Ministry of punishment Vice Minister Xiao Qian’s horse carriage stops outside the doors of the Fu Guo General Estate. He steps down from the carriage and looks up, behaviour seeming a little weird. The horse carriage came from the end of the street, a complex mix of speeches can be heard in the ears, those selling groceries, those selling lamp oil, those selling ladies’ rouge powders……clamouring, displaying the prosperity of the Capital. But at this end of the street, the huge Fu Guo General Estate, two desolate stone lions squats by the main doors, aged through all those years, long been bruised by marks of time, the big doors rich in red lacquer has also dulled in colour. The long long alley really is like an unrolled scroll, starting from that spot of splendidly bustling noise, turning down to this spot of dwindling prosperity, washed off its magnificence, exposing its true face. Such a long autumn day, light and pleasant, displaying a different kind of beauty within this desertedness.
Such an estate, truly houses the one called “Wall of Qi Ling” –– General Lin? Doubts running across his heart, but time does not allow for any delay in careful pondering, Xiao Qian takes two strides forward, the coachman had already knocked at the doors, a servant simple and cleanly dressed in grey, pokes his face out. Xiao Qian anxiously speaks: “Little brother, please pass onto General Lin, Vice Minister Xiao Qian of the ministry of punishment requests an audience.”
That little servant eyes looks over the arrived person, seeing that although Xiao Qian’s face appears calm, his eyes shows tremendous anxiety, not like the people who flocked over to send gifts these past few days. Opening the doors wider, the little servant bows his head and lowers his eyes, saying: “Lord Xiao please wait, I shall go report now.”
Xiao Qian could not wait, one foot stepping inside, saying: “Little Brother, I have important tasks at hand, desperately need to see General, please be accommodating.” The little servant is slightly stunned, seeing that Xiao Qian’s expression does not look like an act, besides, why would a high ranking official like him commit a fraud, thus nodding his head. Leading the way into the estate.
The towers and pavilions within the Lin Estate is most commonly seen in official’s homes, places where a pavilion should stand will have a pavilion there, where a chamber should stand will have a chamber there, every spot very normal, so bland that one cannot bring themselves to admire the surroundings. Only the courtyard filled with chrysanthemum flowers, cosily forming clusters, apricot yellow joyfully dances amongst such blandness, adding that dash of bright colour.
It is here that Xiao Qian sees one who is lowering his head in tending to the flowers, amongst such vibrant colour, Lin Rui En.
He lowers his body into a bow, stirring the branches, heart greatly distracted. The little servant stands among the flowerbeds, raising his voice in saying: “General, Lord Xiao of the ministry of punishments requests an audience.”
His figure stalls, placing down the shovel in hand, he straightens his body, standing alone within the flower garden, jade stance tall and graceful, clear and bright demeanour, Xiao Qian inwardly sighs, bowing his head, hands gesturing a formal greeting, yet heart so anxious, he feels as though he stands within a cooking pot, seeing this young general, only makes one feel penetrating cold pressing down, even his heart stands still.
“General, Nu Prince Ye Li escaped!”
Lin Rui En raises a brow, his expression not looking particularly stern nor cold, yet Xiao Qian’s heart is crazily beating, instincts tell him the youth in front is truthfully angered to the extreme, the frosty sternness between his brows, revealed with not the slightest of covering up.
“It is this subordinate’s incompetence, Ye Li was in unbearable pain, I originally thought should he really die like that, it will be difficult to explain to his majesty, only transferred him into another prison cell, who knew……”
“Where has he escaped to right now?” Lin Rui En walks out of the flowerbeds with large dignified strides, the chrysanthemum leaves scatters onto the ground as he brushes past.
“Only know he was heading towards the Bai Hua markets when escaping,” Xiao Qian lowers his head and eyes, stepping aside to give way, “General! The ministry of war has already sent out troops, the city gates also set up government investigation checks, as long as martial laws are imposed on the entire city……”
“Do not alert the commoners!” Lin Rui En deeply frowns, lowly scolding, “The war has just ended, not suitable to cause turmoil in the hearts of the people.”
“Yes!” Vice Minister of Punishments constantly nods his head, “Then General’s meaning is?”
“Leave the soldiers to secretly investigate, the Nu Tribe’s appearance is so distinctive, hiding within the vital centre of the Capital will be difficult, inevitably cannot have escaped far.” His orders is