Chapter 70: The Imperial Concubine’s Fury
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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Lin Xiu didn’t explain, and Liu Qingfeng didn’t press him.
After all, the assassin was dead, and Lin Xiu wasn’t seriously injured. He simply advised, “Lin Xiu, it seems someone desperately wants you gone. You must be extremely careful. Avoid leaving the city unless absolutely necessary. Even within the city walls, take guards with you when you go out.”
Lin Xiu cupped his hands slightly. “Thank you for the warning, Liu Qingfeng.”
“Since you’re alright, I’ll return to the yamen.” Liu Qingfeng nodded to Lin Xiu. At the door, he paused. “Lin Xiu, when you have time, consider this: since you told no one of your movements, how did your enemy know? Did anyone see you leave by the back gate disguised as a servant?”
Lin Xiu’s eyes narrowed at Liu Qingfeng’s words.
He hadn’t been alone when he left the Lin Estate through the back gate, disguised as a servant.
There had been one other person.
A servant of the Lin Estate, one of the ten awarded by the Emperor when the Lin family’s title was elevated. He’d been cleaning the stables in the back courtyard and had bumped into Lin Xiu, expressing surprise. Lin Xiu had simply told him to keep it a secret and left, thinking nothing of it.
“Da Li!” Lin Xiu called out sharply.
Sun Dali rushed in. “Young Master, what is it?”
“Find Lin Wu!” Lin Xiu commanded grimly.
Lin Wu was the servant’s name. All the servants and maids given to the Lin Estate were bestowed the surname Lin.
Sun Dali ran out, returning shortly with a shocked expression. He stammered, “Y-Young Master, Lin Wu… Lin Wu is dead!”
Inside the servants’ quarters of the Lin Estate, Liu Qingfeng examined the body of the man on the floor. “Poison. Suicide. It seems he was prepared.”
He looked at Lin Xiu, his expression grave. “If he’d been bribed, he wouldn’t have gone this far, preparing poison in advance. He killed himself before you could even question him. This man… was likely someone’s trained assassin.”
Someone who could afford trained assassins was no ordinary person, most likely a powerful noble in the capital.
“Lin Xiu, if you wish to find the true culprit, you’ll have to start with this man’s identity. But these assassins are released for a reason. Even if you investigate deeply, you’ll likely find nothing. The waters in the capital run deep. You know this better than I.”
Lin Xiu nodded. “Thank you for the advice, Liu Qingfeng. The Qingli Si need not waste any more effort on this case.”
This case was beyond the Qingli Si’s reach. Even if they could investigate, they wouldn’t dare.
Normally, after an assassination attempt, one would suspect those recently offended.
The only person Lin Xiu had truly offended recently was Marquis Yongping. His eldest son, the heir, had been exiled because of Lin Xiu, giving him motive.
But Lin Xiu doubted the Yongping Marquis’s involvement.
Even if the Marquis wanted him dead, he would wait until things had calmed down. Otherwise, it would be too obvious. The Emperor had just elevated the Lin family’s title, and then he sends assassins? It would be a clear sign of disrespect to the Emperor.
However, it was also possible that Marquis Yongping was counting on that assumption, acting in a counter-intuitive manner. But that was a bit too convoluted…
What truly ruled out Marquis Yongping for Lin Xiu was a commonality between this assassination and the last. Both occurred after he’d offended a powerful figure.
Last time, he offended Qin Cong and was immediately targeted. Even if he had died, the Qin family would have been the prime suspects.
This time, he offended Marquis Yongping, and a few days later, another assassin appears. If he died, suspicion would immediately fall on the Marquis.
The two attempts were too similar, clearly bearing the same hallmark. While few knew Yang Xuan’s exile was Lin Xiu’s doing, the constables of the East City Yamen, the Secret Investigation Department, and hundreds of Imperial Guards knew. Anyone determined to find out could easily uncover the truth.
Lin Xiu currently had too little information, lacking even a decent suspect.
Or perhaps, there were too many suspects.
Which noble family in Da Xia didn’t desire Zhao Lingjun’s hand? Beyond those who had openly proposed, there were those with hidden intentions. It was impossible to know who was behind this.
It felt like the entire world was his enemy…
Thankfully, his parents were finally on his side.
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After the initial outburst, Madam Zhou calmed down. With a complex expression, she sighed. “When the old master arranged your engagement, no one could have foreseen Zhao Lingjun becoming such a prized daughter. At first, your father and I were delighted at the prospect of such a fine daughter-in-law. Later, as Lingjun’s talent blossomed and she gained the Emperor’s favor, her father’s title rose again and again. More and more suitors came to the Zhao family. That’s when we realized that engagement wasn’t a blessing…”
Lin Xiu’s heart stirred. “Mother, who has proposed to the Zhao family?”
The mastermind behind the assassinations was likely one of these families. Knowing who had courted Zhao Lingjun would help him narrow down the suspects.
Madam Zhou thought for a moment. “From the Imperial family alone, there’s the Crown Prince, Prince Zhao, Prince Qi, and Prince Yan. Then there’s the Prince of Changping’s son, the Prince of Jiangning’s son, the Prince of Liyang’s son, and the Prince of Hejian’s son. Six of the nine ducal houses have approached the Zhao family, along with over a dozen marquis houses…”
Lin Xiu started counting, then gave up.
Narrowing it down was impossible. She was practically the nation’s sweetheart, desired by every noble. Theoretically, they all had motive; they all wanted him dead…
It was as if he truly had made the world his enemy…
At least his parents were now on the same page.
Lord Ping’an, having calmed down, sighed. “This matter puts the Zhao family in a difficult position. They are a first-rank marquis house. Whoever cancels the engagement, they’ll be labeled as untrustworthy, damaging their reputation…”
His words rang true.
If the Zhao family canceled, they’d be accused of breaking their word, abandoning the engagement made when both families were less prominent.
If the Lin family canceled, people would say they were pressured by the Zhao family. If the consequences weren’t so detrimental to the Zhao family regardless of who initiated the break, the engagement wouldn’t have lasted this long.
Reputation was paramount, especially for influential families. So, despite both families, and the other nobles of the capital, wishing to dissolve the engagement, it persisted.
Suddenly, Madam Zhou exclaimed, “I’ve seen the marriage contract. It only states a union between the Lin and Zhao families. It doesn’t specify which daughter. The Zhao family has two daughters. We don’t have to marry Lingjun. We can marry Lingyin!”
Lin Xiu froze, then asked hopefully, “Is that possible?”
He hadn’t seen the contract himself and wasn’t aware of this loophole.
He didn’t want to marry a stranger, but someone he knew… Lingyin, though a bit fierce, held a special place in his heart.
Besides his mother from his past life, she was perhaps the only woman genuinely good to him without expecting anything in return.
Crucially, she shared his cultivation affinity. Marrying her meant they could cultivate day and night, every single day of the year…
Wait!
Lin Xiu’s face paled.
He was actually fantasizing about married life with Zhao Lingyin, and the thought brought unexpected joy. Was this still the commitment-phobic, playboy Lin Xiu?
He understood matters of the heart, recognizing the implications.
He liked Lingyin.
Not a casual infatuation. He was genuinely considering a life with her. Even knowing she wouldn’t tolerate his philandering ways, he was still contemplating it.
If it was Lingyin, settling down wasn’t un…
Lin Xiu snapped out of it, banishing the terrifying thought. When had he fallen prey to Lingyin’s charm?
Lord Ping’an’s voice broke his reverie.
He sighed and shook his head. “That’s simply not possible. The engagement was established between Lingjun and Xiu’er at birth. It’s specific to them. Since when can one choose their betrothed from a selection?”
Madam Zhou’s expression hardened. “Regardless, this engagement must be broken!”
The situation was awkward.
The engagement was a double-edged sword. Lin Xiu now realized things weren’t as simple as he’d thought.
Any decision had to wait until the Zhao family returned. In the meantime, there was another matter at the Lin Estate that required attention.
He turned to his parents. “Father, Mother, I want to return the servants’ contracts and allow them to seek their own livelihoods.”
Sun Dali, Old Huang, A’Yue, and Auntie Wang had served the Lin family for years. Lin Xiu trusted them implicitly.
However, he couldn’t say the same for the servants bestowed by the Emperor.
He couldn’t guarantee none were like Lin Wu, planted spies.
As a precaution, he decided to dismiss them all, providing severance pay and releasing them from servitude. They would have no reason to resent the Lin family.
His parents, clearly on the same wavelength, nodded. “You handle the household matters as you see fit,” Madam Zhou agreed.
Lin Xiu quickly gathered the nine servants in the courtyard and announced his decision. To his surprise, they weren’t disheartened, but rather excited.
Many were family members of former disgraced officials, forced into servitude due to their families’ downfall. Having once been masters themselves, they yearned for freedom.
“Thank you, Young Master! Thank you!”
After showering Lin Xiu with gratitude, they packed their belongings, took their severance pay, and left the estate with joyful hearts. Lin Xiu turned to A’Yue. “A’Yue, I’ll need your help for a few more days. I’ll find trustworthy people to assist you soon.”
“Young Master, don’t mention it,” A’Yue replied quickly. “It’s not a hardship. It’s my duty.”
Lin Xiu didn’t argue. They had remained loyal during the family’s darkest hours. He considered them family.
Having addressed the potential threat within the household, Lin Xiu went to Bai Shuangshuang’s room.
She was still asleep, her face serene. Lin Xiu felt a pang of guilt. He’d approached her with ulterior motives, yet she was the purest, most innocent girl he’d ever met.
Unlike the scheming Xue Ning’er, her sole ambition was to become a renowned physician, dedicated to healing and saving lives. Compared to her noble character and ideals, many, including himself, seemed rather… tainted.
Bai Shuangshuang awoke in the evening.
It was a normal consequence of depleted Yuanli and physical exhaustion. Lin Xiu experienced the same after Lingyin’s rigorous training sessions.
Sitting up, she glanced at the darkening sky. “It’s so late! I must go home…”
Lin Xiu approached with a bowl of chicken soup. “The curfew is in effect. You’ll have to stay here tonight. Don’t worry, I’ve sent word to your family. My mother simmered this black chicken soup for two hours, especially for you.”
Bai Shuangshuang accepted the bowl shyly. “Thank you.”
“I should be thanking you,” Lin Xiu smiled. “Rest here tonight. We’ll enter the palace together tomorrow.”
Bai Shuangshuang nodded, sipping the soup. After she finished, Lin Xiu took the empty bowl. “Rest well. Call me if you need anything.”
Leaving her room, he turned to find a figure standing behind him.
Startled, he asked, “Mother, what are you doing here?”
Madam Zhou peered into the room, then pulled Lin Xiu aside, whispering, “Which family is she from? Do you know her? Who is in her family? Is she betrothed…?”
He knew she was looking for a potential daughter-in-law. “Mother, you misunderstand. Shuangshuang is a friend. There’s nothing between us.”
“Everything starts from nothing,” she insisted. “I think this young lady is quite suitable. If her family is respectable and she’s not engaged…”
“Mother, I have things to do. I’m going back to my room. You should rest too…”
To prevent further interrogation, Lin Xiu quickly retreated to his room.
He truly had no romantic interest in Bai Shuangshuang. Though pretty, she wasn’t his type. She was more of the lolita type, around the same age as Lingyin and Princess Minghe. Her delicate features made her appear even younger.
Lin Xiu preferred mature women, like Caiyi and Qin Wan. Especially Qin Wan, the epitome of a mature woman. Even with his experience and self-control, he found her irresistible.
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He slept soundly.
The next morning, Bai Shuangshuang, her Yuanli restored, treated Lin Xiu’s wound again. The gruesome injury on his shoulder healed completely, leaving no scar.
Lin Xiu was amazed, but also excited.
He now possessed the same ability.
Of course, his healing wouldn’t be as effective.
He’d only awakened his ability twice. Bai Shuangshuang, despite her innocent appearance, possessed remarkable talent. She had awakened her ability four times already, the rising star of the Imperial Hospital.
Moreover, she’d mastered her Xuan-rank healing ability. Her next breakthrough would elevate it to Earth-rank.
While the wound was healed, Lin Xiu still needed time to fully recover.
After breakfast with Bai Shuangshuang, he accompanied her to the palace, escorting her to the Imperial Hospital before heading towards the inner palace.
A young eunuch shadowed him. Though allowed free access, he could only visit the Imperial Concubine’s Changchun Palace.
Upon entering, he found the Imperial Concubine admiring flowers in the courtyard. Her spirit pet, upon seeing him, abandoned her and flew into his arms, demanding to know why he hadn’t visited yesterday.
He had intended to, but the assassination attempt prevented him.
The Imperial Concubine also shot him a disapproving look. “Where were you yesterday? Nannan and I waited all day.”
Normally, anyone who dared to stand her up would be punished, but she held genuine affection for Lin Xiu, granting him leniency.
“Your Majesty,” Lin Xiu explained, “I was on my way when I was attacked by an assassin. I barely escaped with my life and had to rest at home.”
“What?!” The Concubine’s eyebrows shot up in fury. “An assassination? Who did it? Are you injured?”
“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. The wound wasn’t fatal. After two treatments from Physician Shuang, I’m almost fully recovered.”
The Concubine frowned. “I know Shuangshuang’s skills. If she needed two treatments, it wasn’t a minor injury. Who would dare harm you? I won’t spare them!”
Lin Xiu shook his head. “The assassin is dead. There’s no trail to follow.”
The Concubine pondered. “It must be that Marquis Yongping, seeking revenge for his son! Wait here. I’ll speak to His Majesty. A mere first-rank marquis, how dare he act so recklessly!”
“Your Majesty, please calm down,” Lin Xiu urged. “Marquis Yongping isn’t that foolish. His son was exiled just days ago. Acting now would be a clear admission of guilt…”
The Concubine, already striding towards the exit, called back, “Even if it wasn’t him, we’ll find the culprit. How dare they touch someone under my protection! They’ve grown tired of living!”
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