When the room was empty, Feng Jinlin opened his eyes, his gaze clear.
He got up and left quietly, heading straight for Chi Zimò, who was changing his clothes.
Instead of taking the main path, he climbed through the window. Fortunately, Feng Jinlin was quick enough, otherwise, he might have already become a soul lost to the sword of Chi Zimò's guards.
A sharp blade pressed against Feng Jinlin's neck, as if a slight exertion would spill his blood.
But Feng Jinlin was not afraid of such a scene. He put on a harmless expression and said to Chi Zimò.
"To plot against a seventh-rank official, this charge the Chi family head cannot bear, can you?"
"Hmph, a joke. Chi's guards merely cut down a petty thief. Who knew the esteemed County Magistrate would be ambushed by ruffians on his way back to his residence? Did you do something unspeakable?"
Without a hint of panic, not even a flicker of hesitation.
It was as if Feng Jinlin's life, or the lives of these officials, meant nothing to him. He could kill them at will, having already prepared the reasons and excuses.
Now, Feng Jinlin understood why the Prince wanted him to act as a go-between.
He suspected that the secret guards of Prince Ding's mansion had already suffered many rebuffs. Thinking of this, he felt a surge of secret delight.
Seeing that his expression showed no fear, and even a hint of smugness, Chi Zimò was perplexed.
Was he not afraid of death?
Or was he deliberately seeking death?
He glanced at the guard beside him, and the man then moved the sword away from his neck.
Sensing the cessation of the killing intent, Feng Jinlin immediately said.
"Patriarch Chi, someone wishes to meet you."
"Who?"
"Tomorrow, at the hour of 未正, meet me at Zhuque Tower."
Chi Zimò snorted, "A joke. You, a mere seventh-rank official, with a few ambiguous words, expect Chi to agree to a meeting? Do you take my Chi family for a lapdog like Cao Zhu?"
He was indeed tough-boned. It was clear the Chi family had deep backing, not even caring for officials.
But Feng Jinlin didn't say much more. "After today passes, Patriarch Chi will naturally agree to the meeting."
With that, he got up and left, still climbing out the window. Such behavior left Chi Zimò somewhat bewildered.
A moment later, he said to the person beside him.
"Investigate everything related to this County Magistrate Feng. I want to see who is behind him."
"Yes, Patriarch!"
The Chi family's network might have minor loopholes elsewhere, but within Jinling City, they could trace back three generations of relatives, as easily as crushing an ant.
Therefore, by the time the neatly compiled information was placed in Chi Zimò's study, he was attending a wedding banquet at the Zhu family's residence.
And now, with guests filling the hall and goblets clinking, the Zhu family had no idea they were on the verge of ruin.
As the wine flowed freely, someone rushed in from outside, their face filled with alarm.
Upon recognizing the newcomer, Zhu Hong, who had been somewhat tipsy, sobered up.
He pulled his eldest son-in-law, Quan Fu, who was hurrying, and said in a low voice, "There are too many people now. We'll discuss it in the backyard later."
Quan Fu nodded. His arm was slightly swollen, appearing to have been bandaged.
Chi Zimò, with his sharp eyes, glanced at his guard. The man immediately understood and, seizing an opportunity when no one was looking, slipped into the shadows, following Quan Fu to the backyard.
At this moment, Zhu Hong and Quan Fu, speaking in the room, had no idea of the hidden Chi family guard.
"What happened? What occurred?"
Zhu Hong stepped forward and asked. He accidentally touched Quan Fu's arm, and Quan Fu flinched in pain.
He then knelt before Zhu Hong and said.
"Father-in-law, please forgive my anger. The banquets we set up outside have been raided. All the invited guests have been arrested and sent to the Prefect's prison, and even the restaurants have been sealed. What should we do?"
They thought they had acted discreetly, considering the most important guests were at their home, and other congratulatory attendees had separate banquets. They planned for him and his son to attend to them later after a brief rest.
Who would have thought that before the wedding was even over, the banquets and even the people were taken away? This was unbearable.
Zhu Hong frowned and asked, "Do you know who came?"
Quan Fu shook his head, "They appeared to be from the military, as they were all wearing armor. I didn't get a clear look at the leader."
"The military?"
The commanders of Jinling City's guards were all still drinking at home, so it couldn't have been someone he arranged.
Then the closest military camp to Jinling City would be the Zhongzhou Army. Could it be them?
But Zhongzhou was in chaos. After the death of Princess Qianling, they were leaderless and busy sparring with those sent by His Majesty. How could they have the time to bother him?
After ruling out all possibilities, the suspicion pointed directly to the Naval Camp of the Imperial Canal Administration.
"Could it be people from the Naval Camp?"
Zhu Hong asked. Quan Fu tried to recall the events. Everyone was enjoying themselves when soldiers suddenly burst in, smashing and arresting. He had escaped when no one was looking and couldn't be sure if they were from the Naval Camp.
"But Lord Liang is at the banquet. What benefit would it bring him to send people to raid our family's wedding feast?"
Zhu Hong also found this puzzling.
But thinking of the Cao family, his suspicion grew.
"Who knows how much benefit Liang has secretly received from the Cao family? Ever since Commander Cao died, the Cao family has been like mad dogs, biting at everyone, eager to drag us down. Would he miss such a good opportunity?"
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and a poisonous plan formed in his mind.
"Go, find someone to follow Cao Sanlang and Liang Quanbin, and then quickly send someone to investigate if it was the Naval Camp that arrested the people. If so, immediately confine the two of them to their homes. I refuse to believe that with their lives in our hands, the Naval Camp and the Prefect's office would dare to move against our Zhu family!"
Quan Fu felt this plan was inappropriate. "Father-in-law, but this would mean tearing down the bridges with both the Cao family and Lord Liang. The Cao family is easy to deal with, they are just some low-class individuals. But Lord Liang's relationship with the Wei family might draw fire upon us."
Zhu Hong sneered, "What are you afraid of? The noble person behind us has ways to sever the Wei family's arm in Jinling City. They might even reward us!"
After all, the death of one Commander Cao was one death, and the death of another Commander Liang was not a concern.
In Jinling City, merchants always held more sway than officials. Therefore, when dealing with these officials, they were not as timid as merchants elsewhere.
When the Chi family guard delivered the overheard information to Chi Zimò,
He raised an eyebrow in curiosity and glanced at the backyard.
The "drunk" County Magistrate Feng had still not appeared. He would likely only leave after the banquet dispersed.
So, was this also the work of the person behind him?
For a moment, he couldn't help but feel curious. Who exactly was the person behind him, who dared to cause such a commotion on the day of the Zhu and Chi families' union!