Nighttime, the sky was clear and the air fresh at the Lin Residence.
At this moment, Lin Yueru was lying on the couch in her own bedroom, lightly closing her eyes to rest.
Lin Yueru was the legitimate daughter of the Minister of War. She had the best of everything in the residence.
She was lying on a couch with a green jade pillow that gives off fragrance, covered in soft silks and satins, and piled high with embroidered quilts tied with jade belts.
Facing the couch was an exquisitely carved inlaid jade cabinet, with coral curtains trimmed in pearls and embroidered with silver threaded hibiscus flowers hanging beside the bed. When the wind blew the curtains swayed, like a vision of clouds and mountains over a fantasy sea.
At an angle across from the bed was an extravagantly inlaid mother-of-pearl vanity, magnificently ornate and dazzlingly colorful.
In the outer chamber, right in the center, was a red sandalwood table. On the table was a carved gold incense burner, wisps of smoke from its lily incense curling up and permeating every corner of the room, and many other luxurious and exquisite objects.
Everything was extremely extravagant. Even the most ordinary items could provide for a family of five for over a decade if placed in a commoner's home.
Lin Yueru was being attended by two maidservants, one standing by the couch gently fanning her with a fragrant fan, the other kneeling on the floor lightly massaging her calves.
Just then, Cui Xi came in from outside.
"Miss, the servant boy is back."
"Okay, send him in to report back."
"Yes."
After a short while, the servant boy who was sent out during the day followed behind Cui Xi, bending his body and lowering his head without daring to look around randomly.
He had heard that someone who was startled by the extravagance of the young miss's chambers had their eyes gouged out on the spot by the young miss's orders.
Stopping some distance away from the young miss, he knelt on the ground.
"Miss."
Lin Yueru didn't even open her eyes, only the scarlet lips painted with rouge parted twice: "Hmm, what did you find out?"
"Reporting back to the miss, I followed those three people and saw them eventually enter the Gong family residence."
"Also, I asked the neighbors around there, and they said the Gong family had been making stewed food recently, and the smell drifted very far, so everyone nearby knew about it."
"Very good, you may leave."
"Yes, this servant will take my leave, miss."
"Cui Xi, notify the steward to go to the Prefect of Jingzhao. I don't want to see that wretched woman at the arena tomorrow, understand?"
"Yes miss, this servant will go arrange it immediately." Cui Xi bowed to the space above her and gently withdrew.
The Gong Residence.
Gong Xiaohua had just returned home with her mother and brother, when Dad Gong and Gong Xiaonan also came back.
After learning about Gong Xiaohua's upcoming match and Gong Dafu's stewed food business, Dad Gong was very happy.
His daughter was outstanding, and his nephew would also establish himself, then their old hometown would have an even better life in the future.
In his delight, he drank several taels of wine with the stewed food, and the two men along with Gong Xiaonan who was exceptionally allowed a little wine, drank together.
Gong Xiaohua ate dinner early and went to rest soon, really worn out from today.
But the whole family had to get up early tomorrow, to help Gong Dafu bring as much stewed food as possible to sell at the arena in the outskirts, so Dad Gong and the others didn't dare chat late into the night either, washing up and sleeping after finishing their wine.
The next morning at dawn, when the alley was still peaceful and everyone was still asleep, the Gong family had already lit their oil lamps. The sounds of washing up echoed in the yard as the Gong family had all gotten up and prepared to head to the arena.
But as soon as they stepped out of the yard, they were surrounded by a group of people.
"The laws of Daye clearly state that any person who holds an imperial office is prohibited from participating in business transactions."
"There have been reports that you all, as government officials, knowingly broke the law. Your crimes are aggravated and you must come with us."
Seeing they were people from the Prefect of Jingzhao led by Captain Wang, Gong Xiaonan walked up to Captain Wang and said: "Captain Wang, there's been a misunderstanding. Our family does not run any businesses, it is our cousin who runs a business and we are just helping him."
After speaking, he secretly tried to slip some money to the other party, but the other party ignored it.
Usually these catchers, especially Captain Wang, were known for being greedy. They would always nitpick and demand "calamity avoidance" gifts from others.
But the other party completely refused the money Gong Xiaonan handed over. He continued impassively: "Whether there is a misunderstanding will be known after you come with us. Everyone, please."
Seeing the people before her, Gong Xiaohua guessed someone was deliberately targeting them from behind.
So she walked up to Captain Wang and looked coldly at him: "Who ordered you to come?"
Captain Wang saw the murderous aura emanating from Gong Xiaohua before him. He knew of her reputation, that with one move she could take down Baru, so he could imagine her ferocity.
He swallowed and took a few steps back in fear.
But thinking of the reward from the Lins, he pretended to stay calm and said to Gong Xiaohua: "Miss Gong the prison guard, with conclusive evidence, who needs orders? Please come with us."
"Xiaohua, don't be unreasonable with Captain Wang. Stand down." Dad Gong behind her said.
He turned to Captain Wang, "Captain Wang, of course we have to go, but my young daughter has a competition. Can she stay for now to finish the match before coming?"
"Gong the prison guard, it's not that we don't want to release people. But with reports already filed against you all, catching you red-handed, if I let one person go and get blamed by superiors, we can't withstand that."
"You-"
As dawn broke, the sounds of chickens and dogs gradually arose around them.
If this dragged on, it would not bode well for anyone.
"Captain Wang, let's go." Dad Gong said.
"This way, please." Captain Wang responded, and signaled to the catchers behind him with his eyes at the same time.
Seeing the signal, the catchers came up one by one to confiscate the belongings in the Gongs' hands.
And so, the group of people clattered away to the Prefect's office, hauling piles of items.
Upon reaching the Prefect's office, it was still early. The entire Gong family was detained in the prison to await the Prefect's audience.
But as the competition was about to start, there was still no audience with the Prefect.
Everyone's eyes were red with anger, knowing someone was deliberately targeting them.
At the side, Gong Dafu felt awful and guilty, blaming himself for not only causing his uncle and aunt to suffer jail time, but also causing his sister to miss such an important match.
"Uncle, auntie, sister, I'm sorry. It's all brother's fault, I shouldn't have stayed in the capital to run a business, and even implicated all of you."
After speaking, his voice choked up.
"Brother, how could we blame you? This is clearly someone deliberately targeting us, it has nothing to do with you. And staying to run a business was my idea in the first place, so brother must not blame yourself." Gong Xiaohua consoled Gong Dafu.
"That's right brother, this has nothing to do with you at all. It must be someone who envies us intentionally making trouble for us." Gong Xiaonan said.
"I'll see if I can find someone to send a message to the Ministry of Justice for us. Our sister is here, they definitely won't ignore it."
The people from the Ministry of Justice were also anxiously waiting like ants on a hot wok. At first they waited left and right at the ministry, but didn't see Gong Xiaohua arrive.
They sent someone to the Gong residence, and were told the entire family had gone out early, assumed to have gone to the arena already. A group of people searched the arena but could not find them.
Only then did they realize something was wrong, and sent people out to look everywhere, but the Gong family had disappeared overnight without a trace.
