noffsinger Chapter 407: Salt Tax Account Books and Letters
Chapter 407: Salt Tax Account Books and Letters
"This is exactly what I want to report to my father. After much investigation, I finally found a large number of Drunken Ivy in an unused farm in the suburbs of Beijing.
And that unused farmhouse belongs to the Yun family!"
At this moment, Lin Yuanxuan finally dared to raise his eyes and look directly at Lin Xiaotian, but he did not see any look of praise on his father's face.
"You mean... someone from the Yun family killed your eldest brother?"
Hearing Lin Xiaotian's question again, a trace of anger suddenly rose in Lin Yuanxuan's heart.
Since childhood, his father has never been kind to him and his second brother. Besides his mother, the only people who can make him smile are his eldest brother.
He didn't understand why his father doted on his eldest brother so much when he was arrogant, lustful and promiscuous, not as good as himself in literature and not as good as his second brother in martial arts!
Even the younger sister, the only daughter of the Lin family, is not treated kindly by her father and is rather strict. Her status in his heart is far inferior to that of the older brother.
Oh no, how could he forget that his younger sister is no longer his father's only daughter, they also have a half-sister who is living outside!
The bastard who made his mother cry for three days!
Unfortunately, the bastard was not born to be rich and noble, and he died before he was found and brought back to the Lin family!
Because of the bastard incident, he also had a grudge against Zhu Jingxing who came to inform him of the matter.
Although he did not speak badly to him like his elder and second brothers, he decided not to have a close relationship with this person.
This time, if Zhu Jingxing had not shown goodwill to the Lin family and openly reported King Yan in the court, he would not have invited him to drink, and he would have gained something unexpected from it.
But he never expected that when he told his father about his achievement, what he got in return was not praise from his father, but questioning again and again!
Although his heart was filled with anger, Lin Yuanxuan showed no dissatisfaction towards Lin Xiaotian. He replied:
"The Yun family has always been at odds with my Lin family, and they have planted Drunken Vine in their farm. How could this be such a coincidence?
Therefore, I think that my eldest brother’s death is closely related to the Yun family!”
Lin Xiaotian quietly looked at the determined expression on Lin Yuanxuan's face and sighed in his heart. He is still young indeed~~
“Since you have already found out that the manor belongs to the Yun family, why don’t you continue investigating and find out who in the Yun family planted the Drunken Vine?
Are these drunken vines really used to make drugs?
Who is the pharmacist who made the drug?
Who brought the drug into the palace and killed your eldest brother?"
As Lin Xiaotian threw out one question after another in a resounding voice, Lin Yuanxuan's face began to gradually turn pale, and in the end it could be described as "pale".
"Father, since my eldest brother got into trouble, there have been many changes in the palace and the court. I haven't had time to investigate in more detail..."
"That means you don't pay attention!"
Before Lin Yuanxuan could finish his words, he was interrupted by Lin Xiaotian.
"I know I was wrong." Lin Yuanxuan frowned and surrendered again.
"Forget it! The news you brought today is still useful." Lin Xiaotian suddenly changed the subject.
Then he asked a question: "What do you think of Zhu Jingxing?"
Lin Yuanxuan had not yet recovered from the surprise of Lin Xiaotian's sudden affirmation. When he heard this question, he couldn't hide the flattered expression on his face at all.
After a pause and calming down, Lin Yuanxuan slowly replied:
"This man was born in a poor family, but he was able to pass the imperial examination at a young age and was selected by Emperor Huizong as the third place in the imperial examination. Emperor Tianqi also values him very much. His future is limitless!"
Lin Xiaotian nodded. In his opinion, Zhu Jingxing was indeed a rare talent.
She is hardworking and talented, and is both beautiful and talented.
Most importantly, he did not have the self-righteous arrogance of the scholars from humble families. He was willing to bear the stigma of "clinging to the powerful" and make friends with the children of aristocratic families.
Lin Xiaotian really began to appreciate Zhu Jingxing because of one thing, one thing that really impressed him.
Last year, Zhu Jingxing had just returned from an inspection tour in the northern border. After reporting to Beijing, he actually began to inquire about Concubine Yun from various sources.
This matter has always been a taboo, so Zhu Jingxing naturally couldn't find out any useful information.
Who would have thought that within a few days, Zhu Jingxing would actually come to the Lin family and want to exchange one secret for another...
"After the demise of the Tang family, the five great families became four great families, each acting on their own and harboring resentment towards each other. I wonder what the situation in the court will become?" Lin Xiaotian said in a deep voice.
Lin Yuanxuan blinked. Is this still the father he knew? How could his father have such an idea?
“Since the founding of Daliang, my Lin family has been the most aristocratic family. Except for the empress at the founding of the dynasty, all other empresses were also from my Lin family. It can be said that half of the royal family members have the blood of my Lin family flowing in their veins.
Father...why do you say that?"
"Humph!"
Seeing that Lin Yuanxuan also had no sense of preparedness for danger, Lin Xiaotian's face darkened again.
The vertical lines between his eyebrows were like sharp needles, sharp and harsh, and he said with some regret:
"Foolish! Get down!"
Lin Yuanxuan went out feeling aggrieved, and Lin's grandmother came out from the inner room with a worried look on her face.
A hand wearing a jade bracelet handed over a cup of tea.
"Master, Yuan Xuan is still young and needs experience."
Lin Xiaotian shook his head, but raised his hand very naturally to take the teacup and took a sip.
"Yuan Xuan always thinks he is the smartest of the three brothers. He thinks that Yuan Fang and Yuan Hao, who practice martial arts, are reckless and brainless, and cannot compare to him who reads the books of sages. He also secretly complains that I favor Yuan Fang.
Yuan Fang is a little arrogant and a little indulgent when it comes to women, but these are not big problems.
I asked him to go to the palace to gain experience. Although he was not happy about it, he went anyway in order not to disappoint me.
Yuan Fang is the eldest son and the future head of the Lin family. I will do my best to train him. What does Yuan Xuan have to say about this?
Yuan Hao is indeed reckless, but he has mastered advanced martial arts and saved my life when he was suppressing bandits in Jiangnan.
Besides, he is also in charge of the garrison of Kyoto. Madam must know how important he is to the Lin family!"
"I understand everything the master said."
The mistress of the Lin family took the teacup that Lin Xiaotian had finished drinking, but did not put it on the table. Instead, she held it tightly in her hand, her expression showing no sign of diminishing worry.
"I also believe that Yuan Xuan will understand the master's painstaking efforts in the future. What I am worried about now is the Tang family.
The Tang court sent someone to deliver a message, threatening us with the salt tax account books and letters, asking us to help. What should we do? "
It would have been fine if the mistress of the Lin family didn't mention this matter. But when Lin Xiaotian thought of this matter, he couldn't help but burst into rage in his tiger eyes.
"Because of the death of the former crown prince, I was forced to go to the south of the Yangtze River to suppress bandits in order to avoid the power of Emperor Huizong. So I ordered Tang Ting to find a way to destroy the evidence in the archives of the East Palace. I didn't expect that he would leave me such a backup plan!"
"Yes!" The Lin family's mistress was also very angry, "Our Lin family has supported the Tang family all the way, and now they dare to repay kindness with hatred!"
Lin Xiaotian took the teacup from the Lin family mistress's hand, placed it on the table, and sat down with her.
"All nine clans will be gone soon. Tang Ting can no longer care about anything else. He can only burn his boats."
Without the object in her hand, the mistress of the Lin family started to play with the jade bracelet on her wrist. After thinking for a while, she asked tentatively:
"Master, have you already thought of a countermeasure?"