Chapter 607 Facing the Accusation
The news of the Prefectural Commissioner's young son harassing his friend's wife and then driving her to her death had only just spread through the streets and alleys yesterday. This morning, the news of someone carrying a coffin into the city and then beating the drum at the yamen to appeal for justice spread even faster than wings.
Before Prefect Jiao could even ascend the bench, the area outside the yamen was already crowded with onlookers. More people were expected to arrive upon hearing the news.
"I heard the one kneeling is a Xiu Cai (scholar), and beside him are his two children. They lost their mother at such a young age. Their future..." A woman with a vegetable basket slung over her arm tutted and shook her head, looking sympathetically and worriedly at the two children dressed in mourning clothes with bewildered expressions.
Another auntie, also out selling vegetables early in the morning, chimed in, "I heard the young woman in the coffin was beautiful, which is why this misfortune occurred. So, when choosing a wife, it's best to find someone virtuous and capable. Being too beautiful is a disaster!"
At this point, the auntie straightened her back. After she went home, she wanted to see which of her neighbors dared to say her eldest daughter was ugly. Bah, what good was beauty? It was safer to be like her eldest daughter.
Compared to the common folk outside the yamen, who were there to watch the spectacle, the few constables inside the yamen exchanged glances and huddled together, whispering. However, unlike the gossip of the common people, the constables, while sensing something amiss, couldn't help but stray from the topic.
Peeking outside the yamen, a young constable whispered, "Young Master Qiu San had come to the yamen before. He was so handsome and refined, how could he possibly fancy a village woman?"
Noble sons from official families were already handsome and dignified, having seen all sorts of beauties. The young constable dared to boast that even a maid pulled from the Qiu manor would be more beautiful and talented than Madam Qi.
Not to mention the ladies from prominent families who were a perfect match. Would Young Master Qiu San, who was used to pearls, be captivated by a mere pebble?
"Perhaps someone just has that kind of taste," a lewd voice sounded. The fat constable stroked his chin with a vulgar expression. Having worked as a constable for several years, he had seen such cases.
Some people were born with such peculiar tastes, abandoning their beautiful wives at home to provoke those unsavory women outside. As the saying goes, a concubine is not as good as a mistress, and a mistress is not as good as the thrill of the forbidden; the forbidden is not as good as the unattainable.
Constable Liu, who was on duty, glared at his subordinates who were becoming increasingly outrageous and warned them, "Li Sizhi's body is still in the Yi Zhuang (mourning house). Don't all of you blab carelessly."
Uh...
The constables froze, suddenly remembering this. It had only been discovered yesterday that someone had deliberately spread rumors in Qianzhong Prefecture, but Li Sizhi had been silenced, and the clue was broken.
When a minor official from the yamen came to inform Prefect Jiao, the Prefect had already finished his breakfast and was instructing Jiao Lianping and Jiao Lianyu to stay at home these few days and not go out unless necessary.
"Father, your words are mistaken. Qi Changlin is Second Brother's sworn friend. Now that his wife has died under suspicious circumstances, how can Second Brother stay at home? He must naturally offer assistance and help find the murderer, so as not to betray Second Brother's reputation as a gentleman."
Jiao Lianping, holding a teacup, leaned lazily in a armchair, his face showing undisguised sarcasm. This matter involved Qiu Huaixin. How would his good second brother "uphold justice"?
"The deceased should be respected. I ask Elder Brother to speak with caution!" Jiao Lianyu's expression was solemn. For the first time, he did not yield to Jiao Lianping as usual, and for the first time, he defied Prefect Jiao's wishes. "Father, Changlin has an elderly mother to care for, and a pair of children below. Now that Sister-in-law has passed away, I must go and help no matter what. I hope Father will understand."
Prefect Jiao looked at Jiao Lianyu's serious expression, feeling both gratification and worry. He was gratified by Jiao Lianyu's loyalty to his friend, but he also worried that if this matter involved the Qiu family, and the mastermind dared to plot against Qiu Huaixin, then they might also kill Lianyu.
As for his sarcastic eldest son, Prefect Jiao was used to it and directly ignored Jiao Lianping. He said to Jiao Lianyu, "Since that is the case, have the steward take people to help, and also find a doctor from the clinic to go with them. Be sure to speak and act cautiously."
Jiao Lianyu stood up and bowed solemnly to Prefect Jiao, "Thank you, Father, for your understanding."
Prefect Jiao waved his hand, signaling Jiao Lianyu not to be so formal. Lianyu was sincere and upright, incapable of the petty actions of seeking advantage and avoiding harm. Moreover, no matter who was plotting behind Madam Qi's death, Qi Changlin was ultimately innocent.
"My Lord, something has happened." The young servant guarding the study hurried in. The minor official who had been waiting outside, after receiving permission, also entered the study and recounted how Qi Changlin had carried the coffin to the yamen to beat the drum and appeal for justice.
...
Unlike the dense crowd of commoners outside the courtroom, Zhan Feiyu, accompanied by Yin Wuyan, was openly observing from behind the hall.
The minor official placed two cups of tea on the table, not daring to look more than once, and retreated with a fearful expression. This Lord held the token of the Forbidden Dragon Guard, a notorious killer. Just thinking about it made his legs go weak.
Zhan Feiyu walked to the side and peeked into the hall, using the screen for cover. Qi Changlin and his two children were all in mourning attire. The black coffin was placed on the right side of the hall, and with the yamen runners holding court staves on both sides, the hall was packed with commoners waiting for the session to begin.
"Big Brother, what is Qi Changlin doing?" Zhan Feiyu asked after looking. The defendant, Qiu Huaixin, had not yet appeared, so the session could not begin for a while.
What Zhan Feiyu didn't understand was that Madam Qi's death was suspicious in every way. Qi Changlin was also a scholar who had passed the imperial examinations. Even if he was stubborn, he could see the problems. Yet, he insisted on carrying a coffin and suing Qiu Huaixin at the yamen. This was undoubtedly self-destructive to his future.
Compared to the people with various expressions inside and outside the hall, Yin Wuyan, dressed in a black brocade robe, remained expressionless and indifferent throughout. The coldness and killing intent emanating from him made the minor official who brought the tea hold his breath, lest he provoke these killing stars of the Forbidden Dragon Guard and die without knowing why.
Yin Wuyan looked at Zhan Feiyu, who had returned to her seat. The coldness on his face receded. "Qi Changlin is vainly hoping to be recorded in history."
Zhan Feiyu's eyes widened slightly. She had just been thinking that Qi Changlin's accusation was a result of him being enraged at Qiu Huaixin, and that because his beloved wife had died tragically, he was stubbornly trying to drag Qiu Huaixin down with him. Zhan Feiyu had indeed thought of other possibilities.
"Miss, Seventh Master, have some tea." He Nuan came over with a tea tray.
Having stayed with Zhan Feiyu in the courtyard behind the yamen for a few days previously, He Nuan was quite familiar with the Qianzhong Prefecture yamen. Not only had she re-brewed the tea, but she had also brought four kinds of pastries.
As for the tea that the minor official had just brought, He Nuan took it back onto the tea tray. Qianzhong Prefecture was currently fraught with danger, and He Nuan basically did not allow Zhan Feiyu to consume food or drink from outside.
Zhan Feiyu was still pondering Yin Wuyan's words. Madam Qi's death was a tragedy. She had been schemed against by the Wu family. As an ordinary woman who had always lived in the countryside, coupled with her medicine being swapped, it was normal for her to become misguided when weak and ill due to the instigation of someone with intentions.
Madam Qi only wished for death. It was better to use her own cheap life to secure a good future for her husband, who came from a humble background, and their two children. In this way, she could rest in peace in the netherworld.
But what about Qi Changlin? With his wife's body not yet cold, he knelt in the hall with his two children. From this point alone, Zhan Feiyu looked down on Qi Changlin. Whether he had ulterior motives or was truly seeking justice for his deceased wife, he should not have disregarded the two children.
Yin Wuyan looked at Zhan Feiyu, who was thinking with a tense little face. Her obedient appearance made his heart soften. No matter how fierce the young girl usually appeared, she was still kind at heart and completely unaware of the wickedness of human nature.
Qi Changlin carried the coffin to the yamen. Yin Wuyan didn't need to investigate to guess Qi Changlin's intentions. In the end, he was just a hypocrite.
Otherwise, why would he place such a heavy burden on a woman? He would socialize and talk grandly in the official academy, yet he never thought that his parents, wife, and children lived in poverty and wore rags.
"Even if Young Master Qiu is cleared of his bad reputation, his engagement with the fifth daughter of the Gu family is now ruined. Qi Changlin is afraid of retaliation from the Qiu family afterward, which is why he took this action." Zhan Feiyu had not considered this aspect before.
He was destined to offend the Qiu family. Even if Qi Changlin was on good terms with Jiao Lianyu, what of it?
He offended the highest official in Qianzhong Dao. Even if Lord Qiu disdained to deal with a mere Xiu Cai like him, others who sought to please and flatter the Qiu family would surely target Qi Changlin.
In this way, Qi Changlin was doomed to have no future. His life would be stuck at the Xiu Cai level. Aspiring to rise through the imperial examinations was an absolute delusion. From the moment Madam Qi intended to frame Qiu Huaixin, she had cut off Qi Changlin's path to officialdom.
However, Madam Qi's vision was shallow. She only thought of scheming against the Qiu family and using her death to force the Qiu family to take care of Qi Changlin and their two children. She did not realize the terrible consequences of offending noble families and ancient clans. It was definitely not something that Qi Changlin, who came from a humble background, could withstand.
Qi Changlin, with his greater knowledge, must have realized this. Instead of being mediocre and suppressed with no hope of advancement in the future, it was better to fight for his life, gain a reputation for not fearing the powerful, and perhaps even find a way out of desperation. Were the upright censors in the Censorate not all like this?
(End of this chapter)