Chapter 106: Investigating Shao Si
Gong Xu also admitted that Wen Mingqian’s analysis made sense, but in his heart, he thought the same as Ma Ping’an: if Shao Si intended to hide, he would surely be like a mouse disappearing into a hole, and where could they possibly find him?
“Alright, I’ll speak with Little Madam Feng in a moment and have her family report Shao Si to the yamen for stealing valuable items from their mansion and fleeing to another region. This way, an urgent warrant will be issued to all parts of the Capital Region. With this, even if Shao Si wanted to leave, he wouldn’t be able to,” Wen Mingqian said, intending to block even the slightest possibility of Shao Si escaping the Capital. “Then we can catch him like a turtle in a jar.”
“This servant will go and inform her,” Sang Er wiped her tears, not wanting to delay for a moment.
“Shao Si is a gambler. He must have profited from being an accomplice this time. What would a gambler with money in hand do?” Wen Mingqian posed the question.
“That’s right, he’ll definitely gamble! Otherwise, the urge to gamble would be worse than killing him,” Ma Ping’an realized with a start. “Then, could he be hiding and gambling with those who partnered with him?”
Wen Mingqian shook her head. “I don’t think so. He was the only one who showed his face. Those who bribed him knew very well that we would focus all our attention on him.
Moreover, his gambling addiction would surely cause delays, so they likely only used him to trick Changan onto the carriage.
They probably wouldn’t involve him in other matters. Otherwise, how could he have been so calm and composed? Honestly, even if he was desperate for money, he wouldn’t be so reckless to this extent.
So, I suspect those who used him simply told him in passing that all he needed to do was trick Changan onto the carriage, and nothing else.”
The reason Wen Mingqian was certain that Shao Si had been calm and composed in front of their house, without giving anything away, was because she knew her son was very sharp.
If Shao Si had appeared unnatural at the time, Gong Changan would have surely noticed something was wrong.
Gong Xu listened to Wen Mingqian’s insightful analysis and felt she was so intelligent and composed, he couldn’t help but feel inferior.
He then recalled his father’s words of advice: “A daughter of the Wen family possesses a resilient spirit, upright character, and beautiful appearance, making her an excellent choice for a wife.
If you can live harmoniously with her, your family will surely prosper and benefit your descendants.”
In the past, he had dismissed his father’s words, always feeling that Wen Mingqian’s temperament was a bit too rigid, lacking gentleness.
However, after seeing Consort Song’s true colors, he finally understood that a gentle facade hiding a treacherous heart was the truly invisible killer.
“There are dozens of gambling houses openly operating in this Capital City, but I suspect Shao Si would absolutely not go to these places,” Ma Ping’an said. “As for underground gambling houses, they are countless. If we investigate like this, who knows when we’ll find him.”
“With money in hand, Shao Si needs to gamble but cannot do so openly, so he must have secured a place for himself beforehand,” Wen Mingqian said. “Although neither the Feng family nor Shao Si’s former neighbors know where he might be, Shao Si must have some gambler friends. Birds of a feather flock together, and among these people, there must be someone who knows where Shao Si is hiding.”
“I understand,” Ma Ping’an said. “I’ll go out now and start by searching the places Shao Si usually gambles. We’ll follow the clues and catch that scoundrel no matter what!”
“Take some silver with you,” Wen Mingqian said. “People addicted to gambling don’t care about loyalty at all.”
“Understood, Madam,” Ma Ping’an replied and went out.
“Madam, this servant has already spoken with Little Madam Feng,” Sang Er said as she entered. “Little Madam Feng left immediately after hearing the news, saying she would go to the authorities herself.”
At this time, at the Song family’s residence.
Song Xiang’s youngest daughter was fussing and crying incessantly.
Ge Shi was annoyed by her crying and said to the wet nurse, “The weather is too hot, the child can’t sleep. Have them prepare warm water for another bath; she should feel better once she cools down.”
“We were planning to bathe the second young lady, but she’s had a bit of an upset stomach these past few days. If she bathes too much, it might not be good,” the wet nurse said with some concern.
“But you can’t let her cry like this!” Ge Shi said. “Her crying is making me agitated. It’s this late, and the Master still hasn’t returned. The Prince hasn’t been at the mansion these days, so he doesn’t need to be serving at the Prince’s Mansion!”
As she was speaking, Song Xiang returned from outside.
Ge Shi quickly said, “Wet nurse, take the second young lady down! If she still doesn’t sleep, carry her back and forth in the hallway; it’s cooler there.”
She then busied herself asking Song Xiang, “Master, have you eaten lunch? Have them prepare some lotus seed and mung bean soup and bring a bowl over.”
Song Xiang, however, said, “No need for that, just have them brew some tea.”
Saying this, he began to take off his outer clothes.
“You’re one to talk, leaving and not coming back. I wanted to discuss some matters with you,” Ge Shi said, complaining as she helped her husband undress.
“I have matters to attend to outside. What would you, a virtuous woman, know?” Song Xiang sat down and drank his tea.
“Don’t say such things. Am I not worried about you?” Ge Shi gave her husband a sidelong glance. “In two more days, it will be my sister’s fifth seventh-day memorial. The Gong family has lost their conscience, abandoning her outside and paying no mind.
She only has our maternal relatives now. Therefore, I want to discuss with you how to arrange something for her, both to ensure she rests peacefully in the afterlife and to shame the Gong family.”
“Alas! You are indeed thoughtful,” Song Xiang said, feeling sentimental when she mentioned his sister. “I was also thinking of inviting monks and Taoist priests to hold a religious ceremony on the seventh seventh-day memorial. Since you say you want to hold one the day after tomorrow, then let’s do it. It’s not as if a hundred taels of silver is a fortune.”
“I just feel it’s such a pity that she passed away so young,” Ge Shi couldn’t help but shed a few tears. “And it was so unclear, it’s truly distressing…”
“Hmph, those black-hearted people of the Gong family,” Song Xiang muttered, cursing. “They harmed my sister and still want to wash their hands of it. As long as I, Song Xiang, am here, I will get retribution from them!”
“Oh, you mustn’t speak such words carelessly,” Ge Shi quickly stopped her tears and advised her husband. “No matter what, the Gong family is a noble family, and besides, we have no proof. You mustn’t let your temper get the better of you and do something foolish.”
Song Xiang glanced at Ge Shi and thought to himself that she was, after all, just a woman who dressed and combed her hair simply, always chattering and complaining.
But when it came to serious matters, she became timid and hesitant.
However, he said aloud, “Don’t worry, I’m not a three-year-old child. How could I do something reckless?”
“Exactly, exactly. Anyway, my sister is already gone. We’ll just perform a good ceremony to deliver her soul. As for the Gong family, heaven will deal with them in due time,” Ge Shi said, relieved.
Song Xiang said nothing further, but inwardly he sneered.
He didn’t believe in retribution at all. If you have an enemy, you must take revenge yourself; how could you rely on heaven?
He imagined that the Gong family must be in chaos right now!
They killed my sister, and I will make them pay with blood!
