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

Chapter 308 Towards the Golden Palace (12)

"presumptuous!"

Yan Zhen spoke before anyone else, his imposing shout startling Xue Qing.

His foul language stopped abruptly.

When Yan Zhen appeared at the main gate, the servants, managers, and guards surrounding Xue Lin all bowed to her, saying, "Manager."

Upon hearing this respectful address, Xue Qing's gaze fell on Yan Zhen, scrutinizing him from head to toe.

"You're the Manager Cao who adopted my son?"

“That’s right,” Yan Zhen said. “Xue Lin has entered the Cao family, so he is a member of the Cao family. The Cao family is not a place where you can cause trouble. If you know what’s good for you, leave as soon as possible. Considering that you are Xue Lin’s biological father, I will not hold it against you.”

With Xue Lin's journey to the capital for the imperial examinations imminent, it was not advisable for him to cause any scandals that could damage his reputation and future. Yan Zhen wanted to get rid of Xue Qing as soon as possible.

As for Xue Lin being beaten, Yan Zhen will deal with Xue Qing slowly once he passes the imperial examination.

"Young lady, what you're saying is ridiculous. I've raised Xue Lin with great care, and you've only adopted him for three years, and he's already a member of your Cao family? You're in business too, do you know how easy it is to make a deal like that?"

As Xue Qing spoke, he changed his expression and said with a grin, "Since you adopted Xue Lin, then you are his adoptive mother. You are not married yet, and my first wife has also passed away. Why don't we get together? That way, we won't have to fight over Xue Lin anymore."

Upon hearing these words, everyone present was stunned by Xue Qing's shamelessness.

Xue Qing is in his forties. He is addicted to gambling and his body has been ruined by alcohol and women. He looks like a man in his sixties and exudes an old man's smell.

Yan Zhen is only twenty-seven years old this year. She is tall and has a rosy complexion. In recent years, she has cultivated a remarkable aura of a superior with her wealth.

In addition, given his status as the richest man in Yinzhou, it's no exaggeration to say that he's worlds apart from Xue Qing.

How could Xue Qing have the nerve to say something like wanting to "pair up" with her?

Yan Zhen frowned slightly, but before she could retort, Xue Lin was already furious: "Xue Qing, don't talk nonsense and insult your elder sister!"

"What's your hurry?" Xue Qing's smile vanished, and he sneered coldly at Xue Lin. "I know you've become the richest man in Yinzhou, and now you're all high and mighty, looking down on your biological father. But let me tell you, Xue Lin, you are my son. Even if we take it to the authorities, that's the truth!"

Xue Lin was so angry that his chest heaved up and down, and his hands, hanging at his sides, were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Yan Zhen saw his reaction and had a feeling that he was about to raise his fist and punch Xue Qing.

To prevent this from happening, Yan Zhen stepped forward, pulled Xue Lin behind him, and stood in front of Xue Qing, asking, "What do you want?"

Xue Qing bluntly stated, "I want money."

"How much?"

"One hundred thousand taels."

Yan Zhen pursed his lips and ordered the guards standing to the side, who were holding sticks and ready to strike: "Beat them out!"

After saying that, she ignored the furious Xue Qing and pulled Xue Lin inside.

The door closed slowly behind them, shutting out Xue Qing's foul language.

Yan Zhen released Xue Lin's hand and said gently, "I will handle this matter properly. You don't need to get involved. We will be going to the capital in two days. Just focus on preparing for your trip."

Xue Lin was always obedient, and nodded upon hearing this: "Yes, elder sister."

Xue Qing was beaten up; the guards of the Cao family beat him until his face was bruised and swollen.

He suffered a great loss and immediately took the matter to the authorities.

However, Yan Zhen had already spent money over the years to establish connections in Yinzhou, from the prefect down to the yamen runners. After someone informed the yamen in advance, Xue Qing's lawsuit against the Cao family for "seizing his own son" was dropped.

Yan Zhen thought the matter had been put aside for the time being, but at night, the head maidservant who served her came to report that the steward had come from the front yard.

Your visit must be for something important.

Yan Zhen put on his coat and got up to see the butler.

The steward brought news that the stable boy returned late and saw Xue Lin go out through the side gate, secretly meet Xue Qing in a secluded alley, and give him a large bag of silver.

The steward said worriedly, "Manager, could it be that the young master can't let go of his blood ties and wants to acknowledge Xue Qing as his biological father?"

If that's the case, wouldn't Xue Qing have become entangled with the Cao family?

Being entangled with this kind of person is no different from willingly jumping into a bottomless pit.

The housekeeper felt terrible just thinking about it.

Yan Zhen frowned: "No, this matter is not that simple."

Xue Lin has no feelings for Xue Qing.

After Xue Qing gambled away his family's possessions and even stole money meant for his sick wife's medicine, indirectly causing Xue Lin to lose his mother, Xue Lin felt nothing but hatred for his biological father.

Moreover, Xue Lin is not such a clueless person.

The Cao family had done him a great favor, and he would not secretly take his benefactor's money to support Xue Qing.

He must have had ulterior motives for giving Xue Qing money.

Yan Zhen pondered for a while, then said to the steward, "Send two people to keep an eye on Xue Qing."

The butler bowed and said, "Yes."

He turned to make arrangements, but Yan Zhen stopped him again and instructed him: "Just keep an eye on Xue Qing. No matter what happens or what you see, don't show up or stop him."

A strange glint flashed in the butler's eyes.

"Yes."

-

The next day, when Yan Zhen got up for breakfast, the housekeeper came in.

His face was not good. He waved his hand to dismiss the servants and said in a low voice, "Manager, Xue Qing is dead."

Yan Zhen paused in his grip on the silver chopsticks, then cut to the chase: "Is this matter related to Xue Lin?"

The butler nodded: "Last night, the guards who accompanied Xue Qing witnessed the young master pushing the drunk Xue Qing into the moat, where he drowned."

Yan Zhen remained silent.

The butler observed her expression and, seeing that she was not surprised and her face was expressionless, asked, "Manager, did you already guess that the young master would do this?"

"That's it."

Xue Lin was introverted and didn't talk much. He was obedient and well-behaved in front of Yan Zhen, and he was also kind and gentle to his servants, never yelling at or criticizing them.

But that doesn't mean he's a pushover.

He hated Xue Qing.

Xue Qing came to the Cao family's door and insulted them.

If left unchecked, Xue Qing will likely cause trouble again sooner or later.

If Xue Qing were to follow the Cao family to the capital and cause trouble while Cao was taking the imperial examinations, it could ruin his future.

Therefore, Xue Lin decided to go all the way and killed Xue Qing to eliminate any future trouble.

Last night, when Yan Zhen heard from the housekeeper that Xue Lin had secretly run away and given Xue Qing a sum of money, he thought of this possibility.

The younger brother she had raised for three years was more cunning and ruthless than she had imagined.

After deliberating for a long time, Yan Zhen put down his silver chopsticks and instructed the steward: "Young people are always careless in their work. Send someone to clean up the place where Xue Qing fell into the water. Make sure that after the body is retrieved, the cause of death given by the yamen is that Xue Qing died from accidentally falling into the water while drunk—understand?"

The steward understood and bowed, saying, "Yes, sir."