The big bandit in the Red Mansion robbed Lin Daiyu at the beginning

He quickly rolled up the letter and the envelope and hid it in his sleeve.

He quickly picked up a book on the table and started reading.

Xueyan came in holding a piece of rice paper.

Regarding Lin Daiyu,

"Miss, this is the only piece of Shuanglu rice paper left in your study. I'll talk to Uncle Lin tomorrow and have him arrange for someone to prepare some more for you."

Lin Daiyu slowly put down the book and looked at Xueyan, whose forehead was slightly sweaty.

Shake his head slightly.

"That's fine, but why are you running so fast? Are you being chased by wolves again?"

Xueyan looked suspicious, pouted her lips in grievance, and frowned.

Seeing Xueyan like this, Lin Daiyu covered her mouth and giggled.

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Put the rice paper on the desk and grind some ink for me."

Xueyan was slightly stunned at first.

Then he suddenly realized,

"Oh~ I see. Miss, you must be writing back to the person who wrote the letter, right?"

Lin Daiyu blushed and glared at Xueyan in a fierce manner.

"What are you talking about, you damn girl? Be careful or I'll tear your mouth apart."

Xueyan put down the rice paper, put her head close to Lin Daiyu and stuck out her tongue mischievously.

"Hey, I guessed it right!"

"Then let me guess, to whom did the young lady reply?"

"You... hum!"

Lin Daiyu's cheeks flushed with shame, and she turned her head away in embarrassment and ignored him.

Xueyan chuckled, cleared her throat, and then said in a pinched voice,

"I know! The person Miss wants to reply to must be that famous brother Qingfeng from Qingfeng Village in Yangzhou, right?"

When saying "brother", Xueyan deliberately dragged out the words.

Lin Daiyu was immediately embarrassed and with a red face, she chased Xueyan and tickled her armpits.

"You damn girl, how dare you make fun of me!"

"I'm going to tear your mouth off!"

Xueyan quickly laughed and begged for mercy.

"Ah, haha, hahaha, miss, I was wrong! Hahaha!"

"Haha, Miss...haha...spare me...ha..."

The master and the servant immediately burst into laughter.

……

In the backyard hall of the Yangzhou prefectural government office.

Li Kui, the prefect of Yangzhou, looked over and over the invitation in his hand.

His face was filled with solemnity, and he frowned as he looked at Master Qian who was sitting below him.

He raised the invitation in his hand and asked,

"Master Qian, what do you think Lin Ruhai meant by this?"

"Would you like to invite me, all the officials of Yangzhou, and some gentry and businessmen to a small gathering at Wanfu Tower in three days?"

Master Qian pinched his mustache.

After a moment's silence, he frowned and said,

"Sir, judging from Lord Lin's invitation, I'm afraid it's just as we suspected. Qingfeng Village really has some connection with him!"

"You still have to prepare for the worst."

Li Kui's brows were furrowed.

"You mean, Lin Ruhai will help Qingfeng Village lure us together and then capture us all in one fell swoop?"

"Cough, cough, cough!"

Master Qian started coughing violently.

Even though he prided himself on being knowledgeable and experienced, he was still stumped by his master's train of thought.

Li Kui asked in confusion,

"Why, is what I said wrong?"

Master Qian coughed dryly, and after recovering, he bowed and said,

"Sir, Qingfeng Village will definitely not be like this at this moment!"

"Let's not talk about whether Qingfeng Village has such plans or not. Just the fact that Lord Lin, the Imperial Inspector of Salt, was kidnapped by them is enough to make them think that the two are connected."

"But if there's no reasonable explanation for this matter, the imperial court will definitely send troops!"

"After all, Lord Lin is a fourth-rank official with important responsibilities! The court will certainly not let this go!"

Li Kui nodded slightly.

"Indeed! The bandits dared to rob imperial officials and their families. Such a thing would have been rare even hundreds of years ago!"

"But who would have thought that Qingfeng Village is not only powerful, but also courageous!"

Then he looked at Master Qian and said with a little worry,

"Master Qian, do you think Lin Ruhai will bear a grudge against me for what I brought up earlier? Does he harbor resentment?"

Master Qian pondered for a moment, then smiled and shook his head.

"Don't worry, sir!"

"Lord Lin is also an official, so he naturally understands the current situation in the court and Yangzhou."

"Even if he knows the truth about some things, he can only pretend not to know."

Li Kui nodded slightly.

With a sigh,

"Alas, but Lin Ruhai has already colluded with the fierce bandits of Qingfeng Village, and the big thing has been done."

"I'm afraid that from now on, I'll be living in fear."

Master Qian paused with his folding fan in his hand and said with an enigmatic smile,

"No! Your Excellency has no need to worry about this."

Li Kui bowed and asked,

"Why?"

Master Qian laughed, waved his fan and said,

"Think about it, sir. Qingfeng Village has abducted Master Lin's family and even Master Lin himself to the mountain. Master Lin must have made preparations."

As he spoke, he pointed his folding fan outside the hall and said with a smile,

"I'm afraid that what Qingfeng Village is about to face now is the imperial court's massive army!"

"At this moment, if there are one or two more officials appointed by the Yangzhou court, it will force the court to suppress Yangzhou with an overwhelming force."

"The Qingfeng Village has been able to achieve this point, so they must be very smart! In this case, my lord, you are naturally safe and there is no need to worry!"

Changing the subject, Master Qian continued,

"Moreover, Master Lin is involved with Qingfeng Village, which may not be a bad thing for you, Master!"

Li Kui's eyes lit up when he heard this.

However, he still pretended to be confused and bowed to Master Qian.

"Master Qian, please explain this to me."