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At the critical moment, Lin Xiu Wen suddenly pushed Su Mingyuan aside. A cold arrow grazed Su Mingyuan's sleeve and embedded itself into the wall. The force of the arrow was so strong that it nearly penetrated the wooden board.
"There's an assassin!" Su Mingyuan shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
Chaos erupted in the manor as servants fled in all directions, terrified. Lin Xiu Wen shielded Su Mingyuan as they retreated behind a screen, keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings. A storm of emotions surged within him; the assassin's archery was incredibly precise, clearly indicating a highly trained expert. The audacity of the Eastern Depot to openly attempt an assassination in the Minister of Rites' residence was shocking!
"Lord Su, is there a secret passage in the manor?" Lin Xiu Wen asked in a low voice, urgency lacing his tone.
Su Mingyuan nodded, a serious expression crossing his face. "Follow me."
Just as they were about to rise, another cold arrow shot toward them, this time aimed directly at Lin Xiu Wen! The arrow flew like lightning, and Lin Xiu Wen's heart raced; there was no time to dodge.
In that critical moment, a shadow descended from above. With a swift swing of a long sword, the cold arrow was split in two. The sword light flashed like a rainbow, scattering the assassin's projectile into nothingness.
"Xiu Wen, long time no see." The newcomer turned around, revealing a face identical to Lin Xiu Wen's.
"Brother!" Lin Xiu Wen exclaimed, overwhelmed with joy and tears welling in his eyes.
Lin Xiu Wu wasted no time and grabbed his brother's arm. "We need to get out of here!"
The three quickly retreated into the secret passage. It was dark and damp inside, with a musty smell lingering in the air. Lin Xiu Wu lit a Fire Stick, its faint glow illuminating their faces.
He briefly recounted his experiences since their separation. It turned out he had been secretly investigating the Eastern Depot and discovered that they were not only involved in the massacre of Lin Manor but were also plotting a tremendous conspiracy.
"The Eastern Depot has colluded with the Northern Border and Northern Barbarians, intending to incite a rebellion during the Imperial Examination," Lin Xiu Wu said gravely, anger evident in his voice. "Their goal is to seize control of the capital and manipulate the emperor to command the feudal lords."
Su Mingyuan gasped in shock, his face turning pale. "No wonder there's been such unrest in the capital lately; it seems the Eastern Depot has been laying plans in secret."
"Brother, how did you find me?" Lin Xiu Wen asked eagerly.
Lin Xiu Wu smiled warmly. "Thanks to Ms. Liu. She has been protecting you from the shadows."
Hearing Liu Rumei's name stirred something within Lin Xiu Wen. So she had been watching over him all along; it made sense why he had always managed to escape danger at critical moments.
At the end of the secret passage lay a secluded courtyard. As they emerged, they heard fierce fighting outside. The sounds of clashing swords were deafening; it was clear that chaos had erupted outside.
"It's the Imperial Guard!" Lin Xiu Wu's eyes lit up. "Ms. Liu has brought reinforcements!"
Sure enough, moments later, Liu Rumei charged in with a squad of Imperial Guards. Dressed in plain clothes but with her sword stained with blood, she clearly had just come from a fierce battle. Though weariness marked her face, her eyes shone with determination.
"The Eastern Depot has surrounded Su Mansion," Liu Rumei said urgently. "We must leave the capital immediately!"
"No!" Lin Xiu Wen interjected suddenly, his tone resolute. "If we leave now, the Eastern Depot's plot will succeed. With the Imperial Examination approaching, we must stop them!"
Everyone exchanged glances. Su Mingyuan pondered aloud, "Mr. Lin is right. But given our current strength..."
"I have a plan." A glint of determination flashed in Lin Xiu Wen's eyes. "Brother, I've already learned swordsmanship. Do you remember what Father said about an unbeatable sword technique?"
Lin Xiu Wu was taken aback for a moment, then quickly understood. "You mean... Twin Swords United?"
Lin Xiu Wen nodded. "As long as we join forces, we can stand out in the Keju Martial Examination. At that time, we'll have the chance to meet the Emperor and expose the Eastern Depot's conspiracy!"
Liu Rumei frowned. "It's too dangerous. The people from the Eastern Depot will surely recognize you..."
"That's why we need Disguise." Lin Xiu Wen turned to Su Mingyuan. "Lord Su, I remember you are skilled in the art of Disguise?"
Su Mingyuan nodded, but his eyes still held a hint of concern. "Indeed. But even so, the risks are still too great..."
"In order to uncover the truth and avenge the Lin family, I am willing to take this risk," Lin Xiu Wen said firmly.
Lin Xiu Wu patted his brother's shoulder. "Alright, united as brothers, we can cut through anything!"
With Su Mingyuan's help, the two brothers transformed their appearances and assumed new identities to participate in the Imperial Examination. Su Mingyuan's Disguise technique was exceptional; using special potions and masks, he completely altered Lin Xiu Wen and Lin Xiu Wu's looks. When they looked into the bronze mirror, they could hardly recognize each other.
"Remember, from now on, you are Lin Mo, and I am Lin Jian," Lin Xiu Wu whispered urgently. "No matter what happens, we must not reveal our identities."
Lin Xiu Wen nodded with determination in his eyes. "Brother, I will be careful."
On the day of the Keju Wenshi, Lin Xiu Wen stood in the examination hall, feeling both nervous and excited. He knew he bore the weight of his family's vengeance and the quest for truth, and at this moment, he had to give it his all.
He stunned everyone with an essay titled "On the Governance of the World." The piece was not only eloquent but also directly addressed current issues and proposed effective reforms for the court. The Chief Examiner was greatly impressed after reading it, and Lin Xiu Wen's name quickly spread throughout the examination hall.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiu Wu showcased his skills in the martial arts arena. His swordsmanship was fierce and deadly; he swiftly defeated all his opponents. His performance drew admiration from everyone present, even prompting the Emperor to send someone to watch.
Just when everyone thought the martial trials were over, a masked figure suddenly leaped onto the stage.
"I would like to test Mr. Lin's skills," said the masked man in a hoarse voice—he was none other than a master from the Eastern Depot who had spoken that night in the secret passage!
Lin Xiu Wu felt a chill run down his spine but maintained his composure. "Please."
The two engaged in combat, each strike lethal. The masked man's swordplay was unpredictable and clearly showcased him as one of Eastern Depot's top experts. Gradually, Lin Xiu Wu began to fall behind and seemed on the verge of defeat.
"Brother, I will assist you!" Suddenly, a figure leaped onto the stage to stand beside Lin Xiu Wu.
It was Lin Xiu Wen after his Disguise.
The two brothers executed Twin Swords United; their swords shone like rainbows. Lin Xiu Wen's technique was agile and ethereal while Lin Xiu Wu's style was powerful and unmatched. Their coordination was seamless; gradually pushing back the masked man until he was cornered at the edge of the stage.
"You... are from the Lin family..." The masked man began to speak but suddenly coughed up black blood and collapsed dead on the ground.
Lin Xiu Wen uncovered the masked man's face and discovered a poison pouch hidden in his mouth—clearly indicating he was a Dead Soldier from Eastern Depot.
The scene shocked everyone present. The Emperor personally summoned the two brothers to inquire about the situation. At that moment, they revealed their true selves.
Lin Xiu Wen seized the opportunity to expose the conspiracy of the Eastern Depot. He detailed the collusion between the Eastern Depot and the Northern Border, as well as the truth behind the Lin Manor massacre. His voice was firm and powerful, each word striking like a sword, directly targeting the crimes of the Eastern Depot.
The Emperor was furious and immediately ordered a thorough investigation. With the assistance of Liu Rumei and Su Mingyuan, the conspiracy of the Eastern Depot was completely dismantled.
As a result, the two brothers gained the Emperor's favor and were appointed as top scholars in both civil and military affairs.
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