A Shocking Dream

Chapter 211

Qin Rongchen stepped forward, his expression becoming increasingly gloomy: "Look at the situation. Xie Yuan and Yang Zishi were involved in salt and iron smuggling and secretly bribed court officials. Each case is a big case and their appetite is astonishing. They have been able to operate under the nose of the capital for many years without showing their true colors. They must have powerful backers behind them, or several forces have colluded with each other to weave a huge black network to cover up these shady things." After speaking, he clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, and he was secretly annoyed that the court had been corrupted to this extent.

Lin Wunian raised her eyes, her gaze as deep as a night pool. "Your Highness is right. I have been secretly investigating for many days and found that the relationships between the powerful, wealthy businessmen and even some officials in the capital are intricate and complicated. There seems to be a secret thread connecting them." She paused slightly, pursed her red lips, as if she was hesitating whether to say the next words.

After a moment, Lin Wunian took a deep breath, her expression growing graver. She continued, "I'm more worried about who that little girl is, the one who caused Yang Zishi such panic. I've come up with a conclusion, but I'm hesitant to believe it." She unconsciously clasped her hands together, her knuckles turning white from the pressure. She stared intently at the passing crowd, her heart awash with panic. Those passersby hurried on, each going about their daily lives, but no one knew the turmoil churning within her.

Seeing this, Qin Rongchen looked at Lin Wunian's slender back. That fragile look seemed as if it could be blown away by the wind and rain at any time. His heart suddenly tightened into a ball, and pain and worry grew like vines.

"Some of the answers are just our wild guesses, not what we thought. Now that I'm here, Miss Lin, why don't you tell me everything?" Qin Rongchen softened his voice, like the warm spring sun, trying to dispel the haze in her heart. His tone was full of sincerity and unquestionable responsibility. "It's too hard and tiring for you to carry these secrets alone. From now on, I will share it with you. The more people know, the more confident we are in dealing with it comprehensively. Don't suffer alone anymore."

Lin Wunian paused for a moment, then turned to look at Qin Rongchen. Tears welled up in her beautiful eyes, like ripples in a deep pond. She knew she was stuck in a quagmire, unable to escape on her own. Qin Rongchen's presence, like drifting wood in the dark night, was her only hope. After a moment's silence, she raised her hand and gently brushed her messy hair, as if gathering her thoughts and gathering her courage.

"Your Highness, this is a long story," Lin Wunian said softly, her voice tinged with fatigue. When she looked up at Qin Rongchen, the weariness in her eyes lingered like a wisp of mist rising from a deep pond. "Come with me," she said, and with a gentle, lotus-like step, she led the way toward the inn. Her figure was graceful yet dignified, as if she were carrying a heavy burden.

Qin Rongchen's heart was filled with pity. Without a word, he followed her, his gaze fixed on Lin Wunian's back, as if to use this blazing gaze to dispel the gloom surrounding her. The two of them walked through the streets, one in front and one behind. For a moment, the surroundings seemed to be silent, with only the interweaving sounds of footsteps.

Pedestrians hurried along, but these two striking figures instantly captured everyone's attention. Lin Wunian, clad in a moon-white silk dress that fluttered gently in the breeze, seemed enveloped in a faint moonlight. Her dark hair flowed like a waterfall, her face haggard yet still elegant. Qin Rongchen, clad in a flamboyant black robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree. His sword-like brows and star-like eyes exuded a heroic air, and his every move was dignified and graceful. Their perfect match, like a match made in heaven, drew pause from passersby, who gazed at them with fascination.

There were young girls who blushed and whispered their admiration to their companions shyly; there were old men who stroked their beards and smiled, their eyes full of praise for their perfect match; there were also naughty children who stared with wide eyes, looking around curiously, and almost knocked over the street stalls.

Lin Wunian seemed oblivious to the gazes, her mind and eyes filled with unresolved mysteries and the looming dilemma. Her brow furrowed slightly, and her pace quickened unconsciously. Qin Rongchen, observing this, hurried a few steps to join her, whispering, "Miss Lin, don't worry. Let's take our time and figure it out. We'll eventually find a solution." Lin Wunian nodded slightly, but didn't slow down.

"What did you say? Are the Zhou residence's people also investigating Lin Wunian?" Inside the Pingding Marquis's residence, Xie Yuan had been lazily leaning back in his armchair, fiddling with the smooth jade pendant in his hand. Upon hearing his attendant's words, he bolted upright, nearly dropping the pendant. Shock washed over him like a tidal wave, his brow furrowed, his expression heavy as if a dark cloud were looming over him.

Upon seeing this, the attendant hurried forward, knelt on one knee, head bowed, and spoke with a hint of panic, "My Lord, it's absolutely true! I've done a lot of research, and I've learned that people from the Zhou Mansion are secretly following Miss Lin's whereabouts and are asking around about her background. They're acting extremely covertly. If I hadn't planted spies in the Zhou Mansion, they wouldn't have been able to detect it for a while."

Xie Yuan paced the hall, his steps hurried, the hem of his robe rustling in the wind. He wondered to himself: This Zhou Junze, who usually appears to be a harmless, gentle gentleman, and even when he was flirting with me, he was quite polite and respectful, why would he suddenly be so interested in Lin Wunian? Could it be that, as the rumors said, he had been seduced by Lin Wunian's beauty and was trying to take her into his family?

"What's Zhou Junze up to? If he doesn't really want Lin Wunian, what's he up to?" Xie Yuan muttered to himself, his brows knitted into a river shape, suspicion growing wildly in his heart. He wandered for a long time along this bustling street, the clamor around him like a distant world, his thoughts completely consumed by the unpredictable Zhou Junze.

Suddenly, he stopped and turned to look at his followers. His eyes were as sharp as a blade, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth: "Did he realize that Lin Wunian knew why? Could it be that Lu Yao is in Lin Wunian's hands?" When this thought came out, Xie Yuan was shocked.

Lu Yao was seriously injured, and it was impossible for her to treat her alone. He had sent people to control all the clinics and pharmacies in the city, but there was no sign of Lu Yao. She was nowhere to be found, alive or dead. If Lu Yao ran into Lin Wunian, it would be troublesome.

Xie Yuan knew Lu Yao was no ordinary person. Even though she was seriously injured and on the verge of death, her intelligence and strategy could not be underestimated. If even a single drop of the secrets she held in her hands leaked out, it would cause a huge uproar in the capital, leaving him with no place to bury his body.

"Sir, what should we do? How about we send someone to search Miss Lin's residence now?" the attendant advised anxiously.

Xie Yuan raised his hand to stop her, his brows knitted into a knot. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Don't be reckless. Lin Wunian is a very thoughtful person. There must be many secret guards around her residence. If we go there rashly, not only will we not be able to find her, but we will also alert her. Moreover, if we push her too far, she might burn herself and spread what Lu Yao knows, or even destroy the confidential documents directly. That would be more harm than good."

The attendant stamped his feet anxiously, "But we can't just sit there and wait! Every moment of delay increases the uncertainty."