Duke of Zhenguan

Without waiting for Cheng Chumo's reply, she looked around and took a liking to the sandalwood tray in the hands of the maid next to her.

Amidst the maid's panicked gaze, Lin Chuan snatched the tray and called out to Pei Xu in front of him:

"Young Master Pei, please wait!"

Pei Xu turned around, and what came into view was a dark shadow.

"Bang!"

The sandalwood tray slammed into Pei Xu's head with a thud, and Pei Xu fell to the ground, clutching his head and roaring at Lin Chuan in disbelief:

"What are you doing...?"

Although the soul has been replaced, this body is still Li's biological child. It's one thing for them to be jealous and rivals, but Lin Chuan isn't that young and impetuous.

But would they dare to lay a hand on the Li family?

"What am I going to do? I'll beat you to death!"

Lin Chuan said with a cold laugh, then picked up the tray and started smashing it at Pei Xu without any warning.

"Lin Chuan, how dare you be so arrogant! Stop!"

"Young Master Lin, stop!"

Cui Wulang and Chen Qi shouted loudly one after the other, but Lin Chuan ignored them and instead hit harder and harder each time.

The guards from Qunfang Pavilion tried to pull Lin Chuan away, but Cheng Chumo and Qin Huaidao kicked them all far away.

They had heard what Pei Xu said. If Lin Chuan didn't make a move, they would underestimate him.

Upon seeing this, Chen Qi and Cui Wulang tacitly took a step back.

Pei Xu never expected that a single sentence would bring such trouble. In his fear, he pleaded repeatedly:

"Your mother's affairs have nothing to do with me!"

"Snap!"

"what!"

Another tray slammed down hard on Pei Xu's outstretched hand, a crisp cracking sound rang out, and Pei Xu clutched his arm and howled in pain:

"It really has nothing to do with me; I just heard about it!"

Pei Xu's face was covered in blood, and his white brocade robe was stained with large patches of dark red and dust. Cheng Chumo glanced at Pei Xu and reached out to pull Lin Chuan back.

"Ogawa, if you keep hitting me, you'll kill me!"

Lin Chuan had vented his anger after hitting him so many times, so he stopped.

Holding the tray, he squatted down beside Pei Xu and asked softly:

"Where did you hear that? If you dare tell a single lie, I'll kill you!"

Pei Xu, who had always been pampered, had never been beaten like this before. He was terrified and blurted out everything he knew:

"My aunt told me it was my uncle who ordered it!"

Seeing that he didn't seem to be lying, Lin Chuan frowned and asked:

"Uncle-in-law? Who is your uncle-in-law?"

"Lord of Leping County!" Pei Xu replied tremblingly.

"Lord of Leping County?"

Lin Chuan frowned and thought for a while before finally remembering who this Lord of Leping County was.

Isn't this the same Li Cang who tried to frame Cheng Churou by splashing dirty water on her with the brewing recipe, only to have his steward killed by Cheng Yaojin and then fall seriously ill and bedridden from fright?

Is this person still alive?

Cheng Yaojin's intimidating power isn't that great!

Looking at the tray in his hand and then at Pei Xu in front of him, Lin Chuan felt a little embarrassed.

However, the feeling of guilt only lingered in his heart for less than a second before it vanished. If you're going to say something harsh, then say something harsh. Why bring up the Li family?

Let's go!

Cheng Chumo reached out and patted Lin Chuan on the shoulder.

Lin Chuan nodded, tossed aside the tray in his hand, and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Chen Qi:

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Madam!"

"It is my fault for not being a good host and spoiling the mood of Young Master Lin and the other gentlemen..." Chen Qi said with a wry smile and curtsied.

"You're too kind, Madam!"

Lin Chuan shook his head, then turned to ask Cheng Chumo:

"Is it alright for you to just leave like this?"

"What could possibly be wrong? Let's go!" Cheng Chumo waved his hand dismissively.

Seeing the two turn and leave, Chen Qi quickly sent someone to fetch a doctor!

"Young Master Lin, please wait a moment!"

Lin Chuan had only taken a few steps when Chen Qi, seeing Mei Xiang's deathly pale face, suddenly called out to him.

He reached out and beckoned Meixiang, who was hiding behind him, then stepped forward and walked up to Lin Chuan, saying with a wry smile:

"Young Master Lin, you and the other young masters are certainly not afraid of Second Master Pei. At most, I will only be scolded a couple of times. But if Meixiang continues to stay in Qunfang Pavilion, I'm afraid... If Young Master Lin doesn't mind, please take Meixiang away. Consider it my apology to Young Master Lin!"

As soon as Chen Qi finished speaking, Mei Xiang knelt down in front of Lin Chuan with a thud:

"Young Master Lin..."

Before Lin Chuan could speak, Qin Huaidao, standing beside him, had already taken a silver ingot from his sleeve and tossed it to Chen Qi, saying:

"This is the money to buy her freedom!"

"..."

After parting ways with Cheng Chumo and the others at the entrance of Tonghuafang, Lin Chuan returned home and was greeted by Zhao Fu, who came out to lead his horse upon hearing the commotion. Only then did Lin Chuan realize that Xu Laosan and the others were still drinking.

Lin Chuan helped Mei Xiang down from her horse and casually asked:

"Zhao Da, weren't you drinking too? What are you doing here guarding the gate?"

"Uncle Xu said that we'll be on duty starting today, and we'll draw lots to decide who's on duty first. I was unlucky and got the lot for duty!" Zhao Fu said awkwardly.

Since it was Xu Laosan who made the decision, Lin Chuan stopped asking questions and patted Zhao Fu on the shoulder:

"I'll treat you to drinks another day!"

It was almost past midnight when Lin Chuan took Mei Xiang back to the east wing and let her rest in the room next door. Lin Chuan lay down in his bedroom and quickly fell into a deep sleep.

"Big Brother!"

The next morning, I was woken up by Li.

After getting dressed and opening the door, Lin Chuan saw Mei Xiang standing at the door with her head down, and then looked at Li Shi with a dark face. He quickly explained what had happened the night before to Li Shi.

After hearing her son's explanation, Li's expression finally improved. She looked Meixiang over and seemed quite satisfied.

"You happen to need someone to serve you, so this would be perfect!"

Meixiang was very well-behaved and had learned to serve others since childhood. During breakfast, she took over the chores that Li Shi and Er Ya had been doing.

The three of them, mother and daughters, always ate breakfast together. With someone suddenly serving them, Lin Chuan was fine, but Li Shi and Er Ya were quite unaccustomed to it.

After breakfast, Lin Chuan rode his horse to the capital with Zhao Gui. They sat in the Ministry of Works office and waited for the sun to rise. The warm sunlight shone through the window and made Lin Chuan doze off.

After spending half a day in the Ministry of Works' duty room, as the sun began to set, Lin Chuan tidied up the books on his desk, preparing to leave. Suddenly, two Imperial Guards soldiers entered the duty room, cupped their hands in greeting to Lin Chuan, and said:

"Master Lin, please come with us to the Dali Temple!"

Lin Chuan didn't react for a moment, and frowned as he asked:

"What is it?"

"Master Lin, someone has reported to the Court of Judicial Review that you killed someone last night. The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review has ordered us to invite Master Lin over for questioning!" the Imperial Guard said in a deep voice.

Lin Chuan then realized that the two men had come to take him back to Dali Temple.

So Pei Xu died?

Seeing the group of Ministry of Works officials gathered at the entrance, Lin Chuan beckoned Xu Chun over, whispered a few instructions, and then spoke to the two Imperial Guards:

Let's go!

My first visit to Dali Temple was as a criminal suspect.

Following two Imperial Guards, Lin Chuan entered a temporary interrogation room at the Dali Temple. A middle-aged man who looked like a judge asked a couple of questions and, after verifying Lin Chuan's identity, ordered him to be locked up in the dungeon.