Chapter 374 Family Banquet
Lin Changning was still rather reserved that evening. In the afternoon, Li Mingshu had someone safely escort Lin's mother back home, while Lin Changning stayed with Qi Rong at the Prince's residence to help out, finalizing plans with a group of advisors and clerks kept by the Prince of Chu.
Before they knew it, it was evening. Fortunately, the Prince's mansion had many people, so they got things done quickly. Once the plan was finalized, people were immediately assigned to get things done.
Lin Changning sat at her desk wiping away sweat several times. The people in the Prince's mansion didn't quite understand what she was talking about: propaganda warfare, how to spread information, and how to fabricate events to make them seem real.
She could only revise the plan while explaining it to others in detail before reading the case. Qi Rong, on the other hand, skillfully shifted the blame, watching Lin Changning work with a smile.
Lin Changning looked at Qi Rong with a resentful expression. As if he had a change of heart, Qi Rong coughed lightly, embarrassed, and picked up a handful of fruits from the table and placed them in front of Lin Changning.
"It's okay to take a break before getting busy again; there's no rush."
Lin Changning didn't dare to take it seriously. He grabbed some melon seeds and started cracking them open. He sighed and said, "There's still a lot of work to be done at the Commandery. I can't afford to rest. I'll finish today's work today. The sooner I get it done, the easier it will be."
Qi Rong nodded in agreement, feeling embarrassed to stand there any longer. He sorted out the documents Lin Changning had prepared, read them, and then distributed them to different people.
"Just do as instructed above, and make sure this message spreads widely."
The clerk respectfully accepted the document, said "Yes," and then quickly went outside to distribute the document.
After the detailed documents were issued, they were polished and then handed over to others to be passed down.
That night, countless carrier pigeons flew out of the Prince's mansion. After Lin Changning detailed the entire process, he handed it to Qi Rong. After reading it, Qi Rong nodded unconsciously.
Xiao Liu's solution was so detailed and ingenious that he would never have come up with it.
The fact that buckets of dirty water were being poured onto the imperial court and the Xie family will likely spread throughout the Great Xuan Dynasty in just a few days.
To be fair, some of the private matters mentioned above, although fabricated, are so detailed that they seem almost real. For example, the current head of the Xie family is an illegitimate son who, out of jealousy of his eldest brother who is the legitimate son, couldn't wait to send his eldest brother's only son out as a scapegoat after his brother's death, in order to prevent his own son from being unable to inherit the position of head of the Xie family in the future.
The honest Third Prince was hated by the Emperor because he found out that the Emperor was having an affair with the late Emperor's concubine. The Emperor found some fabricated charges against him in an attempt to get rid of the Third Prince.
With no other option, he rebelled, but he was no match for the rebels. In the end, he could only die a miserable death by self-immolation, leaving behind evidence of his innocence.
Lin Changning wrote each point in great detail, as if he had witnessed it firsthand. He described how the emperor first met the 18-year-old late imperial concubine when he was 16, and how the two were deeply in love and their affair blossomed in the palace.
When the late emperor learned of this, he was furious and wanted to execute the concubines, but was stopped by the emperor who was then the crown prince. In a fit of anger, he wanted to depose the crown prince, but the crown prince struck first, so the late emperor was forced to die of illness, and the crown prince succeeded to the throne.
I have no idea what's going on in Changning's little head. It's amazing that he could come up with such a complicated plot. It's like he's throwing buckets of dirty water on the emperor's head.
Upon seeing this, Qi Rong couldn't help but scrutinize Lin Changning: "Little Six, where do you get so many strange ideas at such a young age? And what's written here, isn't it a bit exaggerated? Can ordinary people believe it?"
Lin Changning held up a finger and shook it: "Second brother, you don't understand, do you? The more sensational the gossip, the faster it spreads. People love this kind of thing. Tell me, isn't it shocking enough?"
Qi Rong clicked his tongue twice: "It is indeed quite shocking."
The story was so well-crafted it seemed almost real. At this point, Qi Rong asked again, "However, such a tarnished reputation of the emperor would most likely lead the court to issue an order to ban the spread of the news."
Lin Changning's eyes crinkled into a smile, as sly as a fox: "The more you suppress gossip like this, the faster it spreads. I'm not afraid of him ordering a ban on its dissemination; I'm afraid he won't give the order. If he does, it will only confirm the matter."
Qi Rong patted Lin Changning's shoulder silently: "Xiao Liu's move was truly brilliant."
Therefore, whether the emperor stopped the spread of the news or not, his reputation was doomed.
As for the dirty dealings with the Xie family, that depends on how the two sides play their game.
Just as they were looking at the document Lin Changning had written, there were two knocks on the door.
Li Mingshu, dressed in a long blue dress, was seen leaning against the door with one hand, peeking inside at Qi Rong and Lin Changning, with Yue'er's little head peeking out from behind her.
"Second Brother, Sixth Brother, the banquet is ready. Stop fussing and take your seats."
The moon peeked out, looking at the group of clerks inside. It seemed a little shy, glancing longingly at Lin Changning, as if it wanted to come in but didn't dare to.
Lin Changning smiled when he saw Yue'er, and reached out his hands to her past Qi Rong: "Yue'er, do you miss Uncle Lin? Come here, let Uncle hug you."
As she spoke, she straightened up, preparing to walk out. When Yue'er saw Lin Changning's outstretched arms, she stepped over the threshold and, like a small, pale yellow butterfly, rushed towards Lin Changning.
"Uncle Lin! It's been so long since I've seen you. Yue'er misses you so much."
Qi Rong glanced at Lin Changning, who was holding Yue'er in his arms, with some surprise. Since returning home, Yue'er had been wary of most people. Apart from her aunt and uncle, only her older brother, him, and Minghua were somewhat close to her.
Unexpectedly, Yue'er was so affectionate towards Lin Changning. Seeing his younger sister looking at Yue'er and Lin Changning so tenderly, Qi Rong's expression became subtle.
She glanced at Lin Changning and her younger sister twice, wanting to say something, but ultimately held back.
Lin Changning picked up Yue'er and smiled gently at people. After bowing to Li Mingshu along with the other clerks, he carried Yue'er out the door. Standing next to Li Mingshu, he turned his head, seemingly wondering why she hadn't followed.
Qi Rong stood there glancing at Lin Changning and Li Mingshu several times, until Lin Changning and Li Mingshu exchanged a few words, then he turned back with a smile: "Second Brother? Aren't you leaving?"
Qi Rong smiled and said, "Let's go now."
As she spoke, she strode outside, walking side by side with Lin Changning, watching Yue'er nestled obediently in Lin Changning's arms.
I think I'm probably overthinking it.
Xiao Liu escorted his younger sister back from the capital, and since she was injured, it was normal for them to get to know each other. However, he always felt that the atmosphere between them was somewhat subtle.
They seemed quite familiar with each other.
"Why is it you, Ah Shu, who came to call us? Where are the maids?"
Li Mingshu chuckled: "Second brother has been very busy lately, and we rarely see you at home. Since we had nothing to do at the banquet, we brought Yue'er over."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
