242: Chapter 242 Turning Point

A surge of anxiety welled up in Lin Wan's heart. She took a deep breath, suppressed her inner unease, and turned to walk into the room.

The room was equally chaotic.

Tables and chairs were overturned, teacups were shattered, and the floor was a complete mess.

Lin Wan's expression darkened. She stood up and said in a deep voice, "Seal off the scene. Do not allow anyone to approach."

"Additionally, immediately send men to search the places Chen Ran frequently visits. Check Six Doors, the prison, and several restaurants in the city."

"Yes."

The Silver Badge Constables accepted the order and left.

Lin Wan turned and walked out of the backyard, her gaze falling upon the onlookers gathered outside the courtyard gate.

She took a deep breath, her thoughts swirling.

Where on earth did Chen Ran go?

Was he kidnapped?

Or...

Just then.

Outside on the street, the onlookers suddenly grew restless.

"Please make way, thank you everyone."

A calm voice came from within the crowd.

Lin Wan whipped her head around.

She saw a tall, slender figure walking out from the crowd, dressed in a black robe, with a calm expression and clear eyes.

The moment Lin Wan saw Chen Ran, the stone hanging in her heart finally dropped.

She glanced over him and saw that his breathing was steady; he didn't look like he was injured.

She walked up to him quickly, her brows furrowed, "Where did you go?"

Chen Ran's expression was calm, "Someone attacked earlier, so I took a step ahead."

"An attack?"

Lin Wan's expression tightened.

Chen Ran nodded, his tone indifferent, "The opponent first released a cloud of poisonous gas. Fortunately, I recognized it as the Miao Frontier's Vicious Poison Smoke and avoided it in time, thus escaping disaster."

"By the time I returned, the courtyard had already become like this."

He spoke lightly, as if he had only encountered a trivial matter.

Lin Wan, however, felt her heart tighten.

The Miao Frontier's Vicious Poison Smoke.

That was a notoriously vicious substance; an ordinary person would fall unconscious at the slightest touch, and if they inhaled too much, they could even die on the spot from the poison.

"Then are you alright?"

Lin Wan asked with concern.

"I'm fine. I once learned a few tricks from a poison master from the Miao Frontier while in prison, and I know some simple detoxification techniques. That is precisely why I survived this ordeal."

Lin Wan first let out a sigh of relief, but then became even angrier.

Because the Family had intentionally kept it a secret, she did not yet know about the previous attack on Chen Ran.

Therefore, seeing that he was safe and sound, Lin Wan simply assumed that some people had deliberately made a move.

"I will report this matter to the Family immediately and have them thoroughly investigate this case."

"To dare to take action against someone from the Lin Family in the capital—they must be tired of living."

As Lin Wan spoke, she turned and walked outside.

The Silver Badge Constables saw this and hurriedly followed.

The Lin Family in the capital, the discussion hall.

The head of the Lin Family, Lin Zhentian, sat in the main seat, with several important members of the Family sitting on both sides below him.

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu sat in the first seat on the left, holding a cup of clear tea in his hand, his expression indifferent.

"Have you found out clearly?"

Lin Zhentian spoke in a deep voice.

The steward standing in the hall bowed and said, "Reporting to the Master, it has been cleared up."

"The one who attacked Chen Ran this time is none other than Cao Yong's deputy, Yan Feng."

"However, this person has been missing since the day of the incident, suspected of fleeing in fear of punishment."

Lin Zhentian frowned.

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu took a light sip of tea and said indifferently, "Fleeing in fear of punishment?"

"I'm afraid he's already dead out there."

The steward was startled and bowed his head, "The Eldest Young Master is right."

"Six Doors searched that area for a long time. Although they did not find Yan Feng himself, they discovered traces of a struggle and... a large amount of blood."

"But the person is nowhere to be found."

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu put down his teacup and said softly, "Father, since this matter has been clarified, why not use it as an opportunity to refuse the signing of the Family tax by the cabinet?"

Lin Zhentian pondered for a moment and nodded, "That is true."

"The people under Cao Yong attacked a guest of our Lin Family; this is already a provocation."

"How can our Lin Family swallow this insult?"

"Pass on my words: say that our Lin Family will absolutely not let this matter rest. As for the Family tax, we shall discuss it another time!"

The steward hurriedly bowed, "Yes."

A few days later.

In the Lin Family, a quiet dining building.

With carved window lattices, blue-tiled flying eaves, it was elegant and serene.

Inside the building, a table of wine and food was set, with chicken, duck, fish, and meat all present, excellent in color, aroma, and taste.

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu sat in the main seat, smiling as he raised his glass to Chen Ran opposite him, "Come, let's have a drink to celebrate the fact that the turmoil of the past few days has finally passed."

Chen Ran picked up his wine glass and clinked it gently against his.

The clear wine went down his throat, carrying a faint spiciness.

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu put down his glass and smiled, "The situation has improved a lot over the past few days, thanks to your help."

Chen Ran was slightly stunned.

A few days ago, after he had killed Yan Feng, he had originally planned to return to the room ahead of time to clean up the scene.

But he suddenly saw that the people from Six Doors had already surrounded the area. Since he could no longer repair the fragmented floor, he had no choice but to first carry the guard, Grey Wolf, to another place.

Finally, he came out to explain to Lin Wan. After doing all this, no one suspected him.

Why was Eldest Brother Lin Xiu suddenly thanking him today?

Chen Ran coughed lightly, feeling a bit confused.

"What does it have to do with me?"

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu looked at his expression, his smile becoming more intrigued, "You don't know yet?"

"That impartial and selfless Censor Su Yuanshan just had his official position restored a few days ago, and he stood up for you in the imperial court."

"He heard that you were attacked because of the Family tax case, and he was already dissatisfied with the cabinet's practice of forcing the noble families. So, he submitted a memorial to the Emperor and laid out the whole matter."

"Your Majesty was furious, and the implementation of the Family tax was postponed."

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu said, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes, "I didn't expect you to know someone like Censor Su Yuanshan."

"Even Wenxin Hall is speaking up for you behind the scenes."

Chen Ran listened quietly, a flash of surprise in his eyes.

Su Yuanshan?

After he got out of prison, he actually helped him out like this?

Chen Ran remembered that when he and Censor Su Yuanshan were in prison, although they had exchanged a few words, their relationship had not deepened to this extent.

Why would he take the initiative to stand up?

Chen Ran was silent for a moment and voiced his inner doubts.

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu smiled and slowly picked up a chopstick of food, "On the surface, this is indeed an act of justice by Censor Su Yuanshan."

"But if you think deeper, it actually has to do with the First Prince's faction."

"Although Censor Su Yuanshan is a clean official, his stance has always leaned towards the First Prince."

"His action this time is, firstly, because he really cannot stand the cabinet's practices, and secondly... it is also paving the way for the First Prince."

Chen Ran raised his eyebrows slightly.

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu continued, "And that Lu Family is backed by the Second Prince's faction."

"Currently, the two royal factions in the court are fighting. On the surface, it is a game between the major noble families and the cabinet, but in secret, it is a struggle between the princes."

Saying this, he raised his wine glass, "You and I are in the middle of it; wanting to stay out of it is, I'm afraid, impossible."

Chen Ran listened quietly, his face unmoving.

The struggle of the princes.

The game of the noble families.

He had never wanted to get involved in such things.

But now it seemed that things were no longer up to his choice.

Chen Ran raised his wine glass and said indifferently, "Since that is the case, then we shall take it one step at a time."

Eldest Brother Lin Xiu smiled and clinked glasses with him lightly.

The two of them drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp.

Outside the window, the setting sun tilted westward, and the afterglow spilled onto the carved window lattices, dyeing the whole room in a layer of golden yellow.