Chapter 20: How Did She Faint First?

The twentieth day of the Twelfth Lunar Month, 11:45 AM.

Li Fengrao, the Prefect of City Lanyang, led a large contingent of yamen runners and constables to Jintai Temple.

Early this morning, a Soldier of the Dragon Guard Army knocked on the yamen gate, urgently reporting that the female dependents of Prince Lanyangs Estate had been attacked by bandits at Jintai Temple during the night.

Even though Prince Lanyangs Estate had declined, they were still Founding Nobles!

An attack on the family members of a Noble was absolutely a major case for the Dynasty!

Li Fengrao dared not delay for a moment. He gathered his men and rushed over immediately.

The stench of blood in the front courtyard’s Main Hall was thick and hadn’t dispersed. All four monks had been stabbed in the throat, clearly having their necks slit while asleep.

When Li Fengrao stepped into the back courtyard, even though he was mentally prepared, his stomach still churned.

The ground was littered with shocking, mutilated limbs, and even the courtyard walls were smeared with dark brown scraps of flesh. Li Fengrao hadn’t walked two steps before he tripped. Looking down, he saw a section of intestine frozen to the ground.

Suppressing his discomfort, he quickly summoned Ding Suian for questioning.

“Last night, at midnight. The bandits were numerous, and we were entangled and unable to break free for a time. The Old Side Consort and the maid Li were killed by the bandits.”

Li Fengrao was startled, suddenly stood up, and then fixed his gaze on Ding Suian, who had a shoulder wound.

Madam Wu was actually dead, but the Princess Consort was unharmed.

Moreover, the bandits who launched the night attack left no survivors.

This situation easily led one to suspect a self-directed plot: Ding Suian and Madam Lin hiring people to impersonate bandits to kill Madam Wu, and then silencing the ‘fake bandits.’

“Head Constable Jiao!”

Li Fengrao couldn’t help but call out loudly. Head Constable Jiao seemed to have just made an important discovery, and as he walked in, his face held a hint of unconcealed joy.

“Squad Leader Ding! What great skill!”

After entering, Head Constable Jiao first cupped his hands in greeting to Ding Suian, and then said, “My Lord, The Third Place Scholar Li, who has been committing crimes for several years, was killed by Squad Leader Ding and his men!”

“Oh?” Li Fengrao was even more surprised than before. When he looked at Ding Suian again, the clouds of suspicion in his eyes completely dispersed.

The Third Place Scholar Li had been committing crimes nearby since the 40th year of Zhengtong. At that time, Ding Suian was just a child in his teens, and Madam Lin had not yet married into the Estate.

Such a fierce bandit was extremely cautious. Li Fengrao absolutely did not believe that Ding Suian could persuade him to act as an accomplice within a month, only to end up losing his life here.

“Lead This Official to take a look.”

Li Fengrao got up and walked into the courtyard. Several constables were using scabbards to pry at The Third Place Scholar Li’s corpse. After being soaked in blood and frozen by the night wind, the body was tightly stuck to the ground.

“Squad Leader Ding, well done!”

“Squad Leader Ding really helped us vent our frustration.”

“The Dragon Guard Army is full of hidden talents. I never expected Squad Leader Ding to possess such Cultivation at such a young age!”

The constables stepped forward one after another, cupping their hands in greeting.

“You gentlemen flatter me~” Ding Suian accepted all the praise and returned the courtesy politely.

It was no wonder they acted this way. The Third Place Scholar Li had committed evil for years. Every time a murder case occurred, these constables would suffer the consequences, resulting in docked salaries and being beaten with the plank.

They absolutely hated this bandit.

Li Fengrao hadn’t brought a Portrait with him, so he cautiously asked, “Are you certain? Is this person truly The Third Place Scholar Li?”

“Reporting, My Lord! The Portrait of this bandit has long been burned into our minds! We absolutely cannot be wrong!”

Because of The Third Place Scholar Li, Li Fengrao had been under considerable pressure for the past two years.

Seeing the constables speak with such certainty now, he couldn’t help but let out a long breath, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his heart.

Ding Suian said at the appropriate moment, “My Lord, we are waiting here to protect the crime scene. The Princess Consort was greatly frightened last night. Now that the yamen brothers have arrived, we will escort the Princess Consort back to the Estate first.”

The bandit The Third Place Scholar Li had been executed, which was a merit regardless of the circumstances. Li Fengrao was very willing to close the case right then, but Madam Wu had perished in the incident, forcing him to consider the reaction of the Du Family.

Li Fengrao hesitated slightly and said, “Very well, but this case is no small matter. Squad Leader Ding should not travel far in the next two days, so that This Official can question you at any time regarding the case.”

At dusk, the wind and snow had just stopped.

Steward Hou, the manager of the Estate’s Front Residence, and The Second Steward, Wang Jiu, stood below the steps in front of the Estate, looking forward eagerly.

“Old Hou, by rights, the Old Ancestor should have arrived at the Estate by noon, yet it’s already the Hour of You (5-7 PM). Why are they still not here?”

Wang Jiu, who had been standing at the Estate gate for half the afternoon, looked at the long street in front of the Estate and stretched his aching old back.

Steward Hou’s wrinkled face twitched slightly upon hearing the disrespectful term ‘Old Hou,’ and he made no reply.

Wang Jiu glanced at Steward Hou, knowing the address had displeased him. He muttered internally: *We’re all servants, yet you still put on airs and insist on distinguishing ranks.*

But he quickly plastered a smile on his face. “Elder Brother Hou, you are an old retainer who has followed the Old Ancestor for a lifetime. In this Estate, besides the Old Ancestor, your word is the most useful.”

Steward Hou’s expression softened slightly, but he still kept his hands behind his back and ignored Wang Jiu.

Wang Jiu continued to fawn, “Elder Brother Hou, last time I mentioned that I wanted my Second Son to get a job at the manor outside the City. Have you mentioned it to the Old Ancestor?”

“You’ve been in the Estate for over ten years, how can you be so oblivious?” Steward Hou scolded him like he was dressing down a grandson. “Don’t you know what state the Estate is in right now? How could the Old Ancestor have the mind to worry about your Second Son’s job!”

“…”

Wang Jiu quickly bowed and offered a placating smile. “Yes, yes, I was being foolish.”

*You took a hundred taels of silver from me last year, and now you won’t do the job, is that it!*

As he was cursing internally, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the Estate’s carriages and horses returning a few dozen steps away.

“The Old Ancestor is back!”

Steward Hou’s back, which had been rigidly straight when facing Wang Jiu, instantly hunched over, adopting the posture of welcoming his master.

Like a docile old dog.

But after only a few breaths, both realized something was wrong. The five Soldiers guarding the sides of the carriages were all wounded.

That annoying Ding Family brat was walking right at the front. The military jacket on his shoulder had a tear, and strands of blood-soaked cotton batting were occasionally blown away by the cold wind.

After a few more breaths, the carriages and horses gradually stopped in front of the Estate gate.

The sedan curtain was lifted, and the sorrowful Lin Hansu slowly stepped out, supported by the two Nannies, Xu and Zhang.

Her plain white Mourning Clothes were dotted with dried, blackened bloodstains, like bizarre flowers blooming on white mourning cloth.

It was shocking to behold.

“What happened to the Princess Consort!”

“Where is the Old Ancestor!”

Wang Jiu and Steward Hou spoke almost simultaneously.

Ding Suian strode forward and said mournfully, “Last night at Jintai Temple, we were attacked by bandits. The Old Side Consort and the maid Li were killed by the bandits.”

“Mother~ You and my Husband have abandoned me one after the other. Your concubine…”

Just then, Lin Hansu let out a heartbreaking, mournful cry, immediately followed by her eyes rolling back. She fainted from grief.

“Your Highness!”

“Your Highness~”

The two Nannies, Xu and Zhang, cried out in unison.

Steward Hou felt a dizzy spell, his legs went weak, and he landed on his Buttocks on the ground.

The sky had fallen.

The shock was too intense, turning his mind into mush and completely robbing him of the ability to think.

Looking at the Princess Consort of Lanyang who had fainted in the arms of the two Nannies, the bewildered Steward Hou had only one thought left: *I haven’t fainted yet, so how did she faint first?*