A Good Country Wife-Chapter 696 - 689_1

Being able to find the best solution out of a tangled mess so quickly, although it seemed impulsive and risky, a bit reckless, in reality, under unclear situations and relying on the support of powerful backers, this was the most direct and effective method.

The hidden guards borrowed from the Jiang Family, though nominally serving as hidden guards, actually held a certain status within the Jiang Family’s guards. Otherwise, they would not have been assigned to oversee the situation in Xin’an City. Sometimes the authority of these hidden guards even surpassed that of Manager Liu, being able to make decisive decisions. A person of such status tended to see things more clearly and understand why the Family Head valued Lin Yue and chose to forge good relations with the Zhao Family. Putting aside the character of Zhao Erhu and his wife, with such favor from above and with a mistress like that, the prosperity of the Zhao Family was just around the corner.

"Waiting for someone, who?" Quan An was delighted to hear that Lin Yue was heading to the Government Office, but then his attention shifted to another statement Lin Yue had made. The words of Lady Zhao Lin clearly meant that she had arranged for help. However, he had been very cautious, going round in circles and having people secretly watching. How had Lady Zhao Lin managed to make contact with others?

On this point, Lin Yue naturally would not expose such a secret. She was merely estimating the time in her mind, and it should have been soon. Indeed, in less than half an hour, Liu Aniu arrived with a troop, followed by the forces brought by Manager Liu—a mighty group of around a hundred people, all of whom were strong fighters handpicked from the guards.

Seeing so many people appear before him, Quan An’s eyelids twitched as he realized that Lady Zhao Lin was more formidable and unfathomable than he had expected. He had thought his own scheming was quite good, but now it seemed an impossible success, adding to his feelings of disappointment. However, Quan An was different from Jian San. While Jian San thought Lin Yue was formidable and thus avoided provoking her further, Quan An felt increasingly unwilling to give up. He thought, as long as he could escape from Lin Yue’s grasp, there would always be a chance for revenge in the future. Even Lady Zhao Lin, no matter how powerful, would have to submit in the face of sheer power!

With people by her side, Lin Yue’s confidence surged. It wasn’t that she was going to the Government Office to fight to the death with Ceng Lu and his people. Lin Yue would not dare to assault a Court official—such an act could cost her head, and even if handled well, would still provide others with leverage against her. It was just that a larger number made for a stronger presence, preventing Ceng Lu from making any rash moves against her.

Lin Yue led the group that was escorting Quan An towards the Government Office. The guards there hurried over as if to report something important to Lin Yue and Liu Aniu.

"Madam, I saw with my own eyes that some people took several of the young masters to the Government Office. I don’t know what they intend to do, so I hurriedly came to report to you," said the servant, who knew what had happened at the Zhao Family. It was for this reason that he had been assigned to watch outside the Government Office. To his surprise, he saw Dalang and his brothers being taken there. Although he didn’t know what was happening or how the young masters who had been abducted suddenly turned up at the Government Office, the servant knew that anything to do with the young masters was a significant matter and immediately came to report to Lin Yue.

Lin Yue was momentarily surprised to hear that Dalang and his brothers were actually at the Government Office, but then she quickly regained her composure. Feeling relieved, the tense expression on her face also relaxed considerably. For her, this was undeniably good news. It was better for Dalang and his brothers to be in Ceng Lu’s hands than in the hands of some unknown people. At least with Dalang and the others in Ceng Lu’s hands, she was confident she could rescue them safely.

Having confirmed that Dalang and his brothers were at the Government Office, Lin Yue felt even more emboldened to confront the officials. Leading a group of people with great fanfare, she arrived at the Government Office, where she then struck the grievance drum.

"What’s happening? Why is the grievance drum ringing outside? Who’s the brainless fool who doesn’t know that such timing will disturb my rest?" Ceng Lu grumbled irritably upon hearing the noise, as dusk had already set in. He had finished his dinner and was amusing himself with one of his concubines in his room when their pleasure was interrupted by the drumming from outside, which left him quite annoyed.

"My lord, someone is beating the grievance drum outside! Really, this person has some nerve, not choosing a better time and insisting on causing a scene now. Aren’t they just deliberately making you restless?" complained the concubine. She was but one of many in Ceng Lu’s harem and, although she had been with Ceng Lu for some time, she wasn’t particularly favored, especially recently, since Ceng Lu had other preoccupations in mind, neglecting the beauties in his backyard. The concubine had finally found an opportunity to garner Ceng Lu’s interest again and was hoping to get some benefits from him when the grievance drum outside began to sound.

"What exactly is going on?" asked Ceng Lu, running his hand along the concubine’s spine.

"My lord, it’s Lin Yue from the Zhao Family village, with quite a crowd at the Government Office. She claims that Lord An ordered by you to kidnap several of her children, and she has come to you seeking redress, pleading that you release her sons," said the servant, wiping off sweat, seemingly bold enough not to take the lord seriously.

For days Ceng Lu had been preoccupied with the thought of capturing Lin Yue, and upon hearing who the visitor was, his eyes lit up with anticipation. He had detained Dalang’s children at the office precisely to compel Lin Yue to come to him.

But why were Dalang and his brothers brought to the Government Office in the first place? Initially, an advisor at the office had been assigned to keep an eye on Quan An, guarding against any actions detrimental to him. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise when he stumbled upon Quan An’s scheme. Quan An had dared to masquerade as a bandit from Longhu Mountain and kidnapped the young masters of the Zhao Family, all the while concealing it from the lord—truly audacious. The advisor felt that his own courage paled in comparison and thus immediately reported the matter to Ceng Lu.

The advisor intended for Ceng Lu to apprehend Quan An and release the captives quietly, hoping to settle the matter discreetly. The Zhao Family, although unnerved, would likely not harp on it. But things didn’t go as he had imagined. For days, Ceng Lu was obsessed with finding a way to possess Zhao Lin Yue, with her lovely image consuming his thoughts. Although he was displeased with Quan An for acting without his knowledge, he wasn’t overly bothered by it. Knowing that Dalang’s children were with Quan An, he ordered his men to bring them back to his residence.

Ceng Lu theorized that since Lin Yue cared so much for her stepsons, once she learned they were at the Government Office, she would undoubtedly rush over. Once Lin Yue set foot on his domain, Ceng Lu would then have total control over the situation. He would certainly retain her and accomplish his desires. With Lin Yue in his grasp, future actions would become much more convenient, and Lin Yue would no longer dare to refuse him, especially since Zhao Erhu spent so little time at home throughout the year, to Ceng Lu’s advantage.