Chapter 71 Let’s All Die Then

Chapter 71: Let No One Survive

Hearing this, Cui Ji tightened his deadpan face, raised his hand, and forcefully pressed the other's head down. "Don't talk."

Cheng Ge stared with his dark, shiny eyes, lost in thought.

The night was as dark as ink, the sound of horse hooves clattering on the empty streets, with a few reflections of firelight on the stone-paved road.

Cui Ji looked down and saw Cheng Ge lying limp with his eyes tightly closed, clearly having fallen into a dead sleep.

His breathing came with a nasal tone, lips slightly parted, still stained with unwiped blood.

Cui Ji slowly tightened the reins in his hand, and the hooves gradually slowed.

After a while, everyone finally returned to the Prince Zhenbei's residence. The steward, holding a large lantern, was pacing back and forth at the gate, and when he saw Cui Ji and the others, he hurried over.

"Your Highness, you're finally back! How is Young Master Cheng..."

Cui Ji dismounted with Cheng Ge in one arm and ordered, "Send for an imperial physician from the palace."

Cheng Ge's body stirred, and he grabbed the front of Cui Ji's robe, mumbling, "Save Yuli... save... Yuli."

Cui Ji's expression was hard to maintain. He turned his head to glance at Lin Nanshu, who was still unconscious and hanging over the shoulder of the Secret Guard Chief.

He turned back to the steward and added, "Get him settled."

With that, he covered Cheng Ge's mouth and strode directly into the mansion.

...

"Fake! It's all fake! Why did Cui Ji get involved!"

Lin Hengyu's face was still swollen, and he kicked the man beneath him to the ground.

The man dared not dodge; the wound on his chest was still oozing blood, and this kick only made things worse.

He rolled twice on the ground, then struggled to kneel upright. "I am not lying. That man was indeed Prince Zhenbei."

Lin Hengyu's chest heaved violently. He grabbed the candlestick by his hand and hurled it at the man. "Useless! Can't even deal with a cripple!"

The man was hit by the candlestick and let out a muffled groan, but still dared not resist.

Furious, Lin Hengyu paced restlessly around the room, growing more uneasy.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from outside, followed by an anxious voice: "Yu'er, my Yu'er."

The door was flung open, and Dong Wanrou rushed in frantically, her face pale as paper.

As soon as she entered, she went straight to Lin Hengyu and asked urgently, "Yu'er, I heard that bastard's son didn't die and was saved again?"

"Mother, why are you here?" Lin Hengyu frowned, even more irritated at the sight of Dong Wanrou.

Because of his birth, he had endured much criticism.

Though those people called him Second Young Master Lin to his face, behind his back they all looked down on him.

Having a concubine as a mother was hardly a glorious thing, and his grandfather had never looked kindly on them as mother and son.

If he had been born from Shen Qingyan's womb back then, he would have been a proper legitimate son.

And the position of head of the Lin family would have been his by right, without needing such scheming.

Shen Qingyan came from a noble family, well-read and courteous, gentle and gracious.

Dong Wanrou, on the other hand, was coquettish and whiny, with the airs of a petty household, nowhere near the bearing of a proper matriarch.

But despite his dissatisfaction, he still said patiently, "Don't worry, Mother. He was indeed rescued, but he's also seriously injured."

Dong Wanrou twisted her handkerchief, her voice trembling. "How can this be? If he wakes up, we're finished!

And now that Prince Zhenbei is involved, things have gotten tricky. He's not someone to mess with."

Lin Hengyu took a deep breath, forcing calm. "What's there to panic about? Even if he was saved, with such severe injuries, whether he survives is another matter."

Dong Wanrou still looked worried. "That may be, but if he does wake up, he definitely won't let this slide.

Besides, if Grandfather finds out anything, he dotes on Lin Nanshu so much, he'll never let us off."

The more she spoke, the worse she felt. She grabbed Lin Hengyu's arm in panic. "Yu'er, maybe we should leave for a while and lie low.

With your father blocking things in the Lin family, you're still the legitimate son. They'll have to show some restraint."

Lin Hengyu's eyes suddenly turned cold. He shook her off without a word, a hint of mockery in his gaze as he turned to look at Dong Wanrou.

"Mother, you're too naive. Can't you see what position Father holds in the Lin family?

Grandfather treats him like a useless burden. He's fed and housed daily, but do you see him with any real power?

Or have you been living too well and forgotten what happened to Concubine Wang and her son?"

"Concubine... Wang..." Dong Wanrou's eyes flew wide open. The color drained from her face, and her legs went weak, nearly causing her to collapse.

Concubine Wang was a concubine Lin Fangze had taken in his early years, and she was very favored.

She had a son three years older than Lin Nanshu, named Lin Zhishen, who was the eldest son of Lin Fangze and doted on dearly.

Because Lin Fangze usually ignored Shen Qingyan and treated her coldly, Concubine Wang grew increasingly arrogant, often showing off and provoking Shen Qingyan. However, Shen Qingyan's gentle nature meant she rarely bothered with her.

But when Lin Nanshu was three, while he was reading by the pond, Lin Zhishen pushed him in, nearly drowning him.

Shen Qingyan flew into a rage on the spot. She had Lin Zhishen beaten with a rod and thrown into the Lin family ancestral hall.

When Concubine Wang saw her son beaten, she went mad and tried to fight Shen Qingyan.

Shen Qingyan didn't tolerate it. She ordered Concubine Wang tied up and thrown into the back mountain to feed the dogs.

Lin Fangze heard the news and rushed over to stop it, only to be slapped twice in public by Shen Qingyan.

And when Lin Zhufeng found out, instead of reprimanding Shen Qingyan, he slapped Lin Fangze across the face right there.

Lin Zhishen was severely injured, locked in the ancestral hall for two days and two nights before being released, barely clinging to life.

After that, he lay in bed like a living corpse, covered in sores, and died a few years later. Lin Zhufeng never even asked about it.

From then on, everyone in the Lin family understood: if anyone so much as laid a finger on Lin Nanshu, there would be no good end.

"Then... what should we do?" Dong Wanrou's voice trembled, her eyes full of fear.

Lin Hengyu was silent for a moment, then a flash of malice crossed his eyes. "Then... let no one survive."