The messenger responded while deliberately dropping his horsewhip near Gui Yuan, and mumbled to him, “Second Master has tied up Miss Xiang Lan in the carriage.” After speaking, he picked up his horsewhip and left.

Gui Yuan was shocked, thinking he had misheard. Though skeptical, he noticed the messenger’s anxious glance, which made him believe it somewhat. He grew worried and was about to speak up, but seeing Xing Ge’s menacing presence and the two or three guards and servants standing nearby, he swallowed his words. He thought to himself, “If this is true, it’s terrible. This is Second Branch’s street-side gate, surrounded by Second Master’s people. Calling for help would be useless and might make things worse.” With this in mind, he first walked back inside, then broke into a sprint, running straight to the front. He saw the feast ongoing in the hall, but Lin Jin Lou wasn’t there. When he asked a young servant, he was told the Young Master was in the Master’s study.

Gui Yuan hurried to the study and peeked through the door crack. Sure enough, Lin Jin Lou was inside, with another official sitting nearby. The three seemed to be in conversation. Gui Yuan couldn’t wait any longer and pushed open the door, kneeling and saying, “Young Master, something terrible has happened. Madam Xiang Lan has been kidnapped and is now in a carriage at the western side gate.”

Lin Jin Lou’s face changed dramatically upon hearing this. “What?” he exclaimed, not waiting for a response before standing abruptly and turning to leave.

Lin Zhang Zheng darkened his face and said, “Stop! Where are you going?”

Lin Jin Lou ignored him completely. Lin Zhang Zheng flew into a rage and shouted, “You rebellious creature, stop right there!” He then called out to his guards and escorts, “Someone, stop him!”

Indeed, seven or eight guards rushed in from outside to intercept him. Lin Jin Lou started throwing punches, but these guards were skilled, and he couldn’t break free immediately. Lin Jin Lou’s eyes reddened with urgency as he tried to force his way through, gritting his teeth and shouting, “You bastards, all of you get out of my way!” Shuang Xi, watching from outside, thought to himself, “This is terrible, they’ve come to blows!” He hurriedly went to find someone to report this.

Just then, Yuan Shao Ren came searching from the front hall and was greatly shocked, not knowing what had happened. Thinking only of the guests in front who might laugh if trouble broke out, he decided keeping the peace was crucial. Taking advantage of Lin Jin Lou’s distraction, he sneaked up and used a grappling technique. Lin Jin Lou tried to block the unexpected attack, but guards rushed in from the side to grab his limbs, using their knees to pin his legs while twisting his arms. Yuan Shao Ren pressed down on his waist and swept his feet, pinning Lin Jin Lou to the ground so he couldn’t move, all while saying, “Ying Yang, let’s talk this through, what are you doing?”

The official sitting nearby was Master Wei, who had become dumbfounded at the scene. Feeling awkward, he stood up and repeatedly cupped his hands, saying, “I’ll take my leave, I’ll take my leave,” and hastily departed.

Lin Zhang Zheng was trembling with anger and forgot even to exchange pleasantries like “family misfortune” or “Brother, pardon the scene” with Master Wei. Thinking that family shame shouldn’t be exposed, he pointed at the door and sternly ordered the guards, “Withdraw and close the door!”

Lin Jin Lou struggled on the ground, his eyes nearly bleeding with rage, stretching his neck to shout, “Let go! Xiang Lan has been kidnapped!”

Lin Zhang Zheng exploded, “That’s right! I ordered your Second Uncle to take her!”

“What? Why?”

“Why? You dare question me! It’s all because of you, you worthless son, counting how many times you’ve stumbled over women, yet you never learn! Now you’re becoming even more willful. I am your father, and if I fail to teach you, it’s my fault as a parent. I absolutely cannot allow you to do such foolish things that would shock the world!”

Lin Jin Lou gnashed his teeth, “What do you want? Where are you sending Xiang Lan?”

“Simple. Just agree to marry into the Wei family, and once you’re married, I’ll naturally send her back. During this time, she’ll be well fed and cared for, certainly not mistreated. I give you my word on this.”

“Bullshit!”

“You… you… what did you say?!” With a crash, a brush holder struck Lin Jin Lou’s face, immediately causing blood to flow from his temple.

Yuan Shao Ren was shocked and quickly said, “Father-in-law, please calm down!”

The veins on Lin Jin Lou’s forehead all bulged as he shouted, “I said bullshit! Even if the sky falls, it’s impossible!”

Lin Zhang Zheng jumped in rage, “She’s just a lowborn woman! What’s so good about her that makes you so obsessed, willing to throw away your family business, career, and face? If it weren’t for remembering her debt to the Lin family, she should be dead!”

Lin Jin Lou, face bloodied, glared furiously and said through gritted teeth, “Father, don’t push me too far.” Turning his neck to Yuan Shao Ren, he said, “Old Yuan, if you truly consider me a brother, let go.”

Lin Zhang Zheng was about to explode with anger and shouted, “Don’t let go!”

Yuan Shao Ren hesitated.

Lin Jin Lou bitterly said to Yuan Shao Ren, “Do you want Xiang Lan to end up like Lian Niang?”

Yuan Shao Ren froze, his grip loosening. Lin Jin Lou immediately sprang up like a carp and tried to rush outside again. At that moment, Madam Qin was supporting Old Madam Lin as they hurriedly pushed open the door, running straight into Lin Jin Lou. Seeing blood flowing from his temple, they were immediately horrified, their faces trembling with distress. They cried out “Flesh of my flesh” and “Son” with great alarm, then broke into tears, both embracing Lin Jin Lou and weeping.

Although Lin Jin Lou was burning with anxiety, his mind remained clear. He thought to himself, “Xiang Lan was kidnapped by Second Uncle on the old man’s orders. To catch a thief, first catch the king – if I can subdue Father, Xiang Lan will naturally return. Otherwise, even if I chase after the carriage now, it’s probably long gone.” Thinking this, he changed his approach, walked back into the room, and with tears in his eyes, knelt and said, “Father, if anything happens to Xiang Lan, don’t blame me for being unfilial, but I will truly shave my head and become a monk.”

Old Madam Lin felt as if her heart had been torn out hearing these words. With a sob, she bent down to embrace Lin Jin Lou’s head, crying, “Lou’er, are you trying to take my life with such words?” Her trembling hands wiped the blood from his head. Madam Qin stood nearby wiping tears, also beginning to weep softly.

Lin Jin Lou, with reddened eyes, said, “Grandmother, Father has kidnapped Xiang Lan and sent her somewhere unknown…”

Old Madam Lin looked down at Lin Jin Lou, her face full of distress: “Good child, get up first, the ground is cold. Does your head wound hurt?” She glared at Lin Zhang Zheng and said sternly, “It’s hateful that in my old age, I didn’t raise a good son. This blood on his head was caused by you, wasn’t it? To drive my grandson to become a monk – what sin did I commit in my previous life!” She covered her face and wept uncontrollably.

Lin Zhang Zheng was so anxious he wanted to tear his hair out. He stamped his foot and said, “Mother, you… you don’t know the whole story, you don’t know what shameful things this wretch has done! I’m disciplining him for the sake of our ancestors’ face!”

“I haven’t seen what shameful things he’s done, I just see you beating him until his head bleeds! Is that saving face?” She looked down at Lin Jin Lou again lovingly and said, “Quickly apply some medicine, you poor thing…” Her tears rolled down again.

Lin Jin Lou looked at Lin Zhang Zheng and said, “Father, what I said earlier was from the bottom of my heart. My life was saved by Xiang Lan, and she saved over a hundred lives of the Lin family. If anything happens to her, I will become a monk and chant sutras to atone for her!”

Lin Zhang Zheng exploded in anger: “Mad, mad! Over a hundred lives – what nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m not mad!” Lin Jin Lou saw that only family members were present in the room, with no servants or guards around, so he gritted his teeth and said, “I never wanted to mention this matter, was going to let it rot in my stomach… Two years ago, I found Crown Prince Jian Zhang.”

These words struck like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, stunning everyone in the room. Lin Zhang Zheng staggered back several steps and exclaimed, “What? What… what?”

“At that time, the Crown Prince was hiding in a temple, having renounced worldly affairs. I met him once and sent trusted men to escort him beyond the border to the Western Regions. Unexpectedly, Zhao Jin discovered this and investigated it thoroughly, recording everything. Later, that fatal piece of evidence fell into Zhao Yue Chan’s hands.”

Lin Zhang Zheng seemed frozen in place, his face ashen as he stumbled back several steps and collapsed into a chair.

Lin Jin Lou continued, “If it weren’t for Xiang Lan if she hadn’t set aside past grievances to save her several times during the rebel attack that night if she hadn’t been moved by this and given that letter to Xiang Lan on her deathbed, others would have found that letter when searching her corpse. How could the Lin family still be here wielding power and glory instead of being executed to the last person? Yet Xiang Lan read the letter and secretly tore it up, never mentioning it. If I hadn’t happened to be awake and secretly saw this, no one would have known. Everyone in the Lin family doesn’t know they owe her such a great debt! Father, how can we repay this? How can we repay it?!”

Lin Zhang Zheng stood up, feeling dizzy and seeing stars.

Lin Jin Lou raised his head to look at Old Madam Lin and said hoarsely, “Grandmother, as a son, I dare not complain about Father’s actions, but if in the future I cannot fulfill my filial duties, I ask Grandmother to take good care of herself.” As he spoke, two streams of tears rolled down his face.

Of course, Lin Jin Lou didn’t want to become a monk; this was a counterattack against his father. However, Old Madam Lin couldn’t bear it. How many years had it been since she’d seen her beloved eldest grandson in such a state? She recalled how when Lin Jin Lou was small and got into mischief, he would hide in her embrace seeking protection from his father’s pursuit. She held Lin Jin Lou’s head to her bosom as if he were still a six or seven-year-old child, and with trembling fingers pointed at Lin Zhang Zheng, saying, “If you still consider me your mother, quickly bring that Xiang Lan back!”

Lin Zhang Zheng said, “Mother, this wretch wants to marry that former slave…”

“Who he wants to marry is another matter. For now, just bring Xiang Lan back safely.”

Lin Zhang Zheng gritted his teeth and said, “No, let him become a monk if he dares!”

Hearing this, Lin Jin Lou pulled a dagger from his boot and was about to cut off his topknot. Yuan Shao Ren was quick to grab Lin Jin Lou’s wrist, frightening Old Madam Lin so much that her heart nearly jumped out of her throat. She cried out in anguish, “Lou’er! My eldest grandson! What are you doing? Do you want me to die, is that it?”

Madam Qin stepped forward to grab Lin Zhang Zheng’s sleeve, shaking it forcefully with tears in her eyes, saying, “My Lord! Quickly bring Xiang Lan back! We cannot be ungrateful, she has always been a good child…”

Lin Zhang Zheng trembled all over, feeling dejected. He sighed deeply and sat down, seeming to age several years in an instant. After a while, he said hoarsely, “I had Second Brother take her to the Marquis Zhenguo’s estate in the suburbs.”

Upon hearing this, Lin Jin Lou immediately stood to leave. Old Madam Lin blocked him and absolutely wouldn’t let him go, crying while saying, “Now that we know where she is, we can send someone to bring her back. With your head injury, what if it becomes seriously ill? You can’t go, you’re not allowed to go anywhere.” Madam Qin had already gone out personally to get medicine.

Yuan Shao Ren said quietly to Lin Jin Lou, “Don’t worry, I’ll personally lead people to bring her back.” After speaking, he turned and left.