Chapter 174: Parting is inevitable
Then, he stepped forward and took the imperial edict. He was not at all flustered during the whole process, as if he didn't know Lin Congyan at all.
A look of regret appeared on the eunuch's face. "When I was serving before the Emperor, I heard that Lord Lin was well versed in law and etiquette. Now it seems that it is true."
"If your brother could be like you, he wouldn't have to end up like this."
"What a shame, what a shame!"
"You are too kind, sir." There was no special expression on Lin Congli's face, but his hands were clenched tightly.
He knew that the word "your brother" referred not only to Lin Congyan, but also to Lin Zhiqing's father, Lin Congrong.
The eunuch did not see the fear or helplessness on Lin Congli's face, so he stopped talking.
From beginning to end, the eunuch's expression did not change much and he looked very calm.
Seeing this, Zhou Chongzheng waved his hand, and the people behind him filed in and began to confiscate the Lin family's property.
Lin Zhiqing ignored those people and instead pondered the contents of the imperial edict word by word.
Apart from the trivial matters, the core content of the imperial edict only has two points.
First, my fourth uncle was sentenced to immediate execution. Although the specific time was not specified, according to the old files of the Dali Temple, it would be a matter of one or two days.
Second, the men of the Lin family were sentenced to military service, and the women were sentenced to exile.
On the surface, it seemed that the emperor was showing leniency and not taking their lives.
But the truth is probably that Lin Congyan's crimes have not been found to be related to other people in the Lin family.
It would be unreasonable to directly sentence other members of the Lin family to death.
The royal family is extremely concerned about their reputation. They insist on having a legitimate reason for their actions and do not want to leave any room for criticism.
This can be seen from Lin Zhiqing's father.
It is for this reason that the royal family chose to deal with others in such a roundabout way.
But to say that exile and banishment were the Lin family's way out is actually not the case.
Judging from the current situation of the Lin family, the biggest label hanging on their heads is treason.
And what is a military camp?
Inside are soldiers who are full of passion and ready to sacrifice their lives for the country at any time.
When facing traitors, the soldiers' attitude was of course extremely disgusted and even hateful.
The men of the Lin family who went to the military camp were no different from the people of the enemy country, and their final outcome would certainly not be good.
As for the exiled women, it goes without saying that the court had a hundred reasons to let them die quietly and unclearly during exile.
Even if no one interferes, the destination of exile will most likely be some wild and desolate land, and it is still unclear whether they can reach it on their own.
Although the imperial edict did not explicitly state that the other members of the Lin family should be executed, this was no different from ordering their death.
This is certainly not good news.
While Lin Zhiqing was thinking, everyone in the Lin family was very calm except for the fourth aunt who made very low sobs from time to time.
Dali Temple Minister Zhou Chongzheng was slightly surprised by the Lin family's behavior.
Except for Lin Congyan's wife, the other members of the Lin family were a little scared when they first heard the imperial edict, but they were surprisingly calm afterwards.
Especially... Zhou Chongzheng looked at the woman standing at the end of the crowd.
She was dressed in blue and without any makeup, but her facial features were aggressive.
This should be Lin Zhiqing.
Zhou Chongzheng narrowed his eyes. He knew that Lin Congrong had a daughter.
In the eyes of others, she is stupid and unpresentable.
But now she looks very calm.
Was he so calm because he was desperate, or was it true, as they had heard before, that the Lin family had a plan to rob the execution ground?
Most likely.
Zhou Chongzheng silently confirmed his thoughts in his heart.
Otherwise, why would the higher authorities issue such an imperial decree to save the Lin family from imprisonment?
Others may not know, but he is relatively clear about it.
Rather than boiling a frog in warm water, the royal family must want to wipe out the Lin family in one fell swoop and leave no future troubles.
But the Lin family is still too stupid.
Robbing the execution ground? They would only face a dragnet.
The Lin family's luck has run out!
Zhou Chongzheng looked at the Lin family with a hint of subtle disgust in his eyes. Their behavior was really stupid.
Noticing Zhou Chongzheng's gaze, Lin Zhiqing raised his head and looked at him.
Those were a pair of cold eyes, containing the look of a superior.
He looked at himself as if he were an ant on the side of the road.
Lin Zhiqing had observed him since he came in. Most of the time Zhou Chongzheng had a pout on his face, although his face did not show much joy or happiness.
But there was a hint of arrogance in his eyes when he looked at the Lin family.
Apart from this, there is nothing else.
Lin Zhiqing didn't see anything special and looked away.
Soon, the Lin family was plundered.
Zhou Chongzheng and the eunuch seemed to not want to stay in the Lin family for a moment, so they turned around and left.
After watching the Dali Temple team go away, Lin Zhiqing first ordered his men to take the shocked Fourth Aunt away.
"Zhiqing!" Fourth Aunt held Lin Zhiqing's hand, her eyes already swollen: "We are all going to die, right?"
Lin Zhiqing didn't say anything.
Fourth Aunt did not give up and looked at Lin Congli again.
Lin Congli sighed, turned to face the main hall, and avoided her gaze.
Although they didn't say anything, Fourth Aunt had already understood what they meant, that they were all going to die.
She was overwhelmed with grief and could no longer hold back her tears.
Hearing the mournful cry, Lin Shian and Lin Yangyang looked away with some reluctance.
Lin Zhiqing winked at Lin Yangyang, who understood, helped Fourth Aunt up and walked out.
At the same time, many servants gathered towards the main hall, most of them with expressions of confusion and despair on their faces.
Because they all heard the imperial edict and the crying of the fourth lady.
The Lin family is finished!
The Lin family’s servants are finished!
Without waiting for those people to speak, Lin Zhiqing said loudly: "The emperor is merciful and did not implicate the servants of the Lin family."
"There is always a time to meet and to part. We are master and servant. The Lin family will not make things difficult for you. My cousin has sorted out everyone's indentures. If anyone wants to leave, they can come and get them later."
The affairs of the Lin family are complicated and changeable. Lin Zhiqing does not want to involve innocent people before he is absolutely sure.
When most of the servants heard this, they knelt down and kowtowed, loudly calling out for the emperor's mercy, and then walked towards Lin Shian with tears and snot.
But some people still stood still.
"We are Lin family members in life and ghosts in death. Miss Zhiqing, we will not leave. We will live and die with the Lin family!"
"I won't leave! My mother was seriously ill at home, and I was possessed by evil spirits and stole the rhinoceros-skin lacquer tea set. I was then falsely accused of murdering Miss Yangyang.
Miss Zhiqing not only cleared my name, but also secretly found a doctor to save my mother. I will follow Miss Zhiqing for the rest of my life."
"My life was saved by the Fourth Master. Wherever the Fourth Master is, I will be there."
"I want to stay. My young master can't do without me. He can't even make tea on weekdays. What will he do without me?"
Hearing this last sentence, Lin Jiusi, who was sitting silently beside him, was stunned.
When he looked up, he saw the servant who had followed him for a long time wiping his tears and looking at him.
Somehow, his eyes also became a little red.
Not only him, Lin Yangyang, who was standing by, looked at Xiao Cui with tears in her eyes and couldn't help but step forward and push her out:
"Silly Xiao Cui, why are you still staying here? Find someone to live with after you leave the house, and don't do the work of serving others anymore."
Xiao Cui cried and shook her head, hugging Lin Yangyang's arms:
"Miss, please don't chase me away. I have followed you since I was a child. Before she left, my lady told me to take good care of you. I won't leave."
The master and servant hugged each other.
Hearing these words, Lin Zhiqing couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.
She suppressed the sour emotions in her heart and took a closer look. Most of the people who said they wanted to stay were familiar faces, almost all of them were personal maids and servants of the Lin family.
After silently memorizing these faces, she nodded: "Okay, we will live and die with the Lin family!"
As soon as she finished speaking, an old, familiar voice came from the door:
"Miss, you have such a cruel heart!"
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