Chapter 359 Questioning
The two reached the notice board without incident.
Unexpectedly, the place was completely new, with no recent notices and all traces of previous posts cleaned up, clearly indicating that it had been intentionally removed.
But what is the purpose of removing these things?
Qi Jun and Qi Yuxuan deliberately took a detour, intending to go to the Princess's residence first.
However, outside the Princess's residence, squads of fully armored soldiers stood ready, as if waiting for something, their eyes like those of hawks, sweeping over any commoner who tried to approach the Princess's residence.
They immediately realized that this was to prevent them from returning.
The only ones in the capital who had a reason to do so were the princes who were naturally opposed to Qi Jun, especially the fourth prince.
They have most likely already seized control of the government and are just waiting for Qi Jun to return so he can walk right into their trap.
Now, deciding who to turn to for a solution has become a difficult problem.
The Xiao family.
Xiao Jue had gone through countless near-death experiences before finally returning to the Xiao family half a month ago. However, upon arriving at the Xiao family, he was suddenly met with devastating news that the Crown Prince and Princess Chang Le had both perished.
He didn't believe it, but the facts were right in front of him. At the bottom of the cliff, they found the mangled remains and clothes of two people. According to villagers who often went to that area to hunt and chop wood, wild animals often roamed at the bottom of the cliff. If a person fell and was injured, and did not receive timely treatment, they would likely be devoured by wild animals until their remains were completely destroyed.
As a result, most people in the capital believed that the Crown Prince and the Princess had died, and that their bodies had not been brought back in their entirety, only their two tattered clothes.
The eldest princess vomited blood and fainted.
The emperor and empress were both unconscious after this blow. The empress dowager now personally took control of the government and discussed the matter of establishing a new crown prince with the two prime ministers and six ministers.
Xiao Jue approached Wei Qingqing that very day.
The Xiao family prepared a fine courtyard for this patriarch's savior, second only to the protected Lanting Pavilion.
Wei Qingqing was admiring her new residence when her maid told her that it was called Baozhen Courtyard and had once been the home of a beloved young lady.
Baozhen Courtyard is located in the southeast corner of the Xiao Mansion. Although it is not as elegant as Lanting Pavilion, it is superior in its magnificent and luxurious atmosphere created by skilled craftsmen.
In front of the courtyard gate is a moon gate, inlaid with a jade carving of two cranes carrying a lingzhi mushroom. Behind the gate, a winding path leads to a secluded spot, with exquisite Taihu stones piled up on both sides to form a mountain. Withered branches of wisteria vines hang from the cracks between the stones, which will surely become a waterfall-like curtain of flowers in spring.
Passing the artificial hill, a pool of flowing water meanders through the corridor, with a thin layer of ice floating on the surface, and a few bright red koi carp can be vaguely seen swimming around.
Several old plum trees were planted by the pond, their gnarled branches adorned with pale yellow winter plum blossoms. Their subtle fragrance mingled with the incense wafting from the west wing's warm pavilion, exuding a touch of luxurious warmth.
The main house has upturned eaves covered with glazed tiles, and eight-treasure copper bells hang under the eaves, which make a clean and clear sound when a breeze blows by.
Wei Qingqing pushed open the carved lattice door and saw that the floor was covered with a Western Region velvet carpet, and the twelve sandalwood screens were painted with a hundred butterflies flying among flowers, and the butterfly wings were actually covered with real gold leaf.
A silver fox fur rug was draped over the chaise lounge by the window, and a Ru kiln celadon vase with red coral branches was placed on the table. Even the tea tray used by the maid was a cloisonné enamel cup with cloud patterns. Such extravagant wealth made her coarse cloth shirt look out of place.
The most wonderful part is the viewing platform on the east side, where you can see snow-covered pavilions in the distance, resembling jade palaces.
Although the century-old ginkgo tree by the platform had shed all its golden leaves, Wei Qingqing stroked the exquisitely carved lotus patterns on the pillar and suddenly felt that the suffering she had endured after transmigrating had been compensated for in this beautiful and magnificent courtyard.
"It's beautiful, so beautiful! From now on, this will be my courtyard, Wei Qingqing's!" she shouted excitedly.
The maids looked at each other, none of them saying anything to stop her.
What could they say? This was the savior personally brought back by the head of the Xiao family! If she wanted to, she could simply stay in this Baozhen Courtyard; they could provide for her in any way they pleased.
"What's wrong with you?!" Suddenly, a harsh and cold male voice from the courtyard gate interrupted Wei Qingqing.
Poor thing, she was just immersed in excitement and hadn't even recovered when she was startled and started hiccuping.
Wei Qingqing turned around, glared angrily at Xiao Jue standing at the courtyard gate, and shouted with her hands on her hips:
"Hiccup—how do you walk, hiccup—without making a sound? Hiccup—and this is my yard, hiccup—you come in without even letting anyone announce you, how rude!"
"Hiccup—I'm your savior, after all!"
Xiao Jue glanced at them expressionlessly, and the maids inside immediately understood. They lowered their heads and retreated from the courtyard, leaving the space to the head of the household and this Miss Wei.
Wei Qingqing saw him dismiss all the servants with a single glance, and suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She stopped hiccuping and slowly backed away, arms crossed, her face full of vigilance.
"What are you trying to do by sending them away? I'm telling you, don't get any improper thoughts about me in broad daylight! Although I know I'm pretty and men can easily lose control, I can call for help!"
"..." Sometimes Xiao Jue really wanted to crack open this woman's head and see what was inside.
“I ask, you answer. If there is even half a lie, even if I kill you right here, it will only be dealing with a fugitive who should have become a government slave. No one will punish me for it.” Xiao Jue’s voice was icy, as if he meant what he said.
Wei Qingqing felt her blood instantly turn ice-cold, and a chill ran down her spine.
Along the way, she truly witnessed how this seemingly kind eldest brother of the Xiao family could be so heartless and ungrateful, discarding her after he had served his purpose.
She had clearly saved him, but instead of being grateful, he always treated her like his servant, behaving rudely and demandingly!
No wonder the female lead never liked this older brother. Anyone would find it hard to stand this seemingly gentle, warm, and polite man who is actually cold, scheming, and gloomy!
"Just ask, why scare me? What good will it do you to kill me? Besides, burying a body is a hassle, and you don't want to dirty your Xiao family's territory, do you..." The more she spoke, the less confident Wei Qingqing became.
She didn't make any thorough preparations before transmigrating into the book; it was just a coincidence that she shared the same name. She didn't have the talents and abilities of those transmigrated women, nor did she have the protagonist's halo that allowed her to defy fate. It's perfectly normal for her to be afraid of death.
Xiao Jue stared at her: "When you saved me that day, did you see my sister?"
The tone wasn't like a normal question; it sounded more like an accusation that the speaker didn't believe she hadn't seen it.
Wei Qingqing was stunned. Her eyes widened, and her brain started working overtime.
She had indeed shown off her foresight to Xiao Jue, but he couldn't just ask her such a question right away, could he?
Is he some kind of incredibly intelligent monster? How could he guess that she was specifically going to save the female lead?
The male and female protagonists still have to go through some things before they can successfully ascend the throne and get married. If she just says it directly, won't it affect the direction of the story?
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