ebookslot Chapter 25 Dead End
Chapter 25 Dead End
Everyone had actually anticipated this outcome.
But when it actually happens to you, it's still hard to accept.
As soon as the steward uttered these words, someone knelt on the ground, tears streaming down their face, and pleaded in a hoarse voice, "Steward Feng, it's not my fault, it really isn't my fault!"
"Take away!"
The steward didn't give them a chance to explain and simply waved his hand to signal them.
The private soldiers brought by the Feng family were all skilled fighters, their swords gleaming coldly at their waists.
No one dared to make any rash moves and could only silently accept the steward's arrangements.
Chen Ye quietly slowed his pace, moved through the crowd, and finally stopped next to one of Feng Yanwu's bodyguards.
The guard was the same one who had fetched spring water for Feng Yanwu before; he was still in a daze, completely bewildered.
Chen Ye didn't look at him, and said in a low voice as if talking to himself, "There's something wrong with the teacup next to the Third Young Master."
The guard turned his head abruptly.
"Don't look at me." Chen Ye lowered his voice even further and continued, "Someone is cleaning things up. The person who poisoned us is most likely someone from the manor. Before the matter is clarified, the things cannot be taken away, or we will all die."
The guard opened his mouth, but before he could utter a sound, Chen Ye had already brushed past him, rejoined the crowd, and walked to Zuo Dongxi's side.
The guard paused for a moment, then turned around and went back into the carriage to guard it, preventing anyone from approaching the vehicle.
He was Feng Yanwu's personal bodyguard, and with his master's death, he could not escape responsibility for dereliction of duty.
Now, standing guard beside the body, no one can say anything.
Chen Ye stood in the crowd and, through several guards, caught a glimpse of the guard quietly retreating from the carriage, seemingly holding something in his hand.
He withdrew his gaze and made no further movement.
We've done what we could.
The rest can only be thought of after returning to the capital.
It took most of the day to return to Beijing from the suburbs.
By the time the convoy arrived outside the city gate, it was already completely dark.
The city gates were tightly closed.
At this hour, unless the imperial court sends an urgent message, no one can open the city gate.
The group was forced to remain outside the city.
The group had no choice but to wait in the bleak night wind until dawn, and no one dared to escape.
The city gates had just opened the next day.
The group then hurriedly headed towards the Feng residence.
"Chief Zuo, what will the Feng family do to us once we're inside?" Chen Ye walked up to Zuo Dongxi and asked in a low voice.
Zuo Dongxi said dejectedly, "The Feng family is a century-old family. If this kind of scandal gets out, it will become a laughing stock for the entire family. They will definitely block the news and deal with it internally."
Chen Ye frowned.
Given their situation, being imprisoned in the Feng family's private jail would be a true death sentence.
Sending someone to the Court of Justice, although the procedures are somewhat shady, at least still involves a basic interrogation process and the possibility of a public trial, and there is still a thin layer of rules to follow.
But once someone is locked in the Feng family's private dungeon, the Feng family can do whatever they want with them; whoever they want to die, they can die.
Chen Ye then asked, "Do you have anyone in the Feng residence who can help relay messages?"
Zuo Dongxi sized him up for a few moments and asked, "What do you want to do?"
"We've got some clues, and we're trying to find a way to survive."
A hint of surprise flashed across Zuo Dongxi's eyes as he pressed, "What method?"
Chen Ye did not answer.
Zuo Dongxi was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "There is one person. If I lock him up in the Feng family's private dungeon, that person might come to visit."
As Zuo Dongxi predicted, things turned out exactly as he had expected.
Upon receiving this news, the Feng family immediately sealed off both inside and outside the area, preventing anyone outside from knowing.
This matter concerns the Feng family's century-old reputation and must not be leaked.
Chen Ye and the others were taken into the Feng residence and sent directly to a side room behind the ancestral hall.
From the outside, it looked like an ordinary outbuilding used for storing odds and ends, but once you pushed the door open, you were greeted by the smell of camphor wood and dampness.
In the corner were piles of dusty cushions and several boxes with faded paint.
The Feng family moved the innermost box, revealing a thick iron plate on the ground.
Two strong men stepped forward and used all their strength to pry it off.
A gust of cold wind swept up directly from the ground.
A stone staircase, barely wide enough for one person to pass, descends into the darkness.
"Go in!"
Everyone was pushed and shoved into the room one by one.
After the last person was locked inside, the metal plate above their heads slammed shut with a clang.
The last glimmer of light vanished completely.
Instead, only oil lamps were scattered throughout the dungeon, their flames flickering weakly and casting dim, hazy shadows.
The Feng family dungeon was deeper and wider than I had imagined.
It wasn't just one room, but a whole row of cells.
The whole area was divided into two sections.
The outer side was filled with instruments of torture, while the inner side was a cell specifically used to imprison prisoners.
The two are separated by a row of iron railings.
The prison cells were only ten feet deep and four feet wide.
The walls and floor were covered with dark brown stains, and the air was filled with a rotten, damp smell.
Everyone was put into different cells.
Chen Ye and Zuo Dongxi were taken into custody together.
Once the prison doors were locked, the steward left with his men, leaving only a private soldier to guard the prison.
At this point, Zuo Dongxi, who had seen many storms, collapsed to the ground as if his bones had been removed.
His voice was hoarse as he said to Chen Ye, "The Feng family isn't really looking to find the murderer; they're looking to find someone to take the blame. You and I are most likely to be among the scapegoats."
Now he understands completely.
Why would the Feng family specifically seek out someone with gang connections for such an important matter?
Because people like him, who belong to the underworld, are most likely to be accused of "murder for money and colluding with outsiders."
This is almost obvious.
Even if they didn't take the blame, the Feng family could easily imprison them to death to quell the situation and block the news, since they were two insignificant people with no background.
Chen Ye naturally thought of this as well.
He's even more troublesome than Zuo Dongxi.
Even if the Feng family does nothing and keeps him locked up, he will still die.
This is a doomed situation.
Chen Ye didn't reply. He closed his eyes in the darkness and continued to recall the details of the carriage.
time is limited.
We must find a trustworthy member of the Feng family who is most eager to find the murderer before the Feng family makes a decision.
He hesitated for a moment before asking, "Does Feng Yanwu have a family?"
Zuo Dongxi was taken aback, wondering why he would ask this at a time like this.
"Young Master Feng is already married. He married a daughter of the Zhou family and has two sons. The eldest son is five years old and has started his studies."
"That's good." Chen Ye breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and continued, "Find a way to send a message to Young Master Feng's widow, saying that I know who the murderer is and that I need to meet with her."
Zuo Dongxi suddenly stood up, staring intently at him. She opened her mouth to speak, but then realized something was wrong and quickly sat down, almost losing her composure.
"Who is it?"