Xiao Yujue chased for two steps, then stopped and quickly walked towards the bushes.
He pushed aside the weeds and saw a young girl lying there, motionless.
"Miss?" Xiao Yujue squatted down, and seeing that the girl's clothes were in disarray, he took off his long gown and covered the girl with it. "Miss, how are you?"
Seeing that the woman had no reaction, Xiao Yujue hesitated and said, "I'm sorry."
After saying that, he took the woman's hand and pressed her pulse, but there was no pulse.
"Dead?"
Xiao Yujue felt a little sad. After all, he still couldn't save her.
At this moment, a chaotic and noisy sound of footsteps was heard, and he saw a group of torches gathered outside.
"Sir, this is it. I was passing by on night watch and heard some noise inside."
"Go in and search."
A team of yamen runners rushed in and surrounded Xiao Yujue without saying a word.
"Where did this bastard come from? How dare he do such a shameless and despicable thing in the imperial city?"
Xiao Yujue was somewhat helpless, he stood up straight, and said slowly: "Captain Liu, take a good look at my appearance before you make a conclusion."
Captain Liu was from the Ministry of Justice. The voice sounded familiar to him and his heart tightened. He quickly grabbed the torch from the bailiff and took a few steps forward.
"Your Highness?"
When he saw Xiao Yujue's appearance clearly, he was at a loss for a moment, and then he knelt down to salute.
"I didn't know it was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
Everyone knelt down, and Xiao Yujue suddenly realized that the atmosphere was a little weird.
He calmed himself down and said calmly, "Get up."
"Your Highness, what are you doing?" Captain Liu didn't dare to speculate, but the scene before him made him think too much.
In the bushes was the girl who had been kidnapped and killed; she was covered with Xiao Yujue's clothes.
Beside him, there was only Xiao Yujue.
"I was coming back from patrolling the camp outside the city. I saw a suspicious person on the way and chased him here. I saw the girl who had been killed."
Xiao Yujue's words were not only a response to Captain Liu's question, but also an explanation to the people present.
"Take the man back to the Ministry of Justice and handle the matter according to the rules."
"Yes, I obey your command."
Captain Liu was half-believing and half-doubting, and secretly glanced at Xiao Yujue out of the corner of his eye.
At this time Xiao Yujue was also looking at him. He shivered with fear and dared not look again.
After all, Xiao Yujue was the crown prince, second only to the emperor and above everyone else, and he couldn't afford to offend him.
The girl who was killed tonight was also a woman who had the hope of becoming an oiran during Yue Lao's birthday. Her father was a famous jeweler in the capital, and her death further aroused public indignation.
After listening to the report from Captain Liu, the Minister of Justice was still frightened by Xiao Yujue's appearance at the crime scene.
He ordered his subordinates to keep the news secret, but there is no wall that is impenetrable, and the news still spread quickly among the people.
After all, since it involves the crown prince, many people have become very secretive about it.
After the morning court session, Xiao Yujue returned to the Prince's Mansion in a depressed mood.
Some censors have already begun to impeach him for improper behavior.
"Your Highness."
Mu Jingrui walked in, looked at Xiao Yujue's furrowed brows, and smiled faintly.
"Your Highness is still troubled by that matter?"
"If you were there that day, maybe you would have caught the murderer."
"Your Highness thinks too highly of me." Mu Jingrui thought seriously and said, "Your Highness, my subordinates just asked someone to go to the Ministry of Justice to inquire about the situation. The cause of death of the girl who was killed that night was basically the same as the previous ones. The method was extremely cruel. It should be the same person who did it."
"This matter must be investigated as soon as possible, otherwise, I am afraid that I will be regarded as a suspect."
"Your Highness, the eunuch Ma behind the Queen Mother has arrived." The butler came in to report.
Xiao Yujue and Mu Jingrui looked at each other, then got up and walked out helplessly.
When they arrived at the hall, Eunuch Ma came forward and bowed deeply to Xiao Yujue.
"Thank you for coming here in person, Eunuch Ma. I wonder what the Queen Mother wants to say?"
Eunuch Ma bowed and smiled apologetically, saying, "Oh, it is an honor for me to come to the Prince's Mansion to deliver a message. The Queen Mother knows that Your Highness is now helping the Emperor handle government affairs, and that you are physically and mentally exhausted and busy. Thinking that the people around you may not be enough, she personally selected a few to send to you."
As he spoke, Eunuch Ma clapped his hands, and six graceful and elegant women walked in with light steps.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Xiao Yujue's face turned green on the spot.
"Eunuch Ma, what does the Queen Mother mean by this?"
"The Queen Mother loves you. These are the most outstanding maids around the Queen Mother. Although they are not suitable for the elegant hall, they are still useful by the bedside."
Xiao Yujue was furious and secretly clenched his fists, but he didn't dare to get angry.
The Queen Mother sent him six beauties at this time, which clearly had a hidden meaning.
On the surface, it seems to be a good thing for him, but in fact it is adding fuel to the already burning fire.
"Your Highness, I will not keep you any longer. Goodbye." Eunuch Ma turned around and left with his entourage.
"That's outrageous."
Xiao Yujue was so angry that his face turned blue and he smashed the table with one slap. The six girls were so frightened that they trembled and stood aside, not daring to breathe.
Mu Jingrui made a gesture, indicating to the housekeeper to take the six girls out, and handed Xiao Yujue a cup of tea.
"Your Highness, calm down. There is no need to waste your energy on these things."
"The Queen Mother's action is clearly telling everyone that even she thinks I am the murderer who picked the flower."
What's even more depressing is that he has to be grateful; moreover, according to the rules, he has to sleep with these women one after another to show his respect for the Queen Mother.
Mu Jingrui was not good at speaking to begin with, and when he saw Xiao Yujue’s furious look, he couldn’t say anything to comfort her, so he had to retreat.
He strolled home alone, walking on the busy streets, sorting out the events of the past few days in his mind.
What happened to Xiao Yujue that night seemed to have been arranged in advance.
But the question is, among all the civil and military officials in the court, is there anyone who wants to frame Xiao Yujue?
Just as I was thinking about it, a majestic shout came from the front.
Mu Jingrui was pushed aside by the crowd, and when he looked up, he saw the Ling family's sedan chair slowly approaching. Judging from the specifications of the sedan chair, it should be Ling Yuwen.
An inexplicable thought came to his mind.
Mu Jingrui quietly followed Ling Yuwen.
After Ling Yuwen got off the sedan chair, he walked towards the restaurant. Several beggars who had been waiting at the door rushed up to beg.
The followers around Ling Yuwen shouted loudly, but were stopped by Ling Yuwen.
He casually took out some change and gave it to the little beggars, and patted them on the head gently, without any sign of disgust.
Mu Jingrui watched Ling Yuwen enter the restaurant and left thoughtfully.
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