"This Li Wenyou is even more ruthless than I imagined!"

As Jia Xu passed by, he glanced at the miserable state of the assassins inside, and his lips twitched involuntarily.

"Clean it up inside and move it to their own rooms!"

"promise!"

After Jia Xu gave the order, several spies, suppressing their nausea and discomfort, went inside to tidy up.

The next day, Li Ru followed several yamen runners and continued towards Youzhou.

The magistrate of Yuanshi County also received a report early in the morning that a murder had occurred in a house, and he hurriedly led his constables to the scene!

Inside the room, the five assassins had all their limbs severed and their facial features destroyed, making it impossible to recognize them in terms of either their physique or appearance.

"Ugh..."

Upon seeing the horrific scene inside, the magistrate of Yuanshi County immediately began to vomit profusely.

"Who could have done this? So ruthless!"

After a long while, the magistrate of Yuanshi County finally came to his senses and looked at the person in charge of the post station.

The person in charge of the inn shook his head nervously, "Last night I only heard someone shout, and when I tried to get up to check, I was knocked unconscious and didn't wake up until dawn!"

"Huh? What did you shout?"

The magistrate of Yuanshi County hurriedly asked.

The person in charge of the inn thought carefully for a moment and said, "It seems to be something... Magistrate Li, we've come to rescue you!"

The magistrate of Yuanshi County's expression shifted, and he quickly asked, "Magistrate Li? Were there a few yamen runners and a scholar who stayed here last night?"

The innkeeper nodded. "Yes! But when I woke up, I found they were already gone!"

"Yes, I understand. You may leave now!"

The magistrate of Yuanshi County waved his hand, dismissing the person in charge of the post station, and then returned to the county office to await news from the coroner.

Half a day had passed before the coroner managed to piece together the bodies of the assassins and hurriedly returned to the county office to report to the magistrate.

"Any discoveries?"

Seeing the bloodstains on the coroner's body, the magistrate of Yuanshi County couldn't help but recall the scene from before. He suppressed his nausea and discomfort and inquired about the results.

"Reporting to the magistrate, these men were first severely injured and then dismembered."

Judging from the grotesque state of their faces, I believe they were dismembered and had their facial features gouged out before they died!

"Hiss~ Is this even human?"

After listening to the coroner's report, the magistrate of Yuanshi County couldn't help but gasp. He had only ever seen such cruel methods in history books.

"This is the first time in all my years that I have witnessed such a brutal method of killing!"

Even the coroner was secretly astonished.

"Any other discoveries?"

"After piecing the bodies back together, my subordinates discovered that each of them had thick calluses on the web of their hands, likely from long-term handling of weapons. The same marks were also found on their buttocks."

It's clear that these deceased individuals belonged to the same organization and were highly skilled in martial arts!

The magistrate of Yuanshi County nodded. "I understand. You should first collect the body and put the investigation on hold. This is a major case, and I need to report it to the prefect and the imperial court."

"promise!"

After watching the coroner leave, the magistrate of Yuanshi County hurriedly left the county office, returned to his residence, and began to reply to his family.

...

Inside Chang Le Palace, Dou Miao also sent her female official Xiao Hong to summon the palace maids Xiao Qiong and the others who had been borrowed by Lü Qiang to her.

Dou Miao looked at them with a smile, "Are those cotton-padded clothes finished?"

Sensing Dou Miao's gaze, Xiao Qiong said, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, everything has been completed!"

"Good! Your help in making cotton-padded clothes for His Majesty is commendable!"

Then Dou Miao looked at Xiao Hong and said, "Take them down to collect their reward!"

"Thank you, Empress Dowager!"

After the palace maids left, Xiao Hong returned to Dou Miao's side and whispered:

"Your Majesty, I have already inquired. No one ever saw Xiao Qiong while they were making the cotton-padded clothes. She only appeared two days before they were finished."

Dou Miao looked at Xiao Hong, "Do you think this Xiao Qiong is suspicious?"

Xiao Hong nodded upon hearing this, "I feel that Lü Qiang's request to borrow people seems to be more than just making cotton-padded clothes!"

Dou Miao chuckled and said, "Lu Qiang doesn't have the guts to mess with the people from Chang Le Palace."

"Does the Empress Dowager mean that this was His Majesty's intention?"

Xiao Hong was startled and couldn't help but ask.

"I suppose the emperor is just investigating because he suspects someone planted in Chang Le Palace because of what happened last time. There's no need to make a fuss about it."

Dou Miao smiled. The reason she suggested to Liu Hong that he bring her birth mother, Lady Dong, into the palace was because she had overheard the gossip of the palace maids.

After being rejected by Liu Hong, Dou Miao realized many of the key issues involved, and she then realized that she had been unintentionally used by someone.

Now, after Liu Hong investigated those palace maids, they were sent back, and Dou Miao vaguely understood Liu Hong's intentions.

Dou Miao then looked at Xiao Hong and said with a smile, "The weather has been quite cold in the early mornings lately. Go to Lü Qiang's place and ask for a suitable cotton-padded coat to send to the General!"

"promise!"

Since the Empress Dowager had spoken, Lü Qiang naturally dared not refuse, and then personally selected an item and handed it to Xiao Hong.

Inside the Deyang Palace, Liu Hong chuckled softly upon hearing the news.

"Tomorrow is the court assembly; I should send them some comforts!"

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