As soon as they left the Jia family, Lin Ruhai curled his lip. This was Rongguo Manor.

Since the old Duke’s passing, the decline had been visible to the naked eye. They could only look to the younger generation now, but from today’s observation, among the next generation of the Jia family, Jia Zhu had passed away, Jia Lian had some cleverness but didn’t love studying or martial arts.

Jia Baoyu was held in the palm of everyone’s hand—he had spirit but didn’t love studying. If this continued, he might well become a wastrel in the future.

As for the other concubine-born sons… Lin Ruhai frowned. He suspected the Jia family hadn’t properly educated them at all.

Children who weren’t properly educated would find it too difficult to distinguish themselves.

At this time, the old lady and her group were leisurely making their way along the road.

They had set out relatively late to begin with, and traveling slowly, naturally they couldn’t go very fast. This group heading north traveled the official road, everything calculated so they could reach their lodging before dark. The lodging places were generally arranged in advance by people sent ahead, so when the masters arrived they could immediately settle in and rest.

The escort included not only the Lin Manor’s guards but also professional escorts Lin Ruhai had specifically hired.

Because they’d taken half the household guards with them, and the two groups heading north both needed manpower, logically splitting them in half should have been sufficient. But the psychological shadow left on Lin Ruhai by that monk and Taoist had yet to fade.

So he simply spent the money to hire renowned escorts for the journey. The Lin family didn’t lack this amount of money.

With this arrangement, and being an official’s family members, some merchant caravans on the road would see them and ask if they could follow along. After receiving permission, they would generally draw near and follow at the tail, traveling together.

This formed a long convoy.

Even if there were bandits in the mountains, seeing such a procession they wouldn’t dare act rashly.

Setting aside the official status, just considering the manpower—would going down be robbery or delivering themselves as prey?

Comparing the two, most had enough self-awareness.

Bandits who had truly become powerful wouldn’t be left unchecked by the authorities above.

This made the convoy appear quite massive.

When it was time to rest, with so many people, ordinary small inns couldn’t accommodate them. However, generally speaking, they only needed to follow the Lin family on the open road. Once they entered towns, they didn’t need to keep following and could find their own lodging.

The steward would usually rent entire courtyards when possible, or even an entire inn.

If there were no inns and only postal stations along the way, they would go to the station.

The station might not have enough vacant rooms. If insufficient, the masters would rest at the station while others would circle the luggage with carriages and make do for the night.

Though the old lady worried about whether her son was faring well in the capital and what position he’d been assigned, she had been young once and knew that young ladies had few opportunities to go out. Since they weren’t in a hurry now, it was the perfect time to let her granddaughters relax and enjoy themselves.

Especially the two older ones—whether they participated in the imperial selection or not, within these two years they would become engaged or even marry.

At that time, they would manage household affairs and support their husbands while educating children. Not only would they lack the time, their mindset would be different.

However, to prevent accidents, she had them wear veiled hats when going out. Combined with so many attendants, local hooligans or official sons would see this attire and presence and not dare to cause trouble.

Indeed, this was the case.

Seeing this group’s attire, passersby and shopkeepers all greeted them with smiles. Those spoiled sons with backing weren’t ignorant.

Seeing their bearing and the fabric and decorations they wore, they knew whether this was a family they could afford to provoke.

Whenever Luo Yu went out, Yun Shuyao would follow along.

She wasn’t thinking of sightseeing—having seen much, it was all the same. There weren’t that many beautiful or novel scenes for her to appreciate at this time.

She went out for one reason: she worried that Luo Yu and the others might momentarily forget propriety, or encounter extraordinary people or strange experts—in which case the people around them truly wouldn’t be sufficient.

Another reason was she could conveniently see if there were any rare treasures or materials to acquire.

Moreover, she could temporarily escape from all those relationships she needed to remember and give her brain a rest.

The capital’s interpersonal relationships were intricate and complex, with far too many princes, nobles, and officials there. Some people seemed insignificant, but behind them they might have relatives who were untouchable important figures.

Along this journey, the old lady and old nannies gave them lessons together. Concubine Mei could relax somewhat, but Yun Shuyao had more social obligations and more to remember.

And Ying Yu and Luo Yu had even more than her.

However, though they found it tedious, they could patiently sort through everything one by one. By comparison, Yun Shuyao was somewhat more impatient.

Yun Shuyao: “…”

She felt anyone would find it annoying to untangle thread that cats had played with into a complete mess.

Yun Shuyao’s group traveled leisurely, and when they approached the capital, near dusk they arrived at a postal station.

After the station master learned that the highest-ranking person in this group was a Marquis’s wife, he hurriedly cleared out two courtyards for them to settle in. Today the station was packed to capacity.

The deceased old Marquis still held a hereditary title.

It was just that by Lin Ruhai’s generation, it had become a commoner status.

The old lady, along with the concubines, granddaughters, and personally attending maids and nannies occupied one courtyard, while the other courtyard housed the advisors and their families.

For everyone else, the station still had some less desirable rooms available.

The old lady didn’t want to cause trouble—two courtyards were sufficient. However, with all this commotion, those staying at the station also knew who had arrived.

Most others were fine, but one household had distant relations with the old lady—he was the uncle of the old lady’s nephew’s daughter-in-law.

He came as a junior to present his card and pay respects. If the old lady had time, they would meet; if not, it would be the next day.

Had he not been in such a hurry, this card needn’t have been sent over so urgently.

The old lady received the card, understood the relationship, and immediately had someone invite him in.

This was a roundabout connection.

But in official circles, let alone actual relations—even without connections, it wasn’t uncommon for people to find any excuse to call and seek patronage.

This was nothing unusual.

The other party was also returning to the capital, surnamed Wu. He hadn’t brought his wife but had brought a concubine and the twin daughters born to that concubine. His wife remained at their hometown to serve his parents and manage the family business.

He didn’t bring the concubine to the meeting, only the daughters, also in their teens.

The old lady met them once, gave two meeting gifts, and that was that.

It should have been time to rest, but tonight would not be a peaceful night.

In the latter half of the night, when people slept most soundly and were least vigilant, uninvited guests arrived.

They first secretly released sleeping incense, then snuck in, searching certain courtyards with specific targets for something. But unfortunately, they thought everyone had been knocked unconscious, but they weren’t—they were discovered, and fighting broke out.

“Assassins!”

“Murder, murder!”

Accompanied by the crackling sounds of things being smashed, it made one’s heart involuntarily tremble.

Yun Shuyao woke the moment the assassins entered the station. She quietly dressed, then woke Luo Yu.

The two of them shared a room, while the maids slept on floor mats.

When Luo Yu was awakened, she was somewhat bewildered. Her concubine mother had her listen carefully, and only then did she hear some commotion. Her face showed momentary panic, but seeing her concubine mother, it turned to determination.

They quietly woke everyone else and had them dress.

Luo Yu took her riding whip in hand—if villains truly entered, she could hold them off for a while.

Yun Shuyao knew their location wasn’t the villains’ target, but who knew if chaos would lead to indiscriminate attacks?

She heard someone shouting “fire.”

They couldn’t stay here. “Let’s go to the old lady’s quarters.”

The maids suppressed their fear and everyone went to the old lady’s side.

They were next door to begin with. Going out and knocking on the door, someone inside cautiously asked, “Who is it?”

Yun Shuyao: “It’s us.”

Other maids were sent to other places to spread the word, telling them to dress quickly and be alert.

Hearing the familiar voice, the old nanny inside opened the door. The old lady was dressing at this time. Daiyu had already changed and sat bewildered on the bed, with an old nanny holding her, worried she’d be frightened.

At this time, the shouts of fire grew louder.

“Fire, fire! Hurry and put out the fire!”

“Run quickly, run!”

“Help! I’m bleeding, so much blood…”

Hearing this, the old lady couldn’t sit still. She swept her gaze around, seeing Concubine Mei and her eldest granddaughter rushing in hastily wearing cloaks, and instructed people: “Quickly see if the tutors are awake, arrange people to help, see how the fire is—if it can be put out, put it out.”

Concubine Mei’s voice carried a sobbing tone: “Old lady, what’s happening? How did this start?”

The old lady didn’t know either. She shook her head. “I don’t know. Go see where it’s burned to.”

Yun Shuyao: “We should leave and go outside.”

These houses were wooden—if the fire couldn’t be extinguished in time, they needed to leave early.

The old lady nodded: “Let’s go.”

The maids and nannies were already packing.

Most of their luggage was still on the carriages, and most of the manpower was there too. Otherwise just packing wouldn’t be a quick matter.

The fire sounded substantial—better to go out.

At this time the guard team also arrived. With them present, everyone felt more at ease.

Not far from the door they encountered an assassin. The other party held a dagger, dressed entirely in black with face also covered in black cloth—except for exposed eyes, nothing else could be seen.

As soon as the other party appeared, the escorts hired by the Lin family swarmed and beat them half to death.

No matter how skilled, they couldn’t fight the multitude, and these escorts were also experts.

Seeing this, the old lady had the guards remain at her side while all the escorts went to help.

These assassins weren’t numerous, but each one was exceptionally skilled, which was why they’d initially gained the upper hand.

The Lin family’s manpower was sufficient to capture these villains who dared raid the station at night. Whatever their purpose, their appearance made clear they weren’t good people.

Capturing them might even earn some merit.

With the Lin family escorts entering the fray, the station’s situation instantly changed.

Not only were the assassins caught off guard, even the Fourth Prince who was their target was surprised.

How could there be so many skilled fighters at the station?

With their entry, the assassins instantly fell to a disadvantage. Seeing things going badly and wanting to flee, it was too late.

Midway, Luo Yu watched with some restlessness, wanting to crack her whip, but Yun Shuyao grasped her wrist and stopped her.

Seeing the situation, the guards and escorts could handle them. As an unmarried young lady of a prominent family, there was no need for her to seek this attention.

This was also the old lady’s instruction—before their imperial selection, the less famous and less noticed they were, the better. This way things could be better managed.

Luo Yu understood this reasoning too. When her concubine mother’s hand grasped hers, she relaxed her grip.

These assassins were death warriors.

Discovering the situation was hopeless, each one was decisive—whether using weapons in hand or poison, they gave themselves a quick end.

This was unexpected for the escorts.

Caught off guard, all were wiped out.

Not a single one left alive.

Seeing this, the old lady’s brows furrowed deeply.

Death warriors… not something ordinary families could afford to raise.

Had they inadvertently gotten caught up in something major?

People targeted by death warriors… who?

Her eyes swept around but saw no one.

She remembered the station master saying that this time, besides her, none of the others were even fourth-rank officials.

Everyone was captured, the fire had started, and spare hands all went to help carry water and fight the fire.

Others, seeing the situation controlled, came forward to express thanks.

“Thank you, Madam, for lending aid.”

“Thank you, Old Lady, for your righteousness.”

Some were crying out: “Quickly fetch a physician—my father is injured!”

“My mother was also hurt.”

At this time, Doctor Zhou efficiently stepped forward with his medicine chest.

The Fourth Prince’s people were also injured. Just after instructing someone to fetch a physician, one stepped forward.

He couldn’t help but regard the Lin family with new eyes.

Whether the escorts the Lin family hired or the accompanying physician—both somewhat surprised him.

This time he was concealing his identity, so he wouldn’t stand out now.

In the crowd, he looked toward the Lin family’s direction. Mostly female family members, all with fine appearances. From their looks, they didn’t seem to be escorting valuable goods—this could be called a fortunate coincidence.

The Fourth Prince’s gaze turned to those corpses on the ground, the cold air around him intensifying.

Had it not been for the experts at his side sensing something wrong this time, once these assassins released the sleeping incense and set the fire, who knew how many would have died or been injured?

Now, not only had they exposed themselves, they’d also gained nothing while losing much.

Moreover, the more anxious and concerned they were, the more it proved that item’s importance.

They thought it was on him, not knowing the item had already been sent back to the capital ahead and should be in the Imperial Father’s hands by now.

These people all deserved death.

Soon soldiers arrived to handle the aftermath.

With so many officials and their families here, when the local magistrate learned of it, he hurriedly rose and rushed over.

This matter was truly too egregious.

At the foot of the Son of Heaven, such arrogant villains gathering to commit arson and murder—where did they place the Great Qing’s dignity?

If not handled well, the black silk hat atop his head would be lost.

Many people were innocently implicated. Fortunately there were no deaths. The most severely injured was a loyal servant protecting his master; others would heal after some recuperation.

They certainly resented the local magistrate. Had he remained safely at home acting as magistrate, once these people thought things through, who knew if they’d make trouble for this county magistrate?

However, he appeared now, and upon arrival immediately directed people to extinguish the remaining sparks, properly arranged for the injured, expressed concern and warmth, and acknowledged his faults—causing many to reduce their resentment toward him.

Among these people was the Fourth Prince.

Watching the other party’s orderly manner, he unconsciously nodded.

For this county magistrate, this was also an undeserved disaster.

Lord Wu brought his family to stay near the Lin family—only there could he feel safe.

He was unlucky—assassins broke into the adjacent room and fought, and his arm was pierced by flying wood shards. His two daughters were frightened and fell, with one even spraining her ankle.

“Going forward, I must trouble the old lady.”

He changed his itinerary, wanting to leisurely return to the capital together with the Lin family.

Otherwise, as an injured person rushing on the road, who knew if he’d fall seriously ill upon arrival?

“You’re too kind. We’re relatives to begin with—helping each other is only proper.”

“Fortunately this time the old lady brought sufficient people.” Lord Wu felt lingering fear.

The old lady was modest. “It’s all because my son worried we old, weak women and children might encounter some accident, so as a precaution he hired people…”

This time, many people owed the Lin family a favor.

Apart from this small incident, their remaining journey was smooth.

When the old lady led everyone back to the capital, Rongguo Manor’s calling card was impatiently sent over, inviting everyone to visit.

The old lady looked at this card, a smile curving her lips.

Go?

Of course they’d go.

Thinking of Daiyu’s fate in the dream, her nameless fury blazed up with a whoosh…