Tang Zhuyun seemed to be deep in thought.
Yanran continued, "Later, when they brought out the wheat seeds, the people selling them all changed their expressions. My brother speculated that they had mixed in bad seeds, or even cooked ones..."
The wheat seeds are not roasted, but steamed until partially cooked to avoid the aroma arousing suspicion and to prevent them from bursting open and revealing the deception.
"Then they interrogated those people, and sure enough!" Yanran said angrily.
"Why did they do that?" Ren Yingying asked, puzzled.
This is a time-consuming and laborious task, but what benefits will farmers gain from reduced yields?
If you're going to do something bad, why not go all the way and leave some room for maneuver?
"I don't know! My brother will definitely interrogate me about it later," Yanran said. "It's infuriating. Then on the way back, my brother told me that he had actually discovered the secret of that ship as well, because he noticed that the draft was wrong and guessed that there was something else on board."
How could her brother be so smart!
Yanran was as proud as a little rooster.
Ren Yingying asked, "Anything else?"
Yanran: "That's it! You'll have to ask my brother for the rest."
Ren Yingying: "Tch..."
"If you're smart, guess who's behind this and what their goal is?" Yanran, looking at her.
Ren Yingying cleared her throat. "I know that, but I can't tell you. You have to learn to think independently!"
Tang Zhuyun: "... Both of you shut up right now."
She was furious.
Upon closer examination, there's definitely a conspiracy behind this, but who is it implicated?
Could it be a prince's residence?
But if Yanran hadn't discovered this by chance, it seems like it had nothing to do with the Prince's Mansion?
Can the decline in land productivity really be blamed on the Prince of Jin's Residence?
This is completely unrelated!
Unless it can be proven that the wheat seeds came from the Prince of Jin's Residence.
But those people were using the Wen Family's name.
Although the Wen Family has a marriage alliance with Huaishang, there is still a layer between them, so it cannot be directly attributed to the Prince of Jin's Residence.
Meanwhile, the men in the front yard were also talking about it.
"The Lang Family family?" Prince of Jin frowned. "They've gotten involved?"
"Hmm," Linlin said, "That hunchbacked man claimed to be from the fourth branch of the Lang Family. He saw the eldest branch of the Lang Family acting suspiciously and suspected they were plotting something, so he secretly followed them and finally discovered that it was all a conspiracy by the eldest branch of the Lang Family."
The eldest branch of the Lang Family is the branch of the family of the Consort of Prince of Ding's father.
Seeing that Prince of Jin was currently enjoying great influence, they estimated that the emperor would either establish an heir apparent or entrust Prince of Jin with important responsibilities, so they devised this "brilliant plan" in advance.
If the Prince of Jin were not in power, that would be one thing, but if he were in power, they would blame the reduced wheat harvest on Prince of Jin, saying it was divine punishment.
Qu Nian said, "What, is the Lang Family fighting amongst themselves, like dogs biting each other?"
This situation is actually quite rare.
Because the Lang Family has an patriarch in charge, such large families generally have strong cohesion.
Even if they fight tooth and nail at home, they're united against outsiders when it comes to important matters.
How could something like this happen—the fourth branch of the Lang Family revealing the secrets of the eldest branch of the Lang Family to their rivals?
Even assuming the fourth wife's family wanted to harm the first wife's family, wouldn't they have to do it secretly?
He immediately declared himself to be from the fourth branch of the family, as if afraid others wouldn't know?
Prince of Jin pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned his gaze to Linlin: "From which branch of the Lang Family does Lang Jiu belong?"
Linlin's expression remained unchanged as she calmly replied, "Fourth branch."
Qu Nian slapped his thigh. "So that's where it all comes together!"
Damn it, Prince of Jin, can't you even be a human being?!
Your pigs are already rooting up cabbages, while my son is still a tadpole looking for his mother!
Flip the table!
Does this even need to be said?
Lang Jiu was Linlin Lin Lin, and logically she should have sided with the Lang Family. However, the Lang Family and the Prince of Jin's Residence were irreconcilable enemies, so the young lady chose her own path.
This is just like a louse on a monk's head—it's obvious!
But if he were Lang Jiu, he would have made the same choice.
On one hand, Linlin is indeed dazzling; on the other hand, the Lang Family is truly shameless!
Instead of becoming an accomplice to evil, it's better to abandon darkness and embrace the light. Besides, she's a woman, and people are more forgiving. Even if the Lang Family gets into trouble in the future, Linlin will be able to protect her.
Look how shrewdly they've planned this!
Lang Jiu is truly a clever man.
The Prince of Jin still looked at Linlin: "Have you met her before?"
"We've met a few times, but we've never spoken."
If Yanran hadn't told him, he wouldn't have known.
Lang Jiu's deliberate act of secretly watching him at the Imperial Academy was already somewhat strange; now, with her help, Linlin didn't feel particularly moved, but only wondered what Lang Jiu was up to.
What is she trying to do?
Linlin doesn't believe it's just admiration.
There is no love or hate without a reason.
An arranged marriage bound them together, but Lang Jiu grew up in the Lang Family, and before leaving the Lang Family, her heart should have always been with the Lang Family.
What is her purpose?
The Prince of Jin then asked, "Since the hunchbacked man said he was from the fourth branch of the Lang Family, did he say who instructed him?"
He said it was at the behest of the fourth Lang He, but I don't really believe it.
Lang He is Lang Xuan's biological father, but also an illegitimate son in the Lang Family, and has a very low profile within the Lang Family.
This man was timid and submissive, and among his brothers, he was utterly useless.
He married and had a daughter early in his life. His wife passed away when his daughter was a few years old. He was devastated and never remarried. Now he only has a concubine by his side.
His aunt gave birth to a son, who is only eight years old this year.
The fourth branch of the Lang Family consists of only eleven-year-old Lang Xuan and her eight-year-old youngest son.
Before the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon her, Linlin already knew the situation of each branch of the Lang Family very well.
"Then we need to continue the investigation," said the Prince of Jin.
Even when they were clearly at their wits' end, the Lang Family did not give up the fight.
Indeed, it's impossible for the Prince of Jin and the Lang Family to reconcile.
When the Prince of Jin rose to power, the Lang Family died.
Linlin nodded in agreement.
"Lang Jiu's side..." Prince of Jin stared intently at Linlin.
Linlin Lin remained calm. "Father, rest assured, I have no connection with her whatsoever."
The implication is that even if the Lang Family is destroyed, the fourth branch is wiped out, Lang Xuan dies, he will not show any mercy.
The Prince of Jin showed a satisfied expression.
--Although he respects feelings, people who are antagonistic from the very beginning should not develop feelings for each other.
Clearly, Linlin did not disappoint him.
Qu Nian yawned and said, "Alright, if there's nothing else, I'm taking Yingying back to the manor. Next time you're not dead, don't send anyone to mourn you!"
He's so angry!
Upon hearing his exasperated tone, the Prince of Jin vaguely guessed that someone was sexually frustrated, and glanced at his groin. "Useless."
Only those who didn't get to eat it would get so angry and frustrated.
Qu Nian really wanted to fight the Prince of Jin.
But he didn't.
It was still dark, but he could still manage to stand up straight.
But when they went to find Ren Yingying, they heard that she had already gone to sleep in the next room and said she wouldn't be going home that day.
Qu Nian: "... Lead the way!"
Although we can't do anything inappropriate at the Prince of Jin's Residence, we can at least sleep together!
It's absolutely damn good!