Chapter 271 (1/2)

This news very quickly made its way to the Feng manor. When Chen Yu heard about it, she was extremely shocked. She had clearly advised Chen Qing not to go out and to even avoid leaving his room, so how come he had gone out to drink?

Feng Jin Yuan was also furious. He knew Chen Qing’s personality very well. He would believe word of anyone harassing women, but he definitely did not believe Chen Qing was able to do this sort of thing. He immediately sent someone to the governor’s office to ask around, and the servant returned to report: “Young master studied bitterly for many days and suddenly said he wanted to eat some duck, so he brought his page boy and went out. He then drank some wine and ended up…”

“That is to say that he really did harass those women?”

“Responding to master, it’s true.”

Feng Jin Yuan’s nose nearly became crooked from the anger. It was about to be the new year, and the Spring imperial exams would follow immediately after that. Wasn’t something happening to Chen Qing at this sort of time going to affect his imperial exam? Intuition told him that there was definitely some sort of interference in this matter, but he was unable to figure it out.

“Did you mention Chen Qing’s relations with the Feng family to the governor?” He asked the servant that brought the news. Although this governor had just been brought in, he should still be easy to handle. He was still the court’s prime minister, and this was just a young man getting drunk and causing trouble. So long as he spoke up, the governor should give him face.

That servant nodded but told him: “The newly appointed governor, Lord Tong, said that even if a prince were to commit a crime, they would be treated like a commoner, moreover this is just a nephew of an official. He also said that even though master is the prime minister, if this matter became known by the Emperor, perhaps even we would be unable to see any benefits.”

Feng Jin Yuan was speechless. This was clearly just arguing for the sake of arguing. He waved his hand and dismissed the servant, deciding to think a little more carefully.

But before he could think about it too much, the following day, he heard word that a nephew of the Chen family who had been in charge of three state businesses accidentally fell from his horse on his way home and died.

On the third day, an official in the ministry of justice offended his superior and was removed from the position. In a depressed state, he became very drunk and set fire to his own residence. Fortunately, everyone was able to escape, but the large manor was burned to the ground by the large fire. It was not enough for that to be all. The large fire spread to the neighbor’s yard, and that neighbor was a fourth rank official. He was not a friendly person and immediately filed a report, thus the official who had been removed from office was caught by the governor and thrown in jail. And this official’s ninth concubine was the Chen family’s eldest master’s daughter by a concubine. She was also one of Chen Qing’s younger sisters.

On the fourth day, an official from the ministry of rites was reported for corruption. He too was captured by the governor and thrown in jail. His seventh concubine was the Chen family’s second master’s daughter by a concubine.

From a standard fifth rank official to a standard third rank assistant director, Feng Jin Yuan suddenly realized that this was most likely the result of the ninth prince, who had been at the military camp, returning to the capital. Only he was capable of acting so quickly, as everyone who had been taken care of was caught unprepared.

The standard third rank assistant director was the highest ranking official that the Chen family was able to seek connections with, aside from himself of course. Feng Jin Yuan felt that he suddenly seemed to realize something.

Someone who had similar thoughts as Feng Jin Yuan was Chen Yu. Over the previous few days, the news arrived one after another. It was already too late for her to even cry. Was this not completely disrupting the Chen family’s rhythm? The Chen family had done business in the capital for so many years and managed to have Chen Qing pursue a career as an official with great difficulty, but now he was mysteriously ruined by getting drunk. The officials that they had sent daughters to were also met with ruin one after another. She suddenly recalled what Feng Yu Heng had said. For each day that Wang Chuan did not return, another person from the opposition would be sent in.

This was revenge!

On the fourth night, someone suddenly knocked on the front gate of Tong Sheng pavilion. The one keeping watch drowsily went to open it but found that there was not a single person there. Instead, when they looked down, they found that there was a large burlap sack.

He quickly waved to have someone open up the burlap sack and found that Wang Chuan had been stuffed inside with her hands and feet tied and her mouth gagged. They quickly reported to Feng Yu Heng then helped support Wang Chuan in.

Wang Chuan was severely injured, and her body was covered in blood. If the wounds were not from swords then they were from whips. Her face had been covered in bloody wounds. Huang Quan felt distressed from seeing it, as tears fell endlessly. Even Feng Yu Heng’s entire body trembled with anger.

Fortunately, Wang Chuan was still conscious. Seeing that she had finally been sent back, she could not help but let out a sigh of relief and say: “Young miss, this servant is fine. Being able to return alive is extraordinarily lucky. Thinking about it, young miss must have worried a considerable amount about this servant.”

Feng Yu Heng placed her hand on her wrist and checked her pulse while saying: “The worries I endured are nothing compared to your injuries. You traded your own life for Zi Rui’s safety. I must thank you.”

“Young miss absolutely must not say such a thing.” Wang Chuan’s eyes turned red, “This servant’s life mission is to protect young miss. Since it was a mission given by young miss, I must do my utmost to accomplish it. That’s right, is the young master all right?”

“You protected him and Qing Yu very well.” Feng Yu Heng let go of her wrist and secretly let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Wang Chuan only suffered external injuries and did not suffer any internal injuries. “Don’t worry. With me here, your external injuries will be healed very quickly.”

Of course, Wang Chuan trusted Feng Yu Heng’s medical ability. After repeatedly thanking her, her mind began to feel exhausted, as she awkwardly said: “This servant has not closed her eyes over these past few days. Can I go sleep…” Before she could even finish speaking, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

Huang Quan felt even more aggravated. The enemy had done so much to cause Wang Chuan to become like this. There would come a day where she would have to personally vent her anger by killing the people of the Chen family.

Feng Yu Heng stood up and personally covered Wang Chuan in blankets. She then called for a servant to come in and keep watch for Wang Chuan overnight. Only then did she leave the room with Huang Quan.