Chapter 82: It’s time to take action to kill the Zhou family

Xie Wuhen stared at her meaningfully: "Mrs. Du, please think carefully before answering."

Liu was already feeling guilty, and after hearing his words, she became even more uneasy, her words becoming evasive. "The Du family has been in the capital for many years, and countless servants have come and gone during that time. Your Excellency suddenly asked me about someone, and to be honest, I couldn't remember who it was at the moment."

Xie Wuhen chuckled: "Since you can't remember, why are you so sure, Madam Du?"

Liu smiled and said, "Isn't this...afraid of causing trouble?"

Xie Wuhen's tone became even more ruthless: "If you dare to hide the truth, I'm afraid the trouble will be even greater."

Liu's face paled, then after a moment, she smiled again. "I'm just an ordinary citizen. How dare I hide anything from the Shaoqing? I'll go back and ask the housekeeper to help me think of a servant like this."

Xie Wuhen threw the Du family market certificate in front of Liu Shi and said, "Madam Du, there's no need to go back and ask the housekeeper. This market certificate clearly records that eight years ago, a servant named 'Deshun' was beaten to death in the Du family's backyard."

Liu choked, her face instantly showing embarrassment. "Since the Young Master has already found out, why...why is he still asking me..."

Xie Wuhen answered directly: "Finding out is one thing, but whether Madam Du is willing to tell the truth is another."

Liu smiled awkwardly. "It happened so long ago, who could remember it so clearly? Besides, the master was in charge of all matters in the mansion at the time, so I know very little."

This is obviously an excuse.

Xie Wuhen's face fell. "I haven't even started asking questions yet. Madam Du, are you saying there are no more answers?"

Liu's face was troubled. "Of course I will tell you everything I know, Master Shaoqing, but...but if there's something I don't know, how can I answer?"

Xie Wuhen spoke slowly and steadily, "Today, I will tell Madam Du the truth. I am here on the Emperor's orders to investigate this case concerning 'Deshun'. Anyone who deliberately conceals information will be punished with death, or even the extermination of their entire clan. I am showing some courtesy by receiving Madam Du in the front hall of the Dali Temple today. If Madam Du insists on not cooperating, I will have no choice but to send her to the torture chamber for punishment."

He then called out "Mr. Wu".

Wu Sheng responded and entered the room: "Boss, what's the matter?"

He ordered in a deep voice: "Take Madam Du to the torture chamber."

Liu, who had always associated herself with high-ranking officials, had naturally heard how terrifying the prison's torture chamber was. She was so frightened that she fell to her knees and said, "Master Shaoqing, please spare my life. I... I will tell you the truth. I do remember a man named Deshun in the mansion. Back then, he was a servant by the master's side. He was very appreciated by the master for his tea-making skills."

Xie Wuhen asked, "Why was he beaten to death in the Du family's backyard?"

Liu hurriedly shook her head, then raised her hand and swore, "His death has nothing to do with the Du family."

"I know that it was Zhou Yuanze who beat him to death with a stick."

Liu choked, then lowered her head and said nothing.

How could an ordinary person like her dare to offend the Zhou family? Eight years ago, the Du family couldn't afford to offend the Zhou family, and eight years later, they couldn't afford to offend them even more.

Xie Wuhen asked again: "Why did Zhou Yuanze want to beat Deshun to death?"

Liu pleaded, "Master Shaoqing, please don't ask. As for Zhou Yuanze... I dare not say anything."

"Just tell me what you want. I'll take care of anything that comes my way."

"This is a matter concerning the Zhou family. I'm afraid even the Shaoqing himself... may not be able to handle it."

"The emperor is behind me!"

When Liu heard the title of "Emperor", her face brightened a little, she took a deep breath, and then told the story in detail how Zhou Yuanze raped Su Xueer eight years ago, how he beat De Shun to death with a stick, and how Su Xueer went to beat the drum to report the incident and had her throat cut.

Finally, she sighed deeply and made another excuse, "The Du family is just a merchant family, and they are restricted by the Zhou family in every way. The master... really has no choice but to follow Zhou Yuanze's lead."

Xie Wuhen said, "You get up first."

Upon hearing this, Liu got up from the ground and asked tentatively, "I have told you everything I know. I wonder if I can go back now?"

"One more thing."

"Wh-what is it?"

"After Deshun and Su Xueer both died, where did their daughter go?"

Liu was stunned and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Back then, Du Yuting had revealed to her that he wanted to kill the child to silence him, and she had indeed not seen the child since then. Now that the Shaoqing suddenly brought it up, she naturally did not dare to tell the truth.

Liu feigned sadness and shook her head: "I don't know."

He asked, “How could you not know?”

"I am the mistress of the Du family. I have to take care of all the affairs of the mansion. How can I have the energy to pay attention to the whereabouts of a child born to a slave?"

"You should know the child's name, right?"

Liu still shook her head: "To be honest, I can't even remember the names of all the servants in the mansion."

At the end, she added: "Every word I say is true. I have never lied."

Xie Wuhen glanced at her, too lazy to talk nonsense with her: "That's all for today, Madam Du, please go back first."

Liu was as if she had been pardoned. After saying "Thank you, Your Excellency", she slipped out of the Dali Temple as fast as she could.

Wu Sheng was puzzled: "Boss, are you just going to let Liu go like this?"

Xie Wuhen replied: "This is about the secrets of the palace. Now that we have obtained the necessary information, it is naturally inconvenient to dig deeper."

Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Liuzi came to report at the door: "Boss, someone came from the palace and said that the emperor wants you to come in."

Xie Wuhen took a deep breath and said, "Okay, I'll leave right away."

It seems that the emperor is getting impatient.

When Xie Wuhen walked into the Weiyang Palace, the emperor was making tea.

After resting for a few days, he looked much more energetic, and his cheeks even had a little redness.

Seeing Xie Wuhen bowing, he waved his hand hurriedly: "Hurry up and stand up. Come and taste the tea I made for you."

Xie Wuhen stood up as ordered and sat down at the bottom of the tea table. He took the tea and took two sips. "It has a strong aroma and a mellow taste. It's very sweet and refreshing."

The emperor looked up at him, his heart filled with emotion. "This is called Keemun black tea. Duofu used to make it for me. After Duofu left the palace, I tried to imitate her method and made it for myself over and over again, but I could never quite capture her flavor. If Ziyu had drunk the black tea brewed by Duofu, he wouldn't be praising it so much today."

There was something hidden in his words, obviously asking about the progress of the matter.

"I'm afraid... I won't have the pleasure of doing this." Xie Wuhen knew he couldn't hide it any longer, so he stood up solemnly and knelt on the ground: "I have found out where Lady Duofu is."

The emperor put down the tea spoon in his hand, feeling uneasy, and asked in a deep voice: "Where is she?"

Xie Wuhen took a deep breath and said, "Empress Duofu passed away eight years ago. I hope Your Majesty...will express our condolences."

The emperor suddenly clenched his fists, causing his arms to tremble slightly.

But his expression remained unchanged, as if he were petrified, and the entire hall fell into deathly silence.

This seemed to be an expected result, but when it came down like a sharp blade, he was still filled with grief and anger and could not accept it.

After a moment, the emperor asked in a hoarse voice, "Why did Duofu pass away?"

Xie Wuhen then recounted the investigation details one by one, from Duofu falling into the Du family and being forcibly taken away by Zhou Yuanze, to the eunuch Shunzi being beaten to death, and Duofu being slit his throat when he went to beat the drum to report to the emperor. Every incident was full of brutality and blood.

The emperor frowned and began to cough violently.

Xie Wuhen called out "Your Majesty" worriedly.

The emperor waved his hand at him and he finally stopped coughing.

"I'm fine," he said.

After saying that, he poured himself a cup of tea and drank it in one gulp. After drinking it, he calmed down, as if he had returned to his usual calm self. "Where is my child?" he asked.

Xie Wuhen then recounted the deaths of Du Yuting, Liu Dazhong, and Zhou Yuanze, and concluded, "The princess should be in the capital. Due to her status, I dare not search for her publicly. I can only investigate privately. But Your Majesty, rest assured that she should be able to protect herself."

The emperor remained restrained throughout, showing no emotion on his face except for coughing.

He said, "The princess must be unaware of her own identity, which is why she has gone out alone to seek revenge. She will not give up her quest for revenge. I will give you a team of guards. You must secretly keep a close eye on Zhou Yuanze. If the princess appears, do your utmost to protect her and bring her back to see me."

He spoke the last two words with exceptional solemnity, as if imbued with all the expectations of a father. Xie Wuhen knelt on the ground and solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, I will obey your command."

"You get up first," said the emperor.

Xie Wuhen stood up as ordered.

The emperor looked at the void in front of him and whispered in a deep voice: "The Zhou family, it's time to take action."

If it weren't for Zhou Yuanze, how could his Duofu be killed? How could his daughter be left to wander among the people like a weed?

Xie Wuhen asked, "What does the emperor plan to do?"

The emperor stood up and paced around the hall, saying as he walked, "We have to take it one step at a time."

Then he called out "Zhao Fu".

Eunuch Zhao entered the palace and said, "Your Majesty, I am here."

The emperor ordered, "Five days from now will be Consort Shu's birthday. Go and tell the Imperial Household Department that a grand birthday banquet is to be held. All civil and military officials in the court can bring their families to the feast."

Zhao Fu lowered his head and replied "yes", then walked out of the palace.

The emperor turned to look at Xie Wuhen and said, "Zi Yu can bring his wife into the palace then. Actually, I haven't even met Zi Yu's wife yet."

Xie Wuhen bowed and replied: "I will bring my wife to see the emperor when the time comes."

The emperor hummed, his tone a little tired: "I am tired today, you can leave first." He seemed unwilling to talk in depth about the Zhou family's affairs.

Xie Wuhen lowered his head and replied "yes", then turned around and walked out of the hall.

It was already dusk when we returned to Chunhuayuan.

Su He was preparing dinner in the spare room. When she saw him enter, she hurried over to greet him with surprise and asked, "Husband, why are you home so early today?"

Xie Wuhen replied gently: "After finishing the official business, I went straight back home."

She asked tentatively, "Will you not be so busy in the future?"

If he wasn't busy anymore, it might mean he wouldn't catch her!

He replied: "I'm not sure, I'll just take it one step at a time."

Then he asked, "My wife's arm still hurts, is it better?"

Su He smiled slightly: "Don't worry, my husband, I'm much better."

Upon hearing this, Xie Wuhen called out "Mr. Wu" to the outside of the door.

Wu Sheng responded and entered the room, holding a large fish several feet long in his hand. "Madam, this is the dried bonito my boss bought for you on his way back home. He said it's nutritious and can help heal wounds."

Su He glanced at the fish, then glanced at Xie Wuhen, and actually felt like laughing.

How could a man give fish to a woman?

But she still said "thank you, husband".

Chunlan hurried forward to take the fish, glanced at Wu Sheng with an indescribable look, turned around and left the house.

Wu Sheng was confused by the glance and followed him out of the house.

Only the couple were left in the house.

Xie Wuhen pulled Su He to sit down: "I want to talk to my wife about something."

Su He asked, "What's the matter?"

"Five days from now, the palace will hold a birthday banquet for Consort Shu. Madam, you must come with me to the palace."

Su He was puzzled: "Why does a poor concubine also want to enter the palace?"

He replied, "The Emperor has said that all civil and military officials must bring their families with them."

Su He paused. Wouldn't Zhou Yuanze also enter the palace by then?