Fu Yu hardly needed to think about what "business" meant.
He lowered his head, glanced at the thug whose face was full of fear, and his eyes showed disgust.
Seeing that the other person's lips were trembling as if he were confessing, his eyes turned fierce, and he raised his knee and slammed it hard into the other person's chin.
The thug stumbled and fell to his knees, his teeth chattering and his tongue almost unable to straighten. The sudden, heavy blow caused his jaw to snap open, drawing blood from his mouth, and several of his teeth broke.
Then Fu Yu asked, "Who is looking for you?"
"Liu... Xiong." The thug's mouth was full of blood, and his voice was slurred. Seeing Fu Yu's brows furrow slightly, he quickly explained what he knew about Liu Xiong—he was a local bully who acted as a middleman and made money by spreading information.
Fu Yu, having pent up his anger, waited for him to finish speaking before kicking him to the ground.
Once outside the cell, he addressed the jailer guarding the door: "Investigate all the crimes and execute him."
The jailer bowed and obeyed. Fu Yu then gave a few more instructions to his guards before heading to another secret room at the end of the corridor.
Compared to these insignificant thugs, the ones being held over there are the assassins captured alive today, and the matter they need to investigate is far more troublesome. Back then, he swiftly and decisively defeated his opponents with ruthless moves, leaving them barely clinging to life. Now, those men are still unconscious, on the verge of death, and all the suicide methods they had hidden on their bodies have been removed, leaving them only with their clothes covering their bodies.
Compared to spineless thugs, this kind of person has a mouth as hard as iron, and even a crowbar might not be able to pry it open easily.
Even though Fu Yu was ruthless, it took a lot of effort to force the other party to talk and reveal the appearance and voice of the mastermind, along with the details of the time and their scheme.
The outline of today's events has now begun to emerge.
The thugs, unaware of You Tong's identity, were paid to commit nefarious acts, intending to harm her without killing her. The assassin, however, was the one lurking in the shadows, harboring the intention to kill her. Originally, he planned to strike after the thugs kidnapped You Tong, framing them for all the crimes. But because You Tong appeared to save him, he changed his mind and decided to assassinate her on the spot.
Based on the slightest clues, Fu Yu was almost certain that Wei Tianze was behind the assassin.
But if this is true, what is he plotting?
When Wei Tianze was eight years old, he wandered to Qizhou and worked as a handyman near the military camp. Later, he was valued and taught martial arts, and gradually distinguished himself. Over the years, he has risked his life in the Yongning army, making countless meritorious contributions, and has even formed a life-or-death bond with him. Now, Wei Tianze is his capable deputy general, and has a deep friendship with the Fu family, which is known to almost everyone in the Yongning army.
If the real aim was to save his father and son, then during the previous battles on the battlefield, there was no need for elaborate planning. If Wei Tianze had been even a fraction of a second late in his rescue, both he and his father might have been seriously injured and killed. Moreover, in countless previous encounters with the enemy, Wei Tianze had always fought to the death to save them. This time, when Fu Deqing was deep in the Tatar territory and seriously wounded, Wei Tianze had also traveled thousands of miles to rescue him, something Fu Yu remembered clearly.
The hardest thing to overcome when doubting a comrade-in-arms to whom you've entrusted your life is actually the mental hurdle.
Even though he had thought it over many times before, when the moment actually came, Fu Yu still felt a headache coming on, and for a moment, he even hoped that he was just being paranoid.
After emptying the assassin's mouth, he ordered his men to investigate further.
When they emerged from the secret prison, the clouds had cleared and the rain had stopped.
This place is well hidden and is considered a secret location within the Yongning Army. Not only Wei Tianze, but even Du He doesn't know its details.
After sorting out the clues, Fu Yu's expression softened slightly. He mounted the black shadow and rode away alone.
The country roads were muddy, carrying the fresh scent of rain-soaked earth. His mind was filled with a thousand thoughts, so he slowed his horse and frowned in deep thought. When they arrived at an inconspicuous manor, he went inside and asked if anyone had sent a message. His subordinates respectfully replied that General Wei was on official business in the city today and had not acted strangely.
Fu Yu nodded, but did not return to the city. He simply waited for news at this place.
...
At this moment, Wei Tianze was just as anxious and worried as Fu Yu.
To avoid suspicion, when he made his move against You Tong this time, he only devised a plan, leaving the specifics to Chen San. All he had to do was use his position to lure Fu Yu away from the mountain, so as to avoid adding unnecessary complications.
All that's left is to wait for news.
Because Qizhou was peaceful and the city patrol was efficient, the women of the Fu family only had a few guards with them when they went out, so the security was not strict.
Desperate to protect herself, Madam Shen had been swayed by Qiu Niang's words and was certain she had a way to let You Tong fall into the hands of local ruffians, leaving her without a single guard. At that time, a single arrow would be enough to shut You Tong up—Wei Tianze had met You Tong several times, and he sighed inwardly at the thought of her unparalleled beauty fading away.
As for Du Shuangxi, he is of low status and has little influence, so he is easy to deal with.
When things get out of hand, he can make a clean getaway without leaving a trace, and all suspicion will fall on the Shen family.
Fu Yu has lost his wife, and now someone is trying to take advantage of him; they will surely investigate. Shen herself is not clean; she employed such a treacherous servant and colluded with outsiders against her nephew's wife—she has no way to deny it. When the two families clash, cracks will inevitably appear, and once a murder case is involved, internal suspicions will spread, making it difficult to maintain an impenetrable bond.
This can be considered killing two birds with one stone.
Wei Tianze had been in Qizhou for a long time and often paid attention to the affairs of the Fu family. He was familiar with the women's travel habits and was quite confident in Shen's abilities. Because Fu Yu was astute and thorough in his investigations, digging deep into the surrounding area to find out what was happening within a ten-mile radius, Wei Tianze didn't dare to send anyone to keep watch to avoid arousing suspicion. This morning, seeing that the Fu family's carriage at the city gate had been damaged and You Tong had changed carriages, he waited for news with peace of mind.
But after waiting all afternoon, there was still no sound from outside.
There was neither any sign of trouble or panic in the Fu family, nor any good news from Chen San.
He forced himself to remain calm, but gradually sensed something was amiss. So, under the pretext of official business, he passed by Chen San's residence. When he arrived, he was shocked to find that the once ordinary and unremarkable dilapidated house was now filled with several people dressed in plain clothes, asking the neighbors for information. It seemed that someone was lying in ambush in a secluded spot.
Wei Tianze had served under Fu Yu for a long time and had done countless similar things. He immediately noticed the clue and his expression changed drastically.
Chapter 71 Clues
With the plan falling through, not only was Wei Tianze anxious, but the Shen family was also on edge, restless and uneasy.
After leaving You Tong behind, she didn't linger for long and went to the banquet at Shili Peak without revealing a trace of her intentions. Upon arriving at the banquet, she observed carefully for a while and, seeing that You Tong hadn't arrived, assumed that her arrangements had gone smoothly and were successful, so she felt slightly relieved. When Fu Lanyin asked about You Tong, she simply said that You Tong's carriage had encountered a slight mishap, and that You Tong was probably taking the opportunity to relax and enjoy the scenery, telling her not to worry.
By late afternoon, You Tong still hadn't returned, and Fu Lanyin was genuinely worried, frequently asking him questions.
Madam Shen could only pretend she didn't know, and after the banquet ended, she returned home.
Upon arriving at the mansion, they vaguely heard the maids and servants talking about the Second Young Mistress. Upon seeing her, they were afraid of being scolded and quickly shut up.
Feeling something was amiss, Madam Shen stopped to inquire, only to learn that earlier that morning Fu Yu had carried You Tong back through the rain, making a grand entrance. This news truly startled Madam Shen, who frowned and asked, "Are you sure you saw it clearly?"
"I saw it clearly, and I dare not speak recklessly." The maid was very uneasy, fearing that she would be punished for speaking out without permission.
Madam Shen did not pursue the matter further. She questioned the two of them and learned that it was true that many people had seen Fu Yu and his wife enter the mansion.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Originally, I thought Fu Yu would take four or five days to get back from his trip, but who knew he would return so quickly? In my astonishment, I went to Shou'an Hall, but there was no news of him there. On the way, I met Fu Lanyin and learned that You Tong had sprained her ankle while playing and had been brought back by Fu Yu. She was sleeping right now.
Upon hearing this, Shen's heart sank even further—
What a coincidence! It's probably just something Nanlou made up to reassure people.
Shen didn't know if You Tong was unharmed when Fu Yu arrived, but since things had come to this point, those thugs were probably already caught.
Feeling guilty, she didn't want to abruptly go to the south building to inquire. She simply sighed and said, "No wonder she didn't come to the banquet; so that's why. In that case, I won't disturb her. You take good care of her. If she needs medical treatment, medicine, or tonics, just send someone over. Don't delay." With that, she returned to the east courtyard. Upon arriving at her quarters, she dismissed everyone else and quickly summoned Qiu Niang, immediately asking, "Does anyone else know about what I instructed you to do?"
"It was just me and my husband; no one else knew."
"Where is Liu Xiong?"
"Don't worry, Madam. I know what's important. I told him repeatedly to escape." Qiu Niang patted her chest, her face full of confidence. "Last night, after he had everything arranged, my husband personally watched him leave. At the speed of a fast horse, he must have already left Qizhou by now. Madam gave him a large sum of money, and I explained the consequences. Even if he had ten times the courage, he wouldn't dare stay here and wait for those thugs to identify him."
Qiu Niang was also afraid of being implicated, so she acted on her instructions last night with full confidence.
Relieved, Madam Shen rewarded Qiu Niang with gold and silver and ordered her to go out and not give herself away.
However, he was wary of Fu Yu and unsure whether his adventure had succeeded. He pondered these thoughts and felt uneasy.
...
In the manor outside the city, a horse-drawn carriage carrying sacks slowly drove in, creaking softly.
Upon entering the courtyard and closing the door, the sack was tossed out, revealing a middle-aged man with a stubble beard curled up underneath, his hands and feet bound by ropes, unconscious. Fu Yu ordered someone to splash him with cold water, and the man slowly awoke. Seeing the menacing-looking men before him, he seemed somewhat dazed. He reached out to rub his aching head, but upon noticing the ropes binding him, his expression immediately changed.
Fu Yu's expression was cold and deep. He glanced at Liu Xiong and said in a chilling voice, "Liu Xiong?"
"It's him. He makes a living as a pimp, and he's the one who found those thugs." The subordinate bowed respectfully.
Fu Yu raised his chin and said, "Take him in for questioning, but don't make too much of a commotion—use whatever means necessary."
This means using ruthless tactics indiscriminately.
The subordinates understood and dragged Liu Xiong into the house. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they subdued him completely and then invited Fu Yu in.
Seeing that the man had a cold and stern face and a fierce and imposing presence, Liu Xiong dared not play any tricks. He answered Fu Yu's questions without hesitation, explaining exactly how Qiu Niang and her husband found him, asked him to help them find local thugs, and arranged for someone to deliberately damage the Fu family's carriage at the city gate and tamper with the rented carriage beforehand.
Finally, unaware of Fu Yu's identity and still trying to take advantage of the situation, he pleaded, "That Qiu Niang is from the Fu family, the military governor's family. They have a lot of influence in the mansion. Even though I know that such a thing is immoral and will lead to a terrible death, I dare not go against the Fu family. I had no choice but to help her find someone. Please, sir, spare my life!"
After saying that, he kowtowed vigorously, begging for mercy.
These words perfectly matched what You Tong had said.
Shen Shi let things drift and interfered from the middle; it's self-evident whose power Qiu Niang relied on.
Fu Yu's expression darkened, and he asked again, "Did Qiu Niang tell you to flee overnight?"
"Your Honor, she told me personally that if this matter were exposed, my life would be in danger. She gave me some money and asked her husband to keep an eye on things and personally escort me on horseback to escape. How could I dare disobey such a terrible fate? I was going to die anyway, so I had no choice but to go along with her for now. I didn't dare spend any of the money..."
Fu Yu, too lazy to listen to his nonsense, went straight to the point: "Why did you come back again?"
Liu Xiong's face fell, and he said, "Someone blocked my way in the middle of the night, captured me, and threatened me not to run away again."
"who?"
"I don't know him personally, but I remember his voice. He had his face covered, so I couldn't see his features. Oh, and he was a cripple!"
The last half of the sentence made Fu Yu's expression change slightly. He frowned and pondered for a moment, then ignored the man and imprisoned him for the time being.
As night fell, another group of people, following the clues given by the assassin, captured the mastermind.
What a coincidence, he's also lame!
The previously scattered clues gradually came together. Fu Yu ordered his men to interrogate the lame man, and also ordered Liu Xiong to listen to the sounds from next door. The lame man looked unkempt, but he was very stubborn. Even when tortured, he did not change his expression, but instead made sarcastic remarks. Liu Xiong recognized him after listening for a few sentences, and after peeking through the crack in the window, he immediately identified him.
Fu Yu examined his expression and knew that he was not lying, and the details of the matter became clear.
—Shen instructed Qiu Niang to harm You Tong, found Liu Xiong to act as a pimp, and then ordered him to escape, surely intending to wash her hands of the matter cleanly and leave no trace afterward. The lame man ordered the assassin to kill You Tong and then captured Liu Xiong, undoubtedly also intending to shift the blame and kill someone else.
If he hadn't turned back to protect You Tong, given the circumstances, the assassin would have escaped after the attack, leaving only the thugs behind. Even if he wanted to investigate, he couldn't find anything on the lame man. Only Liu Xiong had conclusive evidence, pointing the finger at Shen Shi of the eldest branch of the family.
After a roundabout turn, You Tong was silenced, and internal strife and infighting arose within the Fu family, with yet another insidious scheme to sow discord!
Fu Yu stood outside the window with his hands behind his back, his face grim as he sorted out the thoughts.
Although the lame man was as stubborn as an iron chain, based on the clues from the previous incidents, Fu Yu could already deduce his master's identity; he only needed confirmation. As for his aunt, Madam Shen, she was clearly malicious, being used and framed without even realizing it!
The moon was dim and the night was deep, the lamp was dim and yellow, and Fu Yu stood in the courtyard, almost blending into the night.
The tightly closed door was pushed open, and an attendant quickly came out, whispering beside him, "General, this is a tough nut to crack, very troublesome."
"Take it slow. Even flesh and blood will eventually tire." Fu Yu's expression was cold and stern. He beckoned him to whisper a few instructions in his ear, then rode straight back to the city without lingering.
Upon arriving at the mansion, despite his hunger, he went straight to Xiyangzhai.
The suspicious events in the capital, Sun Meng's death, Fu Hui's broken promise, You Tong's story, and today's assassination attempt—all these events are connected, and the thorn hidden under Yongning's command is gradually coming to light.
While the mastermind behind this should certainly be severely punished, the specific methods of handling the case require careful consideration.
After entering Xieyangzhai, he dismissed everyone else and recounted everything that had happened in the past two days.