Moreover, he had actually tied up the current crown prince!
And even tried to make His Highness the scapegoat for his own son!
The more he thought about it, the more terrified Lord Zhang was. Trembling, he kowtowed again and again. The sound was so loud that it made people's heads hurt just by listening to it. "I, I was too ignorant to not recognise Your Highness. I, I have enraged Your Highness, please do spare my life!"
The Lord Zhang that was so full of confidence a moment ago, was now stuttering and stumbling all over his words.
Zhang Yu backed away, horrified, but a man in black which appeared from nowhere was pinning his legs down. The knife in his hand shone ever so brightly!
"I'll tell, I'll tell everything!" Zhang Yu struggled while crying and screaming. Tears were streaming down his face while his crotch was drenched, clearly he was so frightened that he was jumping out of his skin.
Helian Wei Wei could not help but admire His Highness' methods, he was so much more cruel than her that he could even think of cutting off someone's family jewels.
Just that the scene was way too gruesome, which made Helian Wei Wei cover her nose while watching Zhang Yu.
Baili Jia Jue glanced at the shadow guard and the shadow guard immediately halted his movements. With a flash of his knife, he retreated quickly as though he never existed.
Zhang Yu was crawling on the floor, kowtowing heavily. "Your Highness, the missing people in the alley really had nothing to do with me. I did go to the alley that day, but I left after quarreling with Zhang Ling'er. She kept pestering me, but I had wanted nothing to do with her for a long time, so why would I abduct her? And the other two people, I also have no idea why they disappeared all of a sudden, they were still fine when I met them, I…"
It was obvious that Zhang Yu was speaking incoherently.
Actually, when Helian Wei Wei was at the alley, she had already disregarded the possibility of Zhang Yu being the criminal, because those girls were just a way for him to pass his time. Even if he disliked them, the most he would do was chase them away with money, or use his status to pressure them. There was no reason for him to abduct them.
Helian Wei Wei's idea came from the words of Old Lady Zhang.
Since Zhang Ling'er disappeared after meeting Zhang Yu, it meant that the criminal was there that night.
It was the same for the other two girls. After going on secret dates with Zhang Yu, they must have encountered someone on their way home.
"Zhang Yu, since you claim you're innocent, then recall properly, when you met Zhang Ling'er and the other girls, did you sense anything abnormal, or did you see anyone?" Helian Wei Wei's tone was calm. "Acquaintances in the alley also counts."
Zhang Yu tried long and hard to recall. "I didn't meet anyone else, but on the day I met Zhang Ling'er, there was indeed a weird incident. I could feel something staring at Zhang Ling'er, but she didn't sense anything. Also, I saw a strange silhouette that day as well."
"Strange in what way?" Helian Wei Wei's eyes brightened, she had captured the point in Zhang Yu's words immediately.
Zhang Yu described vaguely, "That silhouette was quite short, with a lump on its back. If it wasn't walking behind me, I wouldn't even know it was a person."
A lump on its back? Helian Wei Wei frowned, like she was figuring something out. Her fingers tapped on her long legs unintentionally, then suddenly her eyes shone. "I think I know who the criminal is."
"Huh?" Zhang Yu was so dumbfounded that he forgot to close his mouth. All he did was mention a silhouette, yet she already knew who the criminal was?
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs was also confused. He turned to Helian Wei Wei and asked quietly, "Princess Consort, I think this silhouette is just some nonsense that this Zhang Yu spouted, who would even have a lump on their backs?"
"This person did not actually have a lump on their back, but if there was somebody with a hunched back in the dark, their shadow would look like somebody with a lump on their back," Helian Wei Wei answered flatly.
However, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs knew that it was not that easy to figure this out, one must have an agile mind!
Unconsciously, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs looked at Helian Wei Wei with even more admiration, exclaiming spiritedly, "I'll order my people to write an announcement now, all the men with hunched backs in the whole city shall be arrested!"
"No need for that."Helian Wei Wei turned back, her gaze settling slowly on the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs. "The criminal is not a man."
"Not a man?" The Secretary's eyes grew round. "How could it be?" They were three days into the investigation, and the first thing they did was set their suspicions on men. After all, all the missing people were maidens, why did the Princess Consort debunked that fact the moment she took over? Were they investigating in the wrong direction?
Helian Wei Wei continued calmly, "Nothing's impossible, after all, most people will have hunched backs once they're old."
"Princess Consort, do you mean to say that the criminal is an elderly person?" The Secretary felt that this conclusion was too unimaginable. "How could an elderly person be so agile that she was able to kidnap someone and not leave behind any traces?"
Helian Wei Wei smiled. "So what if it was an elderly person? The more harmless someone is, the more the victims would lower their guards. Before this I kept wondering, why did the missing people not scream for help? But now I get it, there are two reasons why they didn't cry for help. Firstly, it was a person that they were familiar with, secondly, it was the process of them getting abducted. The alley is a small place, so any noise could easily be heard, but when the three of them went missing, other than Zhang Ling'er and Zhang Yu's quarrel, the other two disappeared silently, which was abnormal. So I deduced what may have happened after Zhang Yu left. Normally, the darker the night was, the higher the possibility for people to follow their familiar paths. From the alley to the homes of these missing people, there was one shortcut that only the people from the alley knew. In this period of time, they would walk very fast, because women tend to increase their walking speed when walking alone at night, plus they'll be highly alert. Even though there was nobody behind them, they'll feel like there's something behind, moreover, there was real danger at that time."
"That is even weirder, since they were alert, why didn't they call for help? Even if it was an acquaintance, they should scream as a reflex action." The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs still felt doubtful, after all, he had handled many cases before.
Helian Wei Wei looked at him and said, "Because that person did not appear from behind them, but in front of them. Better yet, she could be standing in front of her own house, disposing water or something, as that would look natural and normal, so they would not cry for help. Instead, they will lower their guard and approach her naturally. Then, when they weren't paying attention, she would cover their mouths with a handkerchief that was readily prepared. Finally, she would drag them into her own yard, without anyone noticing, and no time wasted."
"I don't understand, do you mean the criminal already knew that they were coming this way? Wait a minute! Standing in front of her own house?" The Secretary widened his eyes even more. "The criminal is living in the alley?"
"Yes." Helian Wei Wei smiled gradually. "And to know when the victims were coming home was not a hard task, after all, they were all living in the alley. Additionally, the timing of their secret dates with Zhang Yu was consistent. All she needed to do was prepare everything beforehand, and then wait for the victims to fall into the trap themselves. Even if the officials investigate, she won't get into trouble. Besides appearing harmless, there was Zhang Yu who would most likely be suspected as a criminal. Also, Lord Zhang wouldn't tell the truth about the alley to the higher ups in order to protect his son. If the higher ups really
wanted to investigate, she wouldn't be scared either, because she knew that even if she didn't say it herself, the residents of the alley would talk about Zhang Yu's affairs, so the most fitting suspect would still be Zhang Yu. She just needed to be an onlooker, living peacefully and comfortably while erasing the girls that she hated. At the same time, she could put all the blame on Zhang Yu."
The more the Secretary listened, the more terrified he felt. "This, this plan couldn't be more perfect." Not only was it perfect, it was downright evil. If it was not for the Princess Consort, this case would have remained unsolved.
"Even the most perfect plan has its flaws." Baili Jia Jue, who had not opened his mouth the whole time, continued the conversation unexpectedly, his s.e.xy, charming lips curved mockingly. "It was obviously karma."
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs was at a loss for words.
"That's true, this was a personal revenge in the first place." Helian Wei Wei started laughing, as she glanced nonchalantly at Zhang Yu who was kneeling on the floor. "For a playboy with no morality to cause such great trouble, even the Path of Reincarnation was nearly closed due to this incident. He's such an eyesore no matter how I look at it. Forget it, let the Shadow Guard castrate him."
Right after Helian Wei Wei spoke, Zhang Yu felt his legs being lifted by somebody, followed by a flash of a blade. There was no chance for him to beg for his life. Excruciating pain spread from his lower body to his entire being, before he passed out from the agony!
Lord Zhang rushed over and cradled his beloved son by his head. "Why? Princess Consort, didn't you say that the criminal is not my son?"
"Indeed he is not the criminal, but the cause of all these things was because he had stolen someone else's fiancee," Helian Wei Wei said without any changes to her expression. "Lord Zhang should know better than I do about your son's behaviour. Those three affairs included one with consent from the girl, one where the girl was reluctant, and one where he was simply toying her around. Lord Zhang, you've protected your son for such a long time, you should also be careful while walking at night, who knows, someone might be after you to seek revenge..."
Chapter 695 - The Culprit Has Been Revealed
After listening to Helian Wei Wei, Lord Zhang felt chills ran down his back. He had never felt this sensation before, it was as though there was nothing he could do to hide all the dirty things he had done from this person.
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs was unaware of the cause and effect of the incident. He had a vague feeling that the problem was with the fiancee, so he asked Helian Wei Wei hurriedly, "Princess Consort, so you mean that because his fiancee had been stolen, he held a grudge in his heart and prepared these for his vengeance."
"No. To be exact, her beloved son's fiancee had been stolen. Being a mother who wants to decide everything for her son, and thinks that her son is the best in the world, she couldn't accept the fact that those girls would rather choose a playboy over her own son." Helian Wei Wei rubbed her fingers as her lips curved up into a smile. "Thinking to highly of one's own son is also a kind of sickness."
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs was stunned because he had never heard of this argument before.
Meanwhile, Lord Zhang yelled like he had been electrocuted. "Old Lady Wang! The criminal is Old Lady Wang!"
"You're not that stupid after all." Helian Wei Wei smiled, but her gaze was cold. "Such a clever person, yet you couldn't be a good official, you shall stop being one then."
Lord Zhang looked over abruptly. "Princess Consort, you can't…"
Helian Wei Wei did not listen to him, instead she glanced over at Baili Jia Jue and said lazily, "He said I can't take his position away."
The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs looked left and right. According to the Ancestral System, women of the palace were not allowed to involve themselves in affairs regarding the official positions. Previously, His Highness disliked how Empress Murong wanted to assign people to the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, thus he slapped Empress Murong on the spot, humiliating Empress Murong so badly.
Now by doing this, the Princess Consort must have crossed His Highness's biggest taboo...
However, Baili Jia Jue just grinned playfully and held Helian Wei Wei's hand, massaging it softly. He then said without haste, "Shadow, didn't you hear the Princess Consort? Remove his official headwear and kick him out."
"Yes." Shadow appeared quickly, swiftly moving only one hand.
The black gauze headwear on Lord Zhang's head was gone just like that, his hair fell around his face in a shameful mess.
Helian Wei Wei could not care less. "What an awful official, he even dared to use the Ancestral System to press me. Am I that easy to be pressed down?"
"Yeah." Baili Jia Jue was still massaging her hand. In a voice so low that only the two of them could hear, he continued, "You truly aren't easy to be pressed down, after all, you prefer being on top of me rather than staying bottom, am I right?"
Helian Wei Wei was suddenly speechless, even her ears had turned red.
"I guessed correctly?" Baili Jia Jue enjoyed seeing her embarrassed. Lowering his head, he planted a kiss on the tip of her ear, his eyes brimming with gentleness.
Helian Wei Wei rubbed her ear before she mumbled softly, "There are still people around."
"Are there?" Baili Jia Jue raised his gaze, and looked towards the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs.
"No, no! Actually, I don't even exist!" The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs immediately covered his eyes, turned around and left. These days you need to have foresight to be an imperial official!
Helian Wei Wei looked at the figure of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs who was walking away while murmuring, and started laughing. "These people around you, there is not one of them who don't fear you."
Baili Jia Jue did not deny it, and held her tightly with a half smile. "Is it that funny?"
Considering the age of the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs, he still needed to play along with His Highness' devilish humour, how pitiful, hahaha.
"Still laughing?" Baili Jia Jue reached out to hold Helian Wei Wei's chin gently. Speaking between breaths, his sensual voice was like a hook, pulling her in, "Believe it or not, I will press you down right now if you keep laughing."
Helian Wei Wei stopped laughing immediately. She truly believed that His Highness was someone who was capable of doing reckless things regardless of the situation, environment or place!
"Thinking about it, we haven't done it in such an overbearing place." As Baili Jia Jue spoke, his left hand slid under her clothes, massaging skillfully. He thought about it with a contemplating look on his face, making Helian Wei Wei wonder if he was thinking about some important matters.
Unexpectedly, his next sentence was, "We can try that when we get back later."
Helian Wei Wei was speechless. Can you not say something so indecent with such a serious tone?!
"Capture the criminal first, then we'll talk about it." Helian Wei Wei pushed him away, then she kissed that perfect face with a gentle smile. "That Old Lady Wang probably isn't human anymore. A mere case of disappearances couldn't possibly produce that many evil spirits with the aura of resentment. Something must have happened to her, we must analyze the situation clearly. Besides, I think she might have some things left unfinished…"
It was nighttime, and the fog grew thicker outside.
Yan Liu'er felt very guilty after witnessing the two young masters getting captured. She knew very well that she could not go out at this hour, but she still wanted to pay a visit to the yamen.
After all, the two young masters were targeted by Young Master Zhang because she had said the words "Feng Shui specialist".
She must find a way to help them.
Yan Liu'er's parents were in another building, chatting about the weird things that had happened these past few days, hence they did not notice the noise outside.
It was snowing heavily that night. The North wind was whipping around crazily, even the wooden doors were squeaking, making it easier for Yan Liu'er to sneak out.
As the night fell, very few people remained in the long alley, but all the houses were lit.
Yan Liu'er tightened her cotton robe, and marched forward with her head down. She walked very quickly, and took a sharp left turn into the narrow alley.
In the beginning, Yan Liu'er did not sense anything odd, because she just wanted to reach the yamen as soon as possible.
Soon after, she felt something watching her from behind.
That feeling sent chills down her back. She dared not look back as regret surged in her heart.
Thinking of this, Yan Liu'er walked faster, as if she was running away from something. However, she did not know that there was nothing behind her, and it was all just her delusion.
Just then, a wooden door to her left opened before her!
It was Old Lady Wang's house!
Yan Liu'er thought she would be safe once she reached there...
Chapter 696 - Just As Wei Wei Deduced
"Liu'er, why are you out at this hour?" Old Lady Wang's silhouette was shrouded in darkness. She was carrying a wooden basin, looking like she was about to throw out some water.
Yan Liu'er held onto Old Lady Wang's arm immediately. Making a shushing gesture, she whispered while panting, "I, I think there's someone chasing after me."
"Then get in here quickly, you can hide for a while," Old Lady Wang said calmly as she pulled Yan Liu'er through the door.
Yan Liu'er had no doubts and stepped in right away, even closing the door behind her. She leaned against the door and sighed, the shock still lingered in her heart. "That's too dangerous, good thing you appeared just in time."
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