Chapter 421 An Unintentional Success
After using the Wangyue Tower's channels to find Ji Changsheng's residence, the two went to his door and forced him to reveal the names of the soldiers who had bullied Min Pan'er.
Then, Ji Changsheng became the first victim of their blades.
After that, the two went their separate ways.
In two days, seven more people were killed. Old Woodcutter killed five, and two of them were actually killed.
There's no way to compare with a professional woodcutter; my meager skills are simply no match for his.
While Zhen Huan and Lao Qiao were busy with the assassination, Wei Jia arranged for one of her subordinates, an old woman and an orphan girl, to pose as vegetable farmers and deliver vegetables to the mansion. Then, Li Sanqi and Wen Xiu disguised themselves as the two of them and left the Qiao mansion, returning to the estate on the outskirts of the capital where the old woman and her companion lived. The next day, under the guise of visiting relatives, the family of five would set off together.
Meanwhile, the old woman and the orphan girl who entered the Qiao family were secretly arranged by Wei Jia to imitate the actions of Min Qiao Shi and Zhen Huan.
When Min Qiao was about to leave, this old woman became Min Qiao's stand-in.
This old woman was a capable person whom Wei Jia had saved before, and her specialty was disguise. The orphan girl was her apprentice.
Just after Li Sanqi and his companion left the capital, the matter of Zhen Huan and Lao Qiao's assassination attempt gradually escalated.
There was no way around it; six people died in two days, all of them soldiers. It would be strange if it didn't attract attention.
As a result, martial law was declared in Xijing City, and a manhunt was launched. Meanwhile, Li Sanqi and his companion, who had left the city a step earlier, took advantage of the moment when everyone's attention was drawn to the murder case. With the help of three people arranged by Wei Jia, they headed east towards the border.
***
"Your Highness, those who died were all soldiers who had accompanied the Crown Prince to Yu Yang's residence. Moreover..."
The guard beside the crown prince hesitated for a moment before saying, "All of these dead people had humiliated the fake Princess Xihe."
Xia Linyuan glanced at the guard. "You seem to have humiliated the fake princess as well, haven't you?"
The guard twitched his lips awkwardly and nodded in response, "Yes."
At that time, it was His Highness the Crown Prince who personally ordered him to go.
"Have we made any progress on the murderer?" Xia Linyuan asked.
The guard shook his head, then nodded. "It's not certain yet. But what is certain is that there are probably two murderers."
"Judging from the efficiency of the killing methods and the number of people killed, one is a veteran, and the other seems to be a novice."
At this point, the guard paused, and finally said nervously, "That veteran's method of killing is very similar to those of the people under the Marquis of Pingyan."
Xia Linyuan narrowed his eyes slightly. "Are you doubting Marquis Pingyan?"
"Your subordinate wouldn't dare!" The guard immediately knelt down.
The guard's name was Wang You. He was originally an unfavored illegitimate son of a vice minister of the Ministry of War. At the age of ten, he was fortunate enough to gain Xia Linyuan's favor and become Xia Linyuan's guard. From then on, he grew up by Xia Linyuan's side.
He was Xia Linyuan's most trusted confidant, and Xia Linyuan would discuss many things with him.
"Tell me your reasons for suspecting Marquis Pingyan." Xia Linyuan waited for Wang You to give a reasonable explanation with a dangerous expression.
He trusted Wang You, but that didn't mean Wang You could use that trust to frame a capable and loyal minister who served him faithfully.
Wang You calmly replied, "Your Highness, the fake princess Min Pan'er is a relative of the Marquis of Pingyan in Dayan. Moreover, the relationship is within the fifth degree of kinship."
In other words, they are quite closely related by blood.
However, for someone who can use and discard even their own son and grandson, this kinship relationship means nothing at all.
Xia Linyuan pressed further, "Anything else?"
Wang You quickly replied, "I have investigated. Before the Crown Prince Ji left the capital with the fake princess, the Marquis of Pingyan met with the fake princess alone. However, no one knows what they talked about."
"However, the first person to be killed died on the very night that Prince Ji and the fake princess left the capital."
"Furthermore, the murderer's methods are very similar to those of the people under the Marquis of Pingyan."
"It's hard for me not to suspect that the assassination attempt is related to Marquis Pingyan."
Xia Linyuan frowned. "Are you trying to say that the Marquis of Pingyan and the fake princess made a deal?"
Wang You nodded and said, "Judging from all the signs, this is indeed the most likely possibility."
Xia Linyuan was silent for a moment before instructing, "Continue the investigation. Also, I'm giving you three days off; you don't need to come and serve me during these days."
Wang You paused for a moment, then understood what Xia Linyuan meant.
They're trying to use him as bait.
"I will personally apprehend the real culprit and bring him to justice!"
"I don't want to hear any criticism of Marquis Pingyan before I have solid evidence."
"Understood."
"Step down."
"yes."
Wang You's words were not unfounded, especially considering Pingyan Marquis's former status...
Xia Linyuan, who originally had absolute trust in Marquis Pingyan, couldn't help but feel a slight doubt in his heart.
Unbeknownst to Min Qiao, their unintentional act planted a seed of suspicion in Xia Linyuan's heart.
At this moment, Lady Min Qiao came to the Pingyan Marquis's residence again, requesting an audience with the Marquis.
As before, after introducing herself, she was quickly led inside.
Upon meeting Min Ji, Madam Min Qiao went straight to the point and told him about the critically injured state of her personal maid.
Only then did he soften his tone, asking, "Do you have any life-saving pills in your household? Could you sell me one? If not, could you please ask an imperial physician to examine that girl?"
Min Ji smiled and said, "You're quite good to the maids around you. You wouldn't have cared about the life or death of a little girl before."
Madam Min frowned slightly but did not reply.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Min Ji didn't make things difficult for her. He personally took out a wooden box from a hidden compartment in the antique shelf behind him. Inside the wooden box was a small white jade bottle.
He took out a white jade bottle, poured out a black pill, put it in a small bottle, and handed it to Madam Min Qiao.
"Take this back and give it to your little maid; it will keep her safe."
When Min Qiao saw the black pills that Min Ji poured out of the jade bottle, her pupils widened suddenly.
These pills look exactly the same as the ones Zhen Huan treasures.
However, Min Qiao quickly composed herself.
All pills look pretty much the same. Maybe she's overthinking it.
Min Qiaoshi took the medicine bottle, thanked him earnestly, and quickly left.
She came here for Ajiu, so after receiving the life-saving medicine, she didn't linger and went straight back to the Qiao residence.
She took out the pill, examined it carefully, smelled it, and then, after Zhen Huan returned, took out the pills she had hidden and compared them.
In terms of both appearance and smell, they were exactly the same.
Min Qiaoshi, Wei Jia, and Huan Zhen looked at each other in bewilderment.
The pills they brought were indeed given to them by Doctor Mu.
Where did the Marquis of Pingyan get his medicine from?
Most importantly, Madam Min only received two. Madam Min roughly estimated that Marquis Pingyan's bottle contained at least ten!
"Should we feed it to Ajiu?"
He actually looked at the two identical pills, and then looked at Madam Min Qiao.
“Feed it.” Min Qiao nodded, then changed her mind, “Feed it the one we brought from Dayan.”
"Keep the one I got back from Min Ji."
"This..." I was indeed a little hesitant.
Wei Jia hesitated slightly, but after thinking about it, she sided with Min Qiao.
"Do as the old lady instructs."
Seeing that both of them said so, he had no choice but to do as they said. He put away the one that Madam Min Qiao had brought back from the Marquis of Pingyan's residence and fed the one that he had brought from Dayan to Ajiu and Shui.
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