Chapter 74: Plunging into the Valley Together

  Two more posts seeking fans, is it good?

  "Brother, you must come in first today! I'll treat you to a win! It's a jade hairpin!" Lin Jingming exclaimed excitedly.

  Lu Yan smiled slightly, like a warm and beautiful jade, "Thank you, cousin."

  Lin Jinming was stunned.

  "How come I don't see Fourth Sister and Fifth Sister? Didn't they say they were coming too?" Lu Yan asked, seemingly unintentionally.

  Lin Jinming's smile faded, and he said irritably, "Lin Ruoyan has gotten into trouble again, Lin Zhaoyan took her back!"

  Lu Yan's eyebrows furrowed, "What trouble?" But don't implicate Zhao Er.

  "How was I supposed to know?!" Lin Jingming's tone was somewhat sharp, she especially resented Lu Yan being concerned about her in front of the person she disliked.

  Lu Yan said that he couldn't eat her set, and upon hearing this, she smiled lightly with a hint of estrangement. "Thank you, cousin," she said, before turning to leave without even acknowledging Lin Jinming.

  Lin Jinming was so angry that he vomited blood, and he stamped his foot heavily. He turned around and rushed to Yun Zhui, saying: "Don't buy it, brother won! You go pawn that emerald jade hairpin to Xiao Qi!"

  Lu Yan didn't care about her reaction, and instead instructed the little servant beside him, "Go and find out about Lin Si's movements. Remember, no matter what, you must not let her meet Xiao Gongzi."

  That little fellow agreed, but in his heart he thought Lu Yan was worrying unnecessarily.

  Xiao Da Shao, although he has a flirtatious nature, doesn't just look at any woman. Judging from his past behavior, the type of woman he likes should be beautiful and charming, not like Lin Si Niang who is gentle and reserved, only treasured by her own young master.

  Xiao Qi was inquiring about Lin Ruoyan's news on the other side.

  Learning that it was just a return to the palace to change clothes, he soon returned and put his mind at ease. To Xu Xiujing, he said: "When Lin Hui returns, everything will proceed according to the original plan, don't make any mistakes."

  Xu Xiujin gave him a reassuring look, "From now on, I'll definitely help you succeed in winning the beauty's heart!" He said with a sly smile, "Have you seen the beauty that the Emperor has prepared for you? Tsk tsk, she's truly a tiger lady! The killing aura around her is even stronger than yours. If you really marry her and bring her back, haha, I think you'll be too busy to indulge in romantic affairs from now on!"

  Xiao Xi coldly glared at him and said, "Have you had enough?"

  Xu Xiujin immediately covered her mouth, but only for three seconds, and then couldn't help saying: "I've always disliked Lin Wuzi's bad temper, now compared to that Shen Zhongling, he's a thousand times better! Zi Shu, this time you must grasp Lin Wu's heart, otherwise you can only marry a mother-in-law who is a tiger back home! Maybe it's even a mother-in-law who will monitor you!"

  "I won't let them get their way." Xiao Qi's cold smile sent a chill down people's spines. "Those who want to arrange my life for me are still far off. Even if Lin Wu doesn't make it, Shen Zhongling shouldn't even think about it - she doesn't have that fate."

  Today is the burial site of Shen Zhongling.

  The emperor is too idle, he needs to find something for him to do.

  Xu Xiujing understood Xiao Qi's meaning. After Shen Zhongling's death, the Emperor would have to appease Xinan Bo and other high-ranking officials left over from the previous dynasty, so he would be busy.

  "Poor Shen Niang, still in her tender years."

  "It's her fate." Xiao Qi replied calmly, without a hint of guilt or pity on his face.

  In his mind, there is only profit, no sympathy.

  He turned around and left, but stopped after a few steps, thought for a moment, and said: "Find someone to investigate the background of that Lu Yanzi, I think he's not simple."

  Lin Zhao Yan helped Lin Ruo Yan change her clothes and let her go back to the manor first, then reminded her: "After you get back, don't say anything. If your mother or grandmother asks why you're back, make up an excuse to brush it off, and we'll discuss it in detail after I get back."

  Lin Ruoyan now fully trusted Lin Zhao, and nodded without hesitation. "I understand, you should be careful in the palace too, don't let others take advantage of you."

  Lin Zhaoyan smiled and said, "I'm fine. Who would bother plotting against me? Be careful on your way."

  "Hmm." The two waved goodbye, and Lin Zhaoyan set off towards the back mountain.

  Lin Zhaoyan sat in the carriage, racking his brains for a way to find out who was behind Lin Ruoyan's affair.

  She guessed that it was probably pomegranate, although she didn't know what the motive was, but she was the most convenient person to do this, apart from her, who else could easily get in touch with Lin Ruoyan?

  Or maybe she is working with someone.

  But now it's difficult to expose her. How can we do that? Without evidence, anything we say is useless.

  Lin Zhaoyan was in a state of distress when the carriage suddenly stopped. Someone outside asked, "Is it the young lady from the Jian'an Marquis's manor inside?"

  Lin Zhaoyan was stunned for a moment, and the driver had already answered "yes".

  "Both young ladies are well, I presume. My master has some important matters he wishes to discuss with Miss Lin." The man outside said again.

  Miss Lin Wugong? It turns out you're looking for Lin Ruoyan.

  Lin Zhaoyan's heart was filled with vigilance, and before the car driver could speak the truth, he asked: "Who is your master? What kind of matter requires such secrecy?"

  She couldn't mention Lin Ruoyan's return to the manor, who knew what kind of purpose this person behind the scenes had, and if they were to chase her out of the palace, it would be a disaster.

  That person calmly said: "My master said that as long as Miss Lin Wu sees one thing, she will naturally go to see him."

  The driver handed over something through the car curtain.

  Lin Zhaoyan took it and was shocked.

  Lin Ruoyan's jade pendant!

  This was actually the jade pendant worn by Lin Ruoyan.

  This jade pendant was given by Lin Xun to her and Lin Hangyu on their tenth birthday, each of them having one. The appearance is exactly the same, only the words engraved on it are different.

  Lin Ruoyan's jade pendant was engraved with a line of small script "Gu Ruo Jing Ying Chen Bi", which held Lin Chen's expectations for her.

  This jade pendant was still seen on Lin Ruoyan this morning, how did it appear here?

  Has something happened to Lin Ruoyan?

  No, no, this person is looking for Lin Ruoyan, not representing that meaning.

  Or is it to use the jade pendant to threaten Lin Ruoyan?

  After all, if something personal is lost and someone with ulterior motives writes about it, Lin Ruoyan's reputation will be ruined.

  Lin Zhaoyan didn't care about the other person's intentions, grasped the jade pendant in his hand tightly and responded loudly: "Alright. I'll go with you!"

  "The fifth girl needs to walk alone and cannot have anyone accompany her, including the fourth girl."

  "My fourth sister is not feeling well and has already returned to the mansion. You don't need to worry." Lin Zhao spoke with a straight face, telling a lie, wanting to avoid being discovered that there was only her in the carriage, which would raise suspicions, so she decided to "take the initiative".

  That man seems to have no interest in Lin Si. He didn't say anything.

  Lin Zhaoyan lifted the car curtain to take a look outside, and found that the other person was a strange man. To be on the safe side, she still covered half of her face with a silk handkerchief.

  She didn't know him, but it doesn't mean he hadn't seen her before.

  Lin Zhaoyan got down from the carriage with caution and instructed the coachman to return first, also giving him a signal not to reveal the truth.

  Fortunately, the stranger did not recognize her, and it seemed that he was only following orders and had never seen Lin Ruoyan in person.

  "Miss Lin, just keep walking along this road and you will see the person you want to meet."

  "Good." Lin Zhao's hand tightened around the jade pendant. She was certain that this person wanted to use the jade pendant to threaten Lin Ruoyan, but she didn't know what he wanted to get out of it.

  This place is a dense forest at the back of the mountain, only half an hour's journey from today's hunting enclosure. I believe that even if she gets into danger, the coachman can quickly move to get reinforcements to rescue her.

  Thinking so, just about to move forward, a shout suddenly came from afar.

  She turned around and saw a woman in green clothes riding a white horse coming towards them.

  "Miss, have you seen a man riding a black horse pass by here?" The woman leaned forward from her horse, looking at Lin Zhao Yan seriously.

  She has a three-dimensional face with deep facial features and slightly dark skin, looking refreshing and generous.

  Lin Zhaoyan shook his head, "Never."

  "Oh, thank you miss." She nodded, looking disappointed and muttered under her breath: "We clearly agreed to watch the horse racing, where did he run off to? It's also a bit too fast."

  She thanked Lin Zhao again and rode her horse away in a cloud of dust.

  The brief interlude had no effect on them, and the stranger urged: "Fifth girl, you'd better go quickly, or they'll get impatient."

  Lin Zhaoyan glanced at him sideways, secretly memorizing his appearance, then turned around to gaze into the depths of the trees, took a deep breath, lifted her foot and walked forward step by step.

  The deeper she walked, the quieter it became around her. She could even hear the chirping of insects on a spring day and smell the fragrance of spring grass.

  If it weren't for the heavy responsibilities on my shoulders, this place would be perfect for relaxing.

  She walked while looking around, trying to find something suspicious.

  Unfortunately, there was nothing but grass and trees, without even a single person in sight.

  The vigilance in her heart grew stronger and stronger, Lin Zhaoyan tried hard to think of who might have done this.

  Suddenly, Lin Ruoyan's words flashed through her mind, "Qianqiu Gongzhu and the Seventh Imperial Prince have never gotten along, you should be careful."

  Lin Zhaoyan suddenly realized something.

  What I'm looking for is not Lin Ruoyan, but her!

  But I was afraid she would be on her guard and refuse to come, so I used this trick!

  Lin Zhaoyan reacted and didn't plan to move forward anymore. Just as he was about to turn back, his foot stepped into empty space, and his body plummeted straight down.

  "Ah!" She let out a sharp cry, feeling a great sense of foreboding in her heart.

  It's all over! Could it be that Lin Zhaoyan, who has been cautious his whole life, will lose his life due to a moment of negligence?

  I don't know if anyone will find her, and even if they do, at least she can be buried back home. If not, it's truly a place where the dead have no burial...

  Just as I was indulging in such wild thoughts and was about to applaud my own optimism, a loud shout of "Watch out!" came from above, and someone jumped down from the upper level.

  Is someone coming to save her?

  Lin Zhaoyan closed her eyes, suppressing the fear and unease that threatened to burst out of her chest, waiting quietly for rescue or a fall.

  At last, when she could smell the fragrance of the earth's mud, her waist tightened and the speed of her fall slowed down immediately.

  A faint scent of Longjing tea wafted through the air, its fragrance rich and intense, piercing straight into the nostrils.

  Lin Zhaoyan felt relieved and landed on both feet in the next second.

  "Nothing's wrong, is it? This pit was dug specifically to catch fierce beasts. What should be reminding you to be careful is my negligence." A clear and refreshing voice like a spring sounded, and it seemed somewhat familiar.

  Lin Zhaoyan subconsciously raised his eyes and met a pair of pitch-black eyes staring back at him.

  Take another look.

  What's wrong?!

  Will I tell you that ambiguous drama is coming? Will I? I am Xiao An with integrity [ straightforward face ]