Don't ask where people go

Chapter 1841 Desire
"Lord Fang!" An urgent voice pulled Fang Zilan back to reality. A subordinate rushed in and said, "The people from the Prefectural Governor's Office have arrived."

"What are the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture doing at our government office at this time?" Fang Zilan frowned, and her subordinate shook his head vigorously. "I don't know either. Please go and take a look, Lord Fang."

"I understand." Fang Zilan got up and went to the main hall. Cao Hong was standing at the door. As soon as he saw her, he went up to her and whispered, "Boss, the people from the Prefectural Governor's Office are here to ask about the Pei family..."

"Lord Fang." A gentle and mild voice interrupted Cao Hong. The man walked up to Fang Zilan and bowed respectfully, saying, "Xie Yanping, Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, greets Lord Fang."

Fang Zilan looked at him and felt he looked somewhat familiar; she must have seen him before when she went to the Prefect's residence. He deliberately interrupted Cao Hong, presumably because he didn't want her to know anything from Cao Hong beforehand, so she wouldn't be able to ask questions in a way that would make her prepared. He was quite cunning.

"No need for such formalities, Lord Xie." Fang Zilan raised her hand, and Xie Yanping straightened up as she asked, "May I ask what brings Lord Xie to the government office?"

Xie Yanping said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Lord Fang should already have heard that the Duke of Jin has passed away. The Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture is conducting routine questioning. Please cooperate, Lord Fang."

Routine questioning? Fang Zilan pondered those four words for a moment, then said calmly, "I deeply mourn the passing of the Duke of Jin. But why does the Prefectural Governor's Office want to question me?"

"It's just routine questioning," Xie Yanping said casually. "The Prefectural Government of the Capital will question everyone who had contact with Duke Jin during his lifetime."

Fang Zilan said thoughtfully, "Then Lord Xie is probably going to be very busy."

"It is my duty," Xie Yanping said earnestly. "Lord Duke Jin is a key minister of the state, and nothing related to him should be taken lightly."

Fang Zilan remained noncommittal, her expression hardening as she asked, "What does Lord Xie wish to ask me?"

Xie Yanping asked directly, "Lord Fang previously submitted a memorial impeaching Duke Jin, regarding the matter of Lord Pei Poming assaulting your young master Mo, is that correct?"

“Yes.” Fang Zilan nodded. Xie Yanping stared intently into her eyes. “His Majesty has ignored it. Has Lady Fang ever privately gone to the Pei family to see Duke Jin?”

"No," Fang Zilan answered crisply. Xie Yanping continued, "Has Lord Fang seen Duke Jin recently?"

"Recently, how many days recently?" Fang Zilan asked instead of answering. Xie Yanping calmly replied, "One month."

"No." Fang Zilan replied without hesitation. Xie Yanping pressed further, "Has Lord Fang seen Lord Pei Poming in the past month?"

A chill settled between Fang Zilan's brows. "Do you know the true cause of death for those two young ladies?"

Xiao Xuan'er pursed her lips and said, "The Yun family is quite prominent in Xiwu City. When Miss Yun returned to her maternal home, the Yun family, for a visit, she was escorted by General Meng Tingyang of the Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion. Normally, bandits would avoid such a place. Therefore, after the incident, the Yun family found it very strange and launched a major investigation. However..."

She didn't continue, and Mo Han couldn't help but interject, "But you haven't found anything?" "Not exactly." Xiao Xuan'er's voice lowered a few decibels, "According to the Yun family's investigation, Miss Yun's death was actually caused by the Di Rong people. The Di Rong tribe has been under the jurisdiction of Da Jing for a long time, and if this matter were to escalate, it would become a conflict between the two countries. However, Murong Chen has only been dead for a few years, and the Loyal King has very few disciples left, and there are few who can fight against Da Jing. The Yun family can only swallow their anger and suppress this matter."

After she finished speaking, she seemed to remember something and added, "At that time, the royal family of Miluo all thought that it was the Prince Zhongzheng who did it in secret, but the Yun family found out about the Di Rong people and cleared the Prince Zhongzheng's family of any wrongdoing."

Fang Zilan recalled hearing Murong Qing mention contacting the Di Rong tribe at Baiye Temple, and her heart tightened. She pressed on, asking, "Whom did the Yun family of Xiwu City send to investigate?"

“He is a servant of the Yun family, but I don’t know his exact name.” Xiao Xuan’er said while recalling, “It seems that his surname is Zuo. I don’t know his background, but people from the Yun family would respectfully call him Mr. Zuo.”

"It should be him," Fang Zilan murmured softly. Xiao Xuan'er didn't hear her clearly and asked, "What did you say, Lord Fang?"

"It's nothing." Fang Zilan shook her head, then changed the subject, "What about Miss Ning Xinman? Is the cause of her death clear?"

Xiao Xuan'er composed herself. "Miss Ning's cause of death is beyond doubt. It's just that the discovery of her affair with Prince Qi was somewhat coincidental."

"A coincidence?" Fang Zilan frowned. Xiao Xuan'er asked, "Does Lord Fang know about Miluo Prefecture?"

"I heard Tao Zhiwei mention it," Fang Zilan nodded. "It sounds like a place with good manners and etiquette."

“That’s right.” Xiao Xuan’er explained, “Miluo Prefecture is directly under the palace and is a place established by the Miluo royal family to educate noblewomen on etiquette and manners. All noblewomen in Miluo, whether married or not, must enter the prefecture every year for a period of ten days to several months.”

Fang Zilan asked curiously, "Since only women are allowed to enter the main mansion, how was Miss Ning's affair with Prince Qi discovered?"

“The Grand Mansion has a rule: physical examination.” Xiao Xuan’er’s expression showed a hint of disgust. “Logically, this rule only applies to unmarried women. However, Murong Qing’s wife…”

She took a deep breath, seemingly unwilling to say more. Fang Zilan understood, "Even if Murong Qing's wife should be a virgin, there shouldn't be a rule about physical examination. Did someone bring it up without reason?"

“It wasn’t entirely without reason,” Xiao Xuan’er said helplessly. “Tao Zhiwei has a maid named Xing by her side, whom Lord Fang must have met. It was she who listened to the words of a young lady who had a long-standing feud with Miss Ning…”

"You mean Granny Xing?" Fang Zilan abruptly interrupted her, pausing for a moment. "It's Granny Xing. Does Lord Fang think there's something wrong with it?"

“There’s nothing wrong with it.” Fang Zilan’s hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched into a fist. “Go on.”

Seeing this, Xiao Xuan'er continued, "After the physical examination, Miss Ning was imprisoned in the main mansion's solitary confinement room. After the main mansion reported to the Miluo royal family, Prince Qi voluntarily came forward and confessed. Although he was young, he relied on his handsome appearance and engaged in nothing but philandering. After the Miluo royal family investigated, they convicted Miss Ning and her entire family. Upon hearing that her whole family had been implicated, Miss Ning committed suicide by drowning herself in the lake on the very day the imperial decree was issued."

Seeing Fang Zilan's increasingly grim expression, Xiao Xuan'er cautiously said, "The deaths of the two ladies of Murong Qing should have nothing to do with the Zhongzheng Prince's Mansion. After all, the Zhongzheng Prince has spent his life on the battlefield and would not do anything to betray the enemy. As for the Zhongzheng Prince's wife, Madam Chen, she is of a strong and resolute character. If she knew that Miss Ning had an affair with the Qi Prince, she would have made a scene in the palace, but she would never have resorted to such insidious means."