Chapter 61
Chapter 61
The City Lord, Liu Chengyan, said with a troubled expression.
“Count Xuanwu, the law does indeed state that a life must be paid for a life. However, with the conflicting testimonies in this case, we must proceed with caution. How about we take Shen Lang to the City Lord's manor to investigate the matter thoroughly?”
Just then, the members of the Black Clothes Gang outside the estate shouted in unison.
“A life for a life! A life for a life!”
But at that very moment, Mrs. Song suddenly ground her teeth and spoke.
“Your Excellencies, I personally saw my husband, Song Yi, furiously beat our son and kick him so hard he flew into the air. My son's injuries weren't fatal at first; it seemed he would recover soon with treatment in Xuanwu City. But right after Lord Tian Heng came to visit, my son died for no apparent reason.”
After saying this, Mrs. Song fell to her knees, struck her forehead on the ground, and spoke in a voice so sorrowful it was as if she were coughing up blood.
“It must have been Tian Heng who killed my son! He even threatened to kill my entire family if I didn't falsely accuse Shen Lang. I implore you, Your Excellencies, to stand by me, handle this case with justice, and make the murderer pay with his life!”
Mrs. Song's words struck everyone like a clap of thunder, leaving them stunned.
After she spoke, everyone present froze, and a dead silence fell. The quickest to react, however, was Tian Heng. Like a cornered animal, every hair on his body stood on end.
*Damn it! It's a conspiracy. I've walked right into a major conspiracy.*
He immediately looked at Shen Lang, having been bested by him too many times before. Shen Lang wore the same harmless smile as always. A powerful will to survive urged Tian Heng to flee, but a sharp instinct told him he wouldn't be able to escape.
At that moment, Zhang Chong and Yan Wuqi both glanced at Shen Lang. The City Lord, Liu Chengyan, was so flustered by this unexpected turn of events that his throat suddenly felt dry. He took a sip of water and spoke in a strained voice.
“Mrs. Song, are you perhaps speaking nonsense out of excessive grief?”
After saying this, he glared fiercely at Song Yi. Tian Heng's gaze was even sharper, like a dagger aimed at him.
*How could you let your wife run her mouth like that? Make her take it back, or you're a dead man!*
The most shocked of all was Song Yi. He stared at his wife in utter disbelief.
*Is this... is this really the wife who has shared my bed for over a decade? Why does she seem like a complete stranger?*
Song Yi said in a hoarse voice.
“Wife, what are you saying? Are you delirious with grief? It was that scoundrel Shen Lang who kicked our son to death! You saw it with your own eyes, why are you changing your story now?”
Mrs. Song glared at her husband, her eyes filled with resentment.
“It was you. I saw you kick Chong'er in the groin. Shen Lang only came to our house to give us silver, worried that Big Dummy wouldn't have enough to eat.”
His wife wasn't speaking nonsense; she was saying this intentionally. Song Yi was utterly horrified, and his whole body began to tremble.
“Wh-what madness is this? What did Shen Lang give you? Did he threaten you?”
The City Lord, Liu Chengyan, said coldly.
“Mrs. Song, there are many high officials present. You will be severely punished for perjury. Besides, Song Chong was your most beloved child. Are you saying that his own father, Song Yi, kicked him in such a vital spot?”
“There is a reason, but it is difficult for me to speak of it.”
Tian Heng said.
“It's clearly a lie, so what's so difficult to speak of? How much money did Shen Lang give you? Or what kind of threat did he make?”
Shen Lang didn't utter a single word of rebuttal. He watched the whole scene unfold with an innocent face, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Just then, Mrs. Song said through gritted teeth.
“Because... because this matter is too embarrassing and shameful to speak of easily. As Chong'er grew older, he became more curious about women. And that day... Chong'er was caught by Song Yi peeking at me while I was bathing. In that moment, Song Yi couldn't control his anger and kicked the boy. He regretted it later and took him to Xuanwu City for treatment.”
Hearing this, a stir went through the crowd. Such an unspeakable secret?! Mulan and the Countess blushed to the tips of their ears. Several of the men present began to reminisce about their own youthful days.
*My wife is framing me as the culprit? Is this a wife? She's not a person, she's a viper! Everyone says a married couple are just bedfellows who will go their separate ways when disaster strikes, but I always thought that was just something that happened to other people. It turns out disaster just hadn't struck us yet. She never dared to defy me before, but now she's latching on with such venom?*
“You bitch, stop your nonsense! You're insane, you're insane!”
Song Yi said, pointing a finger at his wife in a rage. Tian Heng also spoke in an angry voice.
“Mrs. Song, don't do something that will grieve your allies and delight your enemies. If someone has threatened you, speak up bravely. Not only is the Governor-General's emissary here, but the Lord Prefect is as well. They will stand by you.”
Hearing this, the gazes of Yan Wuqi and Zhang Chong turned cold.
*Idiot!*
Zhang Jin cursed inwardly in a rage.
*Who do you think Yan Wuqi and Zhang Chong are? How dare you try to use their authority to crush someone? Their mere presence here is of great value; do you expect them to intervene personally? What do you take this political struggle for? What do you take the esteemed emissary of the Governor-General and the Lord Prefect for?*
Mrs. Song immediately went before the two officials, kowtowing until her forehead bled.
“Your Excellencies, please handle this with justice! Please redress my grievances!”
Zhang Chong and Yan Wuqi could ignore and treat Tian Heng with coldness. In terms of official rank, he was far below them, and in his private life, a wanderer of the martial world. But they could not be cold to Mrs. Song. She was a pitiful commoner suffering from the recent loss of her son. On the contrary, they had to console her with a gentle expression.
High officials dispatched by the government on inspection tours might be strict and cold with fellow officials, but they would always inquire after the well-being of the common people with a gentle demeanor, even if it wasn't sincere.
Zhang Chong spoke in a tone of rare gentleness.
“If you have been wronged, speak freely.”
“After my son was kicked by my husband, his life wasn't in danger, so we sent him to a physician in Xuanwu City. The doctor said that if they just removed his precious part, he would have difficulty continuing the family line, but his life would not be at risk.”
“For several days, I was nursing my son at his bedside, but yesterday afternoon, they suddenly forced me to go home. Then, at noon today, my husband suddenly returned and told me that Chong'er was dead.”
Having said this, Mrs. Song burst into tears once more. For a mother whose most cherished son had died under mysterious circumstances, the pain was heart-wrenching, and her wails, coming from the depths of her heart, were utterly genuine.
“Then my husband kept telling me that I must frame Shen Lang, that I must say he kicked our son to death. After arriving in Xuanwu City, Tian Heng also warned me several times to name Shen Lang as the killer. He said that if we did, Shen Lang would surely die, and if they succeeded in killing him, my husband would become the Headman of Hansu Town.”
Seven parts of her story were true, and three parts were false, but the most crucial elements—her bitter grief and bone-deep resentment—were real, allowing Mrs. Song to weave a convincing lie.
“It must have been Tian Heng who killed my son. I beg you, Your Excellency, to stand by me and clear my name.”
Mrs. Song continued to strike her forehead against the floor, the sound filling the hall and making all who heard it shudder. Tian Heng, trembling all over, pointed at Mrs. Song and said.
“You, you bitch...”
Then he immediately knelt before Zhang Chong.
“Your Excellency, this is clearly Shen Lang's doing! You don't know how insidious and vicious that scoundrel Shen Lang is. This is all his scheme!”
Shen Lang's eyes widened, and he spread his hands helplessly like a wronged rabbit. Though he said nothing, Tian Heng could almost hear his voice beside him.
*How can you slander someone like this? I haven't said a single word all night, not even when you just pointed to me as the killer. How can you try to frame an innocent bystander?*
Zhang Chong shot Tian Heng a cold glance. It was clear he had already lost this round, yet he deluded himself into thinking he could still turn the situation around.
“Lord Liu Chengyan, seize that man.”
Zhang Chong said calmly.
Hearing this, Shen Lang sighed inwardly.
*Truly impressive!*
On the surface, Zhang Chong was ordering the City Lord to arrest someone, but in reality, he was seizing control of the situation at the opportune moment. Otherwise, there was no telling what a desperate Tian Heng might say. He could have easily implicated Zhang Chong and many others present. The City Lord of Xuanwu, Liu Chengyan, felt a bitter taste in his mouth but immediately raised his hand and said.
“Guards! Arrest Tian Heng and Song Yi! Take Mrs. Song to the City Lord's manor as well. We must get to the bottom of this.”
Mrs. Song was horrified. If she were taken to the City Lord's manor, she would surely lose her life. But just then, without Shen Lang needing to intervene, the Countess stepped forward. Ignoring the stench of urine coming from Mrs. Song, she took her hand and said.
“How could this poor woman endure your interrogation? The deceased is the priority now. Men, take this boy's body and find a good plot to bury him.”
Then, the Countess looked at Mrs. Song and said.
“You are from the same hometown as Lang'er, and you are also a subject of our Count of Xuanwu's Estate. Rest here at our estate for a few days. That way, you won't suffer any more shocks, and your life won't be in danger.”
The Countess suddenly looked at Zhang Chong and asked.
“That would be acceptable, wouldn't it, Lord Prefect?”
For the Countess to forcibly keep Mrs. Song was against the law. However, as a woman and a mother, she made a decision that, while unlawful, was morally right.
“The Countess has a point.”
Zhang Chong replied. Then he looked at Yan Wuqi and said.
“Master Yan, it's getting late. Shall we return to the city?”
“That would be best.”
After this, the two officials bid farewell to the Count of Xuanwu.
“Lord Liu Chengyan, you must investigate this case thoroughly so you can provide a clear explanation to everyone.”
Zhang Chong instructed calmly.
“Understood!”
The City Lord, Liu Chengyan, answered respectfully, then shouted.
“Guards, take Tian Heng and Song Yi to the dungeon and prepare for their interrogation tomorrow.”
As Zhang Chong was bidding farewell to the Count, he suddenly glanced at Shen Lang and said to the Count.
“My Lord Count, I must say, I've seen your son-in-law in a new light.”
As the Count escorted Yan Wuqi and Zhang Chong out of the estate, Shen Lang was left behind with the City Lord, Liu Chengyan. Given his position, the City Lord had to maintain his composure, so despite his displeasure, he wore a forced, elegant smile. His eyes, however, were as cold as ice.
Even as he was being dragged away by two of the City Lord's guards, Tian Heng glared at Shen Lang as if he wanted to kill him, his expression one of someone who wanted to chew him to pieces. His plan had been meticulous, and with the timely visit of the Governor-General's emissary and the Lord Prefect to the estate, he had thought it would be a perfect success. But that scoundrel Shen Lang had used a trick not only to avoid the fatal blow but to viciously bite back.
Shen Lang stepped forward and said to Tian Heng.
“Gang Leader Tian, why are you looking at me like that? It's quite frightening.”
Tian Heng asked in a cold voice.
“Shen Lang, are you feeling smug?”
“Of course not. Our ill-fated connection won't end until you're dead. How could I be smug over something like this? Do you take me for such a shallow person?”
“Me, die? Don't be ridiculous. Who would kill me? The City Lord's manor? The Prefect's office?”