At noon, County Magistrate Liang Zuoren rushed over on horseback, and the county lieutenant, the head of the criminal section, and the clerk examined the scene of the battle at the village entrance and the bodies of the bandits. They questioned Lin Xie in detail according to procedure. Those outsiders who carried hard bows and rode fast horses were also targets of severe suppression by the government, but local tyrants had long been nurturing private soldiers, which was a malignant tumor that the imperial court could not eradicate. Since they did not encounter them directly, Liang Zuoren and the county lieutenant naturally would not investigate further.

  They recorded the special marks on the bodies of the bandits, their armor and weapons, as well as their horses, as an important clue to investigate the true culprit behind the assassination of Vice Censor-in-Chief. Meanwhile, Liang Zuo-ren ordered the clerks to report this matter to Dongyang Prefecture in detail, while arranging for a manhunt for accomplices within Shiliang County.

  As for Gu Yings killing of the evil servant, Liang Zuoren settled the case on the spot and imposed a fine of twenty taels of silver, which must be paid to the county treasury within three days. Gu Ying had three strong servants take the body back to Shanglinli in a horse-drawn carriage, leaving only her personal maid and Zhaos wife behind, saying that her aunt wanted them to stay at Huyan for one night before returning the next day.

  Although the county has already closed the case, the true situation will soon be transmitted back to Shanglin, and Gu Yingxiu still let those servants and wives go back and say that the deceased was killed by the assassins accomplices for saving Lin Mou. They were asked to send a message to Lin Tingxun to comfort the family of the deceased.

  ************

  Lin Xuzong was in the Wangxiang Building Garden on the south bank of Shanglin Creek when he learned that the net he had cast out at dawn had been torn to shreds by Lin Zhan, who had disguised himself as a horse trader from another town. Apart from Shanglin Ferry, Fenglin Ferry at the southern end of Shiliang River was also one of the most likely places for Lin Zhan to escape from Shiliang County, and he had sent people there to guard it last night. At dawn, four horse traders from other towns caused trouble at Shanglin Ferry, injuring six men he had sent to guard the place. Lin Xuzong naturally did not bother to report this to the authorities, but instead redeployed his men to Fenglin Ferry to surround and pursue Lin Zhan, who managed to escape with the help of good horses and strong legs. Before noon, it was reported that a group of people had spotted Lin Zhans tracks on the north slope of Tiemushan Mountain, and apart from one person returning to report back, the group of people who went out to pursue him still had not returned by afternoon.

  Lin Xuzong felt that something was not quite right. At this time, someone came over from the old mansion and told him that Master had asked him to go to the north shore immediately.

  "Whats going on?" Lin Xuzong asked his family member who came over to report.

  "Madam is on her way back home when she encountered assassins, its said that those assassins were after Lin Xiuciai, Lin Zhong saved Lin Xiuciai but got killed by the assassins instead, his body is now in the ancestral hall, Master is waiting for you there, please go immediately?" The servant who was sent to deliver the message replied.

  "Is Lin Xiuciai dead or alive? Is Seventh Lady dead or alive?" This was all that Lin Xuzong cared about.

  "It seems like nothings wrong," the servant who delivered the message wasnt clear on the details either, "Those maids and wives are all fine, they even sent a message saying that Seventh Madame is staying overnight at Lake Dam with Mistress Gu and wont be back until tomorrow, it doesnt seem like anythings happened... but there was no mention of Lin Xiuzai..."

  Lin Xuzong didnt know why Lin Tie had escaped to the Hu Yan Gus house, thinking that the group of people who were chasing Lin Tie still hadnt returned with any news, fearing that something bad might have happened. He suspected that Lin Tie was in cahoots with outsiders, which was a fact. Lin Xuzong didnt know how many men or how much strength this group of horse traders from outside the county had, but he knew it wouldnt be just the three people who appeared at the mule market yesterday. He didnt dare to act rashly again and quickly ordered his attendants to prepare a sedan chair to go to the north bank of Lin Creek to consult with his father.

  **************

  Cold wind rolled on the ground dry leaves swirling, and some floating dust.

  Gu Yingxu returned with the news that the deceased was killed while saving the Lin familys young master, and according to old customs, the body had to be placed in the ancestral hall before burial. The servants, maids, and old women who came back to report the news were all locked up by Lin Tingyun in a small courtyard, not allowing them to come into contact with outsiders.

  Lin Xuzong arrived in a sedan chair, and as he passed by the entrance of everyones mansion, someone ran out to deliver a message: "Third Uncle just sent someone from the county on horseback, but they came back and left again. Something big might have happened in the county?"

  Lin Xuzong didnt understand what big deal could be happening at the county that would require him to be carried to the ancestral temple.

  There is someone waiting outside the ancestral hall, let him go to the East Wing to see the old master by himself, and all the followers will wait outside.

  Yesterday, the buttocks that were whipped until they were bloody and bruised had not yet scabbed over or fully healed. Lin Xuzong hastily got down from the sedan chair, his wound having reopened after he applied medicine to it, and a patch of blood and water had seeped through onto the back of his buttocks. Without saying a word, he strode across the high threshold and walked into the courtyard towards the eastern wing of the house.

  Lin Tingxun sat in front of the coffin, his face pale and holding a cane, as Lin Xuzong walked in. He suddenly gasped for breath and scolded: "You bastard, you cant even wait for me to die, what do you want to do?"

  "That illegitimate son is colluding with outsiders, and doesnt even consider himself a member of the Lin family. What can I do?!" Lin Xuzong saw that there was only Lin Zonghai, the commander of the rural militia, and Gu Zhangshun, the legitimate son, accompanying his father in the eastern wing of the house, so he spoke without reserve. Looking at the corpse placed in the middle of the room, he frowned and said, "This wicked servant actually sacrificed himself to save that illegitimate son. Hes dead, whats there to regret?"

  "You sent someone to kill him, do you want him to tie his hands behind his back for you to kill? Lin Tingxun was so angry that he spat out blood, his thin body bounced up like a spring, picked up the crutch and went forward to hit Lin Xuzong. "Do you have any brains at all? Your anger has confused your rationality, you let someone you normally look down on play with you in the palm of their hand without realizing it, what qualifications do you have to inherit the Lin family business?"

  Lin Xuzongs head was tilted to one side, and his father hit him on the shoulder with a bamboo stick. He was angry in his heart, and he grabbed the stick with all his might, trying to snatch it from his fathers hand. "How am I not qualified..." he shouted. This sudden tug was too strong, and Lin Tingxun didnt expect this kid to dare fight back. His body was pulled out, and he fell to the ground, hitting his head on the blue brick floor with a loud thud. The servants, Lin Zonghai and Gu Changshun, were frightened and rushed to help him up. Lin Xuzong was also startled, but he didnt dare lose face, so he stood up with a cold expression.

  Lin Tingxun was lifted up, only to feel a burning pain on his forehead, the skin was scratched, and he fell heavily, which made him see stars, seeing Lin Xuzong standing there with his hands in his sleeves, not coming to help him, even more angry, hot blood rushing to his head, the back of his head numb, pointing at Lin Xuzong and scolding loudly: "You bastard, kneel down quickly..." One sentence was said with shortness of breath, and his vision went black.

  Lin Xuzong knew he had been too rash just now, so he knelt down on one knee and waited for punishment.

  Lin Tingxun let his family give birth to a child, Gu Changshun supported him to sit down, panting for two breaths, and then said with hatred: "You only care about losing face in the mule market last night, do you know that something big happened in Shiliang County yesterday?"

  Lin Xuzong looked up at his old man in a daze.

  "You, you, since you didnt know about this, why didnt you have the patience to listen to me finish speaking yesterday? Cough, cough... Lin Tingxun cleared his throat and coughed for a long time. "Yesterday, Gu Wudeng and Liang Zuoren met in the city and encountered an assassin. Lin Xuan was also present at the scene and it was he who recognized the assassin with that outsider who came back with him and saved Gu Wudeng... The Lin family has been grateful to the Gu family for generations, and yesterday was no exception. You have a thousand grievances against him in your heart, but you should endure for now! But youre good, today you hastily sent someone to pursue and kill, afraid that others wouldnt know about the prestige of the second young master of the Lin family. Its fine if people were lured to their deaths at Lake Weir, but do you know that the seven people who were lured were all splashed with the dirty water of assassin accomplices? How will you clear your name?" A letter on the corner table was picked up by Lin Tingxun and thrown to the ground. "Pick it up and read it!"

  Lin Xuzong was stunned, the Lin family had been tyrannical in Dongyang Prefecture for a long time, but he knew that the crime of assassination and rebellion against the imperial inspector was not something the Lin family could bear. He picked up the letter from the ground, glanced at it roughly, and his face turned pale. His usual proud and powerful army might become a hornets nest that would destroy the Lin family at any moment. The key was that this filthy thing was pinned on their heads, and they couldnt even argue their way out of it.

  "Get those people youve been secretly supporting to roll out of Dongyang Prefecture, and before the assassination case is closed, they are not allowed to return to Dongyang. Those marked swords and armor, all throw them into the Shiliang River, dont leave any handles... Lin Tingxun was still calm, knowing that Lin Xie had a mind to frame him, but after all, Dongyang Prefecture and Shiliang County have not yet turned their attention to the Lin familys head, now it is still possible to wipe clean."

  Lin Xuzong felt a pang of heartache. He had spent so much effort to raise seventy or eighty people, but now they might all leave Dongyang Prefecture because of this matter. He was even more worried that if these people stayed outside for too long, they would no longer be under his control, and the efforts he had made over the years would be in vain. However, it was impossible for them not to leave. If the authorities were to investigate and find any clues leading back to Lins family, it would bring disaster upon their heads. Just thinking about how the Lin family had declined over the years made him realize what kind of fate awaited them in the future.

  "I must get rid of that treacherous Lin Xiu!" Lin Xuzong never expected Lin Xius plan to be so vicious.

  "Just swallow this breath, wait for me to die, you can do whatever you want, I wont come out of the coffin to stop you. But as long as Im still alive, you have to be honest with me..." Lin Tingxun said a few words and then gasped for air, weakly waving his hand. "Whatever it is, whatever decision you make, you now need to discuss it with Zong Hai. The Lin family is now in your hands, I dont feel at ease..." He stood up but felt dizzy, grabbing the hand of Gu Longshun beside him, "Longshun, help me back."

  Lin Xuzong also wanted to ask why Lin Gu and Seventh Aunt both went to the Hu Yans house at the same time, but Lin Zonghai gave him a warning look, indicating that he should not ask such sensitive questions again, which irritated his father. It wasnt until Lin Tingxun left that Lin Xuzong learned from Lin Zonghai that the cold and icy family servant who was lying in the ancestral temples side hall had been killed by Seventh Madame with a knife in public because he refused to obey orders and save Lin Gu.

  Lin Xuzong felt a chill in his heart, but he had to calm down and move with his cousin Lin Zonghai to the Wangxiang Building in Shanglin Creek to discuss how to resolve the current crisis. Lin Xuzong decided to let Zhao Neng, who was loyal to him, leave with injuries along with 60-70 bandits under his command from Dongyang Prefecture. He now trusted Zhao Neng and needed a few trustworthy people to control these 60-70 men in order to feel at ease.

  After a night of panic, Lin Xuzong only applied the medicine once, and when he confirmed that everyone had left Dongyang House, it was already early morning on the second day. Although his hatred for Lin Xie was hard to dispel, he could not help but swallow this breath for now. However, just as he let out a sigh of relief and wanted to return to his room to rest, Gu Zongshun, the attendant by Lin Tingxuans side, rushed into the garden in a fluster, sweating profusely despite the cold winter weather, panting heavily as he spoke: "Second Master, Old Master...".

  "Whats wrong with my dad?"