Chapter 363
Head Constable Hu personally led his men to patrol the Pang manor again. After giving a few instructions to the constables and yamen runners, he set off towards the prefectural office. He had no intention of going home until the matter of Prefect Zhang's death was settled, and planned to make do with sleeping in a side room at the yamen for a few days.
In the rear courtyard of the Pang manor, the bedroom was brightly lit by candles. After Vice Prefect Pang was thrown into prison, the steward, obeying Madam Pang's orders, had all the household servants return to their respective rooms, forbidding them from talking or moving about freely.
The manor's guards were in the same situation. With constables from the yamen guarding the outside, there was no fear of thieves breaking in. During the day, only the kitchen staff were still busy. By late at night, the entire Pang manor was so quiet that not a single person could be seen.
"Madam." The low voice was masked by the sound of the rain outside.
The bedroom door creaked open from the inside. It was Bai Lian, Madam Pang's most capable head maid. "Madam is in the small study. The steward may enter."
Madam Pang was refined and skilled in calligraphy and painting. In her leisure time, she enjoyed reading, so a small study was set up in the side room outside the bedroom. Madam Pang usually read and painted there, and at most Vice Prefect Pang would enter. Outsiders absolutely could not set foot in this small study.
A faint scent of plum blossoms wafted out, and the small study was filled with warmth. Coupled with the bright candlelight, there was not the slightest hint of the impending danger in the air, like the wind before a storm.
"Madam." The steward bowed in greeting, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of Madam Pang reading behind the desk.
Because the charcoal fire was sufficient, Madam Pang was wearing only a plain white soft silk long vest. Her hair was casually tied up in a bun, secured with a jade hairpin. Her eyes held a deep scholarly air, elegant and noble.
"What is the situation outside?" The gentle voice sounded, but Madam Pang's gaze remained fixed on the book, seemingly unconcerned about Vice Prefect Pang being imprisoned.
Although Vice Prefect Zhao had ordered the Pang manor to be surrounded, Vice Prefect Pang had been operating in Suzho Prefecture for many years. It was difficult for the outside news to be blocked by Head Constable Hu and the others.
"Reporting to Madam, His Lordship is currently held in solitary confinement in the prison. Vice Prefect Zhao has not interrogated him. Prefect Zhang's body is still in the rear courtyard of the yamen, and the coroner has not yet performed an autopsy. The study door has been sealed, and eight constables are guarding it. Our people cannot get in."
The steward knew that after the incident, his first reaction was to contact Vice Prefect Pang in prison. Unfortunately, Vice Prefect Zhao had issued a strict order, and the jailer, guards, and constables were all people loyal to Vice Prefect Zhao. The steward's side had no way to see Vice Prefect Pang.
As for the murder scene, only Zhan Feiyu, who had gone early in the morning and was allowed in by Head Constable Hu, had entered the study to examine the body. Others could not get in at all. The current situation was extremely unfavorable for Vice Prefect Pang.
Gently putting down the book, Madam Pang finally looked up. A smile of unknown meaning played on her pale white face. "Vice Prefect Zhao is waiting for Lord Yao to make the final decision on everything."
"My lord once said that Vice Prefect Zhao is steady. I suppose he is acting this way to avoid any criticism," the steward also said. He had met Vice Prefect Zhao before. Rather than being impartial, he was stubborn and inflexible. However, everyone in Suzho Prefecture knew that his master and Vice Prefect Zhao both coveted the position of prefect.
At this juncture, if Vice Prefect Zhao were to interrogate his master first, even if he found something, it would inevitably lead people to suspect Vice Prefect Zhao of using his position for personal gain or seeking revenge. In a more serious light, it would be framed. Therefore, it was better to do nothing at this moment. Letting Provincial Governor Yao make the final decision would earn him a reputation for being upright and honorable.
"It has been raining heavily, and the cold is biting. I fear my lord's health will not hold up in prison. Steward, tomorrow you will find Head Constable Hu and say that I am worried about my lord's health. Ask Head Constable Hu to report to Vice Prefect Zhao and request that Lord Zhao, out of consideration for a colleague, prepare some warm clothes for my lord. The Pang manor will provide the money. I believe Lord Zhao need not worry that we will smuggle anything."
Madam Pang gave the steward a few more instructions, her voice still gentle. At first glance, she seemed like a mistress managing the affairs of the inner household, giving no indication of the precarious situation the Pang manor was in.
After the steward left, it was already half an hour later. Bai Lian escorted him out but did not return to the small study. Instead, she waited in the adjacent tea room.
Madam Pang picked up her book again, but her gaze drifted to the window, as if waiting for someone's arrival.
...
At the same time, at the inn.
"Who's there?" As the shout rang out, He Sheng had already quickly drawn his sword and rushed forward. Almost simultaneously, the four people secretly protecting Zhan Feiyu appeared. Two guarded the door, and two pursued He Sheng.
The clash of experts happened almost instantly. Fortunately, the heavy rain outside masked the sound, preventing others in the inn from being alerted.
Zhan Feiyu, awakened by He Sheng's shout, was momentarily disoriented. Hadn't she just gone to sleep less than an hour ago? "Please ask Young Master Zhu to wait a moment, I'll be right there."
"Yes." He Sheng responded and retreated.
A quarter of an hour later, Zhan Feiyu put on her cloak. As for her hair, she was too lazy to bother with it, simply tying it into a ponytail with a hair tie. Pulling up her hood made her appear not too disrespectful.
She picked up a few pieces of charcoal from the brazier and put them into the hand warmer before heading out, holding the warmer.
The second floor of the inn housed private rooms. The room in the center, lacking a window, was rarely frequented by guests. However, with the door now closed, even the innkeeper and the staff were unaware that someone was meeting in this private room.
"Young Master Zhu, I trust you are well." Zhan Feiyu looked at Zhu Xiao, who was standing in the room wearing a crane-feather cloak. Compared to when they last met, he had lost some of the noble bearing of the Marquis of Zhenbian's heir, but his brows still held a commanding and dignified air.
Zhu Xiao was over fifty years old, an age that could be considered Zhan Feiyu's grandfather. He looked at the small girl bundled up like a ball and gestured for her to sit. He said gravely, "Do you know that the barbarians have issued a kill order for you and even offered a reward of one hundred thousand taels? I imagine your upcoming journey of study will be fraught with peril."
Uh... Zhan Feiyu was stunned for a moment. Whether it was due to the cold or lack of sleep, Zhan Feiyu felt her mind wasn't working properly. She asked blankly, "Why?"
Even when the barbarian army of three thousand besieged Xiangwu County that day, Zhan Feiyu's role was not significant. The actual command of the troops was by Old Man Tie and Scholar Qiu.
Zhu Xiao picked up his teacup and took a few sips of hot tea. "Do you know how great the barbarians' losses will be with the death of Qiu Jinyu?"
Qiu Jinyu was only fourteen years old when he died, yet he had already achieved the triple crown in the imperial examinations. With the Qiu family's backing, even if he didn't achieve the highest honors, he was sure to rank among the top scholars.
In ten years, the Emperor would likely establish a crown prince. Qiu Jinyu would then be only twenty-four years old, a prime age to showcase his talents.
Zhan Feiyu could also infer what Zhu Xiao was asking. Scholar Gu sent letters from the capital every three days. Now, these letters were not just about academics but also about some court matters for Zhan Feiyu to contemplate. She would then write down her thoughts and send them to the capital. Scholar Gu would also write his comments and send them back to Zhan Feiyu.
Although this process consumed considerable manpower, resources, and finances, Zhan Feiyu's horizons had broadened considerably, and she had a good understanding of court dynamics.
"Provincial Governor Qiu is a trusted minister of the Emperor, but times change, and a new ruler will cultivate his own confidants. While Qianzhong Circuit cannot be in chaos, the new emperor can cultivate Qiu Jinyu to replace Governor Qiu without bloodshed." Zhan Feiyu chuckled awkwardly at this point.
This was likely also the plan of the third branch of the Qiu family. The third branch sought to replace the legitimate branch, and their ambition was not a matter of a day or two, but they were waiting for this opportunity. With the favor of the new emperor, and Qiu Jinyu's proven ability, their chances of success would be much greater.
To the barbarians, once Qiu Jinyu became a close confidant of the Emperor, he might become another highly influential Scholar Gu in the future. And Qiu Jinyu was a barbarian. Zhan Feiyu could imagine the future dangers to the Great Qing Dynasty.
However, all of this was shattered with Qiu Jinyu's death. Moreover, because Qiu Feng went on a killing spree in Qiu Zongxi's residence and then fled to the barbarians, the Emperor had already become suspicious of the third branch of the Qiu family. As the legitimate head of the family, Governor Qiu would surely seize the opportunity to "execute his own kin for the sake of righteousness." The barbarians would lose more than just Qiu Jinyu. If the Jinlong Guard followed the trail of the third branch, they might uncover many spies. The barbarians would undoubtedly be severely wounded this time.
The culprit was Zhan Feiyu herself, who was now holding the hand warmer with a look of helplessness. Even with He Sheng and the others protecting her, if the barbarians retaliated madly, Zhan Feiyu's situation was indeed somewhat dangerous.
Casting a sympathetic glance at Zhan Feiyu, Zhu Xiao unceremoniously added another blow, "Originally, the barbarians were somewhat wary of Scholar Gu and Yang Shoucheng, but you have also caused trouble for Pang Xian'an. With old and new grudges, they will not be satisfied unless they kill you!"
"No, Vice Prefect Pang colluded with the barbarians?" Zhan Feiyu sat up straight abruptly, her expression overly serious, her eyes widening.