Whо wоuld hаvе thought that whеn thе оld wоmаn looked uр, Fеng Yue was stunnеd.
"Madаm Сhаi?!"
Неr сloudy еyes met Feng Yue's gazе, аnd for а long mоmеnt, Маdam Сhаi соuldn't quitе plаce her. Аftеr all, thе young womаn beforе her still worе а vеil, аnd thоugh hеr еyes lооked fаmiliаr, shе cоuldn't immediаtеly reсаll who shе was.
Befоre Madаm Сhаi cоuld react, Fеng Yuе tоok а dеер brеаth, grasреd her hаnd, and аsked, "Thеre's а tеаhousе nеаrbу. Would Madаm be willing to go up and sit with us?"
Тhe perfоrmers who wеre still brеаthing fire аnd walking on blades were dumbfounded, and the surrounding crowd began to turn their attention toward them. Nan Ping, feeling somewhat uneasy, spoke softly and gently, "I really enjoy watching your performances. There's a feast upstairs in the teahouse. Why don't you all take a break? I'll treat you to some delicious food."
Feng Yue gave an appreciative glance at the clever princess and took the opportunity to lead Madam Chai toward the teahouse.
As soon as they reached the upper floor and saw Yin Gezhi and Feng Ming seated there, Madam Chai was greatly startled and immediately knelt down. "First Prince! Young Master Feng!"
Nan Ping was taken aback. Although her brother and Feng Ming's attire was somewhat eye-catching, how could an ordinary commoner recognize them at a glance? There were many princes and generals in the court!
The guards had cleared the area, so there were few people on the second floor. Yin Gezhi looked at her openly, but after scrutinizing her for a moment, he still couldn't recall who she was.
Feng Ming slapped his forehead and blurted out, "Madam Chai!"
Madam Chai was the mother of Deputy General Chai Weiming. Back when Guan Canghai was still around, she often visited the Guan residence and the palace. Though not considered part of the Guan family's nine clans, she was quite close to them. After the Guan family was exterminated, Chai Weiming was implicated and demoted to a prison guard at the imperial prison, and he rarely saw her after that.
Who would have thought they would meet again under such circumstances.
Yin Gezhi didn't have a deep impression of Chai Weiming, so he merely nodded politely and had Guan Zhi help her up and sit her down.
Nan Ping obediently sat beside Feng Yue, her eyes filled with questions, but she didn't rush to ask, quietly waiting instead.
Madam Chai trembled with emotion, tears streaming down her aged face. "Upon learning that the two of you had returned to Lidu, this old woman has been trying to find a way to contact you! Unfortunately, both Prince of Filial Piety's Mansion and Marquis of State Pacification's Mansion are heavily guarded, and this old woman couldn't get close!"
Mindful of Nan Ping's presence, Feng Yue dared not remove her veil or speak. She listened as Feng Ming said, "Although the Chai family has fallen, Weiming is still employed at the imperial prison. How did Madam end up wandering the streets?"
At the mention of Chai Weiming, Madam Chai knelt down again, weeping and kowtowing. "Weiming was framed by villains half a year ago and died unjustly! This old woman has no relatives in Lidu, and those we used to associate with have all cut ties because the Chai family was implicated. Weiming died wronged! This old woman begs the two of you to seek justice for Weiming!"
Chai Weiming was dead?! Feng Yue frowned and closed her eyes.
He was someone who had once followed Guan Canghai. Because he had an elderly mother to care for, she hadn't written to him back then, but he was a straightforward and loyal man. How could he have died for no reason?
Yin Gezhi stood up, intending to help her up, but Madam Chai insisted on kneeling, kowtowing repeatedly, her voice hoarse and heart-wrenching.
Feng Ming rose to his feet and, without a word, lifted Madam Chai's emaciated body, placing her in a chair. Frowning, he said, "Don't cry just yet. Explain clearly—how did Chai Weiming die?"Old Lady Chai was startled by his action, but she indeed calmed down. Taking the handkerchief Nan Ping handed her, she wiped her face and said hoarsely, "Over three years ago, after the entire Guan family perished, Weiming was demoted to a prison guard and suffered endless humiliation. Because my old, useless body couldn't withstand travel, he couldn't bear to leave me behind, so he endured the insults and continued living in Lidu."
"He was skilled in martial arts and steady in character. He even made many friends among the prison guards. I originally thought it would be good to live like this for the rest of our lives, since the higher you climb, the colder it gets. But I never expected that over two years later, one night he returned home excitedly and told me that General Guan was innocent—he didn't commit suicide out of guilt but was poisoned!"
At these words, everyone present changed expressions. Feng Yue clenched her fists, closing her eyes as she struggled to restrain herself, fearing she might lunge at someone in front of Princess Nan Ping.
Sweeping her gaze around the room, Old Lady Chai said angrily, "I was foolish back then. I thought since General Guan was already dead, reopening old wounds would only invite disaster, so I told him to keep it secret! Who would have thought it was a secret a few prison guards revealed while drunk? Once they sobered up, one of them reported it. Not two days later... Weiming was carried back... They said he got drunk and fell into a ditch to his death, but his body was covered in wounds—how could that be from a fall? He was clearly beaten to death!"
"For over half a year, I've told everyone about this, hoping to bring it to the emperor's attention and seek justice for Weiming. But no one believed me... I had no evidence... No one believed what I said... Weiming... Weiming died unjustly! He was hastily buried, and the prison authorities refused to give any explanation. They even drove me out of Lidu... If it weren't for meeting those kind-hearted performers who were willing to take me in and give me food, I might not have lived to see this day!"
Feng Ming's face turned ashen with rage. He slammed the table and stood up, saying, "I'll go find someone to question!"
With those words, he leaped directly out of the second-floor window.
Gasps of shock erupted from outside. Nan Ping hurried over to look and saw that dashing figure land steadily on the ground, mount a horse, and gallop toward the prison.
Old Lady Chai watched with tears and a faint smile, wiping her eyes as she said, "Why is Young Master Feng still so impulsive, acting on a whim?"
"Don't mind him. He won't suffer any losses." Yin Gezhi pursed his lips and looked at her seriously. "Regarding General Guan being poisoned in prison, did Chai Weiming only say that much?"
Slightly taken aback, Old Lady Chai thought for a moment and said, "No, he also mentioned something about orders from above, or a mastermind behind it all..."
This topic wasn't suitable for discussion in public. Old Lady Chai seemed hesitant, glancing at the guards around them.
Yin Gezhi turned his head and said to Nan Ping, "Take these people to the accessory shop downstairs and see what you like. Your imperial brother will buy it for you."
Nan Ping wasn't foolish. She knew there were some things she shouldn't hear, so she obediently agreed and led the others downstairs. But as she walked, she suddenly grew curious.
If she couldn't listen, why could Feng Yue stay?
Only three people remained on the second floor. Yin Gezhi said, "You may speak now, Old Lady."Lady Chai was taken aback, about to mention that there was still someone with a face covering here, when she saw this person pull off the mask, eyes slightly red as they smiled and said, "Madam, I also very much wish to hear."
Guan Qingyue! Lady Chai was greatly shocked, nearly unable to catch her breath. Clutching her chest, she was utterly astonished.
"You... you're still alive?"
"Yes." Feng Yue smiled, sitting and waiting for her to recover before saying, "Let's not speak of other matters for now, Madam. You must tell me who my father died at the hands of."
She had thought the truth could only be guessed, but who knew there were still people who knew the details.
Lady Chai nodded excitedly, choked up and unable to speak, gripping Feng Yue's hand and trembling for a while before hoarsely saying, "Weiming said. The team of prison guards he was with happened to be the ones guarding Death Row back then. Two of them personally saw General Guan take his last breath... Originally, the higher-ups had explicitly ordered them not to speak of it, and they had kept it secret for two years. But in a moment of carelessness, after drinking, they spilled the secret—General Guan did not commit suicide; it was Chief Justice Shi who poisoned him to death, then used his hand dipped in red ink to stamp the confession... That's how the story of 'committing suicide out of guilt' came about. He felt someone was behind it, trying to harm the general, but the entire Guan family was gone. We could hardly protect ourselves, so..."
At this point, Lady Chai was filled with regret: "I should have known this matter was of great importance. I shouldn't have let him go back to continue guarding the prison... Weiming..."
Feng Yue lowered her gaze, her expression calm. So calm that even Yin Gezhi couldn't tell what she was thinking.
"I will do my best to bring justice to Deputy General Chai's death." Opening her eyes again, Feng Yue looked at Lady Chai and said, "As for what was said today, Madam, please do not speak of it elsewhere. It's best to take care."
Lady Chai suddenly perked up, her eyes burning as she looked at her: "Are you going to clear General Guan's name?"
"I don't have that ability." Feng Yue said: "But I can avenge him."
"I won't help you." Yin Gezhi said calmly: "But I can tell you something I know—on the fifteenth of this month, the Shi family has a grand ancestral ceremony. Shi Youxin is also a member of the Shi family; as long as he has a breath left, he will go out."
"Good." Feng Yue smiled, turning her head to look at him and saying, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your help. As for how to arrange for Lady Chai, I leave that to you. I have other matters to attend to. When Princess Nan Ping returns, please apologize on my behalf."
Yin Gezhi frowned, not yet having time to object, when he saw Feng Yue dart down the stairs.
She really knew how to make trouble for him.
Pursing his lips, he still looked at Lady Chai and said, "Please come with me back to the palace."
Feng Ming went to the prison, straightforwardly capturing someone and bringing them back. Finding the teahouse empty, he turned and went to the tenement courtyard.
Feng Yue was looking at a map. Since the Shi family ancestral ceremony would be held at the residence of Shi Hongwei, the highest-ranking member of the Shi family, the Prime Minister's residence was heavily guarded, but surprisingly, it was somewhat better than the Court of Judicial Review. Probably because Shi Hongwei had a clear conscience and was bolder.
"Yue'er!"
Just as she was thinking, Feng Ming threw a person into her courtyard: "Here's the person. You can ask whatever you want."
Staring wide-eyed at the bruised and battered person wearing prison guard clothes, Feng Yue had a headache: "You actually kidnapped him directly?"
"Otherwise?" Feng Ming said: "I asked clearly. He was the one who worked with Chai Weiming back then."The man on the ground trembled uncontrollably, clearly terrified. It was obvious he had already been severely beaten and was now exceptionally compliant.
With a mix of amusement and exasperation, Feng Yue crouched down in front of him and asked with a smile, "Who killed Chai Weiming?"
The jailer stiffened and quickly shook his head. "Chai Weiming? Wasn't he the one who fell to his death? He died from a fall!"
Feng Yue glanced up at Feng Ming, who understood the cue and immediately stomped his foot on the jailer's chest. "Do you believe you'll soon 'accidentally' fall to your death too?"
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