The news from the Forbidden Dragon Guard arrived first thing the next morning. Zhan Feiyu had just finished breakfast, as she still needed to go to the yamen today. If Vice-Prefect Pang had not been imprisoned, He Nuan’s case would have been retried today.
However, the current situation was that Vice-Prefect Pang was in trouble himself, and the plaintiff, Qian Shipeng, was now a corpse. The body was temporarily stored at the yamen, so the case was effectively dropped, as there was no longer a plaintiff.
Seeing that it was still early, Zhan Feiyu was not in a hurry to go to the yamen. She looked at He Sheng and asked, “How did Qian Shipeng die?”
Although Qian Shipeng’s right hand was crippled, he was still a martial artist. Based on He Nuan’s previous probing, Qian Shipeng’s skills were likely average. Not to mention four constables, even several more constables probably couldn’t have killed him. Either there was a hidden story, or Qian Shipeng had the same intentions as Prefect Zhang.
“Lord Yao probably intended to release the news.” Although the Forbidden Dragon Guard’s ability to gather information was top-notch, if Lord Yao had given a strict order, it would not have been enough for the Forbidden Dragon Guard to investigate so thoroughly in just one day and night.
Qian Shipeng’s death was ostensibly attributed to a drunken brawl at a restaurant, an attempt to bully Madam Pang, which was discovered by constables. In the ensuing conflict, Qian Shipeng was killed.
However, the Forbidden Dragon Guard had also secretly infiltrated the yamen to examine Qian Shipeng’s body. He had been stabbed eight times, with the fatal blow to the neck.
“According to the autopsy performed by the Judicial Commissioner’s coroner, the stab wound on Qian Shipeng’s face was the last one inflicted. This does not resemble a typical conflict; it is more like malicious revenge, a deliberate killing,” He Sheng explained the detailed situation. “Afterward, the Forbidden Dragon Guard inspected the main hall of the Pang residence. The overturned incense burner was unusual; it contained Gui Cao, which incites madness.”
“What? Gui Cao again?” Zhan Feiyu sat up straight with a jolt.
Back in Xiangwu County, Zhou Shuyao had accidentally killed the Fu family’s daughter because she had inhaled too much Gui Cao. This substance, similar to Wushisan, caused people to become excited, even to the point of going mad.
Gui Cao not only had this effect; when combined with other drugs, it could also have an aphrodisiac effect. Most importantly, the medicinal properties of Gui Cao could only remain in the human body for half an hour. After that, it could no longer be detected.
He Sheng also remembered what happened in Plum Valley in Xiangwu County the previous year. “The Forbidden Dragon Guard infers that the four constables might have been affected by the medicinal properties of Gui Cao, which is why they so frenziedly hacked Qian Shipeng to death.”
Qian Shipeng’s inappropriate behavior towards Madam Pang was also undoubtedly due to the aphrodisiac effect caused by Gui Cao.
“I haven’t met Madam Pang, but Qian Shipeng is a notorious dandy and the son of a merchant. Even if Madam Pang agreed to see him, she wouldn’t do so without bringing a maid,” Zhan Feiyu recalled her few interactions with Vice-Prefect Pang. He was a cunning old fox.
Furthermore, to have hidden for so many years under Prefect Zhang’s nose, if it weren’t for coincidence, Prefect Zhang would likely have remained in the dark, believing Vice-Prefect Pang to be his loyal subordinate.
Based on Zhan Feiyu’s deduction, Vice-Prefect Pang’s wife was either from a scholarly family or an official family. Therefore, regardless of Madam Pang’s temperament, she would have adhered to the rules and would not have met an outsider alone, especially a dandy like Qian Shipeng.
It was precisely because Lord Yao intended to release the news that the Forbidden Dragon Guard had already conducted thorough investigations into Zhan Feiyu’s questions.
He Sheng replied, “According to the testimony of Madam Pang’s personal head maid, Bai Lian, after Vice-Prefect Pang was imprisoned, Qian Shipeng caused trouble at the Pang residence several times and even attempted to force his way out, but was stopped by the constables.”
“Afterward, Qian Shipeng bribed the orderly who delivered food. Madam Pang learned that Qian Shipeng had a way to get Vice-Prefect Pang out of prison. Madam Pang, desperate, agreed to meet Qian Shipeng.”