son, don't mess around

The news that the entire Sun family was wiped out spread quickly throughout the city.

No one expected such a thing to happen.

After all, the Sun family is a big family in Jiangnan that is as famous as the Jiang family. Although it cannot compare with the Jiang family in terms of foundation and strength, it is also one of the top big families. Although it cannot be said to be extremely powerful, it is indeed a family with connections in Jiangnan, and it is an existence that can cover the sky with one hand.

But now, the entire main branch of the Sun family, from the patriarch Sun Qiao to the servants in the mansion, have all been arrested and taken to the prefectural government office and detained temporarily.

In the entire Sun family, only Grandpa Sun is left.

Perhaps due to the strength and reputation of the Sun family, Mr. Sun escaped the disaster.

But even so, in everyone's eyes, this was a humiliation to the Sun family.

But no one dared to say anything!
Logically speaking, such a big family should be angry when being treated like this, and there should even be many other families who stand up and discuss this issue and put pressure on the government.

After all, the interests of most aristocratic families are the same, and they must not set this precedent. If the people of aristocratic families can be arrested at will by the government, how can their aristocratic families survive in the future?
But this time, the other noble families seemed to be dumb.

No one stood up, and many people even avoided the issue and distanced themselves from the Sun family.

Just kidding, whether to help depends on the situation.

What trouble did the Sun family get into this time?

Assassinating Prince Lin and Princess Xu?
This is pure suicide!

At this point, the truth of the matter and whether it was the Sun family who assassinated him are no longer important.

But if the blame falls on the Sun family, then the Sun family will definitely suffer badly.

As long as the Sun family cannot explain clearly, they will definitely be skinned alive this time.

Who made the Sun family be so ignorant of their own life and offend Prince Lin?

On weekdays, they bullied the imperial court, withheld the imperial court's taxes, and ignored the emperor. After all, Jiangnan was the richest region of the Daning Dynasty, with a prosperous economy, and was an important tax collection area for the imperial court. The imperial court did not dare to offend easily.

In addition, the power of the Jiangnan families has long been spread throughout the court, guarding important positions in the court. The Jiangnan families are almost always behind the court. Therefore, it is almost impossible for the court to take action against the Jiangnan families.

But it’s different in the Linwang Palace.

As the newly appointed king of a different surname in the Daning Dynasty in the past twenty years, Prince Lin not only commands a large number of troops, but also has a very high prestige in the army.

The Jiangnan noble families could not reach the Linwang Mansion, but the butcher knife of the Linwang Mansion could be wielded at their heads at any time without reason.

What’s more crucial is that the current situation in the imperial court is not good. If the butcher’s knife really falls, whoever is hit will be unlucky.

……

Jiang Mansion, inner courtyard.

During these two days, Lin Jiangnian's health has recovered well. At the beginning, he could only walk with difficulty, but after these two days, he obviously felt much more relaxed and his complexion improved a lot.

At this time, he was sitting in the yard, listening to Lin Qingqing's report.

Zhiyuan went to the Sun family and wiped out all the members of the family. Although it was Zhiyuan who did it, it was also Lin Jiangnian who acquiesced behind the scenes.

He doesn’t care what the Sun family thinks now. He almost died this time and his life was about to be lost. Why should he care who the Sun family is?
What's more, the unexpected surprise was that they found Sun Yue and found out that he was involved in the assassination of Lin Jiangnian.

Now, the Sun family can’t even wash themselves clean!
"Your Highness, that Sun Yue was just being used by someone, and there is not much useful information to be gained from him."

Lin Qingqing whispered, "After His Highness taught him a lesson last time, this person became dissatisfied and was targeted by someone with ulterior motives, who asked him to send a letter. It is not clear who asked him to send the letter, but..."

Lin Qingqing frowned slightly: "The person behind this seems to be deliberately framing me."

"It is indeed a false accusation."

Lin Jiangnian nodded.

As the fourth young master of the Sun family, Sun Yue is a hopeless case and there is no hope for him.

Lin Qingqing didn't spend much effort to find this person. The person behind the scenes found out that he was using him to deliver the letter, and naturally knew that Sun Yue would be exposed sooner or later.

But knowing that Sun Yue would be exposed, he still used this person to deliver the letter. The only explanation is... to frame someone!
However, it doesn’t matter whether it is a frame-up or not.

This time, Lin Jiangnian had no intention of letting the Sun family go.

"There are still many people over there pleading for the Sun family, and even secretly putting pressure on the government office."

Lin Qingqing said that the prefect had complained repeatedly and did not dare to take care of the matter.

"They like to make trouble, let them make trouble, if they have the guts they can rob government offices."

Lin Jiangnian sneered. Those people would only say a few words behind his back. If they were really asked to stand up, they would probably run away faster than the other.

Right now, Lin Jiangnian is more concerned about finding out who tried to assassinate him this time!
To be able to assassinate right under his nose, the other party must have a very deep connection with Chu Jiangcheng. Lin Jiangnian has to find these people first.

Otherwise you will not sleep well.

Just as Lin Qingqing was reporting, there was noise outside the door again, and Lin Kong hurried back exhausted.

"Your Highness, I have found out that a commander of the Chujiang City Navy committed suicide at home last night."

Lin Kong looked solemn as he handed over a piece of intelligence: "This admiral was the one in charge of the navy in the west gate area of ​​Chujiang River. After he committed suicide, my subordinates found a large amount of gold, silver and jewelry in his cellar."

"This proves that someone bribed the navy on the night His Highness was assassinated, so these people were able to appear quietly."

Lin Jiangnian's eyes fell on the information in his hand and asked casually, "Did you find out who it is?"

Lin Kong's eyes fixed, and he said in a deep voice: "When I arrived with my men, the admiral had already committed suicide. At the same time, a lot of evidence in his home had been destroyed. However, I checked with colleagues who were close to the admiral and learned that the admiral's whereabouts were indeed strange some time ago, and he often appeared outside Chujiang City..."

"So, I sent people to follow this clue and not long ago, I finally found some clues."

At this point, Lin Kong paused, his eyes fixed, "I have found out that this admiral was very close to a man named Tao Yuan a few months ago..."

"And the man named Tao Yuan is from the Tao family. After His Highness was assassinated, the whereabouts of this man named Tao Yuan is unknown..."

Under the joint investigation of the prince's personal guards and the Jiang family, almost the entire Chujiang City was turned upside down in the past few days.

Finally, I found some clues.

"Tao Yuan?"

Lin Jiangnian narrowed his eyes slightly: "What's the origin?"

"This person is from the Tao family in Chujiang City, which is just a small and insignificant family outside Chujiang City." Lin Kong said in a deep voice.

The Tao family is not very noticeable in Chujiang City. Compared with a behemoth like the Sun family, it is just a family that cannot be any smaller.

"In that case, Tao Yuan might also be being used by someone."

Lin Jiangnian's eyes narrowed: "Is there someone behind him?"

"Mostly so."

Lin Kong nodded. This was also his suspicion.

"Keep checking!"

Lin Jiangnian said coldly: "Find this Tao Yuan. If you can't find him, ask the Tao family for it."

"If the Tao family refuses to give it to me, I will tie up all of them and let this prince personally interrogate them!"

"Yes!"

Lin Kong's eyes fixed and he agreed immediately.

It was the first time he saw His Highness act in such an unreasonable manner.

But in Lin Kong's opinion, this is the momentum that a prince of Lin Wang should have. Now the prince finally has some of the killing decisiveness of the prince in the past.

Lin Kong left in a hurry, and Lin Qingqing also stood up to say goodbye and continued to investigate the matter thoroughly.

After the two of them left, Lin Jiangnian walked into the inner courtyard and came to Zhiyuan's room.

In the room, Zhiyuan was chatting with Jasmine and Fengling. When Lin Jiangnian appeared, Jasmine and Fengling stood up quickly: "Your Highness!"

The pair of sisters before him were no longer the same as when they were first taken in. When they were sent here as playthings, they were trembling with fear and terrified.

But now, under Zhiyuan's training, the two have been reborn. Sensing the aura of the two, their martial arts have made some progress.

He has a very high talent in martial arts, no wonder he was noticed by Zhiyuan.

"You guys go down first."

Lin Jiangnian waved his hand, signaling the two to leave. After the two left, Lin Jiangnian walked to Zhiyuan and asked, "What are you doing?"

Zhiyuan's eyes were calm, and he replied: "Investigate the details behind the Sun family."

"How did the investigation go?"

Zhiyuan looked at Lin Jiangnian calmly: "How do you plan to deal with them, Your Highness?"

"You definitely can't kill him."

Lin Jiangnian spoke up. After all, the Sun family was one of the largest families in Chujiang City, and its power should not be underestimated. Although Lin Jiangnian did not take it to heart, if he attacked the Sun family, it would affect the reputation of the Linwang Mansion, and it would be difficult for other families to be convinced.

Therefore, not killing is the bottom line.

But apart from that, how to deal with the Sun family is indeed a problem.

"How to deal with them depends on how much they are willing to pay."

Lin Jiang smiled and said, "They came to our door on their own initiative. It would be a waste if we don't blackmail them."

Zhiyuan remained silent and nodded slightly, obviously approving of Lin Jiangnian's behavior.

The people of the Lin family cannot be killed, but other than that... this time we must take ruthless action against the Lin family. The family fortune accumulated by the Lin family over the years must be cut off.

The real purpose of Lin Jiang's coming to Chujiang City this time was to weaken the influence of the Jiangnan family, win them over, and control them.

Winning over is just a means, control is the real goal!

Once the economic lifeline of Jiangnan is controlled, not to mention the King Xu in the north, even the imperial court will have to look at the Lin Wang Mansion's face.

"How is your Highness's investigation into the murderer behind the assassination?"

At this time, Zhiyuan asked.

Lin Jiangnian told Zhiyuan about Lin Qingqing and Lin Kong's previous report. After listening, Zhiyuan thought: "Tao family?"

"Do you know this family?"

Lin Jiangnian glanced at her. He had never heard of it before.

"There is a Tao family in the capital..."

Zhiyuan spoke softly, and as she spoke, her expression suddenly froze.

"what happened?"

Zhiyuan seemed to have thought of something, but was not quite sure.

"Your Highness, follow me."

Zhiyuan spoke softly and walked out. Lin Jiangnian was stunned. What happened to Zhiyuan?
However, he quickly followed.

After a while, the two came to a library attic in the Jiang Mansion.

Zhiyuan walked into the attic and searched the bookshelves, finding many books. She searched among them again and finally determined something.

She fixed her eyes and pointed at the contents of the book: "Your Highness, look."

Lin Jiangnian looked over and soon discovered something: "The Tao family..."

"The Tao family in Chujiang City is related to the Tao family in Beijing!"

Zhiyuan said, "To be precise, the Tao family of Chujiang City is a distant branch of the Tao family of Beijing. Although the blood relationship is far apart, the two families still had a very close connection more than ten years ago, and it was only in recent years that the connection gradually broke off."

Lin Jiangnian listened to Zhiyuan's explanation and asked, "What's the connection between these?"

Zhiyuan glanced at Lin Jiangnian and said, "Your Highness, do you know the origins of the Tao family in the capital?"

Lin Jiangnian shook his head. He really had no impression of this Tao family. He seemed to have heard of it, but he couldn't remember it.

Since even he can't remember it, that means we probably didn't have any contact before.

Zhi Yuan's beautiful eyes were cold, and then she spoke softly: "The Tao family in Beijing is the main branch of the Tao family. The Tao family is not considered a top family in Beijing. But the eldest daughter of the Tao family's main branch got married just a year ago. She married Lu Xuan."

"Lü Xuan?"

Lin Jiangnian felt that this name sounded familiar.

Zhiyuan gently reminded: "Lv Xuan's father is Lv Fusheng."

When Lin Jiangnian heard the name, it sounded even more familiar.

Lu Fusheng?
Isn't that the Minister of Personnel? !
Lin Jiangnian suddenly remembered that when he first arrived in Beijing a year ago, his aunt took him to attend a wedding in Beijing.

It was also at that wedding that Lin Jiangnian was framed by the third prince and charged with murder.

And that wedding was the wedding of Lu Fusheng's son Lu Xuan? !

At this moment, Lin Jiangnian was suddenly stunned: "You mean..."

Lin Jiangnian understood something from Zhiyuan's eyes.

Obviously, their guesses reached the same conclusion.

It was originally thought that this unknown Tao family was just a pawn used in the plan to assassinate Lin Jiangnian!
But now that the Tao family is linked to the Minister of Personnel in the capital, Lin Jiangnian has to become suspicious!
Lin Jiangnian remembered that this Lu Fusheng was the Minister of Personnel of the previous dynasty.

"This Lu Fusheng, is he the Third Prince's man?"

What Lin Jiangnian thought of.

Zhiyuan nodded.

Lin Jiangnian remembered very clearly that Lu Fusheng was the Third Prince's man. Ever since the Third Prince's rebellion failed, Lin Jiangnian no longer cared about Lu Fusheng's whereabouts.

After all, there is no conflict of interest between the two.

"How is Lu Fusheng now?"

Lin Jiangnian asked, "Were the entire family executed?"

The crime of treason, and the one involved is a dignified minister. I'm afraid that these nine clans would have been wiped out long ago?
However, Zhiyuan shook his head slightly and said, "He is still alive."

"The Lu family is still alive."

This news caught Lin Jiangnian off guard: "Still alive?!"

"He's not dead?"

Zhiyuan nodded slightly: "After the Third Prince's rebellion failed, the Minister of Personnel Lu Fusheng, who was his accomplice, was naturally purged. The Lu family was confiscated and the whole family was imprisoned. But in the end, Lu Fusheng was only dismissed from his official position and imprisoned in the capital. Apart from that, there was no other punishment. Even his family members were not punished."

"No punishment?!"

Lin Jiangnian instantly smelled something unusual.

An accomplice of rebellion, even a minister, was not punished at all and was merely dismissed from his post?

This is a bit too unusual.

"has a problem!"

"..." (End of this chapter)