Ever since buying her maternal family’s old residence, Lin Qianqian went there every day to oversee its renovation.
She looked forward to the day the Jiang residence would be fully restored, so she could bring her maternal relatives back to live there.
The frontier borderlands were bitterly cold, and it was said that many of those exiled there died every year. She had to find a way to bring her maternal family out of exile as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Justice handled retrials of official cases, so she needed to see whether there was a chance to clear the Jiang family’s name.
The Jiang family had guarded the border for generations, sacrificing countless lives to defend the nation. It was impossible for them to have embezzled military provisions.
During this time, Lin Qianqian had A-Da investigate and interview many of her grandfather’s former subordinates. None of them believed the Jiang family would have stolen military supplies.
On the contrary, due to insufficient court funding, the Jiang family had often used their own money to purchase supplies for the frontier.
The people who had originally accused the Jiang family were a faction led by Prime Minister Wang.
And Prime Minister Wang was not without weaknesses.
Relying on his position, the Wang clan oppressed the people everywhere. His son Wang Qing in particular was a complete tyrant. If she wanted to bring the Wang family down, she might be able to start with Wang Qing.
Hongdou brought over some rock sugar bird’s nest.
“Miss, this was sent by Zhao Xiaoliu. It’s top-grade snow swallow prepared by the imperial kitchen. Madam Wang tried to intercept the gifts from the Duke of Xingguo’s residence today, but Zhao Xiaoliu delivered them directly to the Jiang residence instead. Madam Wang was furious.”
“Mm.” Lin Qianqian nodded. “Hongdou, tell A-Da to make the meals here more plentiful. Renovation work is physically demanding—we need to eat well.”
Hongdou went off to carry out the order.
The imperial kitchen-made bird’s nest was indeed delicious. Sima Xuan was thoughtful.
She had eaten so many of his things already; it was only right to return the favor in some way.
After finishing a bowl, she drifted back into thought.
She suspected that Prime Minister Wang and her scum father Lin Qingyun were involved in framing the Jiang family.
Lin Qingyun—your greatest ambition in life is to rise smoothly through the ranks.
Then she would destroy that dream and drag you straight into the mud.
To find evidence against the Prime Minister’s residence, she first needed a way to get close to it.
And eventually, the opportunity came.
Prime Minister Wang’s mother was holding her seventieth birthday banquet and had invited all the prominent families of the capital.
The Lin and Wang families were connected by marriage, so they were naturally invited.
From the old madam of the Lin family down to even the youngest, including Wang Shi’s youngest son Lin Baoyu, all were required to attend.
Only Lin Qianqian was not originally included.
Lin Baozhu suggested to Madam Wang, “Mother, didn’t they say the foolish Champion Marquis will also attend? Why not let Lin Qianqian see her future fool of a husband? Let’s see if she can still laugh then.”
She had heard that the fool liked to hit people. Even her cousin Wang Qing had almost been beaten to death by him. Maybe Lin Qianqian would be publicly humiliated or even struck at the banquet.
Just thinking about it made her feel satisfied.
And she and her cousin still had other plans—plans that would be much less interesting without Lin Qianqian involved.
“Fine. Let her go as well.” For Madam Wang, it was a small matter. If it pleased her daughter, she would allow it.
As for new clothes or jewelry, there was no need to prepare any. Even though the household had money, spending it on that girl felt like cutting flesh from her heart.
Feng Shu originally did not intend to attend the Wang family banquet, but after hearing from Zhang Hanyan that Lin Qianqian would also be there, she decided it would be nice for the girls to sit together and chat.
So she agreed to go with her elders.
The main banquet would be held in the evening. During the day, guests could watch performances or stroll through the Wang residence gardens, enjoying snacks and fruits.
The Prime Minister’s estate was extremely large and beautifully landscaped, with pavilions and halls arranged in elegant luxury.
Wang Qing’s injuries had not fully healed; bruises were still visible on his face. But his mind was intact, and he immediately recognized Lin Qianqian.
“It’s her! She was the one who hit me at the Elegant Beauty Rouge Shop! Someone, beat her! Beat her to death!”
The servants were about to rush forward when Prime Minister Wang stopped them.
The emperor had already forbidden further investigation into the matter of his grandson being beaten. They could not defy the decree.
Moreover, so many influential guests were present today. They could not afford to lose face.
If anything was to be done, it had to be done privately, not in public at the banquet.
“Qing’er, no shouting or violence today.”
Prime Minister Wang’s expression turned stern and intimidating.
It frightened Wang Qing more than Lin Qianqian.
“Yes, Grandfather. I understand.”
Not far away, Lin Baozhu spotted Sima Xuan arriving with the Duke of Xingguo and immediately went to mock Lin Qianqian.
“Lin Qianqian, let me tell you—that’s your future foolish husband. You should be proud.”
She secretly hoped the fool would get angry and beat Lin Qianqian to death.
Just as she was thinking this, she suddenly noticed the fool glaring at her.
Terrified, she quickly ran to Wang Yuyan’s side.
“Cousin, that fool just looked at me so fiercely. I think he wanted to hit me!”
Wang Yuyan, dressed in a festive pomegranate-red dress, had an ordinary appearance but sharp, calculating eyes.
“Calm down. Follow the plan. Go inform my brother.”
Wang Yuyan and Lin Baozhu brought Wang Qing to a secluded part of the garden and whispered their scheme to him.
Zhang Hanyan had gone with Feng Shu to the restroom, leaving Lin Qianqian bored.
She idly chewed on a blade of grass and leaned against a large rock, staring at the sky.
But unexpectedly, she overheard a secret.
Behind the rock, Wang Yuyan and Lin Baozhu were giving Wang Qing a malicious plan.
Lin Baozhu said, “Cousin, don’t you want to marry Feng Shu? You can’t obtain her through proper means. But if she falls into the lake and you rescue her, you’ll have physical contact—then she’ll have no choice but to marry you.”
She sneered inwardly. Lin Qianqian, don’t you have a good relationship with Feng Shu and Zhang Hanyan?
Then I’ll make you watch your best friend marry a scum—and see how you like it.
I’ll make you watch everyone around you suffer, one by one, while you can do nothing.
Wang Qing laughed darkly. “Excellent idea. The Feng family is so arrogant—they even looked down on us. Feng Shu even humiliated me last time. If I marry her, I’ll make sure she suffers every day.”
Wang Yuyan quickly reminded him, “Shh—keep your voice down.”
After the three conspirators left, Lin Qianqian stood up from behind the rock.
Since she had heard their plan to harm Feng Shu, she naturally had to intervene.
After leaving the grove, she was quickly found by Sima Xuan, who began following her closely.
She fed him a “sweet pill.”
“Be good. Stay close to me later and avoid drawing attention.”
“Mm-mm,” he obediently agreed.
Lin Qianqian strolled casually through the garden, but her attention was fixed on Feng Shu—and on the three conspirators watching her from afar.
She also had to avoid being noticed by them.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
And she, Lin Qianqian, was that oriole.