Chapter 65 He's had enough
Gao Shaoguang and the officials guarding the Yang family in the north of the city did not see a single person until the sky began to lighten.
The constable hiding behind the artificial hill yawned, his eyes half-open, exhausted from not sleeping all night.
He glanced around casually and noticed that his other brothers were all staring at him.
He was taken aback, chuckled awkwardly a few times, and scratched his face.
Gao Shaoguang walked out from the side, his brows furrowed and his expression somewhat solemn.
It just so happens that Tao Tao was locked up, and it just so happens that nothing else happened that night. Is it really just a coincidence? Or did the murderer know something, or perhaps the other person had already killed enough?
Just as he was pondering this, he heard hurried footsteps coming from the path behind him.
Gao Shaoguang turned around in confusion and found that it was a bailiff from the government office.
Why would the government officials act without authorization? Could it be that they encountered some problem?
Just as he was about to ask a question, a bailiff rushed over, looking flustered and panting, saying, "Sir, something terrible has happened! The young lady who was just imprisoned has disappeared!"
"What?!"
Gao Shaoguang was greatly surprised.
"What exactly happened? What do you mean by 'disappeared'?"
The bailiff looked equally bewildered: "My subordinates don't know either. It was a brother from the prison who reported it, saying that the young lady has gone missing."
He thought for a moment, then strode forward: "Let's go to the Tao family's house."
Before he even stepped out of the courtyard, he was greeted by Master Yang, Yang Zhengxian, who bowed and said:
"Sir, how is it? Have you apprehended the murderer?"
"The murderer did not appear last night. I have matters to attend to now, but I will come back after I have dealt with them. Farewell."
As soon as he finished speaking, he led his men forward, leaving Yang Zhengxian looking completely bewildered.
What's going on? Wasn't it said the killer would come back to kill again tonight? Where are they rushing off to?
"Master! Master, something terrible has happened!"
As he was pondering this, he heard Steward Wang calling out urgently.
Yang Zhengxian turned his head, frowned, and looked at the flustered Steward Wang with a serious expression.
"Why are you in such a panic? What kind of behavior is this?!"
"Master, something terrible has happened! People from the Sun family have arrived!"
Upon hearing this, he was immediately alarmed and hurriedly walked towards the front hall. The steward, Wang, who was chasing after him, hurriedly said, "Master! They're not in the front hall; they've gone to the mourning hall!"
He paused, then changed direction, asking urgently as he walked, "Who are these people coming?"
"The eldest and second eldest grandpas of the Sun family."
Madam Yang is Sun Lanqi, the legitimate daughter of the Sun family. Her legitimate son is Sun Lanci, who is a seventh-rank Zuo Pingshi in the Dali Temple. The second master is Sun Lanhuai, a son born out of wedlock, who is currently preparing for the autumn imperial examination.
"It was them!"
Yang Zhengxian exclaimed in surprise.
"And they also brought a lot of strong and healthy servants with them; they're clearly up to no good."
"Isn't that obvious! The eldest daughter of the Sun family is dead. Do you think they'll be happy about it? I'm afraid it won't end so easily."
The main courtyard mourning hall was noisy and chaotic. Three burly servants surrounded Aunt Ye and her personal maid in a circle, while the two frail women trembled with fear.
The other concubines hid to the side, not daring to make a sound.
In front of the coffin, two men with white silk ribbons around their waists knelt on prayer mats, their expressions filled with sorrow and grief.
Sun Lanci suppressed a sob in her throat and said, "Sister, don't worry, I'll send this lowly concubine down to keep you company right now."
"Brother, don't be too sad. Your sister knows that her spirit in heaven will not rest in peace."
Sun Lanhuai sighed, trying to comfort him, but her own eyes also reddened.
Although he was born out of wedlock, his elder brother and sister never looked down on him; on the contrary, they always protected him, which is why the three of them always had a good relationship.
A sinister glint flashed in his eyes as he turned to look at Yang Zhengxian's favored concubine.
When her elder sister was alive, she often complained about the arrogant concubine in the backyard who was spoiled by her father. Yang Zhengxian actually neglected her because of this lowly concubine who was like a woman from a brothel.
They even knew that their nephew had accidentally pushed his illegitimate daughter into the water five years ago.
My elder sister suddenly died tragically, and I heard that the Yang family's paper dolls killed people. It was said that the illegitimate daughter was seeking revenge, and my elder sister was killed by the paper dolls.
So what if that illegitimate daughter dies? What difference does it make if a illegitimate daughter born of low social status is openly and honestly killed?
Therefore, they simply did not believe it. They were convinced that it was this concubine who conspired with Yang Zhengxian to kill their elder sister, and that he would deal with Yang Zhengxian after killing the concubine.
Sun Lanhuai stood up, about to give an order, when suddenly his arm was grabbed by the person beside him.
"Second brother, don't worry about it, I'll handle it."
He was going to take the imperial examination, and his future could not be tainted.
Sun Lanci stood up, walked to the steps, and said fiercely, "Beat these two lowly slaves to death!"
Panic and uproar immediately erupted around them.
"You dare! I'm carrying the master's child, you can't touch me!"
Aunt Ye spoke loudly, but her face was turning pale. She appeared fierce on the surface, but in reality, she was all bark and no bite.
The personal maidservant spread her arms wide, her expression terrified, yet she still tightly protected her front.
The servants of the Sun family raised their wooden sticks to strike their frail bodies when suddenly a furious shout came from not far away.
Everyone looked over and saw it was Yang Zhengxian, the patriarch of the Yang family.
"This is the Yang family's territory! What are you doing? Are you going to kill people at will in my Yang family's home?"
Sun Lanci sneered: "Yang Zhengxian, don't forget that you owe everything you have today to the Sun family! Without the Sun family, you are nothing!"
Yang Zhengxian's face instantly turned ugly after being reprimanded like that. He lost face, but he still had to swallow his anger and say:
"Brother Lanci is right. I just don't know what I, as a concubine, have done to offend you? Why should I be beaten to death with sticks?"
"Who is your brother! Look carefully, I am a judge of the Court of Judicial Review. In terms of rank, you should address me as 'Sir'."
He retorted without hesitation, his tone full of disdain.
Yang Zhengxian suppressed his anger and bowed respectfully, saying, "Your Honor, Judge."
"Your favoritism towards your concubine and neglect of your wife is already a violation of the laws of the Celestial Empire, and you even caused the death of my elder sister. Neither you nor this vile concubine will escape!"
After saying that, he hurriedly said, "Your Honor, you must consider the evidence. This lady was clearly killed by the paper doll. It has nothing to do with me. Besides, my wife and I treat each other with the utmost respect. How can you say that I favored my concubine over my wife?"
"Paper dolls? Yang Zhengxian, do you think we're all as stupid as pigs?"
Sun Lanci laughed in anger, her eyes filled with disgust and mockery.
"Only a fool would believe such an excuse. Let me tell you, if I want to kill a lowly slave, I don't need your intervention at all!"
Yang Zhengxian was furious and shouted, "Sun Lanci, as a judge of the Court of Judicial Review and an official of the imperial court, how can you treat human life so lightly?"
Despite weighing the pros and cons, he still said these words. He had had enough of the Sun family swaggering over him and giving them so much money over the years.
The Sun family used his money to bribe officials at all levels, but instead of earning their respect, they took it all for granted.
They still looked down on him, acting superior, which he found utterly repulsive.
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