Although the fire seemed to have destroyed all the evidence, it had also simultaneously created new evidence.
Lin Mengya took Qinghu’s long sword and used it to part the ashes, as if she were looking for something in the ashes.
“Hey, lass, my sword is precious.”
He looked at his sword with pain in his eyes. He had obtained it from a blacksmith with a huge sum of money.
On usual days, Qinghu would never allow anyone to touch his sword.
He never imagined that Lin Mengya would use it to brush through the hot ashes from the fire.
“Alright, I’ll give you back your sword.”
Lin Mengya tossed the sword to Qinghu and intended to dig through the ashes with her bare hands.
Qinghu looked from Lin Mengya’s delicate hands to his sword, and then offered his sword back to Lin Mengya again without further hesitation.
“No matter how precious it is, won’t it be valuable only if it is useful? It’s alright, you may use it anyway you like,” Qinghu said obsequiously.
Lin Mengya laughed to herself as she knew that Qinghu would not bear to let her use her bare hands to go through the ashes.
She continued parting the ashes diligently using the precious sword and finally found what she was looking for.
There were so many people in the army camp and with many pairs of eyes watching, the vessel used to carry the kerosene had to be carried discreetly.
If the culprit wanted to escape without being caught, it would not be wise for him to carry the vessel with him.
The heaven was just after all. The metal can containing the kerosene as well as the lighter were not completely destroyed by the fire.
“There would be a label on the can showing who the merchant was. Going along this line of investigation, we would be able to find out who bought the kerosene. Moreover, if the culprit had entered the army camp carrying so many things, I’m sure someone would have seen him.”
Lin Mengya had asked her elder brother to go around to calm the army officers, but in reality, her intention was for him to watch each of them carefully.
Then she would come quietly to look for evidence. On the one hand, she was trying to prevent the evidence from being destroyed. Secondly, she wanted to attack the culprit who would be unprepared.
“Just hand this piece of evidence to your elder brother. Let’s get back as early as we can, lass,” suggested Qinghu.
After going through all the searching through the ashes, Lin Mengya, the beauty, had turned into a mud doll.
Her pretty face was now covered with black patches from the ashes. She was looking like a tabby cat by now.
“Erm, alright. Let me hand these to my elder brother.”
Qinghu wiped Lin Mengya’s small face with his sleeves. His intimate gesture appeared so practiced because it had become a habit.
Lin Mengya smiled in response. In her heart, Qinghu was as much of an elder as Lin Nansheng was to her.
However, it was something else from the perspective of the two other men.
“Third Elder Brother, your wife is really not shy about behaving intimately with that owner of Peach Blossom Dock in plain sight.”
Long Qinghan, who had hurried back to the camp and was now standing next to Long Tianyu, made a sarcastic remark purposely.
Long Tianyu shot them a glance but his expression remained indifferent.
If he, living under the same roof as Lin Mengya, failed to understand the relationship between Qinghu and her, he would be deemed a blind man.
Moreover— He turned around and strode away. Long Qinghan, refusing to let this go, ran after Long Tianyu and continued tormenting him.
“Third Elder Brother, if she really cared about your feelings or her status of being your wife, she should stop getting herself entangled with that Qinghu! This is good as despising and humiliating you!”
Long Tianyu glared at his seventh brother as if he were a stranger, and said, “Who incited you to say these words?”
At Long Tianyu’s response, Long Qinghan blushed and was struck dumb at that instant.
“These— are my heartfelt words, Third Brother! Even if you won’t listen to me, shouldn’t you listen to Mother?” Long Qinghan said after a long pause.
Immediately, the expression in Long Tianyu’s eyes revealed the pain from his heart.
He was saddened as he looked at his seventh younger brother.
“Don’t spend so much time with Jiang Sheng and Baili Wuchen from now on.”
Long Tianyu knew very well that his seventh younger brother would never say such words if no one incited him.
Moreover, Long Qinghan had always admired Lin Mengya in the past.
However, at some point in time, Jiang Sheng and Baili Wuchen began colluding with each other.
Before this, he did not really bother about them because they did not commit any grave mistakes.
However, for some unknown reason, these people had turned against Lin Mengya and seemed to want to tackle her.
“Third Elder Brother, we were merely—”
“I know what’s best for myself. Qinghan, I’ve said this before, to each his own. If you can’t grasp this concept, you’ll be made use of by people.”
Long Tiaohao might not spell out everything he knew. In reality, he could see through the minds of everyone around him.
Those two people were obviously taking advantage of Long Qinghan’s care towards him.
Jiang Sheng and Baili Wuchen had been warned by Long Tianyu earlier, which was why they turned to target Long Qinghan.
They had truly taken drastic measures to deal with this situation. Long Tianyu had underestimated those two men all along!
“I—”
Long Qinghan was not an idiot, neither was he a man who was bold but not very astute.
He watched as his third elder brother turned to leave. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
He suddenly woke up from his stupor as he realized that he had be used by those two as their tool.
Baili Wuchen ought to be a very persuasive man, otherwise, Long Qinghan would not have been made to believe that Lin Mengya was a stumbling block to them.
Something was fishy in this matter.
Long Tianyu became contemplative as he looked at the direction where Lin Mengya went.
A shocked Lin Nansheng looked at the two items which Lin Mengya brought back with her after going around the camp and said, “It is indeed surprising that you’ve found the clues within such a short time. If Father knew how capable you are, he would definitely keep you by his side.”
Looking at the clues, Lin Nansheng was so stunned that his jaw had dropped.
He remembered his father saying that their mother was the most intelligent woman in the world.
Never would he expect his younger sister, now enlightened, to be as brilliant, if not more brilliant than their mother.
“I won’t agree to living out in the open with you guys! I prefer to continue living my life as Prince Yu. Alright, I should get going since we’ve come to the end of this phase.”
After all, it was inappropriate for her to trespass the army camp in the first place.
If she continued remaining in the camp, the people who wanted to tackle her would take this opportunity to cause trouble.
Moreover, the assassination coupled with the fire had left her elder brother in terrible shape.
If she was not able to help, she did not want to add to his trouble.
“That’s right. Listen, just give me a minute. Let me go see Lord Qin first. Thereafter, I will send someone to escort you home.”
Lin Mengya had wanted to turn down Lin Nansheng’s offer, but he insisted.
He was afraid that his younger sister would get into another dangerous situation. He would have personally escorted his younger sister back to the capital city if not because he had received an imperial command forbidding him to enter the city.
Lin Mengya, who was thought to be a mad girl, was now the center of attention as she trailed behind her elder brother.
The rumor that the daughter of the Lin Family was highly skilled in the practice of medicine, was at this moment deep engraved in every soldier’s mind.
In addition, Lin Mengya had risked her life to save a mere deputy officer. In an instant, the reputation of the Lin Family had risen to the highest point.
“Congratulations, Lord Qin, your son’s life had been saved. He would soon recover and be back to his vigorous and lively self if he is well taken care of.”
Qiu Yu’s praises could be heard coming from within the tent.
The method Lin Mengya used was perplexing.
Qiu Yu thought it amazing for Lin Mengya to have thought of this method. He also had not heard the concoction which Lin Mengya prepared.
The saying that there would always be someone better than you was indeed true.
“Great! This is wonderful! I had never expected my son, Mo’er, to come back to life and recover completely.”
Qin Xu could not stop his tears from falling as the greenish purple color on Qin Mo’s skin had completely vanished.
His breathing had become much steadier. Compared to earlier on, his condition was very much better.
“Lord Qin, now your heart can be put to ease.”
The voice of Lin Nansheng sounded as he entered the tent, his handsome face filled with glee.
The families of Qin and Lin had been friends for generations. Given that Lin Nansheng’s younger sister had saved Qin Mo’s life, the relationship between the two families would be further strengthened.
“My heartfelt gratitude to Princess Yu for saving my son’s life. I don’t have anything to offer you in return now. Please do pay us a visit so we have a chance to repay your grace.”
Lord Qin, who was an official who had served in the courts over three dynasties, was almost going to bow to Lin Mengya in gratitude.
Lin Mengya dashed forward and held on firmly to Lord Qin.
“You’re treating me as an outsider, Lord Qin. Given the close relationship between our families, I should address you Uncle Qin. Moreover, Master Qin grew up playing with my elder brother. It was only right that I do must best to help. In fact, I should thank Master Qin for saving my brother’s life!”
As Qin Xu looked at Princess Yu, who, in a sorry state, still looked gentle and lovable, there was mixed feelings in his heart.
Back then, Brother Muzhi had pleaded with him to let Qin Mo marry his daughter, who was deemed an imbecile at that time.
Lord Qin had politely declined Lin Muzhi’s request and had since been feeling a twinge of guilt towards his old friend.
Little did he expect that this lass had turned out to a blessing. Not only was she married into the royal family, she had blossomed into such an intelligent lady today.
Perhaps this was a golden opportunity bestowed by heaven for him to make up for his selfishness and the harm he had caused to the relationship between the two families.
“Princess Yu is indeed a magnanimous lady that is worthy of our admiration. In the near future, I will come to your mansion to thank you personally. I hope Princess Yu will not refuse our visit.”
Long Tianyu nodded. The expression on his face had relaxed by now.
Qin Xu had always taken a neutral position in the courts. Lin Mengya saving Qin Mo’s life had been coincidental.
Qin Xu, who never entangled himself in any political disputes, would not be so friendly with them if not for this incident.
Long Tianyu clearly remembered that Lord Qin had turned down his invitation to Concubine De’s birthday celebration no matter how hard he tried.
“Uncle Qin had given me a difficult task. I was thinking about the Winter Solstice Festival which would arrive in a few days’ time. Given that the Emperor is not feeling well, Prince Yu and the Crown Prince will be going to the temple to pray for blessings. I am young and ignorant. Perhaps Lord Qin, being a court official over three dynasties, could give Prince Yu some advice?”
Lin Mengya said with a soft and gentle voice, as if she was ready to discuss this issue.
Qin Xu pondered for a moment. He was indeed the official in charge of all royal ceremonies. It was logical for him to give the prince some advice and suggestions.
“Alright, I would be happy to take up this responsibility.”
Long Tianyu did not expect Lin Mengya to use this as an excuse to invite Qin Xu to his mansion for a meet and chat session.
A look of admiration appeared in Long Tianyu’s eyes.
To him, Lin Mengya was indeed very brilliant. She had won the heart of everyone with her wit.
As a senior official in the court, it was after all Qin Xu’s duty to instruct the princes on the liturgical matters.
However, as the princes gradually matured over the years, they had retreated behind the scenes.
In the last few years, the Crown Prince and the Queen had been acting on behalf of the Emperor, who was in poor health. They had violated much of the court etiquette so that the ministers were increasingly dissatisfied with them.
