Jian Zhaoxing

Chapter 125: Darkness Under the Lamp? Cheating on Both Sides!
"Punishment?" After hearing the key part, Lin Shian couldn't help but ask: "What punishment?"

Lin Zhiqing was not in a hurry. She poured a glass of water and placed it in front of her fourth aunt.

Fourth Aunt has been worried for days, and after talking so much today, her throat is indeed a little dry.

She raised her teacup and took a sip before getting to the point:
"Aunt Chun told me that she was forced to come to the Lin family and she doesn't like your fourth uncle."

A woman who came from a brothel, because she looked very similar to Lin Zhiqing's mother, was taken into the mansion of a man who did not like her, and her freedom was cut off.

If she's doing well, that's fine.

But Lin Congyan quickly found the next replacement and neglected Chunqin.

Fourth Aunt saw all of this.

Isn't she another Haruko?

And Haruko is also an honest and decent person.

These two points combined made the kind-hearted Fourth Aunt feel shaken.

"Did you promise her?" Lin Zhiqing stroked the teacup in front of him.

Fourth Aunt shook her head: "No."

"To let her go, we need to get her indenture, which is in the hands of your fourth uncle. Although he doesn't like them, he still visits their courtyard from time to time."

"I can't make the decision on this matter." Fourth Aunt held the teacup with both hands, a thin layer of sweat on her palms.

Chunqin did not give up and went to see Fourth Aunt several more times after that.

Fourth Aunt had no choice but to let her out of the house, so she could only talk to her in her free time.

After a few interactions, the two became familiar with each other and got along very well.

Since Lin Jingya returned to Bianliang, Fourth Aunt has been eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures in the small Buddhist temple every day, and Chunqin has been accompanying her.

Without the company of her husband and daughter, Chunqin's appearance was a comfort to Fourth Aunt.

Until the Qianjin Pavilion incident, a large number of Lin family servants heard the news and began to look for new ways out.

Chunqin's mind became active again. He found his fourth aunt again and asked to leave the house.

But the Lin family was in trouble, and Lin Congyan was busy outside. For him, who valued rules and etiquette, it was even more impossible for him to return Chunqin's indenture.

Chunqin was desperate and came up with an idea with tears in her eyes. She wanted her fourth aunt to help her run away secretly.

Chunqin's reason was that she came from Qianjin Pavilion, which was associated with bandits, and Lin Congli and Lin Congyan, who valued reputation, would definitely not tolerate her.

At that time, Fourth Aunt did not know that Qianjin Pavilion was the private property of Lin Jiusi and Second Grandpa. She just thought that Chunqin was afraid of being implicated by the bandits, so she wanted to escape.

And this reason is indeed valid.

She had lived in the Lin family for many years and knew that the most important thing for Lin Congyan and Lin Congli was face.

At first, Fourth Aunt was a little hesitant and did not agree.

Until the night when Lin Zhiqing seized power, Lin Congyan ignored her advice, packed up his bags and left the Lin family.

Fourth Aunt knew that he was angry with Lin Zhiqing, but Lin Congyan didn't think about the fact that his wife and daughter still had to live in the Lin family.

This behavior of "abandoning wife and children" hit Fourth Aunt hard.

After Chunqin knew the whole story, she comforted her aunt and took advantage of her sadness to ask her to escape again.

For some reason, Fourth Aunt was bewitched and agreed to her request this time.

Before leaving, Chunqin proposed to vent her anger for her aunt in order to repay her kindness. As for how to vent her anger?

"She said that before she left, she would write a letter in blood and send it to the Ministry of Justice, accusing your fourth uncle of bad conduct and harsh treatment of his concubines." When Fourth Aunt said this, her expression became a little awkward.

Apparently, she agreed to the proposal.

As if afraid that Lin Zhiqing and the others might misunderstand, he quickly explained, "Chunqin told me that mistreating a concubine isn't a serious crime. The Ministry of Justice will at most reprimand your fourth uncle."

"Haruko agreed with me to pretend she wanted to touch herself, so as to make the story more credible."

"With the Ministry of Justice taking charge, your fourth uncle will be more restrained in his actions. He will definitely... definitely treat Jingya and me well." When she said this, her tone was bitter.

"No other wife would be like me, resorting to such uncouth methods to gain her husband's affection."

Lin Zhiqing and Lin Shian were unable to comment on this, but they both knew in their hearts that Fourth Aunt was actually also a victim.

"Fourth Aunt, is that all?" Lin Zhiqing was observing Fourth Aunt's expression while speaking.

Fourth Aunt nodded and looked down while speaking, not daring to look directly at Lin Zhiqing, which showed that she felt guilty at the moment.

At the same time, the corners of her eyes twitched upwards, and the distance between her eyebrows rapidly narrowed, indicating that she was very confused at the moment. "After she discussed it with me, I began to prepare money for her. After sending her away, I don't know what happened next."

"It wasn't until the news of her death came out that I learned that besides mistreating her concubines, she had accused Cong Yan of two other crimes."

"It was me who harmed Chunqin and Congyan..." After saying this, she lowered her head and remained silent, tears streaming down her face.

Lin Zhiqing pretended not to see it, frowned slightly, and began to think about what Fourth Aunt had just said.

She never expected that so many things would happen in her fourth uncle's courtyard within just a few days after the Qianjin Pavilion incident.

As things developed to this point, Lin Zhiqing had already seen that Aunt Chun must not be a simple person, and could even be said to be a PUA master.

Aunt Chun always stood on the side of the victim and used some means to package herself into an image of being weak and unable to take care of herself, while confusing Lin Jiusi and Fourth Aunt.

It even made the two of them think that the responsibility for the matter lay with themselves.

But from an observer's perspective, it was clear that these two people were being used by Aunt Chun.

If she hadn't used some tricks secretly, how could Lin Jiusi and Fourth Aunt have such a tacit understanding and choose to let Aunt Chun accuse Fourth Uncle in order to achieve her own goals.

Seeing Lin Zhiqing bowing his head and saying nothing, Fourth Aunt was worried, but she still looked up and asked about Aunt Chun's situation:
"Zhiqing, I heard from the maid that Chunqin died by self-harm."

"That's absolutely impossible. I've already arranged a carriage to pick her up. She just needs to pretend. Someone must be trying to harm her!"

Lin Zhiqing and Lin Shian looked at each other with complicated expressions after hearing this.

Chunqin gave Fourth Aunt some advice and also chose to fake her death.

This coincides with Lin Jiusi's plan, and it can even be said to be a perfect match.

This method of deceiving both sides would be impossible if Aunt Chun had not planned it in advance.

Seeing that Lin Zhiqing didn't want to explain anymore, Lin Shi'an sighed: "Fourth Aunt, what if Aunt Chun was willing to touch herself?"

"Or is there a possibility that you were deceived by her?"

Fourth Aunt raised her head, her eyes full of suspicion: "How could this be? Chunqin longs for the world outside the Lin family, and she is so devoted to me..."

As she spoke, Fourth Aunt's voice gradually weakened.

Because she noticed that Lin Zhiqing was looking at her with a very disapproving look.

As expected, the next moment, Lin Zhiqing spoke up: "Fourth Aunt, Aunt Chun has also told another person about the same plan."

"That man is Lin Jiusi, and that's why we locked him up."