Lin Jinlou approached and saw the girl was quite ordinary, with a plain face now filled with terror. His arms dropped weakly, all the excitement from his hurried return now completely gone.
Shutong’s legs gave way and she fell to her knees, trembling as she called out, “Master.”
Lin Jinlou sat down, his face weary and increasingly grim as he closed his eyes briefly. He still hadn’t found Xianglan, who had likely been taken by bandits. To rescue her, he needed to know who was behind this. He mentally reviewed the list of people capable of challenging him, his thoughts in chaos. He never expected anyone would dare to provoke him on his territory, which both shocked and enraged him. Losing Xianglan made his fury even worse. He tried repeatedly to suppress his anger, but feeling it about to burst, he suddenly stood up, drew his cavalry saber, and with a clang, struck the Eight Immortals table beside him. The teacups and utensils shattered with a crash, tea water splashing and flowing everywhere.
Shutong screamed in terror, nearly wetting herself. Believing Lin Jinlou was furious about her withholding information and wanted to kill her in revenge, she repeatedly kowtowed, wailing, “Spare me, Master! Spare me! Your servant didn’t intentionally conceal this… truly not… please spare my life! Please spare my life!” She kept begging, her forehead bruising from the repeated kowtows.
Lin Jinlou paused, being a clever man, he immediately noticed something off about Shutong’s words. His eyes darkened as he slowly sheathed his sword and nodded slightly, deliberately saying, “Then tell me exactly what happened. If your explanation makes sense, I’ll spare your life. But if you dare play tricks, you’re asking for death!”
Shutong repeatedly cried, “I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!” Trembling, she recounted how Lin Dongxiu had encountered Lin Dongling meeting with that tall, strong actor at Sansheng Temple. She mentioned how the deaths from smallpox in the household were connected to Lin Dongling and that actor. Shutong secretly glanced at Lin Jinlou and saw him watching her coldly, like King Yama in the Hall of Justice. She shuddered and stuttered through the rest of the story.
Lin Jinlou asked, “What did that actor look like?”
Shutong replied, “Fourth Young Lady only said he was tall and strong, similar to… similar to Master’s build… His face was covered in theatrical makeup, so his features weren’t clear…” She continued tearfully, “…Your servant only thought Third Young Lady was planning to elope, and Fourth Young Lady was too afraid, so we kept quiet. Moreover, with seven or eight deaths in the household, if word got out… And if Second Branch learned that Young Lady had witnessed such impropriety, they might hate her too…” Her voice grew increasingly faint, lacking confidence, until she gradually fell silent.
Lin Jinlou elegantly crossed his legs and looked down at Shutong, “So you’re saying you’re actually a good servant who only thinks of your Young Ladies’ wellbeing.”
Shutong shrank slightly, remaining prostrate and motionless.
Lin Jinlou sprang to his feet and walked out, calling, “Someone, tie her up and throw her in the carriage to take away!”
Shutong was shocked, but before she could cry out, the entering guards gagged her.
Lin Jinlou then ordered, “Take twenty men to Du Bin’s house and arrest his entire family. Don’t miss anyone!” The guards accepted their orders and left. Lin Jinlou exhaled deeply, drank half a cup of cold tea, and tried repeatedly to suppress his rage. Earlier when Zidai told him about the silk pouch, he thought she was making false accusations to frame Xianglan, but after hearing Shutong’s account, everything suddenly became clear! It was the Du siblings working together to set him up!
Someone of similar build to him, tall and handsome, whom Lin Dongling called “Young Lord Du” – who else could it be but Du Bin? This treacherous snake had seduced his cousin, and after losing favor with him, must have found another patron to plot against him. With the New Year approaching and two weddings to prepare for next year, the ladies of the household weren’t going out except for temple visits with overnight stays. That dog deliberately had Lin Dongling’s maid infected with smallpox, and conspired with Huamei to use a contaminated pouch to endanger lives, but somehow the pouch ended up in Yingge’s possession, killing everyone who touched it. He had wondered why Du Bin saved the mother and daughter from the Second Branch since he wasn’t among the guards he had sent to the temple. Now he realized Du Bin was conspiring with outsiders to kidnap the women, only switching sides when the guards caught up. He regretted not thinking it through at the time, being too focused on searching for people. Lin Jinlou suddenly remembered Lu Shaotang inviting him to drink at Yihong House that night… Could it be him?
Just then, a guard reported at the door: “General, everyone has been captured except for Du Bin and his elder sister Huamei. We heard that since Huamei returned from the Lin house that day, she said she was taking her aunt to burn incense at the temple and hasn’t been seen since. Du Bin left for duty several days ago and hasn’t returned.”
Lin Jinlou smashed a cup against the wall with a bang, grinding out between his teeth, “Good, very good! Keep them all in the military prison awaiting punishment!” With that, he turned and left.
Rushing back to the Lin residence, just inside the main gate, Shuangxi came to meet him, clearly having waited for some time. Seeing Lin Jinlou’s murderous expression, he stopped in his tracks, hunching lower, and stared at his shoes as he said, “The Old Master has sent people to ask several times… said for you to go to his quarters as soon as you return…” He watched Lin Jinlou storm past like a gust of wind before finally exhaling. Turning around, he saw Guiyuan carrying a birdcage from inside, went over, and smacked the back of his head, scolding, “Haven’t you noticed something’s been off with the masters since yesterday? Do you still have the mind to play with birds? If Master sees you and gets upset, don’t blame your big brother for not warning you when he beats you.”
Guiyuan rubbed his head plaintively, “This is Young Lady Xianglan’s bird. The feed container broke, so I took the cage out to replace it.”
“Bah! Still calling her Young Lady Xianglan!” Shuangxi cursed, then lowered his voice, “Young Lady Xianglan hasn’t returned, and Master’s face is black. Count how many people can make Master’s face turn black?”
“Who?” Guiyuan also lowered his voice, rolling his eyes as he said, “The Marquis of Yongxin who opposes Master, Commander Chen who takes bribes without results? Or has that shrew from the Zhao family sent people to harass us again?”
“Tsk… how don’t you understand? Worrying. Fine, fine, just stay away from Master.” Seeing Guiyuan still looking confused, Shuangxi gave him a light kick in the behind, saying, “Get lost already!”
Guiyuan hurriedly carried the birdcage away, stopping at the corner to look back at Shuangxi’s silhouette. He snorted and muttered to himself, “How could I not understand? Your brother Guiyuan is clear as a mirror, isn’t it just Young Lady Xianglan offending Master again? It’ll blow over in two or three days.” He teased the bird in the cage, grinning, “Around Master’s useful people, we have to act a bit foolish, that way we won’t offend anyone, right?” He walked away whistling, but we’ll leave him for now.
When Lin Jinlou entered Old Master Lin’s courtyard, he felt an ominous atmosphere. It was eerily quiet without anyone around, except for the brightly lit main hall where two of Old Master Lin’s trusted old servants guarded the door, hurriedly rising to open it when Lin Jinlou arrived.
Lin Jinlou stepped inside to find Lin Zhaoxiang and Old Madam Lin seated in the primary positions, with Madam Qin and Lin Dongxiu sitting on the left side below them, Madam Wang and Lin Jinting on the other side, and Lin Dongling kneeling in the center. Lin Dongling was crying inconsolably, tears streaming down her face. Madam Wang had swollen eyes and kept sniffling, while Lin Jinting was full of indignation, his eyes wide and fists clenched tightly. Madam Qin and Lin Dongxiu kept their heads lowered in silence.
Lin Zhaoxiang tapped his cane on the tiled floor and said, “You’re here, good timing. Your father and second uncle are away, and your third sister has something to say. She’s been threatening suicide all afternoon. Listen to what she has to say.”
Lin Dongling turned toward Lin Jinlou, crying, “Elder Brother! I… I… I fell into bandits’ hands last night, lost for the whole night. Though I wasn’t defiled, my reputation is ruined. Thanks to Master Du of your guards who saved me, I was able to escape. I can never repay such great kindness. He saw me in only my undergarments, and when he brought me home, it was in front of everyone. Now I can only offer myself in marriage. If… if you all force me against this, I’ll have no choice but to end my life with a hemp rope…” She continued sobbing.
After crying for a moment, she sensed something wrong and secretly lifted her head, only to see Lin Jinlou consumed with fury, his eyes bloodshot, looking like a demon from the King of Hell’s court. Lin Dongling paled in shock, her limbs turning to jelly, unconsciously shuffling backward while still whimpering.
Lin Jinlou could no longer contain his rage. Stepping forward, he grabbed Lin Dongling’s collar and yanked her up. She screamed in terror, struggling, “Elder Brother, what are you doing? Let go! Let go!” Before she could finish, Lin Jinlou’s palm struck her face, leaving her ears ringing and disoriented, blood streaming from her nose.
Everyone watched in shock. Old Madam Lin shouted, “Eldest Grandson, stop!” Madam Wang jumped up from her seat and rushed over, grabbing Lin Jinlou’s arm, shouting angrily, “Jinlou, what are you doing? What are you doing?! Dongling is young, if she’s done something wrong, teach her properly. Why are you hitting her? Let go! Let go!” She looked at Lin Dongling, seeing her delicate face swelling with a handprint, and blood dripping onto her clothes. She wailed, “My child! How are you? Say something!” Then angrily, “The Old Master is still here! What are you doing? Let go, or don’t blame me, as your aunt, for being harsh. You must explain yourself!”
Madam Qin hurried forward, striking Lin Jinlou twice, scolding, “Have you gone mad? Let go quickly!”
Lin Jinlou laughed coldly, shouting, “I’ve gone mad? It’s my third sister who’s gone mad! Shameless, lustful beast, consorting with a treacherous servant under my command, bringing smallpox into the household, plotting against family members… Now you’re jumping to marry your beloved, how wonderful, how wonderful! Since your love is so deep, I’ll kill you today, then kill him, and let you be a pair of doomed lovers!” As he spoke, he struck her seven or eight more times. The sound of his slaps rang out – Lin Jinlou’s strength was beyond ordinary people’s endurance, let alone a delicate young lady like Lin Dongling. These blows knocked out her teeth, her face a bloody mess, unable even to cry out.
Madam Wang kicked and hit Lin Jinlou, her hairpins coming loose as she knelt before the Old Master, begging, “Old Master, won’t you stop him? Your daughter-in-law begs you! Please!” Lin Jinlou ignored her completely, sneering, “I’ve captured two maids. Second Aunt, if you don’t believe me, go question them yourself, then tell me if her actions are forgivable! Should we wait until this corrupt creature destroys the whole family before we act?”
Lin Jinting knelt on the ground, tearfully pleading, “Brother, please stop. The elders are all here, why let things come to this…”
Old Master Lin’s face turned pale as he stood up, striking his cane heavily on the ground, shouting, “Outrageous! All of you stop! What kind of behavior is this!”
Lin Jinlou casually threw Lin Dongling to the ground. Madam Wang cried out in anguish and rushed to her, wiping blood from Lin Dongling’s face with a handkerchief. Seeing Lin Dongling’s dazed expression, having lost consciousness, she held her close, crying, “My child! You’ve suffered so!” She called repeatedly for a doctor while crying and glaring viciously at Lin Jinlou.
Lin Jinlou laughed coldly inside and went out to order Shutong brought in. At the door, he whispered to her, “Tell them exactly what you told me at the inn. I’ll spare your life, but if one word is different…” Shutong looked terrified and nodded repeatedly, “I wouldn’t dare, wouldn’t dare.”
Then, kneeling on the ground, Shutong retold the story of what happened at Sansheng Temple. Lin Dongxiu trembled, her hands and feet ice cold, head bowed low until she heard Lin Zhaoxiang ask, “Fourth Girl, is what she’s saying true?”
Lin Dongxiu’s legs gave way and she collapsed to the ground, stammering, “Yes… it’s true…”
Old Madam Lin let out a cry and fainted.
Madam Qin listened in shock, thinking to herself, “Best not linger where trouble brews. The Old Master is handling this himself, I should quickly leave to avoid involvement.” Seeing Old Madam Lin faint provided the perfect opportunity, so she hurried to help, accompanying two maids in carrying Old Madam Lin away.
Madam Wang’s heart sank, but her maternal love prevailed. She angrily declared, “Lies! All lies! Dongling is the kindest, most devoted child. How could she do such things!” Looking at Lin Dongling’s pitiful state, she felt even more heartbroken, crying, “They’re black-hearted, framing my Dongling! Even if she’s done something wrong, it’s for the Old Master and Old Madam to teach her, then her father and me. How dare a younger generation discipline her, beating her like this… Oh my child, if anything happens to you, I won’t go on living…”
Lin Jinlou ignored Madam Wang’s cries. Looking at his grandfather’s pale face, he said, “Du Bin must be working with outsiders, most likely Lu Shaotang. That wretch has gone mad with poverty, recently selling military supplies. This time he planned to kidnap the women of our household for ransom. I fear once they got the money, none of our family would return alive. But now Du Bin and Huamei have both fled…”
Before he could finish, Lin Dongling suddenly sat up, her face covered in blood and tears, speaking unclearly but with desperate force, “Lies! Young Lord Du would never do such things! You’re all talking nonsense! Nonsense!”