Chapter 777 Asking Zhang Anyu for Help Investigating the Case
Here, Zhang Anyu brought Steward Cheng out of the Cheng residence, and the guards at the Cheng family's residence, with soldiers present, dared not pursue them.
Madam Cheng chased after him to the door, weeping bitterly. His concubines stood not far away, all acting as if nothing had happened.
It was unclear whether Madam Cheng was genuinely crying or faking it, but she shouted the words "Master has been arrested by the authorities" especially loudly when she cried, as if afraid that others would not know that Steward Cheng had committed a crime.
As soon as Zhang Anyu helped the man onto the carriage, Madam Cheng wiped away her tears and went to the concubine who was sleeping in the same bed with Cheng Zhong that night, saying, "You wicked vixen!"
She only dares to be domineering in front of women and her son.
Steward Cheng was taken directly into the palace. He said, "Prefect Zhang, you've come to the wrong place!" He thought Zhang Anyu would take him to the Jingzhao Prefecture.
Zhang Anyu remained silent. He had received a message from the Empress instructing him to personally escort Steward Cheng into the palace.
Butler Cheng said, "Back when His Majesty was still Prince Heng, he was also the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture. Lord Zhang was His Majesty's assistant and always helped him. I never expected that Lord Zhang would achieve what he has today. He is truly remarkable."
Zhang Anyu didn't say a word the whole time because he didn't know what to say. He also didn't know why the Empress had asked him to bring people into the palace. He was under pressure to do things for the Empress because Steward Cheng was the Emperor's man. The Empress wanted to arrest the Emperor's man. He couldn't understand it.
Upon arriving at the palace gate, Ao Xue personally greeted him with her entourage. Zhang Anyu said, "The person has been delivered; this humble official will now return."
Ao Xue said, "Lord Zhang, please wait. Her Majesty invites you to come to the palace to handle a case. Commander Shang of the Imperial Guards is also there."
Zhang Anyu was stunned for a moment, then nodded and followed Aoxue into the palace.
Now, Steward Cheng finally knew who wanted to drag him into the palace. He wondered if he had offended the Empress. Even if they did not agree to their son marrying Hongxiu as his principal wife, the Empress had no reason to make such a fuss and drag him into the palace in the middle of the night!
He had already thought about the Imperial Household Department. Could it be that the Empress wanted to investigate the Imperial Household Department? He had to find a way to clear himself of suspicion; he had no other choice but to do this.
Butler Cheng saw Jiang Fenghua again. Jiang Fenghua looked at him quietly and said, "It is so late and I have disturbed Butler Cheng's sleep. There is a reason for this. I would like to ask Butler Cheng to come to the palace to cooperate with the investigation."
He was stunned, and deliberately said, "So it was Your Majesty who had me brought to the palace? Why would Your Majesty do this? It's the middle of the night. If Your Majesty had something to say, you could have said it tomorrow. Why did you send the Prefect of the Capital to bring this old servant to the palace so late?"
He expressed surprise and disbelief, "Back in the Prince Heng's residence, this old servant helped Your Highness many times. Has Your Highness forgotten all of that?"
Butler Cheng knew that Jiang Fenghua had lost her memory. He learned this from Cheng Feng. He didn't want things to be this way, but someone had leverage over him, so he could only pretend to be stupid and play the emotional card with Empress Jiang.
He acted like an elder to a younger person. He used to care about Empress Jiang a lot, thinking she was honest and pitiful. He even spoke well of her to the Empress Dowager. But in the end, things turned out completely differently from what he expected.
Jiang Fenghua said calmly, "Because a murder has occurred in the palace, I suspect it is related to Steward Cheng, so I request that Steward Cheng come to the palace."
She couldn't recall any favors from Steward Cheng, but one thing at a time, if the Cheng family dared to act recklessly, they would have to accept the palace rules for punishment.
She suddenly felt that forgetting the past was a good thing, as it would reduce the need for social interactions. If the person was indeed killed by Butler Cheng, she wouldn't need to show him any mercy out of consideration for their past relationship.
Butler Cheng remained remarkably calm. "Your Highness must be joking with this old servant. Am I involved in any murders in the palace? What does it matter to me who died?"
Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice: "Someone saw that you had a entanglement with the deceased, and on the day Xiao Shunzi died, Steward Cheng went to the palace and left in a hurry."
Steward Cheng said, "Which eunuch is Your Highness referring to? I know Xiao Shunzi. He works under Feng'er. Your Highness said he's dead? How could that be? I just saw him, that's true, but I didn't kill him! We had some disagreements..."
"Why is it impossible? Does Butler Cheng need to choose an auspicious day to kill someone?" In that instant, she actually saw shock in Butler Cheng's eyes. He didn't even know Xiao Shunzi was dead. Could it be that he didn't kill him? If not, then who did it?
She subtly shifted the blame for Xiao Shunzi's death onto Steward Cheng, continuing to entangle herself with him, because there might have been uninvited guests in the palace, and Xiao Shunzi might not have died at the hands of palace people, but rather at the hands of someone who had infiltrated the palace.
Butler Cheng explained, “I went into the palace to find some medicinal herbs, the kind used for men’s health, but he kept obstructing me. I scolded him a few times, and then he cried and said he couldn’t explain it. I said, ‘What can’t explain? With your Chief Steward Cheng here, I can just talk to him.’ But he still wouldn’t listen and insisted on chasing after me to ask for the herbs back. I pushed him a few times. I really didn’t kill him. How did he die?”
Jiang Fenghua narrowed her eyes slightly, "Butler Cheng really didn't kill anyone. Where were you entangled with Xiao Shunzi?"
“It was in the courtyard in front of the Imperial Household Department.” He added, “I just took some medicinal herbs to nourish my body, and he wouldn’t have it, so we started to scuffle. I pushed him, and then I went back. He’s really unreasonable.”
Shang Hong took the transcript of his questioning and handed it to Jiang Fenghua. "Your Majesty, please take a look. I have checked each of these transcripts one by one. Someone saw that he did indeed leave the palace."
Jiang Fenghua found Steward Cheng very suspicious. What was he doing going into the palace all the time? What kind of medicinal herbs couldn't be bought outside, and why did he have to come to the palace to steal them?
Zhang Anyu hadn't expected it to be a murder case. He had only received the Empress's instructions to send Steward Cheng to the palace. He said, "Now that the person has been delivered, I will take my leave." He wasn't qualified to participate in palace cases.
Jiang Fenghua said, "Lord Zhang, please wait a moment. A theft has occurred in the palace, and it has far-reaching implications. I have already asked Lord Shang to investigate the case. However, since palace items have been sold outside the palace, the case has become more complicated. Therefore, I would like to ask the Jingzhao Prefecture to assist in the investigation. I would also like Lord Zhang to help recover the stolen items that have been sold outside the palace. It may be a bit troublesome to investigate. Can you help me, Lord Zhang?"
Zhang Anyu pointed to his own nose, "Your Majesty ordered me to enter the palace to handle a case. This is against the rules! I know that cases in the palace are handled by the Imperial Clan Court."
He knew that his responsibilities did not extend to the palace.
"You were quick and decisive in investigating Jin Ji's case back then. I believe you have the ability." Lin Yu really made the right choice in asking Zhang Anyu for help. Zhang Anyu handled the case under pressure.
Zhang Anyu smiled and said, "It was His Majesty and Empress who gave me this opportunity."
Just then, Hongxiu arrived with the account book. Upon seeing Hongxiu, Zhang Anyu quickly said, "Your Majesty, if you don't mind my clumsy tongue, I am willing to serve you with utmost loyalty. Please tell me your orders, and I will do my best to fulfill them."
He had been declining just now, but now he was being so proactive. Jiang Fenghua said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Lord Zhang."
"You're welcome." He bowed again in Hongxiu's direction, "Lady Hongxiu, we meet again."
Hongxiu was taken aback. "Greetings, Lord Zhang."
She whispered a few words in Jiang Fenghua's ear, and Jiang Fenghua followed her away.
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