Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 649 His Indescribable Protection (2)_1

Chapter 649: Chapter 649 His Indescribable Protection (2)_1

The Lin Family’s disciples were spread across the world, enjoying immense prestige among the Scholar’s Forest. Before the Lin Family had provoked Emperor Huian’s suspicions, before the Imperial Concubine was banished to the Cold Palace, from the autumnal examinations to the springtime examinations the following year, the scholars flocking to visit the Lin Family were as numerous as carps crossing a river, an endless stream.

Even if they were politely welcomed each day, and waited for ten days or a half month without seeing Master Lin himself, those scholars still refused to give up until Master Lin began his lectures.

Even though the Lin Family had been snubbed by Emperor Huian and lost its previous status in court, those lofty scholars thought the Lin Family did not covet fame or profit, and thus was truly a noble and virtuous house, and so were even more esteemed by the world.

Whether it was Xiao Ruiyuan or Chu Heng, neither ever believed that the Lin Family was as indifferent to fame and profit as they appeared on the surface, otherwise, how could they have raised the Lin Imperial Concubine, a woman so ruthless and cold-hearted as to poison the Pure Empress to death in her quest for the Crown Prince’s position?

Back when Chu Heng’s poisoning was unresolved, everyone thought he would not outlive Emperor Huian. King Heng, known as the Virtuous King, then became the leading candidate to replace the Crown Prince. The Lin Family had a hand in this as well.

Now that Chu Heng’s poisoning was cured, and King Heng had tragically been disfigured, not to mention that Chu Heng’s position as Crown Prince was ever more secure, even if he were toppled, the person ascending to the position would certainly not be King Heng, unless all the Princes of the Imperial Family were similarly maimed or dead.

The Lin Family was well aware of what awaited them should Chu Heng ascend to the throne, and naturally would not sit idly by waiting for doom. They wished to overthrow Chu Heng, to support King Heng, or another Prince they could control. How could they pass up such an excellent opportunity as the autumnal examinations?

Chu Heng could guess a thing or two about the Lin Family’s schemes. Seeing Xiao Ruiyuan ask, he sneered, "Father intends for me to establish my prestige amongst the Scholar’s Forest. By next spring’s examinations, I should cultivate my own forces. The Lin Family probably caught wind of this and that’s why there have been continuous petty moves! Their wish to use the autumnal examinations to strike at me comes down to one of two strategies, either to challenge me in a public contest, to crush me so I cannot recover, or to create cheating scandals and pin the blame on me, to tarnish my reputation and make me the Guilty Crown Prince reviled by the Scholar’s Forest!"

As he spoke, Chu Heng seemed to recall something and his complexion subtly changed. He turned to Xiao Ruiyuan and said, "You previously mentioned that Miss Mo’s father would participate in this autumnal examination. If King Heng and the Lin Family, envious of Miss Mo’s actions to save me and ruining their plans, decide to retaliate, I fear this time it might implicate her father."

Hearing this, Xiao Ruiyuan’s face suddenly darkened, and a bloodthirsty light filled his icy eyes, "If they dare to do this, I, Xiao Ruiyuan, will make them pay a hundredfold!"

That was the most important relative of the woman he cherished; he couldn’t bear to hurt her in the slightest, so how could he allow those villains to wreak havoc, causing her grief and sorrow?

Chu Heng, looking at his cousin seething with murderous intent, helplessly said, "Even if what you fear comes to pass and you reduce the chief culprit to ten thousand pieces, what good would it do? The urgent task at hand is to remind Miss Mo’s father before the autumnal examinations begin, to warn him to be extremely cautious, to not fall for other people’s schemes. Even if there is an attempt to frame him, we will be able to absolve him!"

Xiao Ruiyuan, worried out of his wits, had momentarily lost his composure. Now hearing Chu Heng’s words, he quickly stood up and, forgetting even to say goodbye, hurried away.

Without personally seeking out his future father-in-law and clarifying the risks involved, he wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly tonight.

Chu Heng, left behind feeling "abandoned," watched the retreating figure of his cousin, shook his head wordlessly, picked up a white piece from the chess set beside him, and placed it on the unfinished chessboard. The game, which had seemed decided, was suddenly reversed, with the white piece turning defeat into victory...

Mo Yan was unaware that a seemingly ordinary autumnal examination had turned into a battlefield for two competing forces, nor did she know that, because of her, her father was caught in the middle, nearly framed and killed.