Prefect Lin's face turned an ugly shade of red upon hearing that his beloved daughter was at the Fengyue Brothel. He immediately ordered people to raze the establishment, but Yan Jin Chao intercepted him before he could depart.
Prefect Lin’s expression was grim as he looked at Yan Jin Chao, his tone laced with coldness. "Young Master Yan, what is the meaning of this?"
"My Lord, you cannot show yourself in this matter," Yan Jin Chao said calmly.
Prefect Lin couldn't help but let out a cold laugh. "I don't go? Then what will become of my daughter?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Jin Chao replied, "Your Excellency, if you go, it will prove to everyone at the Fengyue Brothel that the person there is indeed Miss Lin. Are you not afraid of her reputation being tarnished?"
Prefect Lin frowned. "Make them all shut their mouths directly."
"My Lord, that would be the slaughter of innocents."
"Young Master Yan, what exactly do you intend to do?" Prefect Lin asked coldly.
Yan Jin Chao said, "My Lord, if you trust me, please send me. I will certainly bring Miss Lin back safely."
Prefect Lin was taken aback, his eyes narrowing. "Yan Jin Chao, you never do things like this. What are you after?"
"My Lord, Miss Lin disappeared right before my eyes. I have an obligation to bring her back," Yan Jin Chao stated slowly.
Prefect Lin looked at him for a long moment. Seeing that he couldn't discern anything, he finally said, "I agree. But you must guarantee me that you will bring Shi Shu back."
"My Lord, rest assured..." Yan Jin Chao bowed.
Upon leaving the Prefect's mansion, Yan Jin Chao looked at the pine trees by the carriage and said calmly, "Prepare the horses."
Xue Song was startled. "Young Master, you wish to ride?"
Yan Jin Chao nodded. "Riding will be faster."
Xue Song paused for a moment before quickly ordering someone to prepare the horses.
A short while later, two horses were led over. Yan Jin Chao mounted his horse and galloped away.
"Miss, as you can see, Young Master Yan has gone to rescue Miss Lin."
A carriage was parked in a corner of the Prefect's mansion. Upon hearing the servant's report, the person inside let out a cold laugh. "Does Lin Shi Shu think she can get away with this? I will make sure she is ruined."
"Miss, news has come from Fengyue Brothel saying that Miss Lin's identity has been exposed, but someone has denied that she is the daughter of Prefect Lin."
The person in the carriage was stunned. "Didn't you just say that the little fellow exposed Lin Shi Shu's identity as the Prefect's daughter?"
"Yes, Miss. But a certain Young Master Murong denied Miss Lin's identity as the Prefect's daughter and paid a hefty sum for Miss Lin's first night."
"Go tell Sun Wen Jie to ensure everyone believes Lin Shi Shu is indeed the Prefect's daughter."
"Yes..."
As Murong Bo was conversing with Lin Shi Shu, there was a knock on the door. Murong Bo walked over and asked in a low voice, "Who is it?"
"Brother Murong, it's me..."
Hearing the familiar voice, Brother Murong turned to Lin Shi Shu and explained, "It's my man, Miss Lin. Rest assured..."
Lin Shi Shu nodded. Murong Bo opened the door, not allowing anyone in, but stepped out himself. Seeing Sun Wen Jie, he asked, "Brother Sun, is there something?"
Sun Wen Jie said in a low voice, "Brother Murong, you haven't consummated the marriage yet?"
Murong Bo's expression turned cold. "Brother Sun, what nonsense are you speaking?"
"Brother Murong, your servant has returned. Prefect Lin hasn't come, but that Young Master Yan has brought people."
Murong Bo was taken aback. "So what? Prefect Lin simply doesn't want others to know Miss Lin's identity. It's best that Young Master Yan comes."
"Brother Murong, are you foolish? You spent so much money, and you're just going to hand over the beauty like this?"
Murong Bo chuckled softly. "Brother Sun, liking someone only makes them more beautiful, it doesn't destroy them."
Sun Wen Jie shook his head. "If you miss this opportunity, there won't be another. Do you truly believe Prefect Lin will let you off the hook?"
"Brother Sun, thank you for your kindness. I appreciate it." With that, Murong Bo turned and entered the room.
At this moment, Sun Wen Jie's face contorted with rage. "Brother Murong, since you intend to block my path, I will have to remove you, this stumbling block."
Murong Bo returned to the room and saw Lin Shi Shu. He explained, "He is my friend. He won't reveal anything, Miss Lin. Rest assured."
Lin Shi Shu nodded. She was no longer afraid of being exposed, as long as she could get out of here.
Sun Wen Jie stared at the room's door for a long time before leaving with a cold smile.
"Oh, and who might this be? It's the eldest son of the Sun family..." Madam Xu, the brothel owner, approached Sun Wen Jie, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Sun Wen Jie frowned but did not stop her, saying in a low voice, "If Boss Xu is willing to cooperate with me, I will not treat Boss Xu poorly."
Xu Shi Niang tutted twice. "I never knew the Sun family wished to get a cut of this pie?"
Sun Wen Jie looked at Xu Shi Niang and sneered, "I assume the knowledgeable and well-informed Boss Xu would know that she is the true daughter of the Prefect."
Xu Shi Niang covered her mouth and smiled. "If I say she is, she is. If I say she isn't, she isn't."
"Boss Xu..." Sun Wen Jie dropped the smile on his face and looked at Xu Shi Niang coldly.
Xu Shi Niang removed her hand from Sun Wen Jie's shoulder, returned to her chair, and said coldly, "Young Master Sun, I have been in this business for decades, struggling my way up. What you don't have, I already have. What you have, I had years ago. So, Young Master Sun, are your trump cards not too few?"
Sun Wen Jie looked at Xu Shi Niang. He knew that the owner of Fengyue Brothel was not easy to deal with, but he hadn't expected her to be so audacious.
"Boss Xu, what exactly do you want?"
Xu Shi Niang stood up and walked step by step in front of Sun Wen Jie, saying each word distinctly, "I want Lin Feng's head."
Sun Wen Jie trembled all over and took several steps back. "Xu Shi Niang, are you mad? He is an official appointed by the court..."
"So what? If Young Master Sun is unwilling to help me, it's fine. I'll do it myself. Young Master Sun, you are dismissed. Liu He, see the guest out." Xu Shi Niang said coldly.
"Wait..." Sun Wen Jie quickly said. He approached Xu Shi Niang and asked, "I don't have the ability to kill Prefect Lin for you."
Xu Shi Niang smiled shrewdly. "You don't need to kill him. You just need to lure him here."
Sun Wen Jie was taken aback. "It's that simple?"
Xu Shi Niang nodded. "It's that simple."
Sun Wen Jie thought for a long time and then nodded. "Alright, I promise you..."
"Shi Niang, someone has broken in outside," Liu He reported to Xu Shi Niang.
Sun Wen Jie said, "I heard from Brother Murong that Prefect Lin sent people."
"We cannot let them find Miss Lin. Liu He, you keep them at bay for now."
Liu He left after receiving the order.
Xu Shi Niang looked at Sun Wen Jie and said, "It's your turn to appear."
The people Yan Jin Chao brought quickly subdued the Fengyue Brothel's thugs.
Xue Song, after knocking down someone who looked like the manager, said coldly, "Where is your madam? Tell her to come out..."