The twilight was dispersed by the blazing torches, the pungent smell of pine oil burning filled the air.
Madam Lin, trembling, was supported by others as she looked out from the hall, and even though a screen blocked the view, she could still see a dense crowd of people.
No one dared to catch and beat Fang Jinxiu anymore. Seventh Chen threw down the bamboo pole and supported Jinxiu.
"There's nothing wrong now, your family has arrived," he said.
My family.
Fang Jinxiu took a deep breath through her nose before she stood up.
"Let's go," she said, walking outside.
Passing the screen, Fang Jinxiu immediately saw Fang Chengyu, mounted on a horse, with guards around, shimmering like the moon in the torchlight.
The servants of the Lin Family all backed away in terror, and there were still three or four people lying on the ground by the door, clutching their faces and moaning.
"It was them who beat me."
Liu'er's shrill voice pierced through the suffocating atmosphere.
"Taking advantage of their numbers to bully me."
Fang Chengyu hummed in acknowledgment.
"All right, now we have more people, and you can bully them too," he said in a calming voice.
Liu'er snorted and stepped forward to look at the several people on the ground, kicking them resentfully.
"Let you beat me, let you beat me, not even seeing who I am," she scolded as she kicked.
Fortunately, the kicks of a young girl didn't have much force; the men on the ground simply let her kick and hit them.
This commotion alarmed the entire Lin Clan, with the Clan Leader hurrying over without even bothering to finish his meal.
"Young Master," he said, though he couldn't hide the shock and anger in his eyes, he tried to control his tone, "What is the meaning of this?"
Fang Chengyu had dismounted the moment the Clan Leader Lin appeared and listened to him, bowing respectfully.
"Old Master Lin, forgive the disturbance," he said, "We are simply here to find someone."
To find someone?
Who breaks someone's gate in search of a person?
And yet, they stand there, so polite—it's too much of a bullying.
Clan Leader Lin trembled with anger.
"Who is Young Master looking for? Has my Lin Family hidden some criminal or spy?" he asked, "Do you also plan to drag them to the execution ground and chop them tomorrow? Your Fang Family takes revenge if you have grievances, and now you finally seize the opportunity. New grudges and old can be settled at your whim."
The feud between the Fang Family and Lin Family at Jin Yun Hall was naturally known to Clan Leader Lin.
Fang Chengyu smiled again, bowing.
"You think too much, Old Master Lin," he said, "There are no grievances; we are simply here to find a person."
Clan Leader Lin was about to sneer in response when a female voice spoke first.
"You don't need to overthink this; it's quite simple."
Clan Leader Lin turned his head to see a young girl walking out from the fallen gate.
"I saw Registrar Lin and Old Lady Fang talking on the street and walking away together, and since Old Lady Fang has not returned or sent any messages, we came to inquire about her whereabouts from Registrar Lin," said Fang Jinxiu, "A young servant girl came to ask and was beaten, I came to ask and was detained, and so it escalated to this."
Clan Leader Lin's expression changed as he looked at Madam Lin being supported by several maidservants inside the door.
Madam Lin was already so frightened that she was shaking all over.
No wonder she was afraid, considering that County Magistrate Li had just died, and someone had been executed at the execution ground.
It was all because of grudges with the Fang Family.
Speaking of which, the Lin Family now also carried a grudge against the Fang Family.
Seizing this opportunity to deal with Registrar Lin's family was only natural; it was a tactic commonly used by generations of clerks in the Lin Family.
But then again, Song Yunping was of humble merchant servant origin; County Magistrate Li was a foreigner—unlike them, the Lin Family was different. If it really came down to a fight, they were not simply going to admit defeat.
The expression on Clan Leader Lin's face was grave.
"So you say he left with Old Lady Fang just because he did?" he asked, looking at Fang Jinxiu.
"Yes, that's what I said; all you need to do is summon Registrar Lin to confront him, and if I lie, I will kneel outside your gate all day as an apology," Fang Jinxiu replied.
To dare say this?
Clan Leader Lin was momentarily stunned, his eyebrows slightly furrowing.
"If it's a mistake, I will personally come to fix your gate," Fang Chengyu added, sincerity in his tone, "Old Master Lin, you must understand that our Fang Family has recently been under a lot of scrutiny; we're like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow. Considering our minor past conflicts, you might suspect we seized this chance for revenge. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you—I too am restless knowing that Registrar Lin hasn't returned with my wife."
Clan Leader Lin's gaze swept back and forth over the two.
They looked sincere, and indeed their reasoning sounded plausible.
As for the truth...
"Fourth born of Old Third's family," he turned his head to look at Madam Lin, "Where is Third Son?"
Madam Lin covered her mouth and sobbed.
"Clan Leader, I, I don't know either," she cried.
Clan Leader Lin frowned.
"How do you not know where he went?" he asked. "At this time, where could he possibly go?"
"At this time" naturally meant that the recent turmoil in the county had just subsided, and the clerks had just had their prohibitions lifted. They should be staying home to avoid further trouble.
Madam Lin wiped away her tears.
"He said he had something to do and went out, especially at this time, I didn't dare ask too much," she cried.
Could it really have been something involving Old Lady Fang...
Clan Leader Lin's brow furrowed tighter.
"How can such a grown man simply vanish?" he said irritably. "Go ask, go search, bring Third Master to me."
...
The night grew denser, and the atmosphere in the Lin Family compound grew heavier. Yet, it was neither because of the Fang Family's guards filling the courtyard nor due to the gates still lying on the ground.
"Old Master, there's no news of Third Master."
"Old Master, no one has seen where Third Master went."
"Old Master, none of Third Master's friends saw him today."
Reports came in one after another, Fang Chengyu's expression remained gentle, but Clan Leader Lin's increasingly grew grim.
"This damned fool," he couldn't help but slam the table and said, "Where on earth could he have gone?"
How could no one know his whereabouts and not return all night?
"Has Young Lady returned?" Fang Chengyu asked gently.
An attendant looked outside.
"Young Master, I've been watching, and there has been no sign of Young Lady returning home," he said.
Fang Chengyu stood up.
Clan Leader Lin followed suit.
"Fang Young Master," he said stiffly, "you go back first. When I find him, I will inform you immediately."
Fang Chengyu smiled at him.
"Let's not trouble Old Master Lin," he said. "If we find Lord Lin, we'll inform you immediately."
What did that mean?
A threat? A warning? A falling out?
Clan Leader Lin's expression worsened, about to say something, Fang Chengyu had already started walking outside.
Under the confluence of the torchlight and the night, the young man's figure seemed not at all frail, but rather possessed a certain sharpness.
"Fang Young Master, let us handle it; trust us, as we Lin Family know our people better," Clan Leader Lin said.
Fang Chengyu neither turned back nor spoke again.
Such childish behavior.
How would your Fang Family search? Even if everyone tried together, it couldn't compare to their people who at least knew the direction to search.
How would your Fang Family search? Blindly, turning Yangcheng upside down? Could that even be feasible?
Clan Leader Lin sighed and glared at the people around him.
"Well, don't just stand there," he commanded. "Check the brothels as well."
The servants hurriedly went to begin their search.
Madam Lin set down her handkerchief.
"Uncle," she said. "Has Third Brother been to such places?"
Clan Leader Lin gave a light cough.
"I'm just trying everything in a desperate situation," he said defensively. "Come on, think about where else he might be."
With that, he strode out briskly.
Fang Chengyu had reached the street outside the Lin Family gate.
Fang Jinxiu, who was sitting at the street corner, stood up, watching Fang Chengyu come out.
Since Fang Chengyu had been invited into the Lin house by Clan Leader Lin, Fang Jinxiu hadn't followed but instead had turned and left, though she hadn't gone far.
The night was deep, the streets were devoid of passersby, and Fang Chengyu looked especially lonely standing there.
"He's still missing," Seventh Chen came close and whispered. "I'm sure something bad has happened."
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Thanks to the friends who sent monthly packs in the red envelope area, although you can't see me thanking haha, I still want to thank you.
Thanks to everyone, apart from the rewards that show specific names, I see every single growing data, but can't see the you behind it.
（づ￣3￣）づ╭?～