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An elder brother is like a father. While Lin, who wasn’t fond of meddling in others’ affairs, usually kept his opinions to himself, he couldn’t help but speak up when he saw something he disliked.
In the past, Xu Qingyi would argue with him, but now she had learned to go along with him.
Otherwise, with Lin’s temperament, if Xu Qingyi contradicted him once, he would forever hold his tongue.
The next day at noon, after school, Lin, accompanied by Abai, arrived at the place where Princess Zhenyang had invited him to meet.
Abai had to wait outside and couldn’t follow his master inside.
Lin saw Princess Zhenyang in the private room and performed a simple bow. “Second Aunt.”
“Good, Lin has arrived?” Princess Zhenyang greeted him with a smile, casually observing her beloved’s eldest son.
He was indeed fair-skinned and handsome, with a refined air despite his young age.
“Have a seat,” she said to Lin, her tone kind. “Knowing you’ve just come from school, I’ve specially prepared a table of dishes for you. Eat your fill before we talk.”
“Thank you, Second Aunt. I won’t be polite then,” Lin readily sat down.
“Yes, don’t be polite. Eat quickly,” Princess Zhenyang urged.
“Yes,” Lin picked up his chopsticks and ate without hesitation.
Seeing this, Princess Zhenyang smiled with satisfaction. This child really wasn’t close to Xu Qingyi.
After all, how long had it been?
He was twelve years old; it wasn’t easy to become close to him.
After Lin had finished eating, Princess Zhenyang slowly spoke, “How was it? Were the dishes to your liking?”
Lin nodded. “They were delicious. Thank you for your hospitality, Second Aunt.”
Princess Zhenyang, wanting to show off her wealth and status, had used the finest delicacies to entertain Lin. She smiled, “They’re just ordinary dishes. As long as you don’t mind.”
After a pause, she began to discuss the real reason for the meeting. “Lin, I won’t beat around the bush. You’re a scholar. You must aspire to an official career, wouldn’t you?”
“Naturally,” Lin nodded in response.
“Ah, the path to officialdom is not easy. Without someone to support you, you might not even pass the academy examinations,” Princess Zhenyang said. Seeing Lin hesitate to speak, she smiled. “Are you about to say that your abilities aren’t that poor?”
Indeed, Lin was confident in his abilities.
“But what if someone doesn’t want you to pass?” Princess Zhenyang said pointedly. “And what if this person has the power to ensure your failure?”
Lin frowned. “Second Aunt, you’re exaggerating. I haven’t offended anyone. No one should want me to fail.”
“That’s true, you’re just a child. Who could you have offended? I’m just reminding you to be careful not to offend anyone,” Princess Zhenyang stopped there, leaving the rest for Lin to ponder.
“Yes, thank you for your reminder, Second Aunt,” Lin paused, his attitude respectful.
Princess Zhenyang was pleased. She picked up her teacup and took a sip. “Lin, you’re a smart child. You should be able to see that only I can help you on your path to officialdom.”
She paused, thinking of Xu Qingyi, and her tone became dismissive. “As for your adoptive mother, she’s just an unfavored daughter from a Marquis’ household. She can’t give you anything in the future.”
These were all facts.
Lin softly hummed in agreement.
It seemed the child understood. Princess Zhenyang’ lips curved into a slight smile. “Of your three brothers, only you have accepted my gifts. It seems you’re on my side.”
Even knowing it was a pretense, Lin hesitated for a moment before adjusting his demeanor and firmly stating, “Yes, I know that only you can help me.”
His brief hesitation didn’t arouse Princess Zhenyang’ suspicion.
Instead, it made her believe that this was his genuine reaction.
She truly believed that Lin was loyal to her.
He was, after all, just a twelve-year-old child. Faced with both kindness and pressure, he was naturally obedient.
If Xu Qingyi hadn’t read the original story, she would likely have thought the same.
Princess Zhenyang smiled warmly. She instructed, “Good. I’m giving you your first task; it’s nothing difficult.”
Lin looked at her. She continued, “You just need to find a way to get her to go to a temple to burn incense.”
Lin immediately asked, “What do you intend to do, Second Aunt? If it involves murder or arson, I dare not.”
“Rest assured, it’s not that serious,” Princess Zhenyang didn’t reveal the details, as she didn’t fully trust him yet. She simply said, “You’re a scholar. Why would I let you do something that would ruin your future?”
Seeing Lin hesitate, she assured him, “Don’t worry. I guarantee I won’t harm her life; it’s just a minor punishment.”
Lin looked conflicted, torn between choosing sides.
At this point, Princess Zhenyang calmly reminded him, “Think carefully. Is she, an outsider, more important, or is your future more important?”
“I understand, Second Aunt,” Lin seemed to have suddenly awakened. Without further hesitation, he said, “I’ll mention it to Mother when I return. Second Aunt, please wait for my news.”
“Good,” Princess Zhenyang smiled triumphantly. “I’ll wait for your good news.”
In the evening, back at the Marquis’ residence, Lin immediately sought Xu Qingyi’s counsel.
After listening, Xu Qingyi sighed, “She wants your mother dead.”
Lin thoughtfully considered, “It shouldn’t be that serious. She said she wouldn’t commit murder or arson. I guess it’s some other method.”
Xu Qingyi: “…” This was an abstract and exaggerated expression, but Xu Qingyi didn’t explain. She continued, “Then what do you think we should do? Take the bait or not?”
“Of course, we should take the bait,” Lin tapped the table confidently. “How else can we catch the big fish?”
Xu Qingyi chuckled wryly. So, your old mother is the bait?
“Mother, don’t be afraid. You’ll go, but it won’t be the real you,” Lin seemed to already have a plan.
Xu Qingyi pondered this statement.
Before she could ask, Lin said, “Lend me Master Pei Che for a while.”
Pei Che? Xu Qingyi widened her eyes in surprise. “You want Pei Che to impersonate me?”
She wondered if Pei Che’s muscular build might be too much of a stretch.
“No,” Lin rolled his eyes, seemingly finding her guess absurd. He explained, “Just Abai. Master Pei Che will only be there to protect him.”
Xu Qingyi chuckled nervously. “Alright.” After thinking for a moment, she added, “But I still need to make a grand departure, letting them know I’ve gone.”
She thought that Princess Zhenyang wouldn’t easily believe Lin.
Lin hesitated. If Xu Qingyi really went out, it would be dangerous. What if Princess Zhenyang had set an ambush on the road?
Just as he was hesitating, he heard Xu Qingyi say, “You’re thinking too simply. If you’re not willing to risk something, you won’t catch anything. Don’t underestimate your opponent.”
If the opponent was deliberately testing Lin, her absence would reveal their deception.
She didn’t want Lin’s undercover operation to fail.
Lin’s gaze shifted slightly, reluctantly admitting that he had been too hasty.
Seeing that Lin didn’t object, Xu Qingyi smiled and instructed, “Tell your Second Aunt that I’ll be going to Baima Temple to burn incense three days from now.”
“Mm,” Lin agreed, but his heart was filled with unease.
This was too dangerous. Even if there was a chance of being discovered, he felt that Xu Qingyi shouldn’t have put herself in harm’s way to indulge him.
What if he, for the sake of his career, really defected to Princess Zhenyang’s side?
Had she considered that?
Xu Qingyi had certainly considered that.
She was quite apprehensive.
Should she, a newly appointed adoptive mother, really trust Xie Lin?