13: Looking around the Plum Garden and Enjoying the Plum Blossoms

On the street.

Xie Weilou walked forward with Lin Qinghuang, his hands in his sleeves, looking lazy and tired.

"The case at Wansha House just happened last night, and today the Tianya Sword appeared. It seems someone wants to use me as a blade."

Lin Qinghuang looked thoughtful.

The Cao family had long since pledged allegiance to the First Prince. Now, for the Cao family's eldest son to produce the Lin family's most treasured Tianya Sword felt bizarre.

Was someone deliberately plotting against the First Prince, or was the First Prince planning a counterattack?

Regardless, the appearance of the Tianya Sword would indeed make her a blade, because she would definitely investigate the destruction of the Lin family based on the Tianya Sword.

Xie Weilou glanced at Qinghuang and asked casually, "Lin Qinghuang, are you truly a member of the Lin family?"

Lin Qinghuang paused for a second. She looked at Xie Weilou and asked, "What do you mean?"

Xie Weilou smiled and said, "I think you're like someone from my Zhenxi Marquis Manor. How about joining my Zhenxi Marquis Manor sooner?"

"......"

Lin Qinghuang frowned slightly, did not reply, and walked quickly forward.

Xie Weilou stared at Lin Qinghuang's retreating figure, his eyes deep, wondering what he was thinking.

For three years, Lin Qinghuang had been investigating the tragic massacre of the Lin family, but during his time with her, he found Lin Qinghuang to be terrifyingly calm.

Logically, if a person's family was massacred, then anything related to the case would cause some psychological changes, even affecting her judgment.

However, Lin Qinghuang remained incredibly calm from beginning to end, as if nothing could affect her. She was like someone detached from the case, which Xie Weilou found peculiar.

Sometimes he even wondered if Lin Qinghuang was truly a member of the Lin family.

——

South of the city.

Four-Gaze Plum Garden, this was the largest Plum Garden in Tianqi City.

Every winter, plum blossoms would bloom, their fragrance permeating the air, competing with the white snow, making it extremely beautiful. This naturally attracted countless talented scholars and beauties, who would come to admire the plums, compose poems, and listen to music, making it exceptionally lively.

However, Four-Gaze Plum Garden was an asset of the Cao family, and without an invitation, one could not enter the Plum Garden. The Cao family was one of the four major merchant families in Tianqi City.

The current four major merchant families were the Chen family, the Cao family, the Cui family, and the Gu Family.

Originally, the Lin family was also one of the four major merchant families, but unfortunately, after the Lin family's destruction, the Gu Family leaped into their position.

The four major merchant families had numerous assets, making them as rich as a nation, which drew envious gazes from all sides.

The current struggle among the princes involved the competition for the assets of these four major merchant families.

If they gained the support of the four major merchant families, they would have a huge advantage, as money was essential for recruiting soldiers, buying horses, and expanding their influence.

Therefore, the current four major families were highly sought after.

The involvement of the Cui family's fourth young master in the Wansha House case last night was no coincidence.

Outside the Plum Garden.

"Lin Qinghuang?"

A cold voice sounded.

Lin Qinghuang stopped and looked ahead, seeing a woman in an orange long dress staring at her with a cold expression.

"Is something wrong?"

Lin Qinghuang asked indifferently.

This was Gu Mingya, the eldest daughter of the Gu Family.

There had been some conflict between the Lin family and the Gu Family. When the Lin family had not yet been destroyed, the Gu Family had been suppressed and unable to rise. Gu Mingya had always been at odds with her.

Now that the Gu Family had joined the ranks of the four major merchant families, Gu Mingya's tail was wagging, and every time they met, she would proactively stir up trouble.

Gu Mingya said mockingly, "This Plum Blossom Appreciation Gathering today isn't for just anyone. You, a stray dog, probably didn't receive an invitation, did you?"

"So?"

Lin Qinghuang asked expressionlessly.

Gu Mingya sneered, "Don't you understand? I'm saying you're not qualified to enter the Plum Garden."

She truly disliked Lin Qinghuang.

When the Lin family had not been destroyed, Lin Qinghuang had been this calm and composed. Now that the Lin family was destroyed, Lin Qinghuang remained just as calm and composed, which greatly annoyed her.

"Oh!"

Lin Qinghuang replied indifferently, not bothering to pay attention to Gu Mingya.

"You..."

Gu Mingya's expression was very ugly, feeling like a punch had landed on cotton.

She immediately said to the guards at the entrance, "If she doesn't have an invitation, you can't let her in."

"......"

The guards, upon hearing this, did not say much.

The Young Master had instructed that without an invitation, one could not enter the Plum Garden, unless they were a special person.

Coincidentally, Lin Qinghuang counted as a special person, because she was the Deputy Commander of the Tianquan Division. The Tianquan Division held great power, so naturally no one dared to easily obstruct her.

Gu Mingya not understanding the intricacies, he could understand, but he dared not truly obstruct Lin Qinghuang, otherwise, the Young Master would surely demand his life.

"......."

Gu Mingya took out an invitation and swaggered into the Plum Garden.

After stepping into the Plum Garden, she turned around and said mockingly, "Stray dog, you can't enter the Plum Garden today."

"Entering this Plum Garden requires an invitation?"

A surprised voice sounded as Xie Weilou walked over, looking lazy.

When the guards at the entrance saw Xie Weilou, their expressions changed, and they immediately stepped forward, fawning, "Greetings, Heir."

The Heir of Marquis Zhenxi Manor, this was a troublesome scoundrel. In Tianqi City, who didn't know the great name of Xie Weilou?

Releasing a West Chu fugitive, massacring an entire family, peeking at the Princess bathing—if it were anyone else, they would have been beheaded multiple times by now.

But Xie Weilou was only imprisoned for three years, which was enough to show the power of the Zhenxi Marquis Manor.

Now that the troublesome scoundrel was out, who dared to provoke him?

Although the Zhenxi Marquis Manor had declined and no longer held its former prestige, it was still not to be underestimated.

Xie Weilou smiled and asked, "Do Commander Lin and I need an invitation to enter the Plum Garden?"

The guard quickly replied, "Of course not."

"Mm!"

Xie Weilou nodded slightly and led Lin Qinghuang inside.

After entering the Plum Garden.

Gu Mingya stared at Lin Qinghuang with a displeased expression, not expecting Xie Weilou to actually bring Lin Qinghuang in.

She said mockingly, "A stray dog, getting so close to the murderer who destroyed her own family, how interesting."

"Interesting?"

Xie Weilou stared at Gu Mingya and slapped her.

Slap!

A crisp sound rang out, and a slap mark appeared on Gu Mingya's face.

This slap completely stunned Gu Mingya.

She covered her face and stared angrily at Xie Weilou, saying, "Xie Weilou, you... you dared to hit me?"

"So what if I hit you?"

Xie Weilou stared at Gu Mingya with a playful expression.

"You..."

Gu Mingya's expression froze.

She suddenly remembered that this was a profligate son, someone who would massacre an entire family without a word.

"If you don't know how to speak, then keep your mouth shut, otherwise I don't mind making sure you can never open it again."

Xie Weilou showed a sinister smile on his face.

"......"

Gu Mingya's heart tightened, and she was truly intimidated, not daring to say more.

"Let's go."

Xie Weilou ignored Gu Mingya and led Lin Qinghuang forward.

"Xie Weilou, just you wait."

Gu Mingya looked at their retreating figures, her eyes filled with venom.

In all her life, this was the first time she had been slapped like this. This was simply a great humiliation.