Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Chapter 158: Chapter 157: Losing Composure

The ominous feeling in Zhang Heming’s heart grew stronger. He immediately ordered his men to bring in a few of the more composed-looking entertainers for questioning.

"Did any of you hear or see anything unusual last night? Where is Young Master Jiang?" Zhang Heming demanded sharply.

The women were already pale with fright, trembling all over. They shook their heads repeatedly. "T-To answer my lord... I... I don’t know why, but I slept so soundly last night. I didn’t... didn’t hear a thing..."

"Yes, yes, we woke up and... it was already like this..."

He questioned several people, but they all gave the same story, as if everyone had been given a Soporific Drug the night before.

Zhang Heming’s heart sank completely.

Jiang Chaoshan had vanished without a trace. This was more unsettling than finding his corpse.

"County Captain Feng."

Zhang Heming spun around, his tone urgent. "Immediately dispatch more men! Send out every constable and government constable we can muster. Even if you have to turn Jingshan County Town upside down, find the whereabouts of the Jiang Family’s young master as quickly as possible."

"Yes, County Magistrate!"

Feng Zhan also understood the gravity of the situation and immediately took his leave to carry out the order.

For a time, Jingshan County Town was thrown into chaos. Over a hundred Officials swarmed out, searching and making inquiries everywhere.

It wasn’t until Noon that a team of constables finally brought back news.

They had discovered the bodies of Jiang Chaoshan and an unknown, beautiful woman in a secluded courtyard.

Upon hearing the news, Zhang Heming rushed to the scene without a moment’s delay.

He strode into the courtyard.

The door to the main house was open. Inside, Jiang Chaoshan lay on his back in a pool of blood, his eyes wide with a frozen expression of shock and indignation.

Not far from him, a stunningly beautiful woman in a simple white dress was slumped on the floor. Her neck was stained red, and the bloody end of a silver hairpin protruded from the wound.

A forensic doctor was performing a preliminary examination. Seeing Zhang Heming arrive, he quickly rose to report. "County Magistrate, the initial examination shows that Young Master Jiang was stabbed through the heart with a silver hairpin, dying instantly. It was likely done by this woman. As for her... judging by the angle of the silver hairpin in her neck, it was most likely suicide."

"Do any of you know who this woman is?" Zhang Heming demanded.

Everyone around shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know.

Zhang Heming looked at the two corpses, especially at Jiang Chaoshan’s resentful, wide-eyed stare. The world seemed to spin, and a chill went through his hands and feet.

He knew. ’This has spiraled into a complete disaster!’

...

In the rear hall of the County Magistrate’s Office, the doors and windows were shut tight.

Zhang Heming sat alone in a Grandmaster’s Chair. The tea in his hands had long gone cold, but he didn’t even notice.

Jiang Chaoshan’s death made it impossible for even him, a man who considered himself shrewd and calculating, to remain calm.

It was like a massive boulder weighing on his heart, making it hard to breathe.

’It’s impossible to cover this up.’

’But should I report it to the Jingwu Bureau, or... should I notify the Jiang Family first?’

This deadly question spun round and round in his mind.

But it was like choosing between two sharp blades; either choice could leave him bleeding profusely.

Reporting directly to the Jingwu Bureau was, procedurally, the correct thing to do.

But the Jingwu Bureau was not under the jurisdiction of the County Magistrate’s Office. It investigated cases independently and held immense power.

Once they arrived, they would undoubtedly dig into every last detail.

’Why did the Jiang Family send so many Spirit Realm experts to infiltrate Mirror Mountain?’

’Why are they targeting the Chen Family?’

’If they investigate this...’

’The fact that I tacitly approved of, and even secretly encouraged, the Noble Families to rob and kill wealthy households... that probably won’t stay hidden.’

’Those who bully the weak and slaughter the innocent shall be killed without mercy!’

This was an iron law of the Jianghu, established by the Saint Ancestor of the Court.

The thought of all those old scores being dredged up made beads of cold sweat break out on his forehead.

’When this sort of thing is done privately, the higher-ups might turn a blind eye.’

’But once it’s officially recorded by the Jingwu Bureau, it becomes a permanent stain that can never be washed away.’

’Some matters are trivial if left unexamined, but become impossibly heavy once brought to light.’

’The "changing rice to mulberry" policy already faces significant opposition within the Court.’

’If someone with an agenda uses this as a weapon in court politics, I won’t just be worried about keeping my official’s hat—I could lose my life!’

’I’ve worked so hard for years, single-mindedly focused on climbing the ladder. How can I let myself fall because of something like this?’

’I have to suppress this!’

’But if I notify the Jiang Family first...’

At this thought, Zhang Heming hesitated, a deep sense of dread flashing in his eyes.

’Jiang Chaoshan was Jiang Hongyi’s most beloved son. Now that he’s died on my turf, how could the Jiang Family possibly let this go?’

’They will certainly retaliate at any cost!’

’If they could have just eliminated the Chen Family quickly, things would have been simple.’

’But if... if the Chen Family is harder to deal with than imagined, and the Jiang Family investigates the root cause, they will inevitably direct their anger toward me.’

Zhang Heming began to feel a sense of regret.

’I had just managed to extricate myself from the Chen Family affair, but I couldn’t resist the urge to borrow a knife to kill a man.’

’And now, I’ve offended both the Chen Family and the Jiang Family.’

’How foolish!’

’But can I really be blamed?’

’Who the fuck knew? With so many Spirit Realm experts making a move, I thought it was a sure thing. Who knew it would all crash and burn?’

’If you’re so damn powerful, what are you doing hiding in a small village, farming?’

Zhang Heming wanted to scream curses at Chen Li.

Both options were extremely risky.

However, he was more inclined to choose the latter.

After all, the Jiang Family was ultimately just a Noble Family from Jiangzhou. By ceding some benefits, it might be possible to negotiate and find some room to maneuver.

With the Court, there were far too many uncontrollable factors.

He even began to consider the wording of the message he would send to the Jiang Family.

Just then, Steward Huang burst in, his face as white as a sheet, having completely forgotten the etiquette he usually held so dear.

"County Magistrate! This is bad!"

Steward Huang’s voice trembled.

Zhang Heming, already agitated, saw his state and snapped irritably, "What’s the panic? Is the sky falling?"

Steward Huang said urgently, "County Magistrate, Hundred Households Chief Zhou Chengkai of the Jingwu Bureau has arrived at the Government Office entrance with a team of men. He says... he says he’s taking over the cases of the Drunken Creek Pavilion and the West City Courtyard."

"What?"

Zhang Heming shot to his feet, his expression changing drastically. "The Jingwu Bureau? How could they know? Who reported it? Which idiot leaked the news!"

His first reaction was that one of his subordinates had gone over his head and reported it.

Steward Huang waved his hands frantically. "With something this major, without your order, none of the men below would dare report it, not even if they had ten times the nerve. This subordinate has already checked; no one sent a message to the Commandery City. Hundred Households Chief Zhou... he and his men seem to have gotten the news on their own and came straight here."

"On their own?!"

Zhang Heming’s heart sank violently as an extremely ominous premonition washed over him.

’Is the Jingwu Bureau’s intelligence network really this efficient? Or... is there some unknown force pulling the strings behind the scenes?’

But he had no time to dwell on it. Zhou Chengkai was already at the Government Office, and he had to go out and face him immediately.

"Quick, come with me!"

Zhang Heming forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, straightened his official robes, and took a deep breath. His expression gradually became composed.

He had just reached the front courtyard when a government constable came running. "Your Excellency, Hundred Households Chief Zhou said... he said he’s going directly to the Forensic Room to examine the bodies, and he asks for you to join him."

A chill ran through Zhang Heming. Steeling himself, he turned and led his Master toward the Forensic Room, located at the side rear of the County Magistrate’s Office.

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