After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 235 Alluring Fragrance and Assassination (Part 4)

The officers and soldiers wanted to enter the inn to search it. Pan Hu tried to stall them at the door, but he couldn't stop them. They eventually broke into the inn and searched it thoroughly, inside and out.

A soldier saw the shopkeeper huddled in the corner and walked over.

Xu Long wanted to stop him, but Yang Cong, who was standing to the side, gently shook his head, indicating that he didn't need to worry about it.

Although Xu Long stopped, he still reached down to his waist and gripped the hilt of his knife.

"Do you own this shop?" the soldier asked somewhat rudely.

The shopkeeper had just heard from Yang Cong what had happened. Yang Cong didn't know the secret of the palace, but he did.

If something happens to the people in the palace, and if the matter is investigated thoroughly, none of them can escape responsibility.

The shop owner smiled and nodded, "Yes, I own it."

"Then who are these people? They look more like the innkeeper than you do," the soldier said, looking at Yang Cong and the others behind him.

No wonder the soldiers had such a misconception. When they entered the store, they didn't see any shop assistants or the owner. Only these few people seemed to be discussing something in the store. How could they not be suspicious?

The shopkeeper smiled awkwardly, but couldn't reveal the truth.

"Sir, these are all business owners from out of town, so it's not surprising that you have this misunderstanding," the shopkeeper explained.

The soldiers sized up Yang Cong and his men, realizing they were all wealthy men; no wonder they looked so imposing.

"So, you guys, did you see anyone suspicious tonight?"

"For example, unfamiliar faces, or people who are acting suspiciously and don't look like good people at all?"

"Have you noticed anything?"

Yang Cong walked over calmly and said in a gentle voice, "Sir, we are all newcomers here and don't know anyone. We really haven't noticed anyone suspicious."

Yang Cong pushed a money bag in front of the soldier, who grinned.

He most enjoyed dealing with these shrewd businessmen, as he always gained a lot from them.

"If you don't have any, then you'd better not go out tonight."

"It's very chaotic outside."

“If you are arrested by my other companions as suspects, I can’t help you.”

Yang Cong smiled and nodded, "Thank you for the reminder, sir. We will definitely pay attention."

With a wave of his hand, the soldier sent the group of people packing out of the inn.

Yang Cong had noticed earlier that the shopkeeper's expression was a bit off when he heard about the fire. Now that the soldiers who were searching had left, Yang Cong immediately ordered his men to surround the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper was afraid of them; he had already experienced these people's methods firsthand these days.

"No, no, no! Boss Yang, please don't hit me, let's talk this out."

Yang Cong kicked the shopkeeper to the ground, then stepped on his back and asked, "So tell me, what's the deal with that palace?"

"Is my companion inside?"

The shopkeeper gasped. He tried to turn over but was pinned down by Yang Cong and couldn't move. He could only lie on the ground and beg for mercy, "Ouch! Boss Yang, in Xuancheng, you can say whatever you want, but we can't get involved in things that happen in the palace."

"Didn't you see that just now?"

"If the palace catches fire, it's like tampering with the heavens of Xuancheng. If we get involved, no matter where the wealthy merchants come from, we'll be in trouble."

"Even if you are the local official of Xuancheng, you will still be finished on the spot. We can't afford to offend you, we can't afford to offend you."

Yang Cong frowned; he couldn't imagine that the fire could be so severe.

But if Lin Yunche really was sent there, they still have to rescue him.

Yang Cong increased the pressure on his foot, and the shopkeeper screamed in pain as he was stomped on.

“Tell me, is my companion there? If you don’t tell the truth, I don’t think you need to worry about offending anyone you shouldn’t.”

"A few of us can send you to the Western Paradise."

The shopkeeper jumped in surprise, pleading, "Please, have mercy on me! I'll talk, I'll talk, okay?!"

"Your companion is in that palace."

Yang Cong's heart jumped. In order to get the shopkeeper to talk properly, he moved his foot off the shopkeeper's back.

"Tell me, what's going on!"

The shopkeeper mentioned that the palace often recruited young men, but made no mention of that Lin Yunche was sent to the palace by him and his employee.

"Boss Yang, as you know, ordinary people like us wouldn't dare to offend those big shots."

"This is because something happened to the important person in that palace. If nothing had happened, I wouldn't have dared to say anything, even if you threatened me today or actually wanted to kill me."

"When did they start targeting my companion?" Pan Hu asked.

The shopkeeper shook his head vigorously, "I really don't know! The palace owner has many methods and has been entrenched here for many years. Her spies are everywhere in Xuancheng."

"It wouldn't be difficult for her to find out what she wants to know."

"I really don't know anything about the rest."

Yang Cong felt that things were getting serious. If Lin Yunche was in the palace, would he be alright now that such a serious fire had broken out?

No! He must send someone to investigate immediately.

As Yang Cong spoke, he was about to take his men back, when the shopkeeper's eyes flashed with a sly glint.

Before Yang Cong and his group even reached the door, they saw three dark figures slip in.

Pan Hu reacted the fastest, immediately launching an attack.

But the punch was blocked by the opponent.

"Pan Hu, Yang Cong, it's me!" Lin Yunche stepped out of the darkness into the candlelight, his face revealed to everyone.

The shopkeeper, standing directly opposite him, stared blankly at the man who had suddenly appeared.

He would never forget the man's face. It was because of this man that his master had spared his life, and it was also because of this man that he was now being driven to his death.

"You...you actually came back." The shopkeeper felt like he was doomed.

Lin Yunche stepped forward and smiled slightly, "Yes! It's all thanks to you, human trafficker, otherwise I might not have known that my face is actually so pleasing to people."

Yang Cong and the others suddenly understood; it really was this shopkeeper who had kidnapped Lin Yunche. "Mr. Yun, are you alright?" Yang Cong walked over and looked Lin Yunche up and down, asking.

Lin Yunche nodded slightly. "I'm fine."

"Mr. Yang, Pan Hu, please take these two men behind me to rest first."

"Tell me the rest later."

Yang Cong and Pan Hu turned around and saw Wushuang standing behind Lin Yunche, a thin and somewhat frail young man, who was supporting a seriously injured young man beside him.

Pan Hu stepped forward to help, and Wu Shuang took two steps back in fear.

Lin Yunche comforted her, "Don't be afraid, they are all on our side."

"You and the others should go back to your room first. It's more important to treat Wuhuan's injuries."

Wushuang nodded like a startled rabbit and handed over the injured Wuhuan. Pan Hu could lift Wuhuan with one hand.

Wushuang silently followed Pan Hu away.

When Lin Yunche turned his head again, he was no longer as docile as before. At this moment, he was like a bloodthirsty beast, slowly approaching the shopkeeper sitting on the ground.

The shop owner never expected that the fiercest person in this group was actually the best-looking man.

"Sir, you've misunderstood, you've misunderstood. It wasn't me, it wasn't me." The shopkeeper could only weakly repeat that it wasn't him.

But the next second, Lin Yunche twisted the shopkeeper's neck.

The shop owner died before he could even call out to him.

It was the first time Yang Cong and Xu Long had ever seen Lin Yunche kill someone, and they were amazed at how clean and efficient he was.

"Lord Lin," Yang Cong called out to him.

Lin Yunche quickly recovered and looked down at the shopkeeper lying on the ground, saying, "They are the palace master's accomplices. He is the one who sent many men into the palace."

"It's not a pity to die."

Subsequently, Lin Yunche ordered Yang Cong to dispose of the shopkeeper's body, and the shop's employees were also sent to the burning palace that very night.

He was eventually arrested as a suspect.

Yang Cong wanted to ask Lin Yunche what he had experienced in the palace, but when he saw Lin Yunche's ruthless methods, he stopped asking.

"Lord Lin, I'm afraid we'll have to wait a few more days."

"The palace has been burned down and Xuancheng is under martial law, so we can't get out. But don't worry, people outside are still trying to find out about Lin Sishu."

Lin Yunche shook his head and said, "No need to look anymore, I already know where he is."

As he spoke, Lin Yunche asked Yang Cong to extend his hand, and he wrote two words in Yang Cong's palm.

Yang Cong looked at Lin Yunche in surprise, "Isn't it difficult for us to meet someone like this?"

Lin Yunche smiled slightly, "Go find Cao Zhe, he'll have a solution, and it's time for him to lend a hand."

Yang Cong accepted the order and left, while Lin Yunche slowly went to Wushuang and Wuhuan's room.

"How are his injuries? Does he need any medicine? I'll have someone go find some," Lin Yunche asked.

Wushuang fed a pill to Wuhuan and said softly, "He's alright, he'll wake up soon, no need to trouble him anymore."

Wushuang didn't dare look at Lin Yunche when he said this, because he had just witnessed Lin Yunche kill the shopkeeper upstairs.

Lin Yunche seemed to sense Wushuang's aloofness.

"Tell me, how did you know Xueqiao wanted to harm me!"

Wushuang lowered her head, pursed her lips, and remained silent, enduring Lin Yunche's probing gaze.

Wu Huan, who had woken up at some point, spoke up, "Don't make things difficult for Wu Shuang. He's just a little more meticulous than others."

Wu Shuang was delighted to see that Wu Huan had woken up, but Lin Yunche raised an eyebrow and asked, "Attentive? What did you discover?"

It turned out that Wu Huan and Wu Shuang had discovered Lie Yan's plan long ago. Wu Shuang and Wu Huan knew Lie Yan better than anyone else what kind of person he was.

He was arrogant, conceited, and jealous. Many of the male courtesans who had briefly been favored by Xueqiao were secretly harmed by him.

The moment Lin Yunche became a special presence in Xue Qiao's eyes, Lie Yan had already decided to kill him.

But Lieyan was not a reckless person. He always liked to do things meticulously and slowly. If he hadn't seen the aphrodisiac that Ling'er had accidentally dropped that day, he wouldn't have made his move then.

Xueqiao could only belong to him in his heart; she was not someone to be defiled by something as filthy as aphrodisiacs.

Lin Yunche deserves to die! Lin Yunche must die!
Wu Huan lowered his eyes and said, "I only saw Lie Yan kidnap Ling'er."

"It was Wushuang who guessed that Lieyan would make his move that night."

"Wushuang made me put on a mask that looked exactly like you, and then swapped you out."

"They just want me to stop Lieyan from doing something foolish."

"But who knew that Lieyan would go to such lengths this time? He wanted to assassinate you directly."

"It's strange, but when Xueqiao saw Lieyan's actions, she risked her life to take a sword for you, that is, me."

"Xueqiao died right then and there. Lieyan went completely mad. He even tried to kill me. I fought with him for a long time, and during the fight, I accidentally knocked over a candle."

"That's how all those things happened later."

"We really didn't mean to harm you. You saved us, so naturally we would risk our lives to save you in return. That's all."

Wu Huan had already exhausted his body after saying such a long speech.

Lin Yunche finally understood the cause and effect, and he now knew that Wushuang and Wuhuan were trustworthy.

"Stop talking, I know," Lin Yunche said. "It's getting late, you two should rest here."

"Just let me know if you need anything."

Seeing the murderous intent disappear from Lin Yunche's eyes, Wushuang breathed a heavy sigh of relief and smiled like a child, saying to him, "Okay!"

Wu Huan pursed his lips and said, "Don't worry! We're practically brothers now, I won't stand on ceremony with you."

Lin Yunche walked out of the room, his expression still somewhat solemn.

If Wanqing were not herself, and the Lin family were not the Lin family, what would you do?
I'm a bit busy today, so I can only update once! I'll resume two updates tomorrow. (*^_^*)
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(End of this chapter)