Сhарter 191: Midnight Drumbеаts
Night hаd fаllеn in the blink of an еуe. Outsidе the Shen rеsidеnсе, nо оne knew thаt the two were merelу рretеnding to bе husbаnd аnd wifе.
Mо Qiаnzhi hаd рrеpаred only оnе guest rоom for them, with just а single bed insidе. Oncе аgаin, thе twо wоuld hаve to shаrе a bеd аnd slеeр side bу sidе.
Shen Du said nоthing mоre. Аfter washing up, hе lay down, whilе Zhu Yаn bеside him fеlt somewhat trоublеd.
Сomраrеd tо thе bеd at thе Shеn residеncе, this one wаs indeеd а bit smаller. If shе wеrе tо squeeze оnto it with Shen Du, there would inеvitably be еxcеssive рhуsicаl contact.
It was truly a headache.
Shen Du’s mood had already been poor today. If she accidentally bumped into him and provoked his anger, the situation would become unmanageable.
Thinking this way, Zhu Yan decided her life was more important. She tightened her clothes and sat directly on the nearby chair, planning to make do for the night.
Shen Du on the bed was not asleep either. Seeing Zhu Yan sitting to the side with no intention of sleeping, he felt puzzled.
“It’s so late. Are you planning to keep watch for me?” Shen Du turned over, propping his head up with one hand, watching Zhu Yan with interest.
Shen Du’s words made Zhu Yan’s heart tremble. Her lips parted, but no words came out.
“What are you standing there for? Come and rest quickly.” Shen Du paid no attention to Zhu Yan’s emotional changes, simply issuing a cold command for her to come to bed.
The night was somewhat chilly. Zhu Yan tightened her clothes and rubbed her arms. Fine, it wasn’t as if they hadn’t slept in the same bed before. Why be so reserved?
If she caught a cold, it would only be inviting trouble.
Even if she didn’t consider herself, she had to think about the case. This was a time for investigation—she couldn’t afford to fall ill.
Having reasoned this through, Zhu Yan, like an agile monkey, climbed over Shen Du to the inner side of the bed. But as soon as she lay down, she suddenly heard a series of “thump, thump, thump” sounds.
“Someone’s beating the drum!” Zhu Yan’s eyes widened. Who would come to beat the drum and seek justice at such a late hour?
Before she could figure it out, Shen Du had already gotten up and started putting on his clothes. Fortunately, Zhu Yan hadn’t undressed either, so she quickly rose and followed Shen Du out of the room.
The night was already deep, and everyone had gone to sleep. The sound of drumbeats lit up the entire slumbering Yingzhou Prefecture office.
Shen Du and Zhu Yan rushed to the main hall at once. Mo Qianzhi had arrived even earlier than them. By the time they arrived, he was already seated beneath the plaque that read “Clear Mirror and High Integrity.”
Clad in his official robes, his expression was stern.
“Bring the drum-beater to the hall.”
At his command, the bailiffs on both sides rhythmically tapped their staffs, chanting “mighty and awe-inspiring.”
The bailiffs brought in two couples and a young man. The two couples were dressed in fine clothing, while the young man wore wedding attire, looking like a newlywed groom.
The groom was weeping and wailing, crying out to the heavens, “I don’t understand, I truly don’t understand…”
Mo Qianzhi felt a headache coming on. With a sharp rap of his gavel, he silenced everyone, and the hall fell completely quiet.
“Who beat the drum? And what grievance do you have? State it quickly.”
Mo Qianzhi’s presence was imposing, his voice full of authority. At his question, one of the two couples quickly stepped forward. “Your Honor, it was us who beat the drum.”
“Oh?” Mo Qianzhi responded meaningfully. “Why did you beat the drum, and whom do you accuse?”
The couple hurriedly knelt. The man among them continued,"Your Honor," the man replied, "this humble commoner is named Du Fusheng, a merchant of medicinal herbs. Today was supposed to be the wedding day of my daughter, Du Xiaowan, to the son of Scholar Li, Li Zimo. Yet, unexpectedly, something strange occurred.
My daughter was present when she was welcomed into the groom's household, but during the wedding banquet, when it was time for the couple to enter the bridal chamber and perform the ritual of sharing the nuptial cup, she was discovered missing. The incident was sudden, and despite searching everywhere, we could not find her. In our distress, we had no choice but to report it to the authorities."
Upon hearing Du Fusheng's account, Mo Qianzhi furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought.
Beside him, Zhu Yan, having grasped the situation, also frowned slightly. How could a living person simply vanish without a trace?
As she pondered, a figure in the corner of her eye caught her attention—Pan Chi, standing on the other side of the hall.
He had come as well. Like them, he remained out of sight, observing everything from the shadows.
After a moment of contemplation, Mo Qianzhi spoke, "With so many guests attending on such a joyous occasion, the disappearance of the bride is indeed difficult to investigate. Do you have a guest list? Present it immediately."
"Yes, yes!" Scholar Li, from the other couple, hurriedly stepped forward and handed over the guest list.
After receiving the list, Mo Qianzhi asked further, "Was this marriage between your two families mutually agreed upon and harmonious?"
"Yes," Du Fusheng quickly responded. "Our families are well-matched in social standing, and the two young ones are a perfect pair—talented and handsome, with mutual admiration. Even the neighbors praised them as a golden couple, a match made in heaven. Who could have imagined such a thing would happen?"
As Du Fusheng finished speaking, Zhu Yan exchanged a glance with Shen Du. If Du Fusheng's words were true, and the young master Li and Miss Du were indeed a heavenly match with mutual affection, then the suspicion on the Li family could be temporarily set aside.
On a wedding day, with the bride missing, Zhu Yan's first suspect was naturally someone from the groom's family.
Mo Qianzhi shared the same thought and nodded before instructing the officers beside him, "Take men to investigate both households, especially the Li family. Examine carefully for any traces left behind, particularly around side doors and back entrances."
"Yes, sir," the officers acknowledged and led the team away. Zhu Yan, Shen Du, and Pan Chi quickly followed.
Just as the group stepped out of the yamen, Shen Du suddenly halted, and Jing Lin behind him promptly stopped as well.
Waiting until the others had moved farther away, Shen Du turned his head and whispered, "Go to Mo Qianzhi's quarters and conduct a thorough inspection. See if there is anything unusual."
Jing Lin did not fully understand Shen Du's instruction and asked, "What exactly does the Great Pavilion Commander wish to investigate?"
Shen Du's eyes turned cold, narrowing slightly. "Check for any signs that he might be plotting rebellion."
"Understood," Jing Lin grasped the meaning and, with a nod, turned and left.
Back in the main hall, Mo Qianzhi continued questioning the two families involved.
"Scholar Li, prior to the wedding, did your Li family have any conflicts or enmities with others?"
Scholar Li hastily clasped his hands and reported, "Your Honor, please understand. I am merely a provincial examination scholar, with a modest stipend from the court to supplement my livelihood. I live comfortably without want. Why would I bear grudges against anyone?"
Mo Qianzhi nodded gravely, acknowledging the logic in his words.
Turning to the Du family, Master Du hurriedly defended himself, "Your Honor Mo, I conduct my business with integrity and have never provoked enmity with anyone. I implore you to investigate thoroughly."Mo Qianzhi rose and lightly brushed off his official robe, saying, "In that case, let us follow them to the scene and investigate further."
"Yes," Scholar Li promptly replied.
The others then followed Mo Qianzhi as they departed from the prefectural office.
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