Chapter 423

Lin Jun looked at the relatives before her and laughed: "I won't go! Even if my brother sends me off, even if the Heavenly King himself orders me to leave, I won't go!"

"If I run away, what will you do?"

"You child, how can you be so disobedient? Do you want to make me die of anger?" Old Lady Lin grew anxious.

If you don't leave tonight, once people from the palace come later, even if you want to go, it won't be easy.

Fortunately, the palace's nursemaid won't come until tomorrow; her voice trembled slightly.

This time, you must obey your grandmother!

Jingyuan! Take your sister and leave! The manor's carriage is ready; if you don't go now, it'll be too late.

"Grandmother!" Lin Jun stepped back, and suddenly the dagger in her hand flashed out from her sleeve, pressing against her own neck.

The people around were dumbfounded, and couldn't help exclaiming.

"Jun!" the old lady rushed forward a step, but dared not move any further.

"Sister, what are you doing?" Jingyuan also jumped in surprise.

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Lin Jun looked at her relatives, the corner of her mouth twitching with a hint of bitterness as she slowly said: "I won't go; let the whole Lin family bury one person with me, I can't do that."

"Anyway, I can't get married; whether it's to ward off bad luck or to be a wife‑killer, it doesn't matter."

"My mind is made up; don't try to persuade me anymore."

The dagger in Lin Jun's hand hovered at her neck, and even Old Lady Lin and the others dared not step forward.

Lin Jun, however, left her grandmother's courtyard, returned to her own, and actually drove out all the serving maids, locking herself tightly inside the courtyard alone.

Now the Lin family were completely dumbfounded; no amount of persuasion had any effect.

Jingyuan was deeply troubled, riding out of the manor on horseback to clear his mind, when he happened to meet Gu Kang, who was incognito investigating on the street.

Gu Kang had now entered the Ministry of Justice as a junior secretary, began handling cases alone, the most conscientious and responsible person, and in a short time had resolved many wrongful, false, and erroneous cases.

Jingyuan lifted the carriage curtain and looked toward Gu Kang, who was chatting enthusiastically with a street vendor.

Wearing a plain gray cloth robe, even though he now held a high office, with who knows how many people trying to curry favor and make offerings to him, he still led a frugal life.

Jingyuan himself didn't know why he felt compelled to dismount and walk toward Gu Kang.

Regarding his sister's matter, even his cousin Li Huchen had no way at all.

Now his cousin had completely sided with the Crown Prince, which is understandable, given that the deceased Empress Li was the Crown Prince's birth mother.

He stared at Gu Kang's upright figure, bearing no trace of official airs, naturally chatting and laughing with several merchants.

Jingyuan felt admiration for Gu Kang in his heart; he was acting like a true minister!

You should know that although several great families are trying to win him over, Gu Kang remains Gu Kang, not a lackey of any clan.

Thinking this, Jingyuan dismounted; the sky gradually darkened, the held‑back rain of several days finally breaking, drizzling down.

Jingyuan got off the carriage holding an oil‑paper umbrella, opened it, and let the nearby servant boy step farther away.

He walked toward Gu Kang under the umbrella; Gu Kang, without an umbrella, had just lifted his head to look at the sky, not expecting an umbrella to be held over him.

He hastily turned around, and saw it was Jingyuan.

Gu Kang's eyes flickered; he clasped his hands and bowed to Jingyuan, saying, "Sir Lin?"

Jingyuan now served in the Ministry of Rites doing some copying work, still lacking any real authority, far behind Gu Kang.

Even Li Huchen, with the Crown Prince's support, merely succeeded Gu Cheng's position as an editor at the Hanlin Academy.

After the previous editor, Gu Cheng, died, the post became vacant and was given to Li Huchen.

Coincidentally, Li Huchen also became an aide to the Crown Prince.

But he still couldn't rise as quickly as Gu Kang.

Jingyuan hastily bowed deeper and said, "Sir Gu, where are you headed? If you have leisure, may we go to a nearby teahouse for a cup of tea?"

Gu Kang raised his brows slightly, seeing that Jingyuan had something he wanted to say.

He smiled lightly: "Sir Lin's generous invitation—I couldn't possibly refuse; then I'll impose on you."

Jingyuan smiled, and together they walked into the nearby teahouse.

On a rainy day, the teahouse wasn't crowded.

The two chose a secluded corner, ordered tea, and asked for a few pastries.

Jingyuan talked about poetry; Gu Kang listened.

Gu Kang discussed policy; Jingyuan echoed a few words, but soon there was really nothing more to say.

Originally, when it came to scholarship, the two were not of the same ilk; Gu Kang usually avoided forming factions, making friends for personal gain, and retained a touch of aloofness.

Having said what needed to be said, Jingyuan still had words brewing in his throat, but unexpectedly Gu Kang took the lead.

He looked at Jingyuan and smiled faintly: "Brother Jingyuan, do you want to talk to me about your sister?"

Now it was Jingyuan's turn to be speechless; he then nodded and gave a wry smile: "How can we break this situation?"

Gu Kang raised his brows; he and Jingyuan weren't close usually, and he hadn't expected Jingyuan to ask him this—was it like a panicked patient grabbing any doctor?

Gu Kang said: "The Empress Dowager's edict cannot be defied."

Having said that, he slowly rose to his feet, and Jingyuan stood there stunned for a moment.

He hadn't even reacted—Gu Kang wasn't one for scheming, so saying that amounted to saying nothing.

Precisely because the Empress Dowager's edict cannot be violated, it is this very fact that prompts this clever man to help think of a solution.

Who would have thought that Gu Kang actually meant to leave.

Unexpectedly, before Gu Kang left he added: "Let things take their natural course; if persuasion fails, perhaps a turn for the better will appear!"

Having said that, Gu Kang said no more, turned, and strode out of the teahouse.

"A turn for the better… a turn for the better…" Jingyuan sat there, his whole person seeming dazed.

It truly is a dead end; where could a turn for the better come from?

He shouldn't have asked Gu Kang; this was purely self-inflicted humiliation.

This time, the affair of warding off ill fortune for Prince Rui was personally managed by Empress Dowager Ning'an; naturally, matters were first attended to at the Rui Wangfu.

Even without using seven days, the palace had already arranged the warding-off ill fortune agenda in plain sight.

That morning, the endless overcast rain finally cleared, and the sun broke through the clouds.

The Rui Wangfu's wedding procession was already waiting early at the Lin family's gate.

Because Xiao Yin was still unconscious, the groom could not come in person to fetch the bride; instead, the palace's governess supported Lin Ru Jun's arm and sent her into the bridal sedan.

The Lin family members stood at the door watching Lin Ru Jun board the bridal sedan; each of their expressions felt less like seeing off a bride and more like attending a funeral, all wearing grim faces.

These days, Lin Ru Jun kept herself shut in the courtyard; even if the Lin family wanted to knock her out and send her out of Jing Cheng, they could not.

Once she was placed inside the sedan, she abruptly pulled off her veil, her gaze icy as she looked out at the clamor beyond the carriage window.

Soon the wedding procession circled Jing Cheng once and then headed back toward the Rui Wangfu.

Suddenly the sedan jolted violently, and then a series of exclamations came from outside.

Lin Ru Jun froze for a moment, lifted the carriage curtain to look, and was instantly astonished beyond belief, feeling as if she had seen a ghost.