Night had fallen. Outside the Shen residence, people didn’t know that their marriage was a facade.
Mo Qianzhi had prepared only one guest room for them, with a single bed. They would have to share it again.
Shen Du didn’t say much. After washing up, he lay down. Zhuyan, however, felt uncomfortable.
The bed was indeed smaller compared to the one at the Shen residence. If she squeezed in with Shen Du, there would inevitably be too much physical contact.
It was truly giving her a headache.
Shen Du was already in a bad mood today. If she accidentally touched him and angered him further, it would be disastrous.
Thinking this way, Zhuyan decided her life was more important. She tightened her clothes and sat directly on a nearby chair, planning to make do for the night.
Shen Du wasn’t asleep. Seeing Zhuyan sit to the side with no intention of sleeping, he was puzzled.
“It’s so late. Are you planning to keep vigil for me?” Shen Du turned over, supporting his head with one hand, looking at Zhuyan with interest.
Shen Du’s words made Zhuyan’s heart tremble. Her lips moved, but she couldn’t utter a word.
“What are you dazed for? Come rest quickly.” Shen Du coldly ordered Zhuyan to bed, disregarding her emotional state.
The night was a bit chilly. Zhuyan tightened her clothes and rubbed her arms. She thought, they had slept in the same bed before, why be so reserved now?
If she caught a cold, that would be even worse.
Even if not for herself, she should consider the case. They were in the middle of an investigation; she couldn’t afford to fall ill.
Realizing this, Zhuyan, like an agile monkey, crosses over Shen Du to the inner side of the bed. But as soon as she lay down, she heard a “dong dong dong” sound.
“Someone’s beating a drum!” Zhuyan’s eyes widened. Who would come to beat a drum and plead for justice so late?
Before she could figure it out, Shen Du had already gotten up and dressed. Fortunately, Zhuyan hadn’t undressed, so she quickly got up and followed Shen Du out of the room.
The night was deep, and everyone had gone to bed. The drum beat lit up the entire sleeping Yingzhou government office.
Shen Du and Zhuyan rushed to the main hall first. Mo Qianzhi was there even earlier. When they arrived, he was already seated under the plaque that reads “Clear as a Mirror”.
Dressed in his official robes, his expression was solemn.
“Bring in the person who beat the drum.”
At his command, the yamen runners rhythmically struck their staffs, shouting “Mighty!”
The runners brought in two couples and a young man. The couple wore fine clothes, while the young man wore wedding attire, looking like a newlywed groom.
The groom was crying and wailing, “I don’t understand, I don’t understand…”
Mo Qianzhi felt a headache coming on. He silenced everyone with a strike of his sounding block, and the hall fell quiet.
“Who beat the drum? What injustice do you have to report? Speak quickly.”
Mo Qianzhi’s aura was imposing, his voice full of authority. One of the couples quickly stepped forward. “Your Honor, we beat the drum.”
“Oh?” Mo Qianzhi responded meaningfully. “Why did you beat the drum, and whom are you accusing?”
The couple hurriedly knelt. The man spoke:
“In response to Your Honor, this humble one is named Du Fusheng, a medicinal herb merchant. Today was supposed to be the wedding day of my youngest daughter, Du Xiaowan, to the son of Scholar Li, Li Zimo. But something strange happened.
My daughter was present when entering the house, but when it was time for the wedding night ceremony after the banquet, she had disappeared. It happened suddenly, and we couldn’t find her anywhere. We had no choice but to report to the authorities.”
Hearing Du Fusheng’s words, Mo Qianzhi furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
Beside him, Zhuyan, now understanding the situation, also frowned slightly. How could a living person just disappear?
As she pondered, she caught a glimpse of a figure on the other side of the hall – it was Pan Chi.
He had also come, like them, not appearing openly but observing everything from the shadows.
After thinking for a while, Mo Qianzhi said, “On such a joyous day, with many guests present, the bride’s disappearance is indeed difficult to investigate. Do you have a guest list? Bring it forth quickly.”
“Yes, we do!” Scholar Li from the other couple hurriedly presented the guest list.
After receiving the list, Mo Qianzhi asked, “Was this marriage between your two families consensual and agreeable to both parties?”
“Yes,” Du Fusheng quickly replied. “Our two families are well-matched in status. The children are a talented scholar and a beautiful lady, and they have mutual affection. Even the neighbors praise them as a perfect match made in heaven. Who would have thought such a thing could happen?”
As Du Fusheng finished speaking, Zhuyan and Shen Du exchanged glances. If what Du Fusheng said was true, and Li Zimo and Du Xiaowan were indeed a heavenly match with mutual affection, they could temporarily dismiss suspicions about the Li family.
On the wedding day, with the bride missing, the first suspects Zhuyan thought of were people related to the groom’s family.
Mo Qianzhi had the same thought. He nodded and then instructed those nearby,
“Take men to investigate both houses, especially the Li residence. Search carefully for any traces, particularly around side doors and back entrances.”
“Yes, sir.” The yamen runners accepted the order and set off. Zhuyan, Shen Du, and Pan Chi quickly followed.
Just as the group was leaving the yamen, Shen Du suddenly stopped. Jinglin behind him also halted.
Seeing the others walk ahead, Shen Du turned his head and said in a low voice, “Go to Mo Qianzhi’s room and investigate carefully. See if there’s anything unusual.”
Jinglin didn’t quite understand Shen Du’s words and asked, “What specifically should I be looking for, Grand Chancellor?”
Shen Du’s eyes turned cold, narrowing slightly. “See if there are any signs he might be planning a rebellion.”
“Understood.” Jinglin grasped Shen Du’s meaning, acknowledged it, and turned to leave.
In the main hall, Mo Qianzhi was still questioning the two families.
“Scholar Li, before the wedding, did your family have any grudges with others?”
Scholar Li quickly cupped his hands and reported, “Your Honor, I am but a provincial examination scholar with a government stipend. I want for nothing. How could I have grudges with others?”
Mo Qianzhi nodded gravely. It made sense.
When he asked the Du family, Mr. Du hurriedly explained, “Your Honor, I am a merchant who conducts honest business. I’ve never had grudges with anyone. I hope Your Honor will see this.”
Mo Qianzhi stood up, lightly brushing his official robes, and said, “If that’s the case, let’s follow them to inspect the scene before we say more.”
“Yes, sir,” Scholar Li quickly responded.
Then, everyone followed Mo Qianzhi as they left the yamen.