Duke of Zhenguan

Upon hearing that the officials had arrested two people, Lin Chuan led Zhao Gui on horseback straight to the guard post outside Chengtian Gate.

Just as they approached the main camp, two soldiers dressed in double-layered armor and wielding swords stepped forward to block their path. Looking at Lin Chuan's official robes, their tone was relatively polite:

"This is the Left Guard's camp. Entry is prohibited without authorization. Please show us the necessary documents, sir!"

"I am Lin Chuan, an assistant minister of the Ministry of Works. Today, my mother was attacked by a group of vagrants near Mingde Gate. I heard that the gate guards arrested two people and I would like to see them. Please go in and inform your superiors!" Lin Chuan dismounted and said with a cupped hand.

"Wait a moment!" The soldier nodded.

After a while, the soldiers returned and said to Lin Chuan:

"Follow me!"

Following the soldiers into the camp, they arrived at a barracks. A burly man in armor approached Lin Chuan and bowed respectfully.

"Two people were indeed sent over from Mingde Gate today. Assistant Minister Lin, please come with me!"

"Thank you for your trouble!" Lin Chuan cupped his hands in greeting.

Following the burly man to one side of the camp, they saw a makeshift cell containing more than a dozen ragged, thin men, almost all of whom were injured, and all appeared to have been whipped, suggesting they had already been interrogated.

"Bring out the two men sent from Mingde Gate!"

The burly man gave an order, and the guards went in, dragged two men out, and threw them in front of Lin Chuan.

The two men struggled to their feet and knelt down tremblingly.

"Did you find out anything?" the burly man asked.

"Commander Qu, we've asked them. These two just heard someone shout 'Rob the money to buy grain,' and they rushed up without thinking. They didn't even lift a finger..." the soldier said, bowing.

The burly man called Captain Qu nodded, turned to look at Lin Chuan, and asked:

"Master Lin, what do you think?"

The captain surnamed Qu was quite polite, and there was no need for him to lie to himself; the two men on the ground were just two unlucky guys who were slow to run.

Lin Chuan shook his head dejectedly, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Captain Qu, and said:

"Since they weren't the ones who started it, I don't want to bother with them. Let Commander Qu deal with them as he sees fit!"

"You're too kind, Lin Yuanwailang. These days, there are more and more refugees outside the city. Every day, we have to arrest some criminals and send them in. Those who commit crimes are sent to the county jail, while these fools are just given a few lashes and thrown out of the city!"

"They have their own families to support..." Captain Qu said with a wry smile.

Lin Chuan didn't reply, but politely cupped his hands and said:

"I'm sorry to have troubled Commander Qu, I'll take my leave now!"

Back home, Physician Liu had already set Lin Jiu's broken bones and carefully cleaned the wound.

After treating Lin Jiu's injuries, Physician Liu said with a smile:

"Although Young Master Lin's injuries are somewhat serious, fortunately, no internal organs have been damaged. He just needs to rest and recuperate to recover, so there's no need to worry!"

After all, Physician Liu was invited by Lin Chuan from the Imperial Medical Bureau, and only after he said that did Madam Li and Madam Tian feel relieved.

"Thank you for your trouble, Physician Liu!" Lin Chuan bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"Master Lin, I dare not accept your thanks. Moreover, I sincerely wish to become your apprentice. Please grant my request!" Physician Liu said, bowing.

"There's no need for formal apprenticeship. I've only scratched the surface. If Physician Liu trusts me, we can discuss medical techniques together!" Lin Chuan said, cupping his hands in greeting.

Physician Liu had mentioned becoming his apprentice twice before, but Lin Chuan refused because he felt he didn't know anything about medicine. It would have been a great thing if he could learn medicine without having to become an apprentice.

But Physician Liu was a stubborn man, and he shook his head with a serious expression:

"Since I'm learning medicine from Master Lin, I naturally need to formally become his apprentice; otherwise, I won't feel at ease!"

"..."

Although I don't know much myself, I do need someone to pass on these things, and Physician Liu, who is both an official and a doctor, is obviously a suitable candidate.

Since Physician Liu insisted and his attitude was sincere, Lin Chuan thought for a moment and agreed:

"Since Physician Liu doesn't mind, then let's become his apprentices!"

Overjoyed, Physician Liu lifted his robes and knelt before Lin Chuan, respectfully saying:

"Disciple Liu Zhengqi pays respects to his esteemed master. He will prepare his tuition and gifts for further instruction on another day to formally formally become his disciple!"

"Doctor Liu, there's no need to be so formal..." Lin Chuan said with a wry smile.

"Rituals must not be neglected! My master may not care about these formalities, but I, as his disciple, cannot be lacking in manners!" Physician Liu said, bowing.

Lin Chuan waved his hand speechlessly:

"Whatever you want!"

"I will go back and prepare the medicine and then send it to Young Master Lin!" Physician Liu said respectfully.

"Thank you for your help, Physician Liu!"

"It's my duty as a disciple!"

After seeing Physician Liu to the gate, Madam Li, who had come out with Lin Chuan to see the others off, asked Lin Chuan softly:

"Brother, what kind of spell did you cast on Physician Liu? And you, how could you agree to that? I don't think it's appropriate! Physician Liu is already so old..."

"Mother, he got a great deal by taking him as a disciple! If it weren't for his sincerity, I wouldn't have accepted him!" Lin Chuan said with a smile.

"Look at you, Dalang. Your Ninth Uncle has suffered so much because of me. Shouldn't we thank him properly?" Li said softly.

"Mother, our house in Tiechi Lane is still empty, so let's give it to Uncle Jiu. We'll also give Uncle Jiu 10% of our share in the noodle shop! Mother, don't tell Aunt Jiu and the others yet. Let's wait until Uncle Jiu's injury is better before bringing it up!" Lin Chuan said.

"Okay!" Mrs. Li nodded.

The next morning, Lin Chuan got up very early and waited for Cheng Yaojin outside Chengtian Gate.

"Kid, you're here so early?"

Cheng Yaojin saw Lin Chuan and asked in surprise.

"Uncle Cheng, I've come all this way to wait for you!" Lin Chuan bowed to Cheng Yaojin.

"What's up?" Cheng Yaojin asked with a smile.

"I would like to ask Uncle Cheng to help me find some reliable guards. My mother was attacked yesterday..." Lin Chuan recounted the incident.

"Guards? I don't have any other guards, but I have plenty in my manor outside the city, as many as you want!"

Since I have a day off tomorrow, I'll take you to pick one out!

"But let me make this clear from the start: those people crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood with me, so you can't mistreat them! Of course, if they do something wrong, you can beat or kill them as you please!" Cheng Yaojin said solemnly.

"Thank you, Uncle Cheng! Don't worry, I will definitely not mistreat them!" Lin Chuan nodded.

Cheng Yaojin nodded and patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder:

"You are a viscount now, so you really need to find some reliable people for your household!"

"You only have a noodle shop at home, so there's some income, right? If you're ever short of money or food, just come to my house and take some! Don't be shy!"

"Thank you so much, Uncle Cheng!"

When Qin Huaidao returned home in the evening, he had just sat down in the main hall of the front yard when Zhao Fu, who was temporarily acting as the doorman, led him into the main hall.

After exchanging greetings, Qin Huaidao said with a smile:

"Brother Lin, today I overheard Captain Qu, the gatekeeper, mentioning your aunt's situation. When I told my father, he picked out some men for me to bring over for you to see. They are all brave and valiant men who have served my father for many years. If you think they are suitable, you can keep them under your command!"

Who was Qin Qiong? He was Li Shimin's top general when he was the Prince of Qin.

"What's so interesting about someone he personally picked?" Lin Chuan thought to himself, but a troubled expression appeared on his face as he said:

"I can't accept this..."

"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. I consider Brother Lin my own brother. Tomorrow is my day off, so I'll treat you to a performance at Pingkang Lane!" Qin Huaidao waved his hand.