Rejected Beauty Practices the Villain Play
Chapter 78: Silence

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Silence

The Capital Governor was a man with a beard, slightly plump, of short stature, and with a pair of shrewd eyes that made him seem energetic and full of resolve. "Lord Lin, why are you here as well?"

Lin Cheng took two steps back, exchanged greetings with the Capital Governor, and said lightly, "The Forbidden Army was patrolling and saw a fire break out on Three Cross Street, so I came to check. These hooligans set the fire in the street. The Forbidden Army has taken them away. Men!"

Following orders, five or six soldiers stepped forward to bind the arsonists. Zhang Da frowned slightly and glanced at Fengyu. Fengyu gently shook her head, and Zhang Da, along with the guards, retreated to Fengyu’s side.

The Capital Governor said discontentedly, "Lord Lin, wait... Arson and murder fall under the jurisdiction of the Capital Governor’s office. For the Forbidden Army to take them away—doesn’t that violate protocol?"

Lin Cheng’s tone carried an implicit threat. "These people are implicated in a murder case that the Forbidden Army is investigating. The Emperor has mandated the case to be solved within three days. If there’s a delay, who will bear the responsibility—you or me?"

The Capital Governor frowned. The government office dared not confront the Forbidden Army directly, especially since within the Kyoto Capital Guard, the Forbidden Army outweighed the authority of the Capital Governor. Lin Cheng was unwilling to waste further words and mounted his horse, saying, "Take them away!"

He spurred his horse and galloped off. The Forbidden Army quickly tied up the hooligans and sped away like lightning.

Fengyu coughed softly, watching as the fire gradually died down. Due to the snowy weather, the burn wasn’t severe. The Capital Governor approached quickly. "Third Miss, first thing tomorrow morning, I’ll go to the Forbidden Army Office to demand the culprits. We’ll get to the bottom of this."

"Sir, those hooligans won’t live to see tomorrow." Fengyu watched the Forbidden Army disappear into the wind and snow. "They arrived just in time."

The Capital Governor’s heart raced wildly. "Just arson—does he plan to silence them? That’s far too audacious!"

"The Forbidden Army has countless reasons to claim the lives of a few hooligans. Tie them to any unrelated case, and they won’t survive." Fengyu’s tone was calm and measured.

The Capital Governor was quite apprehensive about Lin Cheng and said bitterly, "Third Miss, it’s all my fault for arriving a little late."

"No, it’s him who came too promptly." Fengyu bowed to the Capital Governor. "The night wind is cold; you’ve worked hard, my lord. Linlang Pavilion just received a shipment of Jiangnan fabrics and jewelry. If your wife and daughters find something they like, they’re welcome to browse freely."

The Capital Governor enjoyed dealing with Fengyu—straightforward and considerate. Even when a matter failed, she would compensate generously. "Thank you, Third Miss."

The fabric shop was left to Zhang Da to handle. Fengyu returned to Plum Garden, where scattered hailstones were falling along the way. She lifted the curtain of her carriage and saw the hail on the ground. "The Capital City is bound for disaster."

It was unusually early for hail this year. When Fengyu arrived home, Ginkgo prepared ginger tea. Fengyu soaked herself in the hot water pool to fend off the chill. Qiuxiang and Chunlu attended to her by the pool. Fengyu closed her eyes in a feigned nap, her mood heavy.

Qiuxiang said, "Miss, we’ve been keeping watch for three days and finally captured those arsonists. It would be a shame to let them go."

Three Cross Street wasn’t far from the Jingzhao Government Office. Fengyu had coordinated with the Capital Governor to ensure that the evidence was solid, but Lin Cheng had disrupted the plan. Qiuxiang felt heartache for the burned shop.

Fengyu’s eyes opened, a misty gaze of tranquility and gentleness reflecting the light. "The Forbidden Army holds the highest command in Kyoto. Even the Capital Governor must heed their dispatches. Forcing a head-on conflict yields no benefits."

"Miss could ask the young Marquis for help." Qiuxiang blurted out, knowing there was nothing the Marquis Zhenbei Mansion couldn’t accomplish within the Capital City.

Fengyu gave her a faint glance, the smile retreating from her eyes, without a word—yet the chill of her gaze made Qiuxiang blush with embarrassment. "Miss, I misspoke."

Chunlu scattered flower petals into the water and said softly, "Miss, it’s not suitable to soak for too long at night—you might catch a chill."

Fengyu nodded. Chunlu gave Qiuxiang a meaningful look, then took a dry towel to help Fengyu dry off as she changed into her nightwear. Ginkgo had brought the ginger tea over, and Fengyu warmed herself thoroughly after drinking it.

Qiuxiang lowered her head like a child who had done wrong, not daring to say a word. Fengyu said, "Qiuxiang, I am myself, and Xie Xun is Xie Xun. For the matters I can handle, let’s not trouble him. What standing do I have to request the Marquis to fetch people from the Forbidden Army?"

"I’m sorry, Miss. Qiuxiang won’t dare again."

"It’s fine. It’s just that with Xie Xun and me constantly crossing paths in recent times, too much has become entangled, giving you the wrong impression." Fengyu said softly, "Chunlu, tally the stored grains, winter coats, and medicinal supplies. The snowstorm might strike in the coming days."

"Understood!"

Qiuxiang rested on the Luohan couch outside, while Chunlu began sorting the inventory ledger. Fengyu tossed in her bed all night without finding rest. The weariness of her body did not yield to sleep.

Although Lin Cheng came just in time to spare Lin Yu Yan from trouble, should Lin Yu Yan stubbornly persist, Fengyu intended to see how long Lin Cheng could protect her.

In Minister Lin’s Mansion.

Lin Yu Yan paced anxiously, awaiting someone to report on the situation. Lin Cheng’s attendant arrived in the courtyard and invited Lin Yu Yan to the ancestral hall. Puzzled, Lin Yu Yan wondered why she was being summoned to the ancestral hall at this hour. Lin Cheng commanded great respect and fear at home. Relying on her elder brother, Lin Yu Yan had always been both dependent and terrified of him. She took Lan Xin with her and arrived at the ancestral hall, only to see Lin Cheng standing with his arms behind his back in front of the ancestral tablets.

"Brother... Ah—!" Lin Yu Yan had barely called out when Lin Cheng turned and delivered a fierce slap to her face. Her cheek instantly swelled, her eye bloodied, her ear ringing. She was thrown to the cold floor of the ancestral hall, clutching her face in shock, her tears streaming uncontrollably. "Brother..."

Lin Cheng loomed over her, his dark blue Imperial Guards’ uniform stained with traces of blood, his black boots soaked in deeper patches of blood. He stood with the light behind him, his expression veiled in shadow, exuding a suffocating aura of murderous intent that pressed hard against Lin Yu Yan’s throat. She bit her lip tightly, crawling and scraping to retreat into a corner.

Lin Cheng advanced step by step, Lin Yu Yan screamed in terror, "Brother... I’m your sister—your own sister!"

Lin Xiao heard the noise and rushed over, blocking Lin Yu Yan with his body and gripping Lin Cheng’s arms tightly. "Brother, what are you doing? Don’t scare her."

Even Lin Xiao could sense Lin Cheng’s killing intent.

"Ask her what she has done. If you were not my own flesh and blood, would I have allowed you to live until now?" Lin Cheng’s cold gaze lingered on her. "You’ve been spoiled rotten—arrogant and reckless. During the archery banquet, you failed to kill Fengyu and sullied your reputation, then caused trouble at her shop. Now you dare to set fire to her store, with shops full of people along the street, and residences nearby. You show no concern for collateral damage—and that could have been overlooked. But you actually sent hooligans to commit arson, only to be caught red-handed by Fengyu. If I hadn’t arrived in time, you would already have been interrogated by the Capital Governor. How could I have a foolish sister like you?"

Lin Xiao froze in place. At the palace banquet, he had risked his life to draw attention away from Fengyu, only to be severely beaten by his father upon returning home, spending New Year’s Eve bedridden. In a few days, he would need to report to the Kyoto Capital Guard—but now the lash wounds on his back were beginning to ache again, faintly bleeding, as he realized the sister he had fought to protect had been scheming to destroy the woman he cared about.

"Why?" Lin Xiao gritted his teeth, a fury in his eyes as he glared at Lin Yu Yan. "Why do you hate her so much?"