A Shocking Dream

Chapter 208

He took an uncontrollable step back, his heel hitting the leg of a chair and nearly falling over. His eyes widened in disbelief, as if he had heard something out of the ordinary. His lips trembled as he said, "Lin Wunian? How could she get involved?"

Yang Zishi suddenly stood up, grabbed the servant by the collar, and lifted him up fiercely, his forehead veins throbbing. "Tell me clearly what's going on! When did Lin Wunian start to focus on this?" The servant was so frightened that tears streamed down his face and he spoke incoherently, "I... I don't know. I heard on the street this morning that they saw Miss Lin encounter an injured little girl and took her straight back to the inn where she was staying. Now many people know about it, and I hurried back to report it as soon as I heard the news!"

Zhou Junze raised his hand to rub his throbbing temple. His mind raced, but his heart sank. Lin Wunian was no pushover. Her mind was as meticulous as a spider web, her methods decisive and ruthless. If she intervened, this mess would be completely turned upside down. He and Yang Zishi exchanged glances, each catching a deep fear in the other's eyes.

"Let's go to the inn!" Yang Zishi gritted his teeth, his words piercing through ice. He wondered: How much does she really know? Was this an accident, or was it deliberate? If it was the latter, his carefully crafted plan would be completely ruined. No matter what, he had to recapture the little girl and silence her before Lin Wunian could uncover the truth!

"Brother Yang, don't be too impatient. If the little girl is in Lin Wunian's hands, you and I will only make things worse if we rush in like this." Zhou Junze suddenly stretched out his arm to stop Yang Zishi. His voice was low and solemn, like an alarm bell on a cold night, exploding in Yang Zishi's ears.

Yang Zishi's body, which was like a wild horse running away from its reins, suddenly stopped. He turned his head to look at Zhou Junze, with a twisted expression of anger and anxiety still on his face. His eyes seemed to be about to pop out of their sockets, full of unwillingness.

Zhou Junze's brows were furrowed, their lines twisted into a single line, his expression heavy as if a dark cloud were looming over him. He knew the situation was critical, but acting impulsively would undoubtedly be digging his own grave.

That little girl, seemingly fragile and harmless, was like a hidden mine that could blow them both to pieces at any moment. Especially when he thought of the little girl tearfully telling Lin Wunian what she had done, Zhou Junze felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, a chill running down his spine.

In front of Lin Wunian, he had always painstakingly cultivated an image of gentleness, righteousness, like the pure moon, untainted by dust. In the past, when they met, he would recite poems and write essays, chatting and laughing.

But once the little girl leaks the secret, all the past will come to nothing. Lin Wunian's eyes looking at him will be filled with disgust and contempt, just like spring turning into winter in an instant, and the biting wind and snow will crush his love for him to death.

Yang Zishi gasped, his chest heaving violently. "Brother Zhou, are we just going to sit there and wait? That little girl is not very careful. If she lets it all out, we'll both be doomed!"

Zhou Junze took a deep breath, trying his best to calm his turbulent emotions. His gaze was as calm as water as he whispered, "Of course we can't just sit there and wait for death. Let's first send someone to stake out the area near the inn to find out if Lin Wunian has managed to pry anything out of the girl. Then, find a way to send a message to Miss Lin, probing her subtly and making sure she doesn't arouse suspicion. If necessary, find a pretext to meet in private and hint at the truth. As long as she's not convinced of the truth, we still have room for maneuver."

Although Yang Zishi was filled with indignation, he also knew that what Zhou Junze said made sense, and he spat angrily: "Okay, let's do as Brother Zhou says. I hope Lin Wunian doesn't see through it too soon. If this thing fails, we will all be buried with it!" After that, he waved his hand, called a few confidants, whispered a few words in their ears, and the confidants took the order and left in a hurry.

Zhou Junze looked towards the inn. The sunlight was shining, but the inn seemed to be wrapped in fog, hazy and unpredictable.

He clenched his hands unconsciously, his knuckles turning white, and prayed silently in his heart: Little girl, oh little girl, don't ruin the plan I have been planning for half my life. As long as you keep your mouth shut, all the glory and wealth will be yours in the future. But if... Humph, don't blame me for being cruel.

Lin Wunian's lotus steps lightly moved, and the moment she stepped out of the inn, a gentle breeze ruffled her clothes, but it couldn't dispel the heaviness in her heart. Her beautiful eyes darted around, seemingly casually scanning her surroundings, but her mind was already clear - the rough men pretending to chat on the street corner, the vendors squatting on the roadside, seemingly fiddling with their goods but actually glancing around, and the furtive men in black hiding in the shadows of the eaves. These "unknown faces" appeared like mushrooms after rain, and the number of people watching her around was several times greater than before.

"Hehe, you think highly of me by making such a big fuss." Lin Wunian's mouth curled up into a sneer, but there was no smile in the arc, only coldness and murderousness.

She moved lightly, seemingly unhurriedly, through the streets. Her graceful figure drew glances from passersby, yet no one knew the turbulent thoughts beneath her gentle exterior. Since the other party had laid out this vast surveillance network, she had to find a flaw in it. To uncover the underlying reason, capturing someone and questioning them was the most convenient method.

Walking into a quiet alley, Lin Wunian's eyes suddenly turned cold, his steps suddenly changed, and he rushed towards the person who was following him like a ghost. Before the person could react, Lin Wunian's slender but powerful hand grasped his neck, pressing him hard against the mottled wall, unable to move.

"Tell me, who sent you here? What are you following us for?" Lin Wunian lowered his voice, but it was like a cold blade against his throat, scaring the man so much that his face turned pale. He was trembling and was about to speak when his companions shouted in the distance. Lin Wunian frowned and loosened his grip slightly. The man seized the opportunity, broke free and fled, instantly disappearing into the darkness at the end of the alley.

Lin Wunian spat softly, feeling annoyed, knowing it would be difficult to capture him alive today. She straightened her clothes, looked up at the clear sky, and tried to calm herself.

The letter from the court has been received for some time. Normally, the people sent to help should have arrived long ago, but now, there is no news at all. The delay at this critical juncture makes everything even more difficult.

Could something have gone wrong along the way? Or perhaps some undercurrent within the court delayed her journey? She raised a hand and gently stroked her hair, her thoughts drifting away. This current predicament was like a thorny vine, with a mysterious force stalking and blocking her from the front, and no expected reinforcements behind. A single misstep would mean total failure.

Just as she was stunned, the sound of horse hooves drifted in, like a gust of wind blowing through the forest, blowing away the gloom in Lin Wunian's heart. She looked up and saw Qin Rongchen, dressed in a neat black robe. He looked like an eagle walking out of the dark night, his posture agile and steady.

Qin Rongchen was dressed in a neat black robe, like an eagle walking out of the dark night, with a nimble and steady posture. He held the reins in one hand, and the horse was pure black except for a spot of white on its forehead.