The messenger responded verbally while deliberately dropping his horsewhip next to Gui Yuan. Lingering nearby, he whispered to her, "Second Master has tied up Miss Xianglan in the carriage." With that, he picked up his whip and left.
Gui Yuan was startled, thinking she must have misheard, but remained half-convinced and half-doubtful. However, when she noticed the messenger glance at her with unmistakable anxiety in his eyes, she grew more convinced and began to panic. Just as she was about to cry out, she saw Xingge’s fierce expression and the two or three guards and attendants standing nearby, so she swallowed her words. Silently, she thought, "If this is true, it’s terrible. This is the side gate of the second household leading to the street, and the area is guarded by Second Master’s men. If I call for help, it’ll be useless and might even make things worse." With this in mind, she first retreated inside the gate, then broke into a run, dashing straight ahead until she reached the main hall, where a banquet was in progress. However, Lin Jinlou was not there. She grabbed a young servant and asked, only to be told that the Eldest Master was in the master’s study.
Gui Yuan hurried to the study and peered through the door crack. Sure enough, Lin Jinlou was inside, along with another official seated nearby. The three seemed to be deep in conversation. Without another thought, Gui Yuan pushed the door open, knelt on the floor, and said, "Eldest Master, something terrible has happened! Madame Xianglan has been kidnapped and is now in a carriage at the western side gate."
Upon hearing this, Lin Jinlou’s face instantly turned pale. "What?" he exclaimed, not waiting for further explanation. He sprang to his feet and turned to leave.
Lin Changzheng’s face darkened. "Stop! Where do you think you’re going?" he demanded.
Lin Jinlou paid him no heed, which infuriated Lin Changzheng. "You wretched beast, stand still!" he roared, then shouted to his guards and attendants, "Someone, stop him!"
Sure enough, seven or eight guards rushed in from outside to block Lin Jinlou’s path. He struck out at them, but these guards were skilled fighters, and for a moment, he couldn’t break free. Lin Jinlou’s eyes reddened with desperation as he fought to push through, gritting his teeth and snarling, "You bastards, get out of my way!" Shuangxi, standing guard outside, saw the commotion and muttered in alarm, "This is bad—they’re coming to blows!" He hastily sent someone inside to deliver a message.
Just then, Yuan Shaoren entered from the front hall, startled by the scene. Unaware of what had sparked the conflict, he worried that with guests present, any disturbance would become a spectacle. Prioritizing peace, he stealthily approached Lin Jinlou and launched a surprise attack, using a grappling technique. Caught off guard, Lin Jinlou tried to block, but other guards swarmed him, pinning his limbs, kneeing his legs, and twisting his arms. Yuan Shaoren pressed a hand against his waist, tripped him with a foot sweep, and pinned him to the ground, rendering him immobile. "Yingyang," Yuan Shaoren urged, "calm down and talk this out. What’s going on?"
The official seated nearby, Minister Wei, was stunned by the scene and felt extremely awkward. He rose quickly, cupped his hands in a gesture of farewell, and said repeatedly, "I must take my leave, I must take my leave," before hurriedly brushing his sleeves and departing.
Lin Changzheng was trembling with rage, even forgetting to offer polite apologies like "My family brings shame" or "Please excuse this disgrace" to Minister Wei. Mindful of keeping family scandals private, he pointed at the door and ordered the guards coldly, "Withdraw and close the door!"
Lin Jinlou lay on the ground, struggling incessantly, his eyes nearly bulging with fury. "Let me go! Xianglan has been kidnapped!" he yelled, his voice strained.
Lin Changzheng exploded in anger, "That’s right! I ordered your second uncle to do it!"
"What? Why?""Why? How dare you question me! It's all because of you, this useless son—count how many times you've stumbled over women, and still you haven't learned your lesson! Now you're throwing tantrums and losing your temper. I am your father, and it's my fault for failing to teach you properly. I absolutely cannot let you commit such a ridiculous and foolish act that would bring shame upon the entire world!"
Lin Jinlou gritted his teeth and said, "What exactly do you want? Where are you planning to send Xianglan?"
"Simple. As long as you agree to the marriage with the Wei family, once the wedding is over, I will naturally send her back. During this time, she will be well taken care of with good food and drink—she won't be mistreated. My word is as good as gold."
"Bullshit!"
"You... you... what did you say?!" With a "smack," an inkpot was thrown at Lin Jinlou's face, immediately causing blood to stream down his temple.
Yuan Shaoren was shocked and quickly interjected, "Father-in-law, please calm down!"
The veins on Lin Jinlou's forehead bulged as he retorted, "I said bullshit! Even if the sky falls, it's impossible!"
Lin Changzheng flew into a rage: "She's just a lowly woman! What's so great about her that she has you so bewitched? You're willing to abandon family, career, future, and reputation for her! If it weren't for the fact that she once did our Lin family a favor, she would deserve to die!"
Blood streaked Lin Jinlou's face as he glared furiously, nearly grinding his teeth: "Father, don't push me too far." Turning his head to Yuan Shaoren, he said, "Lao Yuan, if you truly consider me a brother, let me go."
Lin Changzheng was on the verge of exploding with rage and shouted, "Don't you dare let him go!"
Yuan Shaoren hesitated.
Lin Jinlou said bitterly to Yuan Shaoren, "Do you want Xianglan to end up like Lianniang?"
Yuan Shaoren froze instantly, his grip loosening. Lin Jinlou sprang up like a carp leaping out of water and made another dash for the door. Just then, Qin Shi, supporting Old Madam Lin, hurriedly pushed the door open and ran straight into Lin Jinlou. The moment the two women saw blood streaming down his temple, they were horrified, their hearts aching so much their faces trembled. They cried out "my flesh!" and "my son!" in distress, then burst into tears, both embracing Lin Jinlou and weeping.
Though Lin Jinlou was burning with anxiety, his mind remained exceptionally clear. He thought to himself, "Xianglan was taken on the old man's orders by Second Uncle. As they say, 'to catch the thief, first catch the king'—if I can subdue my father first, Xianglan will naturally return. Otherwise, even if I chase after them now, the carriage would have long disappeared." With this in mind, he changed his demeanor, turned back into the room, tears welling in his eyes, and knelt on the ground, saying, "Father, if anything happens to Xianglan, don't blame me for being unfilial—I will truly shave my head and become a monk."
Upon hearing this, Old Madam Lin felt as if her heart had been torn out. She sobbed, bent down, and hugged Lin Jinlou's head, crying, "Lou Ge'er, saying such things is like taking my life!" Her trembling hands wiped the blood from his head. Qin Shi stood to the side, dabbing her tears and weeping softly.
Lin Jinlou, his eyes red-rimmed, said, "Grandmother, my father has taken Xianglan away and sent her somewhere unknown..."
Old Madam Lin looked down at Lin Jinlou, her face full of heartache: "Good child, get up first—the floor is cold. Does the wound on your head hurt?" She then glared fiercely at Lin Changzheng and said sharply, "How hateful that at my age, I didn't raise a good son! Did you cause this blood on his head? You're driving my grandson to become a monk! What sin did I commit in my past life?" Covering her face, she wept uncontrollably.Lin Changzheng was so frantic he wanted to tear his hair out. Stamping his foot, he said, "Mother, you... you know nothing! You have no idea what shameful things this scoundrel has done! I'm disciplining him for the sake of our ancestors' dignity!"
"I haven't seen what shameful things he's done, but I've seen you beat him until his head is bleeding! Is this dignified?" She then looked down at Lin Jinlou, saying tenderly, "Quick, apply the ointment, poor child..." Tears rolled down her cheeks again.
Lin Jinlou looked at Lin Changzheng and said, "Father, every word I said earlier came from the bottom of my heart. My life was saved by Xianglan, and even the lives of over a hundred people in the Lin family were saved by her. If anything happens to her, I'll become a monk and chant sutras to atone for her!"
Lin Changzheng flew into a rage: "Mad! You're mad! Over a hundred lives? What nonsense are you spouting?"
"I'm not mad!" Seeing that only close family members were present in the room, with no servants or guards around, Lin Jinlou gritted his teeth and said, "I never wanted to bring this matter up, intended to let it turn to ashes and rot in my stomach... The year before last, I found Jianzhang Crown Prince."
These words struck like a bolt from the blue, instantly stunning everyone in the room. Lin Changzheng staggered back several steps, exclaiming in disbelief, "What? What did you say?"
"At that time, the crown prince was hiding in a temple, having renounced the mortal world. I met him once and sent trusted aides to escort him beyond the pass to the Western Regions. Unexpectedly, Zhao Jin caught wind of this, investigated thoroughly, and recorded everything. Later, that fatal evidence fell into Zhao Yuechan's hands."
Lin Changzheng seemed as if struck by a Body Freezing Spell, his face ashen. He stumbled back several steps and collapsed into a chair.
Lin Jinlou continued, "If not for Xianglan—who, on the night of the rebel uprising, saved her multiple times despite past grievances, and moved by this, Zhao Yuechan handed that letter to Xianglan on her deathbed—if others had searched her body and found that letter, the entire Lin family would have been executed by now. How could we still be here wielding power and enjoying such prestige? But after Xianglan received the letter and read it, she secretly tore it up and never spoke of it. If I hadn't happened to be awake and witnessed it secretly, no one would have known. The entire Lin family remains unaware that we owe her such a profound debt! Father, how can we repay this? How?"
Lin Changzheng stood up, feeling dizzy, his vision swimming with spots.
Lin Jinlou raised his head, looking at Old Madam Lin, and said hoarsely, "Grandmother, as a son, I dare not resent Father for his actions. If I cannot fulfill my filial duties in the future, please take good care of yourself." As he spoke, two streams of tears rolled down.
Naturally, Lin Jinlou had no intention of becoming a monk; he was now checkmating his father. But Old Madam Lin couldn't bear it. This eldest grandson, whom she had raised with deep affection—how many years had it been since she had seen him in such a state? She couldn't help but recall when Lin Jinlou was a mischievous child, getting into trouble and being chased by his father, hiding in her arms seeking protection. She held Lin Jinlou's head against her bosom as if he were still a six- or seven-year-old child, and trembling, she pointed at Lin Changzheng, saying, "If you still acknowledge me as your mother, send that Xianglan back at once!"
Lin Changzheng said, "Mother, this scoundrel wants to marry that low-born maid..."
"Who he marries is another matter. For now, you send Xianglan back safe and sound."
Lin Changzheng gritted his teeth and said, "No! If he has the nerve, let him become a monk!"Upon hearing this, Lin Jinlou drew a dagger from his boot and made to slice off the topknot of his hair. Yuan Shaoren, quick as lightning, seized his wrist, startling Old Madam Lin so badly her heart nearly leaped from her throat. She wailed shrilly, "Lou Ge'er! My dear grandson! What are you doing? Do you want to kill me?"
Qin Shi stepped forward, clutching Lin Changzheng's sleeve and shaking it desperately, her eyes brimming with tears. "Master! Please bring Xianglan back! We must not forget kindness—she has always been a good child..."
Lin Changzheng trembled all over, his spirit utterly broken. He heaved a long sigh and sat down again, seeming to age several years in an instant. After a long pause, he finally rasped, "I’ve asked Second Brother to take her to Duke Zhenguo’s estate in the outskirts of the capital."
At these words, Lin Jinlou immediately stood to leave, but Old Madam Lin blocked his way, weeping and pleading, "Now that we know where she is, we can send someone to fetch her. But what if that head wound of yours turns serious? You mustn’t go—you’re not allowed to leave, not anywhere!" Meanwhile, Qin Shi had already gone out personally to fetch medicine.
Yuan Shaoren whispered to Lin Jinlou, "Don’t worry—I’ll take men and go fetch her myself." With that, he turned and left.
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