Yi Xin as a concubine

Chapter 164 Case closed

Xin Baoer closed her eyes again to hide the coldness in them.

Having experienced so much in her previous life, she was not a good person at heart. She had some guesses about what happened last night and this morning, but since nothing bad happened, she was too lazy to think too much about it.

But she didn't expect that Zhao Xian, who was always careless, could also be careful at times. In order to prevent the little girl from having wild thoughts, she thought she should explain it clearly. After all, it was not easy to get rid of the two bad apples, and she didn't want the people around her to have any trouble because of groundless suspicion.

Two years is neither long nor short. In order to leave at the appointed time, Chu Xingchen had to take a lot of action in these two years. It would be okay for a short time, as the higher-ups might just be suspicious. However, the longer the time, the greater the possibility of being discovered. Therefore, the fewer uncertainties in this small courtyard, the better.

"Xian'er, do you want to stay in this deserted house forever?" Xin Baoer stared into Zhao Xian's eyes and asked with a smile.

"Of course not. Although I can eat well and dress warmly here, I don't have freedom."

Zhao Xian's tone suddenly became low. She still wanted to go back to find her father, but she didn't know how he was doing now.

Xin Baoer hugged Zhao Xian and whispered in her ear: "Some things should be told to you earlier, but before that, there is something I need your help with."

"What?" Zhao Xian asked Xin Baoer in confusion.

"When the officers come to question you, just say this... Do you understand?" Xin Baoer leaned close to her ear and whispered a few words.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xian nodded heavily.

"You should go back and have a rest first. Let Lancao make a good meal in the evening and we can get together. We didn't have a good time yesterday. When you go out, tell them about it."

Xin Baoer rubbed her forehead and closed her eyes tiredly. Zhao Xian saw this and said, "You should have a good rest," and then left obediently.

The door was closed, Xin Baoer opened her eyes, "After all, this is not just my business, I should still say hello to the host."

Xin Baoer was thinking about how to tell her sisters at night, and as she was thinking, she fell asleep leaning against the bed without realizing it.

But just as she was becoming dazed, a noisy sound came from outside and Xin Baoer opened her eyes instantly.

Dongxia pushed the door open and saw Xin Baoer sitting on the bed, still a little sleepy. She whispered, "Master, the officials are here. The prefect came in person. The Second Master asked us to cooperate with the investigation."

"Okay, I'll pack up and come over, you go and notify the others first."

Dongxia took the order and turned to go out. Xin Baoer woke up again and went to wash and change clothes.

"Your Excellency, I have checked and the woman on the bed was confirmed to be murdered. Judging from the strangulation marks on her neck, the murder weapon should be the shawl across her neck. The woman on the ground was initially determined to have died accidentally. After she killed the woman on the bed, she panicked and didn't notice that one end of the shawl was wrapped around her ankle. The shawl was limited in length and one end was fixed by the deceased, causing her to fall directly when she got out of bed and hit her head on the ground and die."

The coroner walked out of the room with a bent back and respectfully reported the autopsy results to the prefect.

"How can we be sure that the woman on the ground is the murderer? It is also possible that she saw the deceased being killed and fled in panic, which was an accident." A yamen runner asked back.

"There are marks on the outside of the woman's hands where she was strangled by cloth. Because she died soon after committing the crime, the blood vessels in the places where she was strangled had not yet spread, so it is easy to see." The coroner continued to explain respectfully.

"My Lord, do the two young ladies have any grudges against each other?" Upon hearing this, the prefect turned around and asked Chu Xingchen. His attitude was not good, but he did not mean to make things difficult for him either.

"Probably not~" Chu Xingchen replied hesitantly.

The tone sounded a little hollow, and one could tell right away that these two were not favored on a daily basis.

"Is everyone in the courtyard here?" the prefect continued to ask seriously.

"Yes, the young ladies and servants are all here." Chu Xingchen was about to answer when Wangchuan stepped forward to answer first. It would be better for him, the subordinate, to do this humble job. His master was precious and could not suffer such humiliation.

"Ask them one by one." The prefect looked at Wangchuan unhappily, then gave the order expressionlessly.

To be able to serve as the prefect of Shengjing City, where the powerful and wealthy gather, controlling emotions is a basic quality.

Xin Baoer and others were questioned one by one by the yamen runners. Before being separated, Xin Baoer glanced at Zhao Xian vaguely, and Zhao Xian nodded slightly, his expression and movements were a little flustered.

Because she didn't live in the same courtyard, there wasn't much to ask, so Xin Baoer was released soon.

"Are you okay?" Chu Xingchen's eyes followed her movements all the time. Seeing her come back, he quickly asked in a low voice.

Xin Baoer shook her head and her eyes fell in the direction of Zhao Xian.

"My lord, there is a harvest."

A yamen runner came running over to report. Xin Baoer saw that it was the one who interrogated Zhao Xian. Knowing that the matter was settled, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and her expression became more peaceful and calm.

Chu Xingchen seemed to sense something, Xin Baoer smiled faintly at her, and the two of them understood each other tacitly and nodded in understanding.

The yamen runner whispered in the prefect's ear for a while, and the prefect listened while looking at Chu Xingchen with scrutiny.

Chu Xingchen was rarely allowed to appear in public, and this was the first time that the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture had seen this young man. He was of royal blood, so naturally he looked good, and his temperament and manners were also remarkable. He stood in the low courtyard, neither humble nor arrogant, and remained silent, actually giving off a sense of being independent from the world.

The prefect closed his eyes and thought to himself, is a man like this really willing to be imprisoned in this small place for the rest of his life?

Thinking of this, he made up his mind and his attitude softened a little.

"Master Chu, I have already investigated the matter clearly. It was a personal vendetta, and the murderer is the other deceased. Since the murderer is dead, the case can be closed. Master, do you still have any doubts? If not, we will take the body away."

"No, it's up to you, my Lord. However, both of these young ladies were given by His Majesty the Emperor, so we dare not neglect the funeral, Wangchuan."

Wangchuan quickly stepped forward and handed over a bulging purse.

Chu Xingchen took it and continued, "Please find a few reliable people to handle the affairs of the two young ladies. I will personally submit a memorial to apologize to His Majesty, and I will ask the prefect to provide evidence at that time."

"Okay, okay. I've always been impartial and will just tell you what the facts are." The prefect agreed expressionlessly.

"Take someone with you and let's go."

"Yes."

The government officials came and went in a rush, and the yard was suddenly empty. Everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Since ancient times, people have been afraid of seeing officials, and this is not just talk.

"Wangchuan, clean up this room." Chu Xingchen looked at Xiang Qing and her son, whose faces were pale, and ordered helplessly.

"Sheng'er, spend more time with your mother these days and don't fall behind in your studies."

"Yes, Daddy, I understand." Chu Duanhong responded respectfully, with the demeanor of a mature young man.

Xin Baoer found it funny, but she didn't want to joke in front of Xiang Qing. The feelings between people only needed to be felt by both parties. There was no need to express them all the time and cause unnecessary trouble.

However, Xin Baoer did nothing, but the little girl raised her eyebrows provocatively.

Xin Baoer curled the corner of her mouth indifferently, rolled her eyes very ungracefully, turned around and walked out of the yard.

This kid just deserves to be punished. He thought that if we exercise together every day, his physical strength and martial arts skills will surpass mine, and he can show off in front of me.

Dream on! If she lacks in strength, she can make up for it with brain power. After all, she has lived two lifetimes, and what she has heard and seen cannot be matched by ten little brats. It would be difficult for him if she didn't come up with a few questions.

As he watched his aunt, who was both his teacher and friend, leave, Chu Duanhong's smug expression suddenly cracked.

"Why do I feel a chill on my back? It must be because I've been standing outside for too long. Yes, it must be."

"Mom, let's go inside quickly. It's too cold."

As soon as Xin Baoer left, Chu Xingchen followed her. Seeing this, the others did not disturb her and went about their own business.

"Good cooperation." Chu Xingchen said in a good mood.

"It's probably a pleasant surprise." Xin Baoer replied with a smile, and then asked, "Can we tell them what those two people did?"