Chapter 57
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“I have already handled this matter, so you don’t need to worry,” Marquis An Nan calmly stated after letting County Princess Yawen vent her frustrations. “She managed to hold on through the night, so early this morning, I had someone send her away. The temporary stewardship will be handed over to my second brother’s wife. What do you think?”
County Princess Yawen snorted but didn’t say much. Lin Qingyang didn’t feel any sympathy for Madam Ru, but he gained a bit more understanding of Marquis An Nan. Perhaps in his eyes, the continuity and inheritance of the Marquis’s residence were the most important, and his younger cousin, who had accompanied him for many years, didn’t hold much significance. This explained his ruthless and cold arrangement of everything.
Subsequently, Marquis An Nan turned his gaze towards Lin Qingyang and said, “Last night, your third brother accidentally fell and broke his ankle. When you return to the academy, request leave for him. I don’t know if he can continue his studies. The duration of the leave is temporarily uncertain. With your third brother absent from the academy, you will have to shoulder the hopes of our Marquis’s residence. Perform well, understand?”
Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyang was initially surprised, but then he couldn’t hold back a chuckle. Seeing Marquis An Nan’s displeased expression, he continued in a tone that sounded like self-talk, “It seems the heavens still have eyes, after all. The law of cause and effect, you know?”
Upon receiving this piece of good news, Lin Qingyang happily had a breakfast that was twice the usual size.
Before leaving, Lin Qingyang didn’t forget to find the six individuals sent by the Liu family. Originally, their purpose for coming was to deal with the matters concerning Eldest Sister and the Lin Qingxu incident.
Before the unexpected events of last night, he had stationed these six people outside the Flower Hall. If there were any issues, he could have called on them at any time. However, their assistance wasn’t needed, and both matters went quite smoothly. With Madam Ru gone, the safety of the Marquis’s residence had significantly improved, so there wasn’t much more they needed help with.
Since they were unwilling to stay, he decided to let them return home.
He generously rewarded them with a considerable amount of silver as a token of gratitude for the significant help provided by the eldest cousin. Lin Qingyang informed them that they were free to leave at any time. If they wished to stay in the capital for a few days, they could reside in Marquis’s residence, and he would cover all expenses.
The individuals became even more respectful towards Lin Qingyang. However, since things were settled here, after some discussion, they decided not to linger any longer. In fact, they planned to leave immediately.
Lin Qingyang was surprised. They seemed to be in an extreme hurry. If they hadn’t repeatedly expressed satisfaction with their stay, Lin Qingyang might have thought they were preparing to escape. The suspicion was dispelled, particularly by the woman who had caught the eye of Nanny Ding.
“Young Master Lin, I’ve already discussed with my master, and I’m willing to stay,” Qiu Qing said with a serious expression. “I don’t have many relatives or friends in Jiangnan. I’ve always heard that the capital is a good place, so I want to stay here for some time.”
Lin Qingyang was pleasantly surprised by this unexpected development. He quickly arranged a contract, considering it as hiring her to be a female guard for the family. She just needed to follow the instructions of the County Princess and Lin Qinglan.
When he heard that she wanted to stay, Nanny Ding was overjoyed. She treated her like a daughter, holding her hand and chatting with her. Seeing Qiu Qing’s gentle expression towards Nanny Ding, Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but suspect that Nanny Ding had been sticking to Qiu Qing these past few days, making her develop a mother-daughter attachment and decide to stay.
However, Qiu Qing’s skills were good, so it worked out well for her to stay in the household.
Because the other five were in a hurry to leave, Lin Qingyang accompanied them to bid farewell to his mother. He planned to take a detour and see them off when he left for the Imperial Academy.
Naturally, his mother bestowed some gifts upon them and handed over the reply she had written on the first day, asking them to deliver it on their way back.
Watching from the side, Lin Qingyang noticed that Lin Qinglan remained silent and didn’t say much. Unable to resist his curiosity, he teased, “Sister, don’t you have anything to send to Jiangnan? Mother and I have already given them a lot. It’s the thought that counts. I don’t have much to give either.”
Lin Qinglan’s expression turned somewhat uneasy. “Mother and you have already given them a lot. As long as they understand our intentions, it’s enough. I… don’t have anything special to give.”
Lin Qingyang thought for a moment and said, “We may not have the chance to meet again in the future. Since we’ve established contact, last time I gifted jewelry. However, I didn’t prepare anything for younger uncle and eldest cousin. Younger uncle is skilled in martial arts, and I happen to have some excellent weapons. Let’s bring one for him. As for eldest cousin, who excels in literature, I’m not knowledgeable in that area. How about you pick a few rare books from the libraries here in the capital as a gift?”
Lin Qinglan glanced at Lin Qingyang with a reproachful look, clearly aware of his intentions.
Raising an eyebrow, Lin Qingyang whispered, “They’re family; no need to be overly cautious, right? Isn’t it better to be open and straightforward?”
Lin Qinglan’s eyes flickered with a subtle emotion.
Lin Qingyang didn’t press her further, saying directly, “Anyway, we’ll be leaving soon. If you have anything to give, just bring it over. I won’t lose face by randomly giving things to eldest cousin; I believe he won’t mind.”
Lin Qingyang finished speaking and saw that everything was settled on his mother’s side.
When the time came, Lin Qingyang led the group to the main gate and encountered Chu Lishu.
Chu Lishu hadn’t seen this group of people before, but the moment he laid eyes on them, he knew they were skilled.
Approaching Chu Lishu, Lin Qingyang whispered, “I’ll talk to you when we’re on the carriage later. But it might take some time to send them out of the city. Can Cousin accompany me?”
Chu Lishu didn’t mind, saying, “Sure.”
As they waited for the loading process, Lin Qingyang took the opportunity to brief Chu Lishu on the situations of Lin Qingxu and Yu Zhang. Chu Lishu nodded and said, “I’ve heard about it. Since it’s already like this, you don’t need to worry about it.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to worry about it either…” As he was speaking, he saw two weary-looking women coming out.
Lin Qingwei and Lin Qingyao were also going to continue their studies at the Imperial Academy with their other siblings.
Lin Qingyao bowed to Lin Qingyang before hurriedly leaving.
Lin Qingwei looked at Lin Qingyang, seeing his indifferent expression as if he didn’t want to say anything to her. She felt extremely wronged in her heart. “Second Brother…”
Lin Qingyang nodded meaningfully.
Lin Qingwei’s eyes reddened. “Are you blaming me? I’m innocent in this matter. I was completely unaware from start to finish, and I couldn’t have harmed you intentionally.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you still…”
“Do I have to greet someone who never believed in me from the beginning to the end with a smile?”
Lin Qingwei was instantly silenced, and tears streamed down her face. “You’re venting your anger on me…”
Lin Qingyang sighed, “Hurry up and get on the carriage. They’re all waiting for you. Crying won’t change anything. If you behave well in the future, and distinguish right from wrong, maybe we can still have a normal relationship. Don’t expect me to say it’s okay now. I don’t blame you for this.”
Lin Qingwei didn’t expect Lin Qingyang to be so unfeeling. She was truly innocent in this matter, so why blame her? Feeling increasingly upset, she turned and ran away in tears.
Lin Qingyang wouldn’t give her any more unnecessary emotions. He just knew that his mother and eldest sister wouldn’t give up on this girl, so he didn’t sever ties completely.
When the carriage was ready, Lin Qingyang was about to board when he suddenly heard the voice of Qiu Qing.
Qiu Qing hurried over, carrying a small box. “Young Master, Young Lady said this is a gift for you to make up for it.”
Lin Qingyang smiled helplessly after listening, took the things, waved his hand, and set off.
In the carriage, only Lin Qingyang and Chu Lishu were left.
Then, Lin Qingyang’s voice continued uninterrupted, as if there were endless things to tell Chu Lishu after just a day of not seeing each other.
Liking someone means sharing all aspects of your life with them, right? Lin Qingyang’s behavior is quite reasonable, and there’s nothing strange about it.
Lin Qingyang, on the other hand, is reflecting on himself. Why does he feel like he’s reporting work details to a boss like a corporate worker? He’s afraid of missing some details that might make the boss suspicious.
It’s probably due to his concern about his cannon fodder identity, hoping that the male lead sees everything about him clearly. This way, the male lead won’t suspect anything and harbor ill intentions toward him.
“However…” Chu Lishu suddenly spoke up.
Lin Qingyang was startled, thinking there might be a problem. He quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”
Chu Lishu poured another glass of water for Lin Qingyang, feeling a bit uneasy with his hoarse voice.
“I think outside the city… someone from your maternal family is probably waiting. It should be someone who can take charge. According to what you said about the Liu family, it’s highly likely that your eldest cousin has arrived.”
Lin Qingyang:…
“What?!”
Chu Lishu spoke in a relaxed and slow tone, “If it’s indeed your eldest cousin who has come, do you want to meet him?”
Lin Qingyang jumped up abruptly, only to hit his head on the roof. With a cry of pain, Chu Lishu quickly reached out to support him, patting his head and saying, “Why so excited? Do you have a good relationship with the eldest cousin from the Liu family?”
“No, no, no… but it’s just surprising if he’s here! Eldest cousin is here! I… I… I definitely want to meet him!” Lin Qingyang was so astonished that he stammered.
“I’m just speculating,” Chu Lishu said.
“Your speculations are usually accurate, and I trust you,” Lin Qingyang said directly. “But… I’m still curious, how did you come up with this guess?”
Chu Lishu offered a simple analysis, “Because those five people, after confirming their departure with you, immediately prepared to leave in such a hurry, it’s evident that they are either chasing something or someone is waiting for them on this side. Since they’ve completed their mission and someone is waiting, they naturally set off in a hurry.”
“Another point is the woman you mentioned, named Qiu Qing. She said she contacted her master and decided to stay only after confirmation. However, even the fastest round trip for a letter to and from Jiangnan would take at least five days. How could she have contacted her master so quickly? The only possibility is that her master is nearby, and she could meet them quickly to confirm. Since people from the Liu family are not allowed to enter the city, it’s very likely that they are waiting outside the city.”
Lin Qingyang immediately realized why things seemed so peculiar. With Chu Lishu’s explanation, everything became clear. Indeed, if his eldest cousin was waiting outside, the actions of those six people made perfect sense.
“It seems eldest cousin really can’t let go… I wonder who he can’t let go of,” Lin Qingyang couldn’t help but smile.
Chu Lishu had just heard some long-standing gossip and really had no idea about the various circumstances surrounding his past engagement.
“Your eldest cousin didn’t get married, perhaps there’s a chance to rekindle the past, but with one unable to return to the capital… You should know what your eldest sister is concerned about. Considering her character, she probably won’t have any further dealings with your eldest cousin.”
Thinking about Lin Qinglan’s expressions whenever the matter was mentioned, Lin Qingyang also felt a bit troubled. In this world, women who couldn’t bear children were often viewed with colored glasses, and it was even more challenging in ancient times. Although Lin Qinglan seemed unaffected on the surface, the internal wounds were probably irreparable. Given their circumstances, it might indeed be quite difficult.
Seeing Lin Qingyang’s downcast expression, Chu Lishu thought for a moment and said, “Perhaps in the future, there could be a cure. Don’t be too disheartened; there are many renowned healers in this world.”
If his master hadn’t been traveling around, difficult to trace, perhaps not only Lin Qinglan but even County Princess Yawen could… Forget it, he can’t give Lin Qingyang such elusive hope. His master’s situation is beyond his control.
“Well, I’m not disheartened. The current situation is already quite good. If I really meet my eldest cousin later, I’ll ask about the situation in Jiangnan in detail. If it’s suitable, I can have my mother go there for recovery,” Lin Qingyang said with a smile.
Chu Lishu’s eyes took on a slightly profound look. “If I guess the person correctly, can you introduce your eldest cousin to me? I… have some business I’d like to do.”
Lin Qingyang was slightly stunned upon hearing this. Just as he was about to express his surprise, a notification sounded in his mind.
【Side Quest: Assist the male lead in gaining support from the Chen Lan Merchant Agency.】
Lin Qingyang’s expression instantly changed.
“What’s wrong? Is it inconvenient?” Chu Lishu didn’t actually want Lin Qingyang to get involved, but opportunities were rare. He knew a bit about Liu Jingchen, and through his investigation, he found that Liu Jingchen was adept at business. With his assistance, it might be possible to control the economy of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
Chu Lishu had some items in his possession, but due to his identity restrictions and his role as Chu Lishu in the capital, he found it challenging to utilize them. If he could cooperate with Liu Jingchen, it would significantly enhance the effectiveness of his plans.
This was a rare opportunity, and Chu Lishu didn’t want to let it slip away.
“Convenient, definitely convenient!” Lin Qingyang quickly responded, “We are relatives, after all. It’s only natural. I didn’t know cousin was involved in business too. Impressive!”
“Well, the Chu family left me with some things. It’s a waste to keep them in my hands, so I thought I’d give it a try,” Chu Lishu explained, keeping it simple.
Lin Qingyang pretended to listen foolishly, avoiding probing too deeply. However, in his mind, he had already begun to frantically recall the plot.
The male lead originally had money, but if he wanted to overturn a country, that alone wouldn’t be enough. There must be a significant economic layout.
In the original plot, the male lead collaborated with a person called the owner of the Chen Lan Merchant Agency, gradually eroding and monopolizing without anyone noticing. In just two years, he severed the economic lifeline of the Da Zhou Dynasty. By the time the emperor discovered it, it was already too late.
But there is no Chen Lan Merchant Agency now. If such an association were to appear, he should have heard about it when he was organizing his industries earlier. Why did the system prompt it now?
Wait…… The timing of the mission… What they were about to do… Lin Qingyang’s brain quickly processed the information and instantly realized.
Could it be that the owner of Chen Lan Merchant Agency was Liu Jingchen? Because they were about to meet, the mission was assigned?
The original plot mentioned that the male lead met the owner at a funeral. Because they came in disguise, the original plot consistently referred to him as the owner. After all, he and the male lead were not on the same storyline, essentially serving as a background character providing supply for the male lead. Therefore, Lin Qingyang didn’t know who he specifically was.
It seems like it should be Liu Jingchen. The only ones worthy of secretly attending a funeral in the capital would either be Lin Qinglan or County Princess Yawen. In such an occasion, Chu Lishu can be seen.
Did Liu Jingchen come to the capital for the funeral, coincidentally meet the male lead, and then the two agree to start this rebellious endeavor?
Is the current storyline advancing earlier because of him?
Does Liu Jingchen know Chu Lishu’s identity? Does he know what Chu Lishu is up to?
He might not know, after all, that he could be doing business based on Chu Lishu’s advice.
Wait, how does he remember? The owner eventually handed over the Chen Lan Merchant Agency to the country and disappeared.
Lin Qingyang thought for a moment. Perhaps Liu Jingchen saw the fate of others, understood that this tyrant was not to be trifled with, and being as smart as he is, naturally knew when to make an exit.
However, this time, the male lead is unlikely to become a tyrant, so Liu Jingchen’s outcome should be better.
After careful consideration, let’s set aside everything else and focus on the mission itself. Suddenly, Lin Qingyang felt that this mission was quite simple. Amidst the overwhelming shock, he instantly found the strength to face life.
Once this task is completed, won’t he earn points? Wouldn’t that mean he doesn’t have to stick to the male lead anymore?
With such a significant task, there must be a lot of points involved. So… in case he really can’t make it to the palace in the end, is there a chance to survive?
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he’s thinking about throwing away ml now that he doesn’t need him LMFAOO THIS MC😭😭😭