Chapter 221: Chapter 99 Fiancé_1
Shen Fengying’s vision went dark.
All the confusion and suspicion he had harbored suddenly dissipated at this moment. He finally understood why Pei Yunmeng insisted on coming to the Patrol House today to personally inquire about this case—it was all clear now!
The person behind the assailant turned out to be Consort Meng from Prince Wen’s Mansion!
Consort Meng, ah, Shen Fengying’s head felt enormous.
Ever since he became the head of the Patrol House, he maintained a special booklet that recorded the intricately interconnected relations among the officials’ families in Shengjing, for fear of unwittingly offending someone. Thus, when the thief uttered the words "Prince Wen’s Mansion" and "Consort Meng," Shen Fengying’s mind immediately thought of the marital connection between Prince Wen’s Mansion and Zhao Ning Manor. Pei Yunmeng’s sister had married into Prince Wen’s Mansion as the Princess Consort, and naturally, Meng Xiyang was the consort!
Pei Yunmeng caught an assassin who had just confessed that Consort Meng was the person behind the scenes. Shen Fengying would not believe there wasn’t a trick to it even if he were beaten to death!
However, since the stage had already been set up inside the Patrol House, as the head of the Patrol House, he had no choice but to perform his part.
With a numb expression, Shen Fengying spoke, "Nonsense, Consort Meng has no grudge against Doctor Lu, why would she instruct you to commit the crime?"
The person on the ground said, "I don’t know."
Pei Yunmeng then turned to Lu Tong, who appeared to be deep in thought. He smiled and asked, "Doctor Lu, what do you think?"
Lu Tong showed a troubled expression.
"Speak your mind, there’s no need to be afraid."
Lu Tong nodded, "I have only met Consort Meng once. On the day the Princess Consort went into urgent labor, I assisted the Princess Consort in giving birth, yet according to the timing, the Princess Consort’s pregnancy term had not yet arrived. Fortunately, both the Princess Consort and the young miss were blessed by fortunes, and all went well."
"The Princess Consort once spoke to me about the unusual circumstances surrounding the premature birth..." Lu Tong frowned, "I don’t know if it has anything to do with this case."
Shen Fengying really wanted to roll his eyes.
Lu Tong might as well have written "Consort Meng took her anger out by committing murder to silence others" on his face.
He tentatively looked at Pei Yunmeng, "My lord, this..."
Pei Yunmeng sighed, "This concerns the Princess Consort, and it’s somewhat my family affair as well. Thus, I shouldn’t intervene." His fingertips brushed over the openwork silver decoration on the sheath of the knife at his waist, "Let’s hand this person over to Lord Shen first. If Consort Meng is truly behind it, of course, there will be other evidence. However..." He smiled, "Before that, I would trouble Lord Shen to keep an eye on this person, and not let him die."
Shen Fengying: "..."
Was this passing the hot potato to him?
That Consort Meng was said to be highly favored by the Commandery Prince. Getting involved in the affairs of such esteemed gentry would surely bring no good. If he pleased Pei Yunmeng but offended Prince Wen in the process, wouldn’t he end up just as unlucky?
Just as Shen Fengying was trying to find a polite excuse to refuse, he heard Lu Tong say, "That would be best. We brought this person to the Patrol House just now, and many people saw along the way. It will likely spread throughout the city soon. Perhaps this person’s accomplices will act, so Lord Shen must be very careful."
Shen Fengying: "..."
Being seen by others all along the way was no accident in his belief. They were dead set on dragging him into the water with them!
Such a vile scheme!
As Shen Fengying listened to the smooth interplay between these two, his brief excitement quickly vanished. This case was clearly not a favorable matter; it was the kind where no matter what, someone would be offended—and he was the one who had stumbled upon it.
Shen Fengying’s smile couldn’t hide the bitterness within.
When he had first joined the Shengjing Patrol House, a senior had told him that this was just the way of officialdom; as long as one was good at flattery, moving up wasn’t a problem. His name was "Fengying," which meant to flatter, and Shen Fengying felt he excelled at it. He had become the head of the Patrol House by flattering others, and he had hoped to climb even higher spiritedly. However, since last month, it was as if he were cursed, always encountering such problems.
It was just like what that poverty-stricken student who had come back from the dead had said, about "onions on the mountain" and "seedlings on the ground." They, the onions, were without status, always ready to be sacrificed by these wealthy gentry and nobility.
The officialdom is so hard!
The hot and spicy flavor was welling up in his stomach now, rising warmly. Shen Fengying took a deep breath and managed to say, "Yes, my lord, rest assured, I will handle this with impartiality and closely watch this person."
Watch my foot. I’ll submit my resignation, I’m done tomorrow!
...
Having left the Patrol House, the marketplace brightened up.
There was no curfew in Shengjing, and at night it seemed even livelier than during the day. Under the Luoyue Bridge, taverns were crowded with people drinking all night long, and artisan entertainers drew crowds thick as walls, with carriages and horses filling the streets.
Lu Tong followed Pei Yunmeng toward the alley entrance, apparently indifferent to the fireworks and the multitude of revelers on the opposite bank, his expression utterly unaffected.