Zhang San, please behave yourself!
Chapter 417 - 392: Do You Know Your Father’s Surname?

Chapter 417: Chapter 392: Do You Know Your Father’s Surname?

After checking, Zhang San found that the nine people who died in the major fire some time ago were the palace maids, wet nurses, and personal guards who had once taken care of the last Emperor of the Northern Zhou, who is also the eldest daughter of Emperor Kaihuang, Yang Lihua’s son, Yuwen Ming.

Since all these people had cared for Yuwen Ming, after his death, they always followed Yang Lihua, who was then titled Princess Changle.

However, Yang Lihua knew that her child had been poisoned to death by Emperor Kaihuang, so she self-declared as the Chamber Head of Changle, nearly breaking with Emperor Kaihuang.

Those who had once taken care of Yuwen Ming also always stayed by Yang Lihua’s side.

As Zhang San searched for these clues, he also recorded some of the key relationships between the important figures on paper.

After seeing this information, Zhang San suddenly thought that there might be a possibility: what if the Rune Array didn’t revolve around the Yuwen Imperial Clan’s Five Kings of the past, but the last Emperor of the Northern Zhou, Yuwen Ming?

At that moment, Hu Xingxiang walked over with several volumes of documents.

"San Lang, I found some places that seem a bit off. Look here, and here, and also here."

Zhang San glanced at the documents Hu Xingxiang brought over, and Shen Erxian, who was nearby, also curiously looked over.

Even Ximen Jinxing, who was not far away, came over, curious about what Hu Xingxiang had found.

"I feel that there are problems with these records of people going in and out of the Imperial Palace, especially starting from here..."

"First, family members could be permitted to enter the Imperial Palace, but there had never been a precedent for family members of this level to enter the Imperial Palace before. And the Emperor of the Northern Zhou liked to leave the palace to wander."

"Later on, the Emperor of the Northern Zhou also bestowed many rewards on this official."

"And then this official’s son entered the palace to manage the archives, and after making a meritorious contribution, the Emperor even wanted to bestow the Yuwen family name upon him. But it didn’t succeed, and later on..."

Viewing the information on any single volume on its own would not allow for piecing these bits of information together.

But if all the pieces of information were linked together, a classic scene of a foolish ruler and his official’s wife could gradually take shape in one’s mind.

Zhang San, looking at the records on these volumes, thought that if this was true, then it’s likely the official’s son was not his biological child, but the bloodline of the former Emperor of the Northern Zhou.

In that case, he was the blood of the Emperor of the Northern Zhou, but the Emperor could not give him legitimacy, which explained the attempt to bestow the Yuwen family name upon him.

However, the merits he established were not significant enough, so it did not succeed.

But this person had the bloodline of the Yuwen Imperial Clan in him if lineage was to be considered, he should be counted as an uncle of Yuwen Ming.

At this moment, Zhang San sat down and began to analyze the situation calmly.

Throughout this time, Zhang San always felt that the Rune Array related to the Floating Corpse Case had something to do with numbers, which led him to think of the Five Kings.

After all, when Emperor Kaihuang was not yet Emperor Kaihuang, it was precisely by eliminating the Five Kings of the Yuwen Imperial Clan that he completely removed all obstacles to his ascension to the throne.

Therefore, the Five Kings were vitally important to Emperor Kaihuang.

For this reason, Zhang San had always believed that everything should revolve around the Five Kings.

But if the starting point was wrong and the real core wasn’t the Five Kings, then it ought to be the last Emperor of the Northern Zhou.

The one who abdicated the throne to his maternal grandfather and was then poisoned by his maternal grandfather’s orders, Yuwen Ming.

If it was Yuwen Ming...

The reason why so many of the dead in the Floating Corpse Case were chosen could be explained.

Suddenly, Zhang San thought of something and asked Shen Erxian, who was standing nearby, "Second Master Shen, the Rune Array found near the well to the south of the city by the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture’s office—has it completely lost its effect?"

Shen Erxian nodded.

"It’s completely ineffective."

"Are you sure it’s ineffective, and not just a case where it was ineffective to begin with, simply carved but of no use?"

Hearing this question, Shen Erxian furrowed his brow in thought and then said, "Uncertain. Because we saw the Rune Array was among those that would appear in the Floating Corpse Case, and many parts were damaged, we assumed the Array was ineffective. But whether it was truly a genuine Array or just a regular pattern that appeared to be an Array, it’s unknown."

"Shen Erxian, we’ve almost finished looking through the documents here. Please go back to the Magistrate of Metropolitan Prefecture’s office immediately and send someone to examine that place again. You must determine whether the Array is truly ineffective, or if it was a fake to begin with. Remember, this matter must be kept absolutely secret; do not let anyone know, do you understand?"

Shen Erxian nodded, stood up, stretched lazily, and turned with a smile, "Your little rascal, finally letting me go! My back is almost broken."

"Second Master Shen, with our relationship, would I harm you by having you not go to your duty without reason? Rest assured, once the matter is settled, I’ll treat you to a big meal of kidneys!"

Second Master Shen waved his hand with a smile and said, "Forget the kidneys, when you open your restaurant later, just invite me to..."

Second Master Shen’s words were cut off halfway when he noticed a golden orange cat squatting on the ground by the pavilion, voraciously gnawing on a lamb leg.

"Zhang San, even your cat eats this well. When your restaurant opens, you have to let me enjoy a few good meals there."

"Definitely, definitely!"

As Zhang San saw off Second Master Shen, he glanced at the Tiger Demon.

The Tiger Demon felt wronged, What’s wrong with eating a bit of meat? Back on Mingzhi Mountain, I even ate people; can’t I eat a bit of meat now?

After sending off Second Master Shen, Zhang San wrote a letter and handed it to Hu Xingxiang.

"Hu Xingxiang, take this letter with you, call on Senior Xu and Senior Wei, and go to the Yu Family to find my sister. After giving her the letter, you’ll stay at her place for the time being."

"Ah!? And what about you, San Lang?"

Zhang San laughed and said, "I have other matters to attend to. Jin Xiang, Sixth, let’s go!"

With that, Zhang San left the house with Ximen Jinxing and Wang Ziteng, heading straight for Pei Shouqi’s home.

Upon arriving at Pei Shouqi’s, they immediately sent a servant to call him back from the Ministry of War.

Lady Yu entertained Zhang San and the others warmly, chuckling, "Congratulations! I heard that Emperor Kaihuang has pardoned you. Now that you are free from suspicion, you must be in line for a promotion, with high hopes for advancement!"

Zhang San knew this was just polite chitchat, the kind of auspicious words one offers, so he didn’t take it seriously, merely responding with "I’ll take your kind words."

After the brief pleasantries, Zhang San inquired, "Sister-in-law, you know I have a good relationship with Big Brother Pei and my young brother Pei Shoushen, and as for you, I’ve never considered you an outsider. So, there’s something I’d like to ask you."

"Go ahead, even if it wasn’t for my husband, for the sake of Young Sister Ximen’s face, whatever it is you want to know, Zhang San, I’ll tell you what I know."

"Sister-in-law, do you know your father’s surname?"

At that moment, the living room fell into an eerie silence.

Wang Ziteng lowered his head, pretending he had heard nothing, thinking, I don’t really know this person.

Although Ximen Jinxing understood what Zhang San was getting at, he still felt something was off about the situation.

Lady Yu looked bewilderedly at Zhang San and retorted, "Wouldn’t my grandfather’s surname be Yu?"

After speaking, Lady Yu seemed to recall something and said with a smile, "Oh... I remember now, my grandfather was once granted a surname by the Emperor of Northern Zhou; originally, our family name was Chen."

Zhang San continued to ask, "Another somewhat presumptuous question, what was your great-grandfather’s attitude towards your grandfather?"

Lady Yu thought for a moment and shook her head, "Those were things from very early in my childhood, I don’t remember clearly. But the relationship between my great-grandfather and great-grandmother wasn’t very good. As a child, I often saw the old couple quarreling incessantly, but I was young then and didn’t understand what they were arguing about."

Zhang San nodded slightly and said, "I see, thank you, sister-in-law. Since you’ve helped me clear up my confusion, I can’t leave without showing some gratitude..."

Lady Yu thought Zhang San might be there to present a gift, as why else would he ask such peculiar questions?

But just as Lady Yu was about to refuse any gesture from Zhang San, she heard him say, "Then let me tell you a story, sister-in-law."

Hmm... it seems he wasn’t there to give a gift.

"Once upon a time, there was a tyrant, extremely cruel, causing everyone in the imperial court to live in fear. What’s more appalling about this tyrant was that he dishonored his subjects’ wives, laying hands on other men’s spouses, truly vile! But it was precisely this peculiar predilection that resulted in some of the subjects’ wives bearing his bloodline."

"Although it was the imperial bloodline, born of the ministers’ wives, if this got out, it would likely cast a bad light; thus..."

"The Emperor brought his offspring from outside into the palace to become a minor official and created opportunities for him to achieve merit."

"Achieving merit inevitably leads to a reward, thus, the Emperor could legitimately grant the minor official a surname, the same surname as the Emperor."

"However, not just anyone can accept the Emperor’s surname. The ministers were quite dissatisfied, and the Emperor too was worried that if he made it too obvious, others might see through it. Despite being a tyrant, he still wanted to save face. So, he took only one character from his two-character surname and bestowed it upon the minor official..."

Before Zhang San finished his story, Lady Yu’s complexion had already changed dramatically.

"Zhang San, there are some matters one must not speak of carelessly!"

Zhang San gave a wry smile and retorted, "Sister-in-law, do you think I’ve come here in broad daylight to spin tales out of boredom?"

Hearing this, Lady Yu fell silent.

It was then that Pei Shouqi returned.

"San Lang has arrived! It’s such a relief to hear all is well with you. I was planning to visit you during the Mid-Autumn Festival in a few days."

Zhang San glanced at Lady Yu, who, understanding his intent, nodded.

"Big Brother Pei, I’ve come to your home today to tell you a secret."

Pei Shouqi sat down, intrigued, "What secret? Are you Emperor Kaihuang’s illegitimate child? Is that why you’re alright? Hahaha..."

Pei Shouqi sat down, joking, and took a sip of water.

"Your sister-in-law may be Emperor Kaihuang’s granddaughter."

Spurt—

Pei Shouqi sprayed the water all over the table.

"What!?"

Zhang San then recounted all the information and speculations he uncovered.

"Of course, I can’t be one hundred percent certain about this matter, but with the Floating Corpse Case ongoing, I fear for your sister-in-law’s safety. I will write a letter now, and then Big Brother Pei, you take your sister-in-law to the Yu Family. Lady Yu is like a sister to me, and you both must surely be aware of her true identity. With her there, your sister-in-law will be absolutely safe."

"But... this... I... How about I take your sister-in-law and we leave the Capital for a bit? After the fifteenth of the eighth month, things should be alright, shouldn’t they?"

Zhang San looked at the flustered Pei Shouqi and said softly, "Big Brother Pei, can you guess why your grandfather Pei Renwu was posted in Sword South Path, yet you are in the Capital? I might be able to leave the Capital, but could you?"

Pei Shouqi fell silent, glanced at his wife, and then nodded, agreeing to Zhang San’s suggestion.

Upon leaving the Pei house, Ximen Jinxing asked, "If Sister Yu is in danger, then we’ve only locked onto one person. There are still four others we need to find, right?"

Zhang San shook his head.

"Perhaps, what we’re looking for isn’t five people but one person! The last and most crucial person!"