Red Mansion: Holding Space and Marrying Like the Sea

Lin Ruhai woke up feeling achy all over, as if he'd been beaten. He frowned and asked, "Madam, why do I feel so sore all over, as if I'd been beaten?" Xifeng felt uneasy when she heard this and quickly changed the subject, "My dear, do you know what I heard when I went out last night?" When Lin Ruhai heard that Xifeng had gone out on her own to track down the assassin, his voice trembled with nervousness as he asked, "Madam, are you injured? How could you do such a dangerous thing? If you were injured, what would I do?"

Xifeng smiled gently at Lin Ruhai and shook her head. "I'm not hurt, don't worry. I heard that person say last night that the assassin was sent by someone from the Zhen family in Jinling."

Lin Ruhai was shocked when he heard this. "Zhen family? How is that possible? I have no grudge against the Zhen family. Why would they send assassins to kill me?"

Xifeng sneered, "The hearts of people in this world are unpredictable. Who knows what they're up to? Perhaps they're jealous of our Lin family's wealth, or perhaps they want to use this opportunity to eliminate dissidents. In any case, we have to be on guard."

Lin Ruhai nodded, a trace of worry flashing in his eyes, "If the Zhen family really intends to embarrass us, it must be under the order of the prince in the capital."

Xifeng smiled faintly, "Don't worry, my husband. If an enemy comes, we will fight him with our troops; if a flood comes, we will block it with earth. As long as we take precautions, we won't be afraid of their plots and schemes."

After the two exchanged glances, Xifeng told Lin Ruhai about what she had seen and heard the previous night: "My dear, did you know? The head of the Zhen family, Zhen Youdao, has come to Suzhou and is hiding in his house west of the city. He's also plotting to seize the throne." Lin Ruhai was horrified and stood up, slamming the table and saying, "How dare they be so bold?" Xifeng smiled and said, "My dear, you said that if the emperor orders his subjects to die, they must die. But we also have to tell His Majesty our difficulties. As they say, the crying child gets the milk. Only when His Majesty understands our difficulties will he know how to help us."

Lin Ruhai felt Xifeng's argument made sense, so he decided to write a secret memorial to the emperor. He immediately began writing, detailing the events of the previous night and proclaiming his unwavering loyalty. After completing the memorial, he carefully sealed it and gave it to a trusted confidant, who then hurriedly sent it to the capital. He was confident that the emperor would discern the situation and bring justice to the Lin family.

At the same time, Xifeng also began to strengthen the security of the mansion. She summoned the servants and guards and formulated a strict defense plan to ensure the safety of the Lin family.

Xifeng informed Old Lady Lin of the plot to harm the Lin family. After all, Old Lady Lin was a seasoned veteran with extensive experience. She pondered for a moment and then said solemnly, "Salt administration has always been the foundation of a nation, the key to the struggle for the throne among the princes. Although a new emperor has been appointed, the retired emperor still refuses to let go of government affairs, and the princes are even more ambitious. Jiangnan's salt administration is a battleground between the old and new forces."

Soon after, the emperor received Lin Ruhai's secret memorial, and he was furious. He wanted to immediately order an investigation into the Zhen family and punish the murderer, but the thought of the retired emperor still residing in the Qinzheng Hall gave him a headache. The retired emperor was like a sword hanging over the emperor's head; until he passed away, the emperor's throne would be untenable.

In his youth, the former emperor was known for his integrity and honesty. He personally led numerous campaigns, recovered lost territory, and reduced taxes, earning him the reputation of a wise ruler. To stabilize public confidence, he appointed the empress's legitimate son as crown prince, doting on him. The crown prince proved highly accomplished, versed in both civil and military tactics. However, the imperial family remains the imperial family. As the crown prince grew older and more powerful, the former emperor grew increasingly wary of him. Ultimately, the crown prince was falsely accused of treason and forced to commit suicide at home.

After the Crown Prince's suicide, the Emperor grew increasingly benighted. To earn the reputation of a benevolent ruler, he allowed his ministers to borrow money from the treasury without returning it, leaving the treasury empty. The princes formed cliques and accepted bribes, but the Emperor showed no remorse and even seemed to add fuel to the fire, each one acting like a black-eyed chicken.