Even Yang Qing, who had always prided himself on remaining unperturbed even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him, couldn’t help but change his expression. His mind momentarily couldn’t process what was happening—he didn’t understand how the plan had been going so well, with Young Master Wang supposed to be the one who died, yet it had somehow turned into a servant who perished instead. He stood dazed for a moment, but his mind still turned relatively quickly. He swiftly raised his head and asked the stupefied jailer standing there: “Then, then who else was there at the time? Who is being held in prison now?” He pushed the box forward again. He couldn’t panic—at this moment he absolutely couldn’t panic. Although there had been some mishap, it wasn’t anything major. There was still a chance to start over again. Thinking this, his hands trembled violently, and his mind momentarily didn’t dare turn anymore—with his intelligence and quick wit, he didn’t need to think further to know something had gone wrong, or at least things were different from what they had anticipated. But Old Master Chen had already sent out the letter last night…
Thinking of this, he was already drenched in sweat, no longer in the mood to fan himself with the feather fan. His eyes were fixed firmly on the jailer who clearly hadn’t figured out what exactly had happened. He gritted his teeth and asked again: “Speak quickly!”
The jailer was startled by his sudden intensity. He glanced at him, scratched his head, and honestly told him: “Young Master Wang was hosting dinner for his brother-in-law on the pleasure boat. During the banquet, he invited a清倌儿 (qing courtesan) to accompany them. That qing courtesan tried to rob and murder, pushing Young Master Wang into the river. During the struggle, he himself was pushed into the water and drowned. This is what Young Master Wang and Young Master Song said.”
There was still no final determination, so both Young Master Wang and Young Master Song were suspects. Originally, given these two young masters’ status, they didn’t need to stay in prison—who would dare say otherwise? But these two young masters insisted on going, and one after the other at that. Wasn’t that strange? So last night they had been busy until the third watch. Young Master Song had already fallen asleep in prison when Young Master Wang was finally escorted out from the pleasure boat. What’s more, both the Wang and Song families were willing to send silver, so they had nothing to complain about.
Yang Qing retreated a step, somewhat unsteady on his feet. He wanted to reach for a cup of tea but discovered his hand had stiffened badly—Song Yan actually hadn’t taken the bait?! Was it that Song Yan hadn’t taken the bait, or had the young male courtesan been too foolish and exposed traces, allowing Young Master Wang to escape this calamity?!
But regardless of how it happened, Young Master Wang simply hadn’t died. Not only had he not died, now the young male courtesan was the one who died instead. Yang Qing’s mind began racing again. As it raced, he felt there was still some way out—after all, the young male courtesan had died, but it was just a young male courtesan. Who would go through great trouble investigating for his sake? Besides, if they did investigate, they’d be investigating Song Yan and Young Master Wang. The Wang and Song families would still turn against each other—these two might even end up like dogs biting dogs, pointing fingers at each other as the murderer. Although there was a slight deviation, it shouldn’t affect the overall situation. Yang Qing took a sip of cold tea, felt his mind clear somewhat, and slowly sat down in the chair.
Song Yan was still involved in a murder case. Although the victim wasn’t anyone important, Young Master Wang wasn’t a fool either—he couldn’t possibly admit to killing someone. Song Chuyi valued this younger brother so much that she would definitely still come to Jinling as agreed. The Cui family would also come for Cui Huaying. It’s fine, it’s fine, the major plan hasn’t been derailed. He had just barely managed to console himself when he heard a loud bang as the door burst open. Both he and his servant jumped up simultaneously.
What rushed in was a group of soldiers wearing black boots. He retreated two steps, wanting to retreat further, but there was nowhere left to retreat.
The surging soldiers caught him squarely. He struggled a few times, only feeling goosebumps rising all over his body. The ominous premonition grew ever stronger. He couldn’t help but demand: “Why are you arresting me?!”
Young Master Wang and Song Yan entered together, their facial expressions completely different. Young Master Wang’s face was full of indignation, while Song Yan was expressionless, his demeanor cold.
Yang Qing’s eyes widened. He seemed to know what was wrong—these two people, these two people had joined forces! He looked somewhat shocked at Song Yan, who was a full head shorter than Young Master Wang, feeling it was unbelievable.
But how was this possible? Young Master Wang had clearly truly fallen under the young male courtesan’s seduction. At the time, to make Young Master Wang even more deranged, he had specifically watched as the young male courtesan put Five Stone Powder in Young Master Wang’s wine. Moreover, Young Master Wang’s servant had spoken so convincingly—Young Master Wang had even struck his new bride!
The jailer was startled by this development and looked blankly at his colleagues behind him, so nervous his legs were trembling.
Fortunately, no one paid him any attention. Song Yan turned his head to glance at Young Master Wang, his tone flat without fluctuation, as if discussing the most trivial matter: “You see, wasn’t I right? Sure enough, someone came to bribe the jailer to murder and silence witnesses.”
Young Master Wang’s face contorted as he staggered forward a few steps and kicked Yang Qing in the abdomen, spitting at him viciously: “Why did you harm me?! I have no grievance or enmity with you—why did you harm me?!”
He had clearly already reformed and returned home, yet his old flame from years past had come looking for him, begging bitterly to rekindle their relationship. Somehow, in a muddle-headed daze, he seemed possessed. For the sake of his reputation and for their relationship with the Cui family, his family had no choice but to confine his newly-wed wife at home.
And the person before his eyes, together with his old flame, had actually wanted his life! He had been half-believing and half-doubting before, but now seeing that someone had indeed come to bribe the jailer to kill the young male courtesan and Dashan to silence witnesses, his last bit of doubt vanished—even when Dashan had previously confessed that someone had bribed him to spy on his activities, Young Master Wang had thought it sensational. After all, he wasn’t some prominent figure—who would go to such deranged lengths to scheme against him?!
Now the facts were laid out before him. He was so angry his teeth ground together. The physician had examined his body and said it was nearly depleted. He had overdone his recent debauchery, which would probably affect his lifespan. Thinking again how he had already brushed shoulders with death last night made him even more furious—he wished he could immediately take the life of the person before him.
Yang Qing was kicked until he spat out half a mouthful of blood, his mind racing to think of countermeasures. The Song family really was a nest of foxes—even a young brat of such tender age was this cunning, knowing to turn the scheme around and lure him out.
Song Yan paid him no attention and didn’t give him this opportunity. He turned back to look at the Yingtian Prefecture constables who had come along and asked them: “Weren’t you looking for the culprit? Isn’t he right before your eyes?”
What culprit? At the time, only Song Yan and Young Master Wang had been present at the scene. Everyone grumbled inwardly but didn’t dare say anything outwardly—the Wang family was already a major household in Jinling, a local power so to speak. Moreover, the Wang family’s eldest master had recently achieved great merit in Taizhou fighting off Japanese pirates. No one would cross the Wang family over a young male courtesan and a person of unknown origin.