On the Day of the Grand Wedding, My Wife Was Acting Strange - Chapter 9:
Chapter 9: Soaked in Gardenia Flowers
Lin Zhen waited idly in the alley.
According to the original plot, the female assassin, known as “Archer” Haitang, should have jumped down from the Drunken Immortal Restaurant by now and arrived at Meicai Alley, where Gu Beichen would save her from the back door.
Gu Beichen would take her to his family’s casino, and from there, the gears of fate between them would start turning.
Haitang, once a renowned beauty and female lead, would become his personal bodyguard, learning martial arts from him, accompanying him in battles.
Through Haitang, Gu Beichen would also connect with the top assassin organization of the Great Qian Nation, Heaven’s Path Organization.
By chance, the leader of Heaven’s Path Organization, Fairy Qingxia, would also become part of his harem, assisting him in gathering intelligence, assassinating political enemies, and helping him rise without restraint.
This was the true protagonist’s fortune. Whoever obtained it would soar to the heavens in one leap.
But Lin Zhen had been waiting for a long time, and she still hadn’t arrived. Why?
At that moment, there was finally some movement at the mouth of the alley.
“Tap tap tap tap.” The sound of small boots striking the stone ground was pleasing to the ear.
Lin Zhen hid at the corner, secretly observing.
It was indeed Haitang.
She had arrived!
Gu Beichen’s fortune was now his!
Haitang’s running posture was erratic, clearly due to internal injuries.
When she got closer, Lin Zhen suddenly reached out and pulled her to his side.
“Who are you? Looking for death!”
Haitang reflexively drew her blade.
“Shh!” Lin Zhen made a gesture to silence her, asking as kindly as possible, “You’re the one who tried to assassinate Zhao Dabao, right?”
Haitang’s face was cold as ice, highly alert. “Who are you?”
“I’m Lin Zhen. I came to save you.”
“Lin Zhen?”
Haitang found the name familiar, but couldn’t recall where she had heard it.
While she hesitated, several rough voices echoed from the alley’s entrance.
“Where is she?”
“This way! After her!”
“Tap tap tap tap.”
Seeing herself dragged into a dead-end alley by Lin Zhen, and several burly men rushing from the other side, Haitang’s scalp tingled with anxiety.
Lin Zhen took out a blue robe. “Stop hesitating. Quickly change into men’s clothes. I’ll take you somewhere safe.”
Already injured internally and unable to fight those burly men, Haitang had no choice but to obey and put on the robe.
Lin Zhen worked fast, swiftly gathering her long hair together and tucking a folding fan behind her neck.
“Will this really work?”
“Of course it will. Relax. Even if something unexpected happens, I can protect you.”
With that, Lin Zhen grabbed Haitang’s wrist.
This move greatly improved her impression of him. The two of them posed as a carefree scholar and companion, walking into the alley.
Meanwhile, the burly men rushed forward.
Two people suddenly appearing in the alley was suspicious even to fools.
They immediately stopped and surrounded them.
The dagger in Haitang’s sleeve slipped silently into her palm, ready to kill one first if it came to a fight.
Lin Zhen tightened his grip on her hand, squinting his eyes, stepping forward, and said, “Why are you blocking the way?”
“You son of a… mmph…” One of the men was about to speak but was forcefully pulled back by his companion.
Joking aside, even with three lives, he wouldn’t dare yell at someone wearing a golden crown and a jade pendant shaped like a swimming dragon.
Wasn’t that insane?
The man cupped his fists and greeted Lin Zhen, “We’re chasing an assassin. Sorry for disturbing you, sir. Please forgive us.”
“Scram.”
“Yes…”
The man still wanted to ask something but, seeing Lin Zhen’s cold face, swallowed his words and led his men straight into the alley.
In fact, Lin Zhen could have used his status as the heir of the Regent’s Mansion to openly escort Haitang out. There was no need for disguises or costumes; it was too much trouble.
But doing so would have caused him trouble, attracting political attacks from his enemies.
After all, Haitang was an assassin, a killer.
She belonged to Heaven’s Path Organization, the group hated by all officials and wealthy merchants of the Great Qian Nation.
They ignored the law, abused private justice, and trampled the order established by those in power.
As the young master of the Regent’s Mansion, if he openly sheltered her, not only the Empress and the court ministers, but even ordinary merchants and commoners wouldn’t forgive him.
If the Lin family wanted everlasting glory, they had to stand with the common people and fight for their interests.
As long as the people supported them, even if the Empress was jealous to death, she couldn’t do anything to them.
So, for future safety, it was better to be cautious.
The two of them walked out of the alley, heading straight for Yuanda Casino.
Though not the largest or most luxurious in the capital, it had the highest daily turnover.
According to the original novel, Yuanda Casino made over 200,000 taels daily. It was the Gu family’s biggest money tree and a prime place for many bigwigs to launder money.
Of course, what Lin Zhen cared most about was someone inside this casino.
…
After instructing a servant to escort Haitang back to the Regent’s Mansion, Lin Zhen went to Yuanda Casino alone.
Before he even entered, he saw Lu Dehao and Fatty chatting across the street. Around twenty personal guards occupied a tea stall like bullies, each with a bowl of tea, scaring the shop owner so much he didn’t dare come out.
Lu Dehao expressed his dissatisfaction with Fatty’s taste, “I still say the old madam from Yanlai Restaurant has more charm. Those tiny feet~ tsk tsk tsk, simply a peerless delicacy!”
Fatty replied, “I won’t argue if you say her feet look good, but you, the son of a Duke, licking a prostitute’s feet on the street? Isn’t that improper? Don’t you think it stinks?”
“You know nothing. As long as she’s beautiful, it doesn’t stink! Besides, her feet are really tender. I heard she soaks them in gardenia flowers every day. One sip and it’s salty and tasty!”
“If your father knew, he’d beat you to death!”
“Hah.” Lu Dehao waved dismissively. “My father puts all his focus on my elder brother. He has no time to bother about me. Besides, visiting brothels and listening to songs has always been a refined pastime. What’s there to be mad about?”
Listening to their conversation, Lin Zhen wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
One was the son of a Duke, the other the only heir of a top general. Yet, they were spouting such vulgarities about men and women on the street.
It was utterly disgraceful.
If he weren’t pretending to be a wastrel, Lin Zhen would have cut ties with them.
“Enough, enough. Can’t you two talk about something other than women?”
Both of them shouted in unison, “Big brother!”
Lin Zhen nodded.
“Mm, have ten men block the front and back doors. The rest follow me inside and play as you like.”
Lu Dehao jumped with excitement.
His pocket money was too little, and he had no businesses of his own, so he rarely went to casinos.
Now that Lin Zhen was footing the bill, whether it was true or not, he would indulge himself first.
As they moved inside, Lin Zhen told Fatty, “Fatty, once we’re inside, watch for my signal.”
“Got it!”
In the past, whenever Lin Zhen said, “Watch for my signal,” it meant they were going to cause trouble or fight!
As Lin Zhen’s top lackey, Fatty was already rubbing his fists, ready to shine.
He didn’t care whose place it was. As long as Lin Zhen gave the order, even the Emperor himself would get kicked.
Seeing a squad of armored guards escorting three young men, the beauties at the door trying to attract customers were beaming, waving their handkerchiefs eagerly.
“Oh my~ Heir, Fat Lord, Young Master Lu, please come in!”
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He didn’t care whose place it was. As long as Lin Zhen gave the order, even the Emperor himself would get kicked.