Chapter Forty-Seven: A Fatal Incident
Page 1 of 3
The night was dark and the wind was fierce.
The city’s residents had long dispersed.
Dim moonlight spilled over the southern city, lending an added hush to its quiet streets.
On Pingle Street, a dozen men in constable uniforms hurried along, torches raised.
Soon, they arrived at the Riverside Inn.
The leader gently pried open the door.
The night attendant startled awake, rising from a makeshift bed of tables and chairs.
He opened his mouth to speak, but the constable silenced him with a hiss.
“Did two men and two women check in at dusk today?” the constable asked in a low voice.
The attendant nodded nervously.
“Which room are the two men staying in?”
After a moment’s thought, the attendant pointed to the middle room on the second floor.
The constable understood and strode directly to the indicated room.
He kicked the door open.
“Official investigation!”
“No one move!”
Li Yunjie was startled by the sudden commotion, sitting up abruptly from the bed.
Eleven leaned against the window, baffled.
The constable hurried to Li Yunjie’s side, producing a warrant for arrest.
“You are Li Yunjie?!”
The visitor was clearly hostile!
Li Yunjie’s brows furrowed as he quickly scanned the document. “Suspected of murder?”
“That’s right!”
“Whom did I kill?”
“Old Master Zhang,” the constable replied sternly. “Tonight, someone witnessed you in contact with the deceased!”
As his words fell, a strong sense of unease welled up.
Li Yunjie’s expression grew grave as his thoughts raced.
The Old Master Zhang mentioned must be the one startled by the horse earlier today.
“You must be mistaken. My young master has just arrived in Jiangnan—he doesn’t know any Old Master Zhang,” Eleven attempted to explain, hand resting on his sword.
If words could not resolve this, perhaps these men would have to argue their case before the King of Hell.
But Su Qingmeng at the door was far less gentle than Eleven; in a flash, she had her sword at the constable’s throat.
In an instant, the constables in the room drew their blades and formed ranks; the atmosphere was tense and electric.
“Do you know who he is?!” Su Qingmeng swept her cold gaze around. “You dare arrest him?”
The constable was so frightened by Su Qingmeng that a bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
“Th-this young lady,” he stammered nervously, “we are only carrying out orders, please don’t make things difficult.”
“You accuse him of murder—do you have any evidence?” Su Qingmeng demanded coolly.
Page 2 of 3
Before Head Constable Wang could respond, Li Yunjie interjected, “I’ll go with you.”
He nodded to Su Qingmeng, signaling her to calm down.
“Don’t worry. They won’t dare harm me.”
Li Yunjie rose slowly, dressed, and extended his hands toward the constable.
“Do you need to shackle me?” he asked, his tone challenging.
The constable glanced at the sword still at his neck and managed a bitter smile. “Since you’re cooperative, there’s no need.”
“Let’s go, then.”
With that, Li Yunjie strode out the door.
The constable cast a nervous glance at Su Qingmeng, forcing a smile. “Young lady, this…”
Su Qingmeng snorted coldly and sheathed her sword.
The constable finally sighed in relief and slipped away.
“What is your young master up to?” Su Qingmeng asked, watching Li Yunjie’s departing figure, puzzled.
“I don’t know,” Eleven replied, shaking his head in confusion. “But now that the young master has reached the seventh rank, he can protect himself.”
“I doubt anything will go wrong.”
Su Qingmeng sighed deeply. “Let’s hope so.”
...
“Teacher, does the Jiangnan prefect know Li Shizi?” At the window, Lin Mao watched the people below, perplexed.
“Of course he does,” Gong Qingfeng replied calmly.
“Then how does he dare act like this?” Lin Mao’s doubts grew. “Isn’t he afraid of offending Minister Su?”
“He is,” Gong Qingfeng stroked his white beard and intoned, “But compared to offending Minister Su, Song Yongnian fears offending the Crown Prince even more.”
Lin Mao’s brows twitched, suddenly enlightened. “You mean Prefect Song is aligned with the Crown Prince?”
“It seems Li Shizi’s journey will not be smooth,” Gong Qingfeng nodded thoughtfully. “Tomorrow, investigate the circumstances of Old Master Zhang’s death.”
“Yes, Teacher,” Lin Mao replied with a bow.
...
Jiangnan Magistrate’s Office.
The dungeon.
The damp air carried a musty stench that was nauseating.
“Please, young master.”
Perhaps intimidated by Su Qingmeng’s presence, the constable was noticeably more respectful now.
Li Yunjie nodded slightly, glanced at his small cell. “Not bad.”
The constable gave an awkward smile, slipped outside, and gently closed the iron door.
Li Yunjie sat cross-legged, about to rest his eyes, when hurried footsteps echoed down the corridor.
“Where is he being held?!” a man demanded anxiously.
“Just ahead!” another replied in a low tone.
Soon, a man wearing a blue fourth-rank Cloud Goose uniform appeared, accompanied by a bailiff.
“Lord Song, the suspect has been apprehended,” the constable said, stepping forward to report.
Song Yongnian’s brows were furrowed, paying no attention.
Page 3 of 3
He moved closer to the cell for a look—his face turned ashen!
Without hesitation, he spun around and slapped the constable hard across the face.
“Fool!” Song Yongnian thundered, “Who gave you the guts?!”
“Do you know who this is?!”
The constable was utterly bewildered, clutching his cheek in grievance.
Wasn’t it you who sent me to make the arrest?
Now that I’ve done it, you’re not happy.
“He’s not the suspect?” the constable muttered under his breath.
Song Yongnian was trembling with rage.
He grabbed the constable’s collar, dragging him to kneel before Li Yunjie. “Open your eyes and look carefully!”
“This is the heir of Northern Tombs! Deputy Minister of the Imperial Court!”
“How could he possibly be the murderer you claim?!”
Hearing Li Yunjie’s titles, the constable’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground in despair.
The Deputy Minister of the Imperial Court is a full fourth rank!
A rank and a half above this old fool.
And royal blood!
Who gave me the guts to arrest him?!
“Guards!” Song Yongnian called to the bailiff behind him, “Take him away and give him eighty strokes!”
The two men obeyed, dragging the limp constable out of the cell.
After dealing with the constable, Song Yongnian shuffled over to Li Yunjie.
With a thud, he knelt and offered a deep bow.
“Song Yongnian, Prefect of Jiangnan, pays his respects to Your Highness!”
“My subordinate’s blindness led to this affront—please forgive us!”
Li Yunjie watched the scene unfold with relish, silently applauding Song Yongnian’s performance.
The Academy owes you an Oscar!
“Lord Song, you exaggerate,” Li Yunjie replied coldly. “If one is a suspect, regardless of status, they should be tried.”
“Your actions were not inappropriate.”
Song Yongnian hesitated, then responded, “Your Highness is right.”
“I have already sent men to investigate this case thoroughly—it is indeed a misunderstanding.”
“Oh?” Li Yunjie looked at Song Yongnian with interest. “What sort of misunderstanding?”
Song Yongnian pondered for a moment, a glimmer of cunning in his eyes. “Your Highness is the heir—how could you kill without reason?”
“There must be some misunderstanding!”
Li Yunjie snorted coldly. This corrupt official was speaking in riddles!
Translated, it meant: you’re the heir, so even if you did kill someone, it’s a misunderstanding.
Li Yunjie couldn’t be bothered to argue, and shifted the conversation to his main concern. “How did he die?”
Song Yongnian paused, feigning sorrow. “Poisoned…”