FBC – Chapter 215 Who Set the Fire

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When Gu Hua arrived, the fire had already been extinguished.

Wang Linyi had almost completely lost consciousness. She was curled up in a corner, staring blankly at the pitch-black courtyard.

Gu Hua crouched down and held her hand—it was ice cold.

“Mother, are you alright?”

Wang Linyi’s eyes flickered slightly. She stared at her in a daze, lips trembling, but no words came out.

Zhou Zhilan and Dong Hua went to help her up, but she couldn’t stand at all, so the two of them had no choice but to carry her.

Gu Hua’s heart ached a little for her and she ordered, “Take her back to the manor. Have Shen Li take a look at her.”

After watching them carry her away, Gu Hua turned back and saw a group of fire patrol soldiers examining the scene. She walked over and asked their leader, “What happened here?”

The man turned and glanced at Gu Hua. Seeing her dressed in mourning white, he didn’t recognize her.

Dong Mo quickly explained, “Officer, this is the Madam of Duke Yong.”

At that, the leader and his men were all startled. They hurried over and bowed respectfully.

“So it is Madam Mu—we pay our respects.”

The leader spoke with some emotion: “Madam, please accept our condolences. We are of humble status and have no right to pay our respects at the manor, but we have always deeply admired Duke Yong.”

“There’s no need for such courtesy, officer.”

Gu Hua hadn’t expected them to say this and gave a slight bow in return.

The soldiers quickly bent even lower in response.

Gu Hua looked around at the wreckage. “How did the fire start? Even though winter is dry, it was both windy and rainy yesterday.”

Dong Mo said, “Yesterday when I came with the men to deliver things, we checked everything. We feared someone might leave a fire unattended, so the braziers weren’t lit ahead of time. But they had just gone inside, and then suddenly the fire broke out.”

The leader exchanged a glance with his men, then lowered his voice. “Madam, since you’ve come in person, I dare not hide anything. Please, allow me a private word.”

Seeing his solemn expression, Gu Hua immediately sensed something was amiss.

The two of them stepped aside.

“Madam Mu, this was actually deliberate arson. When we arrived, the main gate had been barred from the outside. The doors of the main house and the east wing were all bolted shut. An elderly couple in the main house and a man in the east wing all died inside—they couldn’t get out and were burned alive.”

Gu Hua’s eyes widened. “Deliberate arson?”

“Yes. Moreover, the gate and courtyard had been doused with kerosene. Otherwise, the fire could not have spread so fast and so fiercely.”

Gu Hua felt a heavy suffocation in her chest.

Her mother had only just escaped her suffering and reunited with family. Who could be so vicious, to kill people like this?

After thinking it through, she realized—it could only be the Gu family or the Wang family.

Neither family wanted Wang Linyi to divorce, let alone establish her own household.

“Madam, shall we report this to the Kaifeng Prefecture Office?”

“Report it!”

Gu Hua gritted her teeth. “The murderer must not be allowed to walk free.”

“Yes, Madam. We will continue to examine carefully and submit all evidence to the Kaifeng Prefecture.”

“All right, thank you.” Gu Hua glanced at Dong Mo.

Dong Mo took a brocade pouch from his bosom and handed it over. “Sir magistrate, you’ve worked hard — give the men some hot wine.”

The man leading them didn’t refuse either; after all, the brothers really wanted something warm to drink, and he accepted it with thanks.

As soon as Gu Hua returned home she went to see Wang Lanyi.

She was leaning dumbly against the bed. Seeing Gu Hua enter, she sat up at once; before she could speak, tears streamed down her face.

“Hua’er…”

Gu Hua sat at the bedside and soothingly stroked her back. “Mother, it’s all right now.”

“Your maternal grandfather is dead, your uncle is dead…”

Wang Lanyi’s cries grew so violent she could barely catch her breath and couldn’t form coherent sentences.

Gu Hua’s eyes reddened too; she could understand her mother’s mixture of grief and shock.

After crying for a long while, Wang Lanyi forced herself to say, “It— it was the Gu family who killed them… I saw the Gu family’s servants in the alley.”

“Are you sure? Who did you see?”

“I didn’t see faces clearly, but they were definitely Gu family servants — I recognized their clothes.”

Gu Hua’s face darkened. “Alright, I understand. You rest well for now. I’ll have people report this to the Kaifeng Prefecture and they’ll get to the bottom of it.”

Wang Lanyi sobbed, “Your maternal grandfather and uncle…”

“Don’t worry, Mother. I’ve already told people to get the mortuary staff to prepare their appearance and buy the best coffins. We’ll set up the ancestral hall tomorrow — you should go and pay your respects then.”

Shen Li entered with the maid who carried medicine.

“Give her the medicine and let her sleep.”

“All right.”

Gu Hua stood and had the maid feed Wang Lanyi the medicine.

The next day.

The little courtyard had been tidied, and both the mortuary and the House of the Duke Yong had arranged the ancestral hall.

But Wang Lanyi’s branch of the family had few relatives left; even those from the Wang clan in Langya who knew them well didn’t dare come to the ritual.

Wang Lanyi, clad in mourning rags, looked dazed as she burned paper money.

Gu Hua stayed beside her and helped burn the offerings.

Dong Mo brought someone in. “Madam, the magistrate from Kaifeng Prefecture has arrived.”

Gu Hua rose to meet him.

“Your Excellency.” Seeing the magistrate, Gu Hua cupped her hands in greeting.

The magistrate quickly returned the salute. “Madam Mu, I’ve brought the coroner and my men to inspect the scene and I’ve questioned the neighbors around here.”

Seeing Gu Hua listening intently, his expression grew more serious. “We can confirm arson. We found flints and oil at the scene. I’ve already dispatched men to check places in the capital that sell oil — there should be results soon.”

“Sir, my mother says she saw Gu family servants skulking around there right after she came home yesterday.”

The magistrate’s face darkened. “The Gu family? Very possible. Weren’t you supposed to come to the Kaifeng Prefecture this morning to have the divorce papers and household-establishment documents prepared? Perhaps this is connected. After all, neither the Wang family nor the Gu family wants Madam Wang to get what she desires.”

Gu Hua nodded. “Investigate it — thoroughly. Magistrate, please have the prefecture office prepare the documents as usual; I will take them to both the Gu and Wang households today.”

“Very well. Madam, you may send someone with me back to the office now; the papers can be prepared immediately.”

“Dong Mo, go with the magistrate.”

Kaifeng Prefecture moved quickly; in less than an hour the documents were delivered.

Gu Hua handed the box containing the documents to Wang Lanyi.

“Mother, the divorce certificate and the household-establishing papers are ready.”

Wang Lanyi stared at the box numbly. “We really… divorced?”

“Really. You’ve also been registered as head of your own household. From now on you are independent and free — no one can bind you again.”

Tears fell from Wang Lanyi’s eyes as she clutched the box tightly.

“Mother, shall we go to the Gu residence?”

“Yes!” Wang Lanyi suddenly lifted her head, teeth clenched. “I will seek justice for Father, Mother, and my brother!”

The Gu household was terrified when Gu Hua and Wang Lanyi stormed in with a dark, pressing crowd; they hurried to notify others.

Gu Yuan, supported because of his back injury, was brought out. Seeing the two women flanked by a press of people, he became furious and pointed at them, shouting.

“You two venomous women — how dare you show your faces here!”

Wang Lanyi coldly stepped two paces closer and grabbed his lapel, shouting at him, “You Gu — you are the most murderous beast of all! Why did you kill my father, mother, and brother? I gave up the title of lady of the marquisate — why did you still pursue us to the very end?!”

Gu Yuan had never seen her like this before; he was so startled he couldn’t react at first.

Wang Lanyi cried and yelled, “Answer me! Why won’t you let us go!”

Spattered with her spittle, Gu Yuan finally snapped to and tried to shove her away. “Madwoman! Pull this madwoman off!”

But Gu Hua stood with her people, and no one in the Gu household dared make a move.

Gu Hua walked over and took Wang Lanyi by the shoulder. “Mother, business first.”

Obedient, Wang Lanyi released Gu Yuan. Her eyes were raw and red as fire; she stared at Gu Yuan as if she wanted to devour him.

Gu Yuan’s face went white with fear.

Gu Hua threw the divorce papers at Gu Yuan’s face. “Gu Yuan — the divorce is settled. But as for the arson and murder, today you’ll be made to answer for that properly.”

Gu Yuan looked bewildered. “What arson and murder?”

Only then did he realize Wang Lanyi’s earlier shout about being wiped out.

He widened his eyes. “Wang Lanyi, you’ve divorced me and still plan to frame me?”

Gu Hua pulled Wang Lanyi down to sit. “We’ll see after an investigation. Chi Yu, start the interrogations with those near Gu Yuan.”

Chi Yu shouted his assent.

Gu Yuan leapt up. “How dare you! I am a marquis — you dare use private punishment in my household?”

“Marquis?” Wang Lanyi glared, eyes blazing. “You favored a concubine and destroyed my marriage, you tried to kill me twice, and now you’ve killed my parents and brother. If Kaifeng Prefecture does not pronounce your guilt, I will beat the Drum of Public Notice and petition the emperor myself. Let’s see if your marquisate can still save you!”

Gu Yuan went pale.

Over by the side, several people were already being forced onto chairs and beaten; screams rose one after another as the Gu household servants trembled in fear.