Chapter 29: Investigation Yields No Results
Before Han Ziheng was found, his friends who had traveled with him, as well as the servants, guards, prostitutes, and maids he had brought, were all questioned.
As a result, several friends said that it was Han Ziheng's suggestion to go to Daishan.
This made it impossible to suspect the close friends. And the maids and servants, whose lives were tied to their master, were even less likely to raise any suspicions.
As a result, the prostitutes became the focus of the interrogation, and Zhilan, who accompanied Han Ziheng, was of paramount importance.
Zhilan is not afraid of being asked questions.
She didn't do anything; she just acted as a confidante, refilling Han Ziheng's wine whenever needed.
As for the trip to Daishan, it was indeed her suggestion that Han Ziheng choose it, but she didn't explicitly state it. Someone as arrogant as Han Ziheng wouldn't feel influenced by others.
The paper cranes that changed her fate had long been torn to shreds by her, destroying all traces of them.
She was actually reluctant to part with it, but she wouldn't be foolish enough to keep it as a memento; keeping it firmly in her heart was enough.
Just when the investigation had stalled, Han Ziheng was found.
It's said that he was found, but in reality, he was running in a panic and disarray through the woods when he encountered the people who were looking for him.
"Where's my father? Go tell him quickly, someone is trying to harm me!"
As he said this, Han Ziheng gritted his teeth, his face contorted with rage, looking as if he wanted to devour the person who had harmed him.
The Dali Temple official presiding over the case did not mention that Han Wu had been assassinated, but said gently, "Young Master Han, please tell me what happened back then."
"I was drunk and found a secluded spot to relieve myself. I was just about to turn back when suddenly a hand covered my mouth and nose, and I quickly lost consciousness..."
"You covered it with your hand?"
"Yes—wait, it's a handkerchief, and it has a scent—it's a sleeping potion!"
Han Ziheng shouted excitedly, while the Dali Temple officials remained calm.
That's obvious. One swipe and he'd be unconscious. What else could it be but a sleeping potion?
"Then what?"
"Then—I woke up to find myself in a dark place, so I wandered around in the dark until I reached a stone wall... I guessed I was in a cave, and after groping around for a long time, I finally found the entrance and pushed aside the rocks blocking my way to get out..."
The rest is self-explanatory; the people who had been searching for Han Ziheng and the thugs found Han Ziheng stumbling and running.
"Is Young Master Han's hand and foot not bound?"
"No."
Officials from the Court of Judicial Review, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice exchanged glances.
"So, the villains didn't intend to take Young Master Han's life."
Otherwise, if his hands and feet were tied and he wasn't discovered in time, Han Ziheng would have starved to death in the cave.
These words provoked Han Ziheng.
"Why didn't they intend to kill me? If they didn't want to harm me, why did they drug me and throw me into the cave? That villain not only blocked the entrance with stones, but also covered it with vines outside, just to prevent me from being found!" Han Ziheng became more and more furious as he spoke. "Are you trying to exonerate that villain by saying this? Where is my father? I want to see my father!"
Such an impolite attitude would have been tolerated in the past, but without a powerful father, no one would tolerate such an arrogant and domineering playboy.
"Your father, upon hearing of your disappearance, went to Daishan to look for you but was assassinated," said an official from the Censorate.
He knew more than other officials; an imperial censor was already preparing to impeach Han Wu for dereliction of duty and investigate his past misdeeds.
Han Wu had commanded the Imperial Guards for many years, yet he neglected his duties, and the guards' capabilities declined year by year, causing concern among many officials. Some generals who expressed dissatisfaction were subsequently sidelined and relegated to the border regions.
Nowadays, some are considering national affairs, while others are seeking personal gain. Regardless of their motives, quite a few people are sharpening their knives.
The downfall of the Han family, this towering tree, was foreseeable.
"My father is dead?" Han Ziheng was stunned. "Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
He was met with silence.
"Father, I want to see my father! Where is my father?" Han Ziheng was so shocked by this sudden news that he ran outside like a madman.
No one stopped them for a moment.
Han Ziheng is no longer a criminal, so it's only right that he go to see his father after learning about his accident.
"It seems that Han Ziheng was just bait, and the villains were after Han Wu."
"Then there's a high chance the other party is a spy..."
The officials discussed among themselves, and couldn't help but look at the silent boy.
Over the years, the Northern Qi and Western Jiang states have planted many spies in the Great Xia, and the Great Xia has reciprocated in kind.
One of the major responsibilities of the Imperial City Guard is to identify spies.
Xue Han then spoke up: "The Imperial City Guard will intensify its search efforts."
Han Wu, that guy who hogs the job and makes the Imperial Guards a mess and so vulnerable, is the enemy spy out of his mind to get rid of him?
These aren't spies; they're clearly our own people who love the Great Xia.
Xue Han wanted to applaud Han Wu's death, but he still had to do what he had to do, so he stopped going to the yamen and spent his days patrolling the streets.
While Han Ziheng was going mad because of his father's death, Qiu Heng slept until the afternoon and drank the sweet soup that Fangzhou had just made.
When you're tired or in pain, sweets are undoubtedly the most comforting thing.
"Is everything taken care of?" Qiu Heng asked after taking a few sips of sweet soup.
Fangzhou nodded: "It's taken care of."
What they were dealing with was that wide-sleeved, short-shirted military uniform.
Each branch of the Earl's mansion has its own kitchen, and Fangzhou is already intimately familiar with the kitchen of the third branch. Taking advantage of the quiet afternoon, she makes a pot of sweet soup and stuffs her clothes into the stove.
The sweet soup was ready, but the clothes were burned to ashes.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"It's the girl who's had a hard time." Fangzhou's eyes showed concern.
Only she saw the crisscrossing fine marks on the girl's body while she was bathing. Although the wounds weren't deep, how much pain must have been caused by so many?
The girl didn't even frown.
She's so patient; I wonder how much she suffered during the ten days she was missing.
"I'm not afraid of hard work if I can get things done well." After eating the sweet soup, Qiu Heng felt sleepy again.
After a day and a night of exertion, a midday nap isn't enough.
The news of Han Wu's assassination and Han Ziheng's recovery spread completely the following day.
As Qiu Heng walked through the mansion, she listened to the servants discussing the most exciting news in the capital and smiled slightly.
With Han Wu dead, those who were dissatisfied with him no longer have to tolerate it, and more news will likely emerge one after another.
Good news for her, bad news for Han Ziheng.
The next day, most of Qiu Heng's scratches had healed. While tending to the spices, she suddenly felt a familiar burning pain.
"Fangzhou, is today the fifteenth?" Qiuheng knew the date, but couldn't help but confirm with Fangzhou.
"It's the fifteenth, young lady, what's wrong?"
Qiu Heng's face turned pale, and she urged Fang Zhou, "Bring me a basin of cold water."
Fangzhou hurriedly brought over a basin of water.
Qiu Heng immersed her hands in the water, but the burning sensation did not ease at all.
It didn't work as expected.
Having abandoned any hope of getting away with it, Qiu Heng immediately got up and walked outside.
"Young lady, where are you going?"
"I have to go out for a bit, you don't need to come with me."
Fangzhou had no choice but to suppress his worries and stop walking.
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