kvmb Chapter 352 Layout
Chapter 352 Layout
The next morning, after finishing her breakfast, Shen Qingtan sat on the daybed, holding a booklet in her hand, and continued to review the relationships between the Northern Qi aristocratic families.
At this moment, Liu Yue hurriedly walked in from outside, shaking off the chill, and came to her side.
"Your Highness, Deputy General Sun has sent word that the Lin family matriarch has taken Madam Lin to the palace to meet her relatives." Liu Yue said in a low voice, "Yesterday, the Northern Qi Emperor issued an edict that all members of the Lin family who hold official positions in the court, whether from the main branch or collateral branches, will be demoted by one rank."
"I think the reason Consort Shu invited her family to the palace today is probably to discuss this matter," Liu Yue said with a worried expression. "You should be careful of the Lin family."
Shen Qingtan turned a page with her fingertip, gently pressing her fingertip along the binding line, and said casually, "Is Arong in charge of the household's purchasing affairs?"
Liu Yue replied, "The manager will follow your instructions and arrange for her to be in charge of the purchasing."
When Arong was mentioned, Liuyue recalled a suspicious matter: "I discovered that Arong had purchased a lot of expensive tea leaves and some coarse tea leaves at a tea shop, so I asked the accountant to inquire about the purpose of the tea purchase."
“Arong said that the New Year is coming soon, and the master’s family will prepare tea as a precious gift to give to relatives and friends.”
"When I heard this, I immediately became suspicious. Before Arong came to work at the Prince of Guangling's mansion, she had never served by the side of a noble person. She was just a palace maid who patrolled at night. How could she know what kind of gifts her master's family sent?"
"I was worried that she might do something bad, so I secretly asked Deputy General Sun to arrange for someone to investigate. And the investigation actually uncovered some clues."
"The Lin family owns that tea shop."
At this point, Liu Yue's expression turned serious: "Won't your arrangement for A Rong to make the purchases bring us trouble?"
“We’ve reached a point of no return with Consort Shu. Rather than waiting to be schemed against by her and then retaliating, we might as well take the initiative.”
Shen Qingtan explained, "I arranged for Arong to go shopping so that she could get information from us and pass it on to us."
Sure enough, as soon as Ah Rong was transferred to purchasing, she took action.
Liu Yue asked worriedly, "What about the tea leaves?"
Shen Qingtan frowned slightly. "Whether this tea is good or bad, we'll have to investigate further. However, I did think of something else."
Liu Yue looked at Shen Qingtan with a puzzled expression.
"In the Northern Qi Dynasty, merchants were prohibited from selling tea privately. All the tea grown by the common people was sold to the government, which then used the tea to exchange for warhorses."
Shen Qingtan said, "The scarcer something is, the more profitable it is. Many people risk their lives to sell smuggled tea for the huge profits it brings."
So what about the Lin family? Would they be involved in smuggling tea?
Judging from Lin Yi's character, he's probably not very clean.
Liu Yue looked shocked. Did the princess mean... that the Lin family was selling smuggled tea?
Shen Qingtan pondered and said, "Have someone check the tea. If there is no problem with the tea that Arong bought, then have Vice General Sun send someone disguised as a merchant to buy a large quantity of tea from the tea shop."
Liu Yue quickly agreed and turned to leave the house.
Shen Qingtan called Tingxue and they left the mansion together.
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A carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the Lin residence. A maid carried a wooden ladder to the side and helped Old Madam Lin and Madam Lin down from the carriage.
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went to the palace to meet Consort Shu. When they mentioned Lin Yi's death, they were all grieving as if they had lost their own parents.
The Lin family's current predicament is inextricably linked to Zhao Yi.
Compared to the Empress and the Prince of Qi, Zhao Yi posed a greater threat to them.
Zhao Yi is currently unaware that his birth mother died at the hands of Consort Shu, yet the two families are already locked in a life-or-death struggle. If Zhao Yi were to learn the truth, would he let Consort Shu off the hook? Or the Lin family?
After discussing it for a while, the group decided to strike first.
Madam Lin helped Old Madam Lin to Kangning Courtyard. As soon as they entered the room, they smelled a strong sandalwood fragrance.
She looked up and saw a Buddhist shrine in Madam Lin's room, with incense burning continuously.
Since the Lin family's children and grandchildren have been doing very well in officialdom, Old Madam Lin donated a sum of money to the nunnery and has been living there for many years in quiet contemplation.
Now that Lin Yi has run into trouble, Old Madam Lin has returned to her residence and is living the same austere life as she did in the nunnery.
Madam Lin personally helped Old Madam Lin change out of her official robes: "Mother, you got up very early today. Seeing the Empress in the palace must have taken a toll on your energy. Would you like to rest in bed?"
Madam Lin ignored Madam Lin's words and turned to ask the maid beside her, "Where is Nian-ge'er?"
Nian Ge'er is Lin Yi's eldest son, Lin Qinian.
The maid replied, "Master just returned from the shop."
"He's completely focused on the shop." Old Madam Lin's lips twitched down, clearly displeased. "Go and invite him over."
Madam Lin had suffered a lot of humiliation at the hands of Old Madam Lin when she was young, and she was inherently afraid of Old Madam Lin. As soon as she saw her expression change, she nervously clenched the handkerchief in her hand and looked at Old Madam Lin cautiously.
In her early sixties, after experiencing the pain of losing her son, Madam Lin's hair turned completely white overnight.
"Yi'er died tragically, and we couldn't even arrange his funeral. We could only bury him in a thin coffin." Madam Lin's shrewd eyes revealed hatred: "Yi'er had such a bright future, but he was ruined by Zhao Yi. He died so unjustly."
"All the children and grandchildren in the family have moved down in rank, and it's as difficult as climbing to heaven for them to rise again. All of this was caused by Zhao Yi."
The more Madam Lin spoke, the more intense her hatred became: "Nian-ge could have been promoted further, but now, not only has he been demoted, he is also in mourning at home because of his father's passing."
Madam Lin dared not utter a word. Because of Lin Yi's matter, their Lin family could not hold a grand New Year's banquet this year, nor could they go to other families to attend New Year's banquets.
They couldn't even meet with anyone from the Prince of Guangling's mansion, so they had far fewer opportunities to cause trouble for Zhao Yi and his wife.
Madam Lin instructed, "Don't get involved with the Prince of Guangling's side. The Empress and I have our own arrangements."
Madam Lin replied respectfully, "Your daughter-in-law understands."
Old Madam Lin looks down on Madam Lin, who is not very shrewd. If you tell her your plan, she will definitely hold you back.
Just then, a maid's voice came from outside the door: "Greetings, Master."
The next moment, Lin Qinian entered the house with his hands in his sleeves, and staggered to the two elders: "May the Ancestors and Mothers enjoy happiness."
Looking at her eldest grandson, who walked with an unsteady gait, Old Madam Lin's eyes were full of affection.
This was her most valued grandson, who originally had a smooth career and a bright future thanks to his aunt.
Now he must stay at home in mourning for three years before he can be reinstated.
Thinking of this, Old Madam Lin was heartbroken: "Is there anything at the shop that requires you to go there in person?"
Lin Qinian flicked an object with his finger as he spoke, "It's almost the end of the year, and a batch of tea has arrived at our shop. Many high-ranking officials and nobles will be buying tea from us. As the eldest son of the Lin family and the future head of the family, shouldn't I personally go and greet them?"
When Madam Lin heard Lin Qinian's ambitious words, a smile appeared on her face: "The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites is a good friend of your father. You should call him Uncle Ji. Tomorrow, take some gifts and go to visit him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Qinian flicked the object he was holding between his fingers, and with a "clink," it landed in the teacup that Old Madam Lin had picked up.
He touched his nose guiltily and forcibly changed the subject: "Are you here to avenge my father?"