Chapter 204
Chapter 204
Not long after news of Minister Zhong’s death reached the Zhong Family residence, a servant came to report to Zhong Dingyan.
Concubine Qiu had hanged herself in her room as well.
Three members of the Zhong Family had died in a single day.
Grief seemed to touch Zhong Dingyan’s face, but there was no sorrow whatsoever in his eyes.
If anything, they held a trace of indifference.
Some servants vaguely sensed that something had been wrong with the eldest young master ever since he returned to the residence, but none dared say anything.
They could only follow his orders, attend to the bodies, and prepare the funerals.
By the time Ren Fengjue and the others returned to the Zhong residence, white lanterns and mourning drapes had already been hung outside.
A servant came out and volunteered, “Honored guests, Concubine Qiu has also passed away. The eldest young master is occupied with the funerals and may not have time to attend to you. Please return to your rooms and rest.”
Ren Fengjue politely said, “Please ask the eldest young master to accept my condolences.”
Then he continued, “However, we have just uncovered several suspicious points concerning the deaths of Minister Zhong and Second Young Master Zhong. Could we meet with the eldest young master first?”
Unable to decide for himself, the servant showed them into the reception hall, then turned to deliver the message.
Nearly an hour passed before he returned with a response. “The eldest young master is overwhelmed with grief and does not wish to discuss the matter for now.
“He also said the causes of the master’s and Second Young Master Zhong’s deaths are already clear. He does not wish to mention them again and asks that our honored guests trouble themselves no further with the investigation.”
After hearing this, everyone understood without needing to say a word.
First Young Master Zhong’s attitude toward the matter had changed far too quickly.
Yu Lang murmured, “It seems this ‘First Young Master Zhong’ only wants to arrange the funerals as quickly as possible so he can begin his ‘new’ life.”
Ren Fengjue had likely anticipated this. “In that case, we’ll proceed with Daoist Yan’s method.”
Yan Zhengchu had proposed that if Zhong Dingyan was truly possessed by Zhong Yi’s ghost, a single Transformation Talisman would force the soul to reveal itself.
Since he refused to see them, they would go and find him instead.
The four of them left the reception hall and headed toward the inner compound. The servant behind them was unable to stop them.
When Zhong Dingyan had escorted them to the guest courtyard earlier, he had given them a general introduction to the layout of the Zhong residence.
Thus, without expending much effort, they found Zhong Dingyan’s room.
Two guards, however, stood watch outside the door.
As soon as the group arrived, the guards blocked their path. “Honored guests, please stop. Our eldest young master is not receiving visitors at present.”
Ren Fengjue deliberately raised his voice. “I only wish to say a few words to the eldest young master in person. They concern Minister Zhong. Surely he would not be indifferent to that?”
The guards remained firm.
“So many things have happened in the residence. The eldest young master is overcome with grief and likely cannot take in anything you say. Honored guests, please return.”
Yu Lang stepped forward and raised his voice even higher. “Grief is one thing, but does the eldest young master not wish to know the truth behind the deaths of Minister Zhong and Second Young Master Zhong?”
“…”
After a moment of silence, Zhong Dingyan’s voice finally came from within. “Let them in.”
The guards hesitated before opening the door as instructed.
Inside, a single candle burned beside the writing desk. Zhong Dingyan was leaning alone against a low couch and did indeed appear listless and dispirited.
Only when everyone entered did he slowly push himself upright with his right hand. Looking wan, he asked, “Lord Ren, must you say whatever it is right now?”
“Yes.” Ren Fengjue nodded. His gaze quietly took in the smallest details about the man before he added, “If we wait, it may be too late.”
Zhong Dingyan’s expression immediately chilled. He demanded, “My father and second brother are both gone. Why must you insist on pursuing this matter now that things have come to this?”
Displeased by his discourteous tone, Yu Lang could not resist retorting, “What do you mean, we’re insisting on pursuing it? This concerns your closest family. Shouldn’t you be the one most determined to pursue it?”
Ren Fengjue walked several steps toward Zhong Dingyan, chose a chair, and sat down as though he owned the place.
“In the past, whenever I visited Lord Zhong’s residence in the capital, I always saw you bustling about to care for him.
“For the eldest son of a minister’s family to show such filial devotion was admirable. Even the Emperor personally praised you for it several times after hearing of your conduct.
“Now that Lord Zhong has died of illness, it is only natural for you to grieve.
“Yet your attitude makes it seem as though you are in a hurry to conceal the truth.”
In the candlelight, Zhong Dingyan’s face shifted between light and shadow.
At those words, a cold gleam flickered in his eyes.
He asked again, “What exactly are you trying to say?”
“Judging by Minister Zhong’s corpse, he did not die today.”
Zhong Dingyan countered, “Lord Ren, do you not believe what I told you?”
Ren Fengjue neither confirmed nor denied it. “I am merely informing you of certain suspicious points.”
Zhong Dingyan stared at him for a while, then a strange smile appeared on his face. “Very well.
“Since Lord Ren suspects there is more to my father and second brother’s deaths, please find the true murderer and see that justice is done.”
Ren Fengjue remained unhurried. “This matter reaches far into the past. I fear we must begin thirty years ago.”
“Thirty years ago?”
A mocking smile hung at the corner of Zhong Dingyan’s mouth. “Is Lord Ren treating me as a source of amusement?”
“Minister Zhong appeared in Liuhua Alley because… the original owner of that house was also surnamed Zhong.”
Zhong Dingyan was expressionless. “I know nothing of that.”
Ren Fengjue did not expose the lie. He merely asked, “Minister Zhong must have told you that he grew up at Beiding Academy?”
“Why would my father need to tell me? Everyone in Beiding County knows that.”
Ren Fengjue continued, “Two provincial graduates surnamed Zhong set out for the imperial examination in Shangjing. After one of them died on the road, the other entered the capital, passed the metropolitan examination, and enjoyed a smooth official career. In the end, he became the current Minister of Justice. That man was your father, Minister Zhong.
“The one who died was named Zhong Yi. He and Minister Zhong had always been close friends.”
Zhong Dingyan glanced at him. “What does this have to do with my father’s death?”
“Everything. Because the man who died back then was never Zhong Yi.”
The instant those words left his mouth, Zhong Dingyan shot to his feet, his face twisted with rage and his entire body taut.
“Ren Fengjue, those words aren’t merely unfounded. They’re utterly absurd!”
Ren Fengjue seemed quite satisfied by his reaction.
“It certainly sounds absurd, but isn’t the truth itself even more absurd?”
He emphasized every word as he asked, “Lord Zhong, you haven’t fully adjusted to this body yet, have you?”
Zhong Dingyan’s eyes narrowed abruptly. His left hand curled into a loose fist, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly…
Ren Fengjue continued, “I haven’t been in the Ministry of Justice for very long, but for the past two years, I worked alongside you almost every day. I know some of your habits quite well.
“When angry, you clench your left fist, and the left corner of your mouth twitches. Young Master Zhong never did either.
“You have grown accustomed to your lofty rank over the years. Thus, when speaking to me, you still cannot forget that you were Minister of Justice and naturally lack Young Master Zhong’s humility.
“Most importantly, your original, sickly body had been failing for far too long. You often needed to rest in bed, and an old injury to your left shoulder had left your left arm weak.
“That is why, when you sat up and stepped down from the couch just now, you still instinctively relied on your right side, even though using the left would have been more natural…”