Zhen Shicheng, employing his cunning to the fullest extent, had his subordinates separately escort Cui Yi and the others away, cleverly getting them to sign statements while purposely avoiding Yang’s father.
Jiang Zhan was the last to be summoned. He had been sleeping deeply at home and was still in a daze when he arrived at the Shuntian Prefecture office.
Facing Jiang Zhan, Zhen Shicheng’s attitude became much more genial. He first offered him tea before inquiring about the previous night’s events.
“Young Master Jiang, do you recall how you fell into the water last night?”
As Zhen Shicheng asked this, he found something peculiar. During this morning’s questioning, it was unsurprising that Cui Yi and the others concealed the truth, but Jiang Zhan’s complete silence on the matter seemed unusual.
Jiang Zhan blinked. Why was this being brought up again?
Though simple-minded, Jiang Zhan could heed the advice of friends, especially those he trusted. At this moment, he clearly remembered Yu Jin’s warning and replied with a bewildered expression, “I have no recollection. I drank too much and can’t remember anything about the situation. Your Honor, is there something wrong?”
Zhen Shicheng carefully observed Jiang Zhan’s expression and silently sighed. There was indeed little one could do with a drunk person. However, logically speaking, there was no reason for him to protect those who had harmed him.
Zhen Shicheng ultimately chose to believe Jiang Zhan’s words and vaguely said, “We’ve uncovered some new leads, so I wanted to ask you about the situation again. By the way, after Young Yu rescued you, did he say anything to you?”
Behind the screen, Yu Jin secretly frowned. This Zhen Shicheng was truly thorough, already setting his sights on him so quickly. Fortunately, he had warned Jiang Zhan, so there was no risk of falling into this trap.
“Yes, he did,” Jiang Zhan, though simple-minded, wasn’t truly foolish. Hearing Zhen Shicheng inquire about Yu Jin made him cautious. “Brother Yu scolded me and told me to stop following others blindly in the future.”
“Did he not mention how you fell into the water?”
Jiang Zhan’s heart skipped a beat. Could Prefect Zhen know the reason for his fall?
Realizing this possibility, Jiang Zhan remained calm. As the victim, what did he have to fear? Just as Brother Yu had said, he would stick to claiming ignorance. If Prefect Zhen discovered on his own that Yang Shengcai was responsible, wouldn’t that be even better?
“He didn’t mention it. Wasn’t it because of the fire on the pleasure boat?” Jiang Zhan’s expression changed. “Prefect Zhen, could there be another reason?”
Zhen Shicheng, not wanting to complicate matters further, smiled and said, “Don’t worry, Young Master Jiang. I was merely asking. Thank you for coming again. Please go home and rest.”
This young man’s complexion was far worse than Cui Yi and the others. Hmm, must be due to the drinking.
Zhen Shicheng ordered someone to escort Jiang Zhan out.
Only then did Yu Jin release Yang’s father’s mouth and leisurely emerge from behind the screen.
Finally able to breathe freely, Yang’s father took deep breaths.
He had nearly suffocated!
Zhen Shicheng looked at Yang’s father with a complex expression: “Brother Yang, your son—”
“My unworthy son is already gone. Prefect Zhen, do you still intend to charge him and throw him in prison? If you have time for that, the Shuntian Prefecture should focus on finding the true arsonist!” Yang’s father transformed his embarrassment into anger and stormed off.
Zhen Shicheng and Yu Jin exchanged glances, shaking their heads: “He truly acts with impunity.”
As Yang’s father said, Yang Shengcai was already dead, and Jiang Zhan was unharmed. Moreover, given that the deceased was the grandson of the Minister of Rites and the Crown Prince’s brother-in-law, even the Emperor wouldn’t want him to be posthumously disgraced.
“Prefect Zhen, I’ll take my leave as well. I haven’t properly rested since last night’s river excursion,” Yu Jin, seeing no more entertainment to be had, prepared to return home for some sleep.
Whether Yang Shengcai’s reputation was tarnished didn’t matter; what mattered was that the Yang family had now formed rifts with the other three families.
As Jiang Zhan walked out of the Shuntian Prefecture’s main gate, he swayed slightly. The combination of his hangover and falling into the water had left him still unsteady.
Not far away, Jiang Si quietly waited. Seeing her brother emerge, she went to meet him.
Jiang Zhan was surprised: “Fourth Sister, why are you here?”
In the sunlight, the young lady smiled gently: “I’ve come to escort Second Brother home.”
Jiang Zhan immediately became flustered, not knowing where to put his hands, and stammered: “I’m grown up now, Fourth Sister needn’t escort me.”
Indeed, his poor behavior had caused even his younger sister to worry about him.
Walking side by side toward the carriage, Jiang Si explained: “Actually, Father is also very worried about Second Brother’s health, so my coming to escort you is also to put Father’s mind at ease.”
Reaching the carriage, Jiang Si urged Jiang Zhan to get in.
“I can ride horseback.”
“Second Brother, please take the carriage. You fell into the water last night and have no strength. What if you fall from the horse?”
“I’m not that weak.” Though Jiang Zhan protested, he ultimately heeded Jiang Si’s advice and boarded the carriage.
Jiang Si followed him in, and the coachman cracked his whip, slowly setting the carriage in motion.
Yu Jin stood at the prefecture gate, watching the siblings depart in the carriage, wishing he could pull Jiang Zhan out and take his place.
Jiang Zhan wasn’t some frail invalid, why was Si being so careful with him?
Women were truly soft-hearted!
Unable to blame Jiang Si, Yu Jin instead blamed all women.
Just as the East Peace Marquis’s carriage turned from the main road onto a less crowded side street, several stones came flying toward them.
Today’s driver wasn’t Old Qin and faced with this sudden situation, he couldn’t react in time. One of the stones struck the horse’s belly.
The horse whinnied, causing the carriage to shake.
Jiang Zhan protected Jiang Si while angrily asking: “What’s happening?”
“Second Young Master, someone’s blocking our way.”
Jiang Zhan lifted the carriage curtain and jumped down.
Cui Yi and his two companions stood not far away, glaring at him hostilely.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Seeing the three, Jiang Zhan grew equally angry.
Did these three think he knew nothing? He hadn’t gone looking for trouble with them, yet they came seeking him out—they truly thought him an easy target.
Cui Yi stepped forward: “What’s the meaning? Jiang Zhan, you’ve got nerve, daring to report to the Prefecture Lord. Do you think that by revealing Yang Shengcai harmed you, you could bring us down with him or tarnish his name? Pah! Keep dreaming!”
The more Cui Yi spoke, the angrier he became.
After leaving the prefecture, he spotted carriages from his two companions’ households, and as they conferred, they realized they had been manipulated by the Prefecture Lord.
This made it crystal clear whose mouth had provided the information to the Prefecture Lord.
This discovery infuriated the three of them.
They had been tricked into revealing Yang Shengcai’s misdeeds, and once the Ministry of Rites learned of this, it would surely create enmity.
Cui Yi might not fear this, but one of them was the son of a Vice Minister of Rites, and the Minister of Rites was his father’s superior. Thinking of this, how could they not hate Jiang Zhan for speaking out?
“Good dogs don’t block the road. Move aside!” Though Jiang Zhan wanted to have it out with the three of them, remembering his sister in the carriage, he silently swallowed his anger.
“Why couldn’t it have been you who drowned last night? Still acting tough before you better. Brothers beat him!” Cui Yi waved his hand, and the three charged forward.