Chapter 10: Is Killing A Woman That Hard?
He Jianzhong never imagined that Liu Shi would go this far!
Is Princess Yongjia an ordinary Princess?
She is not!
She is the Former Emperor’s darling!
Moreover, she is royal blood!
Even the Former Emperor’s decree mentioned her!
Murdering her would be a subordinate committing insubordination!
Equivalent to treason!
If the matter reaches the Imperial Court, there is no need for the Emperor to kill him; the Marquis of Guangling would surely eliminate him first!
Only after hearing the butler’s words did He Jianzhong steady his mind, then, as if temporarily regaining his soul, he hurriedly changed clothes.
The Marquis of Guangling holding him accountable was certainly frightening, but far less so than this petition being submitted to the Imperial Court.
His hands trembled as he fastened his hat and belt, then he rushed out the door three steps at a time.
“This is the mess you two have made!”
As soon as he stepped into the Marquis of Guangling’s courtyard, his roaring voice rang out.
He Jianzhong knew Zhang Shaode had already arrived, so he quickened his pace and walked in. Just as he crossed the threshold, he was bumped by Zhang Shaode who was retreating.
A jade cup fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
The two in-laws hurriedly helped each other stand straight, standing side by side like quails.
The Marquis of Guangling, face full of anger, came around the table: “Liu Shi was involved in this matter. You knew full well she holds such a big handle over us, yet you still dared to send her to the government officials. You two pig-brained fools!
“You only have yourselves in your eyes and never consider me?!”
The two dropped to their knees with a thud.
He Jianzhong said: “But she is suspected of killing my son! How could I let her live?”
Zhang Shaode also said: “My daughter died in the He Family. I cannot fail to investigate this to the bottom!”
“Since the evidence is conclusive, what would it matter if you two just pressed her to death in the mansion?!”
The Marquis of Guangling’s eyes flashed with ferocity: “Killing a woman—is that so difficult?”
The two on the ground were speechless.
“Father!”
The Marquis of Guangling’s Heir Apparent Du Yu walked in, glanced at the room, then approached his father: “The Prince has sent someone, asking Father to come to the Prince’s Mansion immediately!”
The Marquis of Guangling suddenly froze: “He has heard too?”
The blood drained further from He and Zhang’s faces.
For the Heir Apparent to specially report it, this Prince must undoubtedly be Prince Jingyang.
Du Yu looked panicked: “Earlier, when this son went to Shuntian Prefecture to handle the aftermath and sent men to question the jailers, he happened to run into the Prince coming out to buy pastries. I don’t know if he overheard!”
The Marquis of Guangling swallowed a mouthful of saliva, took two steps back, picked up a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then turned back around, gritted his teeth and glared at the two on the ground, forcefully throwing the handkerchief into the copper basin: “Hurry to the government officials and withdraw the lawsuit. Bring the person back to the mansion for disposal!”
He glared at Zhang Shaode again: “Wei Zhang still needs investigating! With He Xu dead, you two go! If you don’t handle it well, you’ll answer for it!”
With that, he strode quickly to the outer courtyard.
As he crossed the door, he looked at his clothes, leaned in to sniff, then with even greater speed retreated back into the room, found a fresh outer robe to change into, adjusted his hat and belt in the mirror, and only then quickened his steps, mounted a horse, and went out.
When the Prince’s Mansion messenger delivered the message to the Marquis of Guangling’s Mansion, Huo Yun had already passed this news to Yue Tang’s ears.
“Prince Jingyang is summoning him at this time?”
Yue Tang, who had been pounding medicine sporadically, suddenly stopped, her usually calm eyes flashing with a bit of sharpness.
Drawing out the Marquis of Guangling with Liu Shi was the purpose of her action. Admittedly, she had indeed turned her gaze toward Prince Jingyang’s Mansion because of the source of the illicit silver obtained by the He and Zhang families, but now that only a slight clue had emerged, this Regent Prince who held great power in the current Imperial Court had taken the initiative to appear, which was slightly beyond her expectations.
She set down the pestle, wiped her hands, and said: “Let’s go see.”
……
Prince Jingyang’s Mansion, this old prince’s mansion located in the Capital City, was on Purple Micro Avenue extremely close to the Palace City.
Over here, Yue Tang stood upstairs in the teahouse opposite the Prince’s Mansion. Over there, after taking his third deep breath, the Marquis of Guangling knocked on the door knocker of the southeast side gate.
“Excuse me, the Prince has summoned.” He forced a smile at the mansion soldier who poked his head out.
The mansion soldier stepped aside, the gatekeeper came out, bowed and said “Marquis, please,” and led him to the Nine Dragons screen wall.
The guards under the screen wall then took over and escorted him to the second gate.
He looked up at the “Loyal Yang Gate” plaque bestowed by the High Ancestor on the lintel, and out came a middle-aged attendant. The Marquis of Guangling recognized him as Gao An, the close follower by Prince Jingyang’s side, and hurriedly stepped forward to cup his hands: “Teacher Gao! May I ask how His Highness the Prince is today—his complexion?”
Gao An only smiled without speaking, merely saying “Please.”
The Marquis of Guangling’s heart fluttered up and down as he followed through the corridors, around the flower wall, to Yangrong Zhai on the east side of the Prince’s Mansion.
Separated by a large cluster of wisteria already beginning to shed leaves, and two osmanthus trees emitting a strong fragrance, a light and slow voice carrying great indulgence came out: “Eat slowly, there is plenty more.”
The voice was cold and stern yet clear and pleasing, clearly full of vigor, young and robust.
The Marquis of Guangling thought disapprovingly in his heart: a vigorous young man in his early twenties, yet he shamelessly stays in this Yangrong Zhai without feeling embarrassed.
But the entire Prince’s Mansion was under Prince Jingyang’s command, so there seemed to be nothing to say.
He then suppressed his thoughts, lowered his head and entered, daring only to furtively glance at the courtyard with two lifted eyes.
Behind the wisteria arbor, a person sat with his side and back to the entrance, wearing a loose gauze robe, sleeves rolled up halfway, left hand holding a jade bowl carved with a tiger head, right hand holding a silver spoon with a bird-shaped handle, facing his knees and murmuring slowly.
Even sitting on a low stool, his figure was burly enough to completely block the object he was feeding.
The Marquis of Guangling did not dare call him younger cousin, and cupped his hands obsequiously: “This official pays respects to Your Highness the Prince!”
But before him remained only the unhurried clink of bowl and spoon, with no response. After waiting a moment with no change, he tried stepping closer: “Your Highness, this official has arrived.”
As he drew near, he saw the small child sitting properly dressed on a small stool.
The Marquis of Guangling forced a smile: “The Young Heir Apparent seems to have gained some weight lately; his health is improving.”
The child’s features resembled his father’s by eight parts, with extremely delicate brows and eyes, a pair of eyes bright as stars, but his figure was very thin, and his complexion pale.
Compared to such a grand family background and his father’s physique, he was clearly not healthy enough.
Outsiders did not know, but those close to Prince Jingyang knew he cherished this child; in recent years, for the sake of nursing the child’s health, he had sought countless doctors and medicines, yet with little effect.
Clearly over three years old, he looked no bigger than a little over two.
The Marquis of Guangling knew that to win his favor, nothing was more fitting than praising the child’s improving health.
But in fact, he thought that rather than exhausting efforts to protect such a bean sprout, it would be better to take several more concubines; in no more than three to five years, he could have as many sons as he wanted.
Prince Jingyang was not one who couldn’t afford it, nor lacked the stamina.
Look at that sturdy waist; seven or eight times a night should be no problem.
But the Marquis of Guangling had guessed correctly. Sure enough, after scooping a small spoonful of softened yam cake to feed the child, and smoothly scraping away the cake crumbs by the little mouth, he finally turned his head, glanced him up and down, and said: “You seem quite spirited today.”
The Marquis of Guangling grinned: “Last time I came over drenched in stinking sweat and frightened the Young Heir Apparent to tears. Today I’ve wised up and specially changed clothes.”
“Fa— (Prince)—”
The child on the stool suddenly started crying at that moment.
The Marquis of Guangling startled back two steps and hurriedly sniffed both sleeves in turn.
