Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu did not stay long at the Marquis Wen Chang's residence after the incident and returned.
On the way back, Feng Xi Wu directly asked Lu Qing Wan, "The incriminating evidence against Marquis Wen Chang's household, did you collect it yourself?"
He had glanced at it. Whether it was the wording or the compilation of evidence, it was no less than the case files recorded by the secretaries of the Ministry of Justice. If the Ministry of Justice investigated diligently, it would not be difficult to convict them.
But the problem was, these events had happened over ten, or even thirty years ago.
How Lu Qing Wan had managed to find out these details left Feng Xi Wu utterly bewildered.
"How could I have that ability?"
Lu Qing Wan answered frankly, "The maids discovered it while taking inventory of my dowry. It's fortunate that set of hair ornaments wasn't very eye-catching, so Madam Lan and her daughter didn't take it.
Otherwise, if they had taken it, my father and mother's grievances from back then would have been in vain!"
Thinking of the various crimes committed by the family of Marquis Wen Chang against Lu Zhen Ting and his wife, as recorded, Lu Qing Wan felt a surge of anger from the bottom of her heart.
"Can that evidence convict Madam Zhang and Lu Zhen Shan?"
Although it detailed the specific times and processes of Madam Zhang and her son's misdeeds, some even with witness testimonies, it was still just written material. Lu Qing Wan was not very familiar with the laws of Da Gan and wasn't entirely confident.
"It concerns Princess An Yang, so the Ministry of Justice dares not be negligent.
Furthermore, so many people heard Madam Zhang's slips of the tongue. Once in the Ministry of Justice's prison, many tough men break down and confess. She's just an old woman, it won't be a problem."
Feng Xi Wu was comforting Lu Qing Wan, but he was also stating the facts.
However, this time, he was truly mistaken.
Yue'er and Li Qing entered Tongyuan Garden one after another. Yue'er was in a panic, "My Lady, a message has come from Marquis Wen Chang's residence. Concubine Lan has suddenly passed away. The second young lady doesn't seem to be preparing for a funeral and intends to bury her directly."
The suddenness of the event surprised Lu Qing Wan. Before she could say anything, Li Qing also arrived.
Seeing his travel-worn appearance, Lu Qing Wan swallowed her words and gestured for Li Qing to speak first.
The latter cupped his hands and said, "Reporting to His Highness, the Ministry of Justice has received word. Madam Zhang only admits to the various crimes she committed against Marquis Lu in her youth.
However, regarding Princess An Yang, she vehemently denies any involvement and firmly states that Princess An Yang's disappearance has nothing to do with her."
Lu Qing Wan chuckled, "What kind of day is it today? All the fresh news is coming at once!"
"Your concubine mother is, after all, the daughter of the Ministry of Revenue's assistant minister. Lu Si Wan's hasty burial without announcing the mourning must have something to do with it."
Feng Xi Wu calmly speculated, "As for Madam Zhang, it's unlikely an old woman could withstand the interrogation of officials from the Ministry of Justice. She confessed to murdering Marquis Lu but insists she had nothing to do with Princess An Yang's disappearance. There are only two possibilities.
The first is that Princess An Yang's disappearance truly has nothing to do with her; the second..."
Lu Qing Wan calmly finished, "The second is that my mother is already dead, and she was the one who killed her."
Meeting Feng Xi Wu's questioning gaze, she replied with unusual calm, "Because she knows very well that the crime of harming my father happened long ago. And since then, my father has been safe and sound. Those misdeeds would at most bring her some disrepute, but wouldn't harm her fundamentally.
However, if she admits to killing my mother, not only will she lose her head immediately, but the entire Marquis Wen Chang's household will also be implicated."
Feng Xi Wu nodded. That was precisely his point.
"If that's the case, then Madam Zhang will likely not confess easily."
"Whether she confesses or not is beyond her control. Your Highness, please send someone to keep an eye on Madam Zhang. I fear she might meet her end before she has a chance to confess."
Once Madam Zhang opens her mouth, Marquis Wen Chang's household, and even the imperial merchant Zhang family, will be implicated. Her life is far too precious now.
"Alright."
Feng Xi Wu readily agreed, "As for the death of your concubine mother, do you wish to pursue it or not?"
"I have no desire to manage her life or death, but Lu Si Wan's haste to bury her makes me want to intervene."
Lu Qing Wan did not hide her malicious intentions, "Besides, doesn't Your Highness want to know what will happen to the host of the main Gu after the host of the child Gu dies?"
Feng Xi Wu shook his head, dumbfounded. "I will have someone monitor Prince Chen immediately."
Lu Qing Wan grinned, "Then I'll trouble Your Highness!"
With a word from the masters, the subordinates ran their legs off.
After a brief discussion between Lu Qing Wan and Feng Xi Wu, Li Yang and the others were swamped with work.
However, when busy, their efficiency was also top-notch.
It was just that the result was a bit awkward. As night approached, Li Yang returned.
With a dark line across his forehead, he told Lu Qing Wan, "Yesterday, during the return visit, Prince Chen, for some reason, was involved with Concubine Lan. Several people in the Marquis's household witnessed it.
Prince Chen, angered and embarrassed, blamed Concubine Lan for seducing him and ordered poisoned wine on the spot."
With the love Gu, Lu Qing Wan was not surprised that Feng Qing Heng and Concubine Lan would do such a disgusting thing.
She only wondered, "What about Lu Si Wan? That was her own mother. Didn't she try to stop Feng Qing Heng?"
Li Yang shook his head vigorously, "Fortunately, those two maids held her back. Otherwise, Lu Si Wan would have killed Concubine Lan herself even without Prince Chen ordering poisoned wine.
Even so, Concubine Lan's face was slashed with a hairpin, leaving a long, horrifying gash!"
As he spoke, Li Yang shivered involuntarily.
It was unclear whether he was scared or disgusted.
Lu Qing Wan pondered for a moment, "Concubine Lan was, after all, a person from the prestigious Marquis Zhao Lie's household. How can she die so obscurely? Report it to the authorities?"
She looked at Feng Xi Wu with a questioning gaze.
If this matter spread, Feng Qing Heng's reputation would be ruined, and the royal family's dignity would be damaged. She wondered if Feng Xi Wu would mind.
Little did she know, seeing her tormenting Feng Qing Heng, her former fiancé, the Regent King wished he could give his full endorsement.
And perhaps add a few more accusations against Feng Qing Heng for good measure.
Thus, the Regent King ignored Lu Qing Wan and directly told Li Yang, "Didn't you hear what the Princess Consort said? Go and report it to the authorities!"
Li Yang: ...
Your Highness, do you still remember that he is your nephew?
However, thinking about it from another perspective, it was quite troublesome for his master to have a nephew like Prince Chen.
Therefore, Li Yang cheerfully arranged for someone to report the matter to the authorities.
Lu Qing Wan, on the other hand, smiled innocently at Feng Xi Wu.
The latter spoke with doting affection, "Just tell me directly what you want me to do. Would I refuse you?"
"Hehe," Lu Qing Wan giggled foolishly, "I have a way to make Madam Zhang confess. Can Your Highness let me see Madam Zhang?"
Feng Xi Wu raised an eyebrow, "Just to make her confess?"
Lu Qing Wan raised three fingers and swore, "I promise to only make her tell the truth. If my mother's disappearance truly has nothing to do with her, I will not pursue it further.
If Your Highness is not at ease, you can have someone supervise the entire process, really!"
Feng Xi Wu looked at her for a long time before finally agreeing, "The Emperor's Birthday is coming soon, and envoys from various countries will be arriving in the capital. Don't make things too ugly."
Lu Qing Wan nodded repeatedly in agreement, not realizing that this matter, from the moment Marquis Wen Chang's family caused trouble at the Marquis Zhao Lie's residence, was destined to be no small affair.