Chapter 353: Chapter 287: The Emperor’s Family
That day, Zhe Yu revealed to Xu Yin that the person treating his wounds was Pei Zhan, although it was true, it turned out to be purely bait!
From beginning to end, it was all a trap!
Zhe Yu was merely using him to enter Prince Rong’s Mansion to become an inside man for Pei Zhan to enter and exit the Manor!
He had been a hunter for years, yet he never expected to be blinded by an eagle! But Pei Zhan—why did he do this?!
Xu Yin felt an emptiness in his chest as he had never felt so lost before.
Since the first time Pei Zhan insulted him on the street, so long had passed, yet he still couldn’t figure out what kind of hostility the other held against him!
He paused for a moment, suddenly turning to Lian Rong: "Is there any news about Fu Zhen recently?"
Lian Rong was stunned for a moment, then shook his head: "Ever since madam suffered this major setback, there hasn’t been any movement from Fu Zhen."
"Then how is she doing in the Pei family?"
Lian Rong pondered: "Apart from official duties, Pei Zhan almost takes her everywhere. Ten times she returned to her parental home, ten times he accompanied her, and they returned to the manor together. It seems she’s doing well at the Pei family."
Xu Yin’s eyes deepened: "Then, this General Pingxi’s wife with an ordinary family background is worth investigating thoroughly."
Lian Rong replied, "Yes."
After answering this, he raised his head, catching a glimpse of a servant peeking in from outside the courtyard gate, and asked loudly: "What is it?"
The servant stepped over the threshold: "Reporting to the master, a message from the Prince’s Manor came again, saying that the master and madam can now return to the Manor to fulfill their filial duties. Earlier, someone from the palace went to the Manor with a decree, saying the Emperor and Empress granted special permission for madam to attend the mourning during the Princess’s funeral days. Perhaps later, another decree will be delivered to our manor as well."
Xu Yin frowned, "I understand."
He instructed Lian Rong: "Since Zhe Yu is in cahoots with them, he must be hiding with Pei Zhan now. No matter what, verify this matter as soon as possible! To avoid pointless attacks."
Lian Rong acknowledged. He then raised his head somewhat worriedly: "Master, going to the Manor to keep vigil won’t be peaceful either."
Xu Yin took a deep breath, frost seemed to gather between his brows, and he walked towards the door.
It was because of him that the fan was lost; how could Prince Rong possibly let him be at peace?
But his future and life were still in Prince Rong’s hands; as long as they didn’t announce externally that Princess Rong died at the hands of her own son-in-law, he had to fulfill the duties of the Prince Manor’s son-in-law.
Sitting in the sedan chair, through the window, he saw the white banners erected along the way, and a cold smile appeared on his thin lips.
It was so ironic!
Clearly, he was Prince Rong’s wife’s killer, yet to maintain this prosperity, he still had to acknowledge being his son-in-law!
This is the aristocracy under supreme power!
If it hadn’t been for their own scheming at the start, how could he, Xu Yin, have had the chance? They couldn’t have been used by him to this extent!
They were all evil causes!
...
The news of Princess Rong’s sudden death spread throughout the court and nobility that night. Besides the people from Prince Rong’s Mansion rushing to report the death to various relatives, the Department of Clan Affairs and Ministry of Rites, along with other concerned government offices, were all collaborating intensely according to protocol.
Due to the unexpected nature of the event, various households naturally began to discuss it extensively recently. It’s no exaggeration to say that even the frequency of mutual house visits increased significantly.
If this had happened at any other time, perhaps the reactions wouldn’t have been so intense, yet prior to this, Prince Rong’s Mansion had already been through a series of negative events. Originally, Yongping being stripped of his title and demoted to a commoner was shocking enough, but this time was even more explosive, and the usual Princess with a fiery temper who could find faults in anything, surprisingly, was dead!
How could there not be many speculations?
The narrative Prince Rong’s Mansion presented was that someone attacked the Manor at night, accidentally injuring Princess Rong who was praying in the Buddhist hall.
Regardless of how credible it was that Princess Rong would actually be engaged in Buddhist prayers, at least, the fact that there was a significant disturbance in the Manor that very night was true.
Thus, at least the story that the Manor was attacked at night held some credence.
So who would dare attack Prince Rong’s Mansion at night?
Across the entire world, besides the palace, currently only Prince Rong’s Mansion belonged to such a noble Prince.
Common wealthy households are all towering enclosures; how could they be breached by common thieves? The defense of the Manor is naturally unimaginable. So what kind of person broke in, and even ended up killing someone?
Due to the sensational nature of this death, the Emperor was naturally furious.