The night was deep, and Granny Liu lay awake, her resentment over the events of the poetry gathering still simmering.
At the banquet, the county magistrate’s wife had insisted on seating their young lady beside her and kept piling food onto her plate. Their young lady had a habit—she wouldn’t eat food served by anyone except those she was particularly close to. Moreover, though the table was laden with dishes, few were suitable for her.
Though their young lady had never explicitly mentioned it, Granny Liu had been serving her since she was a toddler and knew well that she couldn’t tolerate spicy food—even the smell was unbearable. The slightest hint of spice would make her faint into a deep, drunken-like slumber. Yet the magistrate’s wife was notorious for her love of spice. Over half the dishes were laced with chili peppers and heavily seasoned with ginger and scallions. By the time the magistrate’s wife had finished serving her, the young lady was already unwell. By the end of the banquet, she was nearly unconscious.
Ah, it was all Granny Liu’s fault for being so foolish. Knowing her young lady’s weakness, why hadn’t she intervened when the magistrate’s wife kept serving her? If she had, the young lady wouldn’t be suffering so now. Poor Sixth Miss Lin—though not as haughty as other noble ladies, she had still been raised in comfort. Yet now, to survive, she had to labor outdoors every day, even supporting this useless old woman. What a wretched fate!
Before completely collapsing, the young lady excused herself, claiming illness, and instructed Bo’er to fetch a carriage from their family’s restaurant. Since the restaurant wasn’t far from the magistrate’s residence, she had the carriage sent there after dropping her off, planning to summon it back when the gathering ended.
The magistrate’s wife, feigning kindness, suggested the young lady rest in the guest room next to her quarters.
Seeing her young lady on the verge of collapse, Granny Liu agreed. She helped her into the room, refusing assistance from others to avoid drawing attention. The moment they entered, the young lady lost consciousness.
Little did they know that stepping into that guest room would lead them into a trap—and now, they were in this dire situation.
Soon after entering, Granny Liu sensed something amiss but had no time to react before she, too, passed out. When she awoke, they were in a cave, where Shi Binhua was attempting to assault the young lady. Suddenly, he collapsed for unknown reasons. Without hesitation, Granny Liu grabbed a stone inkstone from a nearby table and struck him on the back of the head.
Luckily, the scoundrel was weak. Despite her own exhaustion, she managed to knock him out. The young lady, however, remained unconscious. In desperation, Granny Liu splashed a basin of cold water on her to wake her.
By the time intruders entered the cave, the young lady had regained her senses. She had brought her throwing needles to the banquet and used them to incapacitate four men. Fearing discovery, the two of them dragged the unconscious men onto a bed and covered them with a quilt before sneaking out. But they hadn’t gone far when pursuers caught up. The young lady fended them off with her needles as they fled, eventually ending up in this cursed maze. How would they ever escape?
While Granny Liu tossed and turned in sleepless agony, in a humble dwelling in Duoling County, Qi Biao was equally frantic.
“Report, General! The magistrate’s wife, Liang Feng, has confessed. She conspired with Shi Binhua to abduct Miss Lin. She claims ignorance of their current whereabouts—Shi took Miss Lin and her maid. Bo’er remains at the magistrate’s residence but has been rendered senseless.”
“Any trace of Shi Binhua?”
“He vanished after the poetry gathering.”
“Keep searching.”
Qi Biao had never felt such agitation. Nearly ten days since returning to Duoling, his men had scoured every conceivable location, yet Lin Fang remained missing. Now that Liang Feng had finally talked, Shi Binhua—under surveillance for years—had slipped away. The guards assigned to protect Lin Fang had been crippled by Qi Biao himself. His fury was uncontainable; his icy glare could freeze the air, leaving his subordinates trembling in silence.
Just as he prepared to resume the search personally, Steward Qi entered. “Young Master Seven, I’ve returned.”
Qi Biao’s voice was urgent. “Well? Any news of Fang’er?”
Steward Qi replied, “The guest room where Miss Lin rested adjoined Liang Feng’s courtyard. A secret tunnel connected it to her bedroom, its exit beneath the bed. Shi Binhua had it built after arriving in Duoling to facilitate his liaisons with Liang Feng. When Miss Lin re-entered the room, Shi had his men drug her through the tunnel before abducting her and Granny Liu. Bo’er was intercepted by a maid and given drugged tea, which left her mind-addled.”
The elderly steward paused to catch his breath. Qi Biao handed him tea, and after drinking, he continued:
“Under cover of night, I led men into the Shi residence. In Shi Liaoliang’s long-abandoned bedroom, we found another tunnel leading to Duoling’s mass graves. Following a faint trail through the overgrowth, we discovered a path. I’ve sent men to track it further, marking the way, before returning to report.”
“Good work, Uncle Qi. I’ll take it from here. Rest now.”
Qi Biao had left the capital without official leave. Though Steward Qi wanted to urge his return, Qi Biao had already vanished with his retinue. Exhausted, the steward collapsed into a chair.
Following the tunnel and markers, Qi Biao and his men marched swiftly for hours until they reached a cliff. Scouts awaited them there. Below stretched a labyrinth of mountains, dotted with smoke and echoing with distant shouts—clearly, a sizable force was present.
One scout pointed. “General, this terrain seems familiar. It might be the underground workshop of the Shangguan family, raided years ago. But I can’t be certain from this angle.”
“Proceed with caution. Signal if you encounter anything.”
The scout departed with a team.
Qi Biao handed another a token. “Find Lei Dongzhu. He’ll know what to do.”
Lei Dongzhu had been stationed in Lin Town since the Shangguan raid, where he’d served as vanguard.
“Inform Tan Liu at the Lin residence. Tell the family to wait calmly—Qi Yi will handle everything.” His message was clear: this matter was now beyond the Lin family’s reach.
As the messenger left, Qi Biao stared intently at the mountains until a signal flare erupted below. He led his men down the cliff, reuniting with the advance team before pressing onward.
The closer they got, the more certain the scouts became—this was indeed the Shangguan workshop. Night had fallen by the time they neared the populated area. Most of Qi Biao’s men struggled to see in the dark, wary of ambushes. But Qi Biao’s night vision revealed the scene clearly.
Scattered across the mountainside were caves, half-concealed by barriers. The occupants, assuming their remote location ensured secrecy, were lax—some barriers didn’t fully cover the entrances, and men moved freely, shouting obscenities or brawling. Though dressed as peasants, their bearing betrayed military discipline. Qi Biao concluded this was a hidden garrison.
“Ah—! It hurts! Help—!”
A sudden scream silenced the murmurs among Qi Biao’s men. His entire body tensed.
“Ah—! Save me… hahaha! It itches… hurts! Ah—!”
To others, the cries were baffling. But Qi Biao’s fists clenched, knuckles cracking. The voice was unmistakably Shi Binhua’s—writhing in agony from a poison-induced fit.
A decade ago, in Liangping Town, Shi had tried to disgrace Li Cuimei and Lin Fang. To make an example of him, Qi Biao had ordered his subordinate to administer a slow-acting toxin. Shi had suffered for a month, reduced to a skeletal wreck. Though the poison’s effects had since lessened, they could be reignited by one trigger: contact with Qi Biao’s bodily fluids.
Since Shi couldn’t have obtained them accidentally, only one explanation remained—he’d assaulted Lin Fang. Her blood carried traces of Qi Biao’s antidote, which would reactivate Shi’s torment.
This confirmed Lin Fang was in Shi’s clutches. Though the poison ensured Shi couldn’t violate her, the thought of his filthy hands on her—the woman Qi Biao cherished above all—filled him with murderous rage. Worse, prolonged suffering could drive Shi to madness. Would he harm Lin Fang? Had he already?
Yet acting rashly now risked undoing years of work against Marquis Zhenwu. Torn between fury and strategy, Qi Biao seethed in silent torment.
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