Hearing that Nan Yuan'er had fainted, Nan Chaoyin's expression remained unchanged. He dismissed the servant who brought the news, having no intention of visiting her.
"Master, yesterday..."
The dark guard reported on the events of the previous day. When discussing Madam Wang's medicine, he mentioned the dead cat in the kitchen today.
"I know!"
Nan Chaoyin merely nodded, saying no more.
As soon as he heard that Yu Jin had invited Feng Luan to treat Madam Wang, Nan Chaoyin knew that Madam Liu would make a move. However, the methods of the women in the back courtyard were not to be taken seriously.
After a moment's thought, he instructed, "Dispose of the cat and don't let Nan Yu Jin find out!"
"Yes!"
...
Liu Mansion!
Liu Ling suddenly woke up. The wound on his chest flared with pain, causing him to gasp. A venomous glint flashed in his eyes. He tried to turn over, only to find that his body was immobile. No matter how much he struggled or exerted himself, he could not move anything but his eyes, not even his mouth.
Liu Ling began to panic. Just then, he caught sight of a figure slowly approaching him from the corner of his eye.
...
Liu Ling was dead!
He died in his bed!
The coroner from the Jingzhao Yin's office concluded after the autopsy: the wound had worsened, damaging the internal organs, leading to ulceration and a pus-filled sore that attacked the heart!
In simple terms, it was a wound infection that led to his death.
However, the Jingzhao Yin, Wang Sheng, was troubled by the wound. According to the testimony of the Liu mansion's servants, Liu Ling was injured by Feng Luan. If this was the case, Feng Luan would have to be summoned to the Jingzhao Yin's office. But this Feng Luan... although without an official title, had been bestowed a title by His Majesty and was the direct disciple of Yaowang Valley. What would be the consequences of summoning him to the Jingzhao Yin's office?
After much deliberation, Wang Sheng finally ordered someone to go to Tongji Pharmacy.
The yamen runners were very polite. It was more of an invitation than an arrest. However, the shopkeeper of Tongji Pharmacy had no idea where Feng Luan was.
"You don't know?"
Wang Sheng's brows furrowed. "Doesn't Feng Luan live at Tongji Pharmacy?"
Tongji Pharmacy had a sizable storefront and a large area in the back. According to the shop blueprints obtained from the government broker, there were five rooms in the back. Wang Sheng had originally thought Feng Luan lived there. Who would have thought that he had another residence in the capital?
What could be done if this person couldn't be found?
"Sir, the Liu family is here to make trouble again!"
The servants from the Liu family came to cause trouble three times a day, which gave Wang Sheng a headache. He had no choice but to order a sedan chair to be prepared and went to the Liu mansion himself to explain the situation. As soon as he left, Lord Liu followed closely to the palace to lodge a complaint.
Ji Hong had not rescued Lord Gu for a long time, and now the Minister of Rites had come to complain. If he ignored it, it would chill the hearts of the court officials. However, considering that Feng Luan was a direct disciple of Yaowang Valley, he could not be directly arrested and imprisoned. After some thought, he decided to hand the matter over to the Ministry of Justice.
With the Ministry of Justice taking the lead, they would investigate the case.
The Minister of the Ministry of Justice felt his scalp tingle, but he could not disobey the imperial decree. He could only brace himself and send people to investigate Feng Luan's whereabouts.
...
"Liu Ling is dead?"
The shadow guard received the news almost immediately.
Nan Shiying was stunned for a full half-second after hearing the news before blinking and eating the osmanthus cake in her hand. When she heard that the Jingzhao Yin had gone to Tongji Pharmacy, Nan Shiying picked up her teacup and took another sip.
"So, he died from infection?"
"Was it the Jingzhao Yin's coroner who examined the body?"
Nan Shiying stroked her chin, recalling that she had indeed used the iron hook of the birdcage that day. But could it be that the doctors who treated him were all incompetent? Could they have let the wound become infected?
It just didn't seem right no matter how she looked at it!
"Yes!"
After the Liu mansion discovered Liu Ling's death, they first reported it to the Jingzhao Yin. After the Jingzhao Yin's coroner examined the body, the Ministry of Justice did not re-examine it. They merely sealed the documents and took Liu Ling's body back to the morgue of the Ministry of Justice.
"So now the Ministry of Justice is looking for me?"
Ji Jinmo glanced at her, not wanting to answer her obviously rhetorical and foolish question.
"Master, I'll go out for a walk tomorrow~"
Nan Shiying's eyes twinkled, a sly glint in her gaze. The slight upward curve of her lips revealed a faint smile. She was clearly plotting something.
Since the Ministry of Justice and Ji Hong did not intend to detain her directly, Ji Jinmo said nothing more, merely stating, "Bring the jade pendant!"
Nan Shiying pushed aside her collar and took out the jade pendant. She had attached a red string to it and hung it around her neck.
Ji Jinmo was silent for a few seconds, then lowered his eyes and remained speechless. His long fingers picked up the teacup and took several sips.
...
The next day, Nan Shiying swaggered onto Yunlan Street.
The constables guarding Yunlan Street immediately surrounded her. However, despite the imposing display, their attitude was quite friendly: "Young Master Feng, please come with us!"
"Go where?"
"The Ministry of Justice!"
Standing under the hall of the Ministry of Justice, Nan Shiying looked at the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, but her mind drifted to Zou Yun'er and her brother. If nothing else, for the Minister of the Ministry of Justice to have fathered Zou Yun'er and her brother, his wife must have been extremely beautiful!
This also showed that the Minister of the Ministry of Justice was indeed rather… abstract in appearance. His eyes were large, but too far apart. While others shed a single tear of longing that reached their lips in three years, his tears would travel from the corner of his eye to his cheek in three years.
He had a nose that pointed upwards and thick lips.
The only thing that was admirable was the aura he exuded.
He possessed the elegance of a scholar and the solemnity and ruthlessness of a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Justice.
"This humble one, Feng Luan, pays respects to Lord Zou!" Nan Shiying bowed slightly, offering a greeting.
In Lin Yuan, and indeed across the entire continent, the status of a direct disciple of Yaowang Valley was equivalent to that of a scholar with an official title. Therefore, even when meeting a high-ranking court official, one only needed to bow slightly, not kowtow.
Zou Chengyi certainly did not intend to put on airs with her. After nodding slightly, he said, "I presume Young Master Feng already knows why I have summoned you!"
Nan Shiying hesitated for a second and then shook her head, "This humble one actually does not know!"
Zou Chengyi looked at Nan Shiying, trying to detect any trace of deception on her face. However, whether it was because she was too skilled at disguise or because she was genuinely ignorant, he could not discern any clues.
Zou Chengyi stopped looking and guessing, and said in a deep voice, "Two days ago, the eldest son of the Minister of Rites, Liu Ling, died in his own courtyard. The coroner from the Jingzhao Yin's office concluded after the autopsy that he died from a wound infection."
"The yamen runners from the Jingzhao Yin's office questioned the servants of the Liu mansion and also went to the tea house, confirming that Liu Ling's injury was caused by you. Liu Ling died because of you, so..."
"My Lord, please allow this humble one to interrupt!"
"This humble one remembers that the conflict with Young Master Liu occurred half a month ago. Liu Ling's wounds should have healed by now. Of course, if the wound had truly not healed due to infection, then Liu Ling, not being a fool, would not have failed to seek treatment? If he had sought treatment, how could he have died? Furthermore, a wound infection is not a sudden death. Therefore, in this humble one's opinion, Liu Ling's death must have another cause!"
"May I ask if it would be possible for this humble one to re-examine the body!"