The Second Madam’s earlier words had clearly accused Zheng Wenyàn of slandering Zheng Wenchen and harboring malicious intent. Yet when Huo Weilou asked this question, her expression showed obvious panic. She even lowered her head and struck Zheng Xiao lightly. “Xiao’er! What nonsense are you saying!”
“Third Brother only coveted the title. He never spoke ill-omened words.” Her eyes dropped, evasive, her tone tinged with fear.
Huo Weilou’s phoenix eyes narrowed. “Zheng Wenchen was murdered. If you conceal anything, the killer may remain hidden. Think carefully.”
The Second Madam’s brows furrowed, but she nodded. “Every word I spoke is true. I dare not deceive the Marquis.”
Huo Weilou studied her for a moment, then signaled Eunuch Fu to continue.
Eunuch Fu asked: “On the night Second Master died, why did you not go with him to the old madam’s mourning hall?”
Recalling that night, grief welled in her eyes. “We were to go together. But my husband said it was too early, that he would be embarrassed. After Mother’s death, Third Brother suspected my husband was involved. Soon, the whole household whispered that he had killed her. Even the servants looked at him differently. He grew angry, but nothing improved. For days, he hid in his room. That night, he thought to go later to the mourning hall.”
“My husband would not go early. But I did not wish to lose propriety. Our branch was already struggling. I endured for Xiao’er’s sake and went ahead with him. Later…”
She wiped her eyes. “They said my husband went to the Yaoyue Pavilion. I arrived first with Xiao’er and the servants. When I came, I saw him standing at the third-floor railing. I was just about to wonder — when I saw someone behind him…”
Fear filled her gaze. “I had no time to see who it was. I watched helplessly as my husband fell from above — fell to his death before me and Xiao’er.”
Tears streamed down. She sobbed, restrained yet heartbreaking. Zheng Xiao buried his face against her, sniffling softly. “If… if Third Brother had not suspected him, my husband would not have been distrusted. He would not have delayed going. He would not have died…” Her eyes closed tightly. Her trembling voice was full of sorrow and grievance, but little hatred — as if her frail body was spent, too weak to harbor resentment.
Huo Weilou asked: “Do you know why he went to the Yaoyue Pavilion?”
She shook her head while wiping tears. “I do not. The pavilion was for viewing scenery. When Elder Brother was still alive, he often gathered there. After he passed, only Mother sometimes summoned us there when the view was fine.”
This was strange. On the old madam’s seventh night, knowing rituals were to begin, why would he go alone to the secluded Yaoyue Pavilion? The pavilion had long been unused, covered in dust. Surely he did not go there to drink or admire the view. The only possibility was that someone had invited or lured him. But Zheng Wenchen was hot-tempered and of high status. How could anyone persuade him to go?
“Within the household, do you suspect anyone?”
When Huo Weilou asked, the Second Madam’s shoulders shrank — fear written plainly on her face. “I… I do not know. If anyone bore enmity against my husband, it was not obvious. The only possibility was the title…”
It took great effort for her to say this. She dared not openly accuse Zheng Wenyàn.
“On the seventh night, when did Zheng Wenyàn arrive at the mourning hall? Did he leave midway? And when Zheng Wenchen met his end, when did he appear?”
At this, the Second Madam quickly lifted her head, struggling to recall. Her eyes brightened slightly. “He came after Third Sister-in-law. They did not arrive together. Later, when my husband delayed too long, he sent men to search and left. As head of the household, he had many affairs and did not need to explain his whereabouts. I do not know where he went. Later, when the servant reported my husband had gone to the Yaoyue Pavilion, I hurried there and did not notice when Zheng Wenyàn arrived. But it seemed he came last…”
Her words matched Zheng Yunni’s testimony. Huo Weilou’s gaze sharpened. “When did Zheng Wenyàn press you to hand over the memorial?”
Only now did a trace of resentment show in her eyes. “On the third day after my husband’s death. My husband had Xiao’er. If Mother truly wrote the memorial and sealed it, I could have sent it to the capital, and the title would have passed to Xiao’er. That was why he came to force us. He even sent men to search our quarters. But if we truly had the memorial, why would we keep it instead of sending it? He found nothing. With so many watching, he had to leave empty-handed.”
There was nothing more to ask. Eunuch Fu said: “Second Madam, please summon Third Madam and Third Master.”
“No — call Fifth Master Zheng Wen’an.” Huo Weilou spoke, changing the order of questioning.
Eunuch Fu hesitated, then understood.
Fifth Master Zheng Wen’an entered, his manner gentle, bowing respectfully, every inch proper.
Eunuch Fu asked the same questions as before. On the night of the old madam’s death, Zheng Wen’an was with his wife, with seven or eight attendants in their courtyard to testify. On the night of Zheng Wenchen’s death, the couple arrived earliest and later joined the others at the Yaoyue Pavilion. Thus, they could be excluded.
Eunuch Fu then asked: “Fifth Master, do you suspect Second Master of harming the old madam?”
Zheng Wen’an hesitated briefly. “I do not.”
Eunuch Fu raised his brows. “Explain.”
Zheng Wen’an said: “Mother had difficulty bearing Second Brother, so she doted on him from childhood. That indulgence made his temper unruly. When Eldest Brother lived, he kept him in check. After the Eldest Brother’s death, the Second Brother grew less restrained. But though hot-tempered, he was weak in nature. He would not dare kill.”
“Within your household, is there talk that Zheng Wenyàn is an ill-omened man?”
At Huo Weilou’s sudden question, Zheng Wen’an’s brows lifted in surprise. But he quickly steadied himself. “Marquis, why do you ask this? What do you mean by such words?” He appeared completely unaware.
Eunuch Fu studied him for a moment, then glanced at Huo Weilou. Seeing Huo Weilou calm and unreadable, he said: “Fifth Master, you may go. Please send in Fifth Madam.”
Zheng Wen’an bowed and withdrew. Eunuch Fu murmured: “Wasn’t it said that Second Master would strike his wife?”
Huo Weilou replied coolly: “Only weak and incompetent men raise their hands against their wives.”
Fifth Madam Liu soon entered. Her testimony matched Zheng Wen’an’s exactly, and the questioning ended quickly. Eunuch Fu said: “Please summon Third Master.”
Zheng Wenyàn entered, already looking uneasy. Huo Weilou asked at once: “Why has the pharmacy key vanished?”
Zheng Wenyàn wore a bitter expression. “Marquis, the household has a duty hall for managing affairs. Important keys I keep with me. Lesser storeroom keys are kept in the duty hall’s study. The pharmacy key was among them. The pharmacy has not been open for many days, so I never checked. Today, when the prefect asked for it, I sent someone to fetch it — but it was gone.”
Huo Weilou pressed directly: “On the old madam’s seventh night, you arrived last, then left again. What did you do?”
Zheng Wenyàn hurried to explain: “I was late because I had to arrange quarters for the ritual masters. Later, when I heard Second Brother could not be found, I sent men to search. Then I recalled that Second Brother once said he was in the study and did not hear people calling outside. So I went to his study myself. The door was open, but no one was inside. Just as I came out, I heard he had gone to the Yaoyue Pavilion. I rushed there, but by then the accident had already happened.”
“Can anyone testify for you?”
Zheng Wenyàn looked troubled. “I… I met Steward Lin by the northwest flower garden when I left the study.”
But the northwest garden was close to both the pavilion and Zheng Wenyàn’s own quarters. Even if the steward saw him, it could not prove he had not gone to the pavilion.
Huo Weilou’s gaze sharpened like a blade. “Did you go to Second Brother’s study to find him — or to search for the memorial your mother prepared to petition for his investiture?”
At this, cold sweat broke across Zheng Wenyàn’s face. He gritted his teeth. “Marquis, I do not understand your meaning. I truly went to find Second Brother.”
Huo Weilou’s eyes did not change, still heavy with pressure.
Zheng Wenyàn grew desperate. “On the night Mother died, I was in my own quarters the whole time. I have witnesses. Marquis, you should not suspect me—”
At that moment, Huo Weilou stood. “Go to the pharmacy.”
Zheng Wenyàn wiped the sweat from his brow and answered respectfully. Huo Weilou strode out. As he passed Bo Ruoyou, his gaze swept over her face. “You come along.”
She obeyed, following behind Eunuch Fu and Prefect He.
The group left the side hall. In the flower hall, everyone’s faces were tense. Seeing Zheng Wenyàn drenched in sweat, leading Huo Weilou’s party outside, they tried to follow, but the Embroidered Guards stopped them.
The pharmacy lay in the northern wing of the estate. Because it was seldom used, the courtyard seemed desolate.
Inside, Zheng Wenyàn pointed to the left wing. “These three rooms are the pharmacy. Marquis, look — the locks are still fastened. Only the key is missing.”
Huo Weilou signaled the Embroidered Guard. The guard stepped forward, fiddled briefly, and the lock opened.
Zheng Wenyàn entered first, walking to a row of medicine cabinets. He found the drawer labeled “Mandrake” and pulled it open. “Datura is kept right here—”
But before he finished, his words broke off. The drawer was empty. Not a trace of datura remained.
“This… this is impossible…” He quickly opened five or six nearby drawers. They were full — ginseng, lingzhi, and other rare herbs. All the precious medicines were there. Only the datura was gone.
Huo Weilou looked at Zheng Wenyàn. “It seems you have some explaining to do.”