Chapter 9

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Chapter 9

Caught red-handed by both parties, Li Hongjin’s face immediately darkened when he saw Lin Qing. "Why are you everywhere?"

Lin Junrou gently tugged Li Hongjin’s sleeve. "Little brother, Lord Lin surely has important matters to attend to. We must not offend him. Let’s leave."

If the surroundings had been different, Lin Qing would have applauded Lin Junrou for her eloquence. After all, the esteemed Crown Prince of Kang Wang couldn’t afford to offend a mere fifth-rank vice envoy like her.

Sure enough, Li Hongjin’s anger flared instantly. "Who does she think she is? How dare she compare herself to me!"

"Lord Lin is often present before the Emperor. If you say a few words against him, we’re the ones who suffer," Lin Junrou’s eyes reddened as tears began to form. "In my current situation, even if I spoke the truth, no one would believe me. Little brother, listen to me—let’s go."

Li Hongjin was raised in luxury and feared no one in the capital except those within the Imperial City. So what if Lord Lin often stood before the Emperor? He was still the Emperor’s cousin!

Moreover, his beloved had suffered such great injustice. Remembering the rumors he had overheard, Li Hongjin felt like a firecracker had exploded inside him. "Lin Qing, others may fear you, but I do not. If you don’t want to lose your life today, I’ll gladly take your surname!"

Lin Qing nearly laughed out loud. She had seen foolish people before, but none so utterly foolish. She turned to Meng Jie and said, "Meng Jie, arrest these two."

"Yes, sir!" Meng Jie immediately grabbed each of their hands, twisting them behind their backs. Without hesitation, he tore a hemp rope from a nearby stall and swiftly bound them before they could react.

The two had brought no attendants, only Lin Junrou’s personal maid accompanied her. But the young girl was no match for Meng Jie, who stood firm and unyielding.

Li Hongjin and Lin Junrou were stunned. When they realized the rope was unbreakable, Li Hongjin snarled, "Are you blind? How dare a mere fifth-rank official arrest me!"

Lin Qing crossed her arms. "You say you’re a prince? Whose prince?"

Though bound, Li Hongjin was unafraid of Lin Qing. He arrogantly lifted his chin. "I am the Crown Prince of Kang Wang."

Lin Qing snorted coldly. "What a joke. Just days ago, His Majesty issued an edict confining the Crown Prince of Kang Wang to his residence for five months. The Crown Prince respects the Emperor greatly—he wouldn’t dare defy the order and sneak out. Who exactly are you, to impersonate the Crown Prince so boldly?"

At these words, doubt flickered in Li Hongjin’s eyes. He had been bored at the residence when he overheard two maids chatting about Lin Junrou’s plans to go out. Sneaking past his guards and servants, he slipped out to find her.

If the Emperor found out he had disobeyed the edict, he did not know what punishment awaited him.

Lin Junrou’s expression changed drastically. She was unaware of the imperial order and had assumed Lin Qing wouldn’t dare offend Kang Wang’s household. She never imagined Lin Qing would be so bold as to arrest Li Hongjin.

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No, Li Hongjin must not be taken away! Otherwise, the wrath of Kang Wang’s household might well descend upon the Marquis of Yongning’s family.

Lin Junrou was not afraid of Lin Qing—Lin Qing was a man, and she always had a fatal charm over men.

"Lord Lin, if you have grievances against me, why involve others?" She lifted her head, exposing her fair, delicate neck. Her long lashes trembled slightly as large tears slid down her cheeks—proud and beautiful, yet extraordinarily fragile.

Lin Qing understood the gesture but thought the woman was seriously misguided. If not for her female lead aura protecting her, she would have been taken to the secret service and killed within an hour, leaving no trace.

She ordered Meng Jie, "This woman dared to conspire with an impersonator of the Crown Prince of Kang Wang. Muzzle her and send her to the Court of Justice. When the officials there are free, they should interrogate her thoroughly. There must be no more conspirators threatening the peace of the Imperial City."

Lin Junrou hadn’t expected Lin Qing to deviate from her script. Her face turned pale as she was silenced and dragged away alongside Li Hongjin by Meng Jie.

Since the conflict began, the crowd around them had quickly dispersed, forming a large circle and watching the spectacle. Many recognized the parties involved, but none dared to intervene—Kang Wang’s household was formidable, and the Tianlu Division was even more so.

Kang Wang’s household might take your life, but the Tianlu Division could annihilate your entire clan and confiscate your property. Even government officials kept their distance.

Lin Qing scanned the surroundings. The crowd scattered like frightened birds, and West Street returned to its usual bustling state as if nothing had happened.

Carrying the painting, Lin Qing strolled back to her small courtyard. She took down the painting above her bed and hung the one she carried in its place.

The "Pine Waves Longevity Painting" the fox scholar sold her was indeed genuine. The one above her bed was a forgery—upon close inspection, even the inscription differed by a character. This one was called "Pine Waves and Crane Longevity Painting," featuring pine trees and white cranes, so not entirely fake.

She had bought it for ten copper coins from a second-hand stall when purchasing the house.

Lin Qing touched her chin, wincing at the cost. Ten copper coins could buy a pound of pork. Gifting it to Prince Rui wouldn’t be an insult.

Outside, the fox scholar lurking nearby was dumbfounded. He was on the verge of tears. That was a genuine relic from the previous dynasty, one he had treasured for years and specially offered for this mission.

Selling it for a mere one or two silver coins was one thing, but Lin Qing had even swapped the painting and didn’t provide a proper box!

Breathing heavily, he wished he could storm in and strangle Lin Qing on the spot.

"Who’s there?" Lin Qing’s ears twitched at the faintest sound. She drew her longsword and thrust it toward the window.

Like shattered light and shadow, the fox scholar tumbled out, unable to pull back in time. His freshly changed white clothes had turned gray.

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Lin Qing knew the fox scholar was scheming against her but didn’t expect him to follow her home. Seeing his angry, red-rimmed fox eyes, she awkwardly touched her nose and blurted, "Little fox, have you come to sell yourself at my house?"

The fox scholar gritted his teeth. "My surname is Mu—Mu Wantang. And I’m not into men."

Lin Qing hooked a chair with her toe and sat down. "Oh, Mu Fox."

Mu Wantang sat at the table, looking at the teapot. He flipped over a teacup and leisurely filled it with clean water, as if everything was under his control. He hadn’t heard the "Mu Fox" remark.

"Impressive for a vice envoy of the Tianlu Division to discern the painting’s secret."

Lin Qing hadn’t guessed anything. She simply thought anyone who approached her unsolicited was either a thief or a scoundrel—why waste an opportunity? If there was a secret, it wasn’t urgent for her.

If anyone wanted to use her as a pawn, they’d have to see if she was willing.

Of course, none of that mattered now. She fixed Mu Wantang with a complex gaze as he drank the water.

Mu Wantang noticed and sneered, "Why stare at me like that? It’s just a cup of water. Vice Envoy Lin, surely you wouldn’t be so stingy?"

Lin Qing said, "You saw it yourself—my courtyard is small. I have no guards, not even a maid. My occupation is dangerous, so I set many traps at home. Whenever I leave, I activate them and fill the teapot with water containing a laxative. When I return, I deactivate the traps and pour out the water."

Her gaze shifted downward, locking onto Mu Wantang’s stomach. "Earlier, I was in a hurry to swap the paintings, so I only turned off the traps... and didn’t change the water."

Mu Wantang’s face changed. He felt a sudden cramping pain in his abdomen.

"The latrine is in the northwest corner. Oh, and remember to go around..." Before Lin Qing finished, Mu Wantang dashed out, followed by the sound of a splash.

Lin Qing: "..." There’s a big hole by the latrine entrance—you have to go around.