Chapter 17: The Dynamics of the Imperial City

  Jia Yun was kicked out of the Lin Mansion and stayed in an inn for a few days. He had planned to take advantage of the opportunity to visit the Lin Mansion again, but the Emperor was still staying there, and he couldn't go to see Lin Ruhai. The news of his being beaten had already spread, making him too ashamed to wander around Yangzhou. However, when he thought about returning to Beijing to see Grandmother Jia, he felt afraid, fearing that she would blame him for not completing his task. So Jia Yun hid in the inn, anxiously waiting for the day when the Emperor would leave Yangzhou, as it was impossible for the Emperor to stay there forever.

  In the capital, Suo Ertu received news that Li Li had been handed over to Lin Ruhai for disposal. He furrowed his brow and unintentionally knocked over a cup on the table. The cup fell to the ground with a loud clang and shattered into many pieces in an instant.

  "Ah Ma, Lin Ruhai has gone too far!" shouted Ertuohui, the eldest son of Songgotu.

  Suo E Tuo didn't say a word, he and Lin Ruhai had been holding grudges for a long time. In the past, the Emperor protected him, but later the Emperor became disgusted with him and sent him far away to Jiangnan. However, even then, he couldn't do anything to him, just thinking about it made him angry. This time Li Li saw an opportunity to make a move on Lin Ruhai, but instead got himself involved as well. When would he get rid of such a fool?

  "Ah, Ma? It seems that Lin Ruhai is now in the emperor's favor, his only daughter has just been made a princess, we are not suitable to have a direct conflict with him." Suolei, the second son of Sueretou, said. He was still somewhat clear-headed and had not lost his way due to some things.

  Some of the furious Xiao Er suddenly calmed down a bit, "Someone come and send a message to Jia's house."

  "Does Ama mean to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight?" Su Le immediately understood what Xue E Tuo meant. The Jia and Lin families were related by marriage, but Lin Ruhai was clearly unwilling to associate with the Jia family and had some grievances against them. So let the Jia family go find trouble with Lin Ruhai, stir up the Lin family and make them restless.

  "Now that we know, let's get it done. Also, investigate the assassin this time, he must have connections with some people." Xue E Tuo said with a hint of implication, framing and trapping him was an old trick, Lin Ru Hai, if there is solid evidence, where can you escape to?

  "The son knew, and he went to do it." Su Le nodded and retreated. E Tuhan looked at his younger brother's back as he walked away, a flash of hatred in his eyes. He was the eldest son, but this younger brother always stole the spotlight from him. Did he also want to steal his right to inherit the Su Manor?

  Suo E Tuo was currently engrossed in thoughts of how to deal with Lin Ru Hai and had not noticed the turmoil between his two sons. This undercurrent would soon cause a complete upheaval in the Suo household, but that's a story for later.

  The Jia Mansion received news from Sui Ertu, "Qin Ke is still in Yangzhou?" Madame Wang looked at Wang Xifeng who was standing beside her.

  "It should be that Second Master is still waiting to bring Lin sister back together." Wang Xifeng didn't know what had happened, but seeing Old Lady Jia's serious expression, she unusually became serious for a moment.

  "Bring it back? Bring it back?" Old Lady Jia's expression turned somewhat fierce.

  Wang Xifeng accompanied the smile, but in her heart she was thinking that it must be Jia Yu who had done something wrong to herself again, and made a big fuss about it all over Yangzhou. Thinking of this, Wang Xifeng's anger ignited.

  "What did you bring her back for? You even beat up your own nephew, how can I have such a granddaughter?" Madam Jia slapped her thigh, clearly uncomfortable.

  Wang Xifeng furrowed her brow after hearing the news. Was Jia Lian beaten by Lin's cousin? Why would that be? How could Daiyu, such a weak and delicate person, possibly let someone beat up Jia Lian? Besides, considering the time, they should have returned already. Could it be that Uncle Lin hadn't passed away after all? In that case, what could Jia Lian bring back with him? Wang Xifeng had long been secretly plotting with Jia Lian to embezzle a portion of the Lin family's wealth and fill her own pockets.

  "Someone, call Lian'er back." After a moment's consideration, Mrs. Jia made up her mind and decided to let Lin Ruhai live for the time being.

  "Alright, let someone go and take care of it." Wang Xifeng finished speaking and turned to leave the upper house, instructing the servants to take care of things, while she herself returned to her room with a flurry of thoughts.

  "Grandma, what's wrong?" Ping'er came forward and asked anxiously, seeing that Wang Xifeng's face didn't look right.

  "Second Master was beaten by Lin's cousin. He is recovering from his injuries in Yangzhou, and Old Madame has already sent someone to fetch him." Wang Xifeng briefly explained the situation.

  Ping'er's heart skipped a beat, Second Master was beaten? What's going on here?

  "Don't think about it anymore, Second Master is coming back soon, let's clean up." Wang Xifeng interrupted Ping'er's thoughts.

  "Yes, Granny." Ping'er quickly began helping Wang Xifeng remove the decorations from her hair and attended to her as she lay down on the bed.

  Jiangnan, Yangzhou, Daiyu sat by the window watching the misty rain outside, another year's plum rain season, but such a small rain is really annoying.

  "Miss, Lin Fang is asking to see you." Xueyan skipped in, but actually wasn't happy inside. Nowadays, the miss often secretly discussed things with Lin Fang, and she couldn't even go listen.

  "Let him in, Snow Goose, you go out." Daiyu breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed that some people had taken action.

  Xueyan blinked and retreated with a wronged expression. Lin Fang passed by her, first rushing to Daiyu to pay his respects, then saying in a low voice, "Everything is as Miss expected, that person indeed..." Before Lin Fang could finish speaking, he discovered that Daiyu's eyes were not right, and immediately stopped.

  "Miss." Lin Fang called out tentatively.

  Daiyu pointed to the window, and Lin Fang immediately understood what she meant. The scalding hot tea in his cup was spilled out, followed by a cry of "Ah, it's so hot!" The voice was very familiar - it was Xueyan's. Was she eavesdropping? Lin Fang looked at Daiyu, who nodded slightly.

  "Snow Goose, go and apply some medicine. Don't make a habit of it." Daiyu's icy voice came over, Snow Goose, who had been scalded by the hot tea, tearfully covered her head and left, filled with jealousy in her heart, wondering when Miss had become so fond of that steward.

  "All right, let's get started." Daiyu made sure Xueyan had walked far away before letting Lin Fang continue speaking.

  "How did you find out, Miss?" Lin Fang said with some embarrassment, his high martial arts skills hadn't even noticed this point.

  "There's nothing. Xue Yan's breath is unstable, and you would have noticed if it were normal. But now you're inevitably arrogant and a bit restless." Daiyu looked into Lin Fang's eyes, and after clearing his inner demons, he relaxed a bit.

  "The young lady is being taught a lesson. The young lady is just as you expected, and Zǐ Juàn might really be from that side."

  "If it's someone from that side, but they passed through the Jia Mansion, whether the Jia Mansion is aware of it or not is unknown." Daiyu furrowed her brow, if the Jia Mansion was aware of it, how could one of the four great families collude with a rebel party? It all seemed very strange.