1.17 Jia Min had already harbored thoughts of death.

Volume One
January 17 — Jia Min Has Lost Her Will to Live

Thanks to “Lazy Yang” and “Dust of the Mist” for each contributing twelve monthly tickets!

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Noon, the main hall of the Lin Mansion.

After all, it was mealtime. Now, between the Lin Mansion and the Salt Patrol Inspector’s office, there were easily dozens of people gathered. They couldn’t be left hungry. The problem was, even when there were more masters and servants before, they couldn’t feed so many people adequately.

So Lin Rui simply instructed Lin Yu to find a nearby restaurant to provide meat-inclusive meals three times a day for all the soldiers. It wouldn’t cost much and could help stabilize morale and boost spirits. As a result, the whole courtyard was filled with the aroma of food.

As for the cause of the low morale—

Originally, there had been over fifty spear-bearers stationed at the office and front yard, but now only about thirty remained.

The rest had been killed in the assassination attempt, with over thirty percent casualties; nearly everyone was wounded. Given the organization of a feudal army, it was thanks to Lin Rui’s effective training over the past two years that they hadn’t completely scattered.

“Have the bodies been dealt with?” He needed to know about both his own and the enemy’s casualties.

“Don’t worry, sir,” Lin Yu replied hastily. “I personally led the team to the mass grave; all twelve assassins were cremated to ashes.”

“Only the leader remains?”

“Yes, sir. We wrapped him in a grass mat and stored him somewhere in the office.”

“Keep a close watch. Don’t let anyone destroy it. I’ll come by tonight to check.” Lin Rui nodded. “For the fallen brothers, pay fifty taels each in compensation. Deliver it personally in my name. Also, notify Lin Zhao at the camp outside the city to be cautious and avoid any further trouble.”

These men were his trump cards going forward; they could not, at least for now, be allowed to collapse.

As for the future?

Since he had ordered three sword-and-shield commanders and one spear commander to eliminate the Cheng family and emphasized no further use of weapons, he had decided to completely abandon them. The remaining spear commanders in the front yard would also be dismissed with silver at the proper time.

Beasts that had tasted blood could not be kept, for their wildness could no longer be controlled.

Once discipline faltered, it would be hard to restore.

Only the personal guard cavalry commander, who had been restrained and inactive, he planned to bring back to the capital directly. That was his true foundation, indispensable for whatever official post he might hold in the future. Without trusted personnel, one would be reduced to nothing but a hollow figure.

“Remember to find some craftsmen to quickly patch up two large gates so it’s not completely open,” Lin Rui recalled the shattered door panels. “Also, from now on, the men’s meals should be like today’s, and the camp’s food must be improved accordingly.”

“Understood, sir!” Lin Yu had no objections.

“Has the plain coffin been arranged?” Lin Rui asked, glancing outside the door.

“Just received word that it can be delivered anytime—within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.” Lin Yu hurriedly replied, then hesitated before adding, “Sir, about Master Lin... Although the weather isn’t hot, should we enshrine him first and prepare ice and spices?”

“In the afternoon.” Lin Rui smiled bitterly. “Send the plain coffin from the restaurant.”

“Your servant takes his leave!” Lin Yu bowed deeply and left the main hall.

Watching his subordinate’s retreating back, Lin Rui exhaled softly.

“Madam, what do you think?” He turned to look toward the inner room.

“Thank you for your efforts, Rui-ge.” The door opened, and Jia Min, her eyes red and swollen, stepped out.

However, her attire was different now. She had changed out of the clothes Lin Mei had worn once, opting for a plain white robe with black floral patterns and a covering gown. Even her embroidered shoes were wrapped in white cloth.

Though she was not in mourning garb, the meaning was the same.

“Madam, please accept my condolences!” Lin Rui could only say so much and quickly changed the subject. “Lin Mei—”

“I just cried a while ago. Xueyan and I persuaded her to eat a little and take the medicine prescribed by the doctor. She’s now resting in the warming chamber.” Jia Min’s expression was sorrowful. “Rui-ge, I understand the master’s wishes, but since you all share the Lin name, still—”

“Madam, no need to say more.” Lin Rui interrupted firmly.

Regardless of whether Lin Ruhai had entrusted her to him, he would never abandon Lin Daiyu.

“You!” Jia Min glared at him angrily, but after locking eyes with him, she quickly looked down, the trembling gaze still lingering in her heart as she whispered, “The master’s body is not yet cold.”

Lin Rui stiffened completely.

“Madam, you know Lin Mei’s temperament, and her health is frail.” After a long pause, he could only speak softly, “I won’t fail her. What if she belonged to some unfamiliar family? Have you ever considered that?”

In the Grand View Garden, Lin Daiyu was truly lonely in the Jia household, but outside it, the danger was greater still.

In the end, her “soul of the crimson pearl returned to the land of sorrow,” dying with only two maids by her side.

Even the Jia family, her relatives, were like this. Given her status as a wealthy orphan, where could she marry safely? Sorry, judging by the overall situation in feudal society, her death could not be simply blamed on the Jia family—it was basically the norm.

Want to understand the plight of childless families?

It wasn’t just the Jia family; even if she stayed in Yangzhou, there were even more uncertainties with the Lin clan in Suzhou.

Now with Jia Min added, it seemed better but was actually useless, because “orphaned daughters and widowed mothers” were equally “fat meat”—the only difference was whether one or two were sold, but the outcome wouldn’t change in any substantial way.

“There have been constant letters from the capital urging me to send Yu’er there first to stay at the Duke’s mansion until I and... return to bring her back.” He hadn’t expected matters to follow the original plan. “I’ve considered it carefully; it’s the best option.”

Lin Rui showed an expression of helplessness.

The problem was, he knew the Jia family well but couldn’t explain it now.

“Madam, I’m not sure about your past connections with the capital, but I know that Lin Shu has very little contact there—on average, once every two or three months.” So he shifted his approach, “However, as soon as news of Lin Shu’s promotion spread, the letters started arriving almost daily!”

Jia Min froze completely.

After all, she was born into the peak of the Rongguo Mansion’s glory. Her father, Jia Daishan, was recognized as the foremost military merit figure at the time. Her upbringing and knowledge far exceeded ordinary people; she wouldn’t miss such an obvious issue.

Moreover, how could she not know what the seemingly glamorous Rongguo Mansion was like inside?

Perhaps she lacked awareness of its current decline but knew the people inside well.

Like the nominal mistress, Madam Xing, and the de facto ruler, Madam Wang.

“What do you think, Rui-ge?” she asked softly. “Do you have any ideas?”

“We have to return to the capital. There’s no other choice. We can no longer stay in Yangzhou or even Jiangnan.” Lin Rui began with the disadvantages. “So the first step is to solve our affairs here in Yangzhou—to try to take as much as possible with us.”

The Lin family was wealthy—very wealthy.

Though Lin Ruhai was a proper scholar who studied hard for ten years, he was not rigid. He was strict where necessary, lenient where possible, avoided forbidden matters, but also did not reject the “rules” that must be followed.

The saying “water too clear has no fish” may seem like passing the buck, but it was necessary.

This was why he had held the post of Salt Patrol Inspector for many years. Normally, few lasted over three years in that role; either they were thrown into jail for colluding with salt merchants or overthrown collectively by the entire Jiangnan region for being too strict.

Being an “isolated minister” was no easy task.

Over the years, the Lin family’s lands, shops, and other assets easily amounted to two or three million taels of silver. Such a large fortune could not simply be abandoned; even the court would grieve over it.

But as soon as he said this, Jia Min’s expression changed noticeably.

“Really?” After a long silence, her voice dripped with sarcasm. “And then?”

“To stabilize Yangzhou, at least to ensure that after we leave, there won’t be overwhelming impeachment petitions or arrest warrants raining down on us.” Lin Rui didn’t notice the problem and only felt that the beautiful woman before him seemed off. “This must be negotiated with them.”

“How to negotiate?” Jia Min smiled wryly.

“Madam need not worry; I will arrange everything.” Lin Rui frowned, looking at her strangely. “So, I need time, which also conveniently allows me to handle the assets. Once these two matters are settled, everything else will become much simpler.”

“Not bad, not bad at all!” Jia Min suddenly laughed. “Then you’ll bring the silver and escort us to the capital, and somewhere along the way, you’ll either kill or sell the two of us. With a thousand miles separating north and south, who would ever know?”

Lin Rui: …

No wonder her reaction was so strange. The real problem lay here!

The Jia family was indeed unreliable, but by normal logic, if the mother and daughter took their assets to seek refuge, even if they were exploited, it wouldn’t be disgraceful. At least the rest of their lives wouldn’t be hard.

For appearances’ sake, they would also arrange a good family for Lin Daiyu.

The simplest way was “internal digestion”—keeping both the people and the silver, a double blessing.

But his situation was different, because externally he was “Lin of Gusu.”

A wealthy orphaned widow entrusted to a nephew of the clan?

Ha!

“What nonsense are you talking?” He grew anxious. “How could I do such a despicable thing? My uncle was as kind as a mountain, and on his deathbed entrusted Lin Mei to me. If I don’t take good care of her, am I even human?”

“Really?” Jia Min stared at him firmly.

“Madam, you know what I mean.” Lin Rui met her gaze unflinchingly.

“You—” After a few moments, Jia Min averted her eyes in fear. “If that’s the case, what else can I say? I entrust Yu’er to you. Please take good care of her and don’t betray the wishes of my uncle and me.”

“Rest assured, madam!” Lin Rui nodded solemnly.

“That’s good.” For some reason, Jia Min suddenly seemed to relax. “Since you have a plan, go ahead and make the arrangements. I’m just a woman in the inner chambers; I can’t help with external affairs. Whenever it’s time to do something, just tell me.”

What did that mean?

Lin Rui was about to ask when he noticed Jia Min no longer looked at him but stared blankly toward the east wing.

At that moment, his heart suddenly tightened.

Jia Min had lost her will to live—just now, she had been “entrusting the orphan.”