37: Chapter 37 A Feast? What a load of rubbish!

White lanterns were already hung on the main gate of the Wang Manor, and the black funeral banners on both sides fluttered slightly in the wind, making the vermilion gate look particularly eerie.

Several servants, dressed in mourning clothes, stood at the entrance, their eyes restlessly scanning the surroundings.

By the time Su Mo arrived at the gate, many people had already gathered in a bustling crowd, blocking the road in front of the Wang Manor completely.

A peddler carrying a pole lowered his voice and spoke.

"I heard Steward Wang died horribly; his body was even split into several pieces."

The vendor next to him also chimed in.

"Why did I hear that Steward Wang was struck dead by lightning?"

"Who cares how he died? I just want to taste Steward Wang's funeral feast today."

A ragged old man suddenly raised his voice.

"Serves him right! No one in the Wang Family is good. My son was beaten to death by them..."

A scholar-like young man nearby quickly tugged at the old man's sleeve.

"Shut up! Are you looking to die? Steward Wang's third daughter is the Emperor's most favored concubine. How many heads do you have to spare?"

Su Mo stood on the edge of the crowd, taking in all the discussions.

"Get out of the way! Everyone move!"

Suddenly, a commotion came from the back of the crowd.

A troop of guards dressed in brocade robes cleared the path, and an unusually luxurious carriage drove toward the Wang Manor.

Seeing this, everyone quickly moved to the side of the road, and Su Mo took the opportunity to blend into the crowd.

The carriage slowly stopped in front of the Wang Manor. The curtain was lifted, and a rich scent of rouge mixed with floral fragrance wafted out.

"It's Imperial Consort Wang, Niangniang!"

Someone exclaimed.

Su Mo narrowed his eyes and saw a woman in a purple palace dress slowly stepping out of the carriage, supported by a maid.

As soon as she got out of the carriage, the Wang Family servants at the entrance immediately rushed forward excitedly and knelt down.

"Greetings to Imperial Consort Niangniang."

Imperial Consort Wang acted as if she hadn't heard them, her apricot eyes fixed on the white lanterns hanging above the Wang Manor gate.

Not long after the servants knelt down, an Old Steward in his seventies hurriedly ran out of the Wang Manor.

As soon as he saw Imperial Consort Wang, he dropped to his knees with a "thump," his eyes filled with hot tears, and his voice trembling.

"Greetings to Third Young Miss."

Imperial Consort Wang finally withdrew her gaze, her voice as cold as ice:

"Have you found out who did this?"

The Old Steward trembled all over and heavily knocked his forehead against the bluestone slab:

"Reporting to Third Young Miss... This old servant had the Government Office officials investigate carefully, but the manner of death for the Master and the Eldest Young Master... is truly strange..."

"The Government Office officials said that this seems to be the work of something non-human."

Hearing this, Imperial Consort Wang’s henna-painted nails dug sharply into her palm, making her knuckles turn pale white.

She glared fiercely at the Old Steward, her voice squeezed out through clenched teeth.

"Useless!"

She immediately flicked her sleeve and walked straight into the manor.

As soon as she entered the manor, Imperial Consort Wang saw the two pitch-black coffins in front of the Mourning Hall.

Suppressing the discomfort in her heart, she slowly walked up to the coffins, supported the edge with trembling hands, and peered inside.

She immediately shuddered, her face instantly turning deathly pale. Her body went limp, and she nearly collapsed onto the ground, but the maid next to her quickly supported her.

Because Steward Wang and his eldest son had both died from exploded heads, the Old Steward spent a large sum hiring a carpenter to carve two lifelike wooden heads. Pieced together with the original bodies, the sight was incredibly bizarre.

"Third Sister, you must avenge Father!"

Steward Wang's youngest son, Wang Shiren, suddenly rushed out from the Inner Hall and threw himself into Imperial Consort Wang's arms, wailing loudly.

The Imperial Academy was much closer to the Wang Manor than the Imperial Palace, so Wang Shiren rushed back as soon as he received the news.

He tightly clutched Imperial Consort Wang's sleeve, his face smeared with tears and snot:

"Third Sister, Father and Eldest Brother died too horribly! You must uphold justice for them!"

Wang Shiren was Steward Wang's youngest and most favored son. He was raised as a spoiled young rake, acting extremely presumptuously both at home and outside. Insulting, beating, and forcibly seizing common women were routine occurrences.

With the death of Steward Wang and his Eldest Brother, no one could shelter him anymore. Now, besides his Second Brother whom he hadn't met, only his Third Sister, the Imperial Consort, could protect him.

Imperial Consort Wang seemed moved by Wang Shiren's cries, and tears unconsciously slipped from the corners of her eyes.

She lightly stroked her younger brother's hair and comforted him:

"Don't worry! I will definitely make the murderer pay for the blood debt!"

"But... the Government Office officials can't find out who the killer is, what should we do..."

Wang Shiren lifted his tear-filled eyes and choked out.

"Don't worry, the Emperor said that Second Brother will return in a few days."

"Second Brother?!"

Wang Shiren was stunned upon hearing this, the surprise in his eyes impossible to conceal.

"S-Second Brother is coming back? Isn't he guarding the Border?"

His Second Brother was sent to guard the Border right after Wang Shiren was born, so he was very curious about this brother he hadn't seen in over a decade.

All five members of the Wang Family were placed under a Restriction by the Cultivator. As long as they mentioned or thought of that Cultivator, the Restriction would be triggered.

For this reason, Steward Wang claimed that Wang Shixian had been sent to guard the Border.

"As soon as Second Brother returns, all problems will be solved easily."

Imperial Consort Wang looked mysterious, gazing meaningfully at the two coffins in the Mourning Hall... "Wang Shixian is coming back?"

Su Mo squatted on the rooftop, lifted a tile, and watched their conversation through the gap.

"I wonder what stage he has Cultivated to..."

If he has Cultivated to the Qi Refinement Stage, perhaps I can fight him with my current strength.

But if he is at the Foundation Establishment Stage, then I probably can only run away.

Although I haven't fought a Cultivator, I have plenty of experience fighting Yao Beasts.

Su Mo narrowed his eyes, rubbing his chest.

"I wonder if this Vest can block an attack from the Foundation Establishment Stage..."

While he was pondering, scattered people suddenly began entering the Mourning Hall.

Judging by their attire, they were all officials and merchants, likely coming to offer condolences.

With too many people around, Su Mo quietly retreated from the rooftop, planning to return later... "Big Brother, if you had come back any later, we might have already started eating."

As soon as Yellow Three saw Su Mo return, he came up with a cheeky smile.

Hearing this, Su Mo glanced at the Wang Manor gate and saw many people slowly entering. Funeral music drifted out from inside the manor, faintly mixed with weeping.

"Big Brother, let's hurry in. If we're late, the plates might be licked clean..."

Before he finished speaking, a noisy commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance of the Wang Manor.

"What feast are you eating!"

"You want to enter my Wang Family's gate? Look at the quality of trash you are!"

"You dirt peasants should go eat swill instead!"

Wang Shiren's arrogant voice came from the gate, accompanied by the sounds of the servants beating and scolding the common people.

Many commoners who had just stepped inside the gate were struck by the Wang Family servants wielding clubs, crying out in pain. Several elderly people were even pushed to the ground.

The area in front of the Wang Manor instantly devolved into chaos.

Su Mo watched this scene, his eyes gradually turning cold.

"Big Brother, are we still going?"

"Screw that! Let's go home!"