Duke Yong, Lin Zhengbei, and Chen Yuanqing, the man who accused him, were both locked up in the prison of the Court of Judicial Review.
On the ninth day of the first lunar month, the news spread through the entire capital as if it had grown wings.
Not only did the noble families know about it…
Even street vendors, laborers, and beggars gathered in small groups to talk about nothing else.
The news also spread at an astonishing speed to the areas surrounding the capital.
It could be said that the fate of Duke Yong’s family affected everyone in the Great Yong Dynasty.
People still remembered the stories passed down by their elders.
The previous dynasty had fallen after being conquered by the Jin Kingdom.
At that time, the Jin army had marched all the way to the capital.
They burned, killed, looted, and committed every kind of crime.
Saying that the people lived in hell on earth was no exaggeration.
Only after the Great Yong Dynasty was established…
Did the first Duke Yong guard the northern border and stop the Jin cavalry from invading?
Only then did the dynasty slowly recover.
Only then did the country become as prosperous as it was today.
Now that Duke Yong had been thrown into prison…
Did that mean the Jin Kingdom would once again have the chance to attack the capital?
To be honest…
It was not only the wealthy nobles who feared that their peaceful lives were coming to an end.
Even the beggars were afraid.
They feared that if the Jin army invaded the capital, they would not even have a place left to beg for food.
For a while, the entire capital was filled with fear because of what had happened to Duke Yong’s family.
The thing that made people the angriest, however, was Chen Yuanqing’s accusation against Duke Yong.
When the Duke’s eldest daughter got married, her wedding procession had stretched for miles.
Nearly half the people in the capital had witnessed that grand wedding.
Now…
That same legitimate daughter of the Duke’s family and her husband had accused her own parents’ family.
No…
People believed it was a false accusation.
Although the Emperor still refused to release Duke Yong…
The ordinary people had their own sense of right and wrong.
The Imperial Guards had found neither the secret letter nor the so-called Jin princess.
If that was not a false accusation, then what was?
A son-in-law accusing his wife’s family…
From a moral standpoint alone, it was something no decent person would do.
Very quickly, Duke Chen’s residence became the most hated household in the capital.
Old and young beggars, along with many bold citizens, gathered outside the Duke Chen’s residence.
They did not cause trouble.
They simply wanted to see what the daughter-in-law who had betrayed her own family looked like.
Meanwhile, in the small, unnoticed alley…
Lin Suisui also received the news that Lin Zhengbei had been imprisoned.
However…
This was already the best outcome they had expected.
As long as the rest of Duke Yong’s family was not implicated…
Having only Lin Zhengbei imprisoned greatly reduced the pressure on her.
“Young Lan, spread the news. The faster it spreads, the better.”
Lin Suisui had already begun arranging this two days ago.
She had simply been waiting for this moment.
It could even be said that the reason the news spread so quickly was largely thanks to the people she had secretly arranged.
“Nanny Wang, come with me.”
Now that both the Duke’s family and their property had been protected…
The next step was to save Lin Zhengbei’s life and help him retire safely after everything was over.
That was the ending Lin Suisui wanted.
However…
Stopping the Emperor’s shadow guards from assassinating Lin Zhengbei would not be easy.
The Emperor’s secret guards were far stronger than the ones serving Duke Yong’s household.
What Lin Suisui needed now…
Was a shield that could protect Lin Zhengbei from death.
…
Yue Lai Inn
Lin Suisui had the carriage stop in front of an ordinary-looking inn.
“Yue Lai Inn…”
Nanny Wang looked at it in confusion.
The inn looked extremely ordinary.
It was also located in a remote area.
Its business probably was not very good.
“This is the place.”
Lin Suisui stepped down from the carriage and narrowed her eyes as she looked at the four characters on the signboard.
Very few people in the Great Yong Dynasty knew…
That Yue Lai Inn was actually the headquarters of the famous Dongyang Gang.
The inn was merely a disguise.
“Miss, are you staying the night?”
Seeing Nanny Wang helping Lin Suisui inside, the shop assistant behind the counter slowly stood up from his nap.
He did not seem very enthusiastic.
Then again…
The inn was never meant to be a real business.
There was no reason for the staff to act warmly toward guests.
“My uncle told me that he left a hundred-year-old ginseng here for safekeeping. He asked me to collect it from your manager.”
Ignoring the assistant’s cold expression, Lin Suisui spoke each word clearly.
The assistant’s careless attitude immediately disappeared.
He became polite and respectful.
“So Miss has come to see our manager. Please follow me upstairs.”
After speaking, he made a welcoming gesture.
Lin Suisui nodded and walked upstairs first.
In fact…
She did not need him to lead the way.
She walked directly to the third floor and stopped outside the room at the end of the hallway.
“My name is Lin Suisui. I have come especially to meet the manager.”
Her voice was not loud.
It was just enough for the person inside to hear.
The shop assistant, who had followed them upstairs, looked puzzled.
Judging from the girl’s familiar manner, it seemed she had been here before.
Yet he was certain he had never seen her.
The reason was simple.
The young girl looked extremely thin and frail.
Yet despite her weak appearance, she carried herself with remarkable confidence and dignity.
The contrast was striking.
“Come in.”
A voice from inside the room answered after only a short wait.
“Nanny Wang, stay here.”
Lin Suisui gave her instructions.
“Fourth Miss…”
Even someone as experienced as Nanny Wang turned pale after arriving at this place.
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”
Without hesitation, Lin Suisui pushed open the door and entered.
The first thing she saw was a large curtain stretching across half the room.
Behind the curtain, she could vaguely make out someone sitting behind a desk.
A shorter figure stood behind him.
It appeared to be a young servant.
Near the entrance were two woven straw cushions.
After entering, Lin Suisui calmly sat cross-legged on one of them.
She knew…
The person sitting behind the curtain was the true leader of the Dongyang Gang.
And…
The curtain itself was made of a very special fabric.
The person behind it could clearly see her.
She, however, could not see the other person’s face.
“Since you’ve come here, tell me what you want.”
The man’s voice sounded quite young.
Lin Suisui could see him slowly pouring tea into a cup.
“I came to ask about your organization…”
She spoke directly.
“…to protect someone’s life.”
“No problem.”
The man agreed immediately.
“As long as Miss can pay the proper price.”
Anyone who could reach this room already knew the rules.
There was no reason to turn away a paying customer.
“You will receive your payment.”
Still sitting cross-legged, Lin Suisui unconsciously tapped her fingers lightly on her knee.
“I want your organization…”
She paused.
“…to keep Duke Yong, Lin Zhengbei, alive.”
After saying that, she thoughtfully added,
“He is currently imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison.”