"Wait, does your Fifth Brother actually like Miss Yin, or did he just want to free her from her engagement to the former Crown Prince?" Jiang Lin was baffled.
"The sole Empress, of course it’s true love. Don’t worry, Miss Yin agreed willingly."
That was a relief. Jiang Lin didn’t want her jumping from one pit of fire into another, Yin Ji would lose his mind.
Now reassured, Jiang Lin’s gossipy side emerged. "Do you know how the Fifth Prince and Miss Yin met? Wait, he’s always holed up in his residence, and Yin Feifei is a noble lady. How did they even cross paths?"
He eyed Yue Heng skeptically.
Yue Heng grinned. "How do you know he never leaves? Before I brought him to your place, did you even know him?"
"As for how they met, I’m not sure. Isn’t there a girl in your family who’s close with Miss Yin? Ask her yourself."
Jiang Lin understood, the Fifth Prince’s reclusiveness was just an act. Since few knew what he looked like, he could stroll around the capital unnoticed.
"So the Fifth Prince has helped you with a lot of things, hasn’t he?" Jiang Lin asked.
Yue Heng smiled without answering, but his expression confirmed Jiang Lin’s guess.
Wei Yunzhao interjected, "This works out. If Miss Yin agreed willingly, Lord Yin won’t have to worry about her marriage anymore."
Yue Heng didn’t comment, fanning himself lazily. "Well, it’s getting late. Susu must be waiting for me to return for dinner. I’ll take my leave."
Yue Heng stood, radiating happiness as he prepared to depart.
But after a few steps, he turned back. "Oh, I almost forgot, there’ll be more good news in a couple of days. Just wait and see."
Jiang Lin and Wei Yunzhao exchanged glances. Jiang Lin called Bai Wei over and sent her to relay a message to Wei Yunjia to visit the Yin family and confirm whether Yin Feifei truly consented.
Jiang Lin mused, "Yin Feifei is the real protagonist here. Whoever marries her becomes Emperor. She’s a lucky charm with an enviable fate."
Compared to someone truly blessed by fate, Jiang Jinyue and Jiang Rou who had been brainwashed by their systems were nothing.
Wei Yunzhao: "Maybe it’s just coincidence."
But even he had to admit that every prince who pursued Yin Feifei had imperial ambitions. No matter who ended up on the throne, the Empress’s position would be hers.
"As long as the Sixth Prince isn’t lying, Yin Feifei’s marriage is settled. But our girl is still waiting. Once the old Emperor dies, the Eldest Prince will return to the capital. Should we annul the engagement then?"
Wei Yunzhao said, "Let’s wait until he returns and let Yunjia decide for herself." From their correspondence, Wei Yunzhao thought the Eldest Prince was a decent man, someone his sister could rely on.
But his approval wasn’t enough. His sister’s happiness mattered most.
Jiang Lin, playing the overprotective "mother," had many criticisms. "He’s over a decade older than our girl. He’s stationed at the border year-round, are we supposed to let Yunjia suffer the harsh conditions there? Worst of all, the border is so far away. If she’s bullied, we won’t be able to help her."
In short, Jiang Lin wasn’t satisfied with the match.
Wei Yunzhao chuckled. "Children have their own fortunes. Don’t worry."
Jiang Lin rolled his eyes elegantly, making Wei Yunzhao laugh.
Two days later, they did receive two pieces of good news.
First, Cao Lan'er died in prison, drained of blood by the Bloodbone Worm - a fitting end for the once-mighty Empress, killed by her own cruel methods.
But her death went largely unnoticed. After her demotion, she had lost all significance.
The second piece of good news: Zhao Qiuru, after taking the antidote Jiang Lin sent, was no longer insane.
With Qiu Shui’s guidance, Zhao Qiuru learned many things - her son had been exiled, her daughter was dead, and she remembered being force-fed poisoned medicine by her maids.
She also realized the Zhao family’s role in her downfall. Her hatred for them now rivaled her hatred for Jiang Lin.
Killing Jiang Lin to avenge her daughter became an obsession, now compounded by her son’s fate. She wanted to tear Jiang Lin apart.
Qiu Shui calmly reminded her, "You can take revenge on the Zhao family, no one will stop you. But if you’re still foolish enough to target the Young Master, think about your remaining son first. Or would you rather leave nothing behind?"
Zhao Qiuru glanced at Qiu Shui’s belly. "Are you content being a concubine forever? Willing to let Jiang Lin inherit the title?"
Qiu Shui smiled gently. "Do you know why I’m still alive? Because I know my place. I know what I want and who not to cross. Madam, you’re smarter than me. Don’t you understand the situation yet?"
Zhao Qiuru did understand, she just refused to accept it.
Finally, she conceded. "If I do as Jiang Lin wants, will he spare my Hui’er?"
Qiu Shui nodded. "The Young Master doesn’t harm the innocent. And remember, this is your revenge, not his. Don’t confuse the two."
Zhao Qiuru laughed bitterly. "I see." The times had changed. Jiang Lin was no longer the weakling she could bully.
Qiu Shui: "As long as you understand."
Soon after, the capital was abuzz again - the Zhao family’s estate had burned down.
Half the compound was destroyed. Strangely, all the servants survived unscathed, while the Zhao family members suffered - some disfigured, others severely burned.
Only two died: the wife of the Zhao family’s eldest son, and the insane wife of the Anyang Bo, which was also a member of the Zhao family.
The fire ruined the Zhao family. Even with only two deaths, the disfigurement and burns meant they could never hold office again. Their hideous faces would haunt them forever.
True to her Zhao blood, Zhao Qiuru knew exactly how to make them suffer worse than death.
This was their own karma, no one pitied them.
The Zhao family’s downfall confirmed what the system had told Jiang Lin, this world was now truly the side characters’ world. The original protagonists and their beneficiaries would vanish.
Only the deposed Crown Prince and the Emperor Changde remained.
Two days later, Emperor Changde publicly announced his abdication in favor of the Fifth Prince, Yue Cheng, and summoned the Eldest Prince back to the capital.
That night, Yue Heng sent for Jiang Lin, Wei Yunzhao, and Su Qiao to enter the palace.
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