Initial probe

  Lin Jing met these few servants again outside the mountain gate.

  Just stepped out and didn't have time to speak, looking at those people who saluted themselves, Lin Jing's heart was stirred up, finally waiting for this moment.

  Those people were paying their respects to Lin Jing, crying and wiping away tears. Although they weren't fully dressed in mourning attire, the mourning band around their waist was unmistakable.

  Among them, an older one spoke first: "Jing Geer, the mistress is dead." As he said this, he burst into tears. This cry caused the remaining few to also wail.

  Lin Jing didn't know if these people were really heartbroken, nor did she have the energy to think about such trivial matters. She no longer dwelled on whether she herself was cold-blooded and venomous. All she knew was that although she had been waiting for this moment, every step she took would be like treading on a precipice - if she made it through, there would be boundless scenery at the peak; but if she slipped up, her body would never be found.

  Lin Jing's body swayed, as if he couldn't bear such bad news. With the support of Xiao Shuai's shocked cry, he stabilized his body and asked tremulously: "When did this happen?"

  Lin Jiafu, also known as the older one who was crying, said: "I heard it's about what happened at dawn today. The mansion didn't send any news to us servants, but rather it was Xiaosizi who heard the news on the street. I didn't believe it at first, fearing that some people's mouths are not virtuous, so I had Xiaoguo go back to the mansion to investigate. Only then did I know it was true. I didn't dare delay, so I quickly grabbed some white cloth on the street and rushed to bring the news to you, Brother Jing." Along with Lin Jiafu's words, those two young servants also nodded repeatedly.

  That little Guo also brought a crying tone: "When I went back to investigate, the whole house was in chaos and no one sent a letter to Brother Jing."

  Xiao Si also spoke up, "Jing Ge, you're still here to pray for blessings for Master and Mistress, the only son of Master, but with such a big thing happening in the mansion, no one even bothered to send you a message, this is really..."

  "What nonsense are you talking about!" Lin Jiafu finally spoke up to stop the two young servants' chatter, and turned to Lin Jing saying: "Brother Jing, don't listen to these children's nonsense. The mansion is just too busy and chaotic, and we temporarily forgot about this matter. However..."

  These words, Lin Jing wasn't a fool and could hear the implication, but he also didn't have the heart to bother with these people. As servants, they all wanted to follow a good master; if the master was doing well, they would also be able to enjoy the benefits. In the past, when Lin Ruhai had arranged for him to marry Lin Jing, these people must have been quite resentful, right? Although he was currently the old master's only son, he was an unfavored one who had left the estate and followed Lin Jing to this place. Now that something big had happened at the estate, wouldn't someone come to deliver a message? Were they really going to follow him in becoming a monk here?

  At this moment, Lin Jiafu deliberately stopped talking, and Lin Jing hurriedly said: "Uncle Fu, what's going on?"

  Lin Jiafu sighed, "Reasonably speaking, Jing Ge, you should be cultivating in the temple and shouldn't have returned to the mansion without Master's permission. However, as Madam's son, filial piety comes first in all things. You should also pay respects to Madam's spirit and offer sacrifices. Why don't we just ask the master for leave?"

  Lin Jing was initially not afraid that Old Man Lin would not take her back, and she relied on this. Now, before she even opened her mouth, these few people had already helped her round out the conversation.

  However, Lin Jing didn't want to return to the mansion so rashly. Although Jia Min had passed away, the people under her were still there. Lin Jing even thought that it was precisely because Jia Min was gone that those people, in order to make their master's reputation shine, would be even more unscrupulous and leave no handles for others to use against them in the future. Among them, Lai Erjia was absolutely the first to take action.

  So, before he had a good grasp of things, Lin Jing couldn't just go back like this.

  Lin Jing sniffled, "Fu Bo said so. But if I do this, will Master get angry? At this juncture, making Master angry and worried would be even more unfilial. You also said that the mansion is too busy and it slipped your mind for a while. Alright, alright, I'll wait then, maybe Master will remember tomorrow. For now, I'll copy a few more scriptures to give to Madame."

  Now, not to mention Xiao Si and others were anxious, even Lin Jiafu was anxious, and hurriedly pulled Lin Jing: "Brother Jing, what you said is right. But, what if the old master is too sad and can't take care of these things for a while, and the house forgets in the bustle, how can this be good?"

  Lin Jing also pretended to be hesitant, but refused to give in so easily. Those people were really anxious and didn't know what to say, Lin Jing then said, "Or, send someone to the mansion to deliver a message, let Lai Mama remind Master?"

  "Hey, Jing Ge, you still think that at this time, your mom is still thinking of you? You really think you're a big shot?" Little Guo couldn't help but shout out.

  "Shut up!" Lin Jiafu's face looked unpleasant, and he turned to Lin Jing again: "Children talk nonsense, Brother Jing don't take it to heart. However, at this moment in the mansion, there really is no one available. Brother Jing, just listen to me for a sentence."

  Lin Jing looked around and saw that it was about right, then said to Lin Jiafu: "You all wait here for me." With that, he didn't even care about the relieved expressions of the people in front of him, turned around and went in.

  Lin Jing did not go to ask for leave from the master as those few servants thought. She only borrowed paper and pen from the guest monk, wrote a letter, sealed it, and then came out again.

  Those who were waiting impatiently saw Lin Jing come out and hurriedly said, "Good brother, let's go quickly. Little Guo has already hired a carriage."

  Lin Jing didn't respond, handing the letter in his hand to Lin Jiafu, "Give this to Lai Mama. Remember, you must deliver it personally and wait for her response."

  "What? Brother Jing, what's going on? Didn't we agree earlier? How could Lai Mama possibly see me?"

  "It's up to you now. Remember, hand it over to Lai Mama personally. Otherwise," Lin Jing turned around and glanced at the temple, "it's really quiet in this world outside of worldly affairs, just staying like this isn't bad either." As she spoke, without waiting for Lin Jiafu to respond, she turned around and went in. She believed that Lin Jiafu understood the meaning behind her words. She also believed that when people are pushed to their limits, there's no need to worry about them not using their strength.

  "Damn it!" Watching Lin Jing walk away without even turning his head, Lin Jiafu finally couldn't help but curse.

  Xiao Si and the others had been stunned for a long time, and it wasn't until half a day later that they spoke up: "Fu Bo, what do we do now? Unless... unless we go back and spend some more money to get the steward to assign us another task?"

  Lin Jiafu didn't respond, thinking to himself, how is this possible? If it were useful, why would we have delayed until now? Besides, let's talk about it later. It's all the same effort, isn't it? Lin Jiafu looked at the letter in his hand and savored the unusual tone of Lin Jing's words and actions today, finally speaking up: "Can't say no, I'll take this trip. This time, I'm going!"

  Xiao Guo pouted and muttered a few words. Xiao Si was still quite honest, "Then, Fu Bo, I'll go with you. I don't have much skill, but running errands is fine."

  Lin Jing actually wasn't as confident as she seemed, but this step still had to be taken. If Lai Erjia's family saw the letter and didn't act according to her plan, then the original plan she had thought of might have to be scrapped. Of course, it was also possible that those few people were too useless and couldn't even deliver a letter. But in that case, they would still give her an answer.

  Lin Jing returned to the quiet room, really restless. Constantly pondering every step of his plan, thinking about its feasibility. And recalling the words in the letter, wondering if that sentence was too much, too provocative for Lai Erjia's family.

  Lin Jingzhen couldn't stop for a moment, going back and forth like this. The waiting time was really unbearable.

  He walked around to the front of the desk, looking at the pen and ink on top of the Buddhist scriptures, suddenly remembering the peacefulness of New Year's Eve night, Lin Jing finally sat down, grinding, picking up his brush, writing stroke by stroke, carefully and meticulously, while softly reciting.

  Also don't know how long it took, but then heard outside voices, a small Sha Mi said that there was a donor looking for Yuan Fa Shi Di outside.

  Lin Jing took a deep breath, put down his pen, and with this sense of relief, walked out.

  This time, outside the mountain gate, only Lin Jiafu was waiting. Lin Jiafu no longer dared to underestimate this young master now, and as he watched Lin Jing walk out calmly, his heart was even more shocked, and he couldn't help but bow deeply in respect. If it's said that usually it's just a show on the surface, then at this moment, he really didn't dare anymore.

  Lin Jing didn't care about these things and just asked: "Thanks for your hard work, Fu Bo. Is it Lai Mama's turn yet?"

  Lin Jiafu's face looked strange, he walked up and said: "Ask Jing Geer questions, Lai Mama, she followed the slave out of the house. It's not convenient to talk here, so, would you please ask Jing Geer to move to where the slave is waiting?"

  Lin Jing's heart finally put down half of its burden, nodded slightly, and signaled Lin Jiafu to lead the way.

  These few people were originally brought by Lin Ruhai to serve Lin Jing, so the place where they lived was not far from here. After walking for a while, Lin Jiafu stopped in front of a small courtyard, "Jing brother, it's just here, please come in." He said, pushing open the courtyard door with a smile.

  Lin Jing walked in and found the remaining three standing in the courtyard. Seeing Lin Jing come in, they hurriedly came to pay their respects, but all had strange expressions on their faces, as if they didn't know how to express their emotions at this time. The one called Little Guo reacted quickly, after paying his respects, he whispered: "Brother Jing, Lai Mama is waiting for you inside the house."

  Lin Jing nodded and said to him: "You go with Xiao Si to Fu Bo's place to borrow some money, and buy some snacks."

  He said, looking at Lin Jiafu again, thinking of finding a topic. This Lin Jiafu was a clever one, knowing that this was to send people to discuss in private, and hurriedly said: "Little Guo, Little Four, don't you hurry up and run quickly? Jing Ge, I'll wait with Old Li outside the gate for these two little monkeys, absolutely not delaying your business."

  It's great, he not only avoided it but also kept watch outside, what a clever person. Seeing Lin Jing nodding, Lin Jiafu hurriedly sent the person away and went out himself, even closing the courtyard door tightly behind him.

  Lin Jing had just arrived at the door, took a deep breath, and pushed it open with one hand.