Chapter 24: No Good Banquet 3: The First Death
The setting sun melted into gold, the sunset glowed brilliantly, the banquet in the main courtyard was ready, and the guests left the garden and moved to the main courtyard.
The daylight hadn't yet faded, but the courtyard's eaves were already lit with lanterns, making it as bright as day. Maids hurried between the hall and the kitchen, crossing the courtyard and entering the hall. Sandalwood tables were placed side by side on either side of the hall, and upon arrival, guests took their seats according to their order.
As expected, Xun Shu and He Xuan were placed in the corner again.
Fang Yan seemed worried that Xun Shu might be unhappy, and was about to say something to appease him, but Xun Shu spoke first, pointing to the door beside He Xuan that was half open, and said with a smile, "This seat is perfect. You can smell the fragrance of the breeze from the courtyard."
Only then did Fang Yan feel relieved.
The banquet began, and the sound of stringed instruments gradually rose. As the wine glasses clapped, the sky darkened completely. Maids filed in, bringing the prepared delicacies. Xun Shu found them all very fresh and ate with great delight. He only tasted a little of what he didn't like, but finished the rest in a short while.
He Xuan saw her staring at the empty plate of glutinous rice cakes, as if she was still not satisfied, so he casually brought the untouched glutinous rice cakes on the table in front of her and put them on her table: "I don't like sweet things, don't waste it."
Xun Shu's eyes lit up and he nodded seriously: "I will definitely not let them down."
He Xuan tilted his head and smiled at her, watching her pick up a plump, flower-shaped rice cake and nibble on it. The more he watched, the cuter it became, and he couldn't bear to look away. His fascination was interrupted by a buzzing sound. He Xuan turned his head, his sharp eyes catching sight of a flying insect that flew in from the courtyard. The insect flew extremely fast, as if attracted by the candlelight in the hall. It circled several oil lamps in the corners of the hall and flew straight towards the brightest bronze lamp tree in the hall.
The bronze lamp tree stood two men tall, gleaming with a metallic sheen. Countless branches extended from its trunk, resembling a real tree. Each branch held an oil lamp, its wick flickering, its light and shadow shifting in a magnificent and dazzling display.
The small flying insect flew into the lantern tree and disappeared. He Xuan looked away, thinking that the insect had already rushed into the hottest flame and turned into ashes.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
A cry of surprise, accompanied by the sound of slapping hands, caught the attention of everyone in the hall, including Xun Shu and He Xuan. They looked at the exclamatory Magistrate Zhao, only to see him knock something down and then cover his palm with his hand, a look of pain on his face.
"Brother Zhao, are you okay?" County Magistrate Feng, who was sitting on his left, looked worried.
Magistrate Zhao shook his hands, as if to shake off the pain. His features gradually relaxed, and he forced a smile: "It's nothing. There are many insects in the summer. It was just a small insect bite."
County Magistrate Feng turned around and scolded the maid Bai Xing, who was standing motionless in the corner: "What are you doing standing here? Can't you see your master is injured? Hurry and get the medicine!"
Resentment flashed in Bai Xing's eyes. Upon hearing this, she lowered her eyes, bent her knees slightly, and quickly left the hall.
Xun Shu looked at the chaos, and did not forget to put the last bite of glutinous rice cake into her mouth. She licked the sugar stains on her lips, put down the wooden chopsticks, and sighed softly.
He Xuan thought she hadn't eaten enough and said with a smile, "Glutinous rice is hard to digest, so it's not good to have too much for dinner. Tomorrow I'll buy you something better, much more fragrant and glutinous than the one at Zhao's house."
Xun Shu glanced at her with a rather strange look in his eyes: "I'm full. That's not why I'm sighing."
"Why is that?"
Xun Shu didn't answer.
For some reason, the dark aura between County Magistrate Zhao's brows was much thicker than it had been in the afternoon, spreading to his temples. It was a sign of impending catastrophe; he probably wouldn't survive the night. But how could she explain this? What if others heard her? They'd wrongly accuse her of murder.
Thinking of this, even though Xun Shu was still wavering and conflicted in his heart, he still bit his lip and shook his head: "Nothing."
Seeing that she was unwilling to talk, He Xuan did not ask any more questions. He was just thinking about how to make her feel better when he heard footsteps outside the door. Zheng came in with a group of maids. Each maid was holding a food table with a leg of lamb on it.
The lamb leg was roasted to perfection. When it was served on the table, it was still sizzling with oil and the aroma was spreading everywhere. Just looking at it made one's appetite whet.
Xun Shu was preoccupied with Magistrate Zhao's affairs and had no appetite. He pushed the food towards He Xuan and said, "I don't want to use this. Just eat it all. Don't waste it."
He Xuan didn't refuse and said with a smile: "I think this roasted lamb leg is the most delicious tonight. You gave it to me like this, don't regret it."
Xun Shu nodded randomly, but his eyes remained on County Magistrate Zhao. He responded absentmindedly, "No regrets, eat quickly."
The lamb leg arrived at the table, and everyone followed the same path, first cutting the meat with the dagger that came with it, then picking up the roasted meat with wooden chopsticks, dipping it in the salt on the side before putting it into their mouths. Zheng Shi brought the medicinal wine to the side of the county magistrate, knelt down, and angrily said, "Master, why are you so careless? You let a bug bite you."
"Shun Niang, you've wronged me. How could I possibly have such incredible power to prevent a bug from biting me?"
Zheng remained silent, holding his hand. Only then did she notice the red, swollen wound on his palm. Her gaze froze for a moment, her hands trembling uncontrollably. Her eyes flushed red, tears falling like pearls. She whispered, "Does it hurt?"
Zheng's expression was rather exaggerated, but Magistrate Zhao was quite pleased. He smiled and said, "Don't cry over this minor injury, Shu Niang." He picked up a dagger beside him, cut off a piece of the tenderest meat, coated it with salt, and handed it to Zheng's lips. "This mutton is roasted to perfection. Would you like to try it?"
Zheng turned slightly to the side, wiped her tears with her sleeve, and choked out, "Master, eat first."
Zheng cried so hard that Magistrate Zhao gave in to her wishes and put the piece of mutton into his mouth. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looked to his right at General Yang. He saw that he was eating meat with wooden chopsticks, just like everyone else in the hall. He asked curiously, "I heard that Brother Yang likes to eat meat with his hands. Why did you change that habit today?"
General Yang paused, feeling rather helpless. "It's certainly pleasant to eat meat with your hands, but my wife doesn't like it when I do, saying it's vulgar. It's not a big deal, so I'll just go along with her and change this habit."
"So that's how it is! Your wife——"
Magistrate Zhao was halfway through his sentence when his words suddenly seemed to catch in his throat. With his mouth wide open, only a few gurgling sounds could come out. His lips gradually turned purple, and he clutched his throat with both hands, evidently in excruciating pain. His face flushed rapidly, like a flood. The pain spread too quickly, unable to be relieved. He loosened his grip on his neck and waved his hands wildly in the air, as if begging for help, or trying to grasp at his rapidly escaping life. His eyes were wide, bloodshot, and his bulging eyeballs were as red as blood, like the bright red flower resting on the edge of the table.
After a moment, there was no movement and no sound.
Everyone in the room was shocked and the hall was in chaos for a while.
The crowd surged forward, surrounding County Magistrate Zhao. Xun Shu and He Xuan were far away, and just as they squeezed to the front, they saw that County Magistrate Zhao had stopped moving and could no longer make a sound. County Magistrate Feng mustered up the courage to step forward and check his breath with his fingers. After a moment, his face turned pale and complex: "County Magistrate, he... he... he's gone!"
County Magistrate Zhao is dead?!
The stringed instruments ceased, and exclamations continued. Most of the guests at the Zhao residence today were officials or generals accustomed to slaughter, so they remained relatively calm. However, the servants and newly arrived laborers seemed to have witnessed something horrifying. They wanted to get closer for a better look, but they shrank back in fear, their toes pointed toward the door, their eyes fixed on Magistrate Zhao's, which were still open and unclosed.
He Xuan stood in the corner, shifting his position from time to time, his eyes focused as he carefully examined Magistrate Zhao's body, not missing a single clue. Xun Shu followed him like a little follower, feeling as if a huge stone was pressing down on her heart, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Xun Shu knew that she did nothing wrong, and she also knew that this matter had nothing to do with her, but as life passed away before her eyes, she couldn't help but think too much.
If she had reminded County Magistrate Zhao to be careful before the dinner started today, would he not have died? Would everything have been different...
Magistrate Zhao's eyes seemed to be glaring at her, silently accusing her of being ruthless. Xun Shu was tormented, hesitating whether to close Magistrate Zhao's eyes. After enduring it again and again, he gave up the idea and simply turned his eyes away.
Her eyes swept across the faces of the people nearby. At first, she didn't look at anyone, but was just avoiding them. However, after a few times, her eyes gradually became aware.
Zheng knelt beside him, crying breathlessly. Her tears were genuine, her grief was real, and Xun Shu couldn't tell the difference between true and false. Meanwhile, County Magistrate Feng and Fang Yan had already begun their own search, looking for suspicious clues. County Lieutenant Bi Da hurriedly left the hall and headed outside, busy inviting the coroner to the Zhao residence to perform an autopsy. Bai Xing stood in the corner, staring blankly at County Magistrate Zhao, her lips pale and trembling. And then there was Qiu Anping—
He stood at the back of the crowd with his arms folded, his expression expressionless. He looked at Magistrate Zhao's body as if it were a dead object.
Just like that afternoon, his six senses were incredibly sharp, and he immediately noticed someone was looking at him, accurately catching Xun Shu's gaze before he could even look away. Unlike that afternoon, Xun Shu didn't shy away, but carefully examined his facial features before slowly looking away.
This person's face was quite complicated, and it was unknown where County Magistrate Zhao met him.
Xun Shu's gaze swept across the entire hall again.
Everyone here looks like County Magistrate Zhao's close friend, and they are kind-hearted people who would never kill anyone. However, their hearts are hidden behind their appearance, and one cannot see clearly into their hearts.
Since a murder has occurred, the government naturally cannot stand idly by.
The county magistrate was dead, and at this moment, the county magistrate was the most respected official in Chaozhou County. County magistrate Feng looked at General Yang, whose brows were furrowed like a mountain, and bowed slightly: "General Yang, this accident has happened, you see-"
General Yang knew what he meant. He waved his hand casually and said, "I am a guest here. This case is the business of your Chaozhou County Government. Just follow the rules. Don't worry about me."
County Magistrate Feng was waiting for these words. He turned toward the crowd and spoke loudly, "County Magistrate Zhao lived a life of integrity and honesty, beloved by the people. He was a truly excellent man. Today, he was murdered in public, for unknown reasons. If he was murdered, the murderer must be in this house, perhaps one of us. I hereby order that a murder has occurred at the Zhao residence. All exits are immediately sealed. No one may enter or leave without my permission. I will investigate this case, find the murderer, and avenge County Magistrate Zhao!"
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Transformed version of Snowstorm Villa mode~
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