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The next day, Feng Yinxiao had the Three Maidservants call a few constables to the estate to carry away the two corpses, while he and Yun Kexin walked behind.
"Yun Kexin, I have an unreasonable request," Feng Yinxiao said with a heavy heart as they descended the steps. "If the Ministry of Justice wants to ask questions later, could you please refrain from mentioning the suspect's confession from last night? Because—"
"I understand, Brother Feng. I won't say anything," Yun Kexin replied with a light smile. "There are too many doubts about this matter; we can first investigate the situation quietly."
"The main thing is that I want to talk to my father. Although I believe he is innocent," Feng Yinxiao suddenly recalled what Ma Minghao had told him last time. He stopped, turned to face Yun Kexin, and said, "There's also a personal matter I want to clarify with him, which concerns Second House Lord Yun You."
Yun Kexin was taken aback. "A personal matter? Concerning Second Uncle?"
"Yes, my attendant told me," Feng Yinxiao was unaware that he had been completely open with Yun Kexin. "When the second lord was in mourning, my father wanted to pay his respects but was stopped by Uncle..."
Yun Kexin widened her eyes in confusion. "Is that so? Why?"
Feng Yinxiao looked elsewhere, shaking his head in frustration. "I don't know, so I need to find an opportunity to talk to my father and understand the situation better."
"That's fine; I have no objections," Yun Kexin said. It was rare for her to see Feng Yinxiao in such a state, and she suddenly felt the urge to comfort him. "Just let me know the results of your discussion afterward."
"Thank you for your trust, Yun Kexin," Feng Yinxiao turned back, his brow relaxing a bit. "I'll go back and talk to my father before coming to find you."
The earnest promise in his eyes and tone once again warmed Yun Kexin's heart. She didn't say anything but smiled gently and nodded before they caught up with the others ahead.
The group went with the constables carrying the bodies to the government office responsible for the case in the capital. After recording their statements as previously arranged, Feng Yinxiao escorted them to the gate of the Duke of E's residence before returning to the Duke of Yan's residence. His attendant Ma Minghao informed him that the Duke was waiting for Young Lord to return for a discussion and mentioned that Duke Feng was currently practicing calligraphy in his study.
When Feng Yinxiao found his father, Feng Hongrui was writing at an incense table made of green bronze and purple sandalwood. Hearing the noise, he looked up—thirty-seven years old, wearing a golden crown and dressed in a dark blue robe with gold trim and floral patterns, he had a slender build, an elongated face, thick eyebrows, large eyes, a kind expression, and a calm demeanor.
Feng Yinxiao stood with one hand resting at his side and the other elbow bent in front of his abdomen, his tall figure blocking much of the light behind him.
"Father..." Feng Yinxiao called softly with a smile.
"Xiao'er is back; come here," Duke Feng called out with a smile. "I've finally been waiting for you to return."
Feng Yinxiao smiled without speaking and obediently walked over to see what his father had just written—
“Father's handwriting remains as strong and powerful as ever, effortlessly controlled.”
“Old man…” the Duke of Wind humbly waved his hand and smiled, “Where has my son been working recently? Why haven't I heard from you? Even the Attendant hasn't come along.”
Feng Yinxiao immediately composed himself and said solemnly, “Father, I would like to discuss something with you. Is it convenient?”
Seeing his son's serious and solemn expression, Feng Hongrui paused and asked, “Does my son have something on his mind?”
Feng Yinxiao turned around, closed the door, and returned to face his father. After a long moment, he slowly said:
“Father, I want to know whether our family's relationship with the Duke of E State Mansion is genuine or not.”
“Of course, last time it was the Second Master who brought his eldest son Yun Ke to pay you a visit as your disciple, wasn't it?” Feng Hongrui answered without hesitation, then curiously asked, “Why has Xiao suddenly thought to ask this?”
“Then why did you avoid going out after the Second Master had an incident? You didn't even send condolences,” Feng Yinxiao asked directly without giving the Duke of Wind a chance to catch his breath. “I heard from the Attendant that you initially intended to go but later changed your mind after listening to Uncle. Why was that?”
Feng Hongrui's facial expression became unnatural, and his gaze flickered slightly: “Why are you asking these things?”
The avoidance from Father made Feng Yinxiao feel there must be some hidden truth behind it that he needed to clarify.
“I just don't understand. Since the two families have a good relationship, why were you absent when a friend was in trouble and your presence was needed for comfort?” Feng Yinxiao looked at his father, disappointment evident in his tone. “This is not your style, nor does it resemble the Father I have always respected.”
Feng Hongrui lowered his head, his gaze falling on the characters he had written. He sighed and said, “Xiao'er, there are many things—”
“I am already thirteen years old,” Feng Yinxiao patiently replied, wanting Father to reveal the truth. “Having served in the palace, I have seen many human affairs. What is there that I cannot understand?”
“But why must Xiao know?” Feng Hongrui hesitated and murmured.
Feng Yinxiao took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts. He felt that since this matter concerned his own innocence and had occurred in Tian Zhuang, perhaps Father would speak candidly.
“I do not dare to deceive,” Feng Yinxiao opened his eyes and looked at the Duke of Wind softly. “I have been waiting at Tian Zhuang where the Second Master was harmed for several days now. Last night, I finally caught something.”
Feng Hongrui suddenly looked up, shocked as he stared at his son. "You were waiting in the fields to catch the murderer? Did you catch him? Where is the murderer now?"
"Father, do you know who the murderer is?" Feng Yinxiao did not answer his father's question and instead asked another.
"How would I know?" Feng Hongrui was taken aback by his son's unusual behavior and blurted out, "Yinxiao, if you have something to say, just say it directly. There's no need to be so cautious. What can't we discuss as father and son?!"
Feng Yinxiao paused slightly, licked his lips, and decisively said, "Yu Mu!"
"What? How could it be him?!" Feng Hongrui nearly shouted, his expression revealing his astonishment. "Are you sure, Yinxiao?"
Feng Yinxiao looked steadily at his surprised father, trying to find any hint of insincerity or deception on his youthful face, but there was none; his father was genuinely shocked.
"Sure," Feng Yinxiao replied succinctly. "After Yu Mu was expelled from the Duke's residence three years ago, he unexpectedly appeared working for the Earl of Eguo. It seems he is an 'insider.'"
"'Insider'?" Duke Feng widened his eyes in suspicion. "Whose insider could it be?"
Feng Yinxiao looked at his father, who was completely in the dark and at a loss. A weight lifted from his heart: he could determine that this matter had nothing to do with his father. But who would use his father's name to carry out such a heinous act?
"The murderer—" Feng Yinxiao paused for a moment and carefully stated, "is someone your father instructed to deal ruthlessly with the two old gentlemen. After obtaining the brocade box, they could return to the Duke's residence in Yan."
As expected, his father's reaction was within Feng Yinxiao's anticipation. With a loud bang, Duke Feng slammed his palm on the table, ink splattering from the inkstone onto the freshly written characters:
"Despicable! Detestable! Regrettable!" Duke Feng glared angrily, waving his arms furiously. "This is simply the most shameless slander and framing; Yu Mu is vile!"
Seeing that his father was angry, Feng Yinxiao hurriedly stepped forward to help him sit down and poured him a cup of water.
"Of course, I don't believe the murderer's baseless accusations or allow him to slander my father," Feng Yinxiao said calmly and soothingly. "But the murderer insists it was your father's intention and wants to confront you face-to-face..."
"Confront? Hmph!" Feng Hongrui slammed the teacup onto the table. "Let him come!" He stood up and walked to the door, extending his arm to point in a direction angrily. "Let him come! I want to see how this scoundrel Yu Mu dares to throw dirt on me." Duke Feng looked furious.
"The murderer is already dead," Feng Yinxiao stepped forward to support his father and said anxiously. "He was killed by a Crossbowman lying in ambush on the roof."
The Duke of Wind suddenly turned around, stopped breathing, and stared blankly at his son. He then coldly mocked, "Throwing dirty water before killing someone to silence them, creating a situation with no witnesses—truly a high-level move!"
"Father, there is a key issue here," Feng Yinxiao said. "Yu Mu insists that he acted on the instructions of someone else, and this person has a special relationship with you... Therefore, I came today to ask you, who exactly does Yu Mu refer to?"
"Do I even need to ask?" The Duke of Wind shot his son an annoyed glance and sarcastically remarked, "A murderer looking to escape blame will naturally harm anyone they can."
"I don't think so," Feng Yinxiao shook his head and thoughtfully analyzed. "Since Yu Mu dared to confront us with such words, there are two clear points: First, he is confident; second, the 'person very close to you' he mentioned must be someone he knows well, perhaps someone he has maintained contact with."
"However, I truly do not know who this Yu Mu refers to," the Duke of Wind said seriously as he looked at his son. "I have always maintained a somewhat distant relationship with my colleagues—not estranged but not overly intimate either. The only ones who could be considered 'very close' would be family."
As soon as the Duke of Wind said this, he abruptly stopped speaking, his eyes widening as if trying hard to see something clearly but always finding it unclear. Feng Yinxiao was also slightly taken aback: Family? Remembering his earlier thoughts about the difficulty of guarding against one's own family, he couldn't help but gasp in shock. He forced himself to calm down and collect his thoughts when suddenly another matter came to mind—
"Father, regarding Second Master's funeral, what did Uncle say to you that made you give up on paying your respects?" Feng Yinxiao asked almost pleadingly. "Please tell me honestly; I promise I will keep it a secret."
Suddenly, a suspicious flush appeared on Feng Hongrui's face, and his gaze began to evade. This was a rare occurrence for the usually forthright Duke of Wind. Feng Yinxiao felt confused: What secret could Father possibly be hiding?
"Because... of Second Madam," Feng Hongrui hesitated for a moment before finally stammering out half a sentence. "Your Uncle's appearance at this time would attract gossip and would be detrimental to Second Madam's reputation. Therefore, after careful consideration, I decided not to go."
A flicker of surprise crossed Feng Yinxiao's dark eyes: It seemed that Father held Second Madam in high regard and respect; why was that? But how did this relate to not attending Second Master's funeral? Feng Yinxiao was suddenly left in a fog. He wanted to ask for clarification but quickly decided against it. Instead, he resolved to find Seventh Sister; just the thought of seeing her again made him feel inexplicably happy...
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