Chapter 330 Could it be a certain... prince?

"I, I don't know." Hou Jian lowered his eyes, indicating that he knew nothing.

"Are you sure you don't know?" Xiao Jiuyue looked at him and said, "We're not the only ones looking for you. I'm afraid many people are looking for you too. If the people behind you knew you were arrested, would they kill you directly?"

Xiao Jiuyue's cold voice was filled with temptation as she said, "It's been tough hiding these past two years, hasn't it? In the bandit village, even though you're the brother-in-law of the leader, do they really treat you like one?"

"When you came out to see your eyes this time, wasn't there someone following you?" Xiao Jiuyue looked at Jin Wu who was standing beside him. Jin Wu immediately said, "That person wanted to kill you, but we saved you."

"Liar." Hou Jian became excited instantly after hearing this. He stared at Jin Wu with his remaining eye, and his eyes seemed to want to stare a hole through Jin Wu.

Jin Wu replied calmly, "Why would I lie to you? When you came to treat your eyes, those guys from the bandit camp saw that things were not going well and attacked you. Didn't you see it all?"

"If it weren't for us, you would have died at the hands of your own people." Jin Wu didn't loudly prove that what he said was right. His calm tone was as if he was stating a fact.

"Impossible." Hou Jian shook his head in disbelief, his gaze flickering between Xiao Jiuyue and Jin Wu. He said, "Without the account book, I have no idea where the relief money went. You don't need to ask me. The emperor has already issued an order stating that Xiao Fu embezzled the relief money. Why are you still looking for me?"

"I beg you, please let me go. I'm just a small county magistrate who knows nothing." Hou Jian struggled and kowtowed to Xiao Jiuyue.

Xiao Jiuyue looked at Hou Jian, who was crying and snotting, with cold eyes. She said, "Since you don't want to talk about it, then wait until you want to talk about it. I have plenty of time anyway."

After he finished speaking, Xiao Jiuyue winked at Jin Wu, and Jin Wu immediately took the cloth to stuff his mouth.

Suddenly, Xiao Jiuyue said, "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was assassinated in Donglin County today by bandits. Do you think the Crown Prince will be furious and will directly wipe out your bandit camp? Then, your Lady Luo, your child..."

"Impossible." Hou Jian answered without hesitation: "Our village is very powerful. He can't destroy it."

After saying this, Hou Jian looked at Xiao Jiuyue doubtfully: "If you want to deceive me, you don't have to use the Crown Prince to deceive me. The Crown Prince, who is so high and mighty, would actually come to a shabby place like Donglin County in Xiangcheng?"

As if to prove what he said was true, Hou Jian continued, "The court didn't say anything about suppressing the bandits."

"You still know that the imperial court did not suppress the bandits. Does your Eighteen Villages have any connection with the imperial court?" Xiao Jiuyue seized the key point and stared at him and asked.

Hou Jian knew that he had spoken out of turn, so he kept his mouth shut and said nothing.

"Let me guess. It's a minister in the court. He's in a high position and powerful enough to provide information to your Eighteen Villages. And your Eighteen Villages can also give the stolen money to that minister."

Xiao Jiuyue was guessing, her eyes falling on Hou Jian's face. He lowered his eyes, looking at his nose and his nose at his heart, pretending not to hear anything.

"Perhaps, it's not a minister at all, but a certain... prince?" Xiao Jiuyue's red lips slightly opened, and when she mentioned the word "prince", Hou Jian could no longer hide the shock in his eyes.

"It seems that I guessed it right." Xiao Jiuyue's lips curled slightly.

"No, no, no." Hou Jian denied it repeatedly. He lowered his eyelids, concealing the thoughts in his eyes, and said, "You are very bold to guess, which noble prince still needs to cooperate with bandits?"

Next, no matter how Xiao Jiuyue tried to test him, Hou Jian remained silent, which made her unsure. She got up and left, and Jin Wu tied the man up directly. Hou Jian lowered his head, trying to signal him that he still had an injury on his leg.

Jin Wu took a look and said, "This is just a minor injury. He won't die."

After he finished speaking, Jin Wu closed the door directly. The windows of this room were nailed shut, the door was locked, and there was someone watching, so there was definitely nothing wrong.

Jin Wudao: "Miss, do you really think it's the prince?"

"Just like Hou Jian said, the prince is of noble status and high above everyone else. Why would he cooperate with bandits?" Jin Wu thought it was impossible.

"Why did the bandits want to assassinate the prince?" Xiao Jiuyue directly said "assassinate", and it was obvious that the other party was coming for the prince.

Jin Wu paused before saying, "Perhaps he wants others to be afraid of the bandits and not dare to go and suppress them?"

"The bandit assassinated the current crown prince. Is he too damn lucky to live?" Xiao Jiuyue sat down in the yard. Lianxin handed him the brewed tea. The warm tea was just right for him to drink.

Xiao Jiuyue took a sip and said, "It's not a bad idea to kill someone with a borrowed knife."

"Anyway, the bandits in the Eighteen Villages must have some connection to the imperial court," Xiao Jiuyue was certain. She wasn't sure if it was a minister or a prince. Suddenly, she looked up and asked, "When you arrested Shan Ge earlier, didn't he say that a eunuch had contacted them?"

"It seems so." Jin Wu responded. Hua Qing beside him said, "That's right. That bandit said he saw a hairless eunuch interacting with their leader. The eunuch should be from the palace, right?"

"Not necessarily. Princes' and county princes' palaces also have eunuchs. Some eunuchs are even released from the palace." Jin Wu answered first, adding, "However, these eunuchs are a minority."

"That is to say, it doesn't have to be a certain prince." Xiao Jiuyue took a sip of tea, tapping her fingers lightly on the table. A trace of deep thought flashed in her eyes. She said, "Let's catch the person first. Have those bandits been caught?"

"Don't worry, Miss." Jin Wu immediately assured.

"Oh right, that bloody guy..." Xiao Jiuyue asked about him. Jin Wu said, "He's been sent to the clinic. Yu Ge is with him. Besides, he's seriously injured and can't run away."

"Since this happened today, it's best to bring the person back. The account book in his hand might be a very important thing." Xiao Jiuyue reminded that there were not many people going out this time, but each of them was capable.

There is no need to say much about Jin Wen and Jin Wu. One of Hua Qing and Dong Gui always stays by her side to protect her. Lian Xin is responsible for her food, clothing and daily life, Luo Kui is responsible for cooking and running around outside. They work together quite well.

"Miss, shall I go now?" Jin Wu said.

Xiao Jiuyue warned: "Be careful in everything."

After saying that, Jin Wu left immediately. Luo Kui and Lian Xin gathered in front of Xiao Jiuyue and said, "Miss, do you think Miss Qiao is still alive? The sword is stuck in her chest. Is the Third Prince's injury okay?"

"Why don't you go and ask around?" Xiao Jiuyue raised her eyebrows and looked at Luo Kui's gossipy look. Without asking, she knew that her gossipy heart was burning with anger.