Chapter 91 Determined to be his mortal enemy
As dawn broke, the morning wind seemed to carry the sharpness of blades.
The wind caused the white banner to sway gently, making a soft "whoosh" sound.
Pei Zhiwei stood at the back of the crowd, carefully scanning the eight fierce and ruthless coffin bearers.
They were all dressed in hemp clothing, and to make it easier to lift them, they rolled up their sleeves to their upper arms, revealing taut muscles on their exposed arms.
The veins on his neck were bulging, as if they were about to burst his skin.
Her gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally settling on the laborer on the far right.
When the coffin was lifted, the man clearly stumbled, but he quickly recovered, which did not escape Pei Zhiwei's notice.
Ordinary coffin bearers are all experienced, and they are all about being steady. How could they possibly lose their footing so easily?
Moreover, the Xu family must have hired some of the best laborers; the situation just now should not have occurred.
Pei Zhiwei looked up from his shoulder and landed on the coffin poles used for carrying the coffin.
The coffin pole was made of fine hardwood, about four inches in diameter, and looked no different from the ones we usually see. But the curve of it bent under the weight of the coffin was strange.
She recalled a funeral procession she had witnessed a couple of years ago for an official; the coffin there was far more imposing than the Xu family's, and the coffin beams weren't bent as sharply.
Pei Zhiwei was certain in her heart, "Something's not right."
The coffin had already been carried into the courtyard. Wang Shi, dressed in plain clothes, was being supported by her personal maid, holding Xu Fengyan's memorial tablet in her arms at the front.
Perhaps to match the speed of the laborer, he moved his steps extremely slowly.
Pei Zhiwei stopped staring at Wang Shi, quickly walked around the crowd, and went to Liu Jingchang's side.
Liu Jingchang was giving instructions to the yamen runners when he saw her coming over, and he stopped talking.
"Why has Madam Pei come here?"
“Lord Liu,” Pei Zhiwei said in a very low voice.
"Has the government thoroughly examined this coffin?"
Liu Jingchang paused for a moment, then nodded: "I checked, and they sent someone to check it last night."
Besides Xu Fengyan's corpse, the coffin contained some common burial items, such as jade artifacts, silks, and a few of his everyday clothes.
Everything was checked according to the rules, and the list is still with me.
He was about to reach for the list in his pocket when he said that.
“I’m not asking about the burial goods.” Pei Zhiwei’s gaze drifted back to the coffin.
"I mean, have the coffin itself, and the corpse, been examined more carefully?"
Liu Jingchang frowned: "Last night, Coroner Han examined the body according to procedure, and there was nothing unusual."
The coffin was also examined, but there was nothing unusual about it.
What's wrong? What did Madam Pei discover?
Pei Zhiwei opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, she suddenly remembered something and turned her head sharply: "Lord Liu, did you see Wang Jingzong today?"
"Wang Jingzong?" Liu Jingchang was taken aback at first, then looked around and a puzzled expression appeared on his face.
Now that you mention it, I really hadn't noticed.
I haven't seen him since I arrived here this morning.
Logically, at this hour, as Wang's elder brother, he shouldn't be absent.
"He shouldn't have been gone." Pei Zhiwei's heart skipped a beat.
“These past few days, Wang Jingzong has been busy running around, handling almost everything at the Xu residence, even liaising with the government.”
Today is the day of Xu Fengyan's burial, why has he suddenly disappeared?
Liu Jingchang also realized something was wrong, and his expression darkened: "Does Madam Pei mean... he might have run away?"
"It's hard to say." Pei Zhiwei shook her head, her gaze falling back on the coffin poles.
"And look at the coffin bar on Li Fu's shoulder, the curvature is too abnormal."
Ordinary coffins are never this heavy.
Even if Xu Fengyan was the richest man, he still had many burial items.
But according to the regulations of the Great Liang Dynasty, a mere merchant like him shouldn't have to go to such lengths.
"Hey, what's so special about that?" Xie Ji's voice suddenly broke in; he had somehow gotten close to us.
"Perhaps the Xu family overstepped their bounds and stuffed some gold and silver jewelry inside, wanting Xu Fengyan to also enjoy a prestigious position in the afterlife."
"After all, they are imperial merchants with deep pockets; they don't care about these rules."
Pei Zhiwei glanced at him but didn't reply.
If it were just a simple overstepping of the rules, it wouldn't be so bad, but Wang Jingzong's sudden disappearance, coupled with the unusual nature of the coffin, made her feel uneasy.
She glanced around; the mourning hall was crowded with people—Xu clansmen, merchants who came to pay their respects, and thugs—but she couldn't see Wang Jingzong anywhere.
"We have to find him." Pei Zhiwei bit her lip and casually pulled over a passing servant from the Xu family.
The person was holding a tray with some paper money in it when he was suddenly pulled away, which startled him.
"Where is your Lord Wang?" Pei Zhiwei asked anxiously.
"The heir of the Marquis of Ding'an has urgent business with him and wants him to come immediately."
The servant paused for a moment, glanced around, and looked puzzled: "Huh?"
Is Lord Wang not here?
He turned to a few servants passing by and asked, "Have you seen Lord Wang?"
The servants looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Could he have gone to the outhouse?" one of the servants guessed.
"Just now I passed by the outhouse in the east courtyard and I think I saw someone walking in that direction. Maybe it was Lord Wang."
"Go find them quickly!" Pei Zhiwei urged.
"No matter where he is, we must find him. Tell him that the young master has urgent business to attend to and cannot be delayed!"
Upon hearing that the heir of the Marquis of Ding'an was looking for him, the servants dared not delay and quickly scattered to search for him.
Fortunately, the Xu residence was large enough, and the coffin was heavy. The porters walked slowly, and by the time the servants returned to report the news, the coffin had not yet reached the gate.
"My lady, I haven't found it!"
"We searched the outhouse, guest rooms, and study, and even the stables and kitchen, but we couldn't find Lord Wang anywhere."
I asked other people in the household, and they said they hadn't seen it either.
“I even went to the woodshed in the backyard, but there was no one there.”
Pei Zhiwei's unease grew stronger, and she grabbed Liu Jingchang's arm.
"Lord Liu, stop them! We can't let the coffin leave the manor!"
Liu Jingchang didn't hesitate. He immediately strode forward and shouted at the coffin bearers, "Stop!"
The shout was loud and urgent, startling the laborers, who instinctively stopped in their tracks.
The laborer at the front frowned, about to ask a question, when Liu Jingchang walked up to him, his tone serious: "Put down the coffin, I have questions to ask you."
The laborers looked at each other, and at first, no one dared to move.
But seeing that the magistrate seemed very insistent, I could only slowly loosen my grip and gently place the coffin on the ground.
The coffin hit the ground with a loud thud.
Hearing the noise, Wang turned around abruptly, nearly dropping the memorial tablet she was holding.
She steadied her hand, glared angrily at Liu Jingchang, and said in a shrill voice, "Lord Liu!"
Today is the day of my father's funeral. What is your intention in asking us to stop at this time?
Liu Jingchang met her gaze head-on, not yielding an inch.
"Madam Xu, I noticed that the coffin poles were bent at an abnormal angle when the porters were carrying it, and I suspect that you have exceeded the regulations and that the coffin is overweight."
We now need to open the coffin for a second examination, and we ask for Madam Xu's cooperation.
As he spoke, he gave a wink to the yamen runner beside him.
The constables immediately stepped forward, making a move to open the coffin.
"Who dares!" Wang suddenly roared, her body trembling.
"Liu Jingchang, you've gone too far!"
You inspected the coffin last night and checked the inventory list.
Now that the time for the burial has come, you're going to open the coffin again.
Do you want my master to never rest in peace, even in death?
Liu Jingchang's expression turned serious: "Madam Xu, I am acting in accordance with the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty. How have I ever deceived anyone?"
According to the law, if there are any doubts about the funeral arrangements for a person who has died in a murder case, the government has the right to open the coffin for verification.
"The coffin is unusual today. I must open it and inspect it to ensure there are no problems."
"Review?" Madam Wang sneered and forcefully shook off the maid who was supporting her.
He held the memorial tablet in one hand and pointed at Liu Jingchang with the other.
"I think you're deliberately picking a fight!"
Xu Li is still unconscious in prison, and I am the only woman left in the Xu family. Do you think I'm easy to bully?
"If the auspicious time for the ceremony is missed, can you bear the responsibility?"
"Is the auspicious time more important, or the law?" Liu Jingchang also got angry, and his voice rose a few decibels.
"Madam Xu, stop your unreasonable behavior and obstruct me from performing my official duties!"
He turned to the constables and said, "Get to work, open the coffin!"
The constables responded and were about to reach for the coffin lid when Wang suddenly lunged forward, lying face down on the coffin, her hands tightly embracing the coffin, and crying out, "Liu Jingchang!"
If you dare to disrespect my master today, I will smash my head against this coffin and die!
"I'd like to see how you explain this to the imperial court, and how you explain this to the people of Yangzhou!"
Her cries were sharp and shrill, attracting the attention of the Xu clan members around her.
The elderly man with gray hair, leaning on his cane, walked up to Liu Jingchang, his hands trembling with anger: "Lord Liu!"
Although we Xu family are merchants, we will not tolerate such disrespect from you!
Xu Fengyan died unjustly, and you still want to open his coffin during his funeral? Do you want to deprive him of even the last bit of dignity?
If you insist on this course of action, the Xu family will fight you to the death!
"Yes! It's a fight to the death!"
The Xu clansmen around them also started shouting, and some of the younger clansmen even rushed forward and reached out to push the yamen runners.
Caught off guard, one of the constables was pushed and stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.
Pei Zhiwei stood to the side, her anxiety growing.
The situation here is about to get out of control, but Wang Jingzong still hasn't shown up.
He couldn't have just vanished into thin air; he must have run away beforehand. But why would he run away?
Or perhaps he's hiding somewhere in the mansion, but why would he hide it?
even……
She stared intently at the coffin.
What exactly is hidden in this coffin that would make Wang Shi try so hard to stop it?
"presumptuous!"
Liu Jingchang shouted loudly, his aura instantly overshadowing those clansmen who were jeering.
"I am the magistrate of Yangdu County. I am investigating the case according to the law. If you dare to obstruct me again, you will be defying the law!"
Not only will you be punished, but your families will also be implicated!
The tribesmen were startled by his words and lowered their voices, but no one was willing to back down.
The old man, with his neck stiffened, slammed his cane down hard.
Respect for the dead!
Even if Lord Liu intends to punish you, we cannot allow you to be humiliated like this!
The constables were about to step forward again, but this time they were kicked by a clansman wearing a dark blue robe.
The kick landed squarely on the back of the knee, and the constable fell to his knees beside the coffin with a thud.
Seeing this, Wang cried even harder, shouting at the top of her lungs, "I am a direct descendant of the Wang family of Hedong!"
I'd like to see who dares to touch my husband's coffin!
I swear, if anyone dares to touch this coffin today, I will gather the entire Wang and Xu clans to make them pay the price, a fight to the death!
Just then, a steady voice suddenly came from behind the crowd, "What if I were to open the coffin?"
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