Hearing his words, Yun Duoduo couldn't help but shiver.
[It's terrifying! For five consecutive nights, there have been screams every night.]
The minister living next door to Tan Biao must have an exceptionally strong mental fortitude.
"Could it be that these five dancers are dead?"
Yun Duoduo's brows furrowed, and she huddled in Yun Beiye's arms, only peeking out with her head, and asked softly.
[How could this pervert have such a fetish? Does he have some kind of mental problem? Torturing a dancer to death every day?]
"It's not certain yet," Jin Jinzhi said, biting her lip.
"Can't be sure?" Yun Beiye asked in return.
Jin Jinzhi nodded. "Yes, because I sent people to observe in secret, and no corpses were carried out of the Tan residence, not at the main gate, side gate, or back gate."
"If he is dead, why wasn't his body brought out?"
"Moreover, during the day, there are neighbors watching over us, and at night, there are garrison officers from the capital patrolling around."
“If someone died and was carried out of the Marquis of Chi Nan’s residence, someone must have seen it.”
Yun Duoduo nodded in agreement.
"If a person is really dead, they should be carried out and buried outside. Do you think the dead person can be hidden in his mansion?"
After saying that, Yun Duoduo was stunned. [This pervert wouldn't actually be hiding a dead body in his own house, would he?!]
Yun Duoduo felt the hairs on her body stand on end.
She suddenly remembered a storybook she'd read before, about people hiding dead inside walls. [Ugh, that's terrifying! They're all a bunch of perverts!]
"Hmm." Yun Beiye's expression was solemn.
"Has anyone reported a case to the Dali Temple recently?" Yun Beiye continued to ask.
"To the best of my knowledge, there is none." Jin Jinzhi shook his head.
"Um."
The difficulty in this matter lies in the lack of evidence. It is not easy to issue an imperial edict ordering the Prefect of the Capital or the Imperial Guards to investigate Tan Biao's residence, after all, Tan Biao is the Marquis of Chi Nan, an important official of the court.
However, if left unchecked, Tan Biao might become even more audacious and reckless.
"Don't make this public for now. Jinzhi, continue to keep an eye on things secretly and report to me at any time." Yun Beiye fiddled with the jade thumb ring on his thumb.
"I need to weigh this further."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"By the way, I have already instructed the Ministry of Revenue to prepare the funds for resettling the refugees. If you need any money, just ask Kang Fuguo."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Lord Kang has already transported the first batch of silver out. The wooden houses for the refugees were built and purchased with this silver."
"Hmm, I remember that Kang Fuguo has a grandson named Qiming, who seems to be about the same age as you and the third prince."
"Your Majesty, Lord Kang's grandson is named Kang Qiming. Lord Kang sometimes takes his son with him when he goes on official business."
"It's good to be young. My third son is such a disappointment. Once he's better, I'll let him join you all!"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
...
Three days later, on a bright morning, the sun shone brightly and there wasn't a single cloud in the sky.
The small vendors who got up early to set up their stalls opened their windows and saw large snowflakes falling outside.
However, these snowflakes were rather peculiar; they weren't ice crystals that melted upon landing, but rather sheets of white paper covered with dense, dark writing.
These leaflets were scattered inside and outside the residences of the censors, near the famous Manjianghong Restaurant in the capital, and near the Yihonglou, where beautiful women gathered...
For a long time, the apprentices who got up early to travel and the merchants who went out to do business were all holding flyers and discussing them. Some had happy faces, while others were filled with righteous indignation.
Some bold and burly men even brought their brothers, armed with shovels and clubs, and gathered near the Tan residence.
"Hey Tan, come out here and give us an explanation!"
"That's right, come out here! This guy surnamed Tan bullies the weak and oppresses women, treats human life like dirt, how can he still live in this world?!"
The gates of the Tan residence were tightly shut, and the steward and servants inside stared blankly at the words on the flyer, each of them at a loss.
The steward of the Tan family, Zhen Quede, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He paced back and forth at the gate of the Tan family mansion. He originally wanted to have the guards drive away the people outside, but he was worried that doing so would cause trouble for Tan Biao.
After all, using local militia to suppress law-abiding citizens is no different from plotting a rebellion.
"Open the door! You bastard, you dare to do it but not admit it!"
"Today, I will rid the people of this scourge!"
"Tan Biao, you bastard, come out here!"
"Return the Marquis of Chi Nan? Bah!"
The roars outside reached Zhen Quede's ears, and the gates of the Tan residence shook with each powerful slam.
"Hurry up, what are you all standing there for? Stand guard at the door!" Zhen Quede shouted at the guards who were standing on both sides, looking somewhat dazed.
"If anyone breaks in, kill them on the spot!" Zhen Quede's eyes were fierce as he shouted the order.
Although they cannot go out to stop these troublemakers, if they rush into the Tan residence, the people of the Tan residence can take action under the pretext of legitimate self-defense.
"You, hurry up and go through the back gate. See if the Marquis is still at the drill ground. Go and deliver the message!"
...
Inside the Golden Hall of the Nanyang Imperial Palace, Yun Beiye angrily threw a stack of leaflets on the ground.
In an instant, the flyers scattered all over the ground.
"Look at this! The imperial court has become a laughing stock among the people!"
Inside the Golden Palace, the ministers all bowed their heads, and an awkward silence fell.
They had all seen the leaflets on their way to court and discussed them in small groups, but now they dared not say much in the court.
"Where's Tan Biao?!"
"Your subject is present."
Tan Biao would go to the drill ground to train his troops every morning. Today, as usual, he left his residence very early. When he came out, it hadn't started snowing yet, and the main road was very clean and tidy.
He only heard about the leaflet when he arrived at the palace, but by then it was too late to feign illness and return home or come up with any other way to get out of it.
"Tan Biao, look at this! This list is full of your crimes!" Yun Beiye grabbed a teacup and threw it at Tan Biao.
The scalding tea spilled onto Tan Biao's neck and hands. He knelt on the ground with his head down and his fists clenched tightly.
"This one sheet of paper isn't enough to write it all down!"
"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please calm down!" The courtiers knelt on the ground.
"Tan Biao, tell me, how much of what's written here is true and how much is false?"
Yun Beiye suppressed his inner elation and asked Tan Biao expressionlessly.
[We were just looking for a pretext to search the mansion, and now, a perfect opportunity has presented itself.]
But who is responsible for this artificial snowfall?
Tan Biao wiped the sweat from his forehead, gritted his teeth, and shook his head heavily. "Your Majesty, this is all slander. I am loyal to the country and only want to share Your Majesty's burdens. Not a single word of what is said here is true!"
"Oh, really?" Yun Beiye asked coldly.
"If not a single word of it is true, why is Lord Tan's face so pale?" Left Chancellor Xue Guangjin sneered.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
