CHAPTER 71: CHAPTER 70: DROWNED IN THE POND

"General Cao, don’t be impulsive, stay calm!" Lu Ze also looked very nervous. After all, with his frail build, trying to stop Cao Tianbao was somewhat beyond his capability. "Today, everyone is here for your birthday celebration, and there are many people both inside and outside the gate, many eyes and many mouths.

We heard it loud and clear, but those outside don’t know.

If something really happens, and news spreads, others might say General Cao used his power to bully and drive a merchant to death.

By then, not only you, but even my brothers and I, who are present here, might be accused of being accomplices in persecuting commoners, and we wouldn’t be able to defend ourselves!"

These words, if spoken by any of the older princes, might have been awkward to say out loud, but only Lu Ze, the youngest prince, dared to speak so frankly.

Cao Tianbao, hearing this, even though unwilling, couldn’t just push Lu Ze and Lu Qing aside and rush over to trouble Zhuang Zhi.

When his temper flared, he didn’t care how others talked about him; however, if it involved the reputation of several princes, it was a different matter altogether.

Zhuang Zhi, seeing someone stepping in to hold back Cao Tianbao, seemed to gain a bit more courage. The knife against his own neck didn’t waver as he spoke again: "It’s said that the emperor and commoners are subject to the same law. My daughter was killed by Cao Chenfeng, who is merely the nephew of the Great General, having achieved nothing himself. I have no avenue for appeal; is there any justice in this world?!

Just because he’s the nephew of the Great General, does my poor daughter have to die in vain?!

Today, as long as I have a breath left, I will demand an explanation. Otherwise, it was my poor daughter before, and who knows whose daughter will fall victim next!"

Zhuang Zhi spoke with great emotion. The skin on his neck cut by the sharp blade began to bleed, but he appeared completely unaware.

Lu Zhang, watching this scene, was full of worry. He tried to speak several times, only to be subtly stopped by Duke Yan. Seeing Cao Tianbao and Zhuang Zhi at a standstill, with no room for private questioning, it seemed inevitable that this matter could lead to a death today unless settled. Therefore, he became increasingly uneasy.

After much hesitation, he finally ignored the looks his grandfather was giving him from the side and addressed Cao Tianbao: "General Cao, don’t be angry for now.

Our Da Jin has always had strict laws, and justice is clear, neither sheltering the wicked nor wronging the good.

The actions and words of Boss Zhuang today indeed concern the reputation of the Assistant General’s household. I think it’s all the more reason to let him speak clearly.

If he is spouting groundless accusations, today, I shall represent the Great General, severely punish this villain, and parade him to show the consequences of insulting General Cao.

But if there is indeed some hidden truth, even if a misunderstanding, it’s imperative to listen first."

Lu Zhang’s words were quite polite, leaving Cao Tianbao with no choice but to give him the face, snorting coldly before pointing at Zhuang Zhi: "Fine! Speak! I want to see what nonsense you can come up with!"

Zhuang Zhi heard this, immediately knelt down, and kowtowed several times loudly to Lu Zhang before kneeling up straight, speaking with a sobbing tone: "My lords, my wife died early, leaving only an only daughter, Zhuang Lanlan, who has always been dearly cherished.

Due to running a winery, there were inevitably many people and much chaos at home, so a few years ago, I built an embroidery tower by the river, raising my daughter there, allowing her to practice the zither and calligraphy. I would visit her every ten days, bringing food, clothing, and supplies, while also checking on her progress in needlework."

A few days ago, when I went as usual to deliver items to her early in the morning, upon opening the door upstairs, I found my daughter... she was lying on the ground, barely clothed, with a knife in her chest, blood... blood everywhere..."

Zhuang Zhi, at this point, broke down in tears, covering his face and sobbing. It took a while before he could suppress his grief to continue: "I was utterly terrified, panicked for a good while before calling a maid over.

The maid, upon seeing the scene, was also almost scared out of her wits, and under my questioning, finally revealed the truth.

She said my daughter lived alone in the embroidery tower, growing lonely over time, often looking out over the river, watching the boats coming and going.

One day, she accidentally dropped a handkerchief, which fell into the river and was picked up by a man, who then grew fond of her, deliberately sailing past the tower repeatedly just to catch a glimpse of her.

The maid said, seeing the man was tall and strong, my daughter developed feelings for him, and the two began secretly meeting. Whenever he visited, she would send the servants away, forbidding them to go to the tower."

Upon Zhuang Zhi recounting these details, some people nearby showed disdain, some sneered quietly, others frowned and shook their heads, all mocking the Zhuang family’s daughter for lacking chastity, even meeting an unknown man in the embroidery tower.

Some even, whether genuinely or trying to curry favor with Cao Tianbao, sarcastically remarked: "Your daughter was frivolous, lacking shame, doing such disgraceful things, already a disgrace, and trouble is what she brought upon herself!

Had she stayed properly in the tower, avoiding entanglements, such a fate would not have befallen her!

Such conduct, even if she wasn’t murdered, deserved to be drowned!"

Zhu Yu, standing behind Lu Qing, watched the person who chimed in with indifference, filled with disdain.

Regardless of notions of propriety, the secret meetings didn’t involve Miss Zhuang Lanlan forcibly bringing someone up to the embroidery tower. It required the man’s initiative and involvement.

Now, the hypocritical man with a goatee, accusing Zhuang Lanlan of bringing misfortune upon herself, nearly saying "she deserved to die," but showing no inquiry or mention of the man involved with her."

"Lord Zhang speaks very aptly." Lu Qing suddenly spoke, with a faint smile, nodding towards the speaker.

Lord Zhang, not knowing where he held office, probably didn’t expect Prince Xiaoyao to agree with his words, becoming somewhat flattered, quickly bowing to Lu Qing.

Lu Qing leisurely continued: "Such improper and illegitimate meetings indeed go against reason and harm morals; having her drowned wouldn’t be unreasonable.

However... since Boss Zhuang’s daughter is deceased, the dead hold precedence over the living, and there’s no need to drown the dead again.

In my opinion, finding out who the man was in those secret meetings, and having captured him, follow Lord Zhang’s suggestion, and have him drowned."