Chapter 92: The Incident Unfolds
When Lord Jiang, the official in charge of patrols and defense in Zhangye City, arrived sweating profusely and panting heavily, Zhu Langzhong from Returning Spring Hall was crouched on the ground taking Feng Dahu's pulse. Seeing Lord Jiang, Zhu Langzhong stood up with visible relief, abandoning Feng Dahu to greet him.
"Lord Jiang, you’ve finally arrived!" Zhu Langzhong clasped his hands in salute. "I only treat minor ailments like children’s convulsions. Injuries like Master Feng’s are beyond my expertise—I truly can’t help. Please find another skilled physician for him."
Zhu Langzhong ran a pharmacy in Zhangye, and Lord Jiang oversaw the city’s patrols, so the two were acquainted. But Lord Jiang’s heart soured like he’d swallowed bile—Feng Dahu was the brother-in-law of Deputy Commander Liu, while Zhao Ling was Marquis Yingchuan’s man. In no mood for pleasantries, he strode straight into the inner room.
Feng Dahu lay in a pool of blood, his left cheek, buttocks, thighs, calves, and even four fingers of his left hand torn away—a horrifying sight.
Lord Jiang quickly stepped back out and asked Zhu Langzhong, "How serious are Feng Dahu’s injuries?"
Zhu Langzhong was already regretting his involvement.
When the constables had summoned him, he’d been half-asleep, assuming it was just another brawl-related injury—something he could either treat with medicine or decline. But who knew the victim would be Feng Dahu?
Feng Dahu was clearly beyond saving. Yet if he died, his sister—the fierce concubine of Deputy Commander Liu—would surely blame Zhu Langzhong for failing to save him.
Hearing Lord Jiang’s question, Zhu Langzhong ambled leisurely toward the exit, raising his voice. "Master Feng’s wounds are external. The priority is to find a physician skilled in trauma care to stop the bleeding with wound medicine. I specialize in pediatrics and don’t carry such supplies—preparing them now would take too long. Lord Jiang, you must find another renowned doctor! Any further delay will worsen his condition."
His words carried outside, sparking murmurs among the onlookers.
Lord Jiang cursed inwardly at Zhu Langzhong’s cunning.
Did Feng Dahu look like someone who could be saved with just wound medicine?
Zhu Langzhong was clearly afraid of being blamed if Feng Dahu died. By spouting nonsense now, he could later shift the blame onto the yamen for delaying treatment.
Yet Lord Jiang couldn’t refute the logic.
Nearly two hours had passed since the report, and they still hadn’t sent Feng Dahu for proper care. The Feng family would undoubtedly hold them accountable.
Furious, he glared at the lead constable—then noticed two fierce-looking wolfhounds lounging in the courtyard.
Perhaps satiated, the dogs lay with their eyes closed.
Had these beasts mauled Feng Dahu?
If not for them, they wouldn’t be in this mess, leaving Lord Jiang standing clueless at the scene."Excellent," he called to the leading constable, "beat these two beasts to death with the rod."
This would at least provide some explanation to the Feng family.
The constable named Excellent hesitated for a moment before whispering, "Should we inform the victim's family first?"
Hearing this, Lord Jiang grew even more irritated. But thinking of Marquis Yingchuan... his anger deflated.
"Forget it. Just tie these two dogs up properly—don't let them escape or die," he said sullenly.
Excellent acknowledged the order and then asked, "What about Young Master Feng's injuries...?"
Leaving him untreated would only invite more trouble.
"Carry him to Jici Hall," Lord Jiang snapped impatiently. "Do I really need to spell everything out for you?"
Jici Hall was the largest pharmacy in Zhangye City, owned by the Xiping Marquis family.
Understanding the implication, Excellent immediately barked orders to his men to carry the injured man.
Some constables removed a door panel from Fu Tingyun's kitchen to use as a stretcher, while others lifted Feng Dahu onto it. The courtyard descended into chaos.
Lord Jiang then quietly instructed Excellent, "Tell the men—if they value their lives, they'll report the incident as happening an hour later."
"Understood, sir," Excellent nodded knowingly, though inwardly he wasn't entirely confident.
Lord Jiang gave a slight nod before raising his voice, "Which one of you is Zheng San?"
Zheng San hurried forward respectfully and bowed. "This humble one is Zheng San!"
"Given what's happened, you'll need to come with us to the yamen," Lord Jiang said amiably. "Just recount the events, sign your statement, and you'll be free to go."
Zheng San's heart sank.
The yamen gates face south, but justice only enters with silver in hand.
Yet at this point, he had no choice but to comply.
Gritting his teeth, he answered, "Yes, sir."
Two constables carried Feng Dahu out on the kitchen door panel, followed by Lord Jiang, Zheng San, and the two large wolfhounds.
Dawn was beginning to break.
The crowd of onlookers parted ways, standing on tiptoes to catch glimpses and gasping in shock.
"How horrifying! Did you see? Half his face was bitten off!"
"Is Feng Dahu alive or dead?"
"Physician Zhu is over there—we can ask him later."
Two sedan chairs approached from the opposite direction. One was an official green Fujian-style chair, each side attended by a maidservant.
Someone in the dispersing crowd recognized one of the maids.
"That's the wife of Wang Canjiang, the garrison commander of Zhuanglang Garrison!"
"And the other is Zheng Sanniang, who serves Miss Fu."
The crowd surged forward again.
Lord Jiang inwardly groaned at the bad timing.
The sedan chairs halted, blocking his path.
The attending maids lifted the curtains, revealing the stern-faced Wang Furen stepping out first, followed by Fu Tingyun with a handkerchief draped over her head.
"Miss!" Zheng San rushed forward excitedly.
He first bowed to Fu Tingyun, then to Wang Furen. "Thank heavens you weren't home! Otherwise... I'd deserve death a hundred, a thousand times over!" He hung his head in shame.
"What does this have to do with you?" Wang Furen interjected angrily before Fu Tingyun could speak. "Are you saying it's your fault that thieves targeted your home?" Her sharp gaze then fixed on Lord Jiang. "Lord Jiang, I heard someone say the Zhao residence was robbed. What exactly happened here?"
The curfew at the General Military Headquarters was still in effect at daybreak—who could have informed Wang Furen so quickly?Lord Jiang sighed inwardly and recounted the events, naturally omitting any unsubstantiated claims about whether Feng Dahu had gone to steal kisses or commit adultery—such words could neither be spoken nor verified.
Wang Furen wore an expression of astonishment. "You're saying the intruder at the Zhao residence was Feng Dahu? How... how is that possible? He's the brother of Liu Fuzongbing's concubine! Isn't this a case of knowingly breaking the law?"
Lord Jiang gave a bitter smile.
Who didn’t know of Feng Dahu’s notorious deeds in Zhangye? Wasn’t Wang Furen feigning ignorance?
In any case, when immortals fight, it’s the little ghosts who suffer.
Right now, he just wanted to send Feng Dahu to Jici Hall as quickly as possible. If the Feng family came asking questions, he’d at least have an excuse ready.
"Wang Furen, Feng Dahu was bitten by the Zhao family’s wolfhounds and needs immediate treatment at Jici Hall..."
Lord Jiang stood with his hands respectfully at his sides, but inwardly, he was screaming: Wang Furen, please stop us! That way, Feng Dahu’s affairs won’t be our responsibility anymore!
"Is that so?" Wang Furen said sympathetically. "Then hurry to Jici Hall! Let Zheng San accompany us back to check if anything is missing from the house."
Lord Jiang stared at Wang Furen in shock.
Wang Furen stood unmoving.
As if to say: If you don’t hand over Zheng San, I won’t step aside.
The consequence of not stepping aside would be Feng Dahu’s death—and Lord Jiang would be left holding the blame for it.
Cursing inwardly, Lord Jiang dared not show the slightest disrespect on his face. He handed Zheng San over to Wang Furen, then carried Feng Dahu away on a stretcher, leading the two wolfhounds as they left the back street.
Zheng San exhaled in relief.
Wang Furen’s personal Housekeeper urged the crowd, "Everyone, disperse now, disperse!"
Some left, while others approached Fu Tingyun and Wang Furen to greet them. "Ah, thank goodness you weren’t home! If you had been, you’d have been scared half to death."
It was the ever-talkative Qi Taitai.
Recalling the glimpse she’d caught of Feng Dahu lying on the stretcher, Fu Tingyun nodded with lingering fear. "Yes, truly by the grace of the Bodhisattva."
Qi Taitai then offered Fu Tingyun some advice. "A house invaded by robbers carries an aura of violence. It’s best to invite a Taoist priest to perform a ritual. I know Shanning Daozhang from Seven Stars Temple. How about I accompany you there tomorrow to invite him to cleanse the negative energy and check the feng shui? You’ve been having such misfortune lately—perhaps you’ve offended something!"
The thought of Feng Dahu having sneaked into her home left Fu Tingyun unsettled. Coupled with the trouble she’d inadvertently stirred with him, she was somewhat tempted by the idea. Just as she was about to respond, Zheng San suddenly shrieked, "Miss, Madam, look—!"
In the pale light of dawn, many neighbors on the back street saw two furtive men climbing over the wall from Mo Yi’s house.
"This is... this is..." Wang Furen’s face flushed crimson. "Outrageous! Utterly outrageous!"
Fu Tingyun stood dumbfounded, staring blankly as the two figures vanished into the neighboring alley.
"Heavens! Who would’ve thought Consort Lu would do such a thing!" Qi Taitai’s shrill voice carried a hint of excitement.
Those who hadn’t yet dispersed added, "I think one of them looked like Deng Xiaoxian from Drum Tower Street. That Deng Xiaoxian who lives off women!""No way!" someone retorted. "Didn't Deng Xiaoxian hook up with that singer Bai Lianhua? How did he get involved with Consort Lu now?"
"You don't know the half of it," another chuckled. "How can Bai Lianhua compare to Consort Lu? Say what you will about Consort Lu, at least she's got silver to spare! Isn't that why Deng Xiaoxian entertains those women—for the money?"
"Enough!" Wang Furen shouted. "Such vulgar gossip. Aren't you afraid your tongues will rot?"
Some admired Wang Furen's blunt and fiery nature, while others detested her self-righteous airs.
"Wang Furen, you can't dismiss it like that. Two men were seen climbing over Consort Lu's wall—that's a fact, isn't it? We haven't made up a single word! Surely you don't think respectable men would choose to scale walls in broad daylight when there's a perfectly good gate?"
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Sisters and brothers, I'll be visiting my child tomorrow—just being a mother for the day. There will only be one update on June 2nd!
O(∩_∩)O~
(End of Chapter)
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