Chapter 275
"What are you doing? Who allowed you to barge in!" Lian'er screamed, rushing to the door to block a group of menacing thugs.
Ignoring Lian'er's furious reprimand, the two leading soldiers roughly pushed her aside, their fierce gazes locking onto Zhang Yiyi, who had risen from the main seat.
Stumbled by the push and nearly falling, Lian'er steadied herself by gripping the table, then cursed fiercely, "This is outrageous! How dare you cause trouble in our Zhenbian Marquisate? If you disturb our Madam, can you bear the consequences?"
With a whoosh, another seven or eight soldiers quickly entered. The small flower hall was already crowded, making it feel even more cramped.
Zhang Yiyi's expression suddenly changed, reminding her of the incident with the Yang family years ago. A group of soldiers had directly sealed off the general's mansion, all servants were driven to the side, and the Yang family members were arrested as if they were criminals in shackles. Their magnificent general's mansion was looted, its houses and furniture smashed, and it fell into ruin within a few days.
County Magistrate Zhu, seeing the last person to enter, couldn't help but be stunned. "Commander Wu?"
"Magistrate Zhu, your subordinate is under orders to apprehend Madam Zhang. I request Magistrate Zhu to step aside." Commander Wu cupped his fists in greeting, his attitude firm. Since he dared to come arrest Madam Zhang, he naturally wouldn't pay much attention to a mere county magistrate.
To dare to arrest someone from Zhenbian in the Longyou region? County Magistrate Zhu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. The times were truly changing.
Steadying his emotions, Zhang Yiyi cast aside her gentle demeanor, her pretty face darkening. She sternly questioned, "You, a mere thousand-household officer of the garrison, dare to be disrespectful to me? Does Commander Dou not have the Zhenbian Marquisate in his eyes?"
Seeing Zhang Yiyi sitting back in her chair, Magistrate Zhu's mind conjured the smiling image of Zhan Feiyu. In comparison, this Madam Zhang appeared to be all bluster and no substance, while that young girl, despite her youth, had controlled the entire situation with her words.
The Zhenbian Marquisate did hold deterrent power, but thinking of the Forbidden Dragon Guard, Commander Wu's spine straightened immediately. He said coldly, "Whatever it is, we'll discuss it in court. Take her away!"
"See if any of you dare!" Zhang Yiyi roared, clenching her fists. "Guards, throw these ignorant people out!"
As her voice fell, four Marquisate guards quickly stepped in front of Zhang Yiyi, and the atmosphere instantly became tense. Although the garrison had more men, the Marquisate guards were all masters who could fight a hundred, and the outcome of a fight would be uncertain.
Observing the two sides confronting each other, Magistrate Zhu wished he could turn back into a turtle and hide. But no matter how incompetent he was, he knew that if a fight broke out, regardless of the outcome for the garrison and the Zhenbian Marquisate, he, the small county magistrate, would definitely not fare well.
"Commander Wu, how about giving this official some face?" Magistrate Zhu said with a fawning smile, whispering to Commander Wu, who was clad in armor. "For the sake of appearances, if the Marquisate pursues this matter, this official will need an explanation. May I know whose orders Commander Dou is acting upon?"
Logically, the garrison had no authority to arrest people. Investigating and trying cases was the responsibility of the local government.
Commander Wu was also a shrewd individual and was happy to do Magistrate Zhu a favor. "Your subordinate is merely acting under orders. I haven't seen any outsiders come to visit Commander Dou at the garrison."
Knowing when to stop was most suitable in official circles. To have Commander Dou order the arrest of Madam Zhang without anyone noticing would have required careful thought from Magistrate Zhu before today.
But now that Commander Wu had brought it up, Magistrate Zhu thought of Zhan Feiyu. That young girl had indeed not been bluffing; the order to Commander Dou must have come from the Forbidden Dragon Guard.
After understanding this, Magistrate Zhu cast a sympathetic glance at the haughty Zhang Yiyi. With the Forbidden Dragon Guard involved, let alone her being just a close confidante of the Marquis, even the Marquis himself would likely have to accept his fate. In the entire Great Qing Dynasty, who dared to offend the Forbidden Dragon Guard?
Seeing Magistrate Zhu's expression, Zhang Yiyi's heart sank. She suppressed her panic and unease. "We'll discuss anything when the Marquis arrives. I will stay here, and I want to see who dares to forcibly take me away!"
Lian'er was also uneasy and quickly stood beside Zhang Yiyi, forcing herself to speak, "On what grounds are you arresting my Madam? Is there no law anymore?"
"Eight bodies are still lying in the coffins. Madam, you don't think this matter is over, do you?" Commander Wu sneered. While he wasn't exactly a good person, he hadn't personally caused the deaths of eight people from the outset. Even if they were eight ruffians, so what? The Great Qing laws weren't just for show.
Thinking this, Commander Wu looked at Zhang Yiyi, whose features were beautiful, as if she were a vengeful ghost. The sting in a wasp's tail was the most poisonous, and it was truly said that the most venomous hearts belonged to women.
Glancing around, Commander Wu looked at the four Marquisate guards blocking the way. "If there is any resistance, kill without mercy!"
Since he dared to come and arrest her, Commander Wu had brought fifty men. If the Marquisate guards dared to resist, he wouldn't be polite.
Zhang Yiyi's face changed again. Through the open door, she could see the garrison soldiers standing neatly in the courtyard, their sabers in hand, exuding an imposing aura.
"A clear conscience fears no slander. I will go with you!" Zhang Yiyi no longer struggled pointlessly. She stood up and gave Lian'er a signal.
A moment later, Zhang Yiyi was taken away, and Magistrate Zhu also followed. After all, this person still needed to be detained in the county jail, except that the guards were now soldiers of the garrison instead of jailers.
...
Xiangwu County was just that small. In the morning, eight bodies were displayed at the entrance of the Qiu residence. In the afternoon, the south gate small courtyard of the Dong family was surrounded by soldiers. This news spread like wildfire throughout Xiangwu County.
In the study, Zhan Feiyu was catching up on the homework that had been delayed that morning.
He Nuan stood quietly by, waiting. Only when Zhan Feiyu put down her brush did she bring over the red date and longan soup from the food box. "A quarter of an hour ago, Madam Zhang's maid came."
Lian'er's arrogant demeanor when they were sheltering from the rain in the ruined temple had left a deep impression on Zhan Feiyu. She picked up a spoon and drank two mouthfuls of the soup. "She came to beg Yang Xu for mercy?"
Zhang Yiyi's arrest was orchestrated by Zhan Feiyu. Even if the news reached the Zhenbian Marquisate, given the cold weather, it would take at least a day for people from the Marquisate to arrive.
He Nuan tidied the desk and replied, "No, she came to complain to Young Master Xu."
Zhan Feiyu smiled. "It doesn't matter. General Yang intends to temper Yang Xu anyway."
Seeing that Zhan Feiyu was not worried, He Nuan said no more. If Young Master Xu blamed or even resented Miss because of this, then Miss's trip would have been in vain.
A moment later, He Nuan left the study with the empty food box. On the other side, in the main courtyard, Qiu Zongxi was not surprised by Yang Shoucheng's appearance.
"The young girl is actually involved with the Forbidden Dragon Guard. This is something this old man did not expect." He motioned for Yang Shoucheng to sit down. Qiu Zongxi's expression deepened, and his voice carried a hint of complexity.
Compared to the hatred and disgust of the court officials towards the Forbidden Dragon Guard, Qiu Zongxi, with his violent temper, saw things more clearly. The Emperor's strong support for the Forbidden Dragon Guard was precisely to deal with those unsavory and dirty matters.
If the court officials conducted themselves uprightly, why would they fear the all-pervasive Forbidden Dragon Guard? To put it bluntly, it was because they had skeletons in their closets that they feared the Forbidden Dragon Guard.
Yang Shoucheng's face was solemn. "If Scholar Gu has a connection with the Forbidden Dragon Guard, then the matter of establishing the crown prince will not be far off."
As a Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy and a member of the Grand Secretariat, and a confidant of the Emperor, Scholar Gu was an isolated minister. For years, he had not even interacted with the Gu clan of Nanling, which further demonstrated Scholar Gu's determination to be an isolated minister.
The Forbidden Dragon Guard was the Emperor's knife, striking wherever the Emperor pointed. The infamy was borne by the Forbidden Dragon Guard, but this favor and imperial grace were also a deadly poison. Once a new emperor ascended the throne, the first to be purged would be the Forbidden Dragon Guard.
Now that the two had a connection, it was no wonder Yang Shoucheng speculated that Scholar Gu and the Forbidden Dragon Guard had secretly allied for self-preservation. At best, it was meritorious service to the dragon; at worst, they might even hold the Son of Heaven hostage to command the feudal lords.
"I have also taught that girl Yu for a few days. She is meticulous and leaves no loopholes. She would not rashly take out the Forbidden Dragon Guard's token to have Commander Dou make an arrest." This was also what puzzled Qiu Zongxi after receiving the news.
If Gu Qingzhou had ties with the Forbidden Dragon Guard, it would certainly be done in secret, and the first person to be kept in the dark would be the Emperor. Although the Emperor was a wise ruler, he could not tolerate the Yang family back then, and he would not tolerate a Grand Secretary and the Forbidden Dragon Guard joining forces now.
Yet, Zhan Feiyu acted so boldly, bringing the relationship between Scholar Gu and the Forbidden Dragon Guard into the open. Not only could Qiu Zongxi not figure it out, but it was estimated that once this news spread, all the court officials would be baffled. Was she not afraid that the Emperor would become suspicious and angered?
In the remote Longyou region, Zhan Feiyu was completely unaware that her actions had caused the entire Great Qing Dynasty to stir. Yet, no one dared to question Scholar Gu, nor did anyone dare to approach the Forbidden Dragon Guard. Everyone was anxious as if being scratched by cats, but the Emperor's expression at the morning court remained as usual, making it even more unfathomable.
"If Scholar Gu has meritorious service to the dragon, then his sending Yu to come here is likely with ulterior motives." This was Yang Shoucheng's greatest concern. The Yang family's resurgence was only to protect the common people, not to become a tool for court officials to contend for power, nor to interfere with the Emperor's establishment of the crown prince.
The Yang family was far from the court, and Qiu Zongxi was a carefree recluse. Therefore, they knew nothing about the situation of the princes in the palace. Hence, even with this deduction, they did not know which prince Scholar Gu favored.
After Yang Shoucheng left, Qiu Zongxi remained silent for a long time before sighing. He was truly getting old. Not to mention Gu Qingzhou, who was far away in the court, even the young girl living in his residence was beyond his comprehension.
Zhan Feiyu had originally thought that Yang Xu would come to find her before dinner, but after dinner, she learned from He Nuan that Yang Xu had gone to see Qiu Jinyu.
...
Although Yang Xu admired Zhan Feiyu, who was only a year older than him, he was unwilling to admit it verbally. However, with Qiu Jinyu, it was different. He was several years older, and coupled with his righteous intervention on the official road earlier, Yang Xu had a very good impression of him. Of course, it might also be because he was from the Qiu family that Yang Xu instinctively let down his guard.
"Are you sure it was Miss Zhan who did it?" Qiu Jinyu was stunned. Seeing Yang Xu nod, he couldn't help but frown. "If that's the case, why didn't you ask your uncle?"
Thinking of Qiu Zongxi's hatred of evil and his true temperament, if Yang Xu had gone, Qiu Zongxi would have definitely said it was well done; the murderer who disregarded human life should be thrown into prison.
"It's not easy for women. Once imprisoned, even if cleared of charges, it will be very difficult in the future." Qiu Jinyu's face was gentle, and his voice was clear and pleasant. "If the evidence is conclusive, then so be it. But if it's just speculation and suspicion, having the garrison arrest someone is too extreme."
Yang Xu stared at the candlelight, lost in thought. The maid's constant weeping that afternoon, although the mother-son affection seemed fake to Yang Xu, the death of those eight ruffians was indeed the work of Luo Butuo. Why didn't Xiao Yu have the garrison arrest the real murderer, but instead...
In fact, when Zhan Feiyu gave him silver notes that morning and asked those people to carry the bodies back for burial, Yang Xu had been confused. Why didn't they arrest Constable Luo? Magistrate Zhu was fawning over Xiao Yu, and arresting Luo Butuo, the mastermind, was only right.
"I want to ask Brother Qiu to go to the county yamen for me." Too many complex emotions mixed in his mind, Yang Xu couldn't figure it out and could only state his request first.
Zhang Yiyi had betrayed the Yang family back then, and she had lived in the Zhenbian Marquisate under questionable circumstances all these years. Yang Xu truly felt too ashamed to ask General Yang or Yang Shoucheng to plead for her.
As for Old Man Tie from the blacksmith shop, he was a former subordinate of the Yang family. He probably hated Zhang Yiyi even more and wouldn't help. It was possible that as soon as Yang Xu arrived, Old Man Tie would inform General Yang.
Yang Xu thought of everyone around him and finally realized that he could only ask Qiu Jinyu for help, and he himself did not want to visit the prison.
Qiu Jinyu smiled and patted Yang Xu's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, I will go for you tomorrow and make some arrangements. Regardless, she is still your mother."
"Thank you, Brother Qiu," Yang Xu said gratefully. If she had truly killed someone, it would be one thing. If she was innocent, and the Zhenbian Marquisate could no longer return, Yang Xu intended to buy a small courtyard for Zhang Yiyi to live in, as a repayment for his birth.
...
Qiu Zongxi disliked the third branch of the Qiu family, so even though Qiu Jinyu had moved in, he didn't even have a welcome banquet, nor did he care about Qiu Jinyu's whereabouts.
However, after he took people to the county yamen, this news quickly spread back to the Qiu residence, including the Zhenbian Marquisate and other forces that were secretly watching.
After the morning lesson ended, Qiu Zongxi took a sip of tea to moisten his throat. "You are quite composed."
"Sir, you are mistaken. Madam Zhang's outcome has nothing to do with me. If she is the mastermind, the Great Qing law will punish her. If she is innocent..." Zhan Feiyu grinned. In fact, innocence was impossible. Yang Xu probably still held a sliver of hope, believing that Luo Butuo was the mastermind.
"Scholars deeply detest the Forbidden Dragon Guard. If you have dealings with the Forbidden Dragon Guard, once it gets out, you will be ostracized and even opposed by all scholars in the world." Qiu Zongxi's expression was serious. Regardless of Scholar Gu's schemes, Qiu Zongxi genuinely liked Zhan Feiyu. The young girl was intelligent and quick-witted, and most importantly, diligent and hardworking, otherwise, he would not have considered taking her as a disciple.
Therefore, Qiu Zongxi's words were both advice and a reminder, urging Zhan Feiyu to be somewhat wary of Gu Qingzhou. Not all teachers regarded their disciples as their own children; there might be schemes and exploitation involved.