Chapter 171: The Bandits Are Here

"What should we do then?" Ye Mei asked, terrified. "What if he remembers and tells Young Master Yu? Then we are completely finished!"
"No, he shouldn't," Qi Eryiu said, as if trying to comfort herself. "Just now, I denied ever meeting him. Judging by his expression, he didn't seem to remember."
Back then, her adoptive parents passed away, the Qi family fell into ruin, and Qi Tong was good for nothing all day, unable to earn any money. Her own expenses were enormous, and she could not bear a life of poverty. Therefore, she took the initiative to enter a brothel and became a courtesan.
Though she had to keep different men company every day, she did not mind at all. As long as she could eat and drink well and wear pretty jewelry, what did the rest matter?
Later on, she accidentally heard from a guest that a very wealthy merchant was coming to Kuiyang City to discuss business. Moreover, that merchant was extremely young, handsome, and most importantly, unmarried.
An idea instantly sparked in her mind. After inquiring around and learning all about Yu Jingxiao, she left the brothel.
She had gone there of her own accord and had never signed an indenture, so when she wanted to leave, the madam could not stop her.
She spent a few days packaging herself into the image of a gentle young lady of a once-prominent family now fallen on hard times, relying solely on her older brother. Then, she deliberately approached Yu Jingxiao and manufactured several chance encounters.
Sure enough, Yu Jingxiao took the bait. Furthermore, his parents had passed away long ago, so whoever he wanted to marry was entirely his own decision.
Qi Eryiu smoothly married into the Yu household.
She had thought that once she came to this town, it would be utterly impossible for anyone to recognize her past as a brothel courtesan, but she never expected to run into Master Ge.
"Madam, even if he remembers later and tells the young master, you must never admit to it," Ye Mei said with a serious expression. "Otherwise, it will be a disaster!"
"I know," Qi Eryiu nodded, her mind in utter chaos.
It was all the fault of those damned Lin family members! Why on earth did they have to bring Master Ge along with them!
...
It snowed again at night, but with charcoal burning in the room, it felt quite warm.
Lin Sangqian was cozily tucked into her bed, so sleepy she yawned repeatedly.
"Mother, go to sleep," Lin Sangqian urged, looking at the deeply worried Liao Shuxia.
"I don't know why, but I just feel uneasy in my heart," Liao Shuxia said. "Even though the Yu residence looks relatively safe... the target is also very big. Who in town doesn't know that the Yu family and our family have the most money? What if those bandits set their sights on the Yu estate?"
"Mother, worrying about things that haven't happened is useless," Lin Sangqian said, half-amused and half-exasperated. "Besides, the Yu residence has so many guards, and a few government runners have stayed in town to protect the common people. How could it be so easy for those bandits to break into the Yu estate?"
"I hope so."
Liao Shuxia blew out the candle and crawled under the covers as well.
The others gradually drifted off to sleep. Little did anyone know that at that very moment, about a dozen bandits were taking advantage of the night and the heavy snow to sneak stealthily into the town.
"Boss, I've already asked around. The wealthiest family in this town is the Yu family!"
"Didn't I hear before that a family surnamed Lin was quite wealthy?"
"The Lin family is all right, but they only made their fortune in recent years. They can't compare to the Yu family. Having been rich for so many years, they must be rolling in wealth!"
"Hahaha, good! Since that's the case, let's pay a visit to the Yu estate tonight! Move out!"
...
That night, Lin Sangqian actually dreamed of Guan Yanqing.
Clearly, they had not seen each other in four years, yet in her dream, his features were extraordinarily clear. He wore armor, held a long sword in his hand, and stood atop the city gate tower. With a wave of his long sword, everyone below immediately bowed in prostration.
Lin Sangqian desperately wanted to ask him when the war would finally end. When would her father—and when would he—return?
Yet right at that moment, chaotic noises from outside woke her up.
"What is going on?" Liao Shuxia asked drowsily.
"Did you all hear some noise outside?" Zhao Laner was awake too.
"I heard it. It sounds like quite a lot of people," Xiao Yawen rubbed her eyes and sat up.
"Look, there's firelight!" Wang Qiongshi cried out in alarm.
"What?"
A jolt of alarm hit Lin Sangqian, and she instantly sat up. At that moment, violent pounding echoed at the door.
"Mother, Little Sister, hurry out! The bandits are here, let's leave through the back door!"
It was Lin Beitao's voice.
By then, they could also hear the sounds of fighting outside.
"My big mouth!" Liao Shuxia slapped herself twice across the face, on the verge of tears. Why did those bandits actually come!
"This is no time for that, hurry, hurry, get dressed!" Lin Sangqian said.
Everyone dressed at lightning speed, grabbed only a few of the most essential items, and rushed out in a panic.
Lin Beitao and the others were waiting for them outside. Outside the small courtyard where they stayed, fierce fighting was underway.
"Where is Young Master Yu?" Lin Sangqian asked.
"The maid who came to notify us just now said they would escape through another gate, so we don't need to worry," Lin Beitao said. "Let's go quickly."
Lin Sangqian finally relaxed slightly, and the group hurried toward the back door.
Seeing the back door, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Beitao ran over first, opened the door, and just as he was about to urge them to run outside quickly, he suddenly froze in place.
"Third Brother, what's wrong..." Lin Sangqian walked over, but Lin Beitao pulled her behind him, shielding her.
To their shock, several bandits were standing outside. The leader among them was exceptionally young, looking barely twenty years old, and rather handsome at that.
Catching sight of them, the young man let out a roguish whistle.
"Well, look at that, we really did catch some prey."
"Boss, there are women!" The other bandits' eyes practically lit up when they saw Lin Sangqian and the others.
Lin Sangqian's heart sank. She recalled hearing earlier that Shopkeeper Zhang's daughter had been abducted...
"Little Sister, run!" Lin Yanbei also stepped forward, blocking her path. "We'll hold them off here!"
Clearly just a scholar, he showed no fear at that moment. Because he knew clearly that he had to protect his mother and his younger sister.
"Run?" The young man raised an eyebrow, as if hearing something hilarious. "Where can you run to? The other side is completely surrounded by my brothers. Compared to my brothers, those useless guards are no match at all."
Lin Sangqian knew he was not bluffing. Otherwise, they would never have dared to storm the Yu residence.
Wang Qiongshi mustered her courage and shouted, "Government runners will be here soon!"
"Oh, is that so? What should we do then?" The young man put on a troubled expression, then smiled again. "In that case, I'd better capture all of you before they arrive."
Everyone's faces turned pale with fright.
"Charge! Bring all these women back with me!"
Seeing the bandits rolling up their sleeves and marching toward them, Lin Sangqian stared at the young man for a moment, then suddenly shouted, "Wait!"