Chapter 313
Feng Pingqing put down the secret letter he had just finished reading, a hint of confusion on his face. "My lord, General Yang actually broke into the prison? This is truly strange."
Although the killers of the eight scoundrels came from the Zhenbian Marquis Mansion, and they were certainly the Marquis's guards, Madam Zhang, who was now imprisoned, would not be able to prove her innocence.
With the Yang family's absolute control over Longyou Road, it would not be difficult to find the guards who committed the murder, it would only require effort. Breaking into the prison was the worst possible option. After all, the Yang family had not yet been restored to power, and a rumor of prison break would spread like wildfire, leading to slander and ruin. Was the Yang family not afraid of memorials from the Censorate?
"This truly does not seem like something Yang Shoucheng would do, but if someone else broke into the prison, then Yang Shoucheng would surely know," Zhang Minxian stroked his beard, his expression grave. The matter was peculiar, and it gave Zhang Minxian an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
Thinking of the hidden dragons and crouching tigers in Xiangwu County, Feng Pingqing cupped his hands towards the direction of the capital. "Could it be that the order came from the one in the capital?"
Being able to abduct Madam Zhang without alerting other forces, and without anyone knowing, Feng Pingqing carefully considered that if it wasn't the Yang family, then the current Emperor was the most likely candidate.
"When the old General Yang was accused of colluding with the enemy and treason, the Emperor knew it might be a false accusation, but no one investigated further. Instead, the case was hastily closed, and the Yang family's military power was stripped. Now that the Emperor wants to restore the Yang family, it is possible he is showing them favor," Zhang Minxian suddenly regretted kicking the Yang family when they were down.
With a long sigh, Zhang Minxian lost the solemnity and dignity of a prefect. His voice was filled with emotion and regret. "It is easy to add splendor to a brocade, but difficult to offer charcoal in the snow. I was too young back then. If I had been more farsighted, the Zhang family would not be in such a predicament today."
"My lord, who could have predicted that the Emperor would be willing to return military power to the Yang family? Heaven's will is unpredictable, not a human fault," Feng Pingqing stood up and walked to the table, pouring a cup of hot tea for Zhang Minxian, who was seated in the main seat. "My lord, even without Madam Zhang, Young Master Xu is indebted to the Zhang and Zhou families. I believe the impact will not be significant."
In fact, Madam Zhang was also a hot potato for the Yang father and son. She could neither be killed nor kept, and her presence was an eyesore. Feng Pingqing truly admired Yang Shoucheng's magnanimity in this regard. A great general, standing tall and proud, was cuckolded by his wife, and the adulterer was a mortal enemy of the Yang family. Yet, Yang Shoucheng managed to restrain himself from killing Madam Zhang, and had endured it for so many years.
Taking a sip of the hot tea, which dispelled the gloom in his chest, Zhang Minxian said in a deep voice, "If she had remained imprisoned in the Xiangwu County jail, it would have been fine. But now that she is missing, this variable is either a blessing or a curse for the Zhang family."
While Zhang Minxian was still conversing with his aide Feng Pingqing, hurried footsteps were heard from outside the study. The two men paused their conversation and both rose to walk towards the door.
"My lord." The old butler of the Zhang mansion, who had been Zhang prefect's page in his youth and later became the butler, hurried over. He had been managing the Zhang mansion for many years and was the most trusted subordinate of the Zhang father and son.
There were secrets that even Feng Pingqing did not know, but the old butler knew them all. Of course, when the old butler grew old, and the Zhang mansion was handed over to Zhang Minxian, Feng Pingqing might also take over the butler's duties.
"Uncle Quan." Zhang Minxian gestured for the old butler to enter the study, and after Feng Pingqing closed the door, he asked, "What happened? Why does Uncle Quan look so flustered?"
"Master, please take a look." The old butler took out a secret letter from his怀 and handed it over. "Someone placed this on my desk."
Zhang Minxian unfolded the letter, and his face suddenly changed. The letter contained only a short sentence: Madam Zhang is at the Red Maple Courtyard in the southern part of the city.
"This?" Feng Pingqing, who had also seen the contents of the letter, was truly stunned. He and his lord had just been discussing the whereabouts of the missing Madam Zhang, and now they had news of her.
Although the old butler did not know that Madam Zhang had been broken out of prison last night, he knew that Madam Zhang had been imprisoned in the Xiangwu County jail on charges of murder. This was also why the old butler's expression was flustered after seeing the letter.
If a prisoner appeared at the Red Maple Courtyard, it would make people think that the master had broken her out of prison.
"To place the person at the Red Maple Courtyard, they must have investigated my situation thoroughly!" Zhang Minxian's face was displeased as he threw the letter into the charcoal basin.
Fewer than five people knew about this Red Maple Courtyard. This was from many years ago, when Zhang Minxian thought he had saved a woman from Jiangnan. Unlike the tall and large-boned women of the north, women from Jiangnan had a graceful figure that was neither too thin nor too plump, and a soft, watery voice. Singing a Jiangnan folk song could captivate a man's soul.
Zhang Minxian was ambitious and full of vigor when he entered officialdom, with aspirations of holding power over the world and indulging in the company of beautiful women. Thus, on an impulse, he arranged for the woman to live in the Red Maple Courtyard, which was his private property.
Unfortunately, the beauty was ill-fated. After a year of enjoying her company, the woman, being pregnant and unable to adapt to the cold climate of Linzhou Prefecture, fell ill and eventually died, along with her unborn child of over three months.
Zhang Minxian was heartbroken for half a year and never went to the Red Maple Courtyard again, leaving only two servants to guard and clean the courtyard.
If it weren't for the mention of the Red Maple Courtyard in the letter he received just now, Zhang Minxian, busy with official duties, would have almost forgotten about the courtyard, as ten years had passed in the blink of an eye.
After the letter was delivered, the old butler withdrew from the study.
Feng Pingqing looked at Zhang Minxian, whose expression was inscrutable, and asked, "My lord, if you are worried, I can go in your stead."
Linzhou Prefecture was not far from Xiangwu County, but it was not close either. Madam Zhang was abducted from the county jail last night, and now she appeared in Linzhou Prefecture. This was not a matter of traveling quickly by horse, but rather that the other party was able to bring Madam Zhang to Linzhou Prefecture without alerting any forces, which was something to be wary of.
"This is an attempt to frame the Zhang family for breaking the prison," Zhang Minxian's gaunt face was solemn, but his eyes held a chilling killing intent.
"It seems it was definitely not the Emperor's doing. It is very likely the Yang family," Feng Pingqing had been uncertain before, but Madam Zhang's appearance in Linzhou Prefecture, and at the Red Maple Courtyard, clearly indicated that the Yang family intended to make the Zhang family take the blame.
Zhang Minxian glanced out the window. The winter days darkened early, and the lanterns under the eaves had already been lit. "We will go after midnight."
In Xiangwu County, Zhang Minxian, as the prefect, was not much of a figure. He could only suppress the seventh-rank Magistrate Zhu, because Xiangwu County was now full of hidden talents, and these were powerful families that the Zhang family could not afford to offend.
However, this was Linzhou Prefecture, and it was also the Zhang family's territory. It was much more convenient for Zhang Minxian to do whatever he wanted.
...Valley
The Red Maple Courtyard was located in the southern suburbs of Linzhou Prefecture, named after the red maple trees planted in the backyard. This area had many manors, all occupying vast tracts of land, and their owners were all prominent families of Linzhou Prefecture.
In the early years, the lady of the house might have brought her children to stay at the southern suburban manor for a short period. However, later, due to a landslide on the mountain road, it became difficult to travel.
Moreover, wealthy families all had several scenic manors. The manors in the southern suburbs were likely built twenty years ago, and their houses, furniture, and decorations were all old. Therefore, after the roads became difficult to traverse, almost no one visited them. They only sent loyal servants to manage them and deliver vegetables, chickens, and ducks to the mansion every month.
Thus, at midnight, without moonlight, the southern suburbs were as dark as pitch. Only the sound of the wind could be heard. Looking around, not a single light could be seen from the manors in this area.
"My lord, no one has come out since this afternoon." As Zhang Minxian dismounted his horse, the leader of the guards sent to guard the manor immediately appeared.
In the darkness, Zhang Minxian was also dressed in a black night suit, and even the hooves of his mount were wrapped in cotton cloth, so he had traveled without making a sound.
"How many people are inside?" Zhang Minxian asked, looking at the dark manor.
"Fearing that it would alert them, I did not dare to go in and investigate, but based on my estimation, the number of people inside would not exceed ten." Although he had not gone in, the guard captain had also observed from a distance in the dark.
After Zhang Minxian saw the letter delivered by the old butler in the afternoon, although he did not come himself, he had arranged for guards to come. Not only were twenty people stationed around the manor, but ten were also hidden on the official road not far away.
There were also people in the city to provide backup. Once they made their move, even if the enemy was highly skilled, Zhang Minxian's side had the advantage of numbers. They would surely be able to trap them like a turtle in a jar, and not let a single person escape.
"My lord?" Seeing Zhang Minxian intending to go in directly, the guard captain and Feng Pingqing on the side spoke out simultaneously. They were unsure if the people inside were friend or foe, and the master rashly entering might be dangerous.
"It's nothing. Since they dared to send a letter, they will not attack me," Zhang Minxian replied nonchalantly, pushed open the door, and with a creak, strode into the courtyard.
Seeing this, Feng Pingqing
...
Zhang Minxian glanced out the window. The winter days darkened early, and the lanterns under the eaves had already been lit. "We will go after midnight."
In Xiangwu County, Zhang Minxian, as the prefect, was not much of a figure. He could only suppress the seventh-rank Magistrate Zhu, because Xiangwu County was now full of hidden talents, and these were powerful families that the Zhang family could not afford to offend.
However, this was Linzhou Prefecture, and it was also the Zhang family's territory. It was much more convenient for Zhang Minxian to do whatever he wanted.
...
The Red Maple Courtyard was located in the southern suburbs of Linzhou Prefecture, named after the red maple trees planted in the backyard. This area had many manors, all occupying vast tracts of land, and their owners were all prominent families of Linzhou Prefecture.
In the early years, the lady of the house might have brought her children to stay at the southern suburban manor for a short period. However, later, due to a landslide on the mountain road, it became difficult to travel.
Moreover, wealthy families all had several scenic manors. The manors in the southern suburbs were likely built twenty years ago, and their houses, furniture, and decorations were all old. Therefore, after the roads became difficult to traverse, almost no one visited them. They only sent loyal servants to manage them and deliver vegetables, chickens, and ducks to the mansion every month.
Thus, at midnight, without moonlight, the southern suburbs were as dark as pitch. Only the sound of the wind could be heard. Looking around, not a single light could be seen from the manors in this area. "My lord, no one has come out since this afternoon." As Zhang Minxian dismounted his horse, the leader of the guards sent to guard the manor immediately appeared.
In the darkness, Zhang Minxian was also dressed in a black night suit, and even the hooves of his mount were wrapped in cotton cloth, so he had traveled without making a sound.
"How many people are inside?" Zhang Minxian asked, looking at the dark manor.
"Fearing that it would alert them, I did not dare to go in and investigate, but based on my estimation, the number of people inside would not exceed ten." Although he had not gone in, the guard captain had also observed from a distance in the dark.
After Zhang Minxian saw the letter delivered by the old butler in the afternoon, although he did not come himself, he had arranged for guards to come. Not only were twenty people stationed around the manor, but ten were also hidden on the official road not far away.
There were also people in the city to provide backup. Once they made their move, even if the enemy was highly skilled, Zhang Minxian's side had the advantage of numbers. They would surely be able to trap them like a turtle in a jar, and not let a single person escape.
"My lord, no one has come out since this afternoon." As Zhang Minxian dismounted his horse, the leader of the guards sent to guard the manor immediately appeared.
In the darkness, Zhang Minxian was also dressed in a black night suit, and even the hooves of his mount were wrapped in cotton cloth, so he had traveled without making a sound.
"How many people are inside?" Zhang Minxian asked, looking at the dark manor.
"Fearing that it would alert them, I did not dare to go in and investigate, but based on my estimation, the number of people inside would not exceed ten." Although he had not gone in, the guard captain had also observed from a distance in the dark.
After Zhang Minxian saw the letter delivered by the old butler in the afternoon, although he did not come himself, he had arranged for guards to come. Not only were twenty people stationed around the manor, but ten were also hidden on the official road not far away.
There were also people in the city to provide backup. Once they made their move, even if the enemy was highly skilled, Zhang Minxian's side had the advantage of numbers. They would surely be able to trap them like a turtle in a jar, and not let a single person escape.
...