Chapter 113: The Grave Robbery (2)

Chapter 113: The Grave Robbery (2)

After Fu Bin had his subordinates gather the news, he walked swiftly to the officials and the gravekeeper.

"The body of Yongning’s heir was desecrated?" Fu Bin's voice, usually low and deep, now became sharp with anger, revealing his eunuch identity to those who listened closely. "Only you went to the Yongning Marquis’s tomb? Is the Magistrate of the Capital City just eating his salary for nothing? With the heir's body in such a state, shouldn't all the forces of the Capital City be mobilized?"

The official, feeling affronted by the questioning, thought to himself that he was an official, and ordinary people would at least show him respect, if not grovel. When had he ever been questioned in such a tone?

He drawled, "It says in the blood letter that someone offended the Yongning Marquis. How many years has the Lord Marquis been gone? How can we investigate this case? It’s just a formality. Besides, what business is it of yours how our officials act? Do you think you’re an official now?"

After saying this, the official sized up Fu Bin.

In his most prosperous days, Fu Bin had indulged in fine clothing and luxurious living to highlight his favored status by the Emperor. After having a nephew like Fu Jiaze, Fu Bin gradually changed his style, becoming more reserved to avoid implicating the other party.

Now, Fu Bin dressed modestly, which made the official underestimate him.

Especially since this official had some connections and had bought his way into the Capital City’s administration, he thought he might have encountered an old servant of the Yongning Marquis’s household. This eunuch dog dared to speak to him like this.

The official said sarcastically, "Does our superior need a eunuch to wag his tongue?"

Huang Cai, Fu Bin’s adopted son, immediately became furious. "How dare you!"

Huang Cai kicked the official in the chest.

The official flew back from the kick and, after catching his breath, panted angrily, "Have you lost your mind? Two dogs daring to bark at me? Who’s left in the Yongning Marquis’s household? Your old master is long gone, yet you still dare to act so arrogantly, even assaulting an official of the Capital City. No wonder the heir’s body was dug up, and even his head was carried off by a dog."

The official guessed that Fu Bin might be an old eunuch from the Yongning Marquis’s household, who had rushed here upon hearing about the heir’s body being desecrated.

But with the entire Yongning Marquis household gone, how could this old servant still dare to confront him?

The gravekeeper, hearing the official’s words, recalled the scene from the morning and couldn’t help but cover his face and cry.

He said to Fu Bin, "Sir, did you receive any favors from our Lord Marquis? Our old Lord Marquis was a good man. After both the old Lord Marquis and the current Lord Marquis passed away, we never expected our heir to follow. The bloodline of the Yongning Marquis is now broken."

Tears streamed down the gravekeeper’s face as he kowtowed to Fu Bin, pounding his chest in grief. "Our heir died so tragically, and now his body has been desecrated, with his head carried off by a dead dog. It’s too cruel, too cruel! I can see that the officials of the Capital City are not taking this case seriously. Poor our heir, Sir, I can tell you have the power to help him. Please, help our heir."

Fu Bin’s attire was indeed simple, and Huang Cai’s was as well, but Huang Cai’s exclamation of "How dare you" gave the gravekeeper hope that Fu Bin had influence and position.

Moreover, the gravekeeper wanted to create a commotion to spread the word among the people of the Capital City, forcing the authorities to investigate thoroughly.

The commotion at the city gate drew the attention of passersby, and the citizens began to whisper among themselves.

Many knew that Concubine Chen was currently in the Emperor’s favor, and she had once been the wife of the Yongning Marquis. With the heir’s body in such a state, what would the authorities do?

One attitude was to treat it as a past affair of Concubine Chen, to be glossed over. Another was to investigate thoroughly.

However, in the eyes of most people, the investigation would likely end inconclusively, given that the entire line of the Yongning Marquis was extinct. That’s why the Capital City had sent only a minor official to investigate.

Hearing the gravekeeper’s words, Fu Bin felt a chill in his limbs. He had known the heir’s grave had been desecrated, but he never imagined it had been so severe, with the heir’s head carried off by a dog.

Fu Bin knew the true identity of the Yongning heir all too well. This matter could not be hidden from Concubine Chen and the Emperor. The heir was their child, and this...

Fu Bin’s face turned pale, thinking of the Emperor’s wrath. His legs trembled, and his voice quivered. "What did you say? The heir’s head was carried off by a dog?"

A rumble of thunder echoed, followed by a flash of lightning that illuminated the darkening sky, revealing Fu Bin’s ashen face to the official. The official felt a twisted sense of satisfaction.

"That’s right, exactly like that. Our superior is known for solving difficult cases and has a good reputation in his previous posts. They say they’ve never seen a case like this, and it will be very hard to solve. What good does it do to wail and cry here? If it can’t be solved, it can’t be solved!"

...

When Lin Yingxue returned from her prayers outside the city, she saw a crowd gathered at the city gate.

Feiyuan squeezed through the crowd and saw Fu Bin, then quickly squeezed out again, causing complaints from the surrounding people.

Hearing Feiyuan’s report, Lin Yingxue knew that Fu Bin had gone out with Fu Wanan that day. She got out of the carriage and had her guards escort her to the center of the crowd.

Lin Yingxue saw Fu Bin, who looked terrified and spoke harshly, and Fu Wanan, who appeared uneasy.

Seeing Lin Yingxue, Fu Wanan immediately clung to her. "Sister-in-law."

"Don’t worry, everything’s fine. Sister-in-law is here," Lin Yingxue stroked Fu Wanan’s hair. Fu Bin, seeing Lin Yingxue, subtly gestured for her to leave, indicating that it was best for her to go back.

Some commotions were worth joining, but this one was not.

Lin Yingxue immediately left the circle. As she did, she heard a cry of pain and turned to see Fu Bin walking over and kicking the official, just as Huang Cai had done. Fu Bin used all his strength, pressing the official back to the ground.

Fu Bin’s black boot pressed on the official’s back, pinning him down. Then he ground his heel into the official’s hand, causing the official to cry out in pain and curse.

From the crowd, Lin Yingxue could see the fierce expression on Fu Bin’s face, something she had never seen before.

The Fu Bin she knew was always kind and accommodating, making it easy to forget his status as a powerful eunuch known as "Nine Thousand Years."

Lin Yingxue turned Fu Wanan’s head away and pulled her out of the crowd. "Let’s go back. Uncle has some business."

Fu Wanan, always obedient, nodded.

After Lin Yingxue left, the official became enraged, screaming, "Help! Help me! I’m an official of the Capital City, my sister is in Magistrate Xu’s courtyard, and I’m working for Chancellor Lin! These two dared to assault an official of the Capital City. Take them to the magistrate’s office; our superior will surely punish them severely and offer a reward!"

Since they were at the city gate, a group of imperial guards happened to be passing by. The citizens shouted, "Someone is assaulting an official of the Capital City inside!"

The imperial guards immediately pushed through the crowd. The leader, Miao Dali, who had recently been promoted, stepped forward with a stern look. "Who dares to cause trouble in the capital? Assaulting an official? Arrest them!"

The gravekeeper was anxious, while the official, whose hand was being crushed, looked relieved. Fu Bin watched the guards with a blank expression. Before the imperial guards reached the center of the crowd, he took out an imperial token from his pocket and handed it to Huang Cai.

When Miao Dali entered the circle, Huang Cai presented the token to him and said, "Our eunuch serves the Emperor and oversees all the palace attendants. His name is Fu Bin, also known as Lord Fu. Do you recognize him, sir?"

High-ranking imperial guards had seen Fu Bin before, but someone of Miao Dali’s rank had never met him. Huang Cai feared these men might offend Fu Bin and clearly introduced his identity.