Chapter 600

Three days later, the Lin family's main gate was wide open; although it was already lamp‑lighting time, the household was in great turmoil.

The Lin family prepared to move to Jiangnan to live; they didn't even bother to pack up the household belongings carefully, taking only some silver, gold, and valuables, plus a few trusted servants, while the rest remained in their mansion in Shang Jing.

After all, they didn't need many people, so the remaining servants were given their release contracts and allowed to return to their respective homes.

Carriage after carriage set out from the Lin family's rear courtyard, traveling down a relatively secluded lane off Chongwen Street, all the way to the dock by the Imperial Jade River.

Upon reaching the riverbank, the ladies of the Lin family also boarded the ship one after another.

Traveling from Shang Jing to the Jiangnan region by boat along the waterway is the best method.

Lin Jingyuan was helped down from the carriage by two servants; his complexion was grim and cold, his skin deathly pale, bearing the bluish‑black hue of a serious illness.

Although Gu Jiu Ling had saved his life, at this moment Lin Jingyuan was like a walking corpse, devoid of any trace of vitality.

This time Lin Jingyuan's reputation was utterly ruined; in the eyes of scholars in Shang Jing and throughout the world, he was seen as a rebellious disciple who had murdered his teacher.

Although this matter was also proposed by Mr. Chen, Chen, as the head of the Imperial Academy, ultimately died alive at the hands of his own disciple.

No matter how this filth is splashed, it must end up splashed onto Lin Jingyuan.

Lin Jingyuan was a scholar; he had a student who that year placed third in the imperial examinations, making him a model for all scholars in Shang Jing.

Now he is like a rat crossing the street; even the capital Shang Jing cannot tolerate him any longer, so he must flee to Jiangnan to make a living.

This time Rui Wangfu gave the Lin family only this option: he must leave Shang Jing, the farther the better, otherwise Rui Wangfu will deal harshly with them.

Who would have thought that the once brilliant young talent, radiant as blazing flowers, would now have sunk to the level of a street‑rat, shouted at by everyone.

His heart had long since turned to ash; though alive, he was merely a breath more than a corpse.

Lin Jingyuan had actually wanted to die long ago, but his elderly grandmother and his helpless, isolated mother kept him alive.

A sudden clatter of hooves pounding the mud came from the riverbank; shortly thereafter, a man in vigorous attire, holding a woman in his arms, came galloping straight toward the Imperial River.

"Little sister?" Lin Jingyuan called out softly; it turned out to be Lin Ru Jun, with the man standing behind her being Cheng Ming, the young marquis.

Cheng Ming helped his wife down from the horse, his heart aching terribly; his wife had only just given birth not long ago, and he never imagined he would have to come see off his brother‑in‑law.

He tightly wrapped a heavy cloak around Lin Ru Jun's shoulders, but she had no mind for it; in her panic she dropped the cloak and ran toward Lin Jingyuan.

"Brother!" Lin Ru Jun stood on the bank; before she could speak, tears streamed down her face.

"Little sister, why did you come? Your health is important; with such a fierce night wind, if you catch a chill and fall ill, what then? Hurry back!"

"Brother, I've come to see you off!"

"You must be careful on the road; the court situation is unclear, and moreover many things have happened. You must be cautious and avoid getting involved in any court affair."

A hint of guilt welled up in Lin Jingyuan's heart.

Originally, if he had not been dragged into the struggle between civil officials and military generals, he would have remained peacefully in Shang Jing as a minor official who wrote and painted, living modestly yet possessing some worth.

Now he fled Shang Jing in disgrace, barely escaping with his life; it's a pity that this scheme has brought about his and his teacher's downfall and loss of reputation, making the days of civil officials in Shang Jing likely even harder.

The brother and sister stared at each other, speechless!

Lin Jingyuan tightly embraced Lin Ru Jun, then pushed her aside into Cheng Ming's arms and gave a bitter smile, saying, "Cheng Ming, your days as a military officer in the court should still be all right."

"Take good care of my sister, and don't provoke anything to do with the Rui Wangfu any further."

Cheng Ming at this moment also felt somewhat conflicted; he actually admired Xiao Yin quite a bit.

Back in the Qi Sha Gu case, Xiao Yin was nearly wiped out, yet later he managed to turn the tide against the odds.

The dispute between Xiao Yin and the Princess's mansion, involving the Lin family, has escalated to this point, leaving him caught in the middle and feeling rather torn.

Upon hearing his elder brother‑in‑law say that, he also just nodded his head in a dazed manner and agreed.

Lin Ru Jun then bade farewell to the Lin family's elderly matriarch and Lady Li; after that, Lin Jingyuan sent his sister off and re‑boarded the ship.

At this moment, the whole Lin household felt ill at ease; after all, they had lived in Shang Jing for many years, and now they were leaving their homeland for a distant place, even though the Li family had some influence in Jiangnan.

Going to Jiangnan and seeking refuge with the Li family was an option, yet to leave the place they had called home for so many years left every face wearing a heavy expression.

Lin Jingyuan simply couldn't sleep; the sound of the waves agitated his mind, especially after his personal attendants left his room, leaving him alone.

Lin Jingyuan sat listlessly by the window, picking up his brush beneath the dim candlelight, hoping to write something, yet not a single character would come out.

Lin Jingyuan lay on the bed, the more he thought, the more anguished he became, unable to sleep at all.

"He searched around in Jinjiang, then turned over again; she leaned against the wall, just about to rest a moment, when suddenly a strange sound came from beneath the collapsed bed."

"Who?" Lin Jingyuan exclaimed in shock.

He was a scholar who devoted himself solely to the sages' writings; in the middle of the night, what sort of water ghost could there be? It must be a thief's doing.

Lin Jingyuan reached out his hand to the candlestick on the table, pulled out the candle, and revealed the copper needle used to hold the candle, exposed on the stand.

Lin Jingyuan slowly raised the candlestick in his hand, step by step moving to the bedside; rather than letting it flop down, he wanted to see what was hidden beneath the bed.

He had made up his mind: if someone was hiding there, he would plunge the candlestick he was holding deep into them, merely wishing to wound the person, not kill.

Lin Jingyuan cautiously peered beneath the long platform, only to find it completely empty.

His brows knotted tightly; he couldn't help doubting his own ears—could he be experiencing auditory or visual hallucinations?

He lowered his body again to inspect beneath the bed more carefully, but there was nothing at all.

Lin Jingyuan's brows furrowed ever more; it didn't seem like a prank.

He muttered under his breath as he slowly rose to his feet, gazing blankly ahead, about to say something.

A wooden club struck hard against the back of his head.

At the moment Lin Ru Jun collapsed, blood slowly seeped out from her shattered skull.

He opened his mouth, but not a single word could escape; he simply slumped face‑first against the black wall and collapsed.

The next day, an urgent letter arrived at the Rui Wangfu.

Ling Feng directly took the letter and walked into the eastern study, right?

The Prince and Princess Consort were present; Ling Feng hurried forward a step, knelt, and paid his respects: "Your Highness, word has come that the Lin family's eldest son drowned himself in the river while returning to Jiangnan."

"What? Lin Jingyuan is dead?"