Feng Caiwei was on the verge of a breakdown.
Someone who hadn’t experienced it couldn’t possibly understand what she was feeling now. She just couldn’t make sense of it—how had things suddenly turned into this?
But there was one thing she was sure of: her brother entering the inner courtyard was definitely related to Qi Yuan.
Her teeth were clenched so hard her temples throbbed, and the veins on the back of her hand bulged as she gripped her collar tightly.
Madam Feng had cried to the point she couldn’t even make a sound anymore.
When Feng Yuzhang finally arrived, Madam Feng took a staggering step forward and nearly collapsed as she cried out in anguish, “My lord! You must get justice for Jun’er—please!”
Feng Yuzhang had been visiting an old friend at the Ministry of Works that day. On his way back, he heard the news about his grandson and hadn’t even changed out of his clothes before rushing over.
He was, after all, a man—one who had been through great upheavals—so he could hold himself together better than Madam Feng. After closing his eyes briefly, he stepped forward and lifted the white cloth.
Seeing the burnt, unrecognizable body beneath it, he shut his eyes in pain, turning away for a long moment before calming himself.
Meanwhile, Madam Feng nearly fainted again.
Lu Mingan stood nearby and said in a low voice, “Marquis, we’ve already reported this to Shuntian Prefecture. The coroner examined the bodies—they all died from smoke inhalation. In other words, they passed out quickly from the smoke…”
At least they hadn’t burned alive in pain.
But this did nothing to quell Feng Yuzhang’s rage over losing his grandson.
The Feng family had weathered many storms to get where they were now. When they were demoted to Yunnan, the climate made many of them ill, and they lost about a third of the family.
Every life that remained was precious—especially Feng Jun, who had just begun marriage negotiations.
He had just started discussing marriage!
Feng Yuzhang’s eyes were bloodshot as he suddenly turned to glare at Lu Mingan. “Princess Consort, our two families have always had close ties. No matter what, you must give us an explanation for this!”
Lu Mingan frowned deeply.
Feng Jun and Wei Changying had bribed someone in his household and sneaked into the inner residence. Whatever they’d been up to, it clearly wasn’t something good.
No matter who was involved, this situation was unpleasant.
Regardless of what Feng Jun and Wei Changying intended to do, a scandal at a formal gathering like this brought the most shame on the Eldest Princess’s residence.
Besides, if today they could bribe a servant to harm someone, then tomorrow they could bribe someone to harm the Eldest Princess herself.
His tone turned cold: “The authorities have already stepped in—whatever they uncover is what we’ll go by. As for us, we don’t think we owe an explanation. All the other male guests were fine—only your young master and Wei Changying…”
He paused, then said, “Why did they sneak into the inner residence, the part reserved for women? What did they want to do?”
Feng Yuzhang’s lips trembled in fury.
Feng Caiwei spoke in a cold, quiet voice: “Yes, it must be investigated thoroughly! Even if my brother was in the wrong, that’s no reason for him to die. If he truly broke the law, the courts and the law are there to handle it. But killing him in secret—whoever did it should pay with their life!”
Lu Mingan shot her a glance and, thinking of how she had just accused Qi Yuan of murder, said in a cold voice, “The officials have already questioned Miss Qi. She did not wander off. A maid from the residence has confirmed that she stayed close to Miss Qi the whole time.”
…
Feng Caiwei immediately shook her head with visible distress. “Impossible! It must be her—it has to be her!”
Lu Mingan didn’t bother arguing with her anymore. He simply turned to Feng Yuzhang and said, “Marquis, the Feng family just returned to the capital, and countless eyes are watching. Surely you haven’t forgotten how the censors impeached your family back then? You’ve only just returned—don’t walk the same old road again.”
That hit a nerve—Feng Yuzhang’s expression grew darker.
He was about to speak when his younger brothers, the third and fourth Feng lords, arrived in a hurry.
They came over and whispered, “Second Brother, His Highness the Imperial Grandson has arrived.”
For a gathering like this at the Eldest Princess’s residence, it was customary and proper to invite members of the imperial clan and the Eastern Palace. Xiao Yunting had always been close to the Eldest Princess, so his presence wasn’t surprising.
Feng Yuzhang glanced at Lu Mingan. “Invite His Highness to come back here.”
He wanted to see for himself—now that a cousin had died, would the Imperial Grandson help the Feng family or not?
Xiao Yunting arrived shortly thereafter, accompanied by Xing Min, the magistrate from Shuntian Prefecture.
The moment he saw Xiao Yunting, Feng Yuzhang stepped forward, suppressing his grief to cup his hands in salute. “Your Highness, a life was lost during what was supposed to be a peaceful gathering! No matter what, this must be investigated thoroughly. We will not let this go otherwise!”
Xiao Yunting waved his hand, and all the attendants withdrew.
Only Lu Mingan, Feng Yuzhang, Feng Caiwei, Xiao Yunting, and Xing Min remained.
Xiao Yunting’s gaze was cold and sharp. He raised his eyebrows slightly. “Uncle, did you know they bribed the Eldest Princess’s household staff to let them into the inner courtyard?”
…
Why was he asking that?
Feng Yuzhang said, somewhat agitated, “Even if they did, that’s still not a crime worthy of death! But now Jun’er is dead! Three people died!”
“Yes,” Xiao Yunting said flatly, “Uncle also knows three people died.” He glanced at the bodies under the white cloth, then extended his hand. Xing Min immediately handed over a stack of confessions.
Xiao Yunting passed the papers to Feng Yuzhang.
Feng Yuzhang, both angry and impatient, asked, “What’s this?”
“One of the dead was Wei Changying,” Xiao Yunting said coldly. “Do you know who the other was, Uncle?”
Feng Yuzhang didn’t. He didn’t care, either.
He only wanted to know how his grandson had died.
Xiao Yunting said mockingly, “It was a servant boy from the Eldest Princess’s residence. Do you know why they bribed him?”
This time he didn’t wait for a reply. His tone turned harsh: “They told him to hide in the rockery and, once they lured a certain lady there, to violate her!”
Feng Caiwei’s eyes shut tightly as her mind exploded with a deafening roar.
Xiao Yunting hadn’t come to support the Feng family—he had come to hold them accountable!
Feng Yuzhang was stunned by Xiao Yunting’s sudden severity. He looked up in shock. “Your Highness…”
He was momentarily speechless, but deep down he knew—it was entirely possible that Feng Jun had really done this.
That b*stard had caused a similar scandal back in Yunnan, and they’d had to spend a fortune to cover it up.
Xiao Yunting’s voice turned icy: “Your family just returned to the capital, and already he dares target noblewomen? At this kind of event? What—was he not enjoying his easy days enough?!”
