The study.
After a review of her studies, Prefect Zhang looked at Zhan Feiyu with a complicated expression. "The assassin in the water, their identity could not be ascertained. There were no markings on their person."
Generally, such individuals were trained death warriors from powerful families. Zhan Feiyu nodded and asked, "Was the dagger in his hand found?"
"It has been retrieved from the bottom of the water. It was just an ordinary weapon, also without any markings." This girl was a scholar, yet she had slit the assassin's throat with a knife.
Prefect Zhang suddenly felt fortunate that his wife had been disoriented from drowning at the time. Otherwise, if she had witnessed that scene, she would likely not have been able to look at this girl properly.
"However, the railing was cut by a sharp weapon. Once someone leaned on it, a slight force would cause them to fall," Prefect Zhang's refined face turned grim. "It can be basically determined that the target was me."
After the Qin family's decline, the entire Nanxuan Prefecture was essentially under Prefect Zhang's control. The remaining small fry dared not act rashly. But if Madam Zhang were to fall into the water and die at this time, Prefect Zhang would surely have to observe mourning.
Even if His Majesty granted an exemption from mourning, observing it for a year was certain. After a year, the situation would have long passed.
"A brilliant move to cut off the source of support!" Prefect Zhang's voice grew colder. Although no evidence could be found on the assassin, it was not difficult to guess that this must have been the Chen family's doing.
Zhan Feiyu recalled the perilous scene in the water yesterday and looked at the murderous Prefect Zhang. "But I feel the assassin's target was Madam Zhang."
After a long pause, a furious roar suddenly erupted. The enraged Prefect Zhang abruptly stood up, completely losing his usual composure. "Are you sure you didn't misread?"
Well, the Chen family had stirred up a hornet's nest! Zhan Feiyu described the situation in detail. "After Madam Zhang fell into the water, she grabbed onto Madam and wouldn't let go. Both were drowning. The assassin was behind Madam, trying to approach several times, but because Madam Zhang struggled so fiercely, it hindered his actions."
Zhan Feiyu watched as Prefect Zhang's eyes grew increasingly fierce and continued, "His target was always Madam. If it were Madam Zhang, there would be no need for such elaborate measures."
After a period of silence, Prefect Zhang finally calmed down and nodded in agreement. "I was not thinking clearly. Even if I were to observe mourning, with Scholar Gu's status in court, the position of Prefect of Nanxuan would not fall to the Chen family to interfere with."
Gu Qingzhou could easily send a trusted subordinate to take over Prefect Zhang's position. Moreover, the Chen family's actions had indeed violated the rules.
While there were many open and secret struggles among court officials, no family would dispatch death warriors and assassins at the slightest disagreement. If that were the case, wouldn't the court be in chaos?
His Majesty would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen. Once the Imperial Guards were sent to investigate, the Chen family would be at a severe disadvantage. But if Madam Kong were to drown, then Huang Li and Madam Zhang would undoubtedly be blamed.
At that time, the Kong family would be the first to not let Prefect Zhang off, and Prefect Zhang would certainly have to remarry. The choice of bride might have been arranged by the Chen family, and the day of the backyard catching fire would not be far off. The Chen family could then easily regain control of Nanxuan Prefecture.
Thinking of this, Zhan Feiyu's curious gaze suddenly fell upon Prefect Zhang's face. One of the reasons Madam Zhang chose Prefect Zhang, who came from a humble background, was at least half due to Prefect Zhang's appearance.
Even though Prefect Zhang was over forty and served as a local official, he couldn't help but awkwardly reprimand, "What nonsense are you thinking, girl?"
"My lord, I shall take my leave now." Zhan Feiyu stifled a laugh, deciding to inform Madam Kong before leaving, as the Chen family had already set their sights on the position of Prefect's wife.
"The butler will see you out!" Prefect Zhang called out loudly, but he had seen through Zhan Feiyu's intentions.
"I will say goodbye to Madam and Sister Guan Tong before I leave." Zhan Feiyu, stepping over the threshold, answered first, grinned at the old butler beside her, and then ran towards the backyard with her skirt in hand.
Uh... The old butler stared dumbfounded at Zhan Feiyu, who had disappeared in the blink of an eye, and turned to Prefect Zhang. "Master, this?"
"This girl," Prefect Zhang couldn't help but smile. She was going to the backyard to complain.
Zhan Feiyu didn't really say anything to Madam Kong. After saying goodbye, she left the Prefect's manor accompanied by Zhang Guantong.
That evening, Prefect Zhang recounted the entire matter, which greatly angered Madam Kong.
Not only was her position as Prefect's wife coveted, but they also wanted her life. In her anger, Madam Kong directly sent Prefect Zhang to sleep in the front courtyard.
"Mother, you and Father?" Zhang Guantong, having received the news, rushed over.
Zhang Guantong was worried that Madam Kong would get angry with Prefect Zhang again because of Madam Zhang, as she had this time, Madam Zhang had gone too far, even colluding with Huang Li, an outsider, to harm her daughter-in-law, Madam Zhang.
"Tong'er, come to bed quickly. Sleep with Mother tonight." Madam Kong smiled at her disheveled daughter.
After Zhang Guantong also got into bed, Madam Kong stroked her head and said softly, "No matter what happens in the future, you must remain calm and not panic like this."
"Mother, I understand." Zhang Guantong nodded. She had just been resting and was too worried to even bother with the maids and wet nurses, so she had run over with her shoes on.
Madam Kong did not conceal anything and told Zhang Guantong about the Chen family's scheme. Seeing her enraged daughter, she continued gently, "The Chen family's scheme cannot be described as anything but ingenious. If Mother dies, Father and your maternal grandfather and uncles will surely investigate, but the final outcome will be that Huang Li and Grandmother conspired against me."
"And I merely went along with the plan. However, no one expected Grandmother to fall into the water unexpectedly. I drowned while saving her. No one would have expected that the Chen family was secretly manipulating this." In the Chen family's scheme, she was merely the mantis stalking the cicada. Madam Kong also realized for the first time that the vision of women in the inner courtyard was too narrow.
"At that time, maternal grandfather and eldest maternal uncle will surely vent their anger on Father." Zhang Guantong's face turned pale. She dared not imagine what would happen if all of this truly occurred.
No matter how hateful Grandmother was, she was still Father's mother. Father would surely protect Grandmother, which would necessitate a falling out with her maternal family. The once harmonious family would instantly fall apart.
"Don't be afraid, Mother is fine. As for the Chen family, daring to scheme against me by relying on the First Prince, do they think my Kong family has no one in court?" Madam Kong comforted her daughter, hugging her tightly. A flicker of anger flashed across her beautiful face. The Kong family could not act against the First Prince, but could they not deal with the Chen family?
If Zhan Feiyu and He Sheng had not intervened, after Madam Kong fell into the water and drowned, the scene would have been chaotic, and the Chen family could have taken the opportunity to destroy the railing, the irrefutable evidence. Then they would not have feared any investigation.
Thinking of how she had almost lost her mother, Zhang Guantong hugged Madam Kong tightly. "Mother."
"Tong'er, do you understand? Sometimes, your desire to resolve disputes peacefully only emboldens others, even to the point of murder!" Madam Kong seized the opportunity to teach her daughter. She had been too kind to the old madam of the family!
After Zhang Guantong's emotions had calmed down, Madam Kong said, "Look at Xiao Yu. She was given away for adoption to study and even had a falling out with her father, but now, who dares to mention these things and suppress her with filial piety?"
"Tong'er, you are too soft-hearted. In this life, why worry so much? What if there are rumors and gossip? You are the granddaughter of the Kong family, the daughter of Prefect Zhang. If your father is promoted in the future, your status will rise accordingly. You should be willful when you need to be. No one dares to say anything to your face. As for the slandering and gossip behind your back, why bother caring?"
After a moment of silence, Zhang Guantong nodded. A hint of resilience appeared in her gentle gaze. "Mother, I understand."
...
Early morning, East Lake Inn.
"People often err, then they can correct. When the heart is trapped, and the mind is troubled, then they can act... then one knows that life comes from hardship, and death comes from ease and pleasure." Clear reading sounds emanated from the study.
He Nuan placed the breakfast on the table. As she walked out of the small hall, she saw He Sheng leading Young Master Ming San into the courtyard. This surprised He Nuan. It was only early morning, who would visit so early.
When Zhan Feiyu arrived, she saw Ming San sitting dejectedly in a chair, his white silk robe wrinkled, with red bloodshot eyes, as if he had been ravaged. "You didn't sleep all night?"
"I..." Ming San had just spoken when his stomach suddenly rumbled. Fortunately, he had long lost any pretense of image in front of Zhan Feiyu, so he wasn't embarrassed.
Zhan Feiyu sat down and smiled. "A'Nuan, please add another set of bowls and chopsticks."
Both were hungry. Even if they had things to discuss, they had to fill their stomachs first.
Two quarters of an hour later, after eating their fill, the two went directly to sit in a pavilion by East Lake.
"Does Huang Li still intend to cling to the Ming family?" Zhan Feiyu guessed that only this matter could make the dissolute and unrestrained Young Master Ming San look so haggard.
"Quite the opposite, she voluntarily requested a divorce!" Ming San glanced at the surprised Zhan Feiyu and did not hide anything, as she had been present at the Peach Blossom Gathering that day.
"She demanded a divorce with tears, tantrums, and threats of hanging herself. But besides taking all her dowry, she demanded that the Ming family compensate her with ten thousand taels of silver. If there was no silver, it should be compensated with shops or estates." Ming San almost wanted to pry open Huang Li's head. She had lost her reputation, so why should the Ming family compensate her with money!
In fact, Headmaster Ming and Madam Ming both knew there was something fishy about the drowning incident. However, Huang Li's drowning was a foregone conclusion. If they were to divorce as well, it would be no different from forcing their daughter-in-law, Huang Li, to death. But they had not expected Huang Li to voluntarily step down and demand ten thousand taels of silver.
Looking sympathetically at the exasperated Ming San, Zhan Feiyu thought of Huang Li's temperament. Once she started making a scene, unless she was knocked unconscious, it would definitely be chaos and unrest.
"Did Headmaster Ming agree?" Zhan Feiyu chuckled, looking sympathetically at the indignant Ming San. "Then consider it paying for peace. Do you really intend to entangle with her for a lifetime?"
Ming San was learned and elegant. In his life, he had only been rebuffed by Scholar Gu, and then he was looked down upon by this little girl, Zhan Feiyu. Now, Huang Li was to be added to the list.
"Only women and petty people are difficult to deal with! The ancients did not deceive me!" Ming San felt annoyed just thinking about it, and glared at the gloating Zhan Feiyu. "Tell me, what exactly happened at the Peach Blossom Gathering?"
Ming San had also sent people to inquire. He only knew that there was a snake on the Nine-Bend Corridor, and in the ensuing panic and shoving, Huang Li fell into the water and was then molested by a lecher.
But after that, Huang Li went mad and caused trouble for Madam Zhang. At that time, only Madam Zhang and Zhan Feiyu were in the pavilion. Outsiders did not know what had happened, and since Madam Zhang and the others had also fallen into the water, it was inconvenient for Ming San to inquire. Thus, he came to find Zhan Feiyu early in the morning.
Zhan Feiyu realized she had underestimated Huang Li's shamelessness. She actually dared to use divorce as a condition to demand compensation from the Ming family. She claimed to be freeing Ming San, but she likely intended to marry Prefect Zhang after the divorce.
A moment later, after listening to Zhan Feiyu's words, Ming San was struck by lightning. After a long stunned silence, he finally found his voice. "Has she gone mad? Madam Zhang is from the Kong family, and she has already lost her reputation. Prefect Zhang must have water in his brain to let her in!"
"Madam Zhang was also involved in this matter. Huang Li probably thinks this is a handle," Zhan Feiyu shrugged helplessly. She also couldn't understand Huang Li's thought process. She probably found Young Master Ming San all talk and no substance, which is why she had set her sights on Prefect Zhang.
Standing up abruptly, Ming San fiercely wiped his face. If this mess was not handled properly, the Ming family would likely fall out with Prefect Zhang. "I will go and visit Prefect Zhang right away!"
Just as he turned to leave, Ming San suddenly grabbed Zhan Feiyu's arm. "You're coming with me!"
"I won't!" Zhan Feiyu refused without thinking, raising her hand to gesture at her height and declaring her status righteously. "I'm still a child, and I still need to study. Is it appropriate for you to drag me into this kind of matter?"
Whether it was divorce or remarriage, it was not suitable for a nine-year-old girl to get involved. Zhan Feiyu liked to watch the excitement, but she had no interest in matters of love and romance.
"No, you must go!" Ming San was determined. He suddenly bent down and picked up Zhan Feiyu, smiling smugly. "At most, half an hour, it won't delay your studies! Besides, it's a sure thing to visit the prefectural office!"
Forcibly bundled into a carriage and taken to the prefectural office, Zhan Feiyu decided to remain silent, not speaking if she could avoid it.
After dealing with the official documents at hand, Prefect Zhang put down his brush and then looked at Ming San. "Third Young Master, what business do you have with this official?"
Huang Li was not acting like a human, and Ming San did not cover for her. He roughly explained her voluntary request for divorce. Towards the end, his tone inexplicably became lighter. "My lord, I will write the divorce letter after I return. She will likely come to find you."
Prefect Zhang's expression stiffened. As long as the Ming family paid ten thousand taels of silver, Ming San would be freed, but this troublesome matter would fall upon him, especially with Madam Zhang's involvement.
Fortunately, Prefect Zhang had met with Madam Zhang last night and had questioned her thoroughly.
The outside world was unaware of the conspiracy between Madam Zhang and Huang Li. Moreover, apart from verbal agreements, Madam Zhang had no leverage in Huang Li's hands, so Prefect Zhang was not afraid of Huang Li causing trouble.
"This official is already aware of this matter. I trouble Third Young Master to also inform the Huang family and hope that the Huang family will restrain Huang Li." Prefect Zhang could only ask the Huang family to handle Huang Li, preferably to lock her up. If it truly escalated, it would not even be considered a scandalous affair for Prefect Zhang, but the Huang family would lose all face.
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