Chapter 20: If This Isn’t Silencing Someone, What Is?
This year’s Spring Examination in February was the first imperial exam after the Emperor ascended the throne. The Emperor is just nineteen years old this year, born in the same month, same day, and same time as the late Princess Yongjia.
Top Scholar Xu He is only twenty-two years old, the Top Scholar chosen by the Emperor, and the only one personally selected by the Emperor for Jinshi status in the palace examination.
Xu He is gaining experience in the Secretariat, his official position is low, but he is a hot commodity.
Although the Marquis of Guangling is a military official, he must win Xu He over.
So a few months ago, he pulled strings everywhere and finally arranged for the legitimate eldest daughter of his second cousin-in-law Duan Xiong to be matched with him. This marriage has already been settled.
Soon, Xu He will become the niece’s husband of him, the Marquis of Guangling. Bound together with his Du Family.
“Marquis!”
He had just arranged the matters when the steward in charge of the gatekeepers hurried in, with a look of shock: “He Jianzhong is dead!”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
The Marquis of Guangling took a sip of tea, then scolded him.
Just two hours ago, He Jianzhong had been scolded by him here before leaving. The one who should die is Liu Shi in prison—how could it be He Jianzhong?
What utter nonsense.
The butler grew anxious: “It’s true! Not only is General He dead, Madam He has gone mad too! It was Madam He who killed him after going mad! The people said she stabbed him over a dozen times…”
He recounted all the news he had heard.
Afraid the Marquis of Guangling wouldn’t believe him, he even gestured out the locations of the wounds!
The Marquis of Guangling stared blankly for three breaths, then finally stood up from behind the desk.
His eyes fixed on the butler’s face for a moment, confirming he indeed had reliable information and wasn’t just talking nonsense, before striding out from behind the desk and roaring: “Quickly summon the Heir Apparent to go to the He Family and check!”
The butler scurried out in panic.
The Marquis of Guangling watched his retreating figure, taking half a day to withdraw his gaze, but his expression was one that could no longer be composed!
……
Du Yu had originally been at Shuntian Prefecture handling the mess caused by Liu Shi’s stabbing, and upon hearing that something had happened at the He Family again, he rushed over.
Huo Yun, who had been waiting nearby at Shuntian Prefecture, saw him leave, so she straightened her short outfit, picked up the bundle, and walked toward the prison guards at the prison doorway: “Soldier…”
Du Yu arrived at the He Family and was so shocked by the scene before him that he drew in two sharp breaths: “Where is that madwoman who committed the crime? Hurry and bring her over!”
Madam He arrived. She was dragged in and forced to kneel on the ground.
Du Yu asked: “Did you kill him?”
Madam He raised her head, her eyes vacant, just smiling: “It was the Princess who killed him.”
Du Yu was startled inside and grabbed her hair: “Where did the Princess come from?”
Madam He pointed inside the room, then at the eaves, then toward the back of the main chamber: “There, there, everywhere…”
Du Yu stared at her for a moment, then frowned and let go.
Then he saw Zhang Shaode: “When did you arrive?”
Zhang Shaode stepped forward: “Just now, not long!”
“Did you find anything?”
Zhang Shaode’s face was ashen white. He looked up at him, then quickly lowered his head: “No! I found nothing!”
Du Yu frowned, then crouched down to examine He Jianzhong’s corpse.
“Where is the person in charge of the He Family?”
At this moment, someone suddenly arrived at the doorway.
It was actually a bailiff from Shuntian Prefecture.
Du Yu turned: “What is it?”
The bailiff quickly bowed: “Reporting to the Heir Apparent, He Hui has gotten into trouble! This afternoon, He Hui went to the Government Office to withdraw the lawsuit. After completing the formalities, he went to the prison to pick up Liu Shi, but Liu Shi spat blood from her mouth and nose and died on the spot after eating the meal sent by the He Family. Preliminary judgment: He Hui is a major suspect!”
Zhang Shaode shuddered upon hearing this, opened his mouth to speak, but then turned his gaze toward Du Yu.
“Nonsense!”
Du Yu suddenly roared. “I just came from Shuntian Prefecture, and Liu Shi was fine there!”
The bailiff knelt on the ground and kowtowed: “Heir Apparent, calm your anger! It’s true. The court session has already begun at the Government Office. The lord sent me to summon the person in charge of the He Family to come…”
Du Yu paced around twice, then kicked over a stool: “What utter rubbish! That is He Hui’s wife. He clearly went to pick her up—how could he kill his wife in prison? Have you investigated clearly?!”
“The coroner has already checked the meal that Liu Shi ate. It is confirmed that whether it was the bundle cloth or the style of the meal, it all came from the He Family. There are even identical ready-made versions in the He Family kitchen.
“Heir Apparent, forgive us. We are just messengers. For the details of the case, you must ask the lord…”
Du Yu’s face turned blue. He stared at the two for half a day without speaking. Then he roared: “Leave a few people to watch inside and outside the He Family carefully. The rest, follow me to Shuntian Prefecture!”
The bailiff quickly got up and led the way.
The courtyard, which had been noisy moments ago, immediately quieted down considerably.
At this time, Zhang Shaode under the corridor had lost all color in his face, his right hand unconsciously pressing down on his lapel!
Beneath his lapel, that bloodstained Imperial City Commander Token seemed to have turned into a red-hot coal, burning his whole body like fire…
……
Ever since Zhang Shaode went out, Madam Zhang’s left eyelid twitched, then her right—there was not a moment of peace.
Enduring the torment until the sun slanted westward, footsteps finally came from outside the door. Zhang Shaode entered, his face white as a sheet.
He took out the Imperial City Commander Token from his bosom: “I found this under He Jianzhong’s corpse, pressed in his palm.
“With Madam He’s strength, there is no way she could have killed He Jianzhong. Someone must have killed He Jianzhong first, then used Madam He.
“The Imperial City Department token—only the Marquis has one!
“This is enough proof that the matter at the He Family—was done by the Du Family.”
Madam Zhang lost her wits upon hearing this: “The Marquis killed He Jianzhong? Why! The He Family is so loyal to him. Why would they do this?”
Zhang Shaode stared blankly at the lamp flame: “Because we have already helped him seize control of the Imperial City Department. There are plenty of people rushing to sell their lives for the Marquis’s Mansion. The He Family and Zhang Family are no longer needed.
“On the contrary, we and the He Family know their secret, which makes us a threat. If they eliminate us, they can rest easy from then on!
“The matter of murdering Princess Yongjia will be buried deep underground forever, and no one in the world will be able to threaten them again.
“That alone is more than enough!
“So, not only the He Family—next, we are also his target!”
Madam Zhang’s heart shattered in fear. She shook her head: “Impossible! The day before yesterday, the Marchioness of Guangling asked me to help receive guests at the Old Madam’s birthday banquet, and even to arrange a match for our Ying girl!”
“Who can’t put on an act?” Zhang Shaode’s bloodshot eyes turned to her. “If I tell you that today not only He Jianzhong died, but Liu Shi also died in prison, and He Hui has been detained by the government as the murderer, would you still believe it wasn’t the Du Family behind it?!”
Madam Zhang’s vision went black: “He Hui has also been thrown into prison?”
“Just half an hour ago, the bailiff came personally to deliver the message!” Zhang Shaode gnashed his teeth. “It all came together at once. Tell me, if this isn’t aimed at silencing us, what is it?”
