Chapter 60 Three Charred Corpses
Zhou Congxian's face darkened. "Didn't I already say that no matter how urgent the matter is, no one can come in!"
The current deployment is of paramount importance!
After years of hard work, success or failure hinges on this one move!
The soldier's eyes darted around. "Sir, I was being reckless."
"However, I believe the yamen..."
Zhou Congxian looked at him and snorted coldly, "Take him down."
Two nearby soldiers surrounded him and trapped him completely.
Wei Xun: "My lord, we've already caught several."
Zhou Congxian's expression darkened slightly. "I, a mere fifth-rank commander, have put in quite a bit of effort."
The soldier was still struggling, "Sir, I really rushed in because of the fire! Isn't the duty of the yamen to protect the safety of the people?!"
Wei Xun said, "Instead of reporting the fire to the fire brigade, you reported it to the capital's yamen. How come the fire brigade is now being concurrently held by the heir apparent?"
Zhou Congxian stood up, too lazy to listen to him anymore.
"Throw him into the dungeon."
The soldier was still struggling, but his voice grew fainter and fainter, and no one could hear what he was saying.
Wei Xun approached Zhou Congxian and said, "Your Highness, Grand Secretary Li has taken sick leave and hasn't left the house since."
"The Li residence is like an iron barrel; we can't get any information from it, and only Liu Minghan is free to come and go."
Zhou Congxian's jaw tightened. "Old Li might not be well."
"The only person the Empress Dowager fears is Elder Li. If even he..."
His voice lowered considerably, "Then Dasheng will really have to change its name and identity."
"The day after tomorrow is our last chance; we must strike decisively!"
Wei Xun thought for a moment, "Should I go and inquire with Lord Liu?"
Zhou Congxian slowly shook his head. "At this time, we must not alert the enemy."
"Liu Minghan is Elder Li's prized student. Since he is the only one who can enter and leave the Li residence, he must have already been given instructions."
"You won't find out anything."
Wei Xun nodded, then thought of what the soldier had said.
"Is there really something strange going on in Wutong Lane? Should we send our men to take a look?"
Zhou Congxian glanced at him.
"Such a coincidence?"
Wei Xun, "Your Highness, are you saying it's all their fault..."
Zhou Congxian put his hands behind his back and said, "Whether it is true or not, I can't go."
"We'll discuss everything after things settle down the day after tomorrow!"
Wei Xun understood, "Yes!"
...
"Bang!" The teacup shattered in the aisle.
The room was filled with the sounds of cursing and swearing.
The shopkeeper was used to it; some people went to the capital to seek refuge with relatives, while others did not.
For example, the one upstairs, he's been cursing and swearing ever since he came in yesterday.
They even went so far as to demand that he return the room fee so he could just find somewhere else to stay.
Manager Jin has seen all sorts of monsters and scoundrels here; do you really think you can get money from him?!
Such people will behave after being threatened.
Now I only dare to throw things around indoors.
The restaurant next door.
The waiter craned his neck to look across the street, where everything had been burned to the ground; all five households in the alley had been burned down.
The fire brigade was slow and didn't arrive until almost dawn.
Fortunately, no one lived there, otherwise who knows how many lives would have been lost.
I don't know if it was caused by this fire.
He felt the restaurant was much brighter and more spacious today!
The shopkeeper said it was well-cooked and secretly lit several incense sticks.
The firefighting team is currently checking for any remaining embers.
He said there was nothing left to check; it was burned to the ground, and even if there was still a fire, it would go out soon.
Wutong Lane was charred black by the fire, and many of the house walls collapsed.
It seems the second house burned the most; the original color of the house was no longer visible.
The fire brigade officers and soldiers examined the fire while talking to the people around them.
"There's nothing to see here anymore, it's all burned to the ground!"
The soldier next to him stepped on something and froze.
It's not wood that's been burned and carbonized.
He moved his foot away, rubbing off the black ash on the thing and revealing a golden patch.
He quickly picked up the things!
It's gold!
It's a bit deformed from the heat, but you can still tell it was originally a bracelet!
"Big guy! It's gold!"
The big guy turned around and saw what his brother was holding.
The two immediately huddled together, shouting, "Quick! Hide!"
"Let's search again to see if there's anything left. Someone must have hidden it here before, and a fire brought it out!"
The soldiers who found the item were beaming with joy.
I've heard from my predecessors before that they found valuable things at the scene of a fire.
He finally met him today!
As soon as he took a step, he stepped on something again!
"Big guy! Here! Here!"
The big guy slapped his brother on the back, "You little rascal! You secretly prayed to the God of Wealth today, didn't you!"
"Hurry up and look again, or it won't be ours when the boss comes!"
The two found some gold and silver artifacts! They even found a red gold crown!
We've struck it rich!
The two of them were laughing so hard their eyes were almost closed!
Completely unaware that the round, chubby thing at his feet was a burnt-out head.
As the big guy stood up, his brother turned around and accidentally bumped into him.
The fire scene was still hot, having just been extinguished.
The heat made him jump up, stomp on the man's head, and slam him hard into the air.
He was in so much pain that he kept cursing.
"Big guy, are you alright?!"
The big guy turned his head unintentionally and his eyes met those of another head.
"Aaaaaah!!—"
Terrified screams pierced the sky!
The discovery of a body at the scene of a fire indicates a murder.
Not only must it be reported to the capital's judicial authorities, but anything found must also be handed over as evidence.
The leader of the firefighting team looked at the chaotic scene and slapped the two men on the head.
"What have I confessed! What have I confessed!"
"The first check is to see if there are any people! If there are any bodies!"
"Damn it, it's all ruined like this, how am I supposed to explain this to the authorities!"
The two of them shrank back and didn't dare to say a word.
Everyone who lives in Xicheng knows this godforsaken place. It's been empty for so many years, not even a ghost in sight.
A fire was started, and three corpses were discovered!
When Wei Xun arrived with his men, the Hidden Fire Team had already surrounded the area.
The three charred corpses were burned beyond recognition, with some areas showing only bare bones.
Scattered and in disarray.
Without a coroner, it would be impossible to piece together a complete human figure.
Wei Xun frowned deeply; something had indeed happened in Wutong Lane.
After examining the body, the coroner said, "Sir, they are all female corpses, two adults and one child."
Wei Xun stood up. "Have you finished checking everything? Is there anything else?"
The leader of the firefighting team immediately stood up. "I've had them search several times already, but it's gone!"
Wei Xun looked around and said, "Let's take it back to the yamen first."
"ah?"
The leader of the firefighting team didn't react immediately.
So, they're not going to punish him?
Wei Xun glanced at him. "Or, shall we carry him back to the Underground Fire Team?"
"No, no, no, it was my fault for being so talkative, sir!" The leader of the fire-fighting team wanted to slap himself twice.
Wei Xun stopped looking at him.
Tomorrow is the Crown Prince's wedding day; tomorrow is the most important day.
These are all minor matters now; we'll discuss everything after tomorrow.
...
Song Mansion.
Song Jiyun lay in bed for several days without getting up.
Song's mother tried to persuade her several times, but it was no use.
Madam Xu brought in a bowl of milk and bird's nest soup. "Miss, you're getting married tomorrow. How can you hold the wedding ceremony like this?"
Song Jiyun finally moved.
She slowly sat up, her face pale and lifeless.
"Mom, I've figured it out."
"Men are all the same; the more I threaten to kill them, the more they cherish me."
“My father took Aunt Lu to Hezhou to take up his post. Even without my mother, he still took a concubine.”
“My father was like that, and so was Zhou Congxian. Men are all the same.”
She chuckled softly as she said this.
“If I hadn’t drugged my father, he would have brought back countless children from Hezhou.”
"Drugs?!" Mrs. Xu exclaimed in shock.
Song Jiyun looked up at Xu's mother with a smile, "My mother still can't bear to part with it, so I gave her the medicine."
“You all don’t know, it’s not that Aunt Lu can’t have children, it’s that my father can’t have children.”
When Master Song went to Hezhou, Song Jiyun was only eight years old.
An eight-year-old girl drugged her own father and kept it a secret for so many years...
Song Jiyun's smile remained unchanged, but Xu's mother felt a chill run down her spine.
"Miss……"
Song Jiyun's lips twitched. "When I was little, I was most afraid of my parents arguing, and I was also afraid of my mother crying."
"She held me so tightly that I couldn't breathe."
“I want to hide too, but I can’t. If I hide, my mother will be even more upset. My brother is studying away from home, and it’s just me, just me…”
Song Yitang stood outside, listening to his younger sister's somewhat hoarse voice coming from inside the house.
My heart aches terribly.
It turns out that her stubbornness stemmed from childhood influences.
How much pressure did this little girl endure?
He was completely unaware of this.
Song Yitang stepped into Song Jiyun's boudoir.
The room had been newly decorated, and the wedding dresses on the racks were exquisite.
The pearls and gemstones on the tiara were sourced at great expense.
This is probably the only one of its kind in Beijing.
Song Yitang looked at his younger sister, who had become much thinner.
"Yun'er, your elder brother's promise remains unchanged."
"If Zhou Congxian makes you shed even a single tear, my elder brother will make the Duke of Ying's mansion pay a bloody price!"
"Even if she is General Meng's granddaughter."
Song Jiyun's lips twitched.
Then he gently curled the corners of his lips, "Big brother must keep his word."
...
The red carpet stretched as far as the eye could see.
The lively clamor could be heard from afar, both inside and outside the mansion gates.
The phoenix coronet and embroidered robe felt as heavy as a thousand pounds pressing down on her body.
Her elder brother, dressed in a brocade robe, was standing at the door waiting for her.
She had just taken a step when her legs gave way, and Xu Ma, who was standing beside her, helped her up tightly.
With a sway of her body, the tassels on her phoenix crown lashed hard across her face.
For some reason, Song Jiyun felt as if this was a slap in the face.
It was as if they were also mocking her for how ridiculous her wedding banquet was.
A mocking smile curled at the corner of her lips, and then she strode toward her brother.
Song Yitang carried her to the flower hall and bid farewell to his parents.
What should have been a tearful scene turned into an unusually calm one for her.
This scene seems familiar.
Until she got into the bridal sedan chair.
Song Jiyun slowly came to his senses.
From now on, she will be the wife of the Zhou family.
So what if she's like her mother? She won't be as soft-hearted as her mother.
So what!
Let's fight to the death!
...
Zhou Congxian, dressed in a red robe, sat upright on a tall horse, but his face showed no joy as if he were welcoming a new bride.
His eyes swept across the outer edge of the crowd.
Until I met a pair of eyes.
The man nodded before he gave the order to set off.
The wedding procession circled the city once.
When we reached the charred sycamore alley in the western part of the city.
He subconsciously glanced in that direction a couple more times.
It seemed as if something was drifting away from him.
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