Infinite Professions from a Pearl Collector
Chapter 13 - 11: A Letter in the Dead of Night

Chapter 13: Chapter 11: A Letter in the Dead of Night

Chen Ye avoided the main roads, instead choosing to weave through the narrow, deep back alleys.

His Wall-Climbing Talent made him like a child of the night. He flitted between rooftops and walls, silent and swift as a passing gust of wind.

After entering the North City, the number of night-patrol guards increased noticeably, but they posed no threat to the current Chen Ye.

He often sensed the patrol teams while they were still a hundred meters away and would avoid them in advance.

Soon, the high walls of Vice Minister Lu’s Mansion’s rear courtyard came into view.

Chen Ye tapped his toes on the ground, his body shooting up like a leopard cat. He silently vaulted over the wall.

He then listened intently for a moment, confirming there were no barking dogs or footsteps of patrolling servants inside before dropping down.

This was the Lu Mansion’s rear garden, filled with rugged rockeries and sprawling flowers and trees.

Chen Ye didn’t linger for a second, moving swiftly through the shadows of the plants and trees.

Once he reached the main residence, Chen Ye leaped directly onto the roof and proceeded cautiously along the shadows of the roof ridge.

The architectural regulations of this era were strict. One’s Identity determined the size and style of one’s residence, and there was no room for error.

Vice Minister Lu was a high-ranking court official. Even though his second son had not yet entered official service, he would surely be assigned a separate, quiet courtyard of his own.

Following this line of thought, Chen Ye quickly locked onto a target.

It was an elegant, private courtyard with a few stalks of green bamboo. The study in the main building was brightly lit.

’This should be the place.’

Chen Ye silently moved to the rear roof of the study. He hooked his legs over the eaves, let his body hang upside down, steadied himself, and peered inside through a crack in the window.

Behind the desk, a man in a plain-colored long robe was engrossed in a scroll.

Although his face wasn’t visible, his silhouette suggested he was a young master.

Just then, a Little Scholar walked in with a tea tray and said softly, "Second Young Master, it’s late. Have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself."

"Just leave it there," the man said without looking up, his voice gentle. "You should also go rest early. There’s no need to wait on me."

"Yes, Second Young Master." The Little Scholar responded respectfully, set down the teacup, and withdrew.

Hearing the title "Second Young Master," Chen Ye was certain he had found the right person.

’And judging by his gentle attitude toward his servants, this Second Young Master Lu seems to be of good character. It really would be a shame for someone like him to marry that woman, Lin Yan.’

At this thought, Chen Ye pulled the letter he had written during the day from his robes, crumpled it into a ball, and tossed it through the window.

PAT. The paper ball landed right on Second Young Master Lu’s desk.

"Who’s there?"

Lu Jingcheng was startled and immediately stood up to look out the window.

But outside, there was only the deep darkness of night; not a soul was in sight.

The Little Scholar heard the noise and rushed back in.

"Young Master, what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing!" Lu Jingcheng waved his hand, signaling for the Little Scholar not to panic. He then picked up the paper ball from the desk. Unfolding it, he discovered it was a letter. As he began to read, his expression became a sight to behold.

The letter detailed how the Lin Family’s Third Miss, Lin Yan, had a clandestine meeting with her lover in the rear hall of Fayuan Temple before the new year.

Every detail was written with such clarity it was as if the author had witnessed it firsthand.

At the end of the letter, a line was added: "If you don’t believe this, you can secretly investigate at Fayuan Temple. Furthermore, the Lin Family’s haste in marrying off their daughter is very likely because Lin Yan is already with child."

The more Lu Jingcheng read, the uglier his expression became.

His expression shifted from initial shock and suspicion to disbelief, and finally, his face turned ashen. The hand holding the letter trembled violently from how tightly he was gripping it.

He was no fool.

Although the letter’s appearance was sudden, its contents instantly enlightened him.

The Lin Family’s marriage proposal had been strange from the start. Although their families were of equal social standing, they hadn’t had much interaction before. When the Lin Family came to propose, their attitude was extremely humble, and the wedding date was set in such a hurry, as if they feared complications might arise from any delay.

At the time, his father had thought the Lin Family valued his scholarly talents and was eager to secure the marriage. But now, it was clear this wasn’t about valuing him at all—they were clearly trying to make him a cuckold!

The thought that he, who spent his days studying the sages, maintained his purity, and had never even set foot in a brothel, was now expected to marry a woman who had lost her virtue and might even be carrying another man’s bastard child...

Lu Jingcheng felt his vision go dark, and he was so enraged he nearly coughed up blood.

A monstrous humiliation!

This was an absolute, monstrous humiliation!

If not for this letter that fell from the sky, wouldn’t he have foolishly been made a cuckold, forced to raise another man’s son, and become the laughingstock of the entire Capital City?

For a scholar with such high self-regard, this was a fate worse than death!

"The Lin Family! What a fine Lin Family!"

Lu Jingcheng trembled with rage. He no longer cared about the late hour and turned to head for his father’s study.

Meanwhile, Chen Ye, hidden in the shadows of the roof ridge, watched Lu Jingcheng’s furious retreating figure and let out a long breath.

He knew his plan was already more than halfway to success.

’After all, few men could endure such an insult.’

’So what if the letter he sent had no concrete evidence? Once the seed of doubt was planted, nothing could stop it from growing.’

’The Lin Family wanted to take the Lu Family for fools, but did they really think the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel was a pushover?’

’As a new power in the imperial court, they were at the height of their influence. How could they allow a century-old Noble Family to drag their reputation through the mud?’

A sense of satisfaction washed over Chen Ye at this thought.

He didn’t linger. If the Lu Mansion’s guards discovered him, it would only lead to unnecessary trouble.

And so, with a flicker of his body, Chen Ye vanished silently into the vast night, like a wisp of smoke.

「Meanwhile, in the study of Vice Minister Lu’s Mansion.」

The room was brightly lit, with sandalwood incense smoke curling in the air.

The current Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Lu Ying, was nearly fifty. He had a lean face and profound eyes. His years in a high position had cultivated an imposing aura of authority, even when he wasn’t angry.

At this moment, he was holding the letter, slightly crumpled from his son’s grip, and reading it word by word. Unlike Lu Jingcheng’s explosive anger, his face was as placid as an ancient well, betraying no emotion.

"Father! This... this is a monstrous humiliation!" Lu Jingcheng stood to the side, his chest heaving, his voice trembling.

"Our Lu Family has been respectable for generations, and I have always conducted myself with integrity, never daring to make a single misstep. How dare the Lin Family deceive me like this! How dare they humiliate me so!"

Lu Ying placed the letter on the desk, looked up at his son, and slowly asked, "So, what are you trying to say?"

"Father, I cannot swallow this insult!" Lu Jingcheng ground his teeth, fire practically spewing from his eyes.

"This marriage must be called off! Not only that, I want everyone in the entire Capital City to know what a wonderful thing the Lin Family has done!"

Lu Ying nodded. "I understand."