Lin Jinlou's temples were throbbing with bulging veins, his fury surging from his ribs like a searing hot iron brand rolling wildly in his chest, making every breath painful. Hu Lai watched in terror as his master's handsome, masculine face gradually turned red, his gaze fierce, his imposing aura radiating ominously. With a darkened expression, Lin demanded harshly, "What's the situation now?"
Hu Lai swallowed hard and whispered, "When I rushed back, Captain Wen had already led ten men to storm in. Someone has gone to nearby Battalion Commander Xu's post to seek reinforcements..." His voice trailed off.
The implication was that they didn't know whether those inside the temple were dead or alive.
Lin Jinlou's heart sank. He cursed angrily, "I ordered you to protect the women from the estate! What the hell have you been doing?!" With that, he strode off.
Hearing the commotion, Lu Shaotang hurried out and called after Lin's retreating figure, "Brother Lin, why such haste? We haven't finished drinking..."
Lin Jinlou paid no attention, descending the stairs with thunderous footsteps like a gust of wind.
The banquet guests exchanged uneasy glances.
Lu Shaotang's eyebrows knitted together as he slowly rubbed the ruby ring on his finger. The guards Lin had left at the temple should have been eliminated by his men by now. If someone were to deliver a message, it shouldn't arrive until dawn at the earliest. Yet here was a messenger before the fourth watch—had something gone wrong? Or was Lin's departure unrelated? After a moment's contemplation, he beckoned to a trusted aide and murmured, "Go find out what's happening at Qixia Temple." The man acknowledged the order and left.
Lu Shaotang slowly exhaled and returned to his seat. He and Lin Jinlou shared similar temperaments—both courageous and strategic. They had been close playmates in childhood. But as they grew older, Lu began secretly comparing himself to Lin. Though their scholarly pursuits, martial skills, and archery were evenly matched, Lin seemed a natural leader, the undisputed king among children since youth, commanding even greater loyalty as an adult—often overshadowing Lu intentionally or not. When Lu deliberately defied Lin's leadership, Lin rallied others to isolate him. At twelve, burning with resentment, Lu had hidden iron spikes under Lin's saddle. That bastard Lin was lucky—he narrowly avoided being kicked in the head by the horse, rolling away just in time. But afterward, Lin had whipped him mercilessly, pressed his foot on Lu's head, and forced him to shout "Grandfather" ten times. Gossips spread the story, shaming Lu for three full years. This remained the deepest humiliation of his life, forging an irreconcilable enmity with Lin.
In recent years, Lu's fortunes had consistently lagged behind Lin's. He watched as Lin profited from maritime trade, meddled in the salt administration, raised private troops, and established the renowned "Lin Family Army Iron Cavalry" at a young age, earning substantial imperial favor. Senior officials frequently remarked on Lin's limitless prospects, suggesting he might even become "Commander of Land and Naval Forces" if not for his youth.
Now, that title was merely nominal—Lin Jinlou was already a powerful tiger dominating the Jiangnan region, forcing even superiors two ranks higher to defer to him. Yet the cunning bastard knew how to handle people: despite his overbearing nature, he never missed seasonal gifts or appropriate gestures of respect, thus maintaining smooth sailing.
Lu Shaotang drained his cup with a grim expression.In contrast, he found himself in a difficult position. Since his father's passing, as the saying goes, "When a man leaves, the tea cools," his authority in the military had waned compared to before. His mother had died early, and the stepmother the old Marquis married after her was solely devoted to her own son, secretly embezzling public funds for her biological son's use. Over time, this depleted most of the family fortune, leaving him with no extra silver to use when he took over the Marquis's estate. Now, he had finally managed to secure the Second Prince as his backer and gathered his father's old subordinates, barely establishing a foothold in the military. But without silver, how could he compete with Lin Jinlou? He could barely scrape together enough for gifts during festivals, let alone raise a Private Army. He refused to accept this! He was only inferior to Lin Jinlou in luck—must he spend his entire life living under his shadow, cowering like a coward?
Lu Shaotang downed a cup of wine fiercely, his smile turning somewhat sinister.
This time, he had set a trap. Lin Jinlou's personal guard, Du Bin, originally had a sister who was Lin Jinlou's beloved Concubine, but she had fallen out of favor after engaging in unspeakable deeds, dragging Du Bin down with her and leaving his career prospects bleak. That fellow was no easy mark—skilled in drinking, whoring, gambling, and all vices, and bold and ruthless to boot. He had come to seek refuge with Lu Shaotang, offering his affair with the Lin Family's third young lady as a pledge of loyalty. Lu Shaotang had always looked down on the Lin Family's second branch, but this turned out to be a heaven-sent opportunity. He ordered Du Bin to bring clothes from a pox patient to infect the Lin Family's maids, hoping to lure the Lin women out for Buddhist rites.
Things unfolded exactly as he had anticipated. Tonight, he planned to capture all the women of the Lin estate in one sweep—first extorting hundreds of thousands in silver, then killing Qin Shi to force Lin Jinlou into three years of Mourning leave. This would give him time to recruit soldiers and expand his Private Army, seizing the chance to meddle in canal and salt affairs and take a cut of the profits. One day, he would trample Lin Jinlou underfoot, make that little bastard call him "Grandpa" a hundred times, and make his life a living hell!
"Marquis, drinking alone in solitude is no fun. Why not let this humble one keep you company with drinking games? It would be much more enjoyable." Lu Shaotang looked up to see Yun Zhui gracefully approaching him, her delicate fingers holding a silver pot. She seemed to have been crying recently, her eyes slightly red and glistening, which made her even more alluring. It turned out that Chu Dapeng had just hinted that Yun Zhui should find another patron, and she couldn't help but sneak out to shed a few tears. Upon returning, she noticed Lu Shaotang drinking by himself and thought to herself that this young Marquis's status and appearance were first-rate. If she couldn't cling to Lin Jinlou, that towering tree, Lu Shaotang was still a rare catch. So, she mustered her spirits to socialize and show goodwill.
Lu Shaotang glanced at Yun Zhui and couldn't help but sneer. How could he fancy a woman that Lin Jinlou had played with? He downed another cup of wine fiercely, shoved Yun Zhui aside, stood up, and strode out the door.
Meanwhile, Lin Jinlou galloped out of the city like the wind, followed by over a hundred mounted guards, kicking up clouds of dust along the way. By the fifth watch, they finally reached Qixia Temple. From afar, he could see the temple gates wide open, with lights blazing inside. Lin Jinlou, frantic with worry, urged his horse into the temple, where he found the courtyard in chaos. Dozens of officers holding torches were shouting and rushing about, while a row of monks stood against the wall—the elders looking solemn, palms pressed together, eyes closed, murmuring prayers, and a few young monks huddled together in panic, trembling with fear. A sharp-eyed guard hurried up to him and reported, "Your Excellency, Taitai and the young ladies are now settled in the Main Hall."Lin Jinlou dismounted with a dark expression, striding inside without pause. When he reached the main hall, he saw a circle of guards surrounding the area. Captain Wen Rush was stationed at the temple entrance and hurried forward upon seeing Lin Jinlou, saying, "General Lin." Noting Lin Jinlou's stormy countenance, he steeled himself and reported, "At noon today, we escorted Lin Old Madam home. When we returned in the evening and found the temple gates closed, we lodged in the monastery's external quarters with the monks. Around midnight, we heard the temple bell ringing. I rushed over and discovered bandits had broken in. First Madam and Fourth Miss escaped their rooms and took refuge in the Scripture Repository, thus avoiding harm. However, Second Mistress and Third Miss are missing. Centurion Xu has dispatched men in pursuit, but the bandits were highly skilled and bold, executing their retreat with precision. Under cover of night, they all escaped, and none of those captured were left alive..." His voice choked with tears as he continued, "The twelve brothers stationed in the temple... all fell victim... their bodies are laid out over there." He pointed to the side.
Lin Jinlou paused mid-step and walked over to examine the corpses. They were neatly arranged on the ground, each killed by a single blade stroke without any signs of struggle—clearly murdered in their sleep. These were his personally trained elite guards, men who had shared life and death with him, bonds beyond the ordinary. Just days ago, they had been living, breathing men; now they were cold, lifeless bodies. Lin Jinlou felt as if his intestines were being twisted in agony.
Pressing his lips tightly together, he strode into the main hall. Inside, candles burned brightly, illuminating Qin Shi, Lin Dongxiu, and Hongjian sitting on prayer mats, their faces pale and weary. Their hair was tied in simple knots, and they were wrapped in cloaks.
The moment Lin Dongxiu saw Lin Jinlou, she stood and rushed toward him, crying out, "Elder brother..." before breaking into sobs. Hongjian stood nearby, wiping her own tears.
Lin Jinlou quickly approached Qin Shi, dropping to one knee and saying, "Your unfilial son has arrived late, causing Mother to suffer such a fright."
Qin Shi's eyes reddened as she nodded. "Your arrival is what matters."
Lin Jinlou asked urgently, "Are you injured, Mother?" His eyes swept the room, and he frowned. "Where is Xianglan?"
Qin Shi was startled. "Xianglan hasn't been found yet?"
Lin Jinlou's heart sank. Xianglan had been quartered with Qin Shi, and he had assumed she escaped alongside the madams and young misses.
Qin Shi recounted the night's events to Lin Jinlou, adding, "If not for Xianglan, we mother and daughter might never have seen you again... She... she... surely nothing has happened to her..." Tears welled and spilled from her eyes.
Lin Jinlou clenched his fists, forcing out a few words of comfort to Qin Shi before turning to arrange carriages to escort her and the others back to the estate. He then dispatched orders to mobilize five hundred elite troops for an extensive search of the temple and its surroundings. Shortly after, Wen Rush brought forward a young monk who claimed to have seen a beautiful woman in monastic robes resembling Xianglan. Listening to the monk's disjointed account, Lin Jinlou felt a flicker of relief—but when he inspected the bushes outside the temple where Xianglan had supposedly hidden, he found them empty. His face darkened once more.
Before departing, Qin Shi lifted the carriage curtain and said to Lin Jinlou, "Perhaps it's due to the late hour and Xianglan's timid nature as a young girl—she may have found a place to hide. When dawn breaks fully, have the mountainside called out to her. She might emerge upon hearing the commotion."Lin Dongxiu looked at Lin Jinlou as if wanting to speak, but ultimately closed her mouth. Qin Shi lowered the carriage curtain, and the carriage creaked away under the escort of several dozen guards.
Once the carriage had disappeared into the distance, Lin Jinlou's expression darkened. He rubbed his face vigorously. The nearby mountains and forests had been thoroughly searched, yet not only was Xianglan nowhere to be found, but Second Mistress and Lin Dongling had also vanished into thin air. As dawn approached, Lin Jinlou felt as if a heavy stone weighed upon his heart. That such a commotion had occurred right under his nose—his female family members kidnapped by bandits—and in the end, it was a delicate woman like Xianglan who protected his mother and sister, felt like a resounding slap across his face. Furious and ashamed, he wished he could roar at the sky or smash a wall with his fist.
Just then, a guard on horseback rushed in, dismounted swiftly, and knelt on one knee to report: "General, news from the residence: Second Mistress and Third Young Miss have returned safely. Guard Du Bin bravely subdued the enemies, eliminating all the bandits, and rescued Second Mistress and Third Young Miss, escorting them back to the mansion."
Lin Jinlou took a step forward and asked, "Only Second Mistress and Third Young Miss?"
The guard replied, "And Second Mistress's maid, named Shanhu, I believe. Only those three."
Lin Jinlou closed his eyes, suppressing the raging frustration within. He was accustomed to having everything under control, always calm and sharp-witted, rarely losing composure even when facing formidable enemies. Yet this incident left him feeling unmoored. He took a deep breath, scooped up a handful of cold well water to wash his face, clearing his mind. Closing his eyes, he pondered carefully. Xianglan was just a frail girl, usually struggling to move even a heavy flowerpot, timid as a mouse—a few words of intimidation from him could make her eyes well up with tears. In the pitch-dark mountains, where could she be? Still missing, had she been discovered and kidnapped by the bandits halfway? She was so beautiful... Lin Jinlou dared not think further. He shouted abruptly, "Wen Rush!"
Wen Rush hurried over, bowing and keeping his head low. Lin Jinlou said with a stern face, "Find Guo Renjie. Tell him to mobilize his brothers from all branches to search for her. Pay close attention to the dealings of human traffickers and brothels these past few days. Detain any beautiful girls bought or sold." Wen Rush promptly acknowledged the order.
Guo Renjie was a notorious ruffian in Jinling, always seeking opportunities to curry favor with Lin Jinlou. Though Lin Jinlou, being arrogant, naturally looked down on him, Guo held considerable influence in the underworld, with numerous thugs and rogues under his command. Even brothels and gambling dens showed him respect. In this matter, he was indispensable.
Lin Jinlou added, "Strengthen searches on official roads and ferry crossings these days. If any suspicious beautiful women are found, detain them all and await further instructions." Wen Rush acknowledged again.
Lin Jinlou said, "Keep this matter strictly confidential. Anyone who spreads rumors about the Lin Family's female members being kidnapped will face military punishment."
Wen Rush repeatedly assented, then bowed and retreated.
Immediately after, Lin Jinlou personally led his men to conduct another thorough search of Qixia Mountain and nearby villages, going door to door, but still found nothing. The entire day passed without any trace of Xianglan. As the sun set and night fell, Lin Jinlou grew increasingly restless and anxious. In a fit of rage, he swung his sword and severed a bamboo stalk as thick as a bowl.At that moment, Guo Renjie personally rode over on horseback, knelt before Lin Jinlou with a smiling face and said, "General Lin, I'm pleased to report success. My men have indeed found the two young ladies. They were sold to different brothels, and both claimed to be maids of the Lin Family, though they were utterly terrified. What would you like to do about this matter, General?"
Lin Jinlou felt a buzzing in his head and hurriedly asked, "Where are they now?"
Guo Renjie replied, "I've already retrieved them and settled them in an elegant room with good food and drink. Then I came immediately to bring you the good news!"
Lin Jinlou immediately mounted his horse and led his soldiers to follow Guo Renjie. He had just mentally gone through all his sworn enemies, gritting his teeth with a cold laugh. This matter was clearly a direct challenge targeting him, Lin Jinlou. Over the years he had made many enemies, but those bold enough for such an act numbered no more than two or three. He desperately hoped that one of those two maids would be Xianglan. Otherwise, if anything happened to her with no one claiming responsibility for this crime, he couldn't be blamed for going mad—he would sink his teeth into whoever he caught and show those beasts what he was truly capable of when enraged.
My sincere apologies. I encountered urgent matters over the weekend, and when I returned home the internet was down. Moreover, I've been struggling with this chapter—no matter how I write it, I'm not satisfied. Additionally, I'm truly a slow writer, especially during crucial parts where I keep thinking about how to make them more exciting. With year-end matters piling up and my strong dislike for padding content to deceive readers, I ask for your understanding and patience. Thank you to Moonlight Orchid, qian20051978, and 05111039283 for the Peach Blossom Fans; to reader 090222152449720 for the sachet; to damima and bubu8915 for two Peace Talismans; to Ling Ling Qing Qing, Wild Man lyg, jojo8129, tryonekitty, Hong Sheng, and Xue Luo Jiang Nan for the Peace Talismans; and also thank you all for the pink votes^_^
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