Chapter 12: A Tragedy Unfolds

Chapter 12: A Tragic Incident

Upon seeing this scene, Xie Daozhi instantly grasped the situation.

"Everyone else, out of here," he commanded.

"Yes, sir!"

They all fled, and not far away, they heard a furious bellow from the courtyard:

"Speak!"

"I... I..."

The old servant's body trembled violently. "This lowly one has seen these two before."

Xie Daozhi glanced at Xie Daozhi, then approached the old man, crouching down in front of him.

"Tell me everything in detail, and perhaps I can intercede on your behalf. Otherwise, at your age, being cast out with nowhere to go would be a miserable fate."

The old man wiped away his tears as he gazed at the face before him.

"They came in the evening. The child's face was sallow, clearly unwell. The man was slightly younger than in the portrait, and his attire was peculiar."

"And then what happened?"

"They had a letter, saying they were looking for Master. I...I..."

The old man glanced fearfully at Xie Daozhi. "I didn't dare let them in!"

So that was it!

Yan Sanhe stood up, looking coldly at Xie Daozhi. "Do you have anything else to say?"

Xie Daozhi's face was deathly pale, his chest rising and falling with emotion. Suddenly, he surged to his feet and lunged forward, kicking out.

"How dare you keep people waiting outside without any word? Who gave you the audacity? My reputation, Xie Daozhi, has been ruined because of you."

Old Wang was kicked to the ground, wailing in agony. He cried out, "My lord, you've forgotten! You instructed me not to open the door!"

"What did you say?"

Xie Daozhi's eyes widened in disbelief as he fiercely grabbed the front of the man's robe. "Say it again, damn it, say it again!"

"Sixteenth of July."

The old man's cloudy eyes suddenly widened, "Master, it was the sixteenth day of the seventh month in the eighth year of Yonghe! How could I dare to open the door? How could I possibly dare!"

"..."

Xie Daozhi's breathing suddenly became rapid, his eyes seemingly ready to pop out of their sockets.

The sixteenth of July!

It was actually the sixteenth of July!

No wonder he had been arrested and thrown into jail.

Xie Daozhi released his grip weakly, stumbling backward several steps as if he had aged dramatically overnight.

Yan Sanhe's gaze turned cold. "What happened on the sixteenth of July in the eight year of Yonghe?"

"Aiyo, my lady!"

The chief steward, filled with terror, pleaded, "Please don't ask about that."

"Why can't I ask?"

Yan Sanhe fixated on him. "Is there something dishonorable that the Xie household did that cannot be inquired about?"

"You..."

The chief steward felt like he was being driven to madness. He turned his head, seeking support. "Master, look at—"

Xie Daozhi's gaze bypassed him, focusing intently on Yan Sanhe for a long moment.

"Chief Steward Xie."

"Master?"

"The old king is to be taken away. You personally guard the entrance and ensure no one comes near."

"Aye!"

With the door shut, the courtyard fell eerily quiet.

Xie Daozhi took a deep breath and said, "Yan Sanhe, we can only say this is a case of unfortunate coincidence!"

"How did the circumstances go awry?"

"In the Mid-Autumn Festival of Yonghe Eight, a shocking tragedy unfolded in the Four Lanes of the capital. The residence of former General Zheng Yu was mercilessly slaughtered in a single night."

Xie Daozhi's tone was grave. "Aside from the old general who was away on campaign and his four personal guards, the remaining one hundred eighty members of the Zheng family all met a gruesome end."

Yan Sanhe's brows suddenly knitted together.

"The case sent shockwaves through the court, and the emperor flew into a furious rage. He commanded the Jin Yi Wei (Imperial Guards), Criminal Ministry, Supreme Court, and Censorate to join forces in a thorough investigation. For a time, the capital was filled with fear and suspicion, as everyone felt their own safety was at risk."

Xie Daozhi's gaze flickered a few times.

"I, as a prominent cabinet minister, have been summoned to the palace by His Majesty. Before leaving, I instructed my wife and Manager Xie to lock all four gates. No one is to exit, and no one is to enter. Everything shall wait until my return from the palace," he said.

"Why?" Yan Sanhe's voice was cold as ice.