Chapter 125 Conspiracy
"Although the Anping Marquis's Mansion isn't considered a top-tier institution, they could still mobilize a few street thugs to bribe a desperate woman into poisoning herself and framing someone."
"Bai Qingyi is also a possibility, but her methods tend to be more secretive in the backyard. Such a brutal way of causing trouble in the street is not like her style."
"Jiang Ruyi hates me to the core, and is eager to gain a foothold in the Anping Marquis's Mansion. He uses this vicious scheme to kill two birds with one stone.
It would be the best way for her to destroy my reputation and industry while also dampening Qin Xiu's interest in me."
After she finished writing, she handed the plain paper to Zi Su, "Keep it carefully. Tomorrow, go to Jingzhao Prefecture in person and find the captain of the police you're familiar with. Deliver the diagnosis record from today's Doctor Wang and the confession of the witness captured by the princess's guards."
"Focus on investigating that woman's background, who she's been in contact with recently, any financial transactions, and who the instigators are."
"Marrying into the Anping Marquis's mansion doesn't mean you can rest easy. This time, I'm going to make sure Jiang Ruyi loses more than she gains."
"Yes, don't worry, miss!" Zi Su took the plain paper and put it away carefully, with excitement flashing in her eyes.
She likes to watch the young lady planning her strategy.
"Also," Jiang Qingning picked up the calming tea and blew on it gently, "Over at the Wei Zhai, although Qin Xiu didn't say anything explicitly today, he left in such a hurry. I guess there must be some new developments over there."
"Have Aunt Zhang keep a close eye on them, especially any pharmacies, pawnshops, or other low-income places that Wen Ziyi has come into contact with. If a princess from an enemy country wants to operate in the capital, she'll definitely need money and manpower. It's impossible for her to leave no trace."
"Yes, Miss!" Zi Su accepted the order and was about to leave.
"Wait." Jiang Qingning stopped her and pondered for a moment. "Let Aunt Zhang find a way to investigate the Pingjiang Marquis Mansion and Jiang Yuerou's engagement with them. I always feel that this is going too fast."
"The Pingjiang Marquisate is a noble family after all. Why would they accept a divorced merchant girl with a daughter? Perhaps there's some hidden connection or privacy we don't know about."
Jiang Yuerou is currently reliable, and as her man, she must marry into a good family.
Zi Su's heart trembled, and she nodded solemnly: "I understand, I will arrange it right away!"
Jiang Qingning was the only one left in the study.
She walked to the window and opened it halfway.
The cool breeze cleared her confused mind.
The princelings lurking in the shadows, eyeing the situation with eager eyes, and the orphans of the previous dynasty plotting to overthrow the dynasty...
A myriad of threads, like invisible silk threads, entangled and intertwined, wrapping her up in it.
A few days later.
The study is brightly lit.
Zi Su served hot tea and retreated silently, leaving the space completely to the two people at both ends of the table.
Qin Xiu was wearing a dark-colored uniform, which made his face look even more stern.
He pushed a copied file in front of Jiang Qingning and said in a low and direct voice: "The time has come, Lin Heng, it's time to die."
Jiang Qingning's hand holding the cup paused almost imperceptibly.
She raised her eyes and met Qin Xiu's eyes that seemed to be able to see through people's hearts.
He spoke so bluntly, as if discussing an ordinary business matter, but his undisguised murderous intent made her heart tremble slightly.
"Okay." She put down the teacup, her voice cold and clear, without the slightest hesitation.
Killing Lin Heng and avenging the arrow shot at Qingxi is one of her most important goals until now.
"How are you going to do that?"
Qin Xiu pointed at the file with his fingertips. "Duke Fengguo Lin Chong has relied on the Empress and the Crown Prince over the years and has stretched his hands too far. The salt tax, grain transport, and military supply procurement are all traces of his family's corruption. Your Majesty is not unaware of this, but..."
"We just need the Lin family to check and balance your Duke Qin's Mansion and other forces that are ready to make moves." Jiang Qingning took over and stated calmly.
Although she had never entered the imperial court, the network she had built over the years had already enabled her to uncover most of the undercurrents in the capital and even in the imperial court.
"That's right." Qin Xiu nodded, his eyes growing darker. "Your Majesty's path to the throne... was not glorious."
"The death of the previous emperor was shrouded in mystery. Although the three princes were secretly sent to their fiefdoms by the old Duke, saving their lives, they still harbor deep resentment and have never given up on finding opportunities over the years."
"Before my grandfather died, he told my father and me this secret, and urged us to ensure the stability of the country and prevent further unrest."
He stopped there and did not elaborate on the specific details of the late emperor's death, but the words "his accession to the throne was not glorious" were enough for Jiang Qingning to guess something.
"So His Majesty is extremely sensitive to military power and any force that may threaten his throne."
Qin Xiu paused, thinking that Jiang Qingning should know the truth of that year.
He said in a deep voice, "The Jiang family was so prominent back then, and with the Northern Border temporarily pacified, they lost their value. That's why His Majesty tacitly allowed them to be framed and convicted by those eager to curry favor with the Lin family and the Crown Prince, and quickly purged."
Jiang Qingning's heart suddenly sank.
No wonder it has not been found in the past few months. Such secret history is only strictly guarded by special people in the royal family.
Although she had long guessed that there must be some hidden reason behind her father and brother's exile to Lingnan, and even vaguely suspected that it was the result of imperial power struggle, when she heard such a clear thread from Qin Xiu's mouth with her own ears, a wave of hatred instantly swept over her heart.
She clenched her hands in her sleeves, her nails almost digging into her palms.
Qin Xiu looked at her instantly pale face and the hatred surging in her eyes, and continued:
"Your Majesty's dissatisfaction with the Duke of Fengguo's Mansion is deepening, but he lacks conclusive evidence sufficient to shake its foundation. He also fears that completely eradicating the Lin family would lead to a loss of balance in the court."
"What we have to do is to hand him this knife and make it sharp enough to make him make up his mind and not hesitate any longer."
"Fabricate evidence? Lure him into a trap?"
Jiang Qingning quickly calmed down and asked with clear thoughts.
"yes."
Qin Xiu unfolded a simple map of the capital's layout and placed his fingertips on an area in the south of the city.
"This is the Lin family's largest private salt warehouse in the capital, and it's also their biggest den for embezzling official salt and evading taxes. I already have some account books and key witnesses, but it's not fatal enough. We need an 'accident'."
He lowered his voice and laid out his plan: "Three days later, the patrol battalion in the capital will have its routine rotation. One of the teams, the deputy commander in charge of the South City Gate, is someone planted by the Lin family."
"I have bribed one of his unsuccessful lieutenants. A batch of official salt will be transported and will be caught in a rainstorm."
"The road was muddy, the vehicle overturned, and some salt bags accidentally fell into a nearby abandoned ditch. This ditch happened to be connected to the back wall culvert of the Lin family's secret warehouse."
Jiang Qingning's eyes flashed. "You want to let this batch of official salt flow into the Lin family's warehouse without anyone noticing? You want to prove that they not only evaded taxes, but also stole official salt?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
