Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 313 Towards the Golden Palace (17)

Xue Lin: "..."

Yan Zhen brushed Xue Lin's hand away and walked towards the door, with the butler following closely behind.

As they got closer to the door, Yan Zhen silently counted down in his mind.

three!

two!

one……

"I have a way to prove Jiang Ming is innocent!" Xue Lin's voice came from behind.

Yan Zhen paused, and where Xue Lin couldn't see, she pursed her lips slightly.

When he turned around, the smile vanished, leaving only a face full of confusion: "What method?"

Xue Lin walked up to her and, as if having mustered up his courage, said, "The Daji has laws that if there are doubts about the cause of death of a murder victim, one can apply to the Dali Temple for a public autopsy. The cause of death of that victim was not poisoning, but rather a pre-existing condition that was exacerbated by tinea capitis, which led to a sudden death. As long as the coroner proves this during the public autopsy, Jiang Ming will be safe and sound."

Yan Zhen narrowed his eyes: "You know the deceased?"

Xue Lin looked down at the ground, avoiding eye contact with Yan Zhen: "I don't know him."

"Then how did you know the cause of his death?"

Xue Lin: "..."

"Xue Lin, what are you hiding from me?" Yan Zhen's tone turned cold. "Or is the Qiushui Pavilion incident related to you?"

Xue Lin: "..."

From the moment he stopped Yan Zhen, he knew that his tricks could no longer be hidden.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath: "Sister, I'm sorry, I... A few days ago, Jiang Ming came to our house to drink with you. When I saw him off, I sprinkled peach blossom powder on him. The climate in the capital is dry, and 30% of people get tinea every spring because of peach blossom powder. The peach blossom powder on his clothes got into Qiushui Pavilion's ready-made clothes, which were then bought by customers... which led to this tragedy."

After Xue Lin finished speaking, he closed his eyes and quietly waited for the storm to come.

Just when he thought Yan Zhen would fly into a rage, either slap him hard or scold him in disappointment, Yan Zhen's tone was surprisingly calm.

"Why are you doing this?"

Xue Lin clenched his sleeves, and after a long while, he said, "I want to ruin Qiushui Pavilion's reputation so that Jiang Ming will never come to the capital to do business again, that way he won't bother my sister anymore..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Zhen turned to the door and said, "Did you all hear that?"

The next moment, Jiang Ming, who had been "taken away," walked in from outside the gate, his expression towards Xue Lin indescribable.

He was followed by two plainclothes officers carrying knives.

Xue Lin was stunned for a moment, then immediately realized that he had been tricked.

There was no murder at Qiushui Pavilion, and Jiang Ming was not arrested. It was all a show put on for him by Yan Zhen and Jiang Ming.

Xue Lin's face turned pale, and his gaze toward Jiang Ming became increasingly angry, no longer concealing his hostility.

Jiang Ming, feeling helpless after being glared at by Xue Lin, said, "Brother Xue, if you have any complaints about me, you can just tell me directly. Using such underhanded tactics behind my back is not the behavior of a gentleman."

Xue Lin pursed his lips tightly.

Yan Zhen walked over to Xue Lin and said to Jiang Ming, "Brother Jiang, I'm really sorry, Xue Lin was ignorant and caused you trouble—Xue Lin, apologize to Brother Jiang."

Xue Lin remained silent.

Yan Zhen's face turned cold as he said, "Although no one died at Qiushui Pavilion, a customer did develop tinea capitis after wearing the clothes and came to our door demanding compensation. You've caused trouble for Brother Jiang and Qiushui Pavilion, and you still refuse to apologize. Is this how I've taught you to behave?"

Xue Lin: "..."

"Apologize!" Yan Zhen issued his final ultimatum. "If you don't apologize, don't come back with me!"

Xue Lin panicked and immediately said, "Brother Jiang, I'm sorry, I acted rashly. I'm willing to bear all the losses of Qiushui Pavilion. Please forgive my foolishness and don't hold it against me."

Jiang Ming hadn't intended to argue with him, and waved his hand, saying, "Forget it, it didn't cause any loss. When the customer came to make a scene, he was stopped by Brother Cao's men, taken to the clinic to get medicine, and given some money. The matter was resolved before it escalated."

Xue Lin was stunned and turned to look at Yan Zhen.

She not only set a trap to force him to tell the truth, but it also seemed as if she had anticipated his thoughts and prepared a countermeasure in advance...

When exactly did she find out?

For a moment, Xue Lin felt like he had become invisible in front of Yan Zhen.

So, does that mean my feelings for her are also...?

Upon realizing this, Xue Lin panicked.

It wasn't until Yan Zhen led him out of Qiushui Pavilion and she, who rarely rode in a carriage due to motion sickness, got into the carriage that Xue Lin came to his senses.

It's not that she doesn't hold herself accountable, but rather that she doesn't want to embarrass him in front of outsiders.

Xue Lin braced himself and got into the carriage, sitting down on the side with trepidation: "Sister..."

Yan Zhen said calmly, "Tell me, why don't you want Jiang Ming to associate with me?"

Xue Lin lowered his head, picking at his nails, his mind torn between "keeping it a secret" and "revealing his true feelings."

Should we keep it a secret?

What if she already knew what I was thinking and looked at me like I was a dog? Wouldn't I become a laughing stock for lying through my teeth?

It would also leave her with the impression that you lied, and you might never gain her trust again.

To reveal one's true feelings?

But she has always treated him like a younger brother. How could she accept a sudden confession?

Moreover, everything he has now was given to him by her. He hasn't even passed the imperial examinations yet. What can he do to guarantee that he can give her a home she can rely on?

Xue Lin became increasingly anxious and conflicted, and a fine layer of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

Yan Zhen didn't give him that much time to think: "You won't talk? Then..."

“I’m worried that if you marry Jiang Mingcheng and have children, you won’t love me anymore!” Xue Lin blurted out.

Yan Zhen: "..."

She was silent for a moment, then said solemnly, "I will not marry Jiang Mingcheng."

Xue Lin immediately looked up, staring intently at her.

"Not only Jiang Ming, but I will not marry anyone. One failed marriage is enough to teach me a lesson. In this life, I have no intention of getting married again."

"..." Xue Lin said unwillingly, "Life is so long. This is just your current thought. Maybe in three to five years, you will want to get married again."

Yan Zhen smiled slightly and looked directly at Xue Lin: "I said I would not get married, and I absolutely will not get married. Moreover, even if I were to get married, I would not choose you."

Xue Lin's heart skipped a beat, and his pupils contracted sharply.

Yan Zhen leaned against the car wall, speaking casually: "I'm seven years older than you. I wouldn't dare say I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice, but I'm more than capable of seeing through your little schemes. Xue Lin, you don't actually think you're hiding it well, do you?"

Xue Lin: "………………"

His face was like a palette of colors, first turning red, then white, and finally, whether from shame or anger, it faintly turned bluish.

"Xue Lin, I have no other requirements for you. As long as you are obedient, well-behaved, and do not do anything you shouldn't do or have any improper thoughts, I will guarantee you wealth and honor and a smooth career in this life."

Xue Lin's hands trembled slightly beneath his sleeves.

His secret thoughts were exposed, and he felt embarrassed, ashamed, and utterly humiliated.

But after hearing Yan Zhen's reprimand, he felt a sense of recklessness and despair.

"What if I don't?"

Yan Zhen said calmly, "Then I'll suppress you just the way I presented you."