Free Web NovelChapter 1648: Chapter 25: Dreaded Oath of Silence (2)
Many people have spread rumors that he is nothing more than a fledgling sheltered under his elder brother Yang Luoyu’s wings. However, after Jiang Wang had personal contact, he found that this person clearly advanced and retreated with a plan, possessing both courage and wisdom.
He could maintain his friendship with Gongsun Yu and at the same time shift responsibility away so as not to affect his brother who was the Prefectural Governor, and even keenly approached the core of the problem...
Could it be that his intention to keep his brother out of this was because he sensed the danger of this matter?
After pondering for a while, Jiang Wang finally said, "I can’t share the details of the case; that’s the rule of the Qing Brand. As for the possibility you mentioned... I truly cannot dismiss it. Brother Yang, rest assured, I will certainly give you an explanation for Gongsun Yu’s death."
"Gongsun Yu was my friend, and he died on my estate." Yang Jing said calmly, "I came to Linzi to find an explanation for myself."
"Then you should cooperate with me even more." Jiang Wang sincerely said, "The killer would murder Gongsun Yu likely because he knew something. I am overseeing the handling of the Longevity Palace case; there are people everywhere in the Beiyaduwei and in the court. Zhongxuan Sheng lives in my residence, the Shimen Li Clan has been on good terms with me for generations, Yan Fu is a dear friend, and Zheng Shangming and I are quite close... No matter who the killer is or what forces are involved, I will surely investigate thoroughly and find the truth."
In his continuous display of authority here, Jiang Wang was unsure which words had touched Yang Jing.
After a moment of silence, he finally said, "But Gongsun Yu didn’t tell me anything."
"Just tell me what you know," Jiang Wang quickly said.
"Where do you want to start?"
Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then asked, "When did his tongue get severed?"
"On last year’s New Year’s Eve, Gongsun Yu came to me..." Yang Jing slowly recounted, "At that time, his tongue was already severed."
On New Year’s Eve of Dao Calendar 3918, it was precisely the period of the Zhuang Yong Country War...
Having gone all the way with all his might and without stopping, only today did he suddenly realize that so many things had happened in that year.
Of course, Jiang Wang cannot forget that rainy night, ever. But clearly, on that same New Year’s Eve, a story that changed Gongsun Yu’s life also unfolded.
On New Year’s Eve of Dao Calendar 3918, what happened at Long Life Palace?
"How did it get severed?" Jiang Wang asked.
"I asked him the same back then..."
Yang Jing stared at the grain of the stone table, lost in memory: "It was snowing heavily that night. I drank a lot and went back to my room alone; he was waiting for me in the courtyard. I was very happy; what could be more delightful than a friend visiting on a snowy night? I asked him if he wanted a drink; I said I’d hunted a fat deer; I told him a pretentious guy had come to the city recently who could use a good scolding... Yet he just opened his mouth, letting me see his severed tongue."
"What happened? I asked him what happened. He had no reaction at all."
"I was very anxious and angry. I said I wanted to kill someone, that I had to kill a few people. My heart felt like it was on fire!"
"The courtyard was covered with snow, he squatted down, and wrote a line in the snow—’All my life, I’ve been sharp-tongued, fearing I cannot stop speaking, so I severed my tongue to show resolve; from now on, I will speak no more.’
"That line of words was quickly covered by snow, and he really never communicated with me again."
Yang Jing said with a hint of sorrow, "I asked him many times, and each time he just looked at me. I don’t know what happened to him; I think he didn’t want to let me know."
In other words... Gongsun Yu cut out his own tongue, and the reason was to ’refrain from speaking.’
Why did he want to refrain from speaking?
Did he know something he shouldn’t have, and was this also the reason he left Long Life Palace? Could it be related to the truth about Concubine Lei’s assassination case?
"Did he ever have contact with Long Life Palace afterwards?" Jiang Wang asked.
"As far as I know, no." Yang Jing replied, "He never stepped out of the estate."
Jiang Wang said seriously, "I think Gongsun Yu didn’t tell you anything, perhaps precisely to protect you."
"Maybe. But protecting him is what I most wish to do as a friend." Here, Yang Jing stood up and said, "Since you can’t tell me anything, then let’s part ways here."
Jiang Wang instinctively asked, "Where are you going?"
"I’ve already told you everything I know." Yang Jing looked at him, "Next, I want to find answers in my own way."
You will die.
This thought almost instantly crossed Jiang Wang’s mind.
He seriously said, "Investigating the case is something we at the Qing Brand will naturally do. The information you possess and the information we have are not on the same level, rushing in will not help. How about you first go back to Bi Yu County and wait for news, and I will inform you immediately when there are results."
The true culprit in Concubine Lei’s assassination case, even if not affiliated with the current Queen, surely belongs to a force of similar level.
If Yang Jing tries to track down the person who killed Gongsun Yu and finds them...his outcome might not be good.
Not to mention, just based on Yang Jing’s loyalty to his friends, Jiang Wang doesn’t want to see him go to his death.
"It seems I guessed right. The force the killer belongs to is very strong, which my Yang Family cannot provoke." Yang Jing sneered, half mocking himself, "Otherwise, how could they dare to kill my friend so casually?"
"Please trust me." Jiang Wang, after all, couldn’t say much, so he could only emphasize, "I won’t abandon this case, and I’ve already touched the truth."
"I know you are trustworthy. But I’m sorry, I can’t place my friend’s death entirely in the hands of a stranger."
Yang Jing turned and left without a hint of hesitation.
Came suddenly, left resolutely.
He was a smart and sober person.
He came alone to Linzi, perhaps he had prepared for this long ago.
Once again, only Jiang Wang was left alone in the courtyard with the hanging cold winds.
He sat alone on the stone chair, silently pondering the case.
This case can be delayed no longer.
But where is the critical evidence?
Will Lin Youxie find anything?
Jiang Wuqi, Feng Gu, Gongsun Yu...all died one after another.
Should Yang Jing clash with those forces behind everything, it would be extremely dangerous.
Who is next? Is Lin Youxie completely safe?
Even myself?
The major case from seventeen years ago, like an infinitely deep dark vortex, keeps expanding, attempting to draw in more and more people...
In every respect, a result is needed soon.
Either tear open the curtain hiding it, letting the light in to illuminate every corner between.
Or, bury it completely, never to be mentioned again.
Clearly, Gongsun Yu chose the latter.
No...it’s not right...
Thinking of Gongsun Yu at this moment, Jiang Wang felt he seemed to have touched something.
All along, it seems he overlooked something extremely important.
What was it?
Jiang Wang knitted his brows, stood up, and paced around the courtyard.
What exactly did he overlook?
The cold wind was unbearably noisy, so he simply went into the room, closed the door, and isolated himself from all sounds to think calmly.
What did he overlook?
He walked back and forth in the bedroom alone, then suddenly stopped and saw a piece of calligraphy hanging on the wall—
It was the last piece of calligraphy that he had specially commissioned a craftsman to mount, written by Jiang Wuqi before he passed.
"Heaven does not abandon Daqi, gave birth to me, Jiang Wuqi!"
In his mind, a flash of inspiration exploded for Jiang Wang.
Yes... Jiang Wuqi!
He figured out what issue he’s been neglecting all along!
Since Feng Gu used his death to initiate the investigation into the major case of that year, clearly leaving clues pointing to the Queen of Daqi.
And now it seems that Gongsun Yu evidently also knew something.
It suggests that for the truth about Concubine Lei’s assassination case, Feng Gu and Gongsun Yu each had a piece of the information.
Given that Jiang Wuqi was the Longevity Palace Master, is it possible he knew nothing about it?
Could such a remarkable person be kept completely in the dark by his subordinates?
Why would Jiang Wuqi, knowing the truth, not handle this matter himself? freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
With his wisdom, status, and influence, it’s unlikely he would be completely unaware, right?
This doesn’t make sense!
But since Jiang Wuqi also knew the truth, why didn’t he handle it himself?
With his wisdom, status, influence, it’s unlikely, is it?
This doesn’t make sense!
