1.14 Possessiveness

Volume One

1.14 Possessiveness

Gentlemen, free investment with returns!

........................................

On the outskirts of Yangzhou city, the garrison of the Salt Inspector’s office.

When Lin Rui arrived, the sky was just beginning to brighten, but there was a commotion in the camp.

“My lord!” Lin Zhao, who had been sent ahead, hurried to meet him, his face full of anxiety. “The news has already spread. The men under my command have heard about it. Last night, a few even fled. I—”

An assassination attempt on the Salt Inspector was no small matter; it could not be concealed.

Killing an official was tantamount to rebellion—an iron rule of the entire feudal dynasty.

Yet someone had actually done it. Whatever the reason, this was beyond the control of a mere group of soldiers paid to carry arms. Most importantly, with Lin Ruhai’s death, they all became rootless driftwood—what would happen next was unthinkable.

Naturally, everyone was restless.

“Enough!” Lin Rui waved his hand to cut him off. “Gather everyone at the training ground.”

Since he made such arrangements, he was obviously prepared.

Perhaps because everyone was so tense, the assembly was swift.

“My lord!” Lin Zhao, unable to form ranks, rushed to report as the men gathered.

Lin Rui waved him aside again.

“I believe you have all heard the news.” Standing on the reviewing stand, he scanned the crowd for a long moment until no one dared speak, then said, “Master Lin was attacked. It can no longer be described as ‘life or death uncertain’; he is certainly dead!”

A roar erupted from below.

“My lord, why such certainty?” Lin Zhao was sweating coldly.

“To be born from death.” Lin Rui’s expression was icy as he stared down, letting the chaos continue. Even as many ran back to their quarters to pack and desert, he made no move to stop them.

“My lord, shall I—” Lin Zhao gripped his sword with murderous intent.

Lin Rui slowly shook his head.

Deserting troops cannot be stopped unless crushed utterly; anyone who tries will bleed.

Therefore, such disorder cannot be prolonged, lest it become irretrievable.

“Finished?” After less than a minute, he snapped coldly. The fearsome aura he had cultivated over two years still lingered. The remaining soldiers fell silent.

“You can shout all you want here, but soon you won’t have a voice to raise!”

The training ground fell utterly silent.

He said no more, but deliberately swept the crowd with a cold sneer.

“My lord?” Seeing the atmosphere grow oppressive, Lin Zhao couldn’t help but speak.

“You are all veterans here—at least six months or more.” Seeing their panicked faces, Lin Rui knew the time had come. “Until today, you were the Salt Inspector’s guards and men. A minimum of two taels of silver a month, your food, weapons and armor—all paid by me. Have you had such comfortable lives that you forgot who you are? Here, you are my personal guards. Without the badge on your heads, what are you, hmm?”

The mood sank further, suffocating as still water.

“Master Lin is gone. Naturally, no one will care for you anymore. If some want to run, I don’t blame them—that’s our failure.” Lin Rui took the blame to ease the pressure. “But don’t think running will solve anything.”

“Though no one will pursue deserters anymore, all of Yangzhou knows that the Salt Inspector’s men carry silver.” Lin Zhao was rough but not foolish; he knew when to speak. “Once you run, you’re just broken soldiers—the lowest scum anyone can kill!”

One by one, they were reminded that Yangzhou was a major stronghold in Jiangnan. Within ten miles lay the main camp of the Yangzhou garrison, home to three thousand elite troops. If they wanted to wipe you out, it wouldn’t delay their dinner!

This was the cruel reality.

A well-organized army swept through like a comb; scattered stragglers, though still armed, were targets everywhere they went. One false move meant death.

Killers are always killed in turn. Deserting soldiers who loot and ravage have no right to complain when they are slain.

What? Deserting soldiers usually aren’t dared to be touched?

Only after escaping Yangzhou. Before then, they were walking fat sheep.

Last night’s assassination attempt on Lin Ruhai was clearly suspicious. The prolonged silence from the various Yangzhou offices suggested tacit approval. Once Lin Ruhai died, matters would become much simpler.

A single “pacification” edict, and the Yangzhou garrison would have no qualms about pocketing more silver.

“This Yangzhou is no longer safe for us. If you flee, so will I.” Lin Rui gave a nod of approval to his men, then continued to stir them. “So, we must leave. But wherever we go, there is one thing we cannot do without!”

“Silver!” Lin Zhao added promptly.

At this, the soldiers below began to understand, their eyes brightening.

“Last night, the ones who struck Master Lin were the Cheng family.” Seeing the reaction, Lin Rui knew it was time to sweeten the deal. “Everyone in Jiangnan knows the ‘Eight Great Salt Merchants’ are wealthy. Before, we were too cautious, watching helplessly. Now, no more!

“In a moment, you will all take your weapons and follow me. I give you my word: whatever the Cheng family has, you take it. I won’t ask questions. Whatever you do, I will pretend I saw nothing!”

The soldiers’ eyes gleamed brighter, their gaze slowly reddening.

“Willing to die for my lord!” Lin Zhao shouted hoarsely and knelt.

Soon, the training ground was filled with kneeling men, their cries of loyalty echoing through the vicinity.

Lin Rui’s expression remained unchanged, but his trembling hands betrayed everything.

Looking at his troops, he knew the plan was already more than half a success.

“Pack up, and come get your silver!” he roared to the heavens.

“Silver! Silver! Silver!”

The Lin Residence.

The fire in the rear courtyard had burned out—not because it was saved, but because it had consumed everything.

This was the advantage of a private compound with high walls. Unless a large-scale conflagration occurred, an accident in one household would not spill over to others.

In the warm pavilion of the rear garden, Jia Min sat blankly by the bed, utterly lost.

Though the night had been brief, events had far exceeded normal expectations.

Her husband was certainly gone; her daughter still unconscious.

Everything in the house had vanished with the fire. Gone were the days of noble lady luxury, and now even survival was uncertain. After all, she was born of a peak-period Duke’s family and married to a top scholar, confidant of the emperor. She was far from naive.

“Co... cold—” Suddenly, she heard a sound.

“Yu’er!” Jia Min jolted up, looking at her daughter twisting in pain on the bed. Her face lit with hope as she rushed over. “You’re awake? Want some water? Are you hungry...?”

“Mother!” Lin Daiyu struggled to open her eyes, tears streaming as she looked at her mother. “I’m cold!”

Jia Min hurriedly placed her hand on her daughter’s forehead, anxiety etched on her face.

It was clearly warm to the touch.

The problem was, she had no good remedy now—the rear quarters had burned down.

Of course, a wealthy household like theirs always kept medicines, but they were stored in the rear bedrooms. With the fire, whatever was there had turned to ash.

After a moment’s thought, she had no choice but to use the simplest method: wetting a towel and placing it on her daughter’s forehead.

“Yu’er, does that feel better?” The pretty young face before her eased her heart.

“Mother!” Perhaps due to the coolness on her forehead, Lin Daiyu finally regained clarity. “Last night I heard... what is happening now? Is it all right?”

“Things... have changed.” Seeing her daughter’s fragile state, Jia Min avoided the truth, speaking in circles. “You don’t need to worry. Brother Rui—”

She suddenly stopped.

“Mother, what happened to Brother Rui?” Lin Daiyu’s worry deepened.

“He’s fine.” Jia Min shook her head quickly. “He’s already gone to finish things.”

But in her heart, she thought much more.

First, she did not trust Lin Rui, especially given their near-desperate situation.

Second, as a married woman, she was well aware of certain looks.

That look he gave her before leaving—the one fixed almost obsessively on her—spoke volumes. There was pity, mostly worry, but also a trace of a man’s nature.

Possession.

Hidden but unmistakable possessiveness.

But now, she knew she had no choice, for there was no other path.

She was a woman, powerless against the outside world.

All she could do was trust him and stand by his side. Anything else was a dead end.

“If Brother Rui says he can handle it, he will.” Compared to Jia Min, Lin Daiyu’s thoughts were simpler. “Mother, don’t worry. In these more than two years, when has he ever let Father down?”

Hmm?

Jia Min’s heart stirred—indeed, he hadn’t.

“Hopefully so!” Thinking this, she felt much lighter.

“Mother, what exactly happened yesterday?” Lin Daiyu pressed on.

“Silly girl, didn’t you say Brother Rui never let anyone down? With him here, what could possibly go wrong?” Jia Min forced a smile to comfort her daughter. “You’re not well now. Rest well, and once you recover, everything will be resolved.”

“Mm!” Lin Daiyu nodded gently.

Perhaps due to weakness, she soon closed her eyes, breathing evenly as she fell asleep.

Seeing her daughter stable for the moment, Jia Min exhaled deeply.

She glanced at Xue Yan, the maid sleeping nearby, frowning.

A handmaiden daring to steal a man? If she had known yesterday, Jia Min would never have kept her. But now, with only three... four people left in the household, she dared not risk another crisis.

Thinking this, she instinctively reached out to touch the maid’s forehead. Finding it normal, she relaxed again.

After pulling back her slender hand, she rose to prepare some food for the two of them. Considering the rear quarters were destroyed and the front filled with soldiers, she could only arrange some light refreshments.

Yet in any case, matters had at least taken a turn for the better.

At least, for now.