Chapter 209 Confrontation
Before daybreak, Chef Zheng knocked on Wen Wan's door.
"The brother who went out to investigate has returned with news."
After Chef Zheng entered the room, he closed the door and skipped the polite greetings, getting straight to business.
"You said that the most important person in the case of the prince's unjust murder was the guide. So our people went to investigate the servant first."
"Unfortunately, when our brothers arrived, the servant's house had caught fire. All seven members of the family, including a baby, were burned to death in the flames."
Hearing this, Wen Wan pursed her lips and said, "After the prince got into trouble, the general's residence only received the news of his detention the next day. One night was enough time for them to deal with the key witness."
Although she had expected this, Wen Wan still felt her scalp tingling when she saw how ruthless these people were.
She asked coldly, "Where is the dagger that killed Wang Yiling?"
Chef Zheng said, "The murder weapon, the dagger, is kept in the Dali Temple's evidence room. Our people checked the case files. The dagger is eight inches long, forged from fine iron, with a blood groove. There are also circular marks on the handle of the dagger. It's just an ordinary knife used to slaughter cattle and sheep, nothing special."
The key witness was dead, and the murder weapon had no special markings. For a moment, the situation seemed to be at a dead end.
Chef Zheng looked worried, while Wenwan frowned and lowered her eyes in thought.
After a moment, Wen Wan continued, "You ask the brothers to split up and continue investigating Mrs. Zheng's recent interpersonal relationships, whether there are any debt disputes at home, etc."
"Since the incident happened in the Duke of Protectorate's Mansion, we have to start from there. There are definitely more than just one servant involved in this. The servant is of low status, so they can kill them all, but what about the others? They can't kill all their trusted aides."
This is the truth. Chef Zheng thought about it and felt that Wen Wan’s analysis was correct.
He really didn't expect that Wen Wan, an unknown concubine in the harem, would act so maturely and prudently.
Wen Wan continued to instruct, "Also, increase the number of personnel to continue investigating the situation at the Duke of Huguo's Mansion during this period. Get to the bottom of all the money and power disputes. We must do this quickly, otherwise if the clues are lost, it will be really troublesome."
After a pause, she continued, "Send a few more brothers... to check in the Imperial Capital to see if there are any young masters from aristocratic families who have behaved abnormally during this period."
Chef Zheng seemed to understand what she said, but his gaze gradually became hotter as he looked at her.
"Auntie Wan, you..." Chef Zheng said hesitantly, "Are you really just a concubine?"
Wen Wan glanced at him and said, "What else? Can your general still let me be his wife?"
She was just joking, but Chef Zheng actually thought about it seriously.
No idea what was going on in his mind, but he gritted his teeth and comforted her seriously.
"The general has always been clear about rewards and punishments. With Aunt Wan's abilities, as long as she serves the general wholeheartedly and does things for him, she may become his equal wife in the future."
"..." Wen Wan curled her lips, raised her hand and patted Chef Zheng on the shoulder, smiling playfully.
"That's right. Next time I see your general, I will tell him the truth. You are a loyal man. He didn't even dare to make big promises for me, but you arranged it for me."
Chef Zheng looked confused, not knowing what he had done wrong.
Wen Wan was too lazy to explain to him and waved her hand, "Go and contact someone to investigate the case."
Chef Zheng said "oh" and left.
The door closed again, and the sneer on Wenwan's face was hidden in the dark.
She knew that Chef Zheng had good intentions and wanted to encourage her to have a good future.
It wasn't his fault, but that was the way the world was. In their view, this was the path for a woman to rise to the top.
It's a pity that what is hidden in her body is just an alien soul that is not tolerated by this world.
*
People in the general's mansion were prohibited from moving, but this did not include the old lady and Zhao.
As they are the people with the highest power in the palace, no one can stop them.
So when Zhao helped the old lady to the side courtyard, Wen Wan was surprised but not surprised.
At this time, she was drinking porridge. As soon as the old lady entered the courtyard, she snorted coldly.
"I have sent people to invite you to my courtyard time and again, but you have always made excuses to refuse. Do you think that with Yu'er's Patriarch Order, you can be the head of this family?"
Wen Wan curled her lips and slowly put down the bowl of porridge.
This meal cannot be eaten cleanly.
Zhao chimed in, "Madam Wan, the old lady is old and ill, so she lets you come and talk to her because she values you. How can you be so disrespectful to your elders?"
Wen Wan stood up, walked up to the old lady, bowed, and greeted the old lady first.
Then she looked behind the two of them, and saw that each of them had a personal servant following behind them.
Wen Wan sighed helplessly, "Well, now everyone knows that the Patriarch's Order is in my hands."
Everyone was stunned before they realized what she meant.
Wenwan dismissed all irrelevant people, leaving only the old woman and Zhao present.
"Uncle Zheng cooked this porridge slowly over low heat. Since you're here, let's drink a bowl together. It's a good opportunity for the three generals' closest women to open up and talk."
Upon hearing this, the old lady frowned, while Zhao looked indignant.
Wen Wan raised an eyebrow, "Why, do you think that I, a concubine of humble origin, have no right to talk to you? When you go out, your status is given by yourself. At least... now I have it."
She took out the Patriarch's Order and slammed it on the table.
The old lady and Mrs. Zhao were both a little indignant, but still did not sit down.
The old lady's face darkened. "What are you going to say?"
Wen Wan looked up and met the old lady's gaze. Although she was sitting, her aura was not weakened at all.
"The old lady sent someone to look for me. Do you have something to say?"
The old lady was about to speak, but Wen Wan smiled bitterly and interrupted her.
"The old lady is just trying to warn me, to make me understand my position. Even if the general gives me the order of the head of the family, I still need to know my limits and not try to ascend to the sky overnight."
"After they've cracked me down, they'll give me some sweet treats to make me work hard for the General's Mansion."
"According to your master's custom, will you promise me the status of a concubine? Or will you grant me another chance to bear a child for the general?"
She spoke eloquently and casually, but it sounded like thunder to the ears of the old lady and Zhao.
"You, you..." The old lady was a little excited and pointed at Wen Wan, unable to speak.
"What's wrong with me? I just said what you were thinking."
Wen Wan drank the porridge calmly, looking at the old lady with sharp eyes.
"I thought we had reached an agreement last time. Now it seems that you don't believe I will leave the General's Mansion at all, and you have no intention of fulfilling the agreement."
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