Chapter 18: Li Shimin Is Shocked, Noble Consort Zheng Faints from Anger

After completing all this, Du Chengfeng ordered the clone soldiers to set fire to the entire Zheng residence. Then, he gathered the clone soldiers back into the system space and, with a light leap, quietly returned to his newly purchased courtyard through the back gate without anyone noticing.

The blaze swiftly engulfed the Zheng residence, and by the time the city constables arrived, it was already beyond saving. Only a few maids and attendants thrown outside the walls escaped the disaster, but none knew what had transpired.

The soaring flames soon drew crowds of onlookers from all over the city. People stared at the scene, speculating endlessly. No one knew what had provoked such misfortune for the magistrate, but the outcome was tragic indeed. Even several owners who had previously been forced by Zheng Xingxie to sell impure wine hurried over upon hearing the news.

Gazing at the ruins of the Zheng residence, they felt a lingering fear. From the looks of it, Young Master Zheng was unlikely to have survived. That very morning, they had plotted against the rustic villager, and now the entire Zheng residence had been burned to the ground. They all seemed to harbor a suspicion, but none dared voice it.

After all, the matter was far too grave, and it was hard to believe that an ordinary villager could possess such audacity and ability. They could only bury their suspicions deep within their hearts.

In the Palace of Sweet Dew, Li Shimin sat grim-faced, staring at the commander of the Hundred Riders Division, his voice cold as ice: "Wang Yu, speak. What happened? Who could be so brazen as to murder the magistrate of Chang'an right under my nose, in broad daylight?"

Wang Yu knelt below, his expression flustered and nervous as he replied, "Your Majesty, I have failed in my duty. I have found no information regarding this matter. It happened too suddenly; by the time we arrived, the Zheng residence had already been reduced to ashes. Our men questioned the surviving staff, but all they knew was that they had been inexplicably knocked out and thrown outside, without even seeing the assailants. I suspect that only a master could carry out such a feat."

Li Shimin's face darkened in anger as he listened. The magistrate of Chang'an, annihilated in broad daylight, and the Hundred Riders Division could not uncover a single clue.

"Send a decree—let the Court of Judicial Review and the Hundred Riders Division investigate together. This case must be solved!" Li Shimin waved his hand in frustration, instructing the eunuch beside him.

He was deeply troubled. This was no ordinary matter. Since the founding of the Tang dynasty, assassinations of court officials had been exceedingly rare; after all, killing an official was tantamount to rebellion.

Yet this massacre was so bizarre that he refrained from faulting the Hundred Riders Division too harshly. Still, he could not ignore it. The Zheng family was a prestigious clan, and with Consort Zheng's status, Li Shimin felt overwhelmed just thinking about it.

He had barely ascended the throne, and already the greatest case in the nation had occurred under his rule. Alas!

In the Fragrant Chamber Palace, Consort Zheng lay reclined on her exquisitely carved couch, her phoenix eyes half-closed, resting. Her dignified and beautiful face could not conceal the faint exhaustion.

The emperor had not visited Fragrant Chamber Palace for many days. In the eyes of others, she was radiant and favored, but only she knew that her sorrow and longing in the depths of the palace went unheard, her misery unlamented.

As Consort Zheng grieved in silence, a palace maid burst in, flustered and shouting, "Your Highness, Your Highness, terrible news!"

Disturbed from her rest, Consort Zheng's face darkened. She looked up and, seeing it was her personal maid, restrained her anger and asked sharply, "Xiao Mie, what is the meaning of this panic? What terrible news?"

Scolded by Consort Zheng, Xiao Mie hesitated, stammering, "Your Highness, this servant... does not dare to say."

"What is there to fear? Speak as you are told. Are you itching for punishment?" Consort Zheng rebuked.

"Your Highness, the Zheng family has been wiped out," Xiao Mie lowered her head and mustered courage to speak.

"Zheng family? Which Zheng family?" Consort Zheng asked instinctively.

"Your Highness’s elder brother’s family," Xiao Mie replied cautiously.

"Elder brother!" Consort Zheng cried out in anguish, finally understanding that her brother’s household had been exterminated.

Such dreadful news sent her blood surging, her vision darkening, and she collapsed onto her couch.

"Your Highness, what’s wrong? Please wake up!" Xiao Mie, seeing Consort Zheng faint, was at a loss, crying and shaking her desperately.

After a long while, Consort Zheng slowly regained consciousness, but the thought of her brother’s family being annihilated filled her with pain and heartbreak, as if her heart were being carved by knives. She burst into uncontrollable tears.

Seeing Consort Zheng weep so bitterly, Xiao Mie followed suit.

Because of her brother, Consort Zheng had endured much to reach such a noble status. Though the emperor seldom visited, there was always hope.

Now her brother’s whole family was gone, her only kin and support lost. She became utterly alone. The blow was too great for Consort Zheng to bear.

She cried harder and harder, until her voice was hoarse and weak, finally calming down.

Consort Zheng gradually ceased her sobbing, her face twisted with grief, biting her lip as she asked, "Xiao Mie, have you heard any news? Who killed my brother?"

"Your Highness, I heard that neither the Hundred Riders Division nor the Court of Judicial Review has found any clues. Aside from some surviving maids and servants, everyone else in Lord Zheng’s household perished. The residence was reduced to ruins, so they’ve yet to discover who massacred the Zheng family," Xiao Mie replied in a trembling voice, relaying all she had heard.

"How could this happen? How could this happen?" Consort Zheng uttered despairingly.

"Your Highness! Please restrain your grief and take care of your health," Xiao Mie tried to comfort her gently, though helpless.

Consort Zheng dabbed her tears with a handkerchief, her gaze distant as she looked out from the palace, suppressing her sorrow. "Do not worry, Xiao Mie. I am fine. I must have revenge—revenge, I swear it," Consort Zheng vowed silently.

"Your Highness..." Xiao Mie watched the heartbroken consort, unsure how to comfort her, feeling powerless.

After a long while, Consort Zheng finally said, "Xiao Mie, help me keep watch on the Court of Judicial Review’s investigations. Inform me immediately of any developments."

"This servant understands," Xiao Mie nodded.

"Very well, you may go. I must seek the emperor and ask him to uphold justice for me."

The head of the Zheng family had a younger sister in the palace as a consort. Du Chengfeng had known this when he killed Zheng Xing, but paid it no mind. No matter how capable Consort Zheng might be, even if the investigation led to him, it would only mean more corpses.

Consort Zheng, after her sorrow, refused to give up. Upon learning that Li Shimin had finished court, she hurried to the Palace of Sweet Dew.

"Your Majesty, Consort Zheng requests an audience," the eunuch bowed and spoke softly to Li Shimin.

Li Shimin was reviewing memorials. Hearing the report, he frowned and sighed, "Let her in."

"Your concubine greets Your Majesty! I beg Your Majesty to uphold justice, for my brother died so unjustly!" Consort Zheng entered the hall and knelt before Li Shimin, weeping in grief.

Li Shimin looked at the kneeling consort with some compassion, and spoke with sadness, "Rise, beloved. The floor is cold. I am already aware of your plight and have ordered the Court of Judicial Review and the Hundred Riders Division to press on with the investigation. I am angry and indignant that such a thing has happened, but it was so sudden and so mysterious that I have no leads at all. Go now."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. I take my leave," Consort Zheng replied and departed in disappointment.