Chapter 105: The Death of Li Ru

Chen Pingwu did not show any displeasure in response to Feng Yewu’s doubts; he simply lowered his head silently, his gaze clouded with a somber shadow.

In a corner of the county office, a government soldier clad in official attire, his face concealed beneath the brim of his hat, trembled slightly upon hearing Chen Pingwu’s account. Seizing the moment when no one was paying attention, he quietly made his way toward the dungeon.

No one noticed that his blade was unlike the others’.

Feng Yewu looked at the weary Chen Pingwu and spoke softly, “The heir has merited our gratitude for saving the prince. You have labored hard; now go rest.”

Chen Pingwu accepted the order, bowed silently, and departed.

Only after the back chamber was left with Feng Yewu, Lu Jue, Wei Nanxi, and Sun Changxi did Lu Jue finally speak.

“Your Majesty, now that the secret correspondence between Li Ru and the Prince of Pingyi has been destroyed, it will be difficult to convict the Prince of Pingyi based solely on this one letter from the county magistrate.”

Feng Yewu pondered in silence. Wei Nanxi, standing beside him, added, “The young lady must be the daughter of the Prince of Pingyi. I believe that relying solely on the heir’s explanation leaves many gaps. What if the two conspired together...?”

Given that this matter concerned the life and death of the Prince of Pingyi, Wei Nanxi’s concerns were understandable. It was not impossible that Chen Pingwu and Wang Jia had staged an elaborate ruse.

Hearing this, Feng Yewu shook his head slightly, his brow still furrowed tightly.

“The terrain around Yunwu County is full of cliffs and precipices. If one were gravely injured and fell, survival would be unlikely. I, however, believe Chen Pingwu is telling the truth. Lu Jue and I saw Yang Guang; he was gravely wounded, and it would be difficult for an ordinary person to deal such a heavy blow.”

Both Lu Jue and Feng Yewu knew Yang Guang’s skill. Reflecting now, after Yang Guang killed those mysterious men that day, he himself was severely injured, and the sorrowful state he displayed upon entering the prison did not seem feigned.

“What I want now is to interrogate the county magistrate and see if he carries any further evidence.”

No sooner had Feng Yewu finished speaking than a prison guard burst in, panic evident in his hurried steps. Bowing timidly, he stammered, “Your... Your Majesty, Lord Fang... Fang Yang was killed in the prison.”

“What!”

The guard’s words sent shockwaves through the few present in the back chamber.

Fang Yang dead?

Though Wei Nanxi and Sun Changxi had only a small contingent, it was enough to surround the modest county office completely.

How could Fang Yang be murdered in such broad daylight, under so many watchful eyes?

Feng Yewu, shaken and enraged, demanded, “Who did this?”

The guard, trembling with fear, stammered incoherently, unable to provide a clear answer.

“Let’s go see,” Feng Yewu said impatiently, rising and leading the group toward the dungeon.

...

Inside the carriage outside the government office, Chen Pingwu returned to find that Wang Jia had already awakened, sighing softly.

“Miss Wang, did I wake you?”

Wang Jia gave a weak smile and gently shook her head.

“I woke when Lord Wei came to deliver the message earlier.”

Chen Pingwu’s voice grew grave, and silence fell over the carriage.

After a moment, Wang Jia asked softly, “Did the heir speak?”

Chen Pingwu nodded slightly, deliberately avoiding Wang Jia’s gaze, his eyes tinged with guilt.

“Miss Wang, thank you for agreeing to keep this secret for me.”

That day, Chen Pingwu had carried the frail Wang Jia in his arms and, under the relentless pursuit of the transformed Yang Guang, they had fallen helplessly off a towering cliff.

As he had recounted, they were fortunate to be rescued by a fisherman.

Wang Jia’s pale face bore a faint smile, her eyes complex and silent.

Once again, the carriage was enveloped in silence. Suddenly, commotion erupted within the government office, and many soldiers guarding the door hurried inside.

Wang Jia asked softly, “What is happening?”

Chen Pingwu looked outside at the shadows stirring and shook his head in puzzlement.

Just as Wang Jia was about to speak, Chen Pingwu raised his hand to stop her, his eyes flashing with alertness.

“Someone’s coming!”

At this moment, all the soldiers had entered the government office, leaving the street empty. Chen Pingwu gripped his long sword tightly and positioned Wang Jia protectively behind him.

The carriage’s curtain was pulled aside, and a soldier slipped inside.

Chen Pingwu watched as the man removed his official hat, drawing his sword with a complicated expression.

Behind Chen Pingwu, Wang Jia’s face turned pale upon seeing the soldier’s features. Fear flickered in her eyes, and she instinctively pressed against Chen Pingwu, trembling uncontrollably.

“Your Highness, there is no need to be alarmed,” the soldier said coldly. It was Yang Guang. He glanced disdainfully at the trembling Wang Jia behind Chen Pingwu, his expression unreadable.

Chen Pingwu hesitated briefly, then sheathed his sword.

Wang Jia nervously tugged at Chen Pingwu’s sleeve. When he turned to look at her, she shook her head anxiously.

Chen Pingwu smiled faintly, a bittersweet and self-mocking smile, soothing her gently.

“It’s nothing. If he truly wanted to kill us, I wouldn’t have had the chance to draw my sword.”

Though still unsettled, Wang Jia could only accept this.

Chen Pingwu did not question Yang Guang but instead looked toward the government office through the carriage window, asking with curiosity, “What is happening inside?”

“The county magistrate is dead,” Yang Guang replied casually.

Chen Pingwu frowned. Naturally, he suspected Yang Guang was responsible.

“Was this the king’s order?”

Yang Guang remained silent but glanced at Wang Jia once more and nodded faintly.

...

In the dungeon, Feng Yewu and the others stood outside the cell where Fang Yang had been held, looking at the lifeless, limp body.

Wei Nanxi signaled to his subordinates to open the cell door, then he, Lu Jue, and Sun Changxi entered.

After examining Fang Yang’s corpse, the three emerged with dark expressions.

Feng Yewu asked coldly, “Any clues?”

Both Wei Nanxi and Sun Changxi came from the Imperial Court’s Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishments, and were experts in forensic examination. Lu Jue’s exceptional skill also allowed him to interpret wounds with greater insight.

Wei Nanxi and Sun Changxi exchanged a glance and bowed in reply.

“The county magistrate’s joints throughout his body were all shattered. He ultimately died of asphyxiation.”

They had thoroughly examined Fang Yang’s body. Every joint was broken— a testament to the perpetrator’s ruthless cruelty.

Feng Yewu’s gaze shifted to Lu Jue, hoping for further insight.

Lu Jue met Feng Yewu’s look and spoke softly, “They weren’t broken—they were crushed.”

Lu Jue’s words shocked Wei Nanxi and Sun Changxi deeply. Human joints are incredibly strong; to crush them barehanded was a terrifying notion.

“Master Lu, how can you be certain they were crushed?”

Wei Nanxi’s question was not meant to challenge but was born of the horror his statement evoked.