Dowry

This roar was full of vigor, brimming with the long-suppressed resentment of a victim.

Shangguan Yuan didn't even need to build up his feelings; the moment he saw Gu Chengyin's face, his emotions immediately surged.

"Yesterday at the Ministry of Revenue, you destroyed my precious curios and even assaulted me!"

"Considering your youth and arrogance, and since it involved official business, I forced myself to endure it! But what about you?!"

"You took an inch and wanted a mile! You escalated things! You actually dared to attack my home directly and destroy my mansion's gates?!"

"Do you really think I, Shangguan Yuan, am made of mud?!"

Shangguan Yuan trembled with rage, his chest heaving violently, looking exactly as if he had just seen his mortal enemy.

This bitter denunciation was delivered in a booming voice that traveled far through the air.

Right after the loud crash of Gu Chengyin kicking the door echoed out, this originally quiet street where the Shangguan Estate was located quickly became bustling with activity.

The busybodies who had followed Gu Chengyin's carriage all the way, idlers who wanted to keep watching the drama, and the betting bookmakers who moved at the slightest wind of news, all quickly gathered around.

The crowd formed a circle on the periphery, pointing and gossiping about the scene at the gates of the Shangguan Estate.

"Wow! He kicked the door down! Marquis Side-by-Side is fierce indeed!"

"Tsk tsk, those doors look expensive. He'll have to pay a lot in compensation, right?"

"Compensate? Does Marquis Side-by-Side look like he's here to pay money?"

"Place your bets, place your bets! Bet on whether Shangguan Yuan will get a black eye on the left or the right this time!"

"I bet on the left eye! Bad things come in pairs, after all!"

...

Facing Shangguan Yuan's fury, Gu Chengyin did not speak immediately.

Instead, he turned his gaze to the side, where another figure was walking out briskly.

It was none other than the Imperial Censor of the Chief Surveillance Bureau he had met before: Wang Gangfeng.

It seemed the Chief Surveillance Bureau carriage parked at the entrance belonged to him; he moved quite fast.

Wang Gangfeng first glanced at the shattered doors and Shangguan Yuan, frowning slightly.

Then his gaze fell upon Gu Chengyin, who was covered in blood and dirt at the doorway, and a flash of obvious astonishment crossed his eyes.

Wang Gangfeng walked quickly to the doorway, cupped his hands in a salute to Gu Chengyin, and then reported his purpose for being there:

"Marquis Gu, under the orders of the Chief Surveillance Bureau, I have led my personnel to station at the Ministry of Revenue."

"Because there are some matters that need to be verified in person with the Minister of Revenue, Lord Shangguan Yuan, I came to visit and am currently inquiring about them."

Having finished his report, Wang Gangfeng looked at Gu Chengyin's condition, his tone turning to confusion and concern:

"Marquis Gu, what happened to you...?"

Gu Chengyin nodded at Wang Gangfeng in return.

He took a deep breath, the look of grief and indignation on his face growing heavier. He spoke as an explanation to Wang Gangfeng, but also for everyone else to hear:

"Lord Wang, after finishing my report at the Grand Secretariat, I was on my way to the residence of the Left Vice Minister of Revenue."

"I was ambushed by five masked assassins dressed in black!"

"What?!"

Hearing this, Wang Gangfeng's expression changed drastically, his eyes full of shock.

Gu Chengyin had just taken over a major case and was already facing an assassination attempt of this scale?!

This was absolutely appalling! It was a provocation against the imperial court!

Gu Chengyin seemed immersed in immense grief, his voice choking with emotion:

"Those assassins were highly skilled and coordinated flawlessly. It was clearly premeditated to put me to death!"

"Fortunately, my eldest brother fought to the death to protect me."

He paused, seemingly unable to bear saying more, but eventually gritted his teeth and said word by word:

"But to cover my retreat, my eldest brother... fought to his death."

"Fought to his death?!"

Wang Gangfeng gasped, thoroughly moved.

The nature of this was far more severe than a simple failed assassination!

He asked urgently, his voice rising a few pitches, "And the assassins?! Were they captured or left alive?!"

Gu Chengyin shook his head, pain and unwillingness appearing on his face. "One dead, one injured, three escaped. The injured one was taken away."

He immediately added, "However, the Grand Secretariat has ordered the Divine Capital to be locked down for a full-scale manhunt! I expect those scoundrels won't be able to escape even if they grew wings!"

Wang Gangfeng nodded with a grave expression.

Soon after, he glanced back at Shangguan Yuan, whose expression was constantly changing, and asked hesitantly:

"Then, Marquis Gu, your purpose in coming to the Shangguan Estate at this moment is...?"

This conversation between Gu Chengyin and Wang Gangfeng was not deliberately hushed.

When Shangguan Yuan heard about Gu Chengyin's assassination attempt, the anger on his face froze, replaced by a touch of suspicion and solemnity.

And the moment Wang Gangfeng asked his question, Gu Chengyin's gaze pierced toward Shangguan Yuan like an ice-tempered blade.

Their eyes met in the air.

The exchange was completed in an instant.

Before Gu Chengyin could speak, Shangguan Yuan took a sudden step forward.

Pointing a finger at Gu Chengyin, he shouted sharply in an even angrier voice than before:

"Gu Chengyin! Stop making insinuations here!"

He seemed to have suffered a massive injustice, his voice trembling slightly from excitement:

"Your own character is corrupt, your behavior is erratic, and you've made countless enemies, provoking the wrath of heaven and the resentment of men!"

"Is it so strange that someone dislikes you and wants to get rid of you for good?!"

Shangguan Yuan grew more agitated as he spoke, seeming to vent all the pent-up frustration caused by Gu Chengyin these past days, along with the anger of having his door kicked in today:

"When you were assassinated, I was in my own home! I didn't even step out the front door!"

"Lord Wang is right here, he can testify for me!"

"We have been discussing official business the whole time! On what grounds do you suspect me?! Just based on your mouth?!"

"Do you think that by kicking down my door, you can pin the crime of assassination on my head? Dream on!"

Right at this moment, almost no one noticed.

Under the eaves of the second floor of a nearby pavilion, a figure was leaning lazily against the railing.

It was precisely Shangguan Yuan's wife, Jiang Jianli.

At this moment, Madam Jiang's face showed none of the emotions an ordinary woman would have upon seeing her own front doors destroyed.

She held a delicate plate of melon seeds in her hand, her pale, slender fingers slowly picking one up.

Bringing it to her lips, she cracked it open with a light snap, then sent the seed kernel into her mouth with elegant and unhurried movements.

Her gaze fell with great interest on the mansion gates, especially sweeping back and forth between Gu Chengyin and Shangguan Yuan, the corners of her mouth even holding an amused smile as if watching a play.

When she saw the broken wood on the ground, she even shook her head lightly and muttered to herself, "Tsk, young people really have strength. Just consider it as Yun'er's dowry."

Then, she continued cracking melon seeds, staring intently.

Looking completely relaxed as if she was determined to enjoy this gossip, she showed no intention of going downstairs to help out.

Facing Shangguan Yuan's loud and well-founded rebuttal.

Gu Chengyin's voice was like the roar of a wounded beast, full of accusation:

"Who in the entire Divine Capital doesn't know! You hate me to the bone!"

"It's because I publicly pointed out that there were problems with your Ministry of Revenue's accounts! Missing items, lost vouchers, and chaotic data!"

"That's why you were reprimanded by His Majesty, suspended at home, and grounded to reflect on your mistakes!"

"Then you harbored resentment and deliberately sought revenge, which is why you sent people to assassinate me!"

"Shangguan Yuan! You old thief, how dare you still deny it?!"