Chapter 107: The Annihilation of the Gan Family (Part Three)

Chapter 107: The Annihilation of the Gan Family (Part Three)

On that day, when Gan Tian'er mentioned that her family had employed exiled convicts, she became increasingly convinced that Fu Jiaze was right. That afternoon, she claimed to have dreamed about her maternal grandfather during her nap and wanted to visit his home.

Gan Tian'er's mother, Lady Liu, also felt homesick. While packing her daughter’s belongings, she instructed, "When you're at your grandfather’s house, don't be mischievous. If your grandfather writes to say you’ve been naughty, I’ll come and drag you back."

Gan Tian'er was going to her grandfather’s house to avoid trouble. She feared that if things came to light, her mother might find her in Suiyang County and bring her back. She said coyly, "Mother, I’m my grandmother’s favorite. How could they write to say I’m naughty?"

Lady Liu tapped her daughter’s nose with her finger. "You’re already a young lady, almost ready to marry, and yet you still act so spoiled."

Thinking about marriage, Gan Tian'er felt an indescribable melancholy. Although County Magistrate Fu had been despicable in tricking her, he had ultimately given her a moment alone with the general. Unfortunately, even after she spoke, it was like a flower in love with water that flows on without care.

Gan Tian'er nestled in her mother’s embrace, breathing in the faint, unique scent of her mother. "I don’t want to get married."

"Nonsense, do you really want to enter the palace?" Lady Liu said. "Stay a few days at your maternal grandfather’s house, play enough, and then come back early."

"Mother, I really don’t want to get married."

Lady Liu, who had once been a young girl herself, understood her daughter’s feelings. Especially since the old master had proposed that she become a concubine to a county magistrate, which had frightened her.

"Don’t be afraid. The matter of becoming a concubine is definitely over. Your father, though harsh in words, is soft-hearted. We’ve already discussed your marriage. Even if the situation is difficult now, we will choose someone you like. We’ll show you their portrait and find a way for you to meet them."

With no more thoughts of Jian He and her mother’s sincere words about her marriage, Gan Tian'er nestled back into her mother’s embrace. "Mother, you’re so good."

Lady Liu smiled gently and hugged her daughter. "Little coquette, go to your maternal grandfather’s house and be filial to him and your grandmother."

Gan Tian'er nodded vigorously.

Gan Tian'er stayed at her maternal grandfather’s house for three days. Last night, she woke up in the middle of the night.

After drinking some water, Gan Tian'er still felt extremely thirsty. She had planned to force herself back to sleep, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her leg, as if it had been cut off. Then her arms, and finally her neck.

Gan Tian'er touched her neck and had her maid light a lamp to check. The pain was unbearable.

"Miss, there are no marks. Were you perhaps having a nightmare?"

Gan Tian'er couldn’t fall asleep at all. The next day, with dark circles under her eyes, she asked to return to Tongwu County.

Upon her return, she found the residence surrounded. Her heart sank as she tried desperately to get inside.

The guards had initially stopped her, but after consulting with County Magistrate Fu, they let her in.

Didn’t he say that using exiled convicts wouldn’t result in serious consequences? Why is this happening?

In the main hall, Gan Tian'er immediately confronted Fu Jiaze. "What have you done to my family?"

Thinking of the bodies and Gan Xingning’s decapitated head, Fu Jiaze sighed and didn’t take offense at her tone.

He wished his wife were there; at least she could speak calmly and comfort Gan Tian'er.

How could he tell her that no one in the Gan family survived?

Fu Jiaze glanced at the maidservant beside Gan Tian'er. "Which of Gan Miss’s two maids is the bravest and most composed?"

The old nursemaid stepped forward. "County Magistrate Fu, if there’s anything, you can tell me first. Both maids are young and inexperienced."

The nursemaid wasn’t old, but her determined gaze made her appear more composed than the young maids.

Fu Jiaze nodded. "Nursemaid, please follow me."

The nursemaid hurried to follow Fu Jiaze. "My name is Wei."

"Madam Wei."

As they walked, Madam Wei caught a whiff of blood. Her heart sank, and by the time they hadn’t even passed the screen wall, her face turned pale as paper. "County Magistrate Fu, my old master, my master..."

"Everyone in the Gan family, except for Gan Miss, is dead."

As Fu Jiaze’s words fell, Madam Wei passed the screen wall and saw the courtyard filled with bodies. She swayed, and if Fu Jiaze hadn’t caught her, she would have fallen.

Madam Wei supported herself against the screen wall, her face deathly pale and sweat dripping from her neck. Fu Jiaze remained silent, waiting patiently.

After a while, Madam Wei trembled and asked, "Who did this?"

"An hour ago, I arrived at the Gan residence with the Prefect of Weilin, Lord Chen. At that time, people from the Gan estate were delivering accounts and fruits. They knocked on the side gate for a long time, but no one answered. Prefect Chen ordered the gate to be opened, and we found the scene of carnage. After searching, we found thirty-nine bodies. I had been to the Gan residence before, and I recognized the old master, the third master, and a son from the main branch as deceased. As for the women of the Gan family, I couldn’t identify them."

Considering Madam Wei’s emotions, Fu Jiaze spoke slowly.

Even so, it took Madam Wei a long time to understand what Fu Jiaze was saying.

Tears streamed down Madam Wei’s face, and her voice was dry and raspy. "Please, sir, take me to see the women."

"Of course."

The guards wanted to step forward, but Fu Jiaze waved them off and personally led Madam Wei to the women. She recognized the ladies of each branch, including the concubines of the third branch.

Madam Wei’s mind was a whirl of thoughts, yet it seemed empty.

Back in the main hall, Gan Tian'er rushed to her. "Nursemaid, what happened?"

Seeing her anxious mistress, Madam Wei thought of how Gan Tian'er had complained of limb pain last night, followed by severe neck pain.

It must be because Miss and Master are twins. Last night, Master suffered dismemberment, and Miss felt it too.

The state of Master...

Tears streamed down Madam Wei’s face, making Gan Tian'er even more anxious. "Nursemaid, what happened? Tell me."

Madam Wei had the two maids press Gan Tian'er into a chair before speaking slowly. "Miss, everyone in the Gan residence is gone. I saw thirty-nine bodies."

Gan Tian'er was momentarily at a loss as to what Aunt Wei was saying. She stammered, looking at Aunt Wei, "Aunt, what do you mean by 'all gone'?"

Aunt Wei's voice was filled with sorrow, "Apart from us few, your grandfather, father, mother, and brother... they're all gone."

If not for the maids holding her down, Gan Tian'er might have collapsed. Her mind buzzed, recalling her mother's last words. At that time, her mother must have wanted to go to her maternal grandparents' house. If she hadn't stopped her, her mother would still be alive.

And now, everyone was dead.

"Brother is dead? The pain I felt last night—was it Brother's pain?"

Aunt Wei nodded.

In her ears, she heard the rustling of silk and the unique scent of her mother. Her mother's voice was gentle, "Our Tian'er is already a young lady."

Her brother's face, her father's face, her grandfather's...

Gan Tian'er could no longer bear it. She closed her eyes and fainted.

The two maids tried to wake Miss Gan, but Fu Jiaze said, "Let her rest first. We can discuss matters tomorrow. The coroner hasn't finished examining the bodies yet. You've had a long journey; you should settle in first."

Aunt Wei looked at the courtyard, and Fu Jiaze continued, "Stay at the county office. There are many rooms there. Another guest house is occupied by Magistrate Chen. This is a major case and will certainly be solved. Please don't let your young miss worry too much, and don't come here again. All the bodies need to be examined by the coroner before they can be buried."

To prevent Gan Tian'er from waking up, one of the imperial guards accompanying Fu Jiaze used a fine needle to press certain acupoints on her, and her breathing soon became steady.

Gan Tian'er, along with the maids and Aunt Wei, returned to the county office.

Gan Tian'er and her entourage stayed in the courtyard next to Chen Ruxu's. When he heard that Miss Gan was the only surviving member of the Gan family, he was deeply shocked and specially invited Aunt Wei to his courtyard.

Aunt Wei's face was pale, and she barely managed to compose herself to pay respects to Magistrate Chen, who instructed, "I heard from County Magistrate Fu that your young miss has twin brothers?"

Aunt Wei thought of how Young Master's body was dismembered, his eyes wide open, tears streaming from them even before the coroner arrived.

"The body of that Gan young master is too gruesome. Don't tell your young miss about it. Just say they all died the same way."

Aunt Wei replied, "Yes," but in her heart, she knew that Miss Gan, being a twin, might have felt her brother's pain in his final moments.

After returning to Miss Gan's courtyard, the two maids waited until everyone had left before anxiously asking Aunt Wei, "Aunt, everyone is gone? How did this happen?"

Aunt Wei had been holding it together outside, but seeing the two maids, her heart ached, and she finally spoke, "According to the coroner's estimation, someone poisoned everyone in the household last night and then killed them one by one."

Both maids, who had grown up in the Gan household, were now sobbing uncontrollably, "What will we do now? Who did the Gan family offend to suffer such a great calamity?"

When Gan Tian'er woke up the next day, she had the same thought. But she thought more deeply, even suspecting whether Fu Jiaze might have been responsible. Hearing that Magistrate Chen was in the neighboring courtyard, she rushed to him.

"Magistrate Chen, this is Gan Tian'er. I want to tell you something."

Gan Tian'er recounted her encounter with Jian He and Fu Jiaze, explaining how she had mentioned the exiled prisoners.

Magistrate Chen's eyes twitched. He had assumed Fu Jiaze had made the decision himself, but he never expected it to be for such a reason.

If the old patriarch and others were still alive, he would have insisted they discipline their children better. Now that the Gan family was gone, he could only dryly say, "It's unlikely. He could have reported this directly and received credit. If he had killed your entire family, it would have been counterproductive."