Xianglan struck the bell tower for a while and looked around, noticing lights flickering in the nearby monks' quarters, but behind her, she vaguely saw several torches approaching the bell tower. Panicked, she stumbled down the stairs and ran in the opposite direction of the scripture repository. She felt breathless, her lungs as if about to burst, and her legs heavy as lead, yet the sound of footsteps grew increasingly closer.
Xianglan could run no further, but the area was barren, with nowhere to hide. Leaning against a wall, she struggled to the back of the meditation hall and looked up to see a building bearing the sign "Jixiang Chu"—the monastery's kitchen. Staggering over, she discovered the door was unlocked and immediately pushed it open, frantically searching for a hiding spot. Suddenly, a clattering noise startled her, and she saw two young monks, about seven or eight years old, clutching date cakes and other snacks, crouching in panic.
It turned out that because the Lin family's women had come to the temple for rituals, the kitchen had prepared exquisite vegetarian pastries. Aside from those offered to the nobles, the leftovers were stored in the kitchen cupboard. The two young monks, tempted by the treats, had taken advantage of the chaos after the bell ringing to sneak out and steal some snacks, never expecting to encounter Xianglan. One stood frozen in place, while the other trembled as he hid between two water vats, his expression full of fear.
By now, the footsteps and shouts were drawing nearer. It was too late for Xianglan to flee. With a "bang," the door was kicked open. Xianglan instantly turned around, shielding the young monk behind her.
Four masked burly men rushed into the room. One of them, spotting the young monk, swung his blade, and the child collapsed instantly into a pool of blood, splattering crimson like peach blossoms across the floor. Xianglan screamed, nearly fainting, her heart pounding wildly and her legs trembling so violently that she had to brace herself against the edge of the water vat to keep from collapsing.
The leader of the four was Du Bin. Brandishing a torch, he charged in menacingly, only to find a disheveled but beautiful young woman cowering in the corner. Her face was pale, yet her bright, watery eyes shone with startling intensity. Though she tried to appear composed, her trembling body betrayed her terror, making her appear utterly pitiable.
Du Bin froze, his throat dry and his feet rooted to the spot, unable to speak for a long moment.
The man beside him whispered, "Is this woman from the Lin family?"
Du Bin licked his lips. He had intended to capture Xianglan, but seeing her tremble so uncontrollably, he felt reluctant, unwilling to treat such a beauty roughly. Turning his face aside, he said softly, "Wait outside. I'll handle this." The three men withdrew.
Du Bin thought to himself, "Huamei once said this woman is unyielding. If I make her hate and fear me now, it'll spoil the fun. After being missing all night, her reputation is already tarnished. If I hide her for a few more days, it'll be even harder for her to explain. She should realize that Lin Jinlou won't want her anymore because of this. She might as well come with me. If I coax her now, I can earn her goodwill and make her devoted to me in the future." With that, he stepped forward. Xianglan wanted to flee, but thinking of the young monk hiding behind her, she gritted her teeth and stood her ground, trembling like an autumn leaf.Du Bin walked up to her, pulled down the black cloth covering his face, revealing an extremely handsome countenance, and smiled gently at her. "Don't be afraid, miss. I am General Lin's guard. I heard the bell earlier and came specifically to rescue you. May I ask if you know where Madam and the young lady are now?"
At the sight of that face, Xianglan's heart gave a jolt. She thought, "Isn't this Lin Dongling's lover? Why is he here?" She couldn't help but size him up, noticing he was dressed entirely in black. She further pondered, "He was just wearing a mask—if he were truly Lin Jinlou's guard, why would he be dressed like this? Besides, he shouldn't have met me before, so how could he determine I'm not the Lin family's young lady and instead ask me about Madam and the young lady's whereabouts... There's something suspicious about him everywhere. I fear his intentions are malicious. Perhaps because his affair with Lin Dongling was exposed, and Lin Jinlou dealt with him harshly, he has joined forces with villains tonight to seek revenge?" Xianglan wildly speculated, growing inwardly wary. She didn't answer, merely letting tears well up in her eyes as she lowered her face and shook her head.
Du Bin quickly smiled and said, "Could it be that you don't trust me? I have the military camp's Waist Token." As he spoke, he pulled a token from his bosom and showed it to Xianglan. It was a command arrow engraved with a seal-script character for "Lin." Glancing at the ground, he saw the young monk had already stopped breathing, still clutching a piece of cake in his hand. Realizing the monk had come to sneak a treat, Du Bin deliberately said, "Earlier, my subordinate thought there was a villain in the room intending to harm you, so he struck heavily. Alas, it's a pity for this young master. We'll compensate with more silver later and give him a proper burial."
Xianglan didn't dare look at the corpse again. With tears in her eyes, she whispered, "It's... it's not that I don't trust you, sir, but I also don't know where Madam and the young lady are now. It was pitch dark earlier, and we got separated while running..." As she spoke, she began to sob softly.
Her weeping made her all the more pitiable and endearing.
The more Du Bin looked at her, the more he liked her. He thought to himself, "Although the Marquis doesn't indulge in feminine charms, such a peerless beauty—no man could let her slip away. If I offer her to him, she'll likely never return. It would be better to keep her hidden now and later sequester her in a golden house. The Marquis is focused on Lin Jinlou's mother; one less concubine won't affect the overall plan." So he said gently, "Don't cry, miss. Why not come with me? There's a carriage outside where you can settle in, and I'll take you back to the estate."
Xianglan grew anxious inwardly and could only stall for time. Blinking through her tears, she said, "Earlier, I ran too hastily and twisted my ankle. I'm afraid I can't walk. May I trouble you, sir, to let me rest for a while?" She added, "Fortunately, Buddha has protected me, allowing me to meet you, sir, and not fall into the hands of villains..." As she spoke, tears continued to fall.Du Bin was extremely impatient and wanted to forcibly take Xianglan away, but seeing her cry so pitifully softened his heart somewhat. Noticing the burly men peeking at the door, he thought: "If she's twisted her ankle, carrying her out would be inconvenient. Moreover, carrying someone away in full view of everyone would be hard to explain to the Marquis. Better to leave her here for now and discreetly take her away later. The men who came with me are sworn brothers, so I needn't worry about leaks. The urgent matter now is finding Lin Jinlou's mother." So he said: "Rest here for a while, miss. I'll return shortly." After speaking, he searched the kitchen and peered into the water vat. Xianglan was pressed tightly against the wall, and the young novice was so small that Du Bin failed to notice them. Finding no one hidden, Du Bin left, posting a guard at the door. Seeing a lock hanging there, he snapped it shut with a click.
Xianglan crept to the door and peered through the crack. Her heart sank when she saw the guard. Pushing the door confirmed it was securely locked. As anxiety gripped her, she heard a tearful voice behind her: "Bodhisattva..."
Turning, Xianglan saw the trembling young novice standing there, face streaked with tears. She sighed and said: "Little master, that man just now was a villain. When he returns, hide well and don't make a sound."
The novice turned pale and stammered: "Th-then let's escape quickly!"
Xianglan smiled bitterly: "The door's locked with a guard outside. Where can we flee?"
The novice stuttered: "I... I stole the kitchen master's keys to sneak in for food..." Then added: "Follow me, Bodhisattva." He led her to the inner stove area, untied a key ring from his waist, and with trembling hands managed to unlock the back door after several attempts.
"Let's hurry," Xianglan urged, pulling the young novice as they fled.
The novice knew the temple layout intimately. Hiding and dodging, they reached the eastern side gate, lifted the bolt, and hurriedly fled the temple. After running some distance, Xianglan could go no further. They hid behind some bushes to rest, faintly hearing approaching hoofbeats. Xianglan quietly stood holding a tree and saw a torch-lit procession approaching - evidently nearby monks had heard the bell and come to investigate. A dozen mounted guards in Lin Family Army uniforms had already reached the temple gate, but found it tightly shut despite their shouts. These were the guards who had escorted Old Madam Lin home at noon. Returning in the afternoon to find the temple gates closed, they had taken lodging in nearby monks' quarters and rushed over upon hearing the bell.
Xianglan urgently told the novice: "Little master, I can't run anymore. Please lead the riders to the side gate and tell them there are about fifteen or sixteen villains in the temple. Second Madam and Third Young Lady have likely been captured, while First Madam and Fourth Young Lady are hiding in the scripture repository."
The novice hesitated, still visibly frightened.
Xianglan pleaded: "They're all Lin family guards who'd never harm you. Little master, saving a life surpasses building a seven-story pagoda - I beg you to do this good deed."
The novice finally agreed and stumbled off to deliver the message. Of this, no more need be said.
While Qixia Temple echoed with clashes, Yihong Court remained warmly tranquil.Within the lavishly decorated hall adorned with painted pavilions and pearly windows, five young masters sat clustered around an octagonal table laden with delicacies piled high in layers. Several heavily made-up courtesans attended to them, while one beauty in a crimson brocade gown and emerald satin skirt strummed a pipa, singing a refined melody in a lilting voice.
Lin Jinlou lounged against his chairback. When the song ended, the beauty settled beside him, summoned a maid to bring a silver basin, meticulously washed her hands, and began peeling shrimp. She dipped the peeled meat in sauce and fed it to Lin Jinlou with silver chopsticks.
Liu Xiaochuan watched with envy. "Brother, you've been cultivating restraint lately—we could hardly get you out despite repeated invitations. It's only thanks to this lovely girl that you've graced us with your presence. For that alone, we should toast Yun Zhui!" He raised his cup in salute.
Yun Zhui blushed faintly, stealing a glance at Lin Jinlou. Seeing his lips still curved in an untroubled smile, she lifted her cup in return. "This humble one should be toasting you gentlemen. How could I let Master Liu toast me?" She drank half her cup amid the others' jovial laughter.
Lin Jinlou tapped Liu Xiaochuan’s head with his chopsticks before locking eyes with Yongxin and Lu Shaotang, his smile ambiguous. "You think just anyone can summon me? You lot alone aren’t nearly important enough. If not for the young lord's face, would I be here drinking flower wine?"
Lu Shaotang raised his cup in a distant toast, finishing the remaining wine first. As he opened his mouth to speak, Liu Xiaochuan cut in, "Oh? So even Yun Zhui’s charm isn’t enough? Brother Lou, you’re too blunt—aren’t you afraid such words will break the beauty’s heart?"
Ignoring him, Lin Jinlou simply gazed at Lu Shaotang with a half-lidded, mocking smile. Days earlier, Lu Shaotang had sent invitations, which Lin Jinlou ignored entirely. Only when the man enlisted childhood friends like Liu Xiaochuan did Lin Jinlou reluctantly agree, wary of Lu Shaotang’s hidden agenda. Though similar in age and once close, Lu Shaotang had abruptly turned hostile in their youth—planting iron spikes under Lin Jinlou’s saddle at twelve, nearly getting him trampled to death. Lin Jinlou retaliated by horsewhipping Lu Shaotang until he wet himself and lay bedridden for a month. Their feud had festered since.
After Lin Jinlou earned military merits and rose among young generals, Lu Shaotang inherited his father’s title and military influence through old connections. Yet Lin Jinlou consistently outshone him. Now, with the Lin family backing the Eldest Prince and Lu Shaotang openly supporting the Second Prince, their covert and overt conflicts grew increasingly perilous.
Lu Shaotang, with thick brows and phoenix eyes, stood a inch shorter than Lin Jinlou but matched his imposing presence. He smiled coldly. "I never knew my face carried such weight. It almost sounds like you’re mocking me, Brother Lin. Years ago, I sent invitations you ignored—I’d assumed you looked down on me."Chu Dapeng, ever quick-witted, personally picked up the wine pot to pour a drink for Lu Shaotang, smiling as he said, "We've all grown up together since childhood—what does it matter who's worthy or not? Don't you know him? He's busy all day long, so much so that even we rarely catch a glimpse of him."
Lu Shaotang sneered inwardly, though his face remained as warm as a spring breeze. He looked at Chu Dapeng and said, "You lot have grown distant from me over the years as well."
Xie Yu raised his cup and laughed, "That doesn't sound quite right, but since you put it that way, it must be our fault. I'll punish myself with a drink." Under the table, he kicked Liu Xiaochuan.
Liu Xiaochuan hastily picked up his cup to toast Lu Shaotang. He was already quite drunk, his head muddled, and he slurred, "Truth be told, in my opinion, we've all been friends since we were kids—what can't be talked out? Why not drink a cup and let bygones be bygones?" He then turned to Lu Shaotang and said, "I always thought you must've taken the wrong medicine—why on earth would you offend Lin the Tyrant? All the trouble he's given you over the years must've been hard to swallow... Ouch!"
Xie Yu gave Liu Xiaochuan a sharp kick under the table. Liu Xiaochuan sobered up a little and immediately shut his mouth.
Both Lin Jinlou and Lu Shaotang acted as if they hadn't heard a thing. Lin Jinlou still wore a faint smile at the corner of his lips and asked, "Well then, tell me, why did you invite me here today?"
Lu Shaotang also smiled slightly and replied, "Nothing much. It's just been years since we last sat at the same table. I thought we brothers could catch up."
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