Ming Dynasty Detective 1546

Chapter 56: The Inescapable Nightmare
Under the gaze of all the high-ranking officials from the Sansi Yamen, Hai Yue walked into the team calmly.

This neither humble nor arrogant attitude alone amazed the senior officials.

You should be able to accept the appreciation of others.

If they were in their place, at the age of seventeen, meeting a group of high-ranking officials from the province, could they remain so calm?

Hard to say!

Lu Bing was even happier.

He was too young. When he first went to the local area and followed a group of elderly officials, he always felt a little uncomfortable even though he was complimented.

It was also a sudden impulse to find the equally young Haiyue.

Now this person's performance has made me proud, he is really great.

Lu Bing was in high spirits, but as he formally entered the Fang Mansion after being greeted by its servants, his expression suddenly darkened as he gazed upon the magnificent mansion, complete with carved railings and jade masonry. "Mr. Fang was from Nanhai County, and his family home was in the county. During the Zhengde reign, Mr. Fang returned home due to illness and spent ten years studying in Xiqiao Mountain, where he also has his former residence! I wonder how this Fang Mansion ended up in Guangzhou? I heard it even dares to call itself the Heavenly Official's Mansion, and there's a constant stream of people coming to it every day to ask for favors."

As soon as these words were spoken, the officials' attention was immediately diverted and their expressions varied.

"I didn't expect this guy to curry favor with Lu Bing. I should have been more proactive before. Maybe this is an opportunity to leave Lingnan..."

Wang Shifang initially felt regretful, thinking he should have been more gracious to Haiyue, but upon hearing this, he was immediately overjoyed: "Is Your Majesty going to take action against those treacherous ministers who deceived His Majesty?"

As Mao Cheng's son-in-law, Wang Shifang naturally had no favorable impression of Zhang Cong, Gui E, and Fang Xianfu, the group involved in the Grand Ceremony Incident. He viewed them as treacherous traitors who had deceived the emperor. Seeing Lu Bing's seemingly negative comments about Fang Xianfu, he immediately wondered if the current emperor's attitude had changed...

Compared to Wang Shifang who had the Minister of Rites as his father-in-law, the others did not have such a foundation, but their expressions all changed.

If Fang Xianfu, the Minister of Personnel in the capital, falls, there will definitely be a huge storm in the local area!
Among the crowd, only Haiyue blinked.

He knew very well that Jiajing was the most tolerant towards those officials who insisted that he recognize his biological father during the Grand Ceremony. Fang Xianfu entered the cabinet soon after, but later resigned due to his old age, returned to his hometown to recuperate, and died of old age.

Therefore, it was unrealistic for Jiajing to abandon Fang Xianfu, the new nobleman of etiquette.

As Jiajing's confidant, Lu Bing naturally understood the emperor's intentions. So what was his intention in saying this?

Haiyue recalled carefully that around the ninth year of Jiajing, Fang Xianfu seemed to have been impeached because his clan members committed evil deeds in their hometown. Later, he died of illness, and his wife even reported that his nephew was trying to seize the family property.

It's interesting to think about it. Fang Xianfu was a disciple of Wang Yangming. After Wang Yangming passed away, his stepson and biological son fought over the inheritance, and the situation became chaotic. It was Fang Xianfu who stepped in to help his teacher find a stable home. As a result, after his death, his own nephew also came to seize the family property, and the situation also reached the court.

As for the nephew who seized the family property, is he Fang Wei?

Who can remember this...

"I am Lai Fu, the humble servant, and I am here to greet all the masters!"

At this moment, the steward of the Fang Mansion came over with sweat on his forehead, and nodded and bowed to the officials.

Lu Bing asked directly: "Where is the deceased?"

"In...the inner house."

"Order the women to retreat! I'll give you a quarter of an hour!"

"Yes Yes!"

Hai Yue couldn't help but sigh that the difficulty of investigating the case that she had worried about was solved in just a few words by the Jinyiwei.

It turns out that only a stronger power can suppress a powerful force. The Fang family relied on Fang Xianfu's power to bully others in Guangzhou Prefecture, and they probably never thought that they would be treated like this one day.

However, Haiyue noticed that, so far, no direct relatives of the Fang family had appeared. Only servants had appeared, mostly young and beautiful maids, and the servants were also handsome and elegant. While observing silently, Lu Bing immediately headed towards the inner residence as time passed.

The other officials hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not dare to rush in. The three leading officials, Left Governor Tian Jiading, Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Zhou Xuan, and Education Commissioner Wang Shifang followed.

Entering the inner house, under the guidance of the steward Lai Fu, they came to a courtyard and pointed at a house: "This is where the young master was killed..."

"Bring the suspect!"

Lu Bing waved his hand.

Two Jinyiwei came forward, carrying Zheng Yishu. Zheng Yishu was trembling all over, not even noticing Haiyue. He just stared at Lu Bing in fear, "I'm innocent...innocent... He died from the Nightmare! The Nightmare of 'Hidden Mist Village'!"

"Ok?"

Everyone was shocked.

Hai Yue was surprised. Wasn't it Zheng Yishu who was having the nightmare? How did it become the deceased Fang Wei?
Lu Bing frowned and said, "Go on!"

Zheng Yishu hissed, "Fang Wei... Fang Wei told me he's been having a terrible nightmare lately. He's always wandering around in a foggy village, unable to leave. It's a local legend that anyone who dreams of this 'Hidden Mist Village' will suffer a miserable fate, and no one is spared!"

Lu Bing looked at the three high-ranking officials who had followed him and asked, "Have you ever heard of such a statement?"

Tian Jiading's face was solemn, and he nodded slowly: "I have heard of it."

Wang Shifang was still immersed in joy and said casually, "I have never heard of it..."

Zhou Xuan said coldly: "The rumors in the market are not credible!"

Lu Bing turned to Zheng Yishu and said, "With such rumors, Fang Wei should be terrified. Why would he sleep with you?"

Zheng Yishu pursed his lips, seemingly unwilling to answer. However, under the intense gaze of the burly Jinyiwei surrounding him, he still said in a hoarse voice, "All he wants is to sleep with me and give me the Nightmare Town!"

Lu Bing was stunned for a moment: "What?"

Zheng Yishu said, "I once asked the abbot of Xixing Temple how to dispel the nightmare, but he didn't answer. But outside the temple, I met a barefoot Taoist who told me there was a method that could transplant flowers and trees to transfer the nightmare..."

Lu Bing was even more surprised when he heard this: "You used it?"

"No! I don't dare to use it. I don't want to die!"

Zheng Yishu gritted his teeth and said bluntly, "I lied to Fang Wei and told him that the high monk in Xixing Temple taught me Buddhism, which could transfer the nightmare from him. He believed me and promised me a bright future. He has become closer to me these days! To cover up my lie, I told him that when I was in the temple, I also dreamed of 'Yinwu Village', but because of the Buddha's protection, I was able to stay safe! Not only him, I also told the several scholars who live in the temple with me, they can testify for me!"

Haiyue was speechless.

Despite my previous sarcasm, Zheng Yishu still refused to leave Xixing Temple. Is this the reason?

He told Lin Daqin that he had been haunted by nightmares at night these days, and it was also a disguise to gain a better future. It was precisely because of this nonsense that he was valued by the Fang family?

But as a result, the expressions of the other people present couldn't help but change.

If Zheng Yishu didn't lie, then this nightmare town is really unavoidable?

Fang Wei thought he had escaped and transferred the Nightmare Town to this poor scholar, but he was deceived by the other party. In the end, the Nightmare Town broke out and he hanged himself quietly at night!
Lu Bing narrowed his eyes and looked at Haiyue subconsciously, but saw Haiyue looking back at him. There was no fear in her eyes, only curiosity to find out the truth.

Lu Bing straightened his back, determined not to lose face. Just as he was about to speak, Zhou Xuan took out the cotton gloves he had brought with him and said calmly, "Let's put aside the myths about gods and immortals for now. Bring out the body of the deceased, and I'll do the autopsy!"

(End of this chapter)