Chen Zaiyuan returns to the capital
"Please speak, Auntie," Lin Huaiyin said very politely.
"Then this servant will not stand on ceremony." Aunt Huang bowed deeply and said earnestly, "The Second Master said in his letter that he will be returning to the capital soon. This servant was thinking that we should invite Princess Pingyang to the family banquet this time. Such a high-level invitation has never been given before. This servant has no other way to do so. I wonder if Madam could give us some pointers?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Huaiyin almost burst out laughing. She was just worried about some details that were difficult to control when slaughtering Chu Jiu. It was like a pillow being handed to her when she was sleepy. She immediately replied, "Auntie has put in a lot of effort and thought things through. As a member of the Shen family, I naturally have no choice but to do my duty, Crab Ao."
She looked at Xie Ao, who was puzzled, thinking to himself, "Why are you calling me about matters of the inner quarters? I don't understand anything!" But he still responded in unison, "Madam."
"Hmm." Lin Huaiyin was satisfied with her reaction and took the opportunity to introduce her: "Auntie, don't underestimate Xie'ao just because she is young. She has been living in the inner quarters of the Lin family since she was a child. My mother personally taught her many things. She also witnessed the grand occasion when the Emperor visited the Lin family. I think she can lend a hand and do her best."
Upon hearing this, Aunt Huang's eyes lit up, and she perked up. She genuinely felt that the family banquet was a difficult situation, and her request for help was not unfounded. However, she never expected that Madam's maid had even met the current Emperor. The Lin family's background was truly extraordinary!
In this way, she unexpectedly gained a valuable helper. Aunt Huang was overjoyed and immediately bowed, saying, "It is a blessing from a hundred lifetimes that Madam is willing to part with it. I thank you and Miss Crab Turtle in advance."
"Auntie, you're too kind." Lin Huaiyin nodded gently. "Just call her anytime if you need anything."
Although Xie Ao was confused about the situation, he still followed Lin Huaiyin's lead and curtsied, saying, "I will obey your orders, Aunt."
"No, no, I wouldn't dare." Aunt Huang waved her hands repeatedly, expressing her deepest gratitude, and saw her off again.
Before long, the three returned to Qingyin Pavilion. The morning light gradually fell on the roof tiles, casting dappled orange glow.
The crab claw was full of questions, so many that it was about to molt and emerge. After driving away the outsiders, it set its sights on Lin Huaiyin.
Not only her, but even Yu Li felt that sending someone as familiar with the inner workings of the household would allow them to better control the situation and gain more resources and influence.
However, Lin Huaiyin had her own considerations. She looked at the two of them with a smile and asked, "With Granny Xu gone and Aunt Huang taking over, how can the old witch tolerate her being so eager to please us and betraying us? I'm afraid the old witch will suppress her soon. If Yu Li gets involved, she will be implicated."
As she spoke, she touched Yu Li's cheek with infinite pity, clicked her tongue and shook her head: "I can't bear to."
"Hmph." Crab Claw disapproved of their intimacy, but she wasn't jealous at all. She leaned down and nuzzled Lin Huaiyin's face, blinking her eyes and raising her eyebrows: "Did Miss send me there to kill someone while she was at it?"
"Yes and no." Lin Huaiyin gently touched the tip of the crab claw's nose and solemnly announced, "You need to prepare to leave."
"What?"
"What?"
Fish and crabs, speaking in unison—
"Why?"
"Why?"
"The best strategy is to outwit the enemy. We must transform our isolated and helpless state into one of coordinated attacks from within and without." Lin Huaiyin tried her best to maintain a smile and appropriate confidence.
She wouldn't want to take this step unless absolutely necessary, but the opportunity was once in a lifetime, and she had to adapt to the situation.
There are dangers outside, but there are also opportunities outside. Moreover, the Imperial Guards are very familiar with the crabs and claws, so she is more capable of protecting herself and it is most appropriate for her to go out and move around.
Lin Huaiyin's thoughts were obvious, and Yu Li and Xie Ao understood them. Although they were reluctant to part and afraid of not seeing each other again, they knew that Miss must have her reasons for making such an arrangement.
The two exchanged a glance, and without saying a word, rolled up their sleeves and got to work: Yu Li taught Xie Ao how to deal with Aunt Huang and arrange a family banquet; Xie Ao took out the small dagger from Yu Li's waist and taught her the simplest and easiest self-defense technique.
Seeing this, Lin Huaiyin dragged out her large trunk, picked out a Xiangfei bamboo arrow, and sat cross-legged to polish it.
With only four days left until the family banquet, time was tight and the task was heavy, so the three of them were making preparations in full swing.
Busy until noon, Lin Huaiyin went to have lunch with Madam Shen, and then, as usual, went to Shen Congyun's study to carry the threshold.
When Shen Congyun returned, he almost couldn't resist stomping her to death.
He refused to let Lin Huaiyin serve him on the spot, wouldn't even let her carry his shoes, and strictly forbade her from serving him in the morning.
Lin Huaiyin sobbed twice, cried out "husband" a few times, and after several empty attempts, she retreated sadly and happily went back to Qingyin Pavilion to run her revenge workshop.
——
Three days later, Shen Zaiyuan indeed returned to the capital.
Officials from the Censorate who were inspecting local areas delivered two memorials. One went to the Eastern Palace and the other to the Imperial Palace. The Eastern Palace held it back, but the Imperial Palace issued an edict that same day: Shen Zaiyuan was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and concurrently served as Salt and Iron Commissioner for his meritorious service in disaster relief.
A coveted, lucrative position fell into the Shen family's lap just like that.
The Minister of Revenue is getting old and will soon retire. Soon, he will be given the position to Chen Zaiyuan.
The two Shen brothers, one in charge of the Secretariat, drafting imperial edicts and speaking on behalf of the emperor, and the other controlling the empire's treasury, population, and land, rose rapidly to prominence and held immense power.
The Imperial Censor Liu Cang was the father of Consort Hui. He was responsible for supervising all officials and local authorities. In his memorial, he praised Shen Zaiyuan to the skies. Anyone with eyes could see that Consort Hui and her father were praising the Shen family. Otherwise, the ailing emperor would not have bypassed the Crown Prince and issued a decree directly.
The imperial decree came from within the palace, and the favor was bestowed by the palace, having nothing to do with the Crown Prince who was in charge of the country.
With Consort Hui in the Emperor's favor and pregnant, her intention to win over the Shen family was as clear as day.
Because this was common knowledge, when the invitations sent out by the Shen family for the banquet were sent out, the officials all made excuses, saying they were too busy to attend.
Those who managed to become officials in the capital were all cunning old foxes. They would only meddle in the power struggle between Consort Hui and the Crown Prince Regent if they wanted to die.
Moreover, the Crown Prince has overseen the country for many years, and his exceptional abilities are evident to all officials. In contrast, Consort Hui seems to have no idea what she's thinking, so why is she vying for the throne? She's not very bright.
The court officials sided with the Crown Prince, who was overseeing the state, and politely declined to attend the banquet.
——
In Qingyin Pavilion, Xie Ao was called away by Aunt Huang, Yu Li was making glutinous rice paper, adding medicinal powder little by little, and Lin Huaiyin was resting her chin on her hand, copying Buddhist scriptures while sorting out her past life.
In my memory, the only people who came to the family banquet were from the Secretariat and the Ministry of Revenue, some colleagues who couldn't refuse, and Su Jinggui.
The scene was deserted, and the Shen family gave her a cold shoulder, calling her a jinx who would ruin the Shen family's future. The court officials did not come to avoid suspicion of the Lin family, and Su Jinggui's arrival made her feel even more ashamed and subjected her to endless scorn.
Like a rabbit that couldn't find its hole, she was red-eyed, bumping into walls everywhere, and dizzy. She was drowsy from the start of the banquet and had to be helped away from her seat.
When she woke up, she and Su Jinggui were caught in bed together. Shen Congyun sat far away in a chair, looking at her with a cold gaze, and ordered the killing of Yu Li and Xie Ao in a casual tone.
She was terrified and stunned. She thought Su Jinggui was taking revenge on her for breaking off the engagement by drugging her. She blamed all her resentment and the deaths of Yu Li and Xie Ao on Su Jinggui and told him to die.
In the end, Shen Congyun, out of consideration for the feelings of all parties, turned a blind eye and did not pursue the matter further.
Su Jinggui and his son both resigned from their official posts and moved away from the capital.
Lin Huaiyin was heartbroken at losing Yu Li and Xie Ao, feeling guilty for betraying her husband, and spent her days in tears.
As the dust of her past life swept by, Lin Huaiyin saw through the sinister look in Shen Congyun's eyes: he didn't hesitate to put her in bed with another man, all he wanted was Su Jinggui's father's official position in the Ministry of Personnel.
The fifth-rank official, the Director of Personnel Evaluation, was not of high rank, but wielded immense power. He could decide the promotion, demotion, reward, and punishment of officials nationwide, and was the linchpin of the entire Ministry of Personnel. He also faced pressure from all the powerful figures in the government. Only those with integrity and unyielding character among the upright officials could hold this position.
By orchestrating the removal of Su's father, Shen Congyun effectively removed a pillar of the empire. By holding this official position, he held the lifeline of all civil and military officials in his hands. Those who submitted were promoted, while those who disobeyed were demoted. As for using the White Lotus Sect to purge the Lin family, that was a last resort and a way to smear the Lin family.
The Ministry of War, the Ministry of Revenue, and the Ministry of Personnel were rife with open and covert struggles, attempts to win over and suppress each other, and the framing of others. Lin Huaiyin saw through Shen Congyun and Princess Pingyang's methods of seizing power.
Once the glutinous rice paper was ready, she put down the Buddhist scriptures and carefully sketched on the paper, thinking to herself: I've saved the Su family father and son; as for Shen Zaiyuan, he's done a good job in disaster relief...
Hmph, he has indeed done something. There is a blood-stained letter from the people accusing him of embezzling disaster relief funds, which is on its way to the capital. In my previous life, the letter was intercepted, but in this life, I will snatch it back and slap Shen Zaiyuan and the Imperial Censor Liu Cang's faces to pieces.
But I can't handle this alone; I need to time it and find help. Lin Huaiyin thought to herself, then set her sights on tomorrow's target—the murderer who killed Mianfeng in her past life—Chu Jiu.
Times have changed, and Lin Huaiyin specifically invited Princess Pingyang, her intentions very clear:
In her past life, she never met this mastermind before she died. Now, she not only wants to meet her, but also carefully observes her relationship with Shen Congyun in order to find an opportunity to break through.
Furthermore, court officials, regardless of the monk's reputation, would surely flock to the banquet out of respect for the Buddha.
Ideally, it would attract His Highness the Crown Prince to come as well.
With many people around, things become easier; just as a play needs the support of many.
Not a single drop of the Lin family's blood will be shed in vain.
After finishing her drawing, Lin Huaiyin put down her brush, picked up the medicine bottles Lin Mianfeng had given her, wiped and rubbed them one by one, and then put them back in the compartment.
——
The following day, a family banquet was held at the Shen residence.
As Lin Huaiyin had predicted, the court officials remained silent at first. It wasn't until news of Princess Pingyang's departure for Shenfu spread that the ministers rushed to the residence.
Princess Pingyang's move to the Shen family's residence is tantamount to His Highness the Crown Prince showing favor to the Shen family. With His Highness the Crown Prince's favor, the court officials will naturally follow suit.
No one dared to arrive later than the princess; the wheels of carriages on the road hissed and sparked, and the cattle and horses snorted wildly.
For a time, the main street in front of the Shen Mansion was bustling with traffic, and people in brocade robes and fine clothes were everywhere.
The Shen residence was not large enough to host an elegant banquet with flowing wine cups on a winding stream. Considering the arrival of the princess, the rules and regulations could not be violated. Therefore, on Xie Ao's suggestion, the banquet was made very solemn. The main hall was set up with the main seats reserved for the princess and her husband, while men and women sat on both sides of the stage and were led to their seats by servants.
Madam Shen, being of high rank, sat below the princess in the host's seat for female guests.
Princess Pingyang had not yet arrived. She sat there happily, like an old lady, and the officials and their families who came to the banquet stepped forward one by one, introduced themselves, and paid their respects.
Adorned with pearls and jade, every sound is pleasing to the ear; every face is handsome and beautiful.
Madam Shen felt incomparably satisfied. She would occasionally glance at her obedient daughter-in-law, look at her pregnant grandson, and think of Shen Lanyan waiting outside to greet Princess Pingyang. She knew that the Shen family's wealth was far more than this, and this little scene was just a small fuss.
They were merely the families of court officials, not comparable to those of noble families.
Dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, barons, princesses, county princesses—all these people bowed their heads in submission, and only then could the Shen family truly be described as thriving and prosperous.
Just watch closely. When my Lanyan is made Crown Princess and Empress, and gives birth to a royal heir, and when my grandson is granted a dukedom and establishes his own household, then you will no longer be able to enter the Shen family's ancestral hall.
Madam Shen was full of inner peace, radiating a calm and serene feeling of having her desires fulfilled. She was kind and approachable to everyone, treating all people equally regardless of their social status.
Such demeanor surprised the officials and their families who came to pay their respects. They secretly sighed that although the official in charge of guarding the imperial tomb was of humble origin, he was still close to the imperial tomb and had the aura of the dragon, so he seemed extraordinary.
Lin Huaiyin took in the expressions on everyone's faces. It seemed that none of the noble ladies she had seen at the Iron Buddha Temple a few days ago had come.
She sat obediently to the side of Old Madam Shen, eating the candied plums here and there, and smiling and nodding when someone greeted her.
She was pregnant and her health was precious. Yu Li was called to help out because the manor was short-handed. Old Madam Shen was worried about her, so she arranged for her to stay by her side from the beginning of the day. She was not to eat or move around indiscriminately, and she was not to bother socializing with irrelevant people. She was just to show her face when she came out.
Such preferential treatment and pampering was something Lin Huaiyin had never experienced in her previous life. The guests all envied their deep mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship, and she also said all the nice things to say, happily clinging to their coattails.
On the opposite side of the male seats, officials gathered together, discussing the frequent actions of the Imperial City Guard. Qin Luo was thoroughly investigating two major cases: the assassination of Minister Zhao and the theft from the Ministry of War. They also vaguely mentioned that the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat had been arrested and imprisoned.
Lin Huaiyin pricked up her ears to eavesdrop, but after a long while she didn't hear the keyword "Erwang Temple".
She was very disappointed.
Whether it was His Highness the Crown Prince protecting his own or the royal family's reputation being compromised, Princess Pingyang seemed to have absolved herself of all responsibility.
She's no ordinary woman; no wonder she has ambitions to become empress.
Lin Huaiyin became more alert, glancing around occasionally, but couldn't find the Shen Congyun brothers.
Shen Zaiyuan is probably outside greeting guests, so why isn't Shen Congyun here?
Lin Huaiyin chewed on the sweet and sour plum flesh, her face beaming with joy, her heart overflowing with delight: It was truly worth all the effort I put into inviting Princess Pingyang. The newlyweds were so loving and affectionate, attending the banquet hand in hand. Shen Congyun must have been sharpening his knife and slaughtering them, right?
This heartless and depraved man is infatuated with Princess Pingyang to the point of madness. He's both a scoundrel and a madman, and the antics he causes are sure to be hilarious.
Lin Huaiyin picked up the hot tea and sipped it slowly, while simultaneously worrying about the Imperial Son-in-Law Yuan Jie'e.
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