The sharp blade stopped right before his eyes, yet Xiao Chen didn't even flinch, staring calmly at the bailiff.
"Xiao—" Lin Ruyan cried out in alarm, instinctively reaching out to pull him back.
But she hadn't expected Xiao Chen to stand his ground, and by the time she moved, it was already too late. Fortunately, the bailiff's saber did not actually strike, freezing in mid-air.
"Why stop?" Xiao Chen asked with a cold sneer as he reached up to push the bailiff’s hand aside. "Are you afraid? Or do you think there is no law in this empire?"
"You can’t even state what crime Lin Yuhai supposedly committed, yet you want to lay hands on a law-abiding citizen like me. Does the magistrate know you behave like this? This is the Capital City!"
His face darkened suddenly. A threatening glint appeared in his eyes, and the aura he exuded shifted.
"Though the Lin family are merchants, we are well-acquainted with many high-ranking officials. Do you truly believe we would be intimidated by a mere underling acting lawlessly in the Lin Estate?"
Most people in the Capital knew that the daughter of the wealthiest man in the city had taken a fool as a live-in son-in-law. Although many did not know Xiao Chen personally, they all knew that the most handsome man in the Lin Estate was none other than him.
Because of this, the bailiff had never taken him seriously. However, seeing such an imposing and authoritative presence, the bailiff’s confidence crumbled instantly. He shrank back and sheathed his saber.
"Lin Yuhai knows exactly what he did!" the bailiff huffed. "This was just a lesson. If he dares to provoke me again, I’ll bring my older brother to deal with him! My brother is a steward at the Prince of Zhennan's Estate and is not bound by the magistrate's rules. If something happens that you can't handle then, don't say I didn't warn you!"
After delivering this threat, the bailiff turned to leave. He tried to maintain a swaggering gait, but his rapid footsteps betrayed him; it looked more like a panicked flight.
With the bailiff gone, the people in the estate stood in various states of shock, all eyes fixed on Xiao Chen.
Lin Ruyan’s ears turned warm. She didn't dare look directly at him, only daring to steal glances. *Has he become this masculine since his recovery? And he stood up for me? So, this is what it feels like to be protected by a man...*
Her heart hammered against her chest; it was the first time in her life she had felt this way.
"Lin Yuhai!"
Finally, Lin Jiming snapped out of his stupor. Shifting his gaze from Xiao Chen, he glared sternly at his nephew. "Explain yourself. What exactly did you do?"
"It... it was just a private grudge..."
Having caused such a massive scene and then being rescued by Xiao Chen, Lin Yuhai felt utterly humiliated. Yet, faced with Lin Jiming’s fury, he couldn't refuse to answer. He stammered, "I was just competing with him over a courtesan while we were drinking. I’m used to spending lavishly, and he insisted on trying to outdo me..."
"Good heavens! You still think you're in the right? Your uncle has long taught us to keep a low profile when out in public! Why don't you ever listen?"
Before Lin Jiming could speak, Second Uncle Lin grabbed Lin Yuhai by the ear and began lecturing him. In truth, this was his way of protecting him; by doing this, Lin Jiming would find it hard to scold him any further.
And so it was. Lin Jiming gave Second Uncle Lin a long, meaningful look. "Keep him in check! If this happens again, no one will be there to save him!"
"Yes... yes, of course." Second Uncle Lin felt the sting of humiliation as well. They had been saved by Xiao Chen, whom they had always looked down upon—didn't their previous insults toward him now feel like slaps back on their own faces?
Xiao Chen couldn't be bothered with them anymore. Seeing the crowd disperse, he followed Lin Ruyan toward their small courtyard.
"Xiao Chen, you were far too reckless just now."
His mother-in-law's voice sounded from behind. She frowned, clearly dissatisfied with him. "How could you be so bold as to confront a government official directly? Even if you had something to say, you should have approached it slowly."
"If you had truly provoked him into violence within our own walls, what would we have done?"
Though her tone carried a heavy concern, Xiao Chen knew full well that she wasn't worried about him, but about Lin Ruyan. If he were to die, Lin Ruyan would become a widow, and that wouldn't look good for the family. Even if he were to die, he would have to make Lin Ruyan divorce him first!
The original owner of this body hadn't noticed these things, but Xiao Chen saw them clearly through the original owner’s memories. His mother-in-law had never liked him, and even after Lin Jiming forced Lin Ruyan to marry him, she always found ways to pick on him.
"I will be more careful in the future and ensure I protect my wife," Xiao Chen replied with a straight face.
"You, protect her?" Madam Lin looked as if she had heard a ridiculous joke, her face filled with disdain. "What grand talk! You’ve only just recovered; who knows when you might relapse?"
"Enough. We watched Ah Chen grow up. Can’t you wish him well for once?" Lin Jiming, unable to listen any longer, spoke up with a stern reprimand.
Madam Lin shut her mouth, though she still shot a hostile look at Xiao Chen.
"Mother."
Lin Ruyan finally spoke. After everything that had happened, including Xiao Chen saving people after the banquet, her feelings were a whirlwind. She took a breath and said, her expression complex, "Mother, Xiao Chen has truly changed. Just observe him over time; I am certain he will only get better."
As she finished speaking, Madam Lin stared at her in shock, unable to find the words. She had never wanted her daughter to marry a fool, and Lin Ruyan had felt the same. After they were married, Lin Ruyan had always thought of divorce and had never treated Xiao Chen with kindness.
*Why has she suddenly changed?*
"Ah Chen," Lin Jiming interrupted. "Come with me for a moment."
He had a profound look in his eyes. Xiao Chen realized that since Lin Jiming had seen his recovery, he likely wanted to discuss something. He followed immediately.
The original owner’s memories were a chaotic mess. Even with his best efforts to sort them out, there were still many gaps. If Lin Jiming could provide some answers, that would be for the best.
They sat opposite each other at the tea table. Lin Jiming slowly poured a pot of tea, observing Xiao Chen through the rising steam, not in a rush to speak.
After a long silence, Xiao Chen couldn't help but break it himself. "Father must be wondering how I suddenly recovered, right? It was just a stroke of bad luck—I hit the back of my head—and I didn't expect it to happen so coincidentally."
To his surprise, Lin Jiming didn't press for details. Instead, he looked at him earnestly and asked, "Then, have you remembered anything?"
"What do you mean?" Xiao Chen was stunned. "I remember some things from the past, but it’s all very chaotic."
"How far back? Do you remember things from your childhood?"
Hearing Lin Jiming ask this, Xiao Chen couldn't help but think deeper. Was there something unique about his childhood? Was there something wrong with his true lineage?