Chapter 9: By Force and Obligation, Lin Yanshu is to Become Someone Else's Bride

Gu Shuyun returned to the mansion in a rage, smashing almost everything in the study to pieces.

As soon as Mr. Gu returned to the mansion, he heard that his precious son was going crazy because of a woman.

He didn't know what sins he had committed to give birth to such a creature obsessed with romantic love.

His son dotes on this mute girl from the countryside. He has so many noble ladies to choose from, but he doesn't want any of them. He's determined to stick with this one!

He strode to Gu Shuyun's study, where the floor was already a mess.

Even the precious inkstone that someone had given him a few days ago was smashed on the ground. This was a treasure that someone had just presented to him as a gift, and he himself was reluctant to use it, but his foolish son was ruining it like this.

Father Gu cleared his throat and shouted sternly:

"Nonsense! Just for a woman, you're going to turn this mansion upside down?!"

"Have you forgotten all the classics you've read, Yun'er?!"

Hearing his father's stern rebuke, Gu Shuyun finally regained some composure. Disheveled and with red eyes, he looked up at his father and shouted hysterically:

"Father, she's different!"

"My child, in this life, I cannot live without Yanshu!"

Father Gu frowned in anger. His son had been unruly since childhood and had been spoiled rotten by him.

It's just one woman; if he wants her, he can have her.

He walked over and patted Gu Shuyun on the shoulder:

"Then you should marry that woman."

Gu Shuyun shook his head helplessly:

“Father, she has someone else by her side. I’m afraid I have no chance.”

Father Gu sneered. In this Luzhou, there was nothing the Gu family couldn't get.

Moreover, she was just a country girl.

"Then you should snatch her away, kidnap her."

"They say a woman should follow her husband wherever he goes, but once she becomes yours, what man would want this withered flower?"

Gu Shuyun's eyes lit up. That's right, he would marry Lin Yanshu right now.

When everyone knows she's his woman, Lin Yanshu will have no choice but to stay obediently by his side. Sooner or later, she'll truly fall in love with him.

As for that man, he should never show his face again; he deserves to die!

…………

Li Chengyi lay in bed, not sleeping until midnight, waiting for Huo Zheng to arrive.

Hearing a few regular bird calls outside the window, Li Chengyi turned and stepped outside.

He jumped over the wall and out, and Huo Zheng peered out as Li Chengyi jumped in front of him.

Finally reunited with his prince, he excitedly rushed to his side, tears streaming down his face as he looked at Li Chengyi:

“Your Highness! After you disappeared, we could only follow your previous instructions and infiltrate the homes of officials listed on the roster.”

Seeing his subordinate's tearful expression, Li Chengyi was a little afraid that Huo Zheng's excitement might wake Lin Yanshu.

He patted Huo Zheng on the shoulder approvingly, waved to Huo Zheng, and gestured for him to come closer.

Li Chengyi said in a low voice:

"Keep your voice down, someone's sleeping inside."

Huo Zheng nodded in sudden realization. As expected of His Highness, he was indeed cautious!

"Contact your other trusted confidants as soon as possible and tell them that I am well. If you can get your hands on the account books, that would be best."

Li Chengyi looked at Huo Zheng with some worry in his eyes:

“You must keep a close eye on the Gu family. In this granary case, the Gu family is probably a big fish.”

"If you can find any important clues, please send a message to me immediately."

Huo Zheng nodded firmly, then asked hesitantly:

"But why has Your Highness been hiding here all this time?"

Li Chengyi waved his hand dismissively, feigning profoundness:

"I have my own plans."

Although Huo Zheng was puzzled, he knew that His Highness had his own considerations, and that the woman in the room must be an important witness.

He looked at Lee Seung-ik with eyes full of admiration:

"Your Highness, you've suffered so much being here."

Seeing that everything was settled, Li Chengyi waved his hand and jumped back.

Huo Zheng returned to the Gu residence with great enthusiasm.

Not long after he returned, he keenly sensed the impending storm brewing at the Gu residence.

A feeling I can't quite describe.

But his position was too low to investigate anything, so he could only chat with his subordinates.

"Why do you think the young master has to like that mute girl so much!"

Huo Zheng shrank back and squeezed through to join them in gossiping:

Who are you talking about?

The burly man grinned.

"Who else could it be? That little mute you went to call with the young master the other day."

Huo Zheng handed the other person a handful of sunflower seeds and listened with great interest:

"Oh, her? Does the young master like her?"

"But these two are worlds apart, one is in heaven and the other in hell, they definitely can't make it work."

As Huo Zheng spoke, he shook his head with great concentration.

The burly men thought Huo Zheng was stupid. It had nothing to do with his status or position; the girl hadn't taken a liking to their young master.

He explained sarcastically:

"You're mistaken. The household is currently busy preparing for the wedding!"

Huo Zheng blinked. He had seen it clearly that day; the woman had no romantic feelings whatsoever.

Where did this bride come from?

Seeing Huo Zheng's puzzled expression, the burly man muttered to himself:

“In this Luzhou, there is nothing that Master Gu’s family cannot get if they want it.”

"I think that girl is in trouble."

Others chimed in, offering their opinions all at once:

"What bad luck? She's too busy enjoying her good fortune to marry into the governor's family as a young mistress, and the young master adores her! So many people would love to marry into such a family."

"Even if she is forced into marriage, it's a blessing for that mute woman."

"You can't even have this bad luck if you want to!"

Huo Zheng was secretly alarmed; His Highness was still beside that woman.

He wanted to inform Li Chengyi, but Gu Shuyun's wedding was too complicated.

The entire Gu household was in a frenzy, with everyone wanting the best embroiderers and the finest gold thread.

His demeanor was comparable to that of a high-ranking official in the capital.

No wonder he's a corrupt official who embezzled grain; he doesn't feel the slightest bit of heartache when it comes to spending money.

Even Master Gu was ordered around by his son to do this and that.

Huo Zheng managed to find an opportunity to run and deliver the message.

But he didn't expect that Gu Shuyun would have Lin Yanshu kidnapped first.

He never expected that his prince would be betrayed.

Li Chengyi waited for Lin Yanshu at home, but instead of Lin Yanshu returning home, he was greeted by a group of vicious thugs.

Several masked men with menacing eyes stormed into Lin Yanshu's house, brandishing their knives at Li Chengyi.

Someone wants to kill you.

"In your next life, be careful when you encounter someone who is helpful!"

Li Chengyi glanced at them indifferently. These people were probably used to killing and robbing, as their murderous aura was impossible to conceal.

He dodged the man's swinging broadsword, grabbed the man's wrist, and with a strong pull, the big man's wrist was dislocated, and he screamed in pain with a ferocious expression.

His companion, brandishing a knife, rushed forward. Li Cheng then raised his leg and kicked the man hard in the chest, before pushing the man in his hand in front of the third man's knife.

The latter couldn't dodge in time and watched helplessly as his boss was plunged into the tip of his knife.

A long knife pierced through the man's chest. His eyes widened as he looked down at the still-dripping blood from the knife.

He coughed up a mouthful of blood and stammered, unable to finish his last sentence.

The sight of blood made the remaining few people tremble as they looked at each other.

The leader who brought them here was killed by this guy. They'll be next!

Li Chengyi calmly raised his eyes, his gaze filled with oppressive force:

"Want to continue? This is what will happen to you."

Several burly men immediately dropped their knives, knelt down, and begged for mercy while weeping.

"Great hero, I was wrong!"

"Please, have mercy on us! We were just following orders and had no other choice!"

Li Chengyi bent down and picked up the still-bleeding knife, pointed it at the two kneeling men, and raised an eyebrow at them:

"Oh? It sounds like you had no choice in the matter."

"Who sent you?"

The two looked at each other, unsure how to speak. Speaking would offend the Gu family, and they would be doomed from both sides.

Li Chengyi noticed their hesitation, narrowed his eyes, and pressed the blade against one of their necks. The man trembled and said:

"I'll talk! I'll talk! It's the Gu family! Young Master Gu wants to kill you!"

Gu Shuyun?

Why would he have designs on him?

Li Chengyi pondered, fearing that the other party's true intentions were not what they seemed, and he frowned in annoyance.

That kid from the Gu family is incredibly audacious.

Li Chengyi increased the pressure, and traces of blood seeped from the neck of the person beneath him.

He nearly fainted from fright; everyone around him witnessed it and confessed, crying and wailing:

"Who told you to try and steal Mr. Gu's woman!"

"Young Master Gu is about to marry that little mute girl, so naturally he won't tolerate you, his mistress!"

"Hero, please have mercy! We've told you everything we know, please release us brothers!"

"From now on, we brothers will burn incense and pray for you every year..."

Before the two could finish begging for mercy, Li Chengyi's blade swiftly slashed across them, and the two fell to the ground with a thud.

Blood gushed onto the tips of Li Chengyi's boots, staining the ground in patches.

At this moment, Li Chengyi looked at the dead man on the ground with a gloomy expression.

He just felt that it was really troublesome to clean up with these few people.

If Lin Yanshu saw this, he would definitely be angry.

He will naturally ask Lin Yanshu about her marriage to the man surnamed Gu when he sees her tonight.

But instead of Lin Yanshu, he was greeted by Huo Zheng.

As night fell, Huo Zheng hurriedly dismounted and ran towards them.

He rushed to Li Chengyi with a look of urgency.

But then he saw Li Chengyi wiping his sword with a cold face, exuding a murderous aura.

Huo Zheng nervously swallowed and relayed the news to Li Chengyi:

"Your Highness! Gu Shuyun plans to forcibly marry a commoner. I heard from the people in the manor that they are going to kidnap Miss Lin to... for the wedding."

Li Chengyi has been waiting until now, but Lin Yanshu has not returned.

He had already guessed three-tenths of the truth. He had thought that Gu Shuyun was an upright person when it came to matters between men and women, but he never expected him to be so despicable.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he gave Huo Zheng an order:

"Go and find out where Lin Yanshu has been hidden."

"Call the others back and go to the neighboring county to gather more men."

"I will make sure this grand wedding doesn't happen."

Upon receiving the order, Huo Zheng immediately went to contact the others.

Li Chengyi stared at the knife in his hand, trying to calm himself down.

If Gu Shuyun were killed now, the granary case would likely remain an unsolved mystery.

He could only wait, and make Lin Yanshu wait for him.