He abruptly turned to look at the deathly pale jailer and shouted, "When General Lin died, were you the one standing guard here?"
"Yes, it was this lowly one." The jailer hurriedly got into a kneeling position and replied in a trembling voice.
"What's going on!?" Long Yin's gaze became dark and vicious. Lin Zhan's "prison break" made him angry, but he had never thought of putting him to death. Lin Xiao had just lost his life. If he put Lin Zhan to death as well, it would definitely chill the hearts of the Lin family. How could he do such an unwise thing?
His gaze that suddenly became dark and vicious was taken as a warning by the jailer and he trembled even more fiercely, "Replying … replying to Your Majesty, last night … Official Lin kept saying that he was sorry to Your Majesty … then … then he drank something. This lowly one didn't know it was poison, otherwise this lowly one would definitely … this lowly one is useless, this lowly one deserves to die, this lowly one deserves to die …" He spoke incoherently, his entire body almost going limp to the ground.
"Hmph, you actually watched as General Lin died in prison. You really do deserve to die, deserve to be hacked into pieces … Someone, immediately drag him out and execute him!"
The jailer's entire body stiffened and his eyes suddenly widened. Although he had already thought that after he no longer had any value, it was very likely that he would be killed to keep his mouth shut, but he didn't think that it would come so quickly … Fortunately, he was only being punished and his family was not implicated.
"Wait a moment, Your Majesty …" The crying Lin Kuang suddenly spoke in a deep voice. He crawled out of the cell on his knees and said in a distressed voice, "I beg Your Majesty to hand this person over to this old subject to deal with. This old subject … this old subject wants to personally hack him into pieces."
Just as Long Yin was about to speak, he heard Black Bear interject, "Your Majesty, Old General Lin's relatives have passed away one by one, just fulfill his wish …" As he spoke, he subconsciously raised his hand to wipe the corners of his eyes that were slightly moist.
Long Yin knew that Black Bear had always been filial. Looking at the completely disheartened Lin Kuang, he let out a long sigh and said with a sorrowful expression, "Although zhen was angry yesterday, zhen never thought of punishing him too heavily. Why did General Lin do this … Ai, Old General Lin, please restrain your grief. This matter was zhen's great mistake and zhen's heart is filled with guilt. It was zhen who let your Lin family down …"
"No, Your Majesty, none of this is Your Majesty's fault. It was Zhan 'er who made a grave mistake and was too useless. He actually committed suicide to escape punishment. This old official feels ashamed to face Your Majesty … This old official wants to personally bring Zhan' er's body back home."
"Everything will be as Old General Lin wishes." Long Yin said powerlessly. The small bottle on the ground made him slightly suspicious. He did not understand why Lin Zhan had brought the Heart Sealing Powder, which was used for euthanasia, with him before he was locked up in this dungeon. What he could not help but be concerned about was that Lin Zhan's death would definitely cause Lin Kuang to hold a grudge or even have some resentment. After all, no matter what the reason was, if he had not been locked up in the dungeon, he would not have "committed suicide to escape punishment". This was something that he absolutely did not want to see. He had never doubted Lin Kuang's loyalty. He absolutely did not want the few people that he could completely trust to have any disloyalty towards him. Furthermore, Lin Kuang also knew too many secrets.
"We have already sent someone to inform the Lin family. Someone will come in a while. Old General Lin, We will definitely give you an explanation for today's matter. The dead cannot come back to life. The Lin family still needs your support. You must not harm your body." Long Yin consoled.
"This old subject thanks Your Majesty for your concern … Your Majesty, please do not worry. This old subject still has too many things to do. I will not collapse so easily." Lin Kuang said woodenly.
Long Yin nodded. He turned around and said lightly, "All of you, withdraw. Leave this to the Lin family. No one else is allowed to interfere."
The jailers and guards all withdrew with different expressions. Only the unlucky jailer who had watched over Lin Zhan last night was left. Before Hei Xiong left, he suddenly said to Lin Kuang with a simple and honest face, "Old General Lin, although this brother made a mistake, it was unintentional. Old General Lin can deal with him alone. There is no need to make things difficult for his family." After saying this, he used his eyes to indicate to the jailer. A sharp light flashed in his eyes. Lin Kuang, who had just raised his head, saw it. He immediately raised his head again and smiled bitterly, "The greatest pain in the world is when a white person sends a black person off. Putting myself in his shoes, why should I make things difficult for his family?"
Only then did Hei Xiong follow behind Long Yin in satisfaction. Long Yin had always known that Hei Xiong had a pure and kind nature. He did not mind and left with a heavy heart. These few days, not only the Lin family, but Long Yin was also mentally and physically exhausted. Ye Wuchen's return and his sudden changes were like a thorn stuck in his heart. He could not eat or sleep in peace, but he could not remove it in a short period of time. His last hope fell on Nanhuangzong. Therefore, he had been beating around the bush to urge him to marry Shui Mengchan. That year, Nanhuang Suzerain Shui Yuntian had said that he only needed to look for Shui Mengchan. Therefore, he had not seen Shui Yuntian for all these years.
The Lin family arrived very quickly. When they saw the breathless Lin Zhan and the despondent Lin Kuang, they rushed forward and wailed. However, Lin Kuang roared, "All of you shut up … Bring Zhan 'er back … Bring that person away!" He pointed at the unlucky jailer and then struggled to stand up. Just as he managed to stand up, his body swayed a few times. His eyes rolled back and he fainted. It was not easy for him to hold on until now under the successive heavy blows of losing his grandson and son.
The fact that Lin Zhan died in the Imperial Prison was originally a secret. There were very few people who knew about it. The Lin family did not spread the news. However, when Lin Zhan's body was transported back to the Lin family, the news of Lin Zhan's death caused another storm in Tianlong City. The fervor and speed of the news was shocking. Almost everyone already knew that Lin Xiao and the Empress's illicit affair was discovered by the Emperor. In his anger, the Emperor secretly executed Lin Xiao. Then, he vented his anger on the Lin family and executed Lin Zhan … Moreover, the Lin family's gate was closed for the whole day. During this period, only a large carriage of mourning clothes was transported in. This undoubtedly proved that this matter was absolutely true. Some people who did not believe in Lin Xiao and the Empress initially had no choice but to believe it. It was a pity that Lin Xiao had died unjustly and had to suffer thousands of curses after his death.
When Lin Kuang woke up, he opened his eyes to see a large group of worried and gloomy people guarding his bed. Seeing that he had woken up, a few servants hurried forward. "Master, are you alright?"
Lin Xiao had died, Lin Zhan had died, and the Lin family had become unbearably stinky in the scandal. The only males left in the Lin family were Lin Kuang and the good-for-nothing Lin Xu. How could he be well?
"I'm fine." Lin Kuang waved his hand and slowly sat up with the help of the servants. The servant worriedly said, "Master, the funeral has been prepared. We are just waiting for your word."
Someone hurried forward and asked anxiously, "How did Zhan 'er die? Based on his personality, he would never commit suicide. Is there something fishy about this?"
This person was Lin Yan. His brows were furrowed and his face was dark. His left hand was pressed on Lin Kuang's shoulder, but his right hand was raised stiffly. There was only a thumb left on his palm. His right arm had been broken into four pieces by the black bear ten months ago. All four of his fingers, except for his thumb, had been destroyed. Although he had used the best elixirs and invited the best imperial physicians and Light Healers, he could only barely save his arm. It was not completely crippled, but even so, it was still half crippled. It was difficult for him to move freely. As for his four fingers, it was impossible for them to recover … unless they could grow out on their own like a lizard's tail.
Thus, Lin Yan hated Black Bear to the bone. At the same time, he was extremely afraid of him. Long Yin trusted Hei Xiong and didn't blame Hei Xiong for injuring Lin Yan. He only comforted Lin Yan. With Lin Yan's temper, it was impossible for Hei Xiong to not hate Hei Xiong. From then on, Hei Xiong rarely entered the palace and his temper became even more violent.
Lin Zhan did not reply immediately. He raised his head and asked, "Did you bring back the person I asked you to bring back?"
"Master, we brought him back. He is in the firewood room. Without master's permission, we do not dare to do anything to him."
Lin Kuang nodded and got off the bed. He waved his hand to reject the servant's help and said to Lin Yan, "Second brother, let's go to the firewood room to take a look. That person watched Zhan 'er die with his own eyes."
Lin Yan's eyes lit up and he nodded his head.
When they arrived at the firewood room that was filled with the smell of rotting wood, they saw that the person was tied up and sitting on the ground anxiously. Lin Kuang asked the surrounding people to leave and ordered them not to go near.
He closed the door and did not say a word. Lin Kuang stared at Lin Kuang with eyes filled with sorrow and hatred. Lin Kuang trembled and begged, "Official Lin, I am useless. I only want to die …"
"Die?" Lin Kuang laughed bitterly, "If you die, all your troubles will end. But have you ever thought about your parents and relatives? It was not easy for them to raise you. If you die, they will be devastated. Your wife will be a widow and live a miserable life. Your children will not have a father and will be bullied. Do you really want to die? "
He was just an ordinary jailer, not a heartless villain. To him, such words were like steel needles piercing his heart, magnifying his fear of death several times, and he could no longer say that he only wanted to die. He did not want to die, but sadly, he had become a 'tool'. If he did not die in the hands of one party, he would definitely die in the hands of the other party. This was the sorrow of the weak. In front of the strong, they did not even have the right to live.
Lin Kuang walked a few steps closer and said in a heavy voice, "Tell me … how did he die … If you tell me, you can live!"
Lin Yan was not as patient as Lin Kuang. He suddenly walked forward and grabbed Zhan 'er's collar. He gritted his teeth and said, "Zhan' er was always afraid of death. He did not even dare to go to the battlefield. It was impossible for him to commit suicide. Tell me! How did he die? Was he forced to his death? "
"Official Lin, he … he really committed suicide. I saw it with my own eyes …" Thinking about Black Bear threatening his family, he did not dare to say what he saw.
"You're lying!" Lin Kuang shouted angrily, "Zhan 'er could not have the Heart Sealing Powder on him. Zhan' er had died a long time ago, but you kept waiting there and did not dare to shout. There must be something wrong. Your expression at that time showed that you were lying … Was it because you were threatened, so you obediently waited there with the person who killed Zhan 'er and put on a show for me?!"
"I … I did not lie. If it was the Emperor who ordered Sir Lin to die, why would the Emperor hand me over to you …"
"Ah …" Lin Kuang laughed coldly, "It was to prevent me from being suspicious that the Emperor handed you over to me. He knew that I would immediately execute you. However, it seems like the Emperor will not be able to do as he wished … You servant, I only asked you how he died. Did I ask if it was the Emperor who ordered him to die? You have already confessed, what else can you say!"
The jailer's eyes widened and he was at a loss.
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