20demayo Chapter 435: Beware of all defenses, but it is difficult to prevent thieves from within
Chapter 435: Beware of all defenses, but it is difficult to prevent thieves from within
The next morning, Lin Qi still couldn't meet and talk to his busy father.
It wasn't that Madam Lin didn't want her son to get up too early because she felt sorry for him; it was simply that Minister Lin hadn't returned home all night.
Since they haven't come back, there's naturally no chance of the whole family having breakfast together.
Madam Lin didn't go to wake Lin Qi, and in the end, it was Lin Qi's biological clock that woke him up.
"Mother, why didn't you wake me sooner? Father went out early again this morning."
Madam Lin shook her head; her eyes were also dark and swollen, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well last night.
"Mother, what's wrong? You don't look well."
Lin Qi helped the person sit down and waited for Madam Lin to speak.
“Your father didn’t leave early; he didn’t come back at all last night, so I didn’t bother to wake you. I’ve already sent the butler to inquire, and he should be back soon.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the butler entered the hall.
"Madam, young master, this old servant went to the Ministry of War to inquire, but the master was not at the Ministry of War last night either."
Then they went to the Ministry of Works, but still didn't see Minister Wu. On the way, they ran into some of Minister Wu's family members, who also said that Minister Wu hadn't returned home at all last night.
"What? Neither of them has returned to the manor? These past two days, Master has been working with Lord Wu on business. How come both of them have suddenly disappeared without a trace?"
Have you gone to the Wu family to inquire? Perhaps Madam Wu knows Lord Wu's whereabouts.
"No need to go, Madam. The Wu family's steward also wanted to come to our residence to inquire, but after meeting me, he learned that both of you were staying out all night."
Now that he's back home, he's probably trying to find out about Lord Wu's whereabouts with Madam Wu.
Madam Lin swayed a few times, but was eventually supported by Lin Qi.
"Mother, don't panic. Your son will go out to look for Father. You stay home and take charge. If Father returns, you can send someone to deliver a message to your son!"
"Qi'er, do you think your father is in any danger?"
Lin Qi helped Madam Lin sit down in the armchair before speaking: "No, perhaps he had urgent business to attend to with Lord Wu and was unable to come back in time or deliver a message."
"I'll go out and look for it. You stay home and wait for me. Don't cry, or your eyes will get sore and your father will be heartbroken when he comes back."
Mrs. Lin forced back the tears that were about to fall; she couldn't cry in front of her child, it was too embarrassing.
Lin Qi didn't delay. He grabbed two steamed buns from the table, stuffed one into his mouth, and ate it as he walked.
"Ready your horse!"
"Yes, young master! Young master, please take a few more people with you, so that you can help each other."
Lin Qi had a personal servant arranged by Madam Lin, but Lin Qi did not intend to bring that guy with him.
That servant was rather weak and had no martial arts skills to rely on; he would only be a burden if he went out with us.
"Let Head Husband Li select a few people, not too many, three or four will do. Too many people might not make things easier."
"Yes, young master, this old servant will make the arrangements immediately!"
Within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, four tall and imposing guards, riding tall horses, were waiting outside the side gate of the Minister's residence.
At this moment, Lin Qi had also changed into a neat set of clothes, and gathered with the guards, carrying a water bag and dry rations.
The steward said that Minister Lin had mentioned Shili Slope outside the city when he returned the day before yesterday, so Lin Qi decided to go and take a look at Shili Slope first.
If anything happened while I was at Shilipo the day before yesterday, I definitely wouldn't have had time to get into the city yet.
After all, once you enter the city, it's impossible not to go home. In the past, even when he was busy with official duties and it was very late, Minister Lin would never stay out all night.
This is what's most worrying. Lin Qi thought about the comforting words he had said to his mother, and he really had no idea what to do.
The mother may have considered the worst possible outcome, but she was unwilling to think about it too deeply.
"drive!"
Five tall horses galloped away, and the steward rubbed his eyes, wondering if he had gotten sand in them or what.
Around noon, Lin Qi led his guards to Shili Slope at full speed. The area was densely wooded and overgrown with weeds, exuding a sinister atmosphere.
They dismounted and searched carefully, determined not to miss any corner.
"Young master, there are signs of a struggle here!" a dark-faced guard shouted.
Lin Qi quickly stepped forward to check and found messy footprints, broken branches, scraps of cloth, and dried blood on the ground.
Lin Qi's heart tightened, and he picked up the scraps of cloth to examine them carefully.
What color clothes did my father wear when he went out the day before yesterday? Was it cyan?
No, it's not cyan, it's deep blue, much darker than the fabric. This isn't my father's clothes.
Thinking of this, Lin Qi felt a little relieved.
Just then, a low roar came from not far away, like that of a wild beast such as a black bear.
The four guards immediately shielded Lin Qi behind them, watching warily in the direction from which the sound came.
A huge black panther suddenly emerged from the woods, its eyes gleaming with ferocity.
Lin Qi gripped his sword tightly, standing up to the black bear alongside the guards.
The black bear roared and pounced, and everyone drew their swords to defend themselves.
During the fierce fight, the black bear was stabbed in the eyes by one of the guards. The black bear covered its eyes with its thick paws and charged at the crowd like a madman.
Lin Qi was about to defend himself with all his might when he suddenly felt a pain in his neck and lost consciousness.
In the moments before he lost consciousness, he clearly remembered that there was only one dark-faced man behind him.
That was the first guard to report finding signs of a struggle. Haha, you can guard against anything, but it's hard to guard against a thief within your own ranks!
Lin Qi regretted bringing others with him; if it were just him alone...
However, there are no "what ifs." When Lin Qi woke up again, he found that he had likely returned to the city.
After all, there is a big difference in temperature between the city and the outside. It's already November and winter is just around the corner, but he doesn't feel too cold.
At least we can be sure it's not a drafty place with walls on all four sides and a roof overhead.
Sigh~ I'm so useless. I came out to find my dad, but now I've become a missing person myself!
His mother must be very anxious being home alone, especially since bad people had infiltrated the household guards, which made Lin Qi worry about his mother's situation in the mansion.
What are these people doing, binding themselves? Threatening the Ministry of Personnel? For money or for power?
If those guards were all in cahoots, and they tied themselves up and went back to report as usual, what chaos would the Minister's mansion be in!
Lin Qi broke out in a cold sweat the moment he thought about it. He had been careless! So careless!
Who could have orchestrated this? He didn't believe a few guards could accomplish such a thing; it couldn't necessarily be a case of murder for money. There must be something bigger going on behind the scenes.
Who could it be? The eldest prince?
It's no wonder that Lin Qi thought of the First Prince first, since he was the only one he had offended recently.
Just because I didn't attend the banquet? Is that so petty?
No! wrong!
What was the Crown Prince's true motive for inviting him to the banquet? Was it the military power his father held?! It must be!
The eldest prince wants to cause trouble at his own wedding banquet!
Once Lin Qi understood this, he was filled with regret and frustration.
Damn it! The eldest prince is a scoundrel, courting death, why does he have to drag his family's wealth down with him!
Lin Qi grew increasingly frightened, because he knew that Minister Lin might compromise with the Crown Prince because of his son!