Chapter 79 Protect her tightly

"What are you trying to do?!"

The steward of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion stared at the group of people who had suddenly barged into the mansion. They were all dressed in black, narrow-sleeved, tight-fitting clothes and carrying horizontal swords.

He wore a badge from the Criminal Investigation Department on his waist.

The steward had a bad feeling and quickly whispered to the servant beside him to go inside and inform the old lady.

The once bustling front yard has now become quiet.

The guests looked at each other, bewildered, none of them knowing what had caused this sudden turn of events.

Many people recognized that these men in black were from the Criminal Investigation Department.

"What did the Marquis of Yong'an do to provoke such a large-scale operation from the Criminal Investigation Department?"

"I haven't heard of it."

"Judging from the menacing appearance of the Criminal Investigation Division, this matter is no small thing."

The guests nearby whispered amongst themselves. The butler braced himself and stepped forward to Mu Geng's side. Just as he was about to speak, a tall and imposing figure entered from outside the door.

The man wore a dark blue robe with subtle patterns, his steps were heavy, and his narrow, dark eyes held a sharp glint.

The guests who had been whispering in the courtyard fell silent. The steward swallowed hard and hurriedly approached Chu Xiao, saying, "This humble servant greets Your Excellency the Duke."

Chu Xiao raised his eyes and glanced lightly across the courtyard. "The Marquis of Yong'an's mansion is hosting a banquet today. Why is Young Master Wen not here?"

The steward's heart skipped a beat, thinking that the powerful figure in front of him felt that the Wen family had slighted him, so he quickly said, "Your Excellency, please forgive me. My old lady just called the young master away for a few words, and he should be coming out soon."

"Please have a seat here."

The butler bowed and scraped, gesturing for Chu Xiao to proceed, but Chu Xiao remained unmoved.

The criminal investigation officers standing by were all on high alert.

Suddenly, no one spoke in the courtyard anymore, and the opera singing that was still going on in the inner courtyard suddenly became abrupt and strange.

Everyone realized that the Yong'an Marquis's mansion had really gotten into trouble.

Some guests couldn't resist trying to leave along the wall, but Bingwei blocked their way and forced them back.

"Lord Duke, is there something important you need to discuss with my young master?"

His young master has only recently returned to the capital; he doesn't seem like the type to offend the Duke of Zhenguo at all.

Is there some misunderstanding here?

Chu Xiao glanced at him with a half-smile, his voice deep and cold, "What important matter is it? You'll know when Young Master Wen comes out."

As soon as he finished speaking, the singing in the inner courtyard suddenly stopped.

An old man and a young man walked around the screen wall and appeared in front of everyone.

Madam Wen was dressed in a dark green gown, with a polite smile on her face, while Qi Jinling was wearing Wen Tingyuan's human skin mask and was standing beside her.

"Your Excellency is busy with official duties, yet you still took time out of your busy schedule to come. It is my Yong'an Marquisate that has failed to provide adequate hospitality. I hope Your Excellency will forgive me."

As soon as he finished speaking, hundreds of eyes in the courtyard turned to Madam Wen and Qi Jinling.

The man standing on the stone steps had a gaze as cold as a blade, which shot straight at Qi Jinling.

Their gazes clashed in mid-air.

Qi Jinling suddenly realized that Chu Xiao had already become suspicious of his identity.

However, he only paused slightly before resuming his pace, a confident smile playing on his lips, and strode confidently to the center of the courtyard.

He was certain that Chu Xiao would not be able to find any evidence.

Madam Wen instructed the housekeeper to bring a stool for Chu Xiao, but the man did not move, his gaze sweeping over Qi Jinling before turning to Madam Wen.

“Madam Wen, the Criminal Investigation Department is currently investigating a case that they suspect is related to your son. We need to ask him to come over today.”

"This..." Madam Wen's smile froze slightly, and she instinctively defended her son, "Is there some misunderstanding?"

“My son has only been back in the capital for half a month, how could he possibly be involved in a major case in the Criminal Investigation Department?”

Everyone in Lin'an knew that the Criminal Investigation Department only investigated major and important cases.

The cases involving the Criminal Investigation Department are likely more complex than just murder cases.

Now that Chu Xiao has led his men to brazenly barge into the Yong'an Marquis's residence, even if his attitude is not particularly forceful or domineering, with so many people watching, the news of today's events will spread throughout the streets and alleys as soon as the Criminal Investigation Department leaves.

Madam Wen would never allow the reputation of the Yong'an Marquis's mansion to be damaged, nor would she allow her only son to be taken away like this.

Even if the other party is from the Criminal Investigation Department, she has to stand tall and argue her case.

Chu Xiao glanced again at Qi Jinling standing beside Madam Wen. A faint smile played on Qi Jinling's face, which wore Wen Tingyuan's mask. She appeared gentle and humble, but in reality...

The arrogant and conceited emotion in his eyes could not be concealed in the slightest.

Chu Xiao scoffed, "Does Madam Wen really think your son is innocent?"

Without waiting for Madam Wen's response, he immediately ordered, "Guards, take him away!"

"yes!"

"Let's see who dares!"

Madam Wen was furious. Her previous composure and grandeur vanished. She stood in front of Qi Jinling and let out a furious shout.

Her reaction was exactly what Chu Xiao had expected.

He looked coldly at Qi Jinling, then suddenly reached behind him and took the bow and arrow from Mu Geng's hand.

Everyone present gasped.

What's the meaning?

Is this a direct shot to kill the young master of the Wen family?

"Lord Duke, you cannot act recklessly just because of His Majesty's favor!"

Madam Wen stared at him in disbelief, spreading her arms to block Qi Jinling.

Chu Xiao ignored her words and immediately drew his bow and nocked an arrow.

Everyone gasped, holding their breath and afraid to move.

I was shocked that Chu Xiao actually dared to shoot and kill the young master of the Wen family, and I was also curious about how this farce would end.

Qi Jinling, standing behind her, remained silent throughout, but the provocation in her eyes was blatant.

He was also trying to provoke Chu Xiao into attacking him.

Unless Chu Xiao has substantial evidence, after today, his title as the God of War of Great Qi will be transformed into that of a villain who disregards human life.

However, Chu Xiao did not do as Qi Jincheng expected.

Under the warm winter sun, the arrowheads resting on the bow gleamed with a blinding cold light.

He focused intently on drawing his bow and aiming at his target.

Suddenly, a flash of cold light appeared, and a piercing, extremely fast sound cut through the air.

Then came the sound of flesh being torn apart, and the sound of a sharp arrow piercing into a wooden pillar.

Qi Jinling remained standing behind Madam Wen, maintaining the same posture, but the human skin mask on her left cheek had been torn.

Even his own skin inside was torn.

Fresh blood seeped down from between the two layers of human skin in an extremely bizarre way.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Some of the more timid ones screamed out, then quickly covered their lips.

The butler raised his hand in alarm, pointing a trembling finger at Qi Jinling, "Young Master..."

"Young Master..."

How could his young master's face look like that?

Chu Xiao glanced at her coldly, "Madam Wen, turn around and take a good look. Is this still your son?"

"What's the meaning?"

Mrs. Wen turned her head quickly and stared at the person in front of her in disbelief.

His eyes were so wide they looked like they were about to pop out.

"...Who...who are you?!"

Where is my Yuan'er?

Qi Jinling wiped the blood from her face, sneered, and reached out to grab one end of the human skin mask from the neck, tearing it open right in front of Madam Wen.

"Aaaaaaah!"

"Aaaaaaah!"

A sharp scream of terror erupted from the crowd.

Madam Wen stared in shock at everything until the familiar face of her son, Wen Tingyuan, was replaced by a completely unfamiliar one. She was dumbfounded, her body swaying, and she could only barely stand by holding onto a nearby table.

However, the next moment—

Qi Jinling threw the human skin mask directly into her arms, his smile sinister and cunning, "You want your son?"

"This is your son's face."

"Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!"

This time it was Madam Wen's turn to scream; without thinking, she threw the mask away.

But after realizing the meaning behind Qi Jinling's words, she staggered toward the human skin mask.

"Yuan'er..."

"My Yuan'er..."

Her hands trembled as she tried to pick up the human skin mask from the ground, but she dared not touch it, nor could she believe it.

Tears streamed down her face, landing on the human skin mask.

"Yuan'er..."

As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly vomited a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.

"lady!"

The steward and the nanny serving Madam Wen were extremely anxious.

Chu Xiao had someone take Madam Wen to the inner courtyard first.

The guests who had come to attend Madam Wen's birthday banquet in the courtyard today, who were originally dressed in fine clothes, were now all trembling and could barely stand.

Chu Xiao waved his hand, and Mu Geng led them away in an orderly fashion.

The reason we kept the guests here earlier was to prevent Qi Jinling from escaping in the chaos.

Now that his true identity has been exposed, the guests naturally have to leave.

The once bustling front yard is now empty except for Chu Xiao, Qi Jinling, and a group of criminal investigation officers.

Even now, Qi Jinling still stares at Chu Xiao and laughs wildly.

He seemed completely unfazed by the situation before him, and even had the leisure to clap his hands.

"Great job, Chu Xiao!"

"I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to find me so quickly."

He thought that the dagger could at least deceive the Jingzhao Prefecture and the Dali Temple for a while.

By then, Lady Wen had already announced his return, and he smoothly inherited the title, becoming the new Earl of Yong'an, sharing both glory and ruin with the Wen family. At that time, he was not afraid that they would not be of use to him.

Unexpectedly, Chu Xiao found out about him so quickly.

He chuckled and looked up at the man standing not far away, his smile sinister and ruthless.

He was the same age as Chu Xiao, but despite being a member of the royal family, he was not as highly regarded by the late emperor as the Chu family.

The opportunity to train at the border should have originally been his, but Chu Xiao ambushed him during the martial arts competition, causing him to lose and forcing him to give up the opportunity.

Since that's the case, then he'll make sure he never returns.

When the late emperor was alive, Qi Wulin had always coveted the throne, but while he had the desire, he lacked the courage and was not very clever.

Qi Jinling used this to constantly reinforce his rebellious tendencies and secretly gave him advice.

In the end, they got what they wanted.

That fool Qi Wulin actually seized the throne and hunted down his nephew Qi Jincheng while he was outside the palace after the late emperor's death.

The Chu family was also sentenced to death by him.

As long as all those who are eligible to ascend the throne die, the throne will eventually fall into his hands.

At that time, Qi Wulin will bear the infamy in history books, and he will only be regarded as a wise and virtuous ruler of Qi, revered by all.

Qi Jinling's plan was almost perfect.

He just didn't expect that Chu Xiao was not dead, nor was Qi Jincheng.

Qi Wulin was a fool who was tyrannical and unpopular, and in the end, he was implicated.

Chu Xiao, holding a bow and arrow, looked at him coldly and said to the guards beside him, "Tie him up and take him away."

"Yes," Bingwei replied.

But just as they were about to step forward, Qi Jinling suddenly raised her hand.

A short, sharp arrow shot out from his sleeve.

At the same time, Chu Xiao reacted quickly, raising his hand to draw his bow and nock an arrow.

Two sharp arrows, one long and one short, traveled in opposite directions.

One weapon pierced Qi Jinling's shoulder, while the other tore through Chu Xiao's clothes on his arm.

Blood dripped slowly down the fabric, turning from bright red to jet black in an instant.

"grown ups!"

Bingwei immediately stepped forward, disarmed Qi Jinling of his hidden arrow, and tied him up.

He knelt on the ground, blood seeping from his lips, but the smile in his eyes was utterly insane.

"Chu Xiao!"

"Even if I die, you won't have an easy time!"

Success and fame? A beautiful woman by your side?

He couldn't let Chu Xiao live out the rest of his life in peace and tranquility.

Hahahahahahahahaha.

He laughed maniacally, and Chu Xiao had already realized something was wrong.

The hidden arrow was poisoned.

The poison took effect, and his tall, upright body swayed, his vision beginning to blur.

"Lord!"

"Chu Xiao!"

Two anxious voices rang out almost simultaneously.

Chu Xiao instinctively turned around following the woman's voice and saw the girl he had been longing for coming towards him.

“Chen You…”

He could no longer hold on and his body collapsed.

Shen Youfei rushed to his side and quickly reached out to catch him.

But he pulled them both down to the ground.

In the last moment before losing consciousness, Chu Xiao raised his hand and tightly protected her head.