Chapter 13: Death

Nie Hezheng said goodbye to Qiandeng and said, "The suspect will be temporarily detained in the Dali Temple prison. Once everything is investigated, we will give the county lady a clear answer."

Although Jin Tang was a serious suspect, Qian Deng felt uneasy and advised, "I hope the Dali Temple can handle this case properly. I think the case may not be as simple as it appears. I have frequent contact with Jin Tang, and from what I see in his daily behavior, he doesn't show any signs of being a murderer."

"Of course. This case concerns the Changhua Palace, so the Dali Temple will handle it carefully."

With the clanging of chains, the people from the Dali Temple took Jin Tang away.

Qian Deng returned to the mansion, and Aunt Xuanji came out to greet her. Seeing that she looked heavy-hearted, she hurriedly asked, "What's wrong? Did the county lady borrow the scriptures from the Imperial College?"

Qian Deng shook his head and walked into the mansion while whispering, "Something happened to Mr. Yu."

Aunt Xuanji asked in surprise, "He's studying at the Imperial College, what could possibly happen to him?"

"He was murdered." Qiandeng briefly recounted the situation.

Xuanji gasped and asked in a lost voice, "Jin Langjun... killed Yu Langjun?"

Qiandeng nodded hesitantly: "Based on the current signs, Jintang is the most suspicious."

"How could this be?" Xuanji murmured, but seeing Qiandeng's hesitant expression, she could only ask, "Then, what should we do?"

"Let's wait for the result of the Dali Temple's trial." Qiandeng said, looking up and seeing the side hall in front of him, he felt upset and uncomfortable again.

When the rebel army attacked, the side hall of the palace was burned and collapsed. Later, due to the chaos and the pain of losing her mother, she was unable to repair it quickly.

It was Jin Tang who brought people to restore the looted mansion to its original state. The current flying eaves, pink and white walls, and the orderly and stable state of the palace were mostly brought about by him.

Feeling depressed, she sighed and looked towards the plum garden where Yu Guangling had lived.

The blue brick ground is still winding, and the lingering autumn rain is still falling in the front and back yards of the palace, but Yu Guangling has disappeared from this world forever.

The farewell came so suddenly that it felt unreal and hasty.

The young man, who was wearing a clean old blue robe and was as quiet as a deer under the forest, fell in a pool of blood in the blink of an eye and died in such a tragic way.

The suspects are those who spend every day with her.

Even if it wasn't Jintang, it would be Meng Lanxi or Xue Xiyang...

She stood in a daze before the sweltering autumn rain, feeling a chill running down her spine. She stood there stiffly for who knows how long. Then, behind her, she heard Liuli's voice, anxiously saying, "County Lady, County Lady..."

Qian Deng looked back at her and saw that her face was both sad and angry, so he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Mr. Yu's parents are here. They... they want to see you."

That day in Yongyangfang, Qiandeng met with Yu Guangling's parents. The old couple, who had been so proud of their son's victory even though they lived in a leaky shack, were now dealt a heavy blow, and in an instant, they seemed to have aged twenty years.

Qiandeng sat down behind the curtain without saying a word.

Yu's mother covered her face and wept bitterly, while Yu's father's face was filled with grief. "May I ask the County Lady, my son, who was a candidate for the County Lady's husband, has now died inexplicably. What are we, two useless old men, going to do in the future?"

How could Qiandeng not understand why they came, but she sat behind the curtain and said nothing.

Aunt Xuanji spoke on his behalf, "The palace is deeply saddened by Mr. Yu's death. However, the government has yet to reach a conclusion on the case, so the court's decision on how to proceed will have to wait until the case is concluded."

Yu's father was filled with grief and indignation: "We raised our son with so much effort, and now he's gone just like that, and you, the Changhua Palace, are sending us off with just a few words?"

Yu's mother burst into tears: "My poor son, I shouldn't have allowed you to come to the palace to participate in the election, and I shouldn't have allowed you to live in the palace..."

Aunt Xuanji interrupted her, "You two elders have lost a beloved son, and naturally we are heartbroken as well. However, it was the imperial court that ordered Mr. Yu to run for the imperial examination, and the palace allowed Mr. Yu to live there out of sympathy for your dilapidated home and out of a desire to help others. Furthermore, Mr. Yu was murdered in the Imperial College, and there is a suspect for the murder. If you have any grievances, you should seek justice for the murderer."

She laid out her reasons, but Yu's father argued, "But this matter stems from the fact that my son was promised to be the husband of a county lady. I heard that according to custom, the husband of a county lady is given an official position. My uncles in the clan are already repairing the ancestral hall. My family...my family has long been preparing for this day of honor."

Yu's mother wept bitterly, "Now that my son is dead, my family is left without anyone to rely on. We can't survive!"

Qian Deng could hear the hidden meaning behind their words, and finally spoke from behind the curtain, asking, "I heard that Mr. Yu has a younger brother?"

Seeing that the county lady understood his meaning, Yu's father immediately said, "Guangling is not lucky enough to have this position prepared by the court, but my youngest son is smart and clever, and is not inferior to his elder brother. County lady, please take a look..."

Aunt Xuanji had been feeling sad for Yu Guangling, but after hearing what they said, she burst into laughter. "Awarding an official position is a favor from the court. My Changhua Palace can't arrange a position. Besides, we have many people waiting in the wings. They are all talented and well-born, and they are all top students of the Imperial College. What's your youngest son's background? How can he get an official position just because his brother is dead?"

When Father Yu saw her bringing up the imperial court, he lost his breath and quickly said, "We wouldn't dare, but my son died because of the County Lady. With the power of the palace, it shouldn't be difficult to help Brother Guangling find a job in some government office. I heard... I heard that the Emperor and Empress both favored the County Lady. Isn't it just a matter of a word?"

Qiandeng held the teacup and sipped slowly without saying a word.

Yu's mother knelt on the ground and began to wail again: "My Guangling'er, the child I raised with great effort for decades is gone just like that, and he died in such a tragic way..."

"Shut up and keep quiet!" Aunt Xuanji shouted sternly, "My county lady is a member of the royal family, a noble, and has been granted the rank of Second Rank by the imperial court. Even high-ranking officials must bow to her. If you dare to roar or disturb me again, I'll drag you out!"

Hearing the noise, the guards in the mansion immediately rushed into the hall, pounded the sticks in their hands on the ground, and were about to drag them out.

Seeing Yu's parents trembling with fear, their faces pale, Qian Deng put down his teacup, temporarily suppressed the sadness and anger in his heart, and said, "Send someone to the Jin Mansion and call Jin Baoyi over."

Jin Baoyi was Jin Tang's father. Upon hearing that the county lord had summoned him, he came running over with sweat all over his forehead, obviously worried about his son.

"My Lady, please understand. Jintang has been doted on by his grandparents since he was little, and we've spoiled him rotten. But he has a kind nature and would never do such a foolish thing! My Lady, please, for the sake of his infatuation, please help Jintang and don't let him suffer an injustice!"

Jin Baoyi burst into tears as he spoke to Qian Deng through the curtains. Turning back and seeing Yu's parents, his expression changed again: "Didn't I promise to compensate you? Why did you come to the palace to make a scene?"

The Yu family's parents had been helped by the Jin family, and even though they were now in dire straits, they couldn't stand up straight. They could only reply, "Yes, but my family was supposed to have a legitimate official with a salary, and the elders said we can't let it go to waste..."

"Look at what you're saying. How can he be yours? To tell you the truth, it's still early for the county lady to choose a husband, so don't get carried away!" Aunt Xuanji scolded, "Why don't you have a good talk while you're both here? Now that Mr. Yu is gone, and Mr. Jin is the biggest suspect in this case, how do you plan to resolve it?"

"If this matter really involves my son, and the Dali Temple finally sentences my son, my Jin family will explain to the Yu family. All the land, houses, and money will be no problem, and we will definitely not embarrass the palace." Jin Baoyi said immediately, "But the county lady is wise. My son has a kind nature. Back then, Yu Guangling dropped out of school due to poverty, and it was my son's help that enabled the Yu family to have a livelihood and Yu Guangling to enter the Imperial College. Later, when he learned that the palace was invaded by rebel troops, he immediately brought people to renovate it. He did everything himself. Even if he didn't have any credit, he worked hard. His respect and love for the county lady is evident to all. Now my son is just a suspect, and Yu Guangling's death is still undetermined. I only ask the county lady not to be deceived by villains and help him speak a word at the Dali Temple. My Jin family is willing to sacrifice our lives for the county lady and is also willing to give the Yu family satisfactory compensation, just in exchange for my son's safety!"