The Martial Doctor

This is indeed a marvelous strategy that can advance or retreat, the successive abbots of Shanglin Temple were truly extraordinary people.

Guangmiao spoke, not to say that he wasn’t "chivalrous" at all. At the same time, it also indicated that while you have a rescue operation, I can participate, but I do not represent Shanglin Temple.

"Don’t rush, perhaps there’s another way." Lin Miao suddenly had a thought, the Blood Evil Thieves’ assassination of the Crown Prince had already been ordered for arrest by the imperial court.

However, this news had not yet reached Dongshan, but he and Pei Jian were both aware of it in advance.

If they could capture the Blood Evil Thieves, it would be a great contribution for Pei Jian.

The problem was, how was he to explain the source of this "intelligence"? Pei Jian wasn’t a fool, how could a doctor like him get involved in martial world affairs?

Without a credible excuse, even if Pei Jian believed him, he wouldn’t dare raid the estate outside Marquis Lingyang’s city just as Dongshan Prefecture’s Prefect.

Moreover, there were bound to be spies from Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion among Dongshan Prefecture’s troops. If the news leaked, allowing the Blood Evil to escape in advance, not only would their efforts be in vain, but they would also be backstabbed by Marquis Lingyang’s Mansion. Pei Jian wouldn’t proceed unguarded.

Pei Jian had previously tested to see if I knew the Crown Prince’s identity, and I had fooled him, but this old fox certainly wouldn’t fully trust me.

I had someone by my side, Wen Ruyu, who already knew the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince had been in Dongshan for so many days, yet there was no chance for him to meet Wen Ruyu.

This was clearly intentional avoidance.

It’s just that everyone sees through it but doesn’t speak up. I originally didn’t want to be further entangled with the Crown Prince, but now, to save someone, I have to go find Pei Jian.

The strength on our side is more than enough, but it’s not something that can be exposed to the light, so we must continue to keep a low profile. The origin of Jing Hui’s identity is also very suspicious.

We can’t exactly force her to tell the truth.

"Hui, let’s not rush with adopting a child for now. If you don’t have anywhere to go at the moment, stay at my residence to take care of the child. As for Dingxian, I’ll come up with a plan. She’s a venerable monk with deep ties to Buddhism, she should be fine," Lin Miao said.

Jing Hui thought for a moment and realized she had nowhere else to go. If the Lin residence could take her in, that would be ideal. However, she was worried about implicating them, feeling conflicted and not knowing how to respond.

"Shouchang, prepare a guest room, make sure it faces the sun," Lin Miao instructed, knowing that with a child, Jing Hui couldn’t stay in the northern rooms as they were too cold, and the child couldn’t handle it.

"Yes, Master."

"Guangmiao, you can head back. If I need anything, I’ll send someone to inform you," Lin Miao instructed Guangmiao again.

"Guangmiao is always ready at Mr. Lin’s command!" Guangmiao nodded slightly, bid farewell, and left directly.

"Hui, please don’t mention your identity in the residence. I’ll have my senior sister show you around; settle in first," Lin Miao stated.

"Thank you, Mr. Lin. I’ll move out as soon as I find a place." Jing Hui hesitated but ultimately said.

...

"Senior sister, please take care of Hui and her child. I’ve got to pay a visit to Prefect Pei’s residence; it’s more appropriate for the authorities to handle this rescue mission," Lin Miao briefly explained Jing Hui and Dingxian’s situation to Sun Youwei.

"Alright, junior brother, you go ahead, don’t worry about things at home," Sun Youwei nodded.

"Thank you for your hard work," Lin Miao nodded, grateful for the opportunity to leave amidst a household of chattering women.

Heading out, towards the east of the city.

Directly submitting a New Year’s greeting card, requesting an audience with Pei Jian.

Pei Jian’s family wasn’t in Dongshan, but he needed someone to manage his life here, so he brought along some elderly servants for attending to daily needs.

Of course, being a man of not yet old age, with normal physiological needs, even though he hadn’t taken a concubine in Dongshan, he did keep a woman in his residence.

The woman was once a courtesan from Hundred Flowers Garden, Pei Jian fancied her, redeemed her, and brought her back to his residence as his mistress.

This New Year’s, without having to attend office, coupled with drinking a bit the night before, in high spirits, and with the little lady’s service, Pei Jian was a hero on the battlefield, galloping with spear in hand.

This springtime indulgence.

It wasn’t until the sun was high in the sky that Pei Jian got up and groomed with the help of the young lady.

"Master, you were truly vigorous last night, you’ve melted this heart of mine," the young lady wasn’t yet twenty, while Pei Jian could very well be her father, but given her status, she couldn’t ask for much. Having such a life was already considered fortunate.

"Haha, had it not been for your accommodating nature last night, how could Master have displayed such prowess?" Pei Jian laughed heartily, the youthful tenderness and softness of the girl were incomparable to his half-aged wife at home.

"If Master likes, I can learn more,"

"Good, haha, such a sensible little thing, just what I like," Pei Jian chuckled, pinching the young lady’s cheek and grinning contentedly. At fifty, having such accomplishments was something to be proud of.

"Master, Mr. Lin from the Medical Bureau requests an audience!"

"Which Mr. Lin?"

"It is Mr. Lin, Lin Miao." The elderly servant outside hurriedly replied.

"Oh, do invite him in." Hearing this, Pei Jian felt a hint of surprise; Lin Miao seldom visited. Pei Jian had been pondering how to improve relations with him, and here he was, coming of his own accord.

In the flower hall of the government office.

A maid served fragrant tea.

It wasn’t long before Pei Jian, dressed in a purple robe and beaming, emerged with clasped fists: "The esteemed visit of Lin Chengde, pardon my lack of proper reception, what an oversight."

"Mr. Pei, you’re too kind." Lin Miao rose and returned the gesture.

"Please have a seat, Mr. Lin Chengde." In high spirits, Pei Jian gestured invitingly.

"Mr. Pei, I read in the imperial gazette that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort were attacked at Cloud-Riding Ridge. Is this true?"

"Mr. Lin Chengde is also concerned about this matter?" Pei Jian eyed Lin Miao closely. The imperial gazette had arrived in Dongshan, but the local officials hadn’t yet learned of this due to the New Year holiday. The gazette hadn’t even been disseminated yet.

The officials of Dongshan Society were enjoying their holiday and hadn’t been to the office. The gazette still lay in his official study.

Only he had opened and read it.

However, Lin Miao did have connections in the capital, possibly having a reliable backer like Mr. Fu. Wen Ruyu might have received the news in advance, which wasn’t impossible.

"I heard the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort were ambushed while returning to the capital. As for other details, I’m not sure," Lin Miao picked up his teacup, his eyes glancing subtly at Pei Jian.

"To be honest, I’m not entirely sure about this event either. May I ask why Mr. Lin Chengde brought this up?" Pei Jian was convinced that Lin Miao knew Mr. Zhao’s identity, which relieved him.

"I also heard that the assailants were the notorious Blood Evil Thieves?"

"Indeed, how does Mr. Lin Chengde know so much?"

"I also know these Blood Evil Thieves have some connection with Marquis Lingyang. They’ve been seen at an estate outside Marquis Lingyang’s city," Lin Miao chuckled.

"What?" Pei Jian was taken aback, lifting himself from his chair.

Though he suspected ties between the Blood Evil Thieves and Marquis Lingyang, without evidence, he dared not speak rashly. Moreover, the Blood Evil Thieves had been rescued by a master of the Tianyuan level, a detail omitted from the gazette, which only mentioned the wanted Blood Evil and Blood Evil Thieves.

The imperial court was cautious about provoking this Tianyuan-level master, fearing unpredictable consequences.

That Lin Miao knew of the Blood Evil Thieves was no great surprise, but how did he know they appeared at an estate outside Marquis Lingyang’s city?

After the attempted assassination of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess Consort, the Blood Evil Thieves scattered after fleeing, vanishing without a trace. He had covertly dispatched people to search and even placed a bounty through the Blade Catching Alliance, capturing only small fry, with no sightings of the core figures of the Blood Evil Thieves.

If the Blood Evil Thieves were indeed sheltered by Marquis Lingyang, hiding them would be challenging to discern, as the estate outside Marquis Lingyang’s city was an ideal hideout. Guarded by the Green Blade Sect, ordinary martial artists wouldn’t and dared not cause trouble there.

However, how did Lin Miao know of the Blood Evil Thieves’ connection to Marquis Lingyang, and that they were at Marquis Lingyang’s estate?

Is this rumor or certainty?