If Lu Yi had not "fled from justice," then Zhan Feiyu's accusations could be considered baseless slander. Yet, the fact remained that Lu Yi was gone.
This left Commander Zhu with no standing to bring He Sheng back to the Five City Patrol.
"It seems Deputy Envoy Lu feared his crimes would be exposed and took the opportunity to escape while visiting the medical clinic," Zhan Feiyu said with a relaxed and composed smile. With the person missing, any accusation could be thrown.
Prefect Lu, his heart finally at ease, looked at Zhan Feiyu with admiration. This young lady was truly extraordinary; her strategy of a "faint from the enemy" was brilliant.
"Guards, search the entire city for the whereabouts of Deputy Envoy Lu. If he has indeed fled from justice, I will ensure the law is upheld impartially," Commander Zhu's previously amiable demeanor vanished. He fixed his gaze on Zhan Feiyu and continued, "If Deputy Envoy Lu has been harmed by villains, we will turn this city upside down to find him!"
"Yes, sir!" the subordinates of the Five City Patrol responded loudly.
One person fired a signal flare into the air, while two immediately turned and sprinted back towards the Five City Patrol headquarters, tasked with gathering reinforcements to find the missing official.
"Prefect Lu, Commander Zhu, since there is no further business, I shall take my leave and return to Yufeng Tower," Zhan Feiyu politely excused herself to the two officials.
As for Steward Zeng, who had accused her, whether he went to the Five City Patrol or the Shun Tian Prefecture, if he was silenced, it would be the concern of those two yamen.
No one had ever caused the Five City Patrol such embarrassment. Commander Zhu remained silent, his sinister gaze locked onto Zhan Feiyu and her two companions. He then surveyed the surroundings.
Apart from the dense crowd of onlookers, Commander Zhu found nothing out of the ordinary. It seemed the hidden guards protecting this young lady possessed extraordinary skills, remaining undetected by him, and capable of abducting Lu Yi from the medical clinic without a trace.
"Don't leave!" Suddenly, a hoarse voice filled with hatred rang out from beyond the crowd.
The onlookers who had been gathered at the intersection turned their heads in unison. Upon seeing the group of guards and escorts arrayed in a battle-ready formation behind them, the crowd was startled. Without needing to be driven away, they scattered like frightened birds to either side, clearing the intersection completely.
"Who are those people?" a man, pulled by his companion and nearly falling face-first, asked in a low voice. Why did these people look even more intimidating than the constables from the Shun Tian Prefecture?
"Cousin, remember this: when you start working at the shop after the new year, if you see these people, you must avoid them. These are the personal guards of the Marquis of Wu'an's estate," his companion whispered, his face filled with apprehension and fear. "It's one thing for the Marquis and his wife, but crucially, the estate has a son known as 'Tyrant You.' Wherever Tyrant You appears, you won't see any young, beautiful women on the streets."
Although this was the capital, and Prefect Bai of the Shun Tian Prefecture was known for his impartiality, Tyrant You had committed many wicked deeds, bullying the innocent and oppressing the weak. The critical point was that despite Tyrant You being crude and foolish, he was backed by the Marquis's estate.
Any woman Tyrant You fancied would have the estate find a way to legitimize the union. Therefore, even if the matter was brought before the yamen, Tyrant You could not be convicted.
Fearing his cousin might not grasp the terrifying nature of the Marquis's estate, the man glanced around and spoke again, "There was a family named Zhao. They had three sons, and this was their only daughter. They refused the estate's money, preferring to appeal to the emperor to seek justice for their tragically deceased daughter. Unfortunately, once in court, the Marquis's estate pushed forward a servant from Tyrant You's side to take the blame, and the matter was dropped."
After all, it was the servants who came forward, and Tyrant You did not have to act himself. Once the servant confessed, Prefect Bai was powerless.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted by a maid. Madam Du, the Marquis's wife, who had rushed over upon receiving the news, did not possess her usual grace and elegance. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her eyes were red and swollen from crying.
"You killed my son!" Madam Du's voice was hoarse and grief-stricken, filled with hatred. Her gaze, inch by inch, fixed on Zhan Feiyu. After a long moment, she suddenly let out a chilling laugh. "My son lies alone in his coffin. I will send you to serve him!"
You Haoran was killed because he desired to catch a glimpse of Zhan Feiyu's "beauty." It was for this reason that he bribed a servant from the Chang family to sneak into the guest courtyard from Songtao Forest.
However, in the end, not only did You Haoran fail to behold her beauty, but he also lost his life, leaving the Marquis's estate without an heir. Thinking of this, Madam Du's haggard face contorted into a ferocious expression. "Guards, take this wretch back to the Marquis's estate!"
This turn of events left Zhan Feiyu somewhat bewildered, and Prefect Lu's expression also turned grim. Was the Marchioness intending to have Miss Zhan buried alive as a sacrifice?
Commander Zhu and the men from the Five City Patrol retreated to the side to observe the unfolding situation. If the Marchioness made a move, it was simply bad luck for Zhan Feiyu, who had provoked Tyrant You. Now that Tyrant You was dead, it was only natural for the Marquis's estate to react with fury.
"I implore you, Madam, to withdraw your order!" Seeing that the Marquis's estate guards were indeed about to act, Prefect Lu stepped forward to intervene. After bowing to Madam Du, he said, "The death of the heir has nothing to do with Miss Zhan. I ask that Madam..."
"Silence!" Madam Du sharply retorted. She had dared to slap Madam Chang at the Chang residence that very night. Prefect Lu was merely a sixth-rank official of the Shun Tian Prefecture, and Madam Du held him in no regard.
Seeing Prefect Lu attempting to interfere, Madam Du approached with a sinister expression, her golden hairpin and phoenix-shaped ornament swaying slightly. "Today, I will take this slut back to the Marquis's estate. Anyone who dares to obstruct me and defy authority will face my wrath!"