The Lin family had long supported the new regi with Lin Helin’s tacit approval. Now, with Lin Hongyuan and Lin Hongcheng returning too late, most of the family mbers were willing to follow the arrangents made by Xie Xun and Lin Helin.
Lin Yushu and Abao were now living at the Lin Residence. Lin Hongyuan felt a bit uneasy. The Lin family had always cherished their eldest daughter deeply, just as Elder Lin had always cared greatly for the Duchess Zhenbei. When he was in the cabinet, he had worked hard to maintain the balance among the three factions. Now that Xie Xun had ascended to the throne and the matter was a foregone conclusion, despite Lin Hongcheng and Lin Hongyuan’s strong reluctance, they were powerless to reverse the situation.
Lin Hongyuan planned to send Lin Yushu and Abao to Jiangnan or to the Lin family’s old estate to live, so that Abao could stay away from the center of power. Otherwise, having Abao, a forr Crown Prince, living in the Capital City wouldn’t be good for Xie Xun, nor would it escape public criticism. Many forr officials of the previous dynasty might try to exploit Abao, which wouldn’t be beneficial for him either. Abao should grow up in a quiet and clean environnt.
Lin Yushu also followed her father’s arrangent, planning to return to the old estate with Abao to live after Xie Xun’s enthronent. Being far away from the Capital City might offer a bit more freedom.
Lin Hongyuan looked at Lin Yushu with deep sorrow and so relief. In truth, he and his wife had always known that Lin Yushu had soone in her heart, but it was a hopeless love. Lin Yushu was unwilling to trouble herself or others. She had never expressed her feelings and had obediently followed the family’s arrangents to marry Yuwen Jing. They had made a wrong choice with this marriage. Yet, at the ti, it was an excellent, truly excellent match. Yuwen Jing had shown no visible faults. Who could have predicted that such a carefully selected marriage would end like this?
His daughter should have been the Empress. His grandson should have been the next Emperor of the Yuwen Royal Family. Now, even the dynasty’s na had changed. After the regi change, Lin Yushu and Abao had beco the most awkward figures in the Capital City.
"Yushu, it is your father and mother who have wronged you," Lin Hongyuan comforted his daughter. "The old estate isn’t as easy to live in as the Capital, but if you find it difficult to adapt, we will bring you back ho."
"Father, as your daughter, I’ve been cherished and adored since childhood, knowing nothing of hardship. Among the daughters in this city, I’ve been the luckiest. I was once the Empress, nurtured and supported by the nation. Compared to won who rise early and toil endlessly for their basic needs, I’ve been blessed enough. Though I’ve lost my husband, I still have my child, and I am still young. I won’t wallow in self-pity or anguish. I’ll take good care of Abao and live well. When Abao is older, when the situation stabilizes, and his health improves, I’ll take him to explore the vast world. The world is large, and there will always be a place for Abao. Please don’t worry about us, and don’t bla Brother. He acted with our best interests at heart." Lin Yushu said softly, "You and Uncle should discuss further and follow Brother’s arrangents. Zhixu will be a good Emperor. He is not a man who indiscriminately kills the innocent. Even if he knows that three years ago you stood by without intervening, he won’t hold it against you. At that ti, you had your own position to consider and Lin family mbers to protect. Everyone makes different choices depending on their circumstances."
"Father understands!"
After Lin Hongyuan and Lin Hongcheng returned, it was natural for Lin Hongyuan to resu his cabinet duties. Currently, the cabinet was overseen by Lin Helin, but if Lin Hongyuan returned, his authority and rank would surpass that of Lin Helin.
Lin Hongcheng, dissatisfied with the regi change, resigned from office and returned ho, unwilling to rejoin the cabinet. Xie Xun didn’t press him. In fact, Xie Xun preferred the officials in Jinluan Palace to be as young as possible.
The younger generation of officials, such as Lin Helin, Zhang Boju, and Gu Jiaming, were intelligent, capable, and wholeheartedly supported the implentation of new policies, achieving results with half the effort. Compared to the obstinate old ministers, Xie Xun found this group of young officials much more useful.
They also knew that Xie Xun and Xie Jue had a team in Ningzhou handling state affairs. The wise ones wouldn’t dare to oppose the new Emperor. They were eager to impress him, hoping to accomplish tasks for him. Otherwise, once Ningzhou officials arrived, they wouldn’t have a place to stand.
There were only three days left until Xie Xun’s enthronent ceremony.
Master Miao Yun had passed away!
She didn’t make it. In the small Buddhist hall, she fell into a coma. Despite the Imperial Hospital’s best dicine keeping her life barely hanging on, they couldn’t revive her. Xie Xun originally wanted to hear what Master Miao Yun had to say about Fengyu’s destiny, but unexpectedly, she didn’t survive. His mood was heavy.
After Master Miao Yun passed away, Fengyu escorted her remains back to Xiangguo Temple. Being the forr abbess of Xiangguo Temple, she was to be buried there after her death.
On the day Fengyu escorted Master Miao Yun’s remains back to Xiangguo Temple, Lin Helin, Zhang Boju, and others discussed with Xie Xun how to deal with Yuwen Jing. They all knew that Xie Xun had imprisoned Yuwen Jing in Yangxin Palace.
Without Xie Xun’s permission, no one could see Yuwen Jing. Lin Helin believed that Xie Xun despised Yuwen Jing deeply and would surely kill him without delay. Yet, unexpectedly, Xie Xun still spared his life.
The cabinet’s main agenda was determining what charges to pin on Yuwen Jing.
The cri of treason alone warranted capital punishnt.
Lin Helin and Zhang Boju hoped to deal with Yuwen Jing before Xie Xun’s enthronent to avoid nurous complications. The new ruler and the forr sovereign could not appear simultaneously on that day.
Yuwen Jing deserved to die.
This sentint wasn’t limited to the cabinet. Marquis An Yuan and several generals privately discussed why Xie Xun hadn’t yet killed Yuwen Jing.
The matter of Yuwen Jing and Fengyu being connected by life-threatening poison was sothing Xie Xun hadn’t disclosed externally. Now, faced with handling Yuwen Jing, although Xie Xun hated him intensely, he hesitated.
"Your Majesty, before your enthronent ceremony three days later, Yuwen Jing must die. He must perish alongside the previous dynasty as a symbol of Beining’s new beginning. If people learn he is still alive while you ascend the throne, the court and public will be rife with rumors." Gu Jiaming presented a draft from the Ministry of Justice, listing Yuwen Jing’s nurous cris, any of which alone justified his death multiple tis over. Be it execution by drawing and quartering, slow slicing, or bisection, the Ministry of Justice would have no objections. If carried out, Yuwen Jing would be the first Emperor of the Yuwen Dynasty to die at the ridian Gate.
A ruined monarch, destined to be pinned to the pillar of sha for eternity.
Of course, Xie Xun didn’t want Yuwen Jing to live, but how could he explain this to the court? Not killing Yuwen Jing would not appease the public anger. Killing Yuwen Jing—what about Ayu?
He worried for Ayu’s life.
"I need to think about this matter," Xie Xun said firmly. Gu Jiaming didn’t press further and took his leave. After Gu Jiaming and Zhang Boju exited the side hall, Lin Helin asked, "What leverage does Yuwen Jing hold over you?"
Knowing he couldn’t hide the truth from his cousin, Xie Xun explained Yuwen Jing’s use of life-poison on Fengyu. "If I kill Yuwen Jing, I fear it will affect Ayu."
Lin Helin’s expression darkened. This sounded like sothing Yuwen Jing would do. But why would he go to such lengths to poison Fengyu? After Feng Shu’s death, Yuwen Jing was utterly despondent, indifferent to life and death.
Xie Xun suddenly realized he had been manipulated by Yuwen Jing, montarily forgetting, "Indeed, he doesn’t care about life and death. Why, then, would he poison Ayu?"
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