Lin Qingwan and Lu Zhen handed over the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, to ensure the accuracy of the amount, Lin Fu, Qinchai and Cishi Fu three parties will jointly review the account book provided by Lin Qingwan again, and then load the money onto the vehicle.

  Lu Zhen looked for a while and then turned around to find Lin Jiang.

  Lin Jiang had already lain down on his bed, his body wouldnt be able to hold out for much longer. He had just finished kowtowing after receiving the imperial edict and now felt somewhat weak.

  Lu Zhen brought in Imperial Physician Shi, who was quite experienced.

  Doctor Shi examined the pulse again, and then looked at the prescription written by Doctor Xu. Finally, he walked out of the room and said: "The prescription written by Doctor Xu is very good, I have nothing to add or subtract. Mr. Lins illness can only be treated with rest, no overexertion, and no getting angry..."

  Lin Yuhong clenched the handkerchief tightly in her hand and couldnt help but bite her lip tightly.

  Lin Qingwan reached out and grasped her hand, nodding in thanks to Shi Taigong, then pulled her along saying: "Go take a look at whether your fathers medicine is ready or not."

  The little girl left with red eyes and found a secluded place to cry.

  Shang Mingyuan suddenly appeared out of nowhere and said in a low voice, "Aunt Lin, the banquet is ready, please ask the adults to go and have dinner."

  "I wont go myself, you invite everyone to go," Lin Qingyuan paused and said: "The few imperial envoys will be staying in the mansion, and you shouldnt always run around outside these days. Follow the few adults and help with some chores, and also learn some skills."

  So much money cant be cleared up in a short time, so Lu Zhen and some officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Rites have to stay in Lins mansion.

  Shang Mingyuan was overjoyed, for although he was a nobles son, he rarely had the opportunity to show his face in front of officials, especially these capital officials, and having a good relationship with them would be particularly beneficial for his future development.

  Lin Qingyuan originally didnt say that he wasnt planning to go out recently, but now she said it, and he will be even less likely to go out.

  Shang Mingyuan happily went to entertain the officials, if it werent for his uncle lying inside, he was afraid that the joy on his face couldnt be concealed.

  Lu Zhen didnt follow them, but instead went into the house to talk to Lin Jiang. The officials who accompanied him expressed understanding, after all, they had been classmates before.

  Lin Qingwan glanced at Lu Zhen and left without disturbing their conversation.

  Lu Zhens eyes were deep and solemn as he watched her leave, Lin Jiang leaned against the headboard and saw him not speaking for a long time, couldnt help but laugh lightly, "What, is my sister so beautiful?"

  Lu Zhen came back to her senses and looked around before pulling over a chair to sit down, "This entire estate is full of high beds and chairs, Im really not used to it for the time being."

  "I feel that high chairs are more comfortable, so I replaced all of them."

  Lu Zhen snorted, "Who doesnt know that youve changed into these fancy clothes and high chairs just to curry favor with the respected lady?"

  Lin Jiangs wife was physically weak after giving birth and couldnt sit for long periods of time. If she knelt or sat for more than two quarters of an hour, her blood circulation would be poor. Therefore, Lin Jiang simply replaced all the low seats and short tables in the house with high chairs and couches.

  There were quite a few families who followed suit and replaced their high chairs, but in other places, more people still followed the habits of the Wei and Jin dynasties, although they had barbarian beds, high chairs were rare.

  Lin Jiang didnt mind his sneer and slightly closed his eyes to rest.

  Lu Zhen looked at him for a while, then turned her head to look out the window and said: "Your sister seems to have changed a lot. Although she is only just coming of age, she is steady and capable, and her ability is no less than that of Princess Ruoying."

  Lin Jiangs heart tightened, and he calmly opened his eyes, saying: "Yes, twelve years have passed and she has changed a lot. Brother Lu, youve also changed quite a bit over the past twelve years."

  Lu Zhenyi coughed lightly, feeling a bit uneasy. Alright, the last time he saw Lin Qingjuan was when she was three years old.

  However, Lu Zhen unconsciously nodded her finger, "In these years, although I was far away in Lingzhou, occasionally I also heard people mention your younger sister. This time seeing it is really surprising, didnt expect Lin brother to be clever, but his younger sister is not inferior to Lin brother."

  After all, she is only fifteen years old. From entering the house to now, he has seen everything that happened. Lin Qingyan obviously can take over the Lin family already.

  Lin Jiang raised her eyes and looked at him directly, saying lightly: "Brother Lu, are you praising her or stabbing a knife into my heart?"

  Lu Zhen was taken aback, then angrily said: "I was clearly praising her, how did it become a stab in your heart? This ambiguous and sinister appearance of yours hasnt changed one bit."

  Lin Jiang hummed softly and said, "My sister is naive and romantic. If it werent for... she wouldnt be so sensible and capable. Are you praising her? Youre actually saying Im incompetent, that the Lin family cant even protect two girls, which is why she has to be capable."

  Lu Zhen thought for a moment about his tone of voice just now and couldnt help but cough lightly, saying: "I didnt mean it that way..."

  Lin Jiang coldly laughed and didnt say anything.

  Lu Zhen couldnt help but rub his temples, he was just used to doubting everything Lin Jiang did, so his tone hadnt changed yet. Who let him be a smiling tiger, like a fox, he had lost out to him many times before.

  Lu Zhen really wanted to habitually talk back, but seeing Lin Jiangs weak appearance, he rarely felt a pang of conscience and endured it.

  Lin Jiang didnt show any intention of giving in, and coldly asked him to leave. "Lord Lu has had a long and tiring journey, its time for you to go rest. Im not feeling well, please excuse me."

  Lu Zhen twitched his mouth and knew he was angry. He shook his head and said, "Forget it, I wont bother you anymore."

  He stood up and said, "Although Ive always disliked your hypocrisy, after all, we came from the same school. If the Lin family has any difficulties in the future, feel free to come find me, Lu will not decline anything he can do."

  Lin Jiang was about to habitually retort back, but he remembered what Lin Qingwen had said, and his face involuntarily softened. He fell silent for a moment before nodding and saying, "Thank you!"

  Lus jaw almost dropped to the ground, he stared at Lin Jiang with his eyes wide and tongue-tied, and after a while, stuttered: "N-no, no need to thank me."

  Lin Jiang saw him like this and simply closed his eyes, refusing to look at him.

  Lu Zhen saw him like this, and for a rare moment felt some heartache, turning around dazedly and leaving.

  Lin Qingwan saw him about to greet her, but he walked past her with a serious face.

  Lin Qingwan was speechless and turned around to look at his back.

  Lu Zhen hastily followed Ping An, feeling quite embarrassed. He apologized to Lin Qingwan and quickly caught up with his master, knowing that he was lost in thought and hadnt seen Lin Qingwan, but outsiders wouldnt know that.

  Still dont know what the Lin family thinks of their master, he wants to explain but is afraid of damaging the masters dignity, can only hurry up and follow, forget it, let the master wake up and explain himself.

  Lin Qingwan raised an eyebrow and turned to find Lin Jiang, "That Mr. Lu is quite interesting, are you close with him?"

  Lin Jiang only said that Lu Zhens character is trustworthy, but didnt say how their relationship was. However, just now she saw Lu Zhen looking like he had been deeply hurt, as if his feelings for Lin Jiang were very deep.

  Lin Jiang waved his hand and said with a headache: "We were classmates at Guozijian when we were young, and at that time, the head of Guozijian was Lu Shi, whose courtesy name was Yang. He was Lu Zhens uncle and liked to take us students with him to teach, so we can be considered as fellow disciples."

  "However, he has always been under me, so there have been many disputes. Although our relationship is not harmonious, his character can still be trusted. In the future, if you have any difficulties, you can try to find him."

  To put it bluntly, the two have always been in a competitive relationship. Lu Zhens abilities, whether during his student days or after entering officialdom, were always below Lin Jiangs. Even now that they are at the same level, Lin Jiangs power is still slightly greater than his.

  Although they have been competing all the time, it has always been a benign competition. Even when they meet in person, they often bicker and tease each other, but there are also many times when they help each other out.

  So Lin Jiang said he believed it.

  Kelinjiang had been superior to him all his life, but now he was showing weakness in front of the other party, and he couldnt help feeling uncomfortable in his heart.

  But Lu Zhen, who was shown weakness, didnt feel good either. He left the Lins house and wandered aimlessly on the streets, finally standing by the roadside watching the bustling crowd, his heart filled with complicated emotions.

  The anxious servant reminded him: "Master, its getting late, we should at least make an appearance at the Lin family banquet. If they find out you came out of Master Lins room and left immediately, they might think too much..."

  The relationship between Mr. He and Lord Lin had always been strained, and at this time Lord Lin was in favor with the emperor, so spreading such rumors would be detrimental to Mr. He.

  Lu Zhen stood still, and after a while, he sighed faintly: "No matter how intelligent and capable he is, no matter how many brilliant articles he has written, no matter how much merit he has for the country and the people, at this moment, he is just an elder brother, a father."

  "Old Master?"

  Lu Zhens eye sockets felt slightly warm, "I never thought he would show weakness to me. I previously suspected the Lin familys eldest daughter, thinking she had grown up too quickly and wanted to remind him to be careful of the Xie family behind her. But now it seems that he can show weakness to me, then what is impossible in this world?"

  "Old master, although Lins eldest daughter is married into the Xie family, she is also a girl from the Lin family. She wont scheme against the Lin family for the sake of the Xie family."

  Lu Zhen sighed, "I always thought she had changed too much. Although I only met that child once, but the aunts and uncles often mentioned her in their conversations. They said she was clever and talented, but after all, shes still young, how could she be as mature as she is now?"

  "Now it seems that she has suffered three major setbacks, and her character may have become more resilient, but...her actions are still too old-fashioned."

  Lu Zhen didnt finish what she was saying, but Ping An understood the implication. He couldnt help but say: "Neither Da Niang nor Er Niang have met Lins wife before, theyve only heard rumors and there may be some discrepancies. Since Lin gentleman is willing to hand over the family business to her, and everyone in the Lin family is united, its clear that Lins wife is also on the Lin familys side."

  Lu Zhen nodded slightly, but still had some doubts in her heart.

  The saying goes that the people who know you best are not your friends but your opponents.

  Lu Zhen has always regarded Lin Jiang as a rival, and the two have been competing for over 20 years since they were 12 years old. He not only understands Lin Jiang but also his family members.

  In his intelligence, Lin Qingwan is a clever but sensitive, gentle yet passionate girl. But no matter how excellent she is, she is just a young girl who has just come of age, and Lin Jiang is extremely doting on his family members, all the sisters and daughters do whatever they want, let alone letting them learn to manage the family business, even the household chores are not forced upon them.

  Such a person, even if they encounter changes and become strong, their endurance cannot grow overnight.

  So many industries have to be sold off, and the next persons whereabouts have to be arranged, doing things in an old way is simply like people of their age, its not something that a young girl who hasnt experienced anything can do.

  So Lin Qingwan must have had someone guiding her from behind. If that person wasnt from the Xie family, then it was arranged by Lin Jiang.

  Only I dont know if that person is reliable or not.