Lins Ancestral Hall also known as Chunsheng Hall.

  The ancestors of the Lin family had served as attendants to their great-grandfather and followed him in his military campaigns throughout the south, earning countless merits. They were later enfeoffed as generals of martial merit and became a prominent clan in Dongyang. The Chunsheng Hall was built by the Lin familys ancestors after they retired and returned to their hometown. The Chunsheng Hall stood for over a hundred years in Shanglinli before being destroyed in a heavy rainstorm. The main branch of the Lin family, which was just over four miles away, rebuilt the current Lin Family Mansion on a new site and reconstructed the Chunsheng Hall on the old foundation as the ancestral temple of the Lin family.

  Chunsheng Hall covers an area of about 10 mu, with a depth of seven or eight courtyards. In addition to the ancestral hall, the Lin family also set up Yixue, Juyangyuan, Anjifang and Louzeyuan in Chunsheng Hall.

  Inside the east wing of the ancestral temple, on both walls there are four bronze lamps in the shape of a large gooses solitary foot, with a ring-shaped lamp holder supported by the thigh, and three lamp pillars inside the lamp holder. When the three big candles are lit at the same time, the east wing is illuminated as brightly as daylight. The shadows of people under the lamps are faint, and the sound of bamboo and wood being beaten, along with the moaning sounds that cannot be stopped, make ones heart feel cold. Its like hearing fingernails scratching against porcelain, making one feel like the hairs on their body are standing up.

  Under the bright candlelight, the brown age spots on Lin Tingxuns face became even more pronounced. The second young master, Lin Xuzong, had Zhao Neng tied up and kneeling on the cold brick floor. Zhao Neng was being flogged by a whip, his lower body stripped bare in the chilly air. Thirty strokes of the whip left Zhao Nengs buttocks and thighs a bloody mess. This gruesome scene made even the bystanders tremble with fear. Zhao Nengs father, Lin familys old servant Zhao Changshan, knelt in front of the ancestral hall but didnt dare to plead for mercy. Zhao Nengs mother had already fainted from crying and was sent back home.

  Zhao Neng abandoned his master and fled back to Shanglin alone, fabricating lies. Dragging him in front of the ancestral temple and beating him to death was what he deserved.

  Although many people in their hearts understand that tonights dispute at the Mule Market was deliberately caused by Lin Lian to show off his power, but Lin Lian has always been in the right, so in front of this "right", even Second Master Lin Xuzong can only kneel down in front of the ancestral temple and admit his mistake.

  Lin Xuzong knelt under the candle, but did not cover the fierce light in his eyes. In his heart, he hated Lin Zou so much that he wanted to chop him into ten thousand pieces. He already knew that Lin Zou had been expelled from the sect and also from Shiliang County. He thought to himself, "Is there such a good deal?" But at this time, he had to kneel in front of the ancestral hall to admit his mistake, watching as Zhao Neng, who was loyal to him, whipped him to death.

  Lin Xuzong was naturally aware that his father, who was on the verge of death, wanted to take advantage of the situation to kill him off. Otherwise, why would Lin Xian, the master of the house, need to push Zhao Neng to his death? This was a warning to those in the clan who were close to him, telling them that he had not yet reached the point where he was about to breathe his last breath, and that he was still the master of the Lin clan.

  Lin Xuzong coldly gazed at the beautiful and elegant Gu Yingshou, this so-called Seventh Aunt of his, thinking to himself that one day he would strip her bare and thoroughly ravage her.

  "He had been flogged twenty times... The executioner saw that Zhao Nai was lying on the ground with only a wisp of breath left, and if he really continued to flog him ten more times, Zhao Nais life would probably be in danger. He hesitated about whether to continue, then turned his head and caught a glance from Master Lin Tingxuan."

  "Pull!" Lin Tingxun gritted his teeth and said.

  "Zhao Neng is wrong, but his mistake doesnt deserve death!" Lin Xu Zong kneeled down and crawled forward, kneeling in front of his father Lin Ting Xun, saying: "Isnt there still ten lashes left? Ill take them for him, its enough. Father, you should also consider that Zhao Neng has served you for three years, you cant really beat him to death. Lin Xian is already resentful in his heart, this is enough. Father, you cant chill the hearts of our clansmen, who will work for the Lin family in the future?"

  "Let him off this time, Zhao Neng is a child who is not inherently bad, give him a chance to reform." At this time, the clan elder and others came forward to plead for leniency on behalf of Zhao Neng.

  "Since youre willing to take Zhao Nengs punishment, the remaining ten lashes will be yours!" Lin Tingxun gave a ruthless glance to the executioner and turned back to look into his sons eyes, thinking: If I dont discipline you today, you wont know who the real master of the Lin family is.

  Two men came over, one on the left and one on the right, holding Lin Xuzong in place and dragging him to the middle of the配殿. They whispered in his ear: "Second Master, sorry about this, bear with it a bit." They gave Lin Xuzong a piece of wood to bite on to endure some of the pain. Zhao Naiyan struggled to get up to take the remaining ten lashes, but fainted; Lin Xuzong took the ten lashes, and with great effort stood up, limping and leaning on one leg, looking at his father: "Is that enough?"

  "Let this be a lesson to you," Lin Tingxun said, his eyes glancing at Zhao Neng, who was lying on the brick floor with only a faint breath left. He instructed the people beside him, "Take him to Anji Hospital and give him some medicine..." Then he turned to his son Lin Xuexiong and said, "You must endure the pain, I have a few more words to say to you in front of our ancestors."

  Everyone else had retreated, and Madame Qi was anxious about Lin Xies situation, so she said to Lin Tingyun: "Sir, Ill head back to the main house first."

  Lin Tingxun nodded, his face expressionless. Gu Yingzi worried that Lin Xuanzong wouldnt understand the current situation and thought to herself that if he thought Lin Xuanzong would endure this great humiliation and remain silent, it would be a huge mistake. Without considering what Lin Tingxun thought, she hastily left the ancestral hall first.

  Lin Tingxun gently closed the door and said to Xuzong, who was standing in the middle of the courtyard with a lame leg: "I know youre not resigned to it. You have many things that youre not resigned to. Todays matter, I hope you can endure it. I also have times when I misjudge people. Lin Xuan really changed beyond recognition this time. You dont need to worry about anything either. He will leave Shanglin and wont be able to pose any threat to you in the future..."

  "You didnt let him hold the knife to his neck and kneel like a dog, unable to move!" Lin Xuzong said coldly, with no respect for his father, Lin Tingxun.

  "You dont even have the patience to wait for me to die!" Lin Tingyun was so angry that he couldnt catch his breath, and he sternly scolded, "Do you know who Lin Xuan saved in the county today? He has a meritorious name on him. If you make a careless move and give others a handle, the Lin family will be ruined!"

  "Thats all, no more fuss." Lin Xuzong limped out of the East Wing Temple, letting his wife and maidservants help him onto a soft couch in the courtyard. He didnt return to the main mansion, instead having people carry him directly to a villa on the south bank of Shanglin Creek.

  ************************

  Gu Yingxu walked out of the ancestral hall, and the horse carriage stopped outside the ancestral hall.

  The moonlight was bright and clear, but the sky and earth seemed to be shrouded in a layer of gauze. The scene looked desolate and lonely, with distant objects indistinct. In the fields, layers of dark shadows resembled dark waves. Just as Gu Ying was about to get into the carriage, she saw Zhao Hus mother, Madame Zhao, standing beside the carriage waiting on her, instead of her usual coachman, Old Man Zhao.

  Peeking at Zhaos eyes, which glanced over to the carriage curtain, Gu Ying spoke to her maid Cuier: "Let me be alone in the carriage for a moment..." She stepped on the footboard and got into the carriage, lifting up the curtain. Although she couldnt adapt to the dark environment for a while, she could still sense the familiar masculine scent.

  Gu Yingxiu sat down, pulled the curtains tight, and adapted to the dim environment inside the carriage. Only then did she vaguely see Lin Xies shadow sitting casually on the embroidered couch, saying: "How dare you come..." She felt that her voice was a bit too loud. Zhao Shi and two maidservants were following closely outside the carriage. If others found out that there was a man hiding in her carriage, she would likely be dragged into the ancestral temple to receive thirty lashes of the whip that would leave her flesh torn. In order to speak more softly, Gu Yingxiu leaned her body towards Lin Xie, and in the darkness, his eyes seemed like pearls shining with luster even on a pitch-black night. Originally filled with resentment and wanting to scold him, her heart inexplicably softened, saying: "How did you come find me? You should be far away by now."

  "Lin Tingxun wont kill me." Lin Xian smelled the pleasant fragrance coming from Gu Yings sleeve, and it was the first time he had been so close to her since she entered the Lin family. Compared to his memories, the fragrance on Gu Yings body was more intense and alluring.

  "Lin Tingxun wont, Lin Xuexiong will. Lin Xuexiong has people who can swallow you whole!" Gu Yingxiu felt the scorching hot breath of Lin Xuzong on her face and slightly turned away, "Not bad, without Lin Tingxuns consent, Lin Xuexiong cannot dispatch the county troops, but do you think there are no other hands by Lin Xuexiongs side?"

  "Then Ill wait for him to send someone to kill me, and Ill just give another gift to Sister Yingxiao, its no big deal." Lin Fu said with a smile.

  "What?" Gu Yingxu listened to Lin Xuans relaxed tone, and heard the implication behind his words. He wasnt worried about the few subordinates that Lin Xuzong had secretly cultivated at all. He was shocked and asked him, "Are you intentionally trying to provoke Lin Xuzong today?"

  "Miss Yingxiang, you are clear in your heart that the master of the house will eventually pass on the family business to the second young master. At this time, suppressing him is just a way for the master to cling to power and not willing to become a figurehead before his own death!" Lin Fu said. There were some things in the Lin family that many people understood. Lin Tingxuns energy was declining, and he was getting older every day, but he was unwilling to let the major powers of the clan fall into the hands of his second son, Lin Xuzong, who had a reputation for being ambitious and having a rift with his father, before his own death. These years, he had been thinking of letting the seventh lady take the lead and make public appearances, so that the situation would always be under his control - this was also the reason why the second young master Lin Xuzong still held a grudge against Gu Yingxiang.

  Lin Tingxun would not relinquish power for a single day, but that didnt mean Second Master Lin Xuzong had the patience to wait even one day. Although it was unlikely that Lin Xuzong would do something as ugly as usurping his fathers throne, if he could just get rid of Gu Yingzhuo, this thorn in his side, Lin Xuzong would naturally think he had a good chance of forcing his old man to become a "retired emperor".

  "Youre really different from before, youve become a reckless and arrogant master," Gu Yingxu said with a slight sigh. She didnt expect Lin Xuan to see through the subtlety of it all, thinking that someone finally understood her struggles over the years. Her hand propped against the embroidered couch was trembling slightly, wanting to sit down, but thinking that if she did, wouldnt she be sitting right into his arms? Gu Yingxu thought this and her face flushed slightly, saying "Today, I received news that you two were causing trouble in the county, I even wanted to catch Zhao Hu and teach him a lesson, who would have thought that youre the one causing all the trouble..."

  "Whats wrong?" Lin Xuan asked.

  "Do you know who you saved in the county? You just left without a word, and yet youre so kind to others without expecting anything in return?" asked Gu Ying.

  “……” Lin tied his mouth and smiled, looking at Gu Ying with her hands propped up in front of him, having the idea of pulling her into his arms, and said, “Whats the plan, lets discuss it together with Sister Ying later.”

  "Whats going on? If someone owes you something, why are you asking me for it?" Gu Yingxu said, and felt that this way of speaking had a somewhat flirtatious tone, her ears slightly burning. She was just about to explain the situation to him when the slowly moving carriage came to a stop, and they heard Zhao Hus mother ask from outside: "Who is it?"

  Gu Yings heart skipped a beat, if someone were to discover that she and Lin Xuan were hiding in the same horse carriage at this time, there would be no good outcome. Her hand went limp and she fell onto Lin Xuans lap, her heart racing with anxiety, worried about who was blocking her carriage up ahead.