When Xiao Yan heard that the Emperor wanted him to investigate the matter, the burden hanging over his head was immediately cut in half.
“Your servant obeys the imperial command! I’ll investigate at once!”
At that moment, Xiao Yan ran faster than a rabbit, terrified that if the Emperor became angry again, he might lose his life.
Just as Xiao Yan was about to leave the hall, the soldiers who had gone to investigate returned with a report.
“Your Majesty, we inspected all of the locations where the thefts occurred. We found nothing unusual.”
“However, every household that was robbed had a symbol drawn somewhere in the courtyard.”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan suddenly felt hopeful.
He vaguely remembered seeing a symbol on the ground at the Lin residence during the confiscation.
At the time, he had assumed the Lin family had drawn some sort of talisman after learning they were about to be raided.
Of course, the symbol had actually been left behind by Lan Luoyun.
She had drawn it that morning on her way to the front hall.
But everyone had been too busy grieving over their stolen possessions, and later the confiscation officers arrived.
No one had paid any attention to the mark in the courtyard.
Xiao Yan hurried back to the center of the hall.
“Your Majesty! I saw the same symbol at the Lin residence today!”
“I can draw it for you right now!”
As though clutching a lifeline, he quickly sketched the symbol.
The soldiers who had investigated the thefts immediately nodded.
“That’s the one!”
Grand Tutor Xue stepped forward to take a closer look.
The moment he saw it, his heart skipped a beat.
Others might not recognize the symbol.
But he knew exactly what it meant.
It was the insignia of a spy organization from the Northern Star Kingdom.
Relations between the Northern Star Kingdom and Southern Yue had always been hostile.
In recent years, the Northern Star Kingdom had grown increasingly powerful and had even begun considering military action against Southern Yue.
For the past two years, Northern Star agents had been operating throughout Southern Yue.
Grand Tutor Xue himself had secretly supplied them with a great deal of intelligence.
In fact, the accusation that Lin Yixiao had committed treason was nothing more than Xue’s own scheme.
The thief was crying “Thief!”
Seeing the symbol, Xue immediately assumed that the stolen property had been taken by Northern Star operatives.
He was furious, but he dared not say a word.
Nor did he want the Emperor to continue investigating.
Because sooner or later, the investigation would lead straight back to him.
The case had to be closed as quickly as possible.
“Your Majesty, this old minister recognizes that symbol.”
The Emperor immediately brightened.
“Grand Tutor Xue, tell me at once—what does it mean?”
If someone recognized the symbol, perhaps his stolen treasures could be recovered.
That thought alone greatly improved his mood.
“Your Majesty,” Xue replied solemnly,
“This symbol was drawn by our Imperial Preceptor.”
“I saw it many years ago.”
“It must be the Imperial Preceptor’s sorcery. He used magic to hide all the stolen items.”
As expected, Xue fabricated a lie to steer suspicion away from himself.
It was exactly what Lan Luoyun had anticipated.
No matter how angry Xue was after seeing the symbol, he could only swallow his frustration.
“You two!”
The Emperor pointed at Xiao Yan and another soldier.
“Go to the Imperial Preceptor’s residence immediately!”
“Find evidence of this symbol!”
“He dared steal from my treasury and armory?!”
“I’ll have his head!”
Xiao Yan and the soldier immediately rushed off toward the Imperial Preceptor’s residence.
“Your Majesty, this old minister shall take his leave.”
Grand Tutor Xue hurriedly excused himself and slipped out of the palace.
As he left, he shot Xiao Yan a meaningful look.
Xiao Yan instantly understood.
The Imperial Preceptor truly had terrible luck.
He had somehow ended up taking the blame for all of this.
Then again, he wasn’t exactly a good person either.
Every year, countless young women were sacrificed in various rituals under his authority.
Still, the Imperial Preceptor and Grand Tutor Xue belonged to opposing factions.
Both were equally corrupt.
Neither deserved much sympathy.
Meanwhile, after the Lin family arrived at the prison, they were ordered to change into coarse prison clothes.
People awaiting exile had no right to continue wearing fine silks and brocades.
The guards threw the clothing onto the floor and ordered everyone to change immediately.
Most of the family obeyed.
After changing clothes themselves, Lan Luoyun and Lin Nancheng also changed Dabao and Erbao into their new outfits.
At that moment, Lin Yaru started causing trouble again.
“What kind of horrible clothes are these?”
“They’re ugly and smell awful!”
A nearby guard immediately sneered.
“You still think you’re the Prime Minister’s daughter?”
“If we tell you to wear them, you wear them.”
“Keep talking, and I’ll tear your mouth apart.”
Lin Yaru immediately fell silent.
After the guards left, the prisoners were handed over to the jailers.
“Get inside and stay put!”
The jailers shoved everyone toward the cells.
More than seventy people—men, women, children, and elderly family members—were crammed into a cold, cramped prison cell.
Only yesterday, these noble ladies and young masters had lived lives of luxury.
Most had never even seen a place like this.
Many stood frozen in place, disgusted and unwilling to enter.
Only Lan Luoyun acted immediately.
Holding Erbao in her arms, she rushed inside and claimed a relatively dry spot.
She sat down without hesitation.
Then she waved at Lin Nancheng.
“Hurry and bring Dabao over here.”
Only then did the others snap back to reality.
This was hardly the time to be picky.
“Father, why don’t you come sit over here as well?”
Seeing Lin Yixiao sitting alone in a damp corner, Lan Luoyun couldn’t bear the sight.
The old man was already advanced in years.
Moreover, Lin Yixiao had always treated both her and Lin Nancheng kindly.
Lan Luoyun was the kind of person who repaid kindness tenfold.
Anyone who treated her well would receive even better treatment in return.
But Lin Yixiao shook his head.
The sudden downfall of his family weighed heavily on him.
Right now, he wanted to be alone.
He glanced at his younger son, Lin Nanxuan, and spoke slowly.
“Let Xuan’er sit there instead.”
“I’m old, but I haven’t been seriously injured.”
“I can still endure this much.”
After thinking about it, Lan Luoyun agreed.
She asked Lin Nancheng to help Lin Nanxuan over.
However, just as Lin Nancheng stood up, Madam Su arrived with Lin Yaru and Lin Nanhao in tow.
“Lan Luoyun!”
“Do you even have any respect for me as your mother?”
“When something good comes along, you think of yourself first instead of your elders!”
“How exactly did your parents raise you?”
Madam Su felt that Lan Luoyun had changed.
The old Lan Luoyun would never have dared claim the best spot for herself.
As she spoke, Madam Su plopped herself down beside Lan Luoyun.
Lin Yaru squeezed in beside her.
If it had been the original owner of this body, she probably would have yielded without protest.
But the current Lan Luoyun wasn’t interested in playing by ancient family hierarchy rules.
Hearing Madam Su’s accusations, Lin Nancheng was furious.
He was ready to argue back.
But Lan Luoyun shot him a glance that clearly said:
“I’ve got this.”
So he remained silent.
“Mother,” Lan Luoyun said coolly,
“At a time like this, do you still think you’re the mistress of the Prime Minister’s household?”
“We’ve all been reduced to commoners.”
“You should stop putting on airs already.”
With that, she simply shoved Madam Su aside.
Madam Su nearly toppled over.
“Lan Luoyun!”
“Have you lost your mind?!”
“How dare you show such disrespect to your mother!”
Madam Su and Lin Yaru were so angry they nearly fainted.
Neither of them could understand it.
Since when had Lan Luoyun dared treat them this way?