Chapter 89 "What if I refuse?"...

The torrential rain lasted all night, only gradually subsiding as dawn broke.

As dawn broke, the streets, alleys, flowers, trees, and eaves of houses, all soaked by the rain, shone with a glistening outline. The air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass, and the world seemed to have been washed clean. Only the front courtyard of the Chen residence remained in a mess.

Several officials guarded the gate of the Chen residence, but someone deliberately left the gate wide open, allowing the crowd gathered outside to clearly see the bustling activity at the Chen residence.

A group of servants surrounded the pale-faced Madam Zhe, while several middle-aged men in brocade robes stood in the middle, spitting as they accused the officials.

"My lord, you must do justice for my brother!" The middle-aged man with a goatee, who was in the lead, first wept as he faced the officials, then turned and glared at Madam Zhe, his finger almost poking her face. "My brother died under mysterious circumstances. It must have been this wicked woman who colluded with outsiders to kill him in order to seize the family property!"

The officials had been dragged here by the Chen family early in the morning, and were exhausted. Now, they stood awkwardly between the two groups, listening to the noisy commotion. They were already impatient. How could someone like Ma Feng, who had died, be accused of murder? Was this some kind of farce?

"Second Master Chen, a police report requires evidence. Everyone knows the cause of Chairman Chen's death. You say that Madam Zhe plotted to murder him for money, but... where is the evidence?"

The slightly plump Master Chen immediately stepped forward to support his second brother: "Your Honor, someone witnessed my dear sister-in-law meeting with that singing girl who escaped from the carriage the other day! It must be that the two of them conspired to kill my brother!"

Feng Mian had just gotten off the carriage and walked to the door when he heard this sentence. Instantly, the image of the pretty woman in a simple dress that he had met at the door when he left last time flashed into his mind.

Upon hearing this, the officials looked inquiringly at Madam Zhe. Madam Zhe, supported by the nanny, was subjected to a barrage of indiscriminate accusations from several people, yet her back remained ramrod straight, and upon hearing this, a cold, mocking smile even appeared on her lips.

"I have seen that girl who sings songs before."

Master Chen was extremely excited: "Look, she admitted it herself!"

Madam Zhe turned her gaze coldly to Master Chen, making him look embarrassed, before slowly saying, "Over the years, countless singing maids, beautiful ladies, and courtesans have come to my mansion seeking an audience. Just because of this, you accuse me of conspiring with her? That's hardly a valid claim, is it?"

A hush fell over the crowd, even the officials' eyes showed a hint of pity. Every few days, her husband's mistress would come to visit, yet Madam Zhe never showed any displeasure to outsiders; it was a mystery how she managed to keep it all under control.

Master Chen snorted coldly: "It was because you saw my elder brother having affairs that you were filled with jealousy and hatred, so you lured him with benefits and conspired with her to murder my elder brother! With such a large family fortune in front of her, it's no wonder that a little singing girl like her was tempted and got on your pirate ship!"

"Second brother, don't you find these words laughable?" Madam Zhe chuckled lightly, her voice not loud, yet clearly piercing through the noise. "Have you uncles forgotten who has supported nearly half of the income of the Chen family's vast fortune? The money I have earned with my own hands is more than the combined profits of all the estates and shops under Chen Jiaming's name! I would like to ask you, who is it that is coveting whose things, as you are so eager to jump out and slander me?"

These words were like a sharp sword, piercing straight to the heart, causing the faces of those uncles to turn pale.

Feng Mian smiled and smiled, feeling that she didn't need to show her face.

"You wicked woman, so eloquent and clever! Don't believe her!" Master Chen was furious and shouted, "You clearly killed your own husband so you could elope with your little lover!"

Madam Zhe remained calm: "One minute you're saying I'm after the family fortune, the next you're saying I'm trying to elope with my lover. Why don't you two go over your stories before bringing the soldiers to arrest me?"

"Looks like you won't learn your lesson until you see the coffin!" Master Chen seemed to have been prepared for this, and waved his hand triumphantly behind him, "Bring him up!"

The crowd parted, and two servants shoved a slender person dressed as a shaman forward. The person wore a hideous shaman mask and a loose shaman's robe, and looked no different from an ordinary shaman.

Official: "...Uh, Master Chen, is this a woman?"

Master Chen sneered, his narrowed eyes fixed on Madam Zhe with a sinister look. "She's using this to gamble that none of us will discover her affair!"

As he spoke, he turned around and roughly tore off the man's Nuo mask and headgear, revealing a handsome, somewhat masculine face. The servants on both sides forcibly removed his outer robe, revealing the man's slender physique.

The entire audience erupted in uproar!

"This...this is a man, why is he dressed as a woman?"

"Look, everyone!" Master Chen pointed at the shaman dressed as a woman, his voice excited. "This vile woman surnamed Zhe is using divination as a pretext to frequently meet with her lover in secret!"

Madam Zhe stood there indifferently, her expression unwavering, until she saw that familiar face exposed to everyone's gaze, at which point her eyes sharpened almost imperceptibly for a moment.

Master Chen the Second echoed Master Chen the Third, lamenting, "My elder brother already knew about this, but he didn't say anything to save face! Who knew this wicked woman would be so vicious, striking first!"

Master Chen knelt down before the official with a thud: "Sir, you must do justice for us!"

The officer was startled and took two steps back, hurriedly ordering his men, "Men, take this man back to the yamen for questioning!"

"Wait!"

Feng Mian stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the aggressive Chen family members like an icy blade. "Based solely on a male sorcerer disguised as a woman and a few dubious words of so-called 'knowing the truth,' you can conclude that Madam Zhe murdered her husband?"

"Chairman Chen just passed away yesterday, and today you are putting on a show of feigned grief to coerce his widow and hastily convict him. Are you really seeking justice for him, or are you worried that things might get complicated and the Chen family's assets will fall into the hands of 'outsiders' in your eyes, leaving you with not a single penny?"

As soon as she finished speaking, the onlookers, who had just been shocked by the "adultery," looked at the group of uncles with suspicion.

Since Her Highness the Princess has said so, there must be something fishy going on with these people!

Madam Zhe glanced sideways at Feng Mian, who had stood up for her, a complex glint in her eyes. Wu Nuo, who was being held down by the servants, lowered her head deeply, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Master Chen gritted his teeth in hatred. He had specially opened the doors to welcome guests today so that the people of Yunzhong County would know about Madam Zhe's affair and forever brand her with shame. But why had Princess Qingping suddenly come? Wasn't it said that the princess and Madam Zhe only had some business dealings and no personal relationship?

He looked to his second brother for help, but his brother showed no fear, as if he had some backup plan.

The official glanced at Feng Mian, who was blocking Madam Zhe's way, and was about to order his men to move aside when he heard a cold and harsh voice behind him: "It's not proper for Your Highness, the Princess, to interfere in official business."

"Inspector Luo!" The officer hurriedly turned around and bowed to the newcomer.

The newcomer was dressed in a scarlet, narrow-sleeved official robe with a gold and jade belt around his waist. He had slender eyebrows and eyes, and an unnaturally pale complexion. Although he wore a military officer's robe, he had a sinister and eerie aura about him. His gaze toward Feng Mian was also cold and sticky, like a venomous snake that had been lurking in the shadows for years.

Feng Mian's alarm bells rang loudly. The patrol inspector was responsible for maintaining order and apprehending criminals in his area, wielding far more power than the officials in the yamen (government office), but she didn't recognize the man before her. Judging from his official robes, he was a fifth-rank official, and his demeanor suggested he wasn't someone to be trifled with.

She immediately turned her head and whispered to the guards behind her, "Protect Madam Zhe to the backyard first."

However, before she could finish speaking, she caught a glimpse of the other person moving even faster!

Several armed guards behind Inspector Luo rushed out with ghostly speed, managing to separate Feng Mian from the guards behind her. Their swords were slightly raised, encircling her and Madam Zhe. Their movements were swift and decisive, demonstrating their high level of training and showing no regard for Feng Mian's status.

“Inspector Luo,” Feng Mian’s face turned cold, his voice chilling, “what do you mean by this?”

Inspector Luo narrowed his long, thin eyes, and gave a forced smile while bowing slightly: "Your Highness, please calm down. I was merely following orders. Chairman Chen has died suddenly, and Madam Zhe is highly suspected and needs to be brought back to the Inspectorate for questioning. As for you..."

He drew out his words, and his sticky gaze swept over us again, "Please do me a favor and don't obstruct official business."

What if I refuse?

A sharp glint flashed in Inspector Luo's narrow eyes. "Then please forgive me, Your Highness. Do it!"

The lead guard drew his sword, the blade reflecting a cold light. Just as the sword was about to be fully drawn, several sharp whooshing sounds rang out, and several black pebbles struck the wrist tendons of the guards holding their swords with perfect accuracy.

"Ugh!"

Clang—

Screams and the sound of weapons falling to the ground rang out almost simultaneously; swords flew from hands and crashed to the ground.

A figure in black had already rushed forward. He kicked a guard who was approaching Fengmian hard on the shoulder, sending the guard flying backward and crashing down on several people.

Baili Xunzhou stood protectively in front of Feng Mian, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd, his voice like iron: "Let's see who dares?"

The ground was filled with wails. The Chen family, who had been so arrogant just moments before, cowered in fear. Inspector Luo's face was so gloomy it could drip water, and his narrow eyes flashed with a complex light, but he kept his lips tightly pressed together and remained silent.

"Why are you here?" Feng Mian peeked at Baili Xunzhou from behind, feeling completely relaxed.

Baili Xunzhou turned his head upon hearing the voice. When his gaze returned to Feng Mian's face, it instantly softened, and his voice lowered. There was a hint of lingering fear in his tone, as well as a hint of pride in his claim, "I was worried about you, so I sent Qingyi to secretly follow you. Sure enough, all sorts of monsters and demons have appeared."

Do you know who this inspector is?

"who?"

“Luo Chier, the Grand Secretary Luo, who held the position of prime minister, is his grandfather,” Baili Xunzhou explained softly. “He has just taken office as the border patrol inspector.”

Feng Mian thought for a moment, "Isn't this the maternal family of Consort Rou?"

She wrote a letter to her elder brother, the Crown Prince, asking him to secretly arrange for some good officials to be sent to her. But before she could even see any good officials, she encountered the troublesome Luo Chier.

"Your Highnesses." A cold, slightly clenched voice suddenly came from the other side. Luo Chier closed his eyes, took a deep breath, suppressed his dissatisfaction, and forced a smile: "We are still here. If you two want to discuss or express your feelings, why don't you go back to the palace and talk about it slowly?"

"Oh? Sorry." Baili Xunzhou seemed to have just noticed the person who spoke, casually lifting his eyelids, a very faint smile curving his lips. "If you hadn't spoken, I really wouldn't have seen that there was someone here."

"Who were you talking about just now?" Luo Chier nearly fainted from anger.