High Martial Arts Three Kingdoms: The Incompetent Strategist

The woman was startled and hurriedly turned her face away, stepping aside.

Hou Fu quickly helped Tang Ke up and said, "My lord, please rise. This is my young master's wife, He Lingyi, the younger sister of Empress He."

"Twins?" Tang Ke stood up and examined the woman closely. She looked almost exactly like Empress He, except for a faint beauty mark below her lip.

This once again refreshed Tang Ke's understanding of He Jin. Guo Sheng, one of the Ten Attendants, was an old friend of his, and Zhang Rang was his elder relative by marriage. It seemed that this did not affect his determination to get rid of the Ten Attendants. Indeed, people who do great things are ruthless and do not care about their own family.

"My lord, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now." He Lingyi blushed under Tang Ke's gaze, apologized, and tried to leave.

"No rush, I happen to have something to ask you." Tang Ke recalled the scene when he first met Empress He and was disliked. He thought to himself, "I think you are rude. Look at your twin sister, isn't she the same?"

He walked straight into the room behind He Lingyi, completely disregarding Hou Fu's strange gaze.

He Lingyi said angrily, "This person is so rude! I must..."

"Shh! Madam, please be quiet. At this moment, the lives of more than three hundred people in my Zhang family are all in his hands." Hou Fu interrupted her in time. Although Madam He was the Empress's sister, her situation was no different at this moment.

He Lingyi stamped her foot and sighed, "This is outrageous! This is what they call a fallen phoenix being worse than a chicken! Steward Hou, go and call my husband over quickly. I'll go in and deal with this first."

Hou Fu responded and watched her enter the house before turning to look for his young master.

Tang Ke saw He Lingyi come in, and seeing that no one was behind her, he closed the door.

"What do you want to do?" He Lingyi put her hands in front of her chest and stepped back to the side.

Tang Ke was both amused and exasperated. Even if he were incredibly audacious, how could he dare to lay a hand on the Empress's sister in public?

"No need to be nervous, Mrs. Zhang. It's just a small matter that I'm confirming with you."

He Lingyi looked incredulous: "Oh? Is there something you can't say in front of Butler Hou?"

“I went to the imperial prison to see Zhang Changshi. He said that the letter of treason was probably forged by Steward Hou.”

"Ah!" Tang Ke's words made He Lingyi unable to believe it, and she exclaimed in surprise: "How is that possible? Steward Hou has been in the Zhang family for many years and has always been loyal."

Tang Ke smiled without saying a word. He Lingyi was much simpler than her sister. He didn't waste any more words and handed over Zhang Rang's letter directly.

Tang Ke had already read the contents of the letter; it was nothing more than an attempt to induce Hou Fu to confess that he was the one who forged the letter and turn himself in.

What he needs to confirm now is whether Hou Fu will really do as Zhang Rang says after receiving the letter. Although Zhang Rang swore that Hou Fu would definitely obey, people are selfish. Who would be willing to take someone else's life for them?

Moreover, this is a heinous crime that could lead to the extermination of one's entire clan; killing one person is not enough.

"Good heavens! It really was Steward Hou who framed my father-in-law? Your Honor, why don't you arrest him immediately and interrogate him thoroughly to clear my father-in-law's name?"

"Without evidence, Tang cannot arrest anyone."

Upon hearing this, He Lingyi frowned slightly and said, "But in Father-in-law's letter..."

Tang Ke shook his head: "One-sided statements are not credible unless he admits it himself, otherwise..."

He didn't continue, implying that unless Hou Fu himself admitted it, there was no other way...

"Butler Hou, did you see Lingyi go in with your own eyes?"

A handsome young man with a slightly sinister look on his face strode towards the backyard, sword in hand, with Hou Fu following closely behind.

"Yes!" Hou Fu replied calmly, unaffected by the brisk pace.

The young man angrily said, "Damn it, this is too much! I'll chop him to pieces!"

Hou Fu looked at the young master without offering any advice.

He had watched Zhang Feng grow up, and he knew the young master's character all too well.

As Zhang Rang's only adopted son and the sole heir to the title of Marquis, Zhang Feng would never offend Lord Tang, who held the power of life and death.

Even if Tang Ke had only entered his wife's room, or even his own room, he would have obediently complied, just to keep this hard-won title.

The two stood outside the room for a long time, hesitant to go in, and just stood there awkwardly outside the door.

There was no movement inside, so it didn't seem like anything unusual had happened.

Zhang Feng finally couldn't help but ask, "What on earth are they doing? Didn't you say he took his wife inside? Why haven't we made a sound?"

Hou Fu shrugged, indicating he didn't know, and asked instead, "Should I try knocking?"

"No, wait a little longer, wait a little longer!" Zhang Feng hesitated for a long time, but finally refrained from stepping forward, so as not to disturb the gentleman's enjoyment...

He Lingyi carefully folded and put the letter away, intending to hand it back to Tang Ke: "In your opinion, Lord Tang, what should we do now?"

Tang Ke did not accept it, and said noncommittally, "This is a family matter, and it depends on the abilities of Madam and your young master."

He Lingyi pleaded in a low voice, "If he doesn't confess, I, a mere woman, can't force him. If you, sir, are willing to lend a helping hand and take him to the imperial prison for interrogation, I think he will confess."

Tang Ke seemed not to understand her words and continued, "If Hou Fu is willing to surrender later, please contact me immediately to arrest him. I will go back and wait for good news."

It wasn't that he intended to make things difficult for Madam He. Even if Hou Fuzhen really listened to Zhang Rang, he wouldn't be willing to do something like persuading someone to die, let alone act as an intermediary for someone like Zhang Rang.

Just as he was about to open the door, he suddenly heard a knock on the door, and Hou Fu's voice came from outside.

"My lord, may this old servant come in?"

"Convenient." Tang Ke opened the door, and Hou Fu stood outside with a big smile on his face, holding a plate with two bowls of soup on it.

“My young master Zhang Feng knows that you are working very hard investigating the case here, so he specially ordered the servants to quickly stew two bowls of snow pear soup to quench your thirst. Please enjoy them, sir.”

"Thank you for your trouble. Please convey my gratitude to your young master. I will not have the pear soup. I have official business to attend to, so I will be leaving now."

Tang Ke glanced outside the door; it was empty and there wasn't a soul in sight.

Hou Fu did not give up, his smile widening: "No matter how busy you are with official duties, you must take care of your health, right? Please wait here for a moment and try this bowl of snow pear soup. My young master will be here shortly."

He Lingyi also advised, "My lord, please drink this cup. It would be good if my husband could give him some guidance when he arrives."

Tang Ke couldn't refuse, so he took a bowl and said while drinking, "Since that's the case, then I'll trouble you. Please ask Steward Hou to urge Young Master Zhang to come over as soon as possible."

"Definitely, definitely." Hou Fu handed the remaining cup to He Lingyi, "Please have a bowl too, young mistress, to soothe your throat."

Only after seeing that He Lingyi had also taken a sip did he feel relieved and leave, closing the door behind him.