Yunniang was brought before Zhang Tianlun.

Zhang Tianlun looked at Yunniang in her mourning hemp, and his eyes lit up.

If you want to look good, dress like a mourner.

Yunniang was pretty to begin with, and her figure wasn't the slender kind. It was full and lush.

Any experienced man knew a little plumpness was the very best a woman could have.

Lush curves, snow-white smooth skin, and fresh from crying, weeping so that it hurt to look at her. Even he felt for her.

That old dog Zong Sibo had good taste, Zhang Tianlun thought.

Yunniang caught the look in Zhang Tianlun's eyes. Something flickered in hers. There was no telling what she was thinking.

She knelt, her voice soft and aggrieved. "This lowly woman, Yunniang, greets Your Majesty. May Your Majesty be blessed with every happiness.

This lowly woman is His Excellency's concubine. Last night villains broke into the residence and murdered His Excellency. I beg Your Majesty to see justice done."

Yunniang had her ways, but in the end she was only a concubine, of low standing. She could only call herself this lowly woman.

As she spoke, her grief overcame her, and she began to sob quietly.

Zhang Tianlun said, "Do you know who killed Zong Sibo?"

Yunniang said, "It was a man called Kang Luo, and his elder brother.

They tried to force His Excellency to help them plot against Your Majesty. His Excellency refused, so they killed him.

If the steward hadn't risked his life to protect me, I'm afraid this lowly woman would have died at their hands too.

And they killed this lowly woman's child with His Excellency, too, and meant to pin it on Your Majesty, to turn His Excellency against Your Majesty."

Zhang Tianlun's eyes narrowed sharply. "You're saying the child was killed by Kang Luo?"

Yunniang nodded again and again and wept. "Yes. They admitted it themselves... I beg Your Majesty to see justice done for His Excellency and my poor child."

So Kang Luo and his brother had killed the child. Zhang Tianlun had never imagined it.