Lin Jinlou took a deep breath. Xiang Lan’s eyes widened, feeling her blood freeze. Lin Jinlou’s vicious face wavered before her – how long had it been since she had seen such an expression from him? She had almost forgotten how poisonous and violent he could be. The knocking outside grew more urgent. Lin Jinlou slowly released his grip, rubbed his face hard, turned, and opened the door to find his trusted guard Hu Lai, whom Lin Jinlou had specifically left at the estate to manage affairs before departing. Seeing his master’s ashen face, Hu Lai was startled. Lin Jinlou pointed and shouted, “I told you to stay properly in the capital, what are you doing here? Do you dare disobey my orders now? Huh? Are you, all trying to rebel? None of you respect me anymore, is that it?”

This shout made Hu Lai’s knees weak. In his mind, Lin Jinlou had always remained composed even when facing armies, speaking with ease. Now seeing his master’s pointing finger trembling with rage, he shuddered and quickly knelt, changing his form of address: “General, your subordinate comes with extremely urgent news… The Fourth Lady has passed away! Second Young Madam’s life also hangs in the balance…”

Hearing this, Xiang Lan drew in a sharp breath. Lin Jinlou grabbed Hu Lai’s collar, pulled him into the room, closed the door, furrowed his thick brows, and said through gritted teeth, “What happened? Explain everything clearly!”

Hu Lai said: “Early this morning, the maids couldn’t find the Fourth Lady and the Second Young Madam was also missing. After searching inside and outside the estate, a night watch woman reported that a side gate behind Kangshou Residence leading outside was unlocked. I led people to search everywhere, just as civilians were reporting a murder case in that alley to the officials. When I rushed over to look, I saw the Fourth Lady lying on the ground with a bloody hole in her chest, having been dead for some time. Second Young Madam was lying disheveled by the bed. When I checked, I found she still had a faint breath, so I quickly wrapped her in blankets and sent her back to the estate. I also informed the officials to suppress the matter and let Madam handle it. We thought the matter was settled, but Second Young Madam was clutching a pouch, and when Madam opened it, she found Second Young Master Chu Dapeng’s safety charm inside, with his exact birth date and time. Second Young Master happened to be present and immediately burst into tears, convinced that Second Young Master Chu had harmed Fourth Lady and violated and killed Second Young Madam. Madam barely managed to calm him down and questioned Second Young Madam’s maid, but upon hearing that Second Young Madam was in danger, the maid secretly hanged herself. Madam intended to wait for Young Master to return tomorrow morning to handle matters, but Second Young Master quietly prepared a carriage by himself and rushed to the Chu residence to fight Second Young Master Chu to the death. He fainted halfway through the confrontation, frightening the Chu family who feared he might die there. They called for the Imperial Doctor and sent people to deliver messages, causing quite a commotion. Seeing the situation had grown out of control, Madam sent me to change horses and rush here to request Young Master’s return to handle matters.”

Lin Jinlou felt his temples throbbing, his face growing more purple. What a mess of fucking trouble! He rubbed his forehead and asked, “Where is Second Brother now?”

Hu Lai said quietly: “Due to his severe illness, he couldn’t be moved and was left at the Chu residence… Second Young Master Chu said he had been studying through the nights lately and hadn’t left his estate at all…”

Lin Jinlou said nothing, pacing back and forth in the room. This wasn’t done by the young Chu. Aside from his close friendship with Chu Dapeng, given Chu Dapeng’s first-rate talent and righteous character, he would never commit such a criminal act. If Lin Jinxuan had privately fallen out with Chu Dapeng, it wouldn’t have been a major issue, but Lin Jinxuan had gone to make a scene at the Chu residence! Chu Dapeng’s father was the Minister of Personnel, head of the Six Ministries – how could he endure such a false accusation and swallow this insult? With the Old Master and his father not present, he had to rush back quickly to settle this matter. He would need to travel day and night to return, and early tomorrow morning go to the Chu residence to apologize with thorns on his back. Given this sincerity, the Chu family’s old master should save face for them.

Time was of the essence.

Lin Jinlou urgently ordered people to prepare horses. He glanced at Xiang Lan, still furious in his heart, thinking: “Leaving her behind might cause who knows what trouble, and she might find ways to inquire about that Song Ke boy.” He pointed at Xiang Lan and said: “You, change your clothes. You’re coming with me tonight.”

Due to the hasty departure, Lin Jinlou left behind all the personal maids and servants, ordering them to pack properly and return to the estate the next day. He selected over twenty men, had a long private discussion with Yuan Shaoren, then stuffed Xiang Lan into a tiny carriage and set out.

The carriage was barely large enough for one person to stretch their legs, with only a layer of coarse cloth for padding and thin curtains for walls that let in drafts from all sides. Xiang Lan felt bone-chilling cold and buried her face deep in her hood. Though her large fur cloak provided some warmth, her feet in deerskin boots soon became frozen through, painfully numb. The jolting carriage made her nauseous, adding to her discomfort. She hugged the brass hot water bottle that Xue Ying had secretly stuffed into her arms before departure, though it had already grown cold. Fighting to control her chattering teeth, she opened her eyes and lifted the curtain to see a bright moon hanging in the sky, illuminating the wilderness.

In the moonlight, Lin Jinlou saw Xiang Lan’s pitiful state and couldn’t help but sneer repeatedly. He should have been carefully considering how to explain things to the Chu family when they arrived, but his mind had turned to mush, unable to form coherent thoughts. All he could see was Xiang Lan before him, asking tearfully: “If I told you I wanted to repay Song Ke’s kindness by having someone send him money, would you agree?” He sneered and spurred his horse to gallop faster, thinking the speed might dispel his irritation and anger, but found it only made him feel worse. He bitterly thought that perhaps he had been too good to Chen Xiang Lan lately, letting this woman take advantage of his kindness. When they returned to the Lin family, after settling his brother’s matter, he would have to properly discipline her. Her current freezing state served her right. Yet thinking of her trembling figure, Lin Jinlou grew annoyed again, wondering why this woman was so stubborn, enduring such cold without asking for his help. With a sullen face, he pulled a thin blanket from his saddlebag and threw it into the carriage.

Xiang Lan startled and peeked at Lin Jinlou through the curtain, but could only see his chin.

Suddenly, Lin Jinlou reined in his horse, and the carriage quickly stopped. Xiang Lan was caught off guard and nearly fell. She heard Lin Jinlou say in a deep voice: “Go check carefully ahead!”

His guards went forward with torches. Ahead was a grove of trees with the scent of blood wafting from it. As they lit up the area, they saw blood splattered across the snow-white ground and corpses everywhere – sprawled on the ground, slumped against tree trunks, or hanging from branches. They wore Imperial Guard uniforms and carried various weapons, their bodies pierced by multiple arrows, their faces frozen in various expressions of agony, a horrifying sight.

Xiang Lan was terrified. The heavy smell of blood drifted over, and she had already been nauseous from the bumpy journey. Now she could bear it no longer and struggled down from the carriage. Her feet were painfully numb, barely able to support her as she staggered behind some bushes and vomited continuously. Her mind churned with turbulent thoughts – these Imperial Guards wore Palace Front Guard uniforms, clearly the Emperor’s personal Feather Forest Guards, yet they had been slaughtered here. Could this be… rebellion? An assassination attempt on the Emperor? Xiang Lan felt her whole body grow cold, trembling uncontrollably.

Lin Jinlou’s expression was grave as he went forward with a torch to examine the scene. Some corpses were still warm, indicating recent death. After pondering briefly, he suddenly called out: “Wen Rushi!”

Wen Rushi quickly stepped forward, clasping his fist in salute: “Present!”

Lin Jinlou gave him some quiet instructions. Wen Rushi was greatly shocked at first, but managed to compose himself and knelt on one knee, saying: “Even if this subordinate dies without burial, I will complete the General’s orders.” He then mounted his horse and left with seven or eight men.

Lin Jinlou then called Hu Lai and another trusted subordinate Zeng Yuan forward and gave them more instructions. Hu Lai’s expression became solemn as he led seven or eight men away. Zeng Yuan took three men and returned along their original path.

Lin Jinlou took a deep breath, feeling the cold wind burning his throat. That morning, he and Yuan Shaoren had gone to visit old friends at the Five Military Camps outside the capital, unexpectedly encountering the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince had left the palace in disguise on Imperial orders for official business at the camps. Seeing the Crown Prince had brought few guards and most of the camp troops had finished training and been dispatched to various Fenyang garrisons, Lin Jinlou had worried about the Eastern Palace’s safety. But the Crown Prince had waved it off with a smile, saying: “No matter, this journey’s itinerary was kept strictly secret, and since the matter has been investigated, the Emperor will send the Palace Guards – they should already be on their way.”

Seeing the Crown Prince’s reticence and unwillingness to say more, Lin Jinlou had known there must be some reason and hadn’t asked further, simply taking his leave. Now seeing the Palace Guards dead in the grove, evidence of a fierce battle, he was greatly shaken. He quickly sent his trusted men in two teams to warn the Crown Prince and ordered Zeng Yuan to return to the estate to inform Yuan Shaoren. He turned back to see Xiang Lan standing behind a tree, moonlight falling on her face, showing her deathly pale complexion and hidden panic, though she struggled to maintain composure.

Lin Jinlou walked over and said softly: “There’s an estate very close ahead. I’ll take you there first. One household has old ties with the Lin family – you can take shelter there for now.”

Seeing only three men remained with Lin Jinlou, Xiang Lan couldn’t help but ask: “What about you?”

Lin Jinlou’s eyes flickered as he said: “Never mind about that. I’m pretty sure which son of a bitch is behind this. You’re a burden at my side. Once I get you settled safely, I’ll…”

Before he could finish, there was a sharp whistling sound of something cutting through the air, and an arrow struck the chest of the outermost Lin family soldier holding a torch with a “thud.”

The torch fell to the ground with a clang as the man grabbed the arrow with both hands, his expression first surprised, then agonized. As his body swayed, four more arrows whistled through the air, piercing him through. Without a sound, he slowly collapsed to the ground.

Xiang Lan was stunned. Lin Jinlou pushed her to the ground, commanding in a low voice: “Hide behind the tree and don’t move!” To the remaining two men he ordered: “Put out the torches! Get down!” He thrust his torch into a snowbank and rolled across the ground, disappearing into the darkness.