This requirement is very reasonable, Cao Quan looks at Madam Qin's meaning.

Madam Qin clenches her teeth: "If it is confirmed that it was not done by the Lin family, then today the medical expenses for the injured from the Lin family will be paid by our Zhu family."

"Just compensating for the medication expenses is not enough. We have all been quite terrified, and perhaps we won't be able to perform our duties properly for a while. Moreover, my grandmother was already sick, and today she was pushed to an even worse condition by Madam's anger. If anything happens to my grandmother, shouldn't the Zhu family be accountable for that as well?"

Qin sneered: "You just want to take advantage of the situation to extort money, don't you?"

Lin Yannan: "Mrs. Qin, your son was attacked, and you come to our Lin family seeking revenge and death. You injured our Lin family members and made them faint. When we ask for compensation, how does it become extortion? Mrs. Qin, you're so formidable, I thought the world belonged to those surnamed Zhu."

Qin Shi looked aghast: "Don't talk nonsense."

Cao Quan couldn't help but glance at Lin Yanyan a few more times. Lin Yanyan's words were cutting.

不过，秦氏的气焰确实太嚣张了些，林家今日被折腾的这么惨，林晏晏心里有气，说说气话也能理解。

"If I were to discuss this with the Emperor, I would like to ask when it became permissible for royal members to surround the residences of court officials with troops. Or is it that the Emperor has granted certain privileges to certain individuals? I would like to inquire when the Great Prosperity Law changed into a system of convicting people based solely on speculation without evidence. Does the Zhu family have the authority to modify the law?"

"Shut up. If Shun Tian Mansion finds out that it was not the Lin family's doing, we, the Zhu family, will pay whatever compensation is necessary." Qin Shi interrupted Lin Yannan's words. This woman is too frightening, we cannot let her continue to talk nonsense.

It is important to know that Minister Cao is the Emperor's most trusted eunuch. When Minister Cao hears something, it is as if the Emperor himself has heard it.

Lady Qin begins to regret her actions and thinks she should not have acted impulsively today.

Lady Qin turns around and says to Minister Cao, "Minister Cao, my son has been severely injured. Please understand the feelings of a mother."

Cao Gong nodded slightly, "The eclectic faction will report to the Emperor honestly."

He only reports what he sees and hears, without bias or personal agenda, leaving all decisions to the Emperor.

Qin Lady left with the attendants from the Zhu family. When they arrived, the attendants were imposing and fierce, but when they left, they looked like defeated soldiers after a battle, disheveled and in a sorry state.

Still, the commoners outside continued to curse at them all the way, and some even angrily threw rotten vegetables and eggs towards them.

Watching this scene, Courtier Cao sighed in his heart, knowing that the weather in the capital would change again after today.

"Grandfather, take care," Xiao Qian said.

Cao Gonggong cupped his hands and bowed, "Please investigate this case as soon as possible, Lord Xiao."

Xiao Qian nodded.

Cao Gonggong mounted his horse and left with the Imperial Guards.

Zhou Datong had been watching from the crowd, shouting until his voice was hoarse. Seeing Cao Gonggong leave, Zhou Datong finally squeezed out of the crowd and approached Xiao Qian.

"Xiao...Xiao Qian, what's going on inside?"

Xiao Qian grabbed the collar of Zhou Datong and pulled him into an empty place.

"Did you send someone to beat Zhu Ziyu?"

Zhou Datong smirked, "I personally gave him a few beatings, making that kid scream."

Sighing deeply, Xiao Qian doubted Zhou Datong when he heard that Zhu Ziyu had been beaten. Although Lu Zhaonan also wanted to beat Zhu Ziyu, he was with Xiao Qian all night and had no opportunity to do so. Lin Yannan was unlikely to stand up for Lin Zhenzhen, so the most suspicious person was Zhou Datong, as expected.

"You're such a brainless person. Do you realize that you brought trouble to the Lin family?"

"Ah...Could it be that Lady Qin thinks it was members of the Lin family who harmed Zhu Ziyu?"

"What do you think?"

Zhou Datong looked worried and asked, "Is Yan Yan okay?"

Xiao Qian replied, "You should worry about yourself first. Shuntian Mansion has taken on this case."

"Huh? Xiao Qian, Xiao Brother, you won't arrest me, right? I was just trying to teach Yan Yan a lesson." Zhou Datong nervously reached into his pocket and searched for a chicken leg. He always wanted to eat when he was nervous.

Xiao Qian patted his shoulder heavily and said, "Remember this, last night you went straight home and didn't go anywhere or know anything. You must not tell anyone about this, can you handle it?"

Zhou Datong nodded repeatedly, saying, "I can handle it, I can handle it."

"Alright, now let's hurry back to the Imperial Academy."

"Oh!" Zhou Datong hurriedly walked away with quick small steps.

Xiao Qian returned to the Marquis's Mansion, and Lu Zhaonan ran over, asking, "Where did you go? Did it take so long to send Cao Gonggong?"

"I had a few words with President Cao."

"Xiao Qian, have you ever considered that the assailant in this case is very likely to be..." Lu Zhaonan suspected it was Zhou Datong's doing.

Xiao Qian shook his head at him and said, "Let's talk about it when we get back."

Guan Sheng comes over: "Lord Xiao..."

Xiao Qian looks at him hesitatingly: "What's wrong?"

"Lord asked the brothers to examine their injuries, but after the examination, the situation seems a bit strange."

"What's wrong?"

"The servants of the Lin family look miserable, but there are no scars on their bodies after wiping away the blood. Sir, how should we examine these injuries?"

Xiao Qian was stunned for a moment and couldn't help but laugh, saying that Lin Yannan was not someone who easily suffered losses. Translation: "

"You can verify it however you want." Xiao Qian left with his hands behind his back.

Guan Sheng was bewildered.

Lu Zhaonan smiled and said, "Don't you understand? The Lin family has been beaten so badly, and Cao Gonggong has witnessed it. He will definitely report the truth to the Emperor. If we can't verify the injuries or if we verify them to be minor, will the Emperor think we have been bribed by the Zhu family?"

Guansheng's expression became serious, "I understand now."

Xiao Qian found Lin Yannan and asked, "Is there a place where we can talk without worry?"

Lin Yannan said, "Let's go to Moyuan Pavilion."

In Lin Yannan's study at Moyuan Pavilion, Xiao Qian said, "Zhu Ziyu was beaten by Zhou Datong."

Lin Yannan: ......

Lu Zhaonan: "It really is this kid."

"Why did Zhou Datong hit Zhu Ziyu?"

"Maybe... because you're his ancestor, right? He wants to vent for you because Zhu Ziyu let you down," Xiao Qian said. Translated:

Lin Yannan: ......

"He is indeed righteous." It's just the timing that is not right.

Lü Zhaonan hurriedly said, "Originally, Zhou Datong and I were supposed to do this together, but unfortunately, I couldn't spare any time these days because of the massacre case. He went on a solo mission."

萧潜斜了眼陆昭南，陆昭南这是急着报功吗？

林晏晏无语了。

“那你打算怎么处理这桩案子？”

萧潜手指敲着桌面，沉吟道：“最近京城治安确实有问题，还混入了北狄奸细，你们觉得，朱公子酒醉而归，不巧偶遇奸细正在转运硝石，奸细怕行踪暴露，又怕打死人惹出大麻烦，便下黑手打晕朱公子，造成被人寻仇的假象……”

"Brilliant, truly brilliant. With this, no one will suspect Zhou Datong anymore, and the Lin family can stay out of it." Lu Zhaonan exclaimed excitedly.

"Did you find that Yang Si?" Lin Yanny asked.

Xiao Qian and Lu Zhaonan looked at each other and shook their heads in unison.

"We have searched through the household registration records in the capital city for anyone named Yang Si, but none of them are likely the person we are looking for," said Lu Zhaonan. Translation provided.

Lin Yannan frowned and pondered, "Could this person be in Ezhou? Saltpeter is transported from Ezhou, so I think this Yang Si writing a letter to Guo Yongli should be related to the saltpeter matter. Moreover, Yang Si may not be the real name, it could be a surname Yang with the fourth rank in the family." Reply: It seems like Lin Yannan suspects that the person they are discussing might be in Ezhou and that the purpose of the letter is related to the transportation of saltpeter. Additionally, the name "Yang Si" might be an alias, with "Yang" being the surname and "Si" indicating the person's position in their family.

"It's also possible that the numbers represent the rank of a Northern Di spy," Lin Yanyan's words opened up Xiao Qian's train of thought.