Chapter 209: Chapter 95 Autumn Moon_4
The only person on the ground lay like a dead dog, dressed in prison garb and shackled, his head tilted towards the small window high on the dungeon wall, his pupils dilated, reflecting the dim shadows of the moon.
The moonlight flowed from those withered eyes, washing a bit of death away as it passed through the inns and taverns of Shengjing.
In Renhe Restaurant, the night was bustling with activity.
The restaurant was filled to capacity, buzzing with voices; Du Changqing called for everyone to take their seats at the table, sighing as he looked at the feast laid out before them.
The banquet of the fifteenth of August, only to be eaten in September. Fortunately, although there was no moon to admire, the dishes were still present, so it wasn’t a complete waste.
In the next room over, diners were discussing the recent examination fraud case, talking about the legendary scholar who came back from the dead, mentioning the strange rumors circulating about the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion in the capital lately, and finally, they got to that Judicial Commissioner who once was held in high esteem and now clanged his way into prison.
"That Fan Zhenglian was once so successful in Shengjing, rising to become a Judicial Commissioner in the Trial Court within just a few years. I really thought he would climb even higher on the official ladder, but who could have known—"
"So-called fortune and rank can change in the blink of an eye, and shifts of power are truly numerous!"
"Exactly, you think the officialdom is just climbing up a ladder? If one isn’t careful and doesn’t hold on tight, they could fall to their death without even realizing it!"
Those simmering discussions passed over the tables and into Lu Tong’s ears. She listened in without any outward reaction, her expression slightly reserved.
She had people spread rumors near Qi Chuan’s home, saying that the court was planning a retrospective investigation into the examination fraud case. Fearing exposure, Qi Chuan would surely seek to secure his own safety. And the best, most secure way to ensure that was to make it so Fan Zhenglian could no longer speak.
She wanted to use Qi Chuan’s hand to kill, yet she hadn’t expected that he was thinking the same thing, nor had she expected that Qi Chuan would go on to spread rumors about the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion.
It was truly brilliant.
No matter what the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion thought of the situation, the Qi Family, whose reputation had been "damaged", would certainly not let Fan Zhenglian off. The outcome for Fan Zhenglian was foreseeable.
Fan Zhenglian lured Liu Kun with a reward of silver, resulting in Lu Qian being betrayed by his own kin. Now she had enticed Qi Chuan with interests, leading to Fan Zhenglian’s betrayal by his subordinates.
Fan Zhenglian used the Lu Family as a stepping stone to curry favor with the Grand Preceptor’s Mansion, so she tempted Qi Chuan, letting Qi Chuan use Fan Zhenglian’s life as a stepping stone to curry favor with another house.
Fan Zhenglian made Lu Qian suffer in prison; she would have Fan Zhenglian become an inmate himself.
Before the examination fraud case, Lu Tong had met Liu Kun and knew the crimes Fan Zhenglian had committed against the Lu Family. Yin Zheng asked her, "Miss, what do you plan to do? Are you going to poison him and take his life?"
At that time, Lu Tong answered, "He’s an official; killing him is too troublesome, I have other arrangements."
She had no intention of taking direct action. If Fan Zhenglian were killed, he would still be regarded as the noble Lord Qingtian, and who knows, there might even be common folk who would mourn his death and wring their hands in sorrow.
Fan Zhenglian wanted to climb the ranks; she would make sure his official star never rose again. He longed for a good reputation and a clear name; she would have him become notorious and abandoned by the people.
She wanted everything he had painstakingly built to crumble to nothing, and she wanted the very people Fan Zhenglian had been loyal to send him on his final journey. In Fan Zhenglian’s eyes, the members of the Lu Family were as insignificant as weeds; she would have him experience being as insignificant in the eyes of those higher up.
Du Changqing complained, "We’re having a Mid-Autumn banquet, and now the moon isn’t even round anymore. Eating this is tasteless; it’s truly a shame."
Lu Tong turned her head to look out the window, "Is that so?"
Du Changqing responded, "Isn’t it so!"
The fifteenth had passed, and the moon wasn’t as full or bright as before; it was like a thin, sharp blade, its silver light hanging in the sky, ready to shred all the injustices of the world.
In the lively hall all around, diners mingled and toast after toast was made in jubilation, unaware of what good fortune they were celebrating.
Lu Tong lowered her head, and as the moon set in the far-off sky, it fell into her wine cup, causing a ripple.
"I think tonight’s moon is even more beautiful."
She raised her glass, smiling as she drained the cup of wine.