Chapter 20 Letter Lin Xiangli carefully took out this from the secret compartment...

Lin Xiangli carefully took out the letters from the secret compartment, and after counting carefully, there were exactly four.

The upbringing that had been ingrained in her since childhood made her realize that reading other people's letters without permission was a big taboo, even those from her closest relatives.

So after taking out the letters, she thought about putting them back where they belonged.

However, when her fingertips were about to touch the closed part of the secret compartment, an inexplicable force prompted her to stop.

A thought quietly emerged:

Why did my father hide these letters in such a secret place?

Is there really some secret hidden in this that people don’t want to be told?

In recent days, although she tried her best to maintain her belief in her father's glorious image through external voices, the doubts in her heart were like an undercurrent that never really subsided. Instead, they were completely ignited at this moment.

Perhaps, these silent pieces of paper are the key to solving all mysteries.

However, facing the truth that may be revealed, a more serious thought also came to mind:

If the truth is not as good as she expected, does she have enough courage to face it and bear the consequences?

Lin Xiangli fell into a deep struggle.

But in the end, she made her decision.

She realized that no matter how she tried to escape, the truth was as unavoidable as her destiny.

Moreover, if the truth is truly unbearable, it is better to uncover it yourself than to be ruthlessly exposed by others.

Lin Xiangli took a deep breath and first focused on the letter at the top. On it was written "Personally from Zhizhou Lin" in vigorous and powerful handwriting.

When he opened the envelope, a single line of words appeared on the paper: "The Sky Eagle will soon descend. During the interrogation, admit your negligence and corruption, or you may be able to save your life."

This line of words was short and meaningful. There was no signature, but it was as cold as ice, making Lin Xiangli's heart sink suddenly.

She couldn't help but wonder who had issued this warning to her father. The sense of urgency and crisis revealed between the lines made her dare not think about it too much.

With a heavy heart, she turned to open the second letter.

This letter was also extremely concise, with only six words: "Received, thank you someday", with neither a summary of the previous events nor any subsequent explanation.

Lin Xiangli frowned, trying to grasp more clues from these simple words, but found nothing.

The third letter was very different from the first two. It was not wrapped in an envelope, which made it look particularly out of place.

What is even more striking is that the texture of the paper is completely different from the previous two. It is a rough paper with a touch of paper scraps and abrasiveness.

Lin Xiangli took a deep breath and then carefully unfolded the letter.

As the paper slowly unfolded, what came into view was a complaint!

"The plaintiff, Chen Weiyu, respectfully submits this appeal and humbly requests your consideration:

Chen Weiyu, a commoner, was renowned in her village for her art of embellishment. She was often invited to adorn newlyweds for auspicious occasions, earning a living. However, the world is unpredictable. Wang Gui, the bookkeeper, took a glimpse of my subtle skills and, lusting after them, tempted me with luxuries and fame, enticing me to join the Ningxiang Residence, a brothel in Weizhou, hoping to lure me into prostitution. Despite her poverty, Weiyu remained steadfast in her integrity, vowing to resist his tyranny and refusing.

Unexpectedly, Wang Gui became even more ruthless, instructing his accomplices to harass my father's vegetable stall for days, leaving him unable to make a living and depriving him of his livelihood. My father, elderly and devastated by this blow, was in declining health. Heartbroken, Yu Yu, desperate to save her father's life, tearfully agreed to marry into Ningxiang's family, vowing to stick to her principles: to sell her art, not her body. Wang Gui reluctantly agreed.

But the good times didn't last. One night, after a performance, Wang Gui hosted a banquet and got me drunk. Taking advantage of my unconsciousness, he took me to a secret room, where I was brutally raped. When I awoke, heartbroken, I learned the perpetrator was none other than Lin Bowen, the prefect of Weizhou. From then on, Lin Bowen attempted to take me as his concubine, using his power to pressure me. Though a weak woman, I possessed a sense of shame. How could I surrender to such a shameless man? I resolutely refused, but I feared his immense power and the prospect of vengeance.

I now boldly file this petition, beseeching the great Lord of Heaven to investigate this matter and, in accordance with the law, severely punish Wang Guizhi for seducing a decent woman and Lin Bowen for rape. I only hope that justice will prevail, that evil will be punished, and that vulnerable women like us can live and work in peace, free from the pain of bullying.

When she finished reading the letter, Lin Xiangli was already in tears. Her hands were almost trembling as she continued to open the remaining letters in a panic and eagerness.

This letter is exactly the same as the previous two in terms of paper and handwriting, and is obviously written by the same person.

"Ningxiang is my wing, shelter can benefit us all, knowing the state is no problem."

Each of those short words was like an icy blade, piercing through Lin Xiangli's deepest defenses and piercing deeply into her heart.

At that moment, Lin Xiangli seemed to hear the lighthouse deep in his heart, which he thought was indestructible, collapsing silently, causing a grand and sad echo.

Her body instantly lost all support, as if all her strength had been drained away. She collapsed limply to the ground, curled up into a ball.

In the end, she couldn't help but burst into tears, and her tears rolled down uncontrollably.

She thought she was strong enough to face everything, but when the truth was completely revealed before her eyes, she found that she could not accept it at all.

"Xiang Li, what's wrong with you?"

Ling An hurried over when he heard the sound.

While Lin Xiangli was still immersed in the shock of the contents of the letter, Ling An's figure had already appeared at the door.

She suddenly came to her senses, and almost instinctively, she quickly clutched the letter in her hand and hid it deep in her sleeve.

Ling An noticed the tear marks on Lin Xiangli's face. He squatted down, looked at Lin Xiangli at eye level, and asked again in a more gentle tone,

"What's wrong? What happened?"

Lin Xiangli took a deep breath.

She shook her head gently and answered in a calm voice.

"It's nothing. It's just that seeing these old things brought back memories of some things in the past."

Ling An looked at Lin Xiangli, tears still lingering in his eyes.

He reached out and gently held Lin Xiangli's arm, helping her to stand up slowly.

Lin Xiangli lightly grasped Ling An's sleeve, as if she had found support at this moment.

She whispered,

"Ling An, let's go back. I'm tired. I won't continue the inventory today. Come back next time."

"good."

Ling An nodded without saying anything more.

He gently put his arm around Lin Xiangli's shoulders, and they walked out of the room side by side.

*

late at night.

Lin Xiangli was wearing thin clothes and squatting quietly by the fire.

The tears on her face had quietly dried up, leaving only faint traces, but her eyes seemed to have lost focus, empty and unconsciously chasing the flickering flames in the furnace.

The cold air around her penetrated her bones, but she was completely unaware of it, as if only by intensifying the pain in her body could she slightly cover up the biting coldness deep in her heart.

The opened letters were scattered on the ground.

After she took them back, she no longer had the courage to read them a second time. However, those words were like a sharp chisel, leaving an indelible mark on her heart.

Every word and every punctuation mark appeared clearly in her mind, so vivid that she could neither avoid it nor forget it.

Although she did not know who the senders of the three letters were, she had already clearly understood the role her father played in the operation of Ningxiangju through the few words in the letters.

As for why the petition submitted by Chen Weiyu to the government office fell into my father's hands, the undercurrents behind it are self-evident.

Chen Weiyu's sad face that day appeared in Lin Xiangli's mind again.

She was the same age as himself, but because of Wang Gui and... his own father, she had suffered such hardships.

As a woman myself, how could I not know her despair and pain?

However, beneath this resonance lies a more complex emotional bond - that is her father, the father who gives her endless love.

In this society where men are superior to women, Lin Xiangli, as the only daughter in the family, has enjoyed the full love of her parents since childhood.

In particular, her father's care and doting allowed her to grow up in a carefree environment. Even after her mother became a nun, this love never diminished in the slightest.

Even after he became the prefect, no matter how busy he was, he would always find time to come back and have dinner with her, and do his best to fulfill her every wish.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiangli's eyes couldn't help but become moist.

At this moment, she clearly realized a fact:

Even though my father owed many people wrong, he never owed himself wrong.

Now that his father's life is hanging by a thread, the secrets hidden in the letter, once exposed to the world, will surely be the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

Contradictions and struggles are intertwined into an intricate web in Lin Xiangli's heart.

She knew that the decision she made at this moment might change the fate of many people, but she could not sit idly by and watch her father fall into an irretrievable situation because of these letters.

Finally, she slowly opened the fumigation cage on the stove, and with trembling hands, threw the letter into the flames.

"Miss Chen, I'm sorry..."

The whispers echoed in the silent night, as the letter turned to ashes...

*

On the other side, in the Tianying Pavilion branch, Guo Yan walked hurriedly into the service lobby.

"No chance!"

Fang Buyu raised his head from the mountain of files and documents.

"What happened? You look so flustered."

Guo Yan calmed down his breathing which was a little rapid due to running, and then reported word by word,

"Five days ago, late at night, over ten carriages suddenly drove out of Wang Gui's mansion, their movements mysterious. Our men immediately followed, tracking them all the way. Just now, our spies at the front finally reported back—those carriages have finally entered the capital, heading straight for the Prime Minister's residence!"

"What?!"

Fang Buyu let out a low cry, and the pen in his hand fell to the ground, splashing a few spots of ink.

He swayed slightly, obviously shocked by the news.

But soon, he forced himself to calm down and confirmed again:

"Are you sure? Is this really the residence of Prime Minister Tuoba Xuan?"

"Absolutely true!"

Fang Buyu's pupils suddenly shrank.

Although he had guessed that the power behind Wang Gui was related to the capital, he could never have imagined that the mastermind behind the scenes would be the powerful Prime Minister Tuoba Xuan!

Fang Buyu was rapidly thinking of countermeasures in his mind. Finally, a look of determination flashed in his eyes, and he made a decisive decision.

Under the oppression of power, people are living in misery. No matter who is behind the scenes, the Broken Bridge Case and the Ningxiang Case have reached the time to be concluded. Even the prime minister of the current dynasty cannot become a stumbling block to the realization of justice.

"Guo Yan, immediately select a few elite soldiers and set off for the capital. Be sure to intercept and detain the convoy as soon as it leaves the capital!"

"Yes, sir!"

Guo Yan responded and was about to turn around and leave when Fang Buyu stopped him.

"etc."

Fang Buyu walked out of the desk quickly.

"This trip is dangerous. We must ensure that everything goes well. I will go with you."