Lin Qingya handed the secret letter to the lurking guard and whispered: "Make sure to deliver this letter to Commander Zhang safely. Remember, this matter must not be leaked." The guard took the order and left, disappearing into the night. She lowered her eyes slightly, raised a barely perceptible sneer at the corner of her mouth, and whispered: "Li Chengqian, the fun has just begun." Then she walked to the window, looked at the moonlight on the roof of the palace, and quietly waited for the storm to come.
The news spread quickly throughout Chang'an City as if it had wings. Commander Zhang followed Lin Qingya's instructions and secretly spread rumors that Li Chengqian was colluding with the enemy and plotting. For a time, people in Chang'an City were in a panic, and rumors about the Queen Mother were rampant. In teahouses and taverns, people were talking about it privately, and some even exaggerated these rumors and made them look ridiculous. On the streets, some brave people even talked about the matter openly in the market, and some even shouted out the so-called "information" that "the Queen Mother was colluding with the enemy."
When the news reached the East Palace, Li Chengqian was furious. He threw the inkstone on the table to the ground, ink splashed everywhere, his eyes were red, and he roared: "Lin Qingya! Lin Qingya again!" He slammed the table hard, his body trembling, and he was so angry that he wanted to cut Lin Qingya into pieces immediately. The guards stood trembling by the side, not daring to say a word. In the East Palace, the originally luxurious decoration now looked extremely messy, and the atmosphere of rage was everywhere.
Meanwhile, Li Heng was reading the memorial, his face gloomy and his brows furrowed. In the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated his deep and sharp eyes. He threw the memorial heavily onto the table, making a loud "bang" sound, which frightened the eunuchs who were waiting beside him and bowed their heads. The news made him feel very uneasy, and the rift between his father and his wife deepened because of this incident. Li Heng murmured to himself: "Cheng Qian...are you really crazy?" His voice was cold and low, revealing endless disappointment and chill.
Lin Qingya watched the changes in the palace. She was not in a hurry to come out, but patiently waited for Li Chengqian to reveal his flaws. She received news from a secret spy: in order to prove his innocence, Li Chengqian privately met with many important officials in the court, trying to clear his name by pulling them over, but accidentally exposed more clues. Lin Qingya smiled lightly, with a gleam in her eyes. She picked up a pen and began to write a new memorial, recording all the evidence of Li Chengqian's crimes. The evidence was solid and beyond doubt.
Lin Qingya presented the memorial to Li Heng, her tone was calm but she said: "Father, I have found out that the Queen Mother has been secretly communicating with the enemy and plotting. The evidence is solid. Please take action!" She placed the memorial heavily in front of Li Heng, her tone was firm. In the hall, everyone's eyes were focused on Li Heng, waiting for his final decision. Li Heng finished reading the memorial, his face expressionless, and after thinking, he slowly said: "Take down the Queen Mother and put her in the prison!" His voice was cold and dignified, and he could not be questioned. Li Chengqian was escorted away, and his desperate cries echoed in the palace, but his voice was eventually drowned out by the cold palace walls. Lin Qingya looked in the direction where he was taken away, still silent, but the corners of her mouth slowly smiled.
In Chang'an, the news of Li Chengqian's imprisonment spread, but the undercurrent did not stop. The remaining members of Li Chengqian's gang were still ready to move. As night fell, a group of masked men in black quietly sneaked into the Lin Mansion, aiming directly at Lin Qingya's bedroom. The snow was heavy, and the cold wind was howling, rolling up the fallen leaves on the ground, making sharp sounds at the corners of the mansion. Inside the house, Lin Qingya was reviewing memorials at her desk, and the candlelight reflected her beautiful face. She was sensitive to something unusual, and the sound of light footsteps came into her ears through the thick window frames. She calmly put down the pen in her hand, with a barely perceptible sneer on the corner of her mouth.
Lin Qingya's slender fingers gently stroked the teacup on the table, and the warm touch made her calmer. She closed her eyes and used her mind reading skills. The killers lurking in the dark, their every thought, every murderous aura, were clearly presented in her mind. She seemed to be able to see their hidden routes and feel the fear and cruelty in their hearts. She slowly opened her eyes, and a sharp light flashed in her eyes, like hard ice in the cold winter month, and the biting cold seemed to lower the temperature in the house a few degrees.
"Someone come!" Lin Qingya called out softly, her voice clear and firm, with a hint of panic. In an instant, the guards of the Lin Mansion appeared like ghosts and surrounded the man in black. A silent fight unfolded in the snowy night, with swords and knives flashing coldly, and the snow was dyed a deep red.
The next morning, Emperor Li Heng came to the Lin residence in person to praise Lin Qingya for her wisdom and courage in the assassination. "My dear minister, I am very pleased that you have resolved the crisis this time." Li Heng's voice was low and powerful, with praise for Lin Qingya in his tone. "This is the duty of a minister." Lin Qingya replied humbly and performed a standard court etiquette. She respectfully accepted the reward from Li Heng, her eyes firm and deep. At the same time, Li Heng's reward also represented the further consolidation of Lin Qingya's power.
At the same time, Li Rui quietly came to Lin Qingya's study. "Are you okay?" Li Rui's eyes were full of worry for Lin Qingya, and he nervously held her hand, his tone caring. Lin Qingya felt the warmth of his palm, and her heart was warm. She held Li Rui's hand in return and smiled gently. "I'm fine, you are here, I have nothing to fear." She responded softly, her eyes revealing deep dependence and admiration for Li Rui, her eyes were clear and firm. Their eyes met, full of tacit understanding and affection, rendering the study room into a warm scene.
However, Lin Qingya did not indulge in joy. She knew that Li Chengze was still a great threat hidden in the dark. She began to investigate Li Chengze and collect evidence. Through meticulous observation and clever arrangements, she found that Li Chengze secretly contacted the enemy and tried to usurp the throne after the emperor's death. She compiled the evidence she collected into a book and presented it to Emperor Li Heng one by one. Li Heng looked at these ironclad evidences with a terribly gloomy face. "Come, take Li Chengze down!" Li Heng's roar echoed in the magnificent hall, awakening the sleeping court and the public. Lin Qingya stood aside, watching Li Chengze being escorted out quietly, with no sympathy in her eyes, only cold determination. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly.