Chapter 19: The Forbidden Sign

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With He Jianzhong’s death, many eyes immediately turned toward the He family.

Huo Yun knew he had to act quickly.

After receiving Yue Tang’s orders, he left the He residence at once and headed straight for the alley where the Zhang family lived.

The Zhangs still resided in a house at the bustling street corner, with vendor tea stalls crowding the front. He chose the liveliest tea stall and ordered a pot of tea.

Earlier that morning, Zhang Shaode had been summoned to the Marquis’s residence at the same time as He Jianzhong and received a scolding. He dared not mention anything about Zhang’s daughter’s death.

The Marquis of Guangling could just as easily elevate their official positions as crush them like ants.

Though Zhang’s daughter’s death was heartbreaking, those still alive mattered more.

Upon returning home, Zhang immediately sent his only son, Zhang Ji, to replace He Xu and seek out Wei Zhang.

After sending him off, before Zhang Shaode could even sit down, Madam Zhang hurried in, flustered.

“There are many people outside saying that He Jianzhong is dead!”

Zhang Shaode almost misheard her. “Who did you say is dead?”

“He Jianzhong!” Madam Zhang slapped her thigh. “Just now, outside at Liu’s Tea House, a crowd was gossiping about the He family. They said He Jianzhong was just killed by his own wife! The rumors are vivid and detailed, and many people have already gone to the He residence to watch the commotion!”

Zhang Shaode’s jaw dropped. He put down his cup and strode out.

The He family had no one left in charge. The only somewhat sane member, He Hui, had gone to the government office and had yet to return, leaving everyone in confusion.

By the time Zhang arrived, the He household was in chaos.

Servants were shouting and fleeing, while a few stewards scolded them.

Upstairs was a grisly scene: He Jianzhong lay on his side on the floor, and Madam He, covered in blood, was laughing madly.

On the way there, Zhang had only half-believed the rumors; stepping into the house confirmed the truth. Seeing this scene with his own eyes, he finally understood: He Jianzhong was truly dead!

Only a little over an hour ago, he had been quarreling with his in-laws, and now he was a corpse!

“What happened here?” Zhang asked those nearby.

If He Xu’s death had been sudden, and Zhang’s daughter’s death infuriating, then He Jianzhong’s death the very next night was downright bizarre!

In barely two days, three people from the He family had died!

And not just anyone—they were the head of the household, the eldest son, and the eldest daughter-in-law!

Moreover, He Jianzhong had been stabbed to death by Madam He herself, who had gone mad at the same time!

He Jianzhong was a military man; Madam He was a frail, sickly woman. Could she really have killed him?

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Even if she had caught him off guard and delivered the first stab, there was no way she could have landed a second!

Zhang Shaode was no fool; he sensed something sinister beneath this bloodstained scene.

“It was the madam who killed him with a knife…” a servant stammered incoherently.

“Who saw what happened?” Zhang demanded.

The servant trembled, recalling, “When the door was closed, only the madam’s newly hired female doctor was present.”

“And where is this doctor now?”

“She was so frightened she ran away right after!”

Zhang furrowed his brows.

The sole witness was this newly hired doctor, and she had fled immediately after the incident?

He quickly scanned the surroundings and crouched down to examine the body.

Not only was it strange that He Jianzhong did not resist before being killed, but Madam He’s sudden madness was also suspicious.

Yesterday, after Zhang’s daughter’s fatal accident, Zhang had overheard from the servants that the quarrel between Zhang’s daughter and He Xu had been caused by this doctor’s presence.

Her arrival had sparked the couple’s argument, which then spiraled out of control.

This doctor was trouble!

He Jianzhong’s death was definitely not at Madam He’s hand!

He crouched swiftly, searching the body for clues but found nothing. As he carefully turned He Jianzhong’s right palm upward, a gleaming official medallion of the Imperial City Command suddenly came into view before him!

…

The Marquis of Guangling returned from the Prince of Jingyang’s residence and sat silently at his walnutwood desk carved with the constellation of the Literary Star.

He pondered repeatedly on Yan Bei’s tone and demeanor, feeling this visit was far from simple.

The Du family had been highly meritorious founding marquises. Even after other marquises of the same rank were stripped of their titles, the Du family’s title was preserved.

Yet, it was not until Du Minghuan turned twenty that he secured a position in the Imperial City Command, where he remained for seven or eight years.

That year, while accompanying the late emperor on a tour with the Prince of Duan, he managed to catch the prince’s attention, who then recalled the old Marquis of Guangling’s merits and promoted Du Minghuan to deputy commander.

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This post was a position the Du family had never dared to dream of in decades.

But it also marked the end of an era.

The Prince of Duan and the late emperor were full brothers, and the emperor was benevolent. The prince also respected his elder brother, so even with few royal branches, imperial power was as solid as iron.

From the late emperor’s ascension, the Prince of Duan controlled the Imperial City Command and had received multiple imperial edicts confirming that the command would pass to his descendants upon his retirement.

Three years ago, the Marquis of Guangling had taken a desperate risk, making a move against the Duan Prince’s residence.

Soon after, his cousin, the Prince of Jingyang, returned to the capital to assist in governance under the late emperor’s dying edict, which thrilled him.

The current Prince of Jingyang not only held military power but also served as a high-ranking minister, a mighty ally for the Marquis of Guangling.

With such a powerful patron, the future glory of the Marquis’s household was assured.

However, his cousin was nearly impossible to approach, almost as if he disowned his own family.

In the past three years, besides a brief visit to the Marquis’s household to see the matriarch upon returning to the capital, he had not come again.

Even the Marquis himself, despite repeatedly sending petitions to request an audience, managed to enter the residence only once out of ten attempts. And that visit was always for serious matters.

The only consolation was that during festivals, the prince’s residence would at least send gifts to the matriarch out of respect.

But it was not enough—not nearly enough!

The Marquis knew better than anyone that the scandal from three years ago, involving an assassination attempt on a princess, could brand him a traitor.

He had to keep a backup plan.

The all-powerful Prince of Jingyang was that plan.

He had to hold tightly to this relative, so that when the day of reckoning came, the prince would protect the Du family.

This time, for the matriarch’s sixtieth birthday banquet, the household had prepared extensively and spread the word early. He hoped to use public opinion to compel the Prince of Jingyang to pay his respects.

But unexpectedly, the prince did not plan to show any courtesy on such an important occasion!

He sat gloomily, going nowhere.

When the steward brought the guest list, saying, “Invitations have been sent to the top three scholars—the champion, the runner-up, and the third place. All have promised to attend.”

Only then did his face brighten slightly.

“Make sure the champion’s banquet table is next to Second Uncle’s.”