The Tong family was massacred, and afterwards a huge fire broke out. The tenants in the village reported it to the government. When the officials from Shuntian Prefecture arrived, they and the tenants could only sigh at the fire. The fire was too big, and the water source was too far away, so the rescue was futile.
While the officials were investigating the situation, before they could even get a clear picture of the Tong family's circumstances, a serious brawl broke out in a nearby town, resulting in more than ten deaths and injuries.
With these two incidents occurring together, Shuntian Prefecture was in a state of utter chaos. Gu Zhao, the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, was so worried that his hair and beard turned half white overnight.
First, there was Xu Huaiyu's rebellion and assassination of princes and nobles. The man has not yet been caught, and the case remains unsolved. Then, dozens of people in the Tong family were wiped out by bandits. Before he could even return home in shock, his subordinates reported that a fight had broken out in two villages under Tongzhou, resulting in more than ten deaths and injuries.
One wave subsides only for another to rise. Gu Zhao felt that his official hat was in grave danger. All the bad things seemed to be happening at once. Since taking office as the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture, he had never thought about promotion or wealth. He only hoped to retire peacefully and return to his hometown when the time came.
Right now, all I need is to stay alive.
When Yinzhen found Gu Zhao, the old man hadn't slept for two days. He had just managed to catch a glimpse of the Fourth Prince when he arrived.
He scrambled out to greet him, and Yinzhen directly inquired about the Tong family's affairs, but Gu Zhao had no clue whatsoever.
It's true that dozens of members of the Tong family are gone, but the elusive strongman who appeared and disappeared without a trace is impossible to find. Helpless, Gu Zhao knelt on the ground and kowtowed to beg for forgiveness.
Yinzhen sat at the head of the table, his fingers tapping the tabletop, a gesture that showed he was in a very bad mood, which made Gu Zhao wonder.
"Didn't you leave any clues at all?" Yinzhen asked.
Gu Zhao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead repeatedly and replied, "Yes, Fourth Master." He took out a small jade pendant from his sleeve.
Quanfu took it and handed it to his master.
When Yinzhen took it in his hand and examined it closely, he found it to be a very ordinary jade pendant. The front of the pendant was engraved with a green character in small seal script, while the back was a smooth surface.
What does the character "绿" mean? Does it refer to a family with the surname "绿"?
What a coincidence, not long ago, there was a girl in his household whose name contained the character for "green".
Standing beside Yinzhen, Quanfu looked at the jade pendant in his hand. Something flashed through his mind. He couldn't see the words on the jade pendant clearly, but he felt like he had seen it somewhere before.
Unable to find any clues about the murderer who broke into the Tong family, Yinzhen believed that the biggest suspect at present was still Xu Huaiyu, who was on the run. So he said, "Investigate Xu Huaiyu together with this case. If there is any progress, report to Your Majesty immediately."
"Your subordinate obeys."
******
The case of the Tong family's annihilation can be said to have shocked the capital. Many people felt sorry for Nan Yi, but only the Nian family was terrified.
She thought it was her own family who did it. Her grandfather had already found out that the Nian family was involved in the Tong family's demotion and had been giving her warnings, though she didn't know why he hadn't pursued the matter further.
But the Tong family suddenly disappeared. They had plotted against the Tong family first, because the master would definitely suspect their own family because of this.
Why did her brother do this? All she wanted was for the Tong family to disappear. Killing the useless Tong family was completely unnecessary.
Lady Nian was filled with anxiety and wanted to return to the manor to question her brother, but she couldn't go. The matter was done by her subordinates, and her brother was not at home at the moment. He had just left the capital yesterday on a mission and would not be back for at least two months.
"Master, I have something to report," Yuexiang said from outside the door.
"Come in."
Yuexiang curtsied to Madam Nian, her expression flustered and her face pale as she approached Madam Nian. She whispered in Madam Nian's ear, "Master, the Thirteenth Prince has arrived. I heard from Eunuch He in the front courtyard that the matter of the Tong family has even alarmed His Majesty, who has ordered the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Princes to investigate personally. Master, do you think it might be related to the Second Young Master? What should we do?"
"Keep quiet, don't panic. I don't believe my brother is such a reckless person; something must have gone wrong."
Lady Nian frowned, took a few deep breaths, and instructed Yuexiang, "Go back to the manor immediately and ask what exactly happened. Also, ask them if they have any countermeasures. The Emperor has intervened, so this matter may not be resolved peacefully. The manor must not be ruined by this, or everything will be over."
If one is tolerated, all are tolerated; if one is harmed, all are harmed. If the masters are finished, the fate of the servants will only be worse. Yuexiang felt an indescribable fear in her heart.
Her steps as she left the room were unsteady, her figure hurried and flustered.
If the Thirteenth Prince finds out that it was his family who did it, she can almost imagine what will happen to the Nian family and even to her.
Nian rubbed the handkerchief hard, inwardly complaining, "Brother, how could you be so foolish?"
In Tongzhou, Nan Yi, covered in dirt, sat kneeling on the steps, his hands resting on his knees, staring blankly at the ancestral tablets on the table, his eyes extremely dry.
His mind was screaming for revenge, but where were the enemies? If they could never be found, would the Tong family have died in vain?
She remembered that Tong's mother had mentioned that all of Tong's brothers had children, and the youngest nephew was only three years old. Even a three-year-old toddler was not spared by them.
No, the murderer must be found.
Otherwise, she would go crazy with guilt.
Nan Yi suddenly stood up from the ground and strode out of the yard.
"Little sister, where are you going?" Tong Tinglan asked, turning her head to follow up.
"Enter the palace."
Yes, she's going to the palace. Doesn't Zheng Yong have a scent-finding disc? The murderer massacred the Tong family, so he must have left a strong smell of blood on his body. The fire burned down the manor, but it might not have burned away the scent they left behind.
Two days have passed, and the smell may have dissipated, but she will not let go of any opportunity, no matter how small.
Tong Tinglan caught up from behind and said hurriedly, "Second sister knows that the Imperial Concubine loves you, but Fourth Prince has already helped with the investigation. There is no need for you to go to the palace now. The Imperial Concubine is in the deep palace and she can't help you. Save your favor for later. Listen to your second sister, wait until Father and Mother are laid to rest, then you can go and ask for a favor for the family. We have fallen into such a situation, maybe the Imperial Concubine will take pity on our family and ask the Emperor to reinstate our family to the banner."
“If we can’t find the murderer, how can Father and the others rest in peace? I need to go to the palace to find someone who can help me catch the murderer,” Nan Yi said angrily. “You take care of Father and the others’ funeral arrangements first. When Fourth Prince arrives, tell him that I went to the palace to find Guard Zheng. He will understand.”
"How did she get involved with a guard?" Tong Tinglan became even more anxious, fearing that her younger sister might do something outrageous, especially in the palace. Wouldn't that be handing her head over to the Emperor?
Nan Yi patiently explained, "I need to borrow a guard from His Majesty."
When Yinzhen left, he left two guards and a horse to wait at the estate. Nan Yi led a horse out from under a tree and left a message for the Fourth Master with the guards, worried that her Second Sister might not be able to explain it clearly.
Fortunately, she knew to change into clean clothes and makeup before entering the palace, so as not to be disrespectful in front of the emperor.
Nan Yi first entered Jingren Palace to request an audience with Consort Tong, who then led her to see Emperor Kangxi. She had no intention of doing it secretly.
She openly and brazenly borrowed people, and her high-profile actions were so conspicuous that even Consort De, who disliked her, didn't say anything. The tragedy of the Tong family was truly heartbreaking.
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