?"
As Qin Mama looked at Lin Xu, tears welled up in her eyes. "Miss, I know you've been through so much these past few days, and it must be hard on your heart. If you're unhappy, you can do whatever you want with me. But over the years, I've truly had feelings for you... I've watched you grow up right before my eyes! I'm so wronged!"
The cries of anguish were truly moving.
Lin Xu gave her a cold look, but completely ignored the tears welling up in Qin Mama's eyes.
"That day, Madam Bai and Aunt Guo stormed into the villa. Did you let them in and find what they called 'things'?"
“…Miss, please see the truth. This was indeed my oversight. But I was in a state of confusion at the time, and being of lowly status, how could I dare to offend the Old Madam and Concubine Guo! By the time I realized what had happened, it was already too late!”
Zhu Ling was already furious; how could she tolerate the person she spent every day with betraying Lin Xu? Hearing this, she immediately retorted:
"With your years of experience, you naturally understand how cautious Madam is in the Dou family. In that situation, instead of thinking about how to cover for Madam, you simply left the door open for the old lady to come. If you didn't have any ulterior motives, how could you have made such a mistake! Besides, ever since the Crown Princess and the fourth daughter of Prince Gong made a fuss about Madam's cherry blossom handkerchief at the banquet, it has been carefully kept in the hidden compartment of her dressing case. If it weren't for us serving her closely, who could easily find it?"
Upon hearing this, Granny Qin simply lowered her head and wept uncontrollably. No matter how she was questioned, she refused to utter another word.
Lin Xu understood that since she had been chosen by the Empress and had successfully infiltrated her side for so long, it was unlikely that she would agree overnight. She said to the guards, "Take her away and keep a close watch on her. We must not let her try to kill herself easily."
He then said to Zhu Ling, "I heard there's a scholar who paints incredibly lifelike portraits living at the entrance of this alley. Let's invite him over and have him paint a portrait of Granny Qin properly."
Although Zhu Ling was puzzled, she quickly lit a lamp and went. Soon, the scholar, still sleepy-eyed, was invited over. Ordinary scholars are proud and, even if they are occasionally short of money, they would not want to sell their calligraphy and paintings to make a living. Zhu Ling originally thought she would offer more money, but to her surprise, the scholar quickly agreed to her request. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a portrait that was exactly the same as Qin Mama's was completed.
Lin Xu glanced at the painting, then handed it to a very composed-looking guard with satisfaction. "Deliver it to the Gao residence tonight, and ask Madam Gao to examine it carefully."
The guards dared not delay, and quickly and carefully put the portrait away before leaving without stopping.
Lin Xu glanced at the pitch-black night outside the window, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.
Lady Yang… She always remembered the day she came to celebrate her coming of age, and how Lady Yang stood up for her in front of the Yao siblings. At that time, the Third Prince, who had not yet been named Crown Prince, even came to celebrate for her. It was then that the Crown Prince inquired about the recent situation of Granny Tang, who served Lady Yang.
After the birth of a prince or princess, the palace would select wet nurses from among the common people. Being able to serve the imperial family so closely was a blessing many could only dream of. If one was lucky, they might even cultivate a good relationship with the prince or princess, ensuring future wealth and honor. Since Granny Tang had previously served the Crown Prince and was still remembered by him, she must have performed exceptionally well in the palace.
Since Granny Qin refused to budge, she needed to let Granny Tang identify her.
She even wanted to glean some of her past secrets from Granny Tang—
Why did the Empress kill a quiet and aloof noblewoman who had no grudge against her?
Furthermore, as the mother of the nation, it would be incredibly easy for the Empress to eliminate an eyesore. She could simply find an excuse to cover it up. Why would she be so worried and send someone else to keep a close watch on Lin Xu and hide in the Lin family for so long?
Even though her mind was racing, all she could do at that moment was to endure it.
Lin Xu was holding Mianxue, who was sleeping soundly, in his arms. He was about to hand her over to the wet nurse and take her away to rest when Rongwei, looking troubled, lifted the curtain and walked in again.
"What's wrong?"
Rongwei said with some difficulty, "Madam, that poor scholar just now refused to leave after finishing his painting. He was so shameless, saying he hadn't eaten for days and wanted to beg for a hot meal. He's no scholar at all, he's just brought along a beggar!"
Lin Xu was also somewhat surprised, "Did he accept all that money? That's enough for a scholar's food expenses for half a year."
Rongwei also expressed her dissatisfaction:
"Indeed, but this scholar just won't leave. He insists on having a bowl of rice. If it were just ordinary food, that would be fine. I saw Li Niang from the kitchen bring over two bowls of clear chicken soup, but the scholar just shook his head when he saw them! He even specifically asked for a bowl of steamed meat patties from some alleyway, saying that this house used to be a restaurant, but after the chef came, we couldn't get this dish anymore. He also said that since we gave him such a reward, he wanted to use the money to buy a bowl of steamed meat patties... He's practically getting a bargain and then acting all innocent!"
Lin Xu became increasingly curious as she listened; this person's behavior was indeed rather strange. Rong Wei was known for her good temper, so anyone who could anger her like this must be no ordinary person.
She put on an overcoat, frowned, and said, "Since he is a poor scholar and has been hungry for several days, he may not like overly nourishing food. I remember there is a patch of chives growing well in the backyard. Stir-frying them with some local eggs would be just right to go with rice."
Rongwei's eyes lit up upon hearing this. "That's right! I almost forgot there's a jar of braised meat in the kitchen. I'll take it over there right now!"
When Lin Xu arrived at the front hall, he was stunned by the scene before him.
The small hall was simply and cleanly furnished, and a young man was sitting at the table, looking like a scholar.
The man's clothes were faded from washing, with a slightly worn collar, but they were clean and wrinkle-free, indicating that he had carefully ironed them himself. He was now staring intently at the food that had just been served, excitedly holding his chopsticks.
On the small table were a bowl of stir-fried eggs with tender chives, a bowl of braised pork, a large bowl of rice, and a plate of steaming, freshly baked minced meat buns that Lin Xu had just instructed the kitchen to prepare.
When Rongwei saw him, she gestured with her chin towards Lin Xu in an annoyed manner, "Madam, it's him."
The scholar, however, seemed not to hear at all. He simply leaned closer to smell the aroma of the food before digging in with gusto. Having been hungry for a long time, he ate like a whirlwind, and soon only a table full of empty bowls remained.
Rongwei pouted and secretly scoffed, "She wasn't eating a moment ago, but now she's licked the plate clean."
After the scholar had eaten and drunk his fill, he wiped his mouth and turned around. When he saw Lin Xu, he quickly bowed and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you for your hospitality, Madam. The steamed buns were a little too watery and the minced meat wasn't quite flavorful enough, but it was still delicious. The fresh chives were especially good with rice. Consider this payment as payment for my painting."
After saying this, he turned to leave.
Lin Xu couldn't help but find it amusing. "That money is enough to support you for half a year. Is it really worth it to exchange it all for this one meal?"
The scholar paused, turned around and smiled, revealing his gleaming white teeth.
"Students are focused on preparing for the exams, and they will eventually pass. Besides, even if things don't go well, students can still make a living by selling calligraphy and paintings or copying scriptures for others. However, the steamed meat patties that taste similar to those in the restaurants at the end of the alley are a once-in-a-millennium find. Naturally, it's a very worthwhile deal."
With such an eccentric personality, even Man Mujing would find it difficult to find another like him.
Lin Xu's heart skipped a beat, and he couldn't help but ask, "Are you one of the candidates who took the imperial examination this year? May I ask your name?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
