"This is currently the safest way to handle the Zhang clan," Yang Shoucheng did not hide anything from Zhan Feiyu. From the moment he decided to stand with Scholar Gu, Yang Shoucheng had, to a certain extent, treated Zhan Feiyu as an equal.
Zhan Feiyu nodded understandingly, then hesitated for a moment before asking, "If Young Master Zhu is willing to help, Uncle Yang must be paying a corresponding price."
If Madam Zhang died, it would have too great an impact on Yang Xu. Yang Shoucheng was afraid of the consequences. Even if Zhu Xiao's conditions were a bit excessive, Yang Shoucheng would agree.
Zhan Feiyu suddenly smiled, a cunning glint in her eyes. "Uncle Yang, you also said Madam Zhang is an unruly person. She might lie low for a year or two, but who's to say she won't cause trouble again in the future? Why not think of a more foolproof method, one that solves the problem once and for all?"
Kill Madam Zhang? This was Yang Shoucheng's first thought, but he immediately realized that if he truly intended to kill her, he wouldn't have waited until today.
"I'm eager to hear your plan," Yang Shoucheng gestured for Zhan Feiyu to continue.
"Escape from prison," Zhan Feiyu replied with a smile. "As a fugitive, no matter how many years pass, she won't dare to show her face again, nor will she dare to use maternal affection to threaten Yang Xu."
And the best person to guard Madam Zhang would be the Zhang family in Linzhou Prefecture. They were her maternal relatives and also her enemies. Furthermore, Zhang Minxian still had a handle on him, so there was no need to worry about the Zhang family causing trouble.
Thinking of Zhou Shuyao's death, Zhan Feiyu's expression turned a bit colder. "If the truth comes out, someone will have to take the blame."
Why would Zhang Minxian help someone escape from the Xiangwu County prison? Of course, it was out of deep sibling affection, not wanting Madam Zhang to be executed after the autumn sentencing, so he risked his life to help her escape.
"The younger generation is truly formidable," Yang Shoucheng couldn't help but admire Zhan Feiyu's thoroughness and caution. Not only had she thought of a way out, but she had also eliminated the potential future troubles of imprisoning Madam Zhang.
Grinning, Zhan Feiyu, with her sparkling eyes, looked childishly. "I don't deserve Uncle Yang's praise. I'm just offering an idea. Uncle Yang will have to handle the follow-up matters."
As night fell, the snow that had been falling during the day finally stopped. Even though it was late at night, the accumulated snow reflected the dim moonlight. Walking on the silent streets, one could faintly make out the surrounding scenery.
A group of people silently infiltrated the Xiangwu County yamen. Their movements were so light that they didn't alert the various forces lurking in the county town. It was understandable; besides Madam Zhang, who had become a pawn, there was nothing else in the yamen that was worth the attention of any faction.
When dawn broke, the streets and alleys were once again filled with the sounds of hawkers, especially the small stalls selling breakfast. The steaming heat, accompanied by the aroma of food, made those who woke up early feel ravenous.
"Get up," the old woman guarding the women's prison yawned, a food box in her hand, her voice filled with impatience.
In previous years, the old woman would have been able to go home by this time. After bribing the jailer with a few coins, she could even help with household chores at home.
But this year, with the addition of Madam Zhang as a prisoner, the old woman could only guard the prison, no matter how annoyed she was. She also had to prepare three meals a day and, because Madam Zhang coughed, she had to boil medicine daily. The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became.
"Madam Zhang, it's time for breakfast. Today, we have steamed white flour buns." The old woman glanced at the figure curled up in the quilt, placed two freshly steamed buns into a chipped bowl through the gap in the prison door, and then took out another bowl, pouring in more than half a bowl of hot water.
Except for the initial period of her imprisonment, Madam Zhang still considered herself important and refused to eat the prison food, which was comparable to pig slop. But after starving for a few days and knowing that there was no hope of getting out, Madam Zhang let go of her pride.
She ate what she should eat and drank what she should drink. Madam Zhang's attitude towards the old woman was also exceptionally kind. She even gave her five taels of silver fragments that she had obtained from Lian'er, ensuring that she could not only drink hot water daily but also use the hot water to wet a handkerchief to wipe her face and rinse her mouth, tidying up her appearance a little.
"Madam Zhang?" The old woman called out a couple more times. Seeing that there was no reaction from the person in the quilt, her heart sank. Coupled with the absence of coughing, she became even more flustered. "Madam Zhang, can you answer me?"
As she called out, she hurriedly pulled the key from her waistband. After a while, she opened the prison door, and the old woman lunged towards the pile of straw.
"Where is she?" The old woman, who had lunged into emptiness, stared blankly at the empty quilt. There was no one sleeping inside. Instead, a folded mattress was placed in the quilt to create a human shape, making it look like someone was lying inside when viewed through the prison door.
Upon realizing what had happened, the panicked and frightened old woman let out a wail, "Someone, come quickly... something has happened, Madam Zhang has escaped..."
Early in the morning, the old woman's sharp cries immediately woke up the jailers and the commander of the guards, He, along with his four subordinates.
Two quarters of an hour later.
Getting out of the warm bed, the disheveled Magistrate Zhu hurried to the prison. Seeing the empty quilt, he couldn't help but roar, "Where is she? Where is the prisoner? Where did Madam Zhang go?"
"Your Lordship, spare me. This old woman doesn't know either." The old woman knelt on the ground with a thud and quickly replied with a mournful face.
"When I came this morning, Madam Zhang was already gone, Your Lordship. Look, the buns are still warm, and I opened this prison door with my key. Madam Zhang vanished into thin air."
The commander of the guards was meticulously examining the lock on the prison door. It had not been damaged by external force, so someone must have picked the lock and abducted Madam Zhang.
Although they had been stationed at the county yamen prison guarding Madam Zhang during this period, they had been diligent at first. Over time, knowing that Madam Zhang would be imprisoned for an unknown duration, not only the subordinates but even the commander of the guards had become lax.
They only sent someone to check once a day, or to ask the guarding old woman about Madam Zhang's condition, ensuring that the person wouldn't die in prison.
Yesterday, it had snowed all day, and it was extremely cold. Stepping outside could make one shiver. Therefore, the commander of the guards and his men had not left their rooms, nor had they personally inspected the prison.
As for the guarding old woman, at this moment, she didn't know what she was thinking, and her kneeling body trembled uncontrollably.
Magistrate Zhu was so angry that his beard bristled. Seeing the obviously guilty old woman now, he became even more furious. "Tell me the truth! If you dare to conceal anything, don't blame me for being impolite!"
"Your Lordship, spare me..." The old woman cried in fear, kowtowing repeatedly. She dared not conceal it any longer. "Yesterday, my second son came over..."
It turned out that the old woman's eldest son was sweeping snow from the roof when he accidentally slipped and broke his leg. With many family matters during the New Year, the old woman could usually return home to wash and clean, or prepare New Year's meals.
But this year, she couldn't return. And her eldest son had to go to the doctor at the clinic. The family was in chaos. In her anxiety, the old woman placed the two meat buns she had intended to eat that night into Madam Zhang's prison cell for her dinner.
The old woman then rushed home with her younger son. After being busy all afternoon, the old woman slept at home. She rushed to the prison early in the morning, only to find that Madam Zhang was gone.
"Commander of the Guards?" Magistrate Zhu waved his hand, letting the constables drag the wailing old woman away. It was one thing for the old woman to be derelict in her duty, but the commander of the guards and his men were also responsible for guarding the prison. If Madam Zhang disappeared, wouldn't the commander of the guards and his men have heard anything?
The wine they drank last night? The commander of the guards' face turned extremely ugly. From the moment the old woman mentioned her eldest son breaking his leg, the commander of the guards knew he had been tricked.
The commander of the guards and his men were usually under strict military discipline in the barracks, and no one dared to drink.
However, guarding Madam Zhang was just a way to pass the time. It was too cold, so they naturally started drinking a little wine and eating the braised meat they had bought. They accidentally drank too much.
At first, they thought it was no big deal. Now, thinking about it, it was likely that the wine had been drugged. Last night, they were all dead drunk and didn't hear anything.
"To be able to abduct Madam Zhang without anyone noticing, the perpetrator must be a master. Magistrate Zhu, don't say we only have five people; even five more would be useless." The commander of the guards' expression was solemn. While this was an excuse for himself, it was also the truth.
"Your subordinate requests to report to Commander Dou. Magistrate Zhu, please send someone to guard the prison." The commander of the guards left after saying this, regardless of whether Magistrate Zhu would jump up in anger. He left his four subordinates behind to ensure that the prison would not be tampered with.
As soon as the commander of the guards left the prison, he went to the stable to get a horse. After a while, he whipped the horse and headed straight for the garrison.
Magistrate Zhu was so angry he couldn't speak. Madam Zhang was gone, so what use was it for the commander of the guards to report to Commander Dou!
"Your Lordship, Madam Zhang is missing. Why don't we go to the Qiu residence first? Perhaps General Yang is at the Qiu residence," a nearby constable reminded him softly.
Madam Zhang was still a prisoner, suspected of murder. If she disappeared, the perpetrator was likely from the Yang family. After all, Madam Zhang was Yang Xu's birth mother. It was impossible to have a birth mother who was a murderer.
Fiercely wiping his face, Magistrate Zhu felt that he had lost weight recently and his face was almost gaunt. "Prepare the sedan chair immediately. This official will go to the Qiu residence! Have Mr. He write an official document, affix my official seal, and send it to the Prefect by express horse."
...
With such a commotion at the county yamen, this news would surely not be kept secret.
Tea house, back courtyard.
"Father," Zhu Zhengrong hurried over. Seeing Zhu Xiao practicing swordplay in the courtyard, he didn't even bother to bow. He immediately reported the news of Madam Zhang's disappearance.
Zhu Xiao stopped his swordplay and looked at the bamboo forest covered in snow in front of him. With a flick of his wrist, he performed a sword flower.
With a few cracking sounds, a row of bamboo trees broke in half, and the snow on the bamboo leaves fluttered down. Zhu Xiao threw his sword to a nearby guard and strode towards the house. Zhu Zhengrong immediately followed.
A moment later, Zhu Xiao, after washing up, emerged from the inner room. His expression was calm, with no trace of anger. "To be able to abduct Madam Zhang without anyone noticing, the perpetrator must be either the Imperial Guards or Yang Shoucheng."
The Imperial Guards would not interfere in local affairs. Therefore, the perpetrator could only be Yang Shoucheng. Only he had the ability to abduct Madam Zhang from the prison without alerting any forces and even secretly send her out of Xiangwu County.
"Father, you were planning to cooperate with Yang Shoucheng before." Zhu Zhengrong did not expect the upright General Yang Shoucheng to engage in such an act as breaking into a prison.
Taking the hot tea handed over by a maid, Zhu Xiao gently stirred the tea leaves floating on the water with the lid of the cup. Thinking of their previous meeting, even though Yang Shoucheng had not expressed his stance, Zhu Xiao deduced that he would agree. No matter how unbearable Madam Zhang was, she was still Yang Xu's birth mother. If Madam Zhang bore the crime of murder, it would be an indelible stain on Yang Xu's life.
Zhu Xiao did not expect Madam Zhang to be abducted before he could discuss cooperation with Yang Shoucheng.
"Send people to investigate and see if they can find Madam Zhang's whereabouts," Zhu Xiao commanded in a deep voice, putting down the teacup. He saw someone outside the room respond with a "yes" and then quickly leave the tea house.
Zhu Zhengrong had also calmed down by now. Since the Yang family had done it, they would not leave any traces. Madam Zhang disappeared last night, but the exact time of her disappearance was unknown to the guarding old woman. The soldiers from the several garrisons were all drunk and also did not know.
Zhu Zhengrong calculated based on three hours. Even with the heavy snow outside, there was not much snow on the official roads. If one rode a horse at full speed, in three hours, they would have traveled half of Longyou Road.
The key was that they didn't even know which direction Madam Zhang had gone. By tomorrow, she would be out of the Longyou Road territory. Trying to find her then would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Knowing that finding the person was impossible, Zhu Zhengrong couldn't help but ask, "Father, at a time when the Yang family is about to be reinstated, with Madam Zhang missing, aren't the Yang family afraid of being impeached by the censors?"
Madam Zhang was still a prisoner, involved in eight lives. Although the victims were eight ruffians, according to the Great Qing Dynasty, if Madam Zhang confessed, she would be executed immediately. Yang Shoucheng's abduction of the prison at this time was like handing over a ready-made handle to his enemies. When the Yang family had trouble back then, it wasn't just the Zhenbian Marquisate that kicked them while they were down. Not to mention the distant past, the Zhang family of Linzhou Prefecture and the Zhou family had also been involved. Other families in Longyou Road who wanted to seize military power had also made their move, creating a situation where everyone pushed them when they fell.
Now that the Yang family was being reinstated, these people were also worried that the Yang family would seek revenge. They were all living in fear. If Yang Shoucheng dared to break into the prison, wasn't he afraid that these people would unite again and move against the Yang family?
"The general trend is unstoppable," Zhu Xiao said in a deep voice, narrowing his eyes as if contemplating something.
The Emperor was skilled in both civil and military affairs and had even led troops personally. Zhu Xiao had once received orders from him. If the Emperor wanted to reinstate the Yang family, then the minor issue of Madam Zhang would not matter to the Emperor at all. Furthermore, the Yang family and the Emperor had reached some kind of agreement.
Thinking this way, Zhu Xiao understood. Yang Shoucheng dared to break into the prison, likely because the Emperor already knew about it, or even tacitly approved it. Just as Zhengrong had said, by handing over a ready-made handle to the Emperor, the Emperor would be more at ease with the Yang family regaining military power. Only when he was at ease would he continue to use them. This was a win-win situation.
After hearing Zhu Xiao's explanation, Zhu Zhengrong's face turned ashen. He lost the spirited demeanor of the eldest son of the Zhenbian Marquisate. This was the general trend, something that could not be defied by human strength.
Qiu Residence.
Just after breakfast, Qiu Zongxi had not yet had time to walk in the courtyard to aid digestion when he heard the news of Madam Zhang's abduction.
In less than half an hour, this news had been spread and "distorted beyond recognition." The suspect for breaking into the prison was naturally Yang Shoucheng. Rumors ranging from criticizing Yang Shoucheng for disregarding the law to accusing him of embezzling military funds and killing innocent people had spread.