1.11 Assassination
Volume One
1.11 Assassination
At this moment, the Lin residence was in utter chaos.
The assassins had clearly prepared thoroughly. Though their numbers were few, they were extremely elite. Only about a dozen struck in the front courtyard, yet they pushed the three small flag guards into a steady retreat. The guards never gained the upper hand and suffered heavy casualties.
Meanwhile, several others had broken into the main courtyard, engaging in brutal combat with the night watch servants—“slaughter” would be a more fitting term. With just a few swift moves, they felled each opponent. Within mere breaths, all who dared resist were knocked down.
In contrast, the rear residence was clearly underestimated, so it remained quiet.
“Master Lin, before I came, my lord specifically ordered me to explain everything clearly to you, so at least you might understand in the afterlife.” Fortunately, the assassin leader in the main courtyard had not yet attacked. “It’s all your fault for not knowing your place!”
“Who exactly are you to dare attempt assassination on an imperial official?” Seeing the situation, Lin Ruhai knew evasion was impossible. He drew his treasured sword and opened the door. His frail scholar's appearance betrayed the fact that the weapon was merely for show.
“Our lord has informed Master Lin many times!” The leader glanced at the still chaotic front courtyard, seemingly unhurried. “But since you refuse to take it seriously, then just die!”
“Your lord?” Lin Ruhai’s expression darkened sharply, clearly realizing the identity behind this. “Is he insane? The Emperor is in his prime, with the cautionary example of the loyal Prince Yi Zhong from years ago—how could he—”
“Is that your concern?” The leader sneered, cutting him off.
“...Indeed!” Lin Ruhai faltered, then grew angry. “As a loyal subject of the court, serving the country is my duty. If he comes from such a background... how could he commit such blatant defiance of the law? It’s simply—”
“Enough!” The leader’s patience was exhausted. “Since you understand now, I have fulfilled my lord’s orders. I’ll send you on your way. Your rear residence—only one wife and one daughter—let the family reunite!”
“Who from the He family works for him?” Lin Ruhai suddenly asked. “Also, the He family follows—”
“That’s enough!” The leader’s expression turned cold. “You’ve said too much!”
“I see, I see!” Realizing the situation, Lin Ruhai laughed wildly but with sorrow. “Major affairs require money, and the wealth of the world is fixed. What’s most convenient to seize but here? The eight great salt merchants? Nothing but fat pigs, hahahaha!”
“Sir!” One of the leader’s men suddenly shouted, “Be careful, the night is long and dreams are many!”
Outside the courtyard walls, distinct footsteps and commands were heard.
“Die!” The leader’s expression flickered. He signaled his men toward the rear courtyard, then swung his blade without hesitation. “The greatest mercy my lord grants you is not to be a foolish ghost!”
One assassin immediately nodded, turned, and charged toward the rear residence.
Lin Ruhai barely raised his sword to defend but stood no chance. He staggered after blocking the first strike, dropping his treasured blade. A diagonal slash tore across his shoulder, knocking him to the ground with no hope left.
The leader sneered, stepping forward to deliver the finishing blow.
At that moment, a sharp shout came from the east courtyard wall. A towering figure leapt down from the wall, wielding a dark weapon that whistled through the air, aimed straight at the leader’s head!
The leader had no time to care about Lin Ruhai now.
He hurriedly raised his weapon to block but the force was far greater than expected. The steel blade bent under the impact, and the shock pushed him backward until he slammed into the west wing wall.
The newcomer was none other than Lin Rui.
Only then did those in the courtyard see clearly—the weapon was a six-foot-long steel cudgel.
Judging by its length and thickness, it was a heavy weapon. If the leader hadn’t been highly skilled and strong, that blow alone would have sent him to the netherworld!
Luckily, he still had four men nearby.
Seeing their leader wounded, they drew their blades and charged.
But the assassins who had been slaughtering so fiercely moments ago now acted like helpless chicks. Lin Rui had no complex techniques; he relied purely on speed and strength, swinging the cudgel down wherever he struck, smashing everything to ruin. He easily crushed the assassins and their weapons into twisted wreckage.
With absolute dominance, what was there to say?
In just a few breaths, four gruesome bodies lay scattered on the ground.
As Lin Rui fought, a sudden loud explosion erupted from the front courtyard.
His men were ordinary soldiers, no match for the professional assassins who scaled walls. The Lin estate’s two-zhang-high courtyard walls were impenetrable at night with the main gate barred from inside, preventing entry.
Thinking quickly, Lin Zhao blew open the courtyard gate, finally charging into the front yard.
With fresh reinforcements pouring in, the remaining assassins were swiftly cut down.
The assassin leader, already up, saw no chance to continue. He leapt up, grabbed the eaves, rolled beautifully to climb onto the west wing roof, and prepared to flee over the wall.
But at that moment, a dull thud sounded behind him. He froze, looked down in disbelief at the sudden hole in his chest, then staggered and fell.
Lin Rui dropped his handgun and cudgel, rushing to Lin Ruhai’s side.
“Uncle Lin!” He knelt slowly, grimacing as he saw the slash wound from left shoulder to right waist.
Undoubtedly, such a deep, gaping wound was fatal.
Lin Ruhai could no longer speak but faintly pointed toward the rear residence.
It was already engulfed in flames!
“Lin Zhao, take care of Master Lin!” Lin Rui had no time to say more. Tossing aside any concerns of propriety, he grabbed his cudgel and dashed toward the rear courtyard.
Upon entering, he saw the fire blazing fiercely in the east wing, the main house already burning, and only the west wing just catching flame—because one assassin was still desperately trying to ignite it.
Lin Rui swung the cudgel without hesitation, smashing the man to pieces.
Wealthy estates of this era were mostly brick and wood, so once ablaze, the flames quickly soared.
The common folk’s homes, made of earth and straw, burned even faster, and those who fled too slowly would die.
“Master Lin!” A concubine in the west wing hurriedly opened the door. “You finally—”
Lin Rui ignored her, grabbing the assassin’s corpse and smashing it into the east wing wooden door. The door creaked painfully before breaking open.
“Get everyone out!” After that, he dropped the cudgel, grabbed the concubine, and threw her to the side of the door. He rushed inside, grabbed a quilt, tossed it into a fish tank under the eaves to soak thoroughly, pulled it out, wrapped it around himself, and charged into the main house.
“Cough, cough!” The thick smoke inside forced him to tear off a piece of cloth to cover his mouth and nose.
Fortunately, the firelight illuminated the interior clearly. A glance through the living room revealed no one. After a brief hesitation, he dashed into the bedroom and nearly tripped over a figure lying on the floor—it was Mistress Wang, who had been on night watch.
He checked the canopy bed to ensure it wasn’t on fire, then lifted the unconscious woman and rushed outside.
Unfortunately, the concubine he had saved from the west wing was nowhere to be found; both wings were cracking and popping in flames, beyond saving.
Cursing, he put down Mistress Wang and dashed back into the main bedroom. There, he found a figure struggling to rise—it was Jia Min.
He had no time for hesitation, embraced her, and turned to run out.
“No... please don’t!” The weak voice was hers.
Bathed in firelight, her face was flushed red from heat and suffocation. Despite this, she spoke to stop him and struggled to pull her robe closed.
Only now did Lin Rui realize, in the firelight, that Jia Min wore only a silk nightgown, which had ridden up while she slept, leaving her mostly exposed below the waist.
He quickly loosened his hold, smoothed down the hem, then hesitated before grabbing a silk sheet to wrap her tightly. Only then did he hold her firmly and dash out.
Though the courtyard was illuminated by flames and filled with the acrid smell of smoke and heat, the air was still breathable. He finally discarded the wet quilt and exhaled deeply.
Jia Min coughed painfully in his arms, her face and mouth streaked with soot.
Lin Rui looked around. The rear residence was fully ablaze. With Jia Min unsuitable to be taken to the front courtyard, he turned sharply, sprinting through the east wing passage to the rear garden, then headed straight for the heated pavilion.
Fortunately, it was free of assassins and flames, a safe place to put her down.
“Cough, cough, cough—” Perhaps from the rough ride, Jia Min’s coughing worsened before stabilizing. “Thank you, Anping, for your efforts. But what about Master Lin in the front courtyard? Is he alright?”
Lin Rui’s expression stiffened.
After a moment, he took a cup of cold tea from the table and offered it to her to rinse her mouth.
“Uncle Lin... is receiving treatment.” That was all he could say.
Jia Min froze as she took the cup.
“Master Lin is injured?” She no longer cared about herself.
“Madam, please take care of yourself.” Lin Rui, unsure what else to say, changed the subject and helped remove the cool quilt wrapped around her. “I’ve already led men to eliminate all the assassins. It’s safe here now.”
Jia Min understood his meaning. Tears slowly slid down her cheeks.
“You should head to the front courtyard to handle things.” She lowered her head, quietly rinsed her mouth, then after a long while managed to steady her emotions. “This is Yu’er’s residence. She’s not here now. I need to look for her.”
Seeing her tragic beauty, Lin Rui instinctively stepped forward to comfort her with a gentle embrace—then quickly realized his overstep and immediately withdrew.
“Madam, please take care!”
Watching his retreating figure, Jia Min froze completely.