Chapter 46: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind…

Chapter 46: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind...

Lu Xusheng, worried that Cheng Yian might need him, had gone to Xuanfu the previous night, entering the city before dark. Upon returning, he found Qiu Qing kneeling in the small courtyard behind the study.

Behind the courtyard stood a long hall, where Lu Xusheng received guests, and behind the hall was a side gate leading to Ningji Hall.

Cheng Yian, pulled out of Ningji Hall by Ru Lan, stood by the pillar of the long hall, watching the master and servant in the courtyard.

Lu Xusheng stood on the steps of the rear corridor of the study, seeing Qiu Qing with his head drooping, looking half-dead, which made him furious.

"What? You couldn't even deal with Cui Han?"

"No..." Qiu Qing, with a bitter expression, glanced at Lu Xusheng's stern face, too afraid to speak.

"Tell me, what happened?" Lu Xusheng asked with his hands behind his back.

Qiu Qing, who was usually unruly, acted like a timid grandson in front of him. He reluctantly explained the situation, then lowered his head, resigned to being scolded.

Lu Xusheng laughed in anger, his molars almost grinding.

"Couldn't you just break one of his legs? Why did you have to offend Madam's eyes?"

Qiu Qing was like a mute tasting bitter herbs—unable to voice his suffering.

Seeing this, Cheng Yian, wrapped in a cloak, hurried over to defend him, "Don't blame him, I told him to do it..."

Lu Xusheng didn't look at Cheng Yian, his face cold, "The evening wind is cold, go back inside, don't catch a chill. This matter has nothing to do with you."

He didn't believe that Cheng Yian had instructed Qiu Qing to strip someone's pants; it must have been Qiu Qing's mischievous nature going too far.

What kind of person was Cui Han, to warrant such attention?

Lu Xusheng knew Cui Han; his character was akin to Fan Yulin's, and he despised these pretty boys the most.

Cheng Yian couldn't let Qiu Qing bear the blame and took another step forward.

"Lu Xusheng, are you being unfair?"

Seeing the mistress approach, Qiu Qing quickly retreated a few steps, kneeling in the woods.

As for the name Fan Yulin, Qiu Qing wisely kept it to himself; this was a matter between the young master and his wife, and he wasn't foolish enough to meddle.

Seeing Cheng Yian determined to support Qiu Qing, Lu Xusheng frowned, waved his hand to dismiss Qiu Qing, and with a glance, also made Ru Lan retreat. Then he looked at the woman causing trouble before him.

The sky wasn't completely dark yet, and a faint yellow lantern hung from the eaves, its soft light reflecting off the frost, flowing over her cheeks. Her eyes were bright, her face delicate, her gaze enchanting, irresistibly captivating. Lu Xusheng had longed for her for a long time. Without a word, he swept her up into his arms and carried her to the backyard.

Cheng Yian, embarrassed and irritated, buried her face in his chest, her fists pounding against his hard chest until her hands ached, then she wrapped her arms around his neck, silently pouting.

Lu Xusheng carried her into Ningji Hall, where Nanny Li and others stood with bowed heads, not daring to utter a word.

He entered the eastern chamber and laid her on the kang bed.

Lu Xusheng, still chilled from the outside, got up and headed to the bathroom. After a short while, he came out after bathing, his face calm again. Cheng Yian's gaze followed him as she sat on the kang bed, softly asking,

"Cui Han might investigate me, is that okay?"

Lu Xusheng sat down opposite her, holding a teacup, his deep eyes roaming over her face. He slowly took a sip.

"What are you worried about? As long as you don't try to assassinate the Emperor, I've got your back."

One good thing about marrying Lu Xusheng is that he's dependable and strong.

Cheng Yian leaned on the small table by the kang bed, propping her cheek on her hand, and smiled at him earnestly, "I need to tell you something."

Lu Xusheng took another sip of tea, noticing something off in her expression. "Go on," he said.

"Guess who I roughed up today?"

Lu Xusheng had a sinking feeling. He set down his tea cup and asked, "Who?"

"Fan Yulin."

The last three words he wanted to hear slipped from her lips. Lu Xusheng's expression finally cleared completely. Somewhere, a child had set off firecrackers early to celebrate the New Year, and a few loud pops suddenly lit up the cold night sky.

But it did nothing to lift the darkness in Lu Xusheng's eyes.

"What did he do?" he asked, keeping his voice steady.

Cheng Yian blinked, "He was tailing me, so I had Qiu Qing rough him up."

"Hmph..." Lu Xusheng's face darkened. "He got off too easy." Yet he was quite pleased with Cheng Yian's attitude.

Cheng Yian had just promised not to bring this guy up again, and now he'd sneaked back into the capital to stir up trouble.

Well, he'd been waiting for this guy to show his face, and now he finally had.

Lu Xusheng didn't press the issue and instead asked Cheng Yian, "Should we eat?" He had ridden back to the capital in haste and was already hungry.

Cheng Yian gestured toward the outer room. "Let's eat out there."

The long tables and small desks in the room were cluttered with winter solstice charts. In the dead of winter, the maids and matrons in the mansion were already busy with preparations.

Today was the Laba Festival, and the palace had sent over porridge. Nanny Li served them each a bowl and brought out the dishes. The couple ate their dinner in silence. As they drank tea, Lu Xusheng stayed quiet, his expression grim, clearly still stewing over the incident. Noticing Cheng Yian's worried gaze fixed on him, he finally reassured her,

"Don't stress about Cui Han and Fan Yulin. I'll take care of it."

Just then, Ming Saozi came in from outside. She stood respectfully at the door to greet them before stepping in to report,

"Second Mistress, the Cheng family just sent word. The family head wants the young master to bring you over when you're free. He has some questions."

Cheng Mingyu usually stayed out of the young couple's business. For him to call them over like this meant something big was up.

Since it wasn't too late, Lu Xusheng took Cheng Yian by carriage to the Cheng family.

Not wanting to wake the rest of the Cheng family on the cold night, an old servant waited at the entrance of the alley, guiding them through the small gate Cheng Mingyu often used and into his study.

Cheng Yian, hooded, was led by Lu Xusheng, her dark eyes the only thing visible. Lu Xusheng, unfazed by the cold, wore just a long robe. Once inside, Cheng Yian pulled back her hood and smiled at Cheng Mingyu,

"Father..."

Cheng Mingyu, having heard the news, returned from the music room to the study, sat in the main seat, and looked deeply at his daughter before pointing to the armchairs opposite, inviting them to sit.

The couple bowed and sat down together. Lu Xusheng then asked, "Father-in-law, what urgent matter brings you to summon us so late at night?"

Cheng Mingyu glanced over the young couple and asked with a headache, "How did you two get involved with Cui Han?"

On their way, the couple had guessed Cheng Mingyu's intentions and had discussed their response.

Lu Xusheng spoke on behalf of Cheng Yian, "Father-in-law, you may not know this, but it was my mother who accidentally found out and told me, and I then informed Yian. Back when you returned from Northern Qi, Cui Han's mother, Lady Li, had intended to propose a marriage alliance with the Cheng family. Unexpectedly, the Zheng family beat her to it. Lady Li seemed to harbor a grudge and, after marrying into the Cui family and giving birth to Cui Han, she began to compare him to you in every way..."

Cheng Mingyu had already pieced it all together, so there was no need to elaborate. He was taken aback and stayed quiet for a while.

In the end, he almost caused harm to Cheng Yiqiao.

"Why didn't An An tell her father?" Cheng Mingyu asked.

Cheng Yian pouted and replied, "I only found out the day before the polo game. By then, it was too late to tell you. Besides, I found Cui Han despicable and was certain he had ill intentions towards my second sister. In a fit of anger, I decided to teach him a lesson to ensure he would never dare to propose to the Cheng family again."

Although the method was somewhat ridiculous, the effect was indeed quite good.

But Cheng Mingyu wasn't one to be easily fooled. He glanced at Lu Xusheng and asked, "Then how did your mother come to know about this?"

If Lady Wang knew about it, there's no way he wouldn't have heard even a hint of it.

Lu Xusheng had anticipated this question and replied thoughtfully, "Father-in-law, to be honest, I have some sources within the Wang family. The truth is, the Cui family has secretly allied with the Wang family, and it seems they are planning something against the Cheng family. To solidify this alliance, they are considering a marriage alliance."

"The Wang family has been away from the capital for years, so they entrusted the task of finding a suitable candidate to my mother. My mother has been in close touch with a lady from the Cui family, and it seems Lady Li inadvertently revealed some clues, which my mother picked up on during their conversations."

"Moreover, Cui Han is already twenty-four. Most men his age already have children, yet he remains unmarried. Why? I fear he has his eyes on the women of the Cheng family."

Although Cheng Mingyu still had doubts about the source of Lu Xusheng's information, it did not stop him from increasing his vigilance against the Cui family. If Cui Han's mother truly harbored such obsessive thoughts, then Cui Han, knowing the reason, still coming to propose to the Cheng family must mean he had ulterior motives.

Better safe than sorry.

The matter with the Cui family has been sorted out.

"As for Fan Yulin..." Cheng Mingyu glanced up at Lu Xusheng. He figured Lu Xusheng would find out anyway, and he wanted to see what Lu Xusheng's attitude would be.

Lu Xusheng smiled bitterly in his heart. Cheng Mingyu was worried that he might misunderstand Cheng Yian, but he himself was afraid that Cheng Yian would bring up old grievances with him. So he replied seriously,

"I’m well aware of Fan Yulin’s character. He’s got his eyes on An An with bad intentions. I won’t let him off."

Cheng Mingyu shook his head, relieved. "The matters concerning Cui Han and Fan Yulin will be handled by me. You don’t have to deal with them anymore."

Lu Xusheng was momentarily stunned, then smiled, "No need for that. Cui Han and Fan Yulin might still come after An An. It's better for me to deal with them."

Lu Xusheng really wanted to take care of Fan Yulin himself, as he had a long-standing grudge with him. "Besides, you shouldn’t always take the lead on everything, leaving no room for your son-in-law to show his worth."

Cheng Mingyu was too capable, making him, as a husband, feel useless. Cheng Yian could rely entirely on her father.

Cheng Mingyu frowned,

"These are just two small-time troublemakers. Why should you bother? You’ve got bigger responsibilities to handle. After the Lantern Festival in spring, you will be heading south alone. You must prioritize the bigger picture. The southern clans are your battlefield."

Cheng Mingyu, after all, had a far-sighted vision and couldn't let minor issues disrupt the political situation.

Cheng Yian didn’t want Lu Xusheng to get worked up over Fan Yulin, so she tugged at his sleeve.

It was strange. Nowadays, whenever Cheng Yian tugged at his sleeve and looked at him with pleading eyes, he couldn't resist.

Fine, Fan Yulin was in the capital. There would be plenty of opportunities to teach him a lesson.

Lu Xusheng agreed, "Then I’ll leave it in your hands, father-in-law."

Late at night, Cheng Mingyu did not ask them to stay, but before they left, he gently tapped Cheng Yian's forehead,

"Next time, let your father know beforehand if something comes up; don't act so impulsively."

Even though she was the most well-behaved and delicate-looking of the three daughters, she always ended up doing something outrageous. Cheng Mingyu was now extremely worried about her.

What's worse, Lu Xusheng not only didn't stop her but also indulged her at every turn.

This only added to Cheng Mingyu's worries.

Cheng Yian flashed a grin,

"Understood, Father..."

But deep down, she didn't give it much thought.

Back at the Lu family estate, Cheng Yian headed to the backyard, while Lu Xusheng made his way to the study. Even though Cheng Mingyu told him not to get involved, Lu Xusheng couldn't just stand by. In a past life, Fan Yulin's poem had stirred up quite a scandal, and Lu Xusheng was worried he might repeat the same trick. He hadn't been able to warn Cheng Mingyu earlier, so now he gave Qiu Qing his orders,

"Have a few men keep tabs on Fan Yulin and Cui Han, to make sure they don't pull any dirty tricks on Madam."

Qiu Qing cracked his knuckles eagerly, "Don't worry, Young General, I'll handle those two troublemakers."

Knowing Lu Xusheng had been coming and going at odd hours lately, and might be hard to track down, Qiu Qing followed him and asked, "By the way, if you're not around, what should I do? Who should I report to?"

After all, Cheng Yian was a lady, and such things weren't fit for her ears. Lu Xusheng said, "Use your best judgment."

He grabbed the cloak hanging by the screen, ready to make his way to the backyard. Under the light at the doorway, he suddenly flashed Qiu Qing a peculiar smile,

"Put your skills to good use."

Qiu Qing caught on right away and replied with a grin, "Got it!"

Cheng Yian came back, freshened up, and climbed into bed. When Lu Xusheng was away, Ru Lan would tuck a warming pan under the blankets to heat the bed for Cheng Yian. As Cheng Yian settled in, Ru Lan pulled the covers up around her,

"That Qiu guard is pretty sharp; just a few pellets and he had Cui Han cornered."

Cheng Yian lay on her side, looking at her, "Any man in the military who makes it to captain must have some chops. In fact, with his skills, he's a bit wasted in our household. If he went to the frontier, he could at least make lieutenant colonel."

Ru Lan snorted, "Miss, don't put him on a pedestal. I think he's got a mean streak. Which soldier would willingly follow his orders?"

Cheng Yian squinted with a smile, "How has he offended you?"

Ru Lan blushed, "No, he hasn't offended me. I just can't stand his rogue demeanor."

Cheng Yian could tell that Ru Lan had taken a liking to Qiu Qing, but she wasn't sure if Qiu Qing felt the same. She glanced at Ru Lan's face and hair, noticing the young maid's simple yet fresh appearance, with her hair tied in double buns,

"What about that set of gold hairpins I gave you? Why aren't you using them?"

Ru Lan didn't know why she brought it up, "I am, after all, a servant. Wearing gold would be overstepping. You gave them to me, and I can only keep them. It's better to use silver ornaments on ordinary days."

Cheng Yian insisted, "Though that's true, every time we go out to banquets, the maids of wealthy families are all decked out in gold and silver, with jade bracelets on their wrists. You don't have to be so restrained, or else people will look down on our Lu family. Go to the side room and bring me that three-tiered box. I'll pick out some jewelry for you and Ru Hui."

Ru Lan couldn't refuse and went to fetch it.

Cheng Yian, feeling tired, leaned against the pillow and began to doze off. She couldn't help but shift inward. Suddenly, a wave of heat pressed against her neck, and those familiar hands began to roam skillfully over her body. Cheng Yian's body tensed instantly, and wherever he touched, it sent shivers of pleasure through her, both physically and emotionally,

"You...."

Since she began her medication, Lu Xusheng hadn’t touched her. Just then, as he lifted the curtain and stepped into the canopy bed, he saw her snow-white neck bathed in the soft yellow light, like soft, fragrant jade, and couldn’t resist. His breathing was uneven, alternating between deep and shallow, his tongue moving from her neck to her jaw. Cheng Yian trembled uncontrollably, aware that Ru Lan was still in the adjoining room, and lifted her hand to fend him off.

Her slender arm inadvertently gave him the chance to press closer. His broad hand swiftly enveloped her, his tongue teasing her earlobe, alternating between deep and shallow caresses.

A shiver coursed through Cheng Yian, and she almost cried out. In the brief pause, she managed to whisper hoarsely,

"Ru Lan is still inside..."

Lu Xusheng didn’t stop, one hand buried in her hair, his collar undone, revealing a stretch of her jade-like skin. Just then, Ru Lan’s exasperated voice echoed from the side room,

"Miss, I can’t find the three-tiered box. Did you remember wrong? There’s only a two-tiered box here..."

Cheng Yian meant to say it was the two-tiered box, but Lu Xusheng pressed her into the pillows, the thrill of their clandestine encounter driving him to explore further, his tongue delving deeper into her shoulder blades. Cheng Yian felt a tingling sensation, as if ants were crawling over her heart, her knees clenched tightly, her body curled into itself.

Footsteps drew nearer from behind.

Lu Xusheng at last let her go, calmly turning to sit at the head of the bed, book in hand.

Cheng Yian shut her eyes tightly, finally free from his hold.

Ru Lan emerged carrying the jewelry box, only to find Cheng Yian, wrapped in a robe, stepping out of the canopy bed, her thick, black hair cascading loosely over her shoulders, appearing somewhat uneasy. She gestured to Ru Lan, "Bring it over, let me have a look..."

Ru Lan hastened forward, her eyes catching the master seated within the canopy bed, and quickly lowered her head.

Cheng Yian lacked the will to choose carefully, "You and Ru Hui can share it..."

Ru Lan, of course, didn’t dare to accept, but knowing it wasn’t the time to refuse, she quickly retreated with the box.

Cheng Yian turned to look at the instigator, glaring at him fiercely,

"Don’t let there be a next time." Her breath still uneven, her soft tone sounding more like a coquettish complaint.

After all, she was her head maid, and she usually maintained her dignity, not wanting to embarrass her maids.

The man on the bed casually tossed aside his book, his dark eyes slowly moving to her, his gaze hook-like as if appraising his prey. His long fingers patted the bed beside him,

"Come up."

Succinct and to the point.

Her usually meticulously styled hair was now completely loose, her black eyes like ink, her face stunningly beautiful.

Cheng Yian’s eyes were filled with a mix of reproach and allure, pretending not to understand as she slowly moved over, "You weren’t this disrespectful before..."

Before she could finish,

His tall figure suddenly loomed over her, wrapping his arms around her waist, his warm lips burying into her neck, his body pressing between her knees, giving her pleasure.

That night, the sky was clear, the crescent moon quietly climbing the treetops, the wind growing colder.

As the New Year’s Eve approached, the streets remained open, lights still bright everywhere.

Some were singing and feasting, others sneaking over walls, dignitaries and merchants from all over rushing back to the capital before the New Year, now joyfully joining the bustling lantern market during the Laba Festival.

Cui Han could imagine himself becoming the talk of the town that night, eager to cover up the scandal, ordering his men to act overnight.

Cui Han’s spies indeed found out about the love poem Fan Yulin wrote for Cheng Yian near the Fan residence, and the scroll of poems fell into the hands of the Cui family. Good, this was solid evidence. Just spread it through the major taverns and teahouses overnight, and by the next day, the news would spread like wildfire. Then, the show would begin.

Cui Han sat in his private study, gazing into the vast night, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Over a dozen trusted guards were dispatched, and beyond them, the Cui family had also hired spies.

They could scour the entire city in a single night.

His mother had already sent word for him to return home. Wait, just a little longer, until some good news arrives, so he could give his mother a proper explanation...

His slender fingers, adorned with a jade ring, tapped lightly on the armrest of the chair, his palm already damp with sweat.

After about half an hour, someone reported that they had obtained the poem Fan Yulin wrote for Cheng Yian. Cui Han smiled, his mind flashing with Cheng Yian's face—truly a beauty, even more enchanting than her sister, and brimming with allure.

How could a man as cold-hearted as Lu Xusheng be worthy of such a treasure?

Cui Han closed his eyes tightly, leaning back in the chair, his thin frame betraying faint traces of tension. The long-suppressed restlessness slowly coursed through his limbs.

At that moment, a sudden crash echoed from the roof. Cui Han jerked upright, his eyes darting upward. In the next instant, a body tumbled from the eaves and thudded heavily to the ground.

The night watch servant hurried over, turned the body, and upon recognizing the face, was struck with horror. Stumbling backward, he retreated into the house, crying out,

"Young master, it's a disaster! Xun Thirteen is dead!"

Xun Thirteen was one of Cui Han's top men, a key figure in this operation.

Cui Han's face hardened like iron. He stormed out of the room and into the hallway, only to find the once lively guard now a cold, lifeless body.

Who did this?

Lu Xusheng?

Or Cheng Mingyu?

Then, one by one, more bodies piled up in front of Cui Han's private residence. The courtyard reeked of blood, and the guards who witnessed it were all struck with fear.

Cui Han, clad in a flowing robe, his ink-black hair cascading down, stood in front of the hall, coldly observing the growing pile of corpses.

Fifteen people, a full fifteen.

What a brutal move.

"Old Qi, take five men and go reinforce them!"

He refused to believe this was the end.

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, but their loyalty remained unshaken. Without a word, they rushed out again.

But no matter how many went out, they were all thrown back.

The enemy had deployed their best, sealing off all exits from the private residence.

Cui Han had never been pushed to such a desperate state.

"Go, throw everything we have at them!"

His eyes bloodshot, his embroidered robe flailing wildly, his rage reaching its peak.

But the remaining men, faced with the ever-growing pile of corpses, were filled with terror. Their survival instincts forced them to their knees,

"Young master, stop this. If this continues, you'll lose all your elite forces."

Cui Han's body trembled violently, the ferocity in his eyes slowly hardening into icy resolve. He said nothing more.

Meanwhile, at the Fan residence.

The body of the loyal servant sent by Fan Yulin

was callously dumped in front of Fan Yulin's father's study by Cheng family guards.

Unlike the Cui family, the Fan family had few guards and even fewer servants. The sight left them utterly terrified.

"What is going on?"

Fan Yulin's father collapsed in the armchair, demanding of his pale-faced second son.

Fan Yulin stared at the body, his eyes devoid of spirit. This was someone who had accompanied him for twenty years—just like that, gone.

Gone...

The person was wearing the uniform of the Cheng family guards, without any attempt to conceal it.

Cheng Mingyu was sending a clear, brutal warning to Fan Yulin: the entire household would pay if he stepped out of line again.

Fan Yulin's parents and eldest brother pulled at him.

"What have you done to offend the Cheng family? Are you trying to get us all killed?"

Fan Yulin, shaken by their pulling, remained silent.

Qiu Qing had been ordered to deploy spies to the Fan and Cui residences overnight. When he noticed unusual activity at the Fan residence, he quickly arrived at the scene, only to witness two Cheng family guards tossing a body into the Fan residence. Even the roads outside were blocked.

Qiu Qing leapt down from the roof beam, grabbed one of them by the arm, and asked, "Hey, I'm with the Lu family—what's happening here?"

Since Qiu Qing had accompanied Cheng Yian to the Cheng family a few times, the guards recognized him and explained,

"Fan Yulin, that scoundrel, wrote a poem lusting after our third young lady, and the Cui family wanted to use this poem to tarnish her reputation. We're under orders from the family head to make them pay."

Hearing this, Qiu Qing was furious.

"The nerve of these bastards!"

"Show me the poem—now!"

The guard fumbled around before finally producing a crumpled piece of paper.

Qiu Qing took it and retreated into the shadows, pulling out a military-style fire starter from his pocket. He lit it and quickly scanned the poem.

"What the hell is this drivel? To hell with it!"

Cheng Mingyu aimed to crush the matter swiftly and decisively.

But Qiu Qing wasn't satisfied.

"These little punks are mine now, and if I don't make them pay, I'll eat my hat."

Qiu Qing quickly had the poem copied dozens of times and spread across the capital's inns and teahouses.

Cui Han, on his side, was already in despair. He withdrew all his men, cleaned up the bodies, and sat motionless in the armchair, pinching his brow.

He sat there until dawn, unsure of the time, probably around mid-morning, when he groggily rubbed his eyes and looked out the window. At that moment, a panicked cry came from the courtyard,

"Young master, disaster has struck!"

The servant at the door rushed out first, supporting the man and asking, "What happened?"

"Last night, someone posted Fan Yulin's poem all over the streets and alleys. Rumors are spreading that Fan Yulin admires our young master, and out of love turned to hate, he deliberately framed him, making him a laughingstock in public and forcing him to abandon his thoughts of marriage. They even say that our young master, at twenty-four, has never been engaged because he has homosexual tendencies..."

The steward could imagine how earth-shattering it would be once the madam heard this news...

Inside the room, Cui Han swayed, a bitter taste of blood rising in his throat.

Fan Yulin had not slept all night, arranging for the proper burial of the servant's corpse and giving his parents a hundred taels of silver. He then lay down to rest, still dressed. Around the early hours of the morning, his parents suddenly burst in from outside. Fan's mother held a piece of paper, her whole body trembling violently, gazing at him with eyes full of pain.

"My son, what shameful thing have you done to bring such disaster upon us?"

Consumed by shame and rage, Fan's mother threw the paper in his face and collapsed onto him, wailing.

"Look, the rumors are spreading that you are attracted to men. This has spread like wildfire. Who will want to marry you now?... No, no, forget about finding a match, even our Fan family has lost all face..."

"Let's return to Yizhou, let's return to Yizhou."

Fan's father, feeling utterly humiliated, stumbled out the door and, in a moment of carelessness, fell to the ground, unconscious.

Hearing the thud, Fan's mother's heart skipped a beat. She didn't have time to scold Fan Yulin and rushed out to help her husband. "Someone, quickly, call for a doctor..."

Amidst the crying and chaos, the entire Fan household was thrown into disarray.

In the midst of this turmoil, Fan Yulin closed his eyes deeply.