Chu Bai suddenly froze. Was this intentionally left for him?
Who exactly was she?
Just as Chu Bai stared blankly at the silver note, several shady-looking men on the riverbank eyed the silver note in his hand with covetous glances.
Chu Bai gazed at the silver note for a long time before finally folding it neatly, standing up, returning ashore, and desperately running back.
The men behind him exchanged glances and hurriedly followed.
When he arrived at Chang’an Street, the carriage was already gone.
He entered the previous tavern and grabbed the waiter inside.
Although the tavern was often bustling with people, the group from earlier that morning was exceptionally striking in appearance, especially this gentleman before him, whose looks were so breathtaking that they were unforgettable.
The waiter remembered him and, seeing him grab him, asked:
“Sir, did you leave something behind?”
Chu Bai shook his head and asked urgently:
“Did the guests who were with me leave any message for you?”
The waiter thought carefully and shook his head.
“How could there be none? Think carefully again.”
As he spoke, Chu Bai picked up a piece of broken silver and placed it in the waiter’s hand.
“Or do you recognize this red pouch? Which mansion’s pouch is this?”
Chu Bai took out Lin Zhaoyue’s pouch.
The waiter accepted the silver and examined it carefully:
“This pouch uses high-quality materials, but it can be bought on the market. The ‘Lin’ character on it—there are quite a few wealthy families surnamed Lin in the capital. Sir, wait a moment, I’ll ask the manager for you.”
Chu Bai nodded and followed him.
The manager glanced at the pouch a few times and also shook his head, only saying:
“But among the wealthy families surnamed Lin in the capital, there is one everyone knows.”
“Which family?”
“Guogong Mansion, Duke Lin.”
“How do I get to Guogong Mansion?”
After obtaining the exact address, Chu Bai left.
Just as he reached a small alley entrance, he was blocked by five shady-looking men…
…
Lin Zhaoyue arrived at Guogong Mansion, changed her attire, and then went to see Qingzhu.
After Qingzhu drank the medicine, she indeed improved significantly as the doctor had said. Lin Zhaoyue stayed with her for a while, gave her the food she had brought, and then returned to her room to rest.
After the morning’s exertions, she was tired.
When she woke up, everyone in the mansion was discussing the burning of the underground gambling den in the suburbs.
It was said that all personnel from Dali Temple and the yamen were mobilized, and her father had also been summoned to the palace.
The underground gambling den was the Black Market.
Lin Zhaoyue remembered that in her previous life, the Black Market was also burned, but it didn’t seem to have caused such a serious commotion.
Could there have been changes in this incident?
She sent Chunhe to inquire, but the news she received varied widely—some said a gambler lost money and burned the gambling den in anger, others said vengeful ghosts…
But there are no ghosts in this world.
Lin Zhaoyue recalled encountering Xiao Yan at the Black Market; she always felt this matter was connected to him.
Lin Zhaoyue had the kitchen prepare some pastries and personally went to the Eastern Palace, only to be told that Xiao Yan had also gone to the palace.
At midnight, Duke Lin finally returned to the mansion.
“Father.”
Seeing Duke Lin, Lin Zhaoyue quickly rose and went to greet him.
“Why hasn’t my dear daughter slept yet? It’s so late!”
“I heard the servants say you went to the palace and haven’t returned until now. I was worried about you!”
“It’s nothing serious, no need to worry. Besides, no matter how big the matter is, your old father is here to handle it!”
Lin Zhaoyue poured a cup of tea for Duke Lin and said in a coaxing tone:
“Father, please tell me what exactly happened!”
Duke Lin sipped the tea, somewhat pleased, and said:
“It’s just that beneath the gambling den in the suburbs is actually a black market. The Crown Prince burned it down with fire, and then he discovered that the black market had some connection with Xuan Ping Hou, so he stripped Xuan Ping Hou of a bit of his power.”
Who doesn’t know whom Xuan Ping Hou serves?
He took all the blame himself, precisely to avoid implicating the eldest prince.
He is a supporter of the emperor and isn’t interested in the power struggles among the princes. Although he will provide corresponding assistance after Lin Zhaoyue marries the Crown Prince, that is a matter for the future.
Who knows what unexpected events might occur?
But today, seeing Xuan Ping Hou suffer a setback, he was quite happy.
That old sly fox, never thought he’d have a day like this!
“Don’t speak of this matter to outsiders, understand?”
Lin Zhaoyue nodded obediently:
“I know what is important and what is not.”
After finishing a cup of tea, Duke Lin looked at Lin Zhaoyue and said:
“Seventeen told me you went to the black market today, bought someone, and then halfway, that person ran away? And you also encountered the Crown Prince?”
Lin Zhaoyue: …
“Father, Seventeen is now my guard. Why does he still tell you everything? I have no privacy at all.”
Duke Lin looked at her pretending to be pitiful and aggrieved, smiled, and coaxed:
“Isn’t your father worried about you? Alright, alright, then from now on, he doesn’t need to report your affairs to me, okay?”
Lin Zhaoyue snorted lightly, somewhat haughty, and said:
“That’s more like it!”
“I heard you confronted the Crown Prince today?”
Lin Zhaoyue rubbed her nose, afraid that her father would worry about her relationship with the Crown Prince, and quickly explained:
“My relationship with the Crown Prince is very good.”
Duke Lin laughed heartily, patted Lin Zhaoyue’s head, and said with a pleased expression:
“Good confrontation. The daughter of the Lin Residence need not lower herself to anyone. Men shouldn’t be treated too well.”
Lin Zhaoyue: …
Just as Duke Lin finished speaking, a stern voice sounded from behind:
“Lin Ruojing, how can you teach your daughter like this?”
Duke Lin’s spine chilled. Turning around, he met Lin Furen’s furious glare.
“Why hasn’t Madam gone to sleep yet?”
As Duke Lin spoke, he turned and glared at Lin Zhaoyue, his eyes carrying a hint of reproach.
That look said:
“Why didn’t you mention earlier that your mother hasn’t slept yet?”
Lin Zhaoyue had been focused on asking about the main matter earlier and forgot about this. Knowing she was at fault, she uncomfortably scratched her little ear.
“Why glare at your daughter?”
Lin Furen brought the Ginseng, Grass, and Quail Chicken Soup over and placed it on the table, then grabbed Duke Lin’s ear:
“Come, repeat what you just said?”
“Madam, our daughter is here. Give me some face…”
Seeing her parents quarreling, Lin Zhaoyue ladled a bowl of soup and then discreetly slipped away to her own courtyard.
After Lin Zhaoyue left, Lin Furen released Duke Lin’s hand. She hadn’t exerted much force, and Duke Lin’s ear wasn’t even red.
As soon as her hand was released, Duke Lin caught it and kissed it twice by his lips:
“I knew Madam cares for me.”
Lin Furen’s ears flushed slightly, and she chided coyly:
“Old and improper.”
“How is kissing one’s own wife improper? Even if we went to the highest court, there’s no such reasoning.”
He had plenty of twisted logic, and Lin Furen couldn’t argue with him. She didn’t bother bantering further, instead serving Duke Lin a bowl of soup before asking seriously:
“What happened in the palace today?”
Duke Lin recounted the earlier events to Lin Furen. After listening, a flicker of doubt appeared in her eyes.
The current emperor had always been lenient toward the brothers and ministers who fought alongside him to establish the empire. Even if Xuan Ping Hou was truly involved in some shady dealings with the Black Market, it shouldn’t have warranted stripping him of his authority.
In the imperial court, very few who reached high positions were entirely clean. As long as they could get things done and didn’t cross certain lines, the emperor usually turned a blind eye. Unless…
The two exchanged a glance. Before Lin Furen could say anything, Duke Lin immediately understood her meaning and nodded:
“The Crown Prince’s faction has grown too ambitious. One hundred thousand taels of gold—Xuan Ping Hou is taking the full blame. This will cost him dearly.”
“One hundred thousand taels of gold? Are they raising a private army?”
“Shh…”
Duke Lin quickly covered Lin Furen’s mouth, glancing around cautiously:
“Keep your voice down. That’s still unclear. Dali Temple is investigating, and the emperor has given Xuan Ping Hou ten days to hand over the money to replenish the national treasury.”
Duke Lin slurped down the bowl of soup, wiped his mouth, and then wrapped his arms around Lin Furen:
“It’s getting late. You should rest, my lady.”
“I haven’t finished speaking yet!”
Seeing the suggestive look in Duke Lin’s eyes, Lin Furen knew what he was thinking again.
A military officer by background, he never seemed to run out of brute energy.
“Oh? What else did you want to say, my lady?”
“I feel like Zhaozhao has been acting a bit strange these past few days.”
“What do you mean, strange?”
“It’s just that she seems unusually diligent.”
Duke Lin: …
“Isn’t diligence a good thing? Perhaps Zhaozhao has grown up and realized what she wants.”
“But why would she suddenly… Ah, I don’t know how to explain it. Husband, do you think it’s because of that dream Zhaozhao had?”
“I already told you it was just a dream. I’ve exchanged letters with Kai Ji, and he said there’s nothing unusual in the army…”
…
Eastern Palace.
As soon as Xiao Yan returned to the palace, the steward reported that Lin Zhaoyue had come looking for him earlier that day.
Hearing this, a hint of weariness faded from Xiao Yan’s brow:
“Did she say why she was looking for This humble one?”
“No, but the Second Miss Lin brought some pastries.”
Xiao Yan gave a faint hum and, before leaving, said:
“Have the pastries delivered to This humble one’s bedchamber.”
By the time Xiao Yan finished his work in the study and returned to his bedchamber, the pastries were already on the table.
He washed his hands, then picked up a piece of rice cake with his jade-white fingers and brought it to his mouth.
After just one bite, he knew the pastries weren’t made by her.
Lin Zhaoyue’s pastries were always cloyingly sweet, while these emphasized the natural flavors of the ingredients.
Clearly, they were the work of a cook.
He had a sweet tooth. Though he had never mentioned it to anyone, he quite enjoyed the pastries she made.
Xiao Yan chewed the pastry in his mouth, his refined brows slightly furrowed. Was she trying to appease him with these pastries?
Judging by her attitude these past few days, Lin Zhaoyue was definitely not playing hard to get as Shen Yanzhou had suggested.
What exactly had happened to her?
And what did she really want?