Finest Servant

Chapter 489 A Surprising Discovery

Qin Xian'er nodded, "Who else could possibly have the influence to gather so many scholars overnight? Husband, do not forget that Master Gu Shunzhang is a renowned imperial tutor. Even my father, the Emperor, has to show him respect when they meet."

"Imperial tutor?" Lin Wanrong shook his head in resignation. How could Master Gu, who served as the Emperor's teacher, not assess the situation properly and choose to be confrontational with his own students? He snorted, then turned to the man who had just spoken, "What is your role in the Gu family? Did Master Gu Shunzhang send you here?"

"I and my companion are caretakers at the Gu residence. The old master has gone on a journey and hasn't yet returned. The mistress heard that the young master was in trouble and sent us to investigate," the man hastily replied.

"Mistress? That explains it." Lin Wanrong nodded and chuckled, "Your mistress is quite scheming, isn't she? To come up with such a brilliant idea to besiege the Lin Manor overnight is truly impressive. Does she have a brilliant advisor helping her make these decisions?"

"I wouldn't know," the man, sensing Lin Wanrong's sarcastic tone and intimidating demeanor, hastily bowed in submission. "We are merely lowly servants of the house; we truly do not know the details of what you're asking."

"Both of you are simply hired help and know so little." Lin Wanrong lost interest in questioning further. He gestured to Si De to call over two hidden guards and had the pair escorted away.

"Husband, what shall we do now? Should we go directly to the Gu residence to settle scores with this mistress?" Miss Qin Xian'er was rather impatient. Upon hearing that the Gu family had instigated the commotion, she wanted to charge over immediately.

"Settle what scores?" Lin Wanrong laughed, shaking his head. "Do you think that merely based on the words of these two, we could have your father's esteemed teacher's property confiscated? Isn't that a joke?"

Qin Xian'er pondered and realized her impulsiveness. After all, Master Gu Shunzhang was a renowned imperial tutor; even her father, the Emperor, dared not act recklessly in his presence. Who would dare seize his property?

"Then what should we do?" Qin Xian'er huffed, frustrated. "We can't fight them, nor can we kill them. Are we supposed to let them besiege our home indefinitely?"

"Don't worry," Lin Wanrong took her hand and smiled reassuringly, "These people are a disorganized rabble; they won't cause any real trouble. What's truly important is the person pulling the strings from behind."

"Are you talking about Prince Cheng?" Miss Qin Xian'er's eyes lit up at Lin Wanrong's sly smile. "Husband, can you really capture him?"

Lin Wanrong fondly touched her hand and chuckled lasciviously. He neither confirmed nor denied her query. Qin Xian'er knew her husband well; he would not voice anything unless he was certain. Thus, she felt assured and asked no further questions.

Qin Xian'er found a palanquin, and they both climbed in. After traveling for a while, they had successfully left the mob of scholars far behind. She noticed Lin Wanrong continuously peering out, looking in all directions as the palanquin zigzagged through the alleys. Confused, she asked, "Husband, what are you looking at? Where are we going?"

Lin Wanrong smiled mysteriously but offered no reply. Just as Qin Xian'er was growing more puzzled, the palanquin suddenly stopped. The carrier turned and said in a hushed, respectful tone, "Sir, we have arrived."

Had they arrived? Qin Xian'er gracefully descended from her palanquin, taking a slow, curious look around. What she saw left her stunned. She and her companion stood in a narrow, dimly lit alleyway, despite it being broad daylight. Across the alley was a vast estate, seemingly covering hundreds of acres. At its entrance, a pair of stone lions stood imposingly. Its large red door hung ajar, wobbling as if ready to fall off. Beyond, one could barely see the opulent pavilions and halls that filled the estate; their wooden beams were charred black, and several towering structures were reduced to mere skeletons. The air was thick with the acrid smell of sulfur smoke, assaulting one's senses. The entire place was a sight of devastation, yet the glimpses of gold bricks and jade rooftops hinted at past grandeur.

"Husband, why have you returned to the Royal Mansion?" Qin Xian'er looked puzzled. Their shaky palanquin had, inexplicably, brought them back to the very alley facing the once-glorious Royal Mansion. The sight of its overnight downfall filled her with a sense of loss, and naturally, some curiosity.

"I'm not sure myself." Lin Wanrong helplessly spread his hands and pointed toward a man approaching from a distance. "This young fellow summoned me."

The man who was rapidly approaching was burly and hurried. Upon setting eyes on them, he immediately knelt in reverence. "I am Gao Qiu, at your service, Princess Nishang and Master Lin."

Gao Qiu looked disheveled, his stubble unkempt, and his eyes bloodshot as though he hadn't slept all night. Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Spare us the pleasanities, Brother Gao. You must be exhausted."

Qin Xian'er recalled something her husband had mentioned before leaving the house. "Husband, what task did you send Gao Qiu on that made us return to the Royal Mansion?"

"Well, for that, we should ask Brother Gao. I'm as in the dark as you are," Lin Wanrong shrugged, a puzzled expression on his face.

"Commander Gao, what exactly is going on?" Qin Xian'er's gaze shifted to Gao Qiu, her tone inadvertently imbued with a touch of authority.

Visibly intimidated, Gao Qiu hurriedly explained, "Princess, this started last night. I entered the Royal Mansion on Master Lin's orders to search for evidence and investigate. However, the estate was so vast that I lost my way. Somehow, a fire broke out in the courtyard—Oh, Princess, you must believe me, I did not start the fire. Master Lin can vouch for me—"

"Yes, I can vouch for him," Lin Wanrong confirmed, his face solemn. "Given Brother Gao's character, he could engage in all sorts of misconduct, but arson is beneath him. Someone else who despised the corrupt ways of Prince Cheng must have set the fire. It had nothing to do with Brother Gao."

Aware of the ruse between her husband and Gao Qiu, Qin Xian'er couldn't help but chuckle. "Commander Gao, in such dry weather, an accidental fire is entirely plausible. I'm not concerned with such trivialities. Speak of the more critical matters."

Indeed, it was no surprise that husband and wife would resemble each other; even her manner of speech bore an eighty percent resemblance to Brother Lin. Gao Qiu chuckled and said, "I'm grateful for your understanding, Princess Nishang. Last night, a fire broke out in the mansion. I was roaming all over the mansion, doing my best to extinguish the flames. I then personally witnessed you and Master Lin display your extraordinary abilities. Within moments, you subdued over a hundred guards. Your benevolence was evident when you released these offenders one by one. Such magnanimity is awe-inspiring, it shakes the heavens and stirs the earth, moving even ghosts and gods. My men and I hold you in the highest regard."

"Brother Gao, please get to the point. I'm sitting here with a broken leg, and I don't have time for your flattery," interrupted Master Lin, clearly irritated by the sycophantic speech.

"Yes, yes," Gao Qiu’s face flushed, and he hurriedly continued, his tone becoming more serious, "After the Princess released those several dozen guards, my men and I, under Master Lin's secret orders, secretly tailed them—"

Qin Xian'er paused, then remembered the situation last night when her husband had asked her to release those people. She slapped her palm to her forehead in exasperation. "Oh, why didn't I think of that? I wondered why my husband suddenly became so generous, but it turns out he was laying a trap."

"What are you saying? Am I not usually generous?" Master Lin felt helpless. Qin Xian'er gave him an appreciative glance and then turned to Gao Qiu, "Go on, what else did my husband instruct you to do? He has many tricks up his sleeve."

"Yes. My men and I divided into several groups and followed those guards dismissed by the Princess to investigate their whereabouts. Most of them heeded the Princess’s advice, repented, and dispersed—"

"So, there were exceptions?" Qin Xian'er nodded, smiling.

"Exactly, Princess, you are truly clever and quick-witted. I admire you immensely!" Gao Qiu bowed, heaping more flattery.

"Look, Husband," Qin Xian'er laughed, "Your men may not have picked up many of your skills, but they've certainly mastered the art of flattery."

"I'm humbled, Princess, you're too kind," Gao Qiu responded earnestly, "How can my meager talents compare to Master Lin? I owe it all to his excellent guidance—"

"Enough with the flattery," Master Lin finally lost his patience, "Get to the point. What were the exceptions? Tell us clearly."

"Yes, yes," Gao Qiu said, his smile ingratiating, "After much hardship and sleepless hours, having only eaten ten steamed buns, we stayed close on the heels of these two individuals. Finally, our diligence paid off, and we made a discovery."

This old man might have stopped with the flattery, but now he was singing his own praises, leaving Master Lin completely speechless. Qin Xian'er chimed in, "Gao Qiu, as long as you've done your job well, I will certainly recommend you to my father for a grand reward. Now, what did you discover?"

"In my humble position, I seek neither merit nor reward, but only to forever guard by His Majesty's side. Long live His Majesty, long live, long live forever!" Gao Qiu knelt on the ground, knocking his head against the floor three times before standing up. He glanced around cautiously, lowering his voice to say mysteriously, "I have been discreetly tailing two of the individuals. These young men are highly vigilant, frequently stopping and looping around in an attempt to detect any followers. Fortunately, my skills and courage, along with my agility and wit, ensured that they did not notice me. It wasn't until today that I made a shocking discovery—they've circled back to the royal mansion."

‘Damn, after all that boasting from old Gao, it's this last sentence that's the most crucial,’ Lin Wanrong hurriedly asked, "They returned to the royal mansion? Where are they now?"

"The strange part is exactly that," Gao Qiu frowned, his face full of bewilderment. "As soon as they returned, I immediately sent someone to fetch you. What's puzzling is that once those two entered the royal mansion, they vanished without a trace. We couldn't find them again."

"Vanished?!" Lin Wanrong exclaimed, "Could they have escaped through some other routes?"

Gao Qiu shook his head solemnly, "All the surrounding areas are under our surveillance. Even if they had grown wings, escaping under our watch would be impossible."

Gao Qiu sounded so certain, and considering he hadn’t been detected while tailing them, there was no reason for those men to run. But why did they disappear upon entering the royal mansion? Lin Wanrong took a deep breath, his brows furrowed, and sank into contemplation as he leaned against his wheelchair.

Qin Xian'er knew this was a critical moment and dared not disturb Lin Wanrong's thoughts. She quietly extended her small hand and began massaging his shoulders.

Satisfied, Lin Wanrong hummed softly, patted Qin Xian'er's hand, and slowly opened his eyes. It seemed as though a divine light emanated from them, "Brother Gao, have you thoroughly searched the royal mansion? Are there any secret tunnels or chambers?"

Gao Qiu hurriedly shook his head, "That was my initial thought too. Therefore, I paid special attention. We have searched the entire residence three times—courtyards, chambers, gardens, even the kitchen stove. Every nook and cranny where someone might hide, we have looked. But the residence is eerily clean, not a single hidden chamber or a single flaw. It's truly puzzling."

"Not a single flaw? That’s quite odd indeed!" Lin Wanrong smirked coldly, "If there is not a single flaw, then that itself is the biggest flaw! Brother Gao, immediately organizes another search. Dig up the earth three feet down if you have to, but find those two men for me."

Gao Qiu acknowledged, still puzzled, "Brother Lin, are these two guards really that important, warranting such a massive operation?"

"It's not that they are important—" Lin Wanrong closed his eyes and mused before chuckling coldly, "—it's the person hiding behind them that is. Brother Gao, you must see this task through. If my suspicions are correct, the big fish we are looking for is definitely hiding within the royal mansion."

"What?!" Both Qin Xian'er and Gao Qiu exclaimed in unison.

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