Chapter 69 Reactions from All Parties

There's really nothing to say; it was just an ordinary banquet.

After Yuan Chenghai entered, he sat at the head of the table. The others sat on both sides according to their status and position, each with a small table. When toasting, they raised their glasses from a distance and had no chance to get close to Yuan Chenghai.

The courtesans invited were all well-known in the capital and frequently appeared at such banquets. Their positions for playing the zither were fixed, and they were even further away from Yuan Chenghai.

Yuan Qiang quickly finished speaking: "Lord Yuan was curious about how Miss Qiu Liu saved Miss Qiu Er, so he asked about it from Earl Yongqing. While the two were talking and drinking, Lord Yuan suddenly vomited blood..."

"You mean, Lord Yuan laughed heartily many times?" Xue Han asked.

Yuan Qiang hesitated before nodding: "Yes, what's wrong?"

"I'm just asking, so that the coroner can make a better judgment if we know more," Xue Han explained casually, glancing at Yongqing Bo.

The old man, Yongqing, turned pale and hurriedly said, "This has nothing to do with me. I'm sitting far away from Lord Yuan."

Thank goodness, the advantage of not having power actually came into play at this moment.

Xue Han withdrew his gaze: "Hu Si."

"Your humble servant is here."

"Have someone record the names of everyone present, leaving no one out."

"yes."

After giving his instructions, Xue Han left Fengwei Restaurant and went to the palace to report.

Officials guarded the entrance to Fengwei Restaurant, and ordinary people were no longer allowed to enter.

More and more people stood at a distance, watching curiously and speculating about what had happened.

"What's going on? Why are there so many government officials?"

"Did you see the person who just went in? That's a coroner!"

"Hiss—so someone died? This must have been a very important person, right?"

Someone lowered their voice: "It sounds like that Lord Yuan..."

"My God, that traitor Yuan is actually dead?"

"Keep your voice down, are you out of your mind?!"

"What's there to be afraid of if we're already dead?"

"Yeah, good riddance..."

With his load of goods on his shoulder, Chen San's heart soared.

That scoundrel surnamed Yuan is dead? How did he die? Is it really him? Could there be a mistake?

When his long-awaited dream came true, he couldn't believe it. He was filled with anxiety and couldn't help but approach Fengweilou.

"Official investigation, do not approach!" shouted the constables guarding the entrance of the restaurant.

Chen San left with an awkward smile, his pace quickening.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" Tao Da asked in a low voice after Chen San sat down at the tea stall, panting heavily.

Chen San glanced at the customers at the tea stall, gave them a look, and waited until they left before saying, "That traitor Yuan is dead!"

Tao Da's teapot wobbled, spilling tea outside the cup.

"What?"

"Hey, how did you pour the tea!" Chen San raised his voice.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." Tao Da hurriedly picked up a rag to wipe it, but his hands were trembling.

The table was wet, just like Tao Da's moist eyes: "Is the news true?"

"It's true, he died at Fengwei Restaurant. Now Fengwei Restaurant is surrounded by many officials and they won't let anyone get close."

"How did you die?" Tao asked in a trembling voice.

Chen San shook his head slightly: "I don't know yet. I came to tell you as soon as I heard the news."

Tao Da silently put down the teapot.

This silence is not because there is nothing to say, but because there is too much to say and too many emotions to release.

"Brother Tao, do you want to go take a look?"

Tao Da shook his head: "No, just do what you're supposed to do. What if Brother Que gives you instructions?"

Chen San wiped his face hard: "Brother Tao, how do you think Brother Que did that?"

"I don't know." Tao Da had no way of guessing and unconsciously looked in the direction of Fengweilou.

Someone walked towards the tea stall; it was Liu Er.

Tao Da went up to greet him.

Seeing that there were no outsiders at the tea stall, Liu Er simply sat down opposite Chen San and said in a low voice, "I heard that the scoundrel drank wine and laughed loudly, and then he vomited blood and died."

"He died just like that?" Chen San looked incredulous. "Could Brother Que be among those people who were drinking together?"

Tao Da said sternly, "Stop guessing. Wait patiently for Brother Que's next instructions."

By now, Tao Da was completely convinced of the true nature of that young, unidentified magpie.

"I know, I know..." Chen San grabbed the teacup and gulped down the tea, trying to hide the sob in his voice.

The scoundrel is really dead. Those brothers and sisters who died can rest in peace now!

While Tao Da and the other two were rejoicing over Yuan Chenghai's death, news of Yuan Chenghai's accident also reached the Yuan residence.

"Master is dead?" Upon hearing this, Li Niang burst into tears. "Master, Master, how could you leave so suddenly? What am I going to do now..."

Hui Niang stared blankly, tears falling unconsciously. These tears were less for Yuan Chenghai and more for herself.

Yes, what will happen to us without that man's protection?

Nie Si Niang also cried: "Sister, did you hear that? He's dead, he's dead!"

Nie Sanniang embraced her younger sister, her voice choked with sobs: "Yes, he's dead."

The Magpie Brothers really did it!

She looked up at the sky, which was a clear blue, and the image of the people who had gathered together to kill the traitor Yuan flashed through her mind.

Some of those people were only known for a short time, while others had walked a long road together. Gradually, they all died, leaving only the four of them.

Now, the four of them, together with the Magpie Brothers, have avenged the dead and the countless people who suffered in the southeast!

Nie San Niang also cried.

Emperor Jingping was furious upon receiving the news and ordered a thorough investigation.

Those who had been drinking with Yuan Chenghai were thoroughly questioned, and the coroner, after repeated examinations, concluded that he died from poisoning.

So the group, who could have gone home, were questioned again and searched, but nothing was found. After questioning each person, the suspicion of anyone present poisoning them was ruled out.

The investigation shifted its focus to Fengweilou Restaurant, and Yongqing Bocai, like everyone else, was finally released and allowed to return home.

News of Yuan Chenghai's incident had already reached many people due to the Fengwei Restaurant being surrounded by officials, but it hadn't truly spread yet. The old lady, seeing the Earl of Yongqing enter looking haggard, was quite puzzled: "What happened to the Earl?"

Didn't you go out for drinks at someone's invitation? You were all smiles when you went, but you came back looking like a wilted eggplant.

The Earl of Yongqing sat down heavily and waved for the servants to leave.

The old lady sat up straight: "Is something the matter?"

Now the old man is causing trouble even after going out for a short while?

Is this contagious?

The Earl of Yongqing sighed heavily: "Something terrible has happened!"

The old lady hurriedly asked, "What is it?"

"Lord Yuan Chenghai is dead!"

The old lady gasped, her voice rising: "How did he die?"

Good heavens, isn't this a bit too much?

"I don't know." When asked about this, Uncle Yongqing looked blank. "He asked me about how Sixth Sister saved Second Sister, but I didn't want to talk about it, so I offered him a drink to change the subject. After he finished drinking, he started laughing loudly, and then he vomited blood!"

"And then?" The old lady's heart was in her throat, and she looked very nervous.

"And then he died!"

The old lady clutched her chest, her heart pounding: "He died as soon as he mentioned Sixth Sister?"

Yongqingbo nodded, but then felt something was amiss.

"What do you mean by saying that mentioning Sixth Sister would lead to death? This has nothing to do with Sixth Sister, and nothing to do with our family!"

"Of course I know."

The old lady was still unable to calm down, and murmured, "Anyway, he was dead because he had designs on Sixth Sister."

And then there's Han Yanei, who killed Liu Yatou's adoptive father; the entire Han family is doomed.

She'd said long ago that this girl was eccentric!

The Earl of Yongqing was also startled by these thoughts, and asked the old lady nervously, "Do you think Sixth Sister is still satisfied with me as her grandfather?"

He didn't want to die; he wanted to live to be a hundred.

The old lady paused for a moment, then said calmly, "Then the Earl will have to ask Sixth Miss."

Satisfied my ass!