After several days of continuous autumn rain, the sky finally cleared up on the next day. The sun shone through the window onto Lin Qingya's desk, illuminating the thin memorial in her hand. She gently put down the memorial and looked out the window, with a barely perceptible coldness in her eyes. In the imperial garden, several magpies jumped on the branches, making crisp calls, which formed a sharp contrast with the murderous atmosphere in the court.
Just a few days ago, she successfully exposed the conspiracy of Crown Prince Li Chengqian and Li Chengze to the public and imprisoned them. However, this was only the beginning. She rubbed her eyebrows gently. She had hardly slept these days. Even Li Heng's increasingly obvious appreciation of her made her feel uneasy. Behind that appreciation, there were complex emotions that were difficult to grasp, like a whirlpool hidden in the calm lake.
At this time, Qiu Shuang walked in quietly and whispered in her ear: "Miss, Prime Minister Zhao has been placed under house arrest in the mansion, and all officials who have had any connection with her have been dismissed and investigated."
Lin Qingya raised a sneer at the corner of her mouth and tapped the table lightly with her fingers, "Well done. Zhao Sisi, does she think she can get away with it by relying on Li Chengqian and Li Chengze? How naive." Qiu Shuang nodded in response, she knew that her young lady would never be soft-hearted.
"Inform this matter and let everyone know that whoever dares to oppose me will be punished." Lin Qingya's voice was cold, but it was full of unquestionable majesty. She stood up and walked to the window, looking at the peonies blooming in the imperial garden, but there was no admiration in her eyes.
In the next few days, Lin Qingya acted quickly. Under the pretext of rectifying the court, she completely suppressed Zhao Sisi's faction. Those officials who had been attached to Zhao Sisi were either dismissed and investigated, or banished to remote and cold places. The entire court was shocked, and everyone was trying to figure out what kind of power was hidden behind Lin Qingya. Li Heng sat in the imperial study, looking at the densely packed results of the punishments on the memorial, his brows furrowed. He knew that Lin Qingya was tough, but he didn't expect her to be so decisive and ruthless. He had mixed feelings, admiration and fear intertwined. He put the memorial aside, his eyes deep and unfathomable, as if he was thinking about something.
Lin Qingya did not relax her vigilance just because she eliminated Zhao Sisi. She knew that a bigger storm was brewing. That night, she secretly summoned Li Rui. When Li Rui arrived, he looked a little worried. Lin Qingya opened the door and said, "There is a hidden force behind the crown prince Li Chengze. I want you to help me find them." She handed Li Rui a secret letter with clues about an organization hidden in the dark. "Aman has the information you need." Lin Qingya added, her tone unquestionable.
Li Rui took the secret letter, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes, "But... Qingya, this..." Li Rui paused, he was worried that Lin Qingya would be drawn into a more dangerous vortex, but he knew that he could not refuse her request. Lin Qingya looked at Li Rui calmly, without saying a word, and just nodded lightly.
Li Rui finally received the secret letter. He knew that Lin Qingya had already made all the preparations. He held the letter tightly in his hand, ready to embark on this dangerous road. He turned and left, with a straight figure and a firm look in his eyes. Lin Qingya was still sitting at the desk, gently stroking the seal of the secret letter, ready to face the coming storm.
Lin Qingya's actions were as swift as the autumn wind sweeping away the fallen leaves. The destruction of Zhao Sisi's faction was completed in just a few days. The once arrogant Zhao Sisi was now imprisoned in the prison. Her miserable cries could be faintly heard through the thick walls. The officials who once showed off their power in the court now lowered their heads one by one, not daring to look directly at Lin Qingya's stern eyes. In the hall, there was a lingering murderous atmosphere, and the air seemed to be filled with the desperate sobs of Zhao Sisi and others. Lin Qingya was dressed in plain clothes, but she was imposing. She stood in the center of the hall, looking at the officials who knelt down, with a sneer on the corner of her mouth and cold eyes.
"This matter has been settled. Do you still have any questions?" Lin Qingya's voice was as cold as ice, echoing in the empty hall. Her slender fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a slight sound, but it shocked all the warriors in the court.
The hall was in complete silence; all the officials lowered their heads, not daring to speak.
Lin Qingya nodded in satisfaction and turned away. After she left, the officials dared to whisper to each other, but all the sounds gradually disappeared after Lin Qingya left. Only the suppressed silence and the tense atmosphere in the air lingered for a long time.
However, Lin Qingya's strength did not save her from the emperor's suspicion. Li Heng looked at Zhao Sisi's group who were quickly purged, and his thoughts were surging. He summoned Lin Qingya, and his tone seemed calm, but in fact he was testing her: "Mr. Lin, Zhao Sisi's group was defeated so quickly, was it premeditated? Why do I feel that things are going too smoothly?" Li Heng stared at Lin Qingya sharply, and his fingers tapped the dragon table lightly, making a slight and regular sound. The atmosphere in the palace became more solemn because of the emperor's displeasure.
Lin Qingya replied calmly, "I only obey the law and enforce it impartially." She answered calmly, her eyes clear and calm, and she was not flustered by the emperor's questioning. She bowed slightly, her movements elegant and calm. The palace was beautifully decorated, but at this moment it seemed a little depressed.
Li Heng looked at her calm face, but his doubts grew. He finally said nothing more, just waved his hand and asked her to leave. After Lin Qingya saluted, she turned around and left, her steps firm and calm. After she left, Li Heng sat alone on the dragon chair, silent for a long time, with an unpredictable look on his face.
After handling the Zhao Sisi incident, Lin Qingya immediately summoned Li Rui and handed him a secret letter about Ah Man. "Li Rui, this is a clue about a hidden power, you need to find out as soon as possible." Lin Qingya's tone was calm, but her eyes flashed with a sharp light.
Li Rui looked at Lin Qingya. He knew the danger of this mission, but he did not hesitate. "Qingya, I understand." He said firmly and took the secret letter. Li Rui's hands trembled slightly, but he tried to remain calm. His eyes were full of determination. The candlelight flickered in the dark room, reflecting his resolute face.
"Ah Man has clues, remember Xiao Wo." Lin Qingya added, her voice was calm, but it was unquestionably firm. She looked at Li Rui with trust in her eyes.
Li Rui nodded and turned to leave, his steps were firm and steady, ready to face the coming danger. The night was dark, and only his determined figure gradually disappeared in the darkness.
Lin Qingya looked at Li Rui's receding back, she stroked the table, her eyes deep. She knew that the victory on the surface was only a temporary peace. A greater danger was quietly approaching. Her power was consolidated on the surface, but the crisis she faced was even greater. She took a deep breath and calmly began to deal with a batch of memorials. However, her calm appearance concealed her cautious vigilance against the unknown future. She picked up the teacup and sipped the tea carefully, her eyes deep and calm, as if she was planning something.