Chapter 20: If This Isn't Silencing Someone, What Is?

The imperial examinations in February this year were the first metropolitan exams held since the Emperor's ascension. The Emperor was only nineteen years old this year, born on the exact same month, day, and hour as the late Princess Yongjia.

The top scholar, Xu Henian, was only twenty-two. He was the scholar chosen by the Emperor, and the only jinshi candidate whose rank was personally decreed by the Emperor during the palace examination.

Xu He was undergoing training in the Menxia Province; though his official rank was low, he was a highly coveted asset.

Although the Marquis of Guangling was a military official, he had to bring Xu He into his fold.

Thus, several months ago, through various maneuvers, he finally arranged a marriage between Xu He and the eldest legitimate daughter of his second brother-in-law, Duan Xiong. The marriage was now settled.

Soon, Xu He would become the Marquis of Guangling's nephew-in-law, bound to the Du family.

"Marquis!"

Just as he had finished making his arrangements, the steward in charge of the gate rushed in, his face pale with shock: "He Jianzhong is dead!"

"What nonsense are you talking?"

The Marquis of Guangling took a sip of tea and rebuked him.

Only two hours ago, He Jianzhong had left his presence after receiving a scolding. The one who deserved to die was Lady Liu in prison; how could it be He Jianzhong?

Pure nonsense.

The steward grew frantic: "It is true! Not only is General He dead, but Madam He has gone mad! It was Madam He who killed him in her madness! The witnesses say she stabbed him at least a dozen times..."

He recounted every bit of news he had heard.

Fearing the Marquis would not believe him, he even gestured to indicate the locations of the wounds!

The Marquis of Guangling stared blankly for three breaths before finally rising from behind his desk.

His eyes locked onto the steward's face for a moment, ensuring the man truly had reliable news and wasn't just talking madness, before he strode out from behind his desk and roared, "Quickly, summon the Heir Apparent! Go to the He residence and see!"

The steward scurried out in a state of panic.

The Marquis of Guangling watched his retreating figure, taking a long time to withdraw his gaze, but his expression was one he could no longer compose!

...

Du Yu had originally been in Shuntian Prefecture dealing with the mess caused by Lady Liu, but upon hearing that something had happened at the He residence, he rushed there at full speed.

Huo Yun, who had been lying in wait near Shuntian Prefecture, saw him depart. He straightened his short tunic, grabbed his bundle, and walked toward the prison guards at the jail entrance: "Officer..."

When Du Yu arrived at the He residence, he also gasped at the scene before him: "Where is the madwoman who committed the crime? Bring her here at once!"

Madam He had arrived. She was being held kneeling on the ground.

Du Yu asked, "Did you kill him?"

Madam He raised her head, her eyes vacant and dazed, only smiling: "The Princess killed him."

Du Yu's heart jolted. He grabbed her hair: "What Princess?"

Madam He pointed into the room, then at the eaves, and then toward the back of the main house: "There, there, everywhere..."

Du Yu stared at her for a moment, frowned, and let go.

He then spotted Zhang Shaode: "When did you arrive?"

Zhang Shaode stepped forward: "Just now, not long ago!"

"Did you see anything?"

Zhang Shaode's face was deathly pale. He glanced up at him, then hurriedly lowered his head: "Nothing! I have discovered nothing at all!"

Du Yu frowned and crouched down to begin examining He Jianzhong's corpse.

"Where is the head of the He household?"

At that moment, someone suddenly arrived at the entrance.

It was actually a constable from Shuntian Prefecture.

Du Yu turned around: "What is it?"

The constable bowed hastily: "Reporting to the Heir Apparent, something has happened to He Hui! This afternoon, He Hui went to the magistrate's office to withdraw the lawsuit. After the formalities were completed, he went to the prison to collect Lady Liu. As a result, after consuming the food sent by the He family, Lady Liu died on the spot, vomiting blood from her mouth and nose. The preliminary determination is that He Hui is a major suspect!"

Zhang Shaode was shaken by the news. He opened his mouth to speak, but then shifted his gaze back to Du Yu.

"Nonsense!"

Du Yu suddenly roared. "I just came from Shuntian Prefecture; Lady Liu was perfectly fine there!"

The constable knelt on the ground and began kowtowing: "Please calm your anger, Heir Apparent! The matter is true. The magistrate's office has already convened a hearing. The official has sent me to summon the head of the He family..."

Du Yu paced in circles before kicking over a stool: "Absurd! That is He Hui's wife; he clearly went to collect her, so how could he kill his wife in prison? Have you investigated this thoroughly?!"

"The coroner has already examined the food Lady Liu ate. It has been confirmed that both the packaging and the style of the meal originated from the He family. Those exact same meals are even available in the He family kitchen."

"Please forgive us, Heir Apparent. We are merely delivering the message. The details of the case must be asked of the official..."

Du Yu's face turned ashen. He stared at the two men for a long time, unable to speak. Then, he roared, "Leave a few men to guard the He residence inside and out. The rest of you, follow me to Shuntian Prefecture!"

The constable scrambled up quickly to lead the way.

The courtyard, which had been noisy just moments ago, instantly fell much quieter.

Standing under the corridor, Zhang Shaode had lost all color in his face. His right hand instinctively pressed against his lapel!

Beneath his lapel, the bloodstained Imperial City Commander's token seemed to have turned into red-hot coal, burning him as if he were engulfed in flames...

...

Ever since Zhang Shaode left the house, Madam Zhang's eyelids had been twitching incessantly; there was not a moment of peace.

As she endured the agony until the sun began to set, footsteps finally sounded outside the door. Zhang Shaode entered, his face as white as a sheet of paper.

He pulled the Imperial City Commander's token from his bosom: "I found this under He Jianzhong's body. It was pressed in his palm."

"Given Madam He's physical strength, there is no way she could have killed He Jianzhong. Someone must have killed him first and then used Madam He as a scapegoat."

"The Imperial City Commander's token—only the Marquis holds one!"

"This is enough to prove that the matter with the He family... was done by the Du family."

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang felt as if her soul had departed her body: "The Marquis killed He Jianzhong? But why! The He family is so loyal to him; why would they do this?"

Zhang Shaode stared vacantly at the flame of the lamp: "Because we have already helped him secure the power of the Imperial City Command. There are plenty of people eager to die for the Marquis's manor; he no longer needs the He or Zhang families."

"On the contrary, because we and the He family know their secret, we are a threat. If they eliminate us, they can sleep soundly from now on!"

"The matter of the murder of Princess Yongjia will be buried deep underground, and no one in the world will ever be able to threaten them again."

"That alone is more than enough!"

"So, it's not just the He family; we are his next target!"

Madam Zhang was terrified. She shook her head: "That's impossible! Just the day before yesterday, the Marchioness of Guangling came to me to ask for help hosting the Old Madam's birthday banquet, and even wanted to arrange a marriage for our Ying'er!"

"Anyone can perform a play," Zhang Shaode's bloodshot eyes turned toward her. "If I told you that today, not only did He Jianzhong die, but Lady Liu also died in prison, and He Hui has been detained by the authorities as a murderer, would you still believe it wasn't the Du family's doing?!"

Madam Zhang's vision went dark: "He Hui is also in prison?"

"Just half an hour ago, the constable came personally to deliver the news!" Zhang Shaode gritted his teeth. "It's all coming together. If you don't call this an attempt to silence witnesses, what else could it be?"