Zhan Feiyu and Prefect Bai received the news at roughly the same time. However, Zhan Feiyu’s information came from the Imperial Guards, while Prefect Bai received a letter personally delivered by Chang Hu from Lord Chang.
"You Bawang is dead?" Zhan Feiyu put down her brush, genuinely shocked by the news. "Who killed him?"
"Lai San." He Sheng was also surprised. Lai San should still be in the Shun Tian Prefecture prison, yet he had appeared at the Chang residence and assassinated You Bawang.
Zhan Feiyu took the handkerchief from He Nuan, wiped her hands, and stood up to stretch her stiff shoulders from leaning over her desk for too long. "The jailer bribed by Madam Bai?"
When Yao Damin was imprisoned, it was Madam Bai who had her steward place a hundred tael silver note under Lai San's window. This was partly to force Yao Damin to commit suicide to avenge Bai Zhaohui, and partly to frame Zhan Feiyu through Yao Damin's false accusations. This would allow Bai Zhaohui to escape the rumors of a life-saving debt and a marriage proposal, as Madam Bai intended for him to marry a princess after he passed the imperial examinations.
On the way back from the Chang residence, He Nuan had briefly explained the You family’s situation to Zhan Feiyu in the carriage. Now that You Bawang was dead, and the killer was Lai San, a jailer, the matter seemed highly suspicious.
"Miss, the You family is likely even more unreasonable and overbearing than the Zhe family," He Nuan said with a cold expression. The Zhe family was merely unreasonable; no matter who offended Zhe Jing, her nephew, Zhe Sanlang, would lead people to beat up the young men of the offender's household. Fortunately, they had some restraint, and at most, it resulted in flesh wounds that would heal with time.
However, the You family was entirely different. Because You Bawang was their only heir, from the old madam of the You family to the Marquis's wife, and then to Marquis You himself, they all doted on You Bawang.
You Bawang was dissolute and lustful, having driven countless girls from common families to their deaths. But because the Marquis's household handled the aftermath, and the common people did not report and the officials did not investigate, You Bawang became even more lawless.
He had even beaten someone to death over a dispute of romantic rivalry, but in the end, they merely pushed a guard out to take the blame and paid five hundred taels of silver to settle the matter.
Now that You Bawang was dead, and had clashed with Zhan Feiyu before his death, He Nuan could imagine how frenzied the You family would become. They might even blame Zhan Feiyu for You Bawang's death.
Zhan Feiyu pointed a finger at herself, "They would blame me for this undeserved disaster?"
Suddenly recalling something, Zhan Feiyu’s eyes widened, looking like a frightened child. "The You family wouldn't be so insane as to arrange a ghost marriage, would they?"
You Bawang was known for his romantic entanglements. It was rumored that the You family had twenty to thirty beautiful women living in their estate in the outskirts of the capital, all gathered by You Bawang. Yet, despite his vast experience with women, You Bawang had never married.
It was unclear if it was because he had concubines at a very young age, but over the years, no woman had borne him any children. Many suspected You Bawang had fertility issues.
However, the You family had spread rumors, under the guise of You Bawang not being married yet, that they couldn't have illegitimate children. The You family was determined to marry a noble lady to You Bawang, hoping she would bear legitimate sons and daughters.
Since he had started his dissolute ways, You Bawang had been promiscuous, and it was rumored that his fertility was problematic. Any family with some integrity would not marry their daughters to You Bawang.
Even if their ancestors had a noble title, it mattered little. You Bawang was a failure and would eventually squander the family fortune. Some families wanted to climb the social ladder, but the You family disdained girls from minor households.
If they had known You Bawang would die tragically, the You family would have certainly married him off long ago. If he had a son or daughter, the You family would not have been left without an heir.
"A Sheng, keep an eye on the You family's movements these few days, and be careful with the food as well." It wasn't that Zhan Feiyu was being overly cautious, but with the precedent of the unreasonable Zhe Jing, and You Bawang being called "The Twin Madmen of the Capital" alongside her, the You family's actions could be imagined.
Zhan Feiyu continued to study late into the night. After exchanging thoughts with scholars like Ning Chen'an and Bai Zhaohui, who were preparing for the spring imperial examinations, Zhan Feiyu had to admit that talent determined the ceiling, and a poor student like herself could only rely on diligence.
Meanwhile, Prefect Bai was still in his study. Since Yao Damin committed suicide in prison, the case seemed closed, but the mastermind behind it had never been found.
Moreover, Madam Bai had visited the Chang residence for a birthday celebration today and had a direct confrontation with Zhan Feiyu, even returning early due to feeling unwell. Fortunately, Bai Zhaohui remained at the Chang residence, preventing any major breach of etiquette.
"My Lord," a guard's voice came from outside the study. "Lord Chang has sent someone over."
At this time? Prefect Bai put down the official document in his hand. "Have them come in to report."
Chang Hu strode into the study, bowed, and presented the letter with both hands. "My Lord earnestly requests that Prefect Bai visit his residence."
Opening the letter and reading it, Prefect Bai's usually stern and solemn face showed a hint of surprise upon seeing that You Bawang had been assassinated at the Chang residence.
After quickly finishing the letter, Prefect Bai folded it and put it away, then looked at Chang Hu and asked coldly, "Has anyone been sent to Shun Tian Prefecture to report the crime? Has the Marquis's household sent anyone?"
"Reporting to my Lord, this subordinate arrived first. I presume the household has already sent someone to report the crime and inform the Marquis's household of You Haoran's death." Chang Hu had rushed to Prefect Bai's residence first. In the capital, any murder case was generally investigated by Shun Tian Prefecture.