Chapter 31

But unexpectedly, Old Madam Xiao said, “He probably hasn’t met everyone yet, and it was Minister Bo who finally persuaded His Majesty to agree to release Little Sixth to conduct the funeral rites.”

“Minister Bo?”

“Minister Bo Ying?!”

Su Jinyuan’s eyes widened slightly, but in a moment, she understood what Old Madam Xiao meant. Earlier, she had sent Qi Sheng to meet as many as seven or eight people. Even if he had visited them overnight, it wouldn’t have been so quick. Moreover, the Xiao family and the Bo family from the Chancellor’s residence were not well acquainted, so she hadn’t dared to have Qi Sheng provoke them recklessly.

Qi Sheng must have indeed met one or two generals as she had instructed. Those generals, having received the news from Linchuan during the morning assembly, seized the opportunity to propose offering their assistance in the funeral rites. As for the remaining people—and Minister Bo—they volunteered to help the Xiao family.

Xiao Jin has been in court for many years and enjoys the bond Old General Xiao had once bestowed upon him. Not everyone in the Great Jin court is treacherous; a few upright, conscientious men are willing to speak up for the Xiao family.

Su Jinyuan asked, “When will our father’s remains be brought back to the capital?”

“By the journey’s estimate, five days from now.”

So, does that mean Xie Yunyan will be released from the Ministry of Justice’s prison for a visit five days from now?

Su Jinyuan’s thoughts churned. She wasn’t sure if Qi Sheng could locate Feng Kui’s family before the funeral rites began.

The news from Linchuan drained the appetite from everyone at the table—even Xiao Yunxuan herself looked completely listless. Although young and unaware of many things, she clearly understood what had transpired in the residence. Her older brothers had died, and even her eldest uncle was gone. Her mother, though appearing strong, would secretly cry at night while clutching her second brother’s belongings. Even the third and fourth sisters-in-law would weep secretly; it seemed like a shadow had fallen over the entire household.

When Su Jinyuan returned to Yùqìng Hall, Eldest Madam Xiao watched her departing figure, hesitating to speak several times before finally holding her tongue. Preoccupied with the matter of the Feng family, Su Jinyuan didn’t notice much of this. After returning to Yùqìng Hall, she immediately sought out Xiang Lei to meet with Qi Sheng, urging him to expedite the investigation into the whereabouts of Feng Kui’s family.

After three days had passed—so much so that Su Jinyuan grew increasingly restless—news finally came from Qi Sheng: he had located Feng Kui’s family.

“You say Qi Sheng has found them—where?”

Xiang Lei replied in a low voice, “Lord Qin’s country villa on the outskirts of the city—a place so remote that hardly anyone ever goes there.”

“Qi Sheng dispatched people to track the matter. They searched the entire city and eventually found someone with firsthand knowledge. This man had once shared a drink with Feng Kui’s father, and he said that about a month ago, he encountered Feng Kui’s parents, wife, and child near the city gate.”

“He recalled that when he saw the Feng family’s anxious expressions, he couldn’t help but ask a few questions. He learned that an elder in the Feng clan had passed away and that they were hurrying back for the funeral. He even noted that two other people were accompanying the Feng family then, one of whom was Feng Kui’s cousin.”

“As Qi Sheng followed that lead, he discovered that Feng Kui’s cousin had never actually left the capital. Just a few days ago, he had even visited a pleasure house in the western part of the city. Only after his men tracked him down all the way, they reached that secluded villa, but…”

“But what?” Su Jinyuan asked in a deep tone.

“It’s just that everyone from the Feng family was gone—only Feng Kui’s daughter remained.”

Su Jinyuan frowned. “How could this be?”

Xiang Lei replied in a low voice, “Qi Sheng captured Feng Kui’s cousin and, from him, learned that not long after Feng Kui set out on a campaign with the general, someone had approached him to trick the Feng family into leaving the city. After he received silver and deceived them into leaving, his original plan was to drug them and send them off to that secluded villa.”

“But who would have expected that Feng Kui’s wife, sensing something was amiss, secretly swapped the medicine and tried to flee with her in-laws and daughter? In the ensuing chase by the men sent to capture the Feng family, an unfortunate mishap resulted in their deaths—leaving only Feng Kui’s youngest daughter, who they then took away.”

Su Jinyuan pressed her lips together.

Xiang Lei continued, “Qi Sheng asked whether we should rescue the person.”

After a moment’s contemplation, Su Jinyuan said, “Not now. Tell Qi Sheng to have his men stand guard there. Wait until Father’s remains are returned to the capital and until the Sixth Young Master steps out of the city to escort his spirit; only then should he move to rescue the child.”

Rescuing her now would only tip off the enemy.

“Uncle Xiang, you also go to that secluded villa and keep a close watch. Under no circumstances must anything happen to Feng Kui’s child.”

After all, whether we can turn the tide depends crucially on this.

“Yes, young madam.”

“Also, please go to the Ministry of Justice and visit the Yang household to deliver a letter to Yang Hong for me.”

“Understood.”

After Xiang Lei departed, Su Jinyuan repeatedly mulled over her plans, calculating whether there were any mistakes or oversights. Meanwhile, Xiang Lei took advantage of the night to visit the Yang household and deliver Su Jinyuan’s letter to Yang Hong, who was rudely awakened from his sleep by him.

Yang Hong glanced at his wife, who lay unconscious beside him, and gritted his teeth in anger.

“What on earth do you people from the Xiao family intend to do?!”

Earlier, it had been clearly agreed that as long as he found someone to attend to Xie Yunyan’s injured leg, she would never bring up the matter of Danfu Alley again. But now, what sort of absurdity is written in this letter? Is she never going to stop?!

Gripping the letter tightly, Yang Hong seethed, “I’m telling you, don’t even think about it. Go back and tell her that if she dares to use the Danfu Alley matter to threaten me again, I will sever all ties with the Xiao family.”

“At worst, nobody gets to live!!”

Xiang Lei looked at him silently for a moment, then turned and left.

“Hey!” Yang Hong was dumbfounded. “Wait a minute—shouldn’t someone from the Xiao family be threatening and tempting him further? Why did he just leave?”

He quickly stepped forward and grabbed Xiang Lei’s sleeve. “Wait!”

Xiang Lei gave him a sidelong glance.

Yang Hong, mouth agape, asked, “Why did you just leave? Why didn’t you try to persuade him further?”

Xiang Lei brushed away his hand and said, “If you disagree, then naturally, I have no choice but to leave. Before I arrived, Young Madam also said this matter was inherently risky; if Master Yang is unwilling, we cannot force it.”

Yang Hong barely began to smile when his expression froze the next moment.

“It is only that Young Madam, out of concern for you, mentioned that the Xiao family, now with husband and son dead, can hardly enjoy the pleasures of family life.”

“If you cannot manage this matter, do not force it. In two days, when the Xiao family has no chance to recover, I will send the little master to the Liang family, so that Master Liang may see his little grandson—whom he has never met—and enjoy a moment of familial bliss.”

Yang Hong was speechless. If his father-in-law were to see this little “grandson,” he would surely beat him to death!

Before his eyes, after that person left, he leaped onto the rooftop and vanished in an instant.

Fuming with anger, Yang Hong clutched the letter in his hand, ready to tear it up. But when he recalled Su Jinyuan’s threat, he stopped, his face turning as if it had been dipped in dye.

“This is too much…”

He spun around in place, so enraged that he kicked at the eaves in frustration to vent his anger. But who would have expected that after that kick, his face suddenly flushed bright red, and in the next moment, with an “ow!”, he clutched his foot in pain and jumped up.

Holding his foot, Yang Hong sat crouched in front of the door and burst into tears. The Xiao family were clearly loyal and upright people—how could they have produced such a shameless, despicable little scoundrel?!

That swindler—she never keeps her word!

Sob… sob… sob…