Chapter 36: Preparing to Act

Perhaps it was the chill in her body that made her period particularly uncomfortable. Xu Qingyi lay flat for two days, shutting herself off from the outside world.

It wasn’t until Abai requested an audience that she stirred. “Young Madam, I… have something to report.”

He looked quite uneasy.

Abai was close to Lin, and whatever he needed to report was surely related to him.

Xu Qingyi shook off her lethargy and immediately got up to ask, “What is it?”

“It’s about Young Master Lin…” Abai hesitated, feeling that once he spoke, he would be doomed, certain he would be sold off. However, if he didn’t say anything, he worried it could lead to a major issue.

“Stop stammering and just say it,” Xu Qingyi urged.

If he was going to be sold off, then so be it. Abai steeled himself and said, “You know Young Master Lin has a biological father, right?”

Xu Qingyi nodded, and Abai spat in disdain. “He’s not a good person. He extorts money from Young Master Lin and threatens to spread rumors that the Marquisate kidnapped his son, demanding justice from the Marquisate.”

Xu Qingyi already knew about this.

She suspected Abai had more to say.

“These past two days, Young Master Lin prepared a house for that despicable man,” Abai paused, swallowing nervously.  “I suspect Young Master Lin is about to do something irrational.”

Xu Qingyi thought, “It’s not a suspicion, it’s a certainty.”

“Where is the house?” she asked urgently.

Abai gave her the address. Having the address made things easier. Xu Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief and instructed, “Keep a close eye on him and report to me immediately if anything happens.”

“Yes,” Abai replied.

Xu Qingyi was still uneasy and summoned the maidservants who attended to Lin, instructing them to pay attention to his movements and report anything unusual.

After giving all these instructions, she fell into thought, sensing something was amiss.

In the original story, Lin managed to kill his biological father without a trace, only for the truth to be uncovered much later, indicating that he was meticulous and cautious in his actions.

But now, he’s involving Abai so much; it looks like he’s leaving himself open to being caught.

Or does he have another plan?

Xu Qingyi rubbed her aching forehead, unsure whether to have an open conversation with Lin or to remain passive and observe.

For three consecutive days, Xu Qingyi remained in her room.

In other words, she hadn’t visited the Eldest Young Master’s room for three days.  Given her discomfort, taking a break was understandable.

Xie Yunzhi learned from the servants that Xu Qingyi was menstruating and feeling unwell, which he understood.

Although Xie Yunzhi hadn’t seen Xu Qingyi’s physique, he could sense her frailty and delicacy, which explained why menstruation would be painful.

In that case, she shouldn’t have used so much ice.

Unfortunately, it seemed no one in the household could control Xu Qingyi; this was Xie Yunzhi’s feeling after his visit to Yi’an Courtyard with Xu Qingyi.

Clearly, the Old Madam trusted Xu Qingyi, viewing her as steady and reliable.

The Marquis felt the same and didn’t concern himself with such details.

As for the Marchioness, she wouldn’t dare interfere.

That’s right, Xu Qingyi currently enjoyed this unrestrained freedom.  If it weren’t for this freedom, why would she have married Xie Yunzhi in the first place?

On the fourth night, after bathing, Xu Qingyi felt much better and thought she might visit the Eldest Young Master to chat.

Suddenly, Dong Qing, one of Lin’s maidservants, arrived and reported, “Young Madam! Young Master Lin… has left the courtyard.”

Leaving the courtyard at night was unusual, and Xu Qingyi’s heart leaped. She immediately sent someone to the outer courtyard to ask Abai if Lin had come looking for him.

Abai immediately said, “Young Master Lin must have left the estate!”

His guess was correct.  It was so worrying!

Xu Qingyi’s heart sank. “Let’s go. Let’s go to that house together. Quickly.”

Unsure how far Lin had progressed, she didn’t dare make a fuss and only took Abai with her, leaving silently.

Lin’s biological father was named Liu Gui, a good-for-nothing country bumpkin.

The proudest thing Liu Gui had ever done was buying a mentally unstable woman from a human trafficker, who gave birth to an exceptional son.

Now, that son was adopted by the Marquisate and was studying at an academy where only the privileged could attend!

Before Xie Yunzhi’s accident, Liu Gui hadn’t dared to disturb him. Now that Xie Yunzhi was incapacitated and the child was without a father, it was only natural for him, the biological father, to reclaim his son!

Initially, Lin refused to acknowledge him, and Liu Gui, enraged, made threats, hoping Lin would comply and not force him to resort to drastic measures.

Lin, having become the adopted son of a wealthy family, apparently valued his reputation, unlike in the past when he’d inherited his mad mother’s temperament and been a bit unhinged himself.

Lin gave Liu Gui a house, a bit far from the city center, but it was spacious and quiet. Liu Gui had never lived in such a good house in his life and was very satisfied.

He knew Lin had money, so he frequented brothels, boasting to everyone about his filial son.

Tonight, Liu Gui had spent a lot of money and sent someone to the Marquisate.

However, he still wanted to save face for Lin, instructing the person he sent to use a respectable title to avoid revealing his true identity.

Liu Gui wanted to reclaim Lin, but doing so would cause the Marquisate to disapprove of Lin. If it hampered Lin’s future prospects, it would be counterproductive.

Liu Gui dared to send someone to the Marquisate. Lin had expected to be furious, but surprisingly, he felt calmer than anticipated.

He even took his time bathing and changed into a clean outfit.

It was an old dark blue garment that, even stained with blood, didn’t stand out.

Liu Gui, having waited in the brothel for money that never came, was kicked out. Cursing Lin, he dejectedly returned home.

Fortunately, he had a home now; otherwise, he’d be stuck in a shabby house.

Thinking this way, he no longer blamed Lin.

Liu Gui stumbled home, humming a tune, and suddenly noticed someone in the house. He asked warily, “Who’s in my house?!”

Had he invited a thief?

“It’s me.” The room was dark, but the moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating half of Lin’s clean, handsome face, which appeared quite calm.

“Lin?” Liu Gui rubbed his eyes, recognizing his son. He immediately grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellowed teeth. “What brings you here? Come to give your father some money?”

Recently, Lin had been providing him with both money and a house, and Liu Gui had become complacent, thinking that now Lin had lost his adoptive father, he finally recognized the worth of his biological father.

He never even considered that Lin might be coming for revenge.

“Yes,” Lin said, suppressing the hatred within him, his tone indifferent. “Just came to have a drink with you.”

Liu Gui, despite his rough exterior, was a burly man, while Lin was only twelve, slight of build. He feared that if he didn’t get Liu Gui thoroughly drunk, something might go wrong.

“That’s great!” Liu Gui beamed upon hearing this. He glanced at the table and saw a spread of food and drink laid out. His smile widened as he immediately walked over to sit down. “Come, let’s have a drink together, father and son!”

Lin lowered his gaze, masking the murderous intent in his eyes. In truth, he could easily poison Liu Gui’s drink, ensuring he died without any suspicion.

But that would be too easy on Liu Gui.

So, he needed Liu Gui to remain conscious while being unable to move.

Then, he would stab Liu Gui, one cut at a time, until he was dead.