Chapter 545: Chapter 537: Turning Against Each Other
Qin Liuxi settled in the guest room of the Prime Minister Mansion, Lin Xiang, having seen his mother, sat down with his son in the study to listen to the close confidantes reporting the newly gathered information, all revolving around Qin Liuxi and Qingping Temple behind her.
Yes, even though the capabilities Qin Liuxi had displayed were not to be taken lightly, Lin Xiang wouldn’t fully trust a half-grown child he had just met. Although she seemed harmless and without malice, Lin Xiang, with decades of experience in officialdom, wouldn’t allow himself to be completely uninformed.
The Prime Minister Mansion had its own channels for information. Even though Qingping Temple was far away in Li City, wasn’t there a Teng Zhao beside Qin Liuxi? Starting from Teng Tianhan behind Teng Zhao and adding on Xiong Er and Jing Xiaosi, they could quickly summarize Qin Liuxi’s background. Of course, it was impossible to grasp it all in a short time, but they could uncover a corner.
Overall, the information gathered indicated that this lady was born into the main branch of the Qin family, previously ruled by the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. She’d been sent to her old home to pursue Enlightenment from a young age, possessing excellent medical skills and adept at Face Reading and expelling evil.
However, for scholars like Lin Xiang, while they retained their opinions on the term ’exceptional,’ they nonetheless gained a preliminary understanding of Qin Liuxi’s origins.
A clear and transparent background was reassuring.
"How do you see this female crown?" Lin Xiang looked towards his son, wanting to test his opinion.
Lin Qingfan, recalling the female Taoist who was about the same age as his younger sister, gently smiled: "She’s interesting. However, the Qin family is quite intriguing to have their legitimate eldest daughter pursue Dao."
Qin Liuxi’s birth mother was a concubine, but she was recorded under the name of the legitimate mother, thus she could be considered the legitimate eldest daughter. Especially since the main branch of the Qin family had no daughters; her status was, in fact, noble, yet peculiarly, she had turned to the Taoist Sect.
"What the Qin family is like is not our concern to investigate; rather, it’s about the reward she desired..." Lin Xiang tapped on the tabletop, which oddly involved the Meng Family.
The Qin family and the Meng family had some grievances because Qin Yuanshan once drunkenly insulted Noble Princess Consort Meng as a Devil Concubine. Last year, when the Qin family faced troubles, they also heavily suppressed the Meng Family.
It was unclear whether Qin Liuxi was targeting the birthday gift presented by the Meng Family this year out of personal interest or also to vent fury on behalf of her family.
Regardless of the reason, what she wanted was the Jiao Pearl.
Lin Qingfan frowned: "If this Jiao Pearl truly originates from a river dragon, its value is immensely precious. The Meng Family is likely reluctant to part with it easily. After all, for offering it up as a birthday present, it surpasses many rare treasures."
How rare a river dragon’s Jiao Pearl is, giving it to the Emperor is indeed most appropriate. After all, the Emperor is the supreme sovereign. Offering the pearl of a dragon as a gift, the Saint would be tremendously pleased, and it wouldn’t be impossible for the Meng family to rise a rank higher.
Even he had to admit, the Meng Family’s preparation for this year’s birthday gift was exceptionally outstanding.
A close confidante, standing aside, said, "I’ve also found out that Dongyang Marquis also desires this Jiao Pearl, even sending his Think Tank out to acquire it."
Lin Xiang was somewhat surprised, Old Marquis Dongyang also wanted this Jiao Pearl? What marvelous use does it have?
...
"Absurd."
Marquis Chang’an, his face full of anger, glared at Jing Xiaosi, exclaiming, "I knew you never liked your stepmother and younger brother, but to attack them with such an absurd excuse to seize the Princely Heir position, what nonsense. Xiaosi, you are the legitimate eldest son, it’s not wrong for you to contend for the position of Princely Heir, but you’ve misused your methods."
Jing Xiaosi started to smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes, and said, "Father, I too thought it was absurd before, how could such a terrifying thing exist in the world? Until I experienced it firsthand. It’s not absurdity, but rather the evil in human hearts is far more terrifying and dark than I imagined."
He looked at Marquis Chang’an and coldly said, "Five years ago, I was infected by gu poison. You said it was due to inadvertently eating insect eggs during a spring hunt in dense woods. Later upon closer investigation, it turned out that it was a lowly servant seeking revenge for my mother’s punishment of her that harmed me. Father wishes to be blind and act the fool, but I am not foolish."
"You are being reckless!"
"My mother had an open and staunch character, never harmed anyone. As the madam, she was clear about rewards and punishments; how could she wrongly accuse a servant? However, you believed in such a flawed explanation, just because my deceased mother cannot prove her innocence herself." Jing Xiaosi’s face was cold as he said, "You want to shield that woman, and in fact, you, her, and that illegitimate child are the real family. Only my mother and I are the accidents..."
Slap!
"Jing Lian, what kind of attitude is this!" Marquis Chang’an slapped him across the face, furiously embarrassed.
Jing Xiaosi licked the blood from the corner of his lips, squinting at him, and said, "You are true lovers, yet I wonder if that woman is really worthy of all your loving care."
Marquis Chang’an glared at him fiercely.
"Actually, everything has traceable clues, including the mishap that befell Jing Chao. I believe that before the incident, he was healthy and agile. But once the forbidden technique backfired, he succumbed to unconsciousness and cannot be awakened. Marquis, his life will not be long; this is the Sin Barrier brought upon him by his mother, the disaster she brought him." Jing Xiaosi sneered, "By the way, that woman knows best what happened to her son. Did she seek a doctor? Or someone to cast a spell for her? Or perhaps a lover?"
"Shut up, you shut up!" Marquis Chang’an suddenly reached out and grasped his neck.
Jing Xiaosi didn’t retreat at all, staring unblinkingly at him with sarcasm and disappointment in his eyes.
Amidst shock and rage, Marquis Chang’an’s mind was suddenly filled with Mrs. Niu’s words, mentioning that his son was afflicted by a nightmare spell. She had also invited a Taoist master from the Jinhua Temple supposedly for his son, and had made him stay away during the ritual. What exactly had they done, what had they said in that room?
The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. Marquis Chang’an saw Jing Xiaosi struggling to breathe, and abruptly let him go.
Jing Xiaosi started coughing and laughed amidst it, "Marquis, do you really know Jing Chao’s actual birth dates?" He stated the correct birth dates, "These are his true birth dates."
Marquis Chang’an’s face became grim as the seeds of doubt were rapidly germinating.
The carriage had already stopped at the Marquis Mansion. Jing Xiaosi got off and turned to say, "Do you know what the last words my mother said before she died were? She regretted that on that winter day when she first met you, she pulled you out from that snow pit. I don’t blame her at all."
Marquis Chang’an stiffened.
Jing Xiaosi walked towards the mansion gate where Mrs. Niu was waiting with some people. As he approached, she stepped forward with a smile, "Lian’er, you’ve finally come back."
Jing Xiaosi looked at her expressionlessly, "Yes, I’ve returned. Isn’t that a pity?"
Mrs. Niu’s smile froze and her hands clenched into fists inside her sleeves.
Jing Xiaosi came close to her and sneered, "Heaven’s sins can be forgiven, self-inflicted sins cannot. The more tightly you clutch at things, using every scheme but unable to keep them, isn’t it quite funny?"
Mrs. Niu’s pupils shrank.
Jing Xiaosi walked past her, his voice slithering into her ears like a venomous snake.
"Jing Chao is in this state today because of the Sin Barrier you brought upon him, Mrs. Niu, you have killed your own son by your own hands."
Mrs. Niu’s legs weakened, she nearly collapsed, her face deathly pale.
She was supported by her maid, sensing a gaze upon her, she couldn’t help but look over—Marquis Chang’an was watching her with a deep, stern look, his whole body emanating a deadly aura.