Jiang Junyu's face turned cold, and she pulled Jiang Junjing aside: "Why bother arguing with him? The government officials are here, and they have the final say."
Li Qingkui pointed at the two brothers and scolded, "I've spoiled you two for nothing all these years, and this is how you repay your uncle? I'm so angry!"
He felt heartbroken watching the coroner turn his daughter's body over and over on the ground, and he even shed two tears.
After the coroner finished his examination, he told Li Qingkui, "He died of suffocation. There were no injuries on his body. He was probably suffocated by someone covering his mouth and nose."
The coroner recounted many details, which chilled Li Qingkui to the bone, while the rest of the Li family became increasingly bewildered.
Although they didn't quite understand, they grasped one thing: Li Huilin had been suffocated by having her mouth and nose covered. Wasn't that murder?
The incident happened at the Jiang family's residence, and the Jiang family has to give the Li family an explanation no matter what.
Concubine Li was talking to the head constable of the government not far away. This constable, Liu, was in charge of criminal cases in the capital and was very experienced.
Officer Liu said, "You don't need to keep an eye on things here anymore. I need to thoroughly investigate everyone who had contact with the deceased. I will let you know as soon as I have the results."
Li Guiqie said, "You must investigate thoroughly. No matter who it is, you must tell me. I am determined to avenge my niece."
A few sad tears streamed down her face as she spoke.
...
Yuan Qi was carving a jade talisman with his spiritual power at the Peony Residence when the gatekeeper came to find him and spoke to Wen Zhujun at the door.
"Eunuch Hong, who serves His Highness the Crown Prince, has come to invite Miss Seven to the East Palace. The carriage is already waiting outside. Miss Wen, please inform him quickly, so as not to keep the Crown Prince waiting."
Wen Zhujun was not in a hurry: "Go and tell Eunuch Hong that the Seventh Miss knows that the Crown Prince is looking for her. She still has some preparations to make, and it will be ready in about an incense stick's time."
The gatekeeper's eyes lit up, and he replied with a grin, "Good, I knew Miss Seven had the ability to foresee the future. Tell Miss Seven not to worry, Eunuch Hong is having tea in front, with his wife accompanying him."
Wen Zhujun saw the gatekeeper off with a smile, then continued to stand at the door to protect Yuan Qi. After an incense stick had burned, Yuan Qi came out from inside.
"I'm going to the palace. You keep an eye on the house. If Consort Li comes looking for me, just tell her I can't help with this." Yuan Qi had already anticipated Consort Li's return, and that she would be back soon. If he didn't leave quickly, she would be cornered.
Wen Zhujun said, "Alright, go ahead."
Yuan Qi calmly arrived at the front hall, where Xiangli Mingzhu and Jiang Bailu were entertaining Hong Sibao. Hong Sibao was around twenty years old and had served the Crown Prince for over ten years. He was a confidant of the Crown Prince Xiao Yi.
Xiangli Mingzhu stayed there for half a day but couldn't find out what Hong Sibao wanted to see Yuan Qi for. She was very curious and a little angry, feeling that Hong Sibao didn't treat her as the Crown Prince's mother-in-law and had no respect for her at all.
She even suspected that Yuan Qi had secretly seduced the Crown Prince, so it was very strange that the Crown Prince's men came to the Jiang residence instead of Jiang Bailu to find Yuan Qi.
Jiang Bailu rudely blocked Yuan Qi's way at the door and asked fiercely, "What does His Highness the Crown Prince want with you? Tell me!"
Yuan Qi spread his hands, looking completely innocent, and said, "How would I know? He sent someone to find me, not me to find him. You should ask that eunuch."
Jiang Bailu snorted. She let her in to see what Hong Sibao would say.
Hong Sibao stepped forward and said, "Seventh Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince invites you."
Yuan Qi obediently nodded and said, "Then let's go."
Jiang Bailu followed behind the two and said to Hong Sibao, "I want to go too."
Hong Sibao stopped Jiang Bailu without any politeness: "Fourth Miss, His Highness the Crown Prince did not say that you should go, and we cannot make the decision for you to go. Please stay."
Although he was a servant, he was loyal to Crown Prince Xiao Yi, and Jiang Bailu's words had no effect on him.
Jiang Bailu could only threaten Yuan Qi: "If you dare to seduce the Crown Prince, I'll skin you alive!"
Yuan Qi chuckled and teased her, "If you're worried, just come along. What's the point of saying all this?" After saying that, she made a face at Jiang Bailu.
Jiang Bailu stomped her feet in anger.
Xiangli Mingzhu came over and scolded her: "How can you say such things? If Hong Sibao complains about you to the Crown Prince, you will lose your position as Crown Princess. Let's see where you will regret it then."
Jiang Bailu was extremely frustrated: "Mother, I just want to know what the Crown Prince wanted with her, but they won't tell me. It's infuriating!"
The carriages of the Eastern Palace were very comfortable, but still somewhat inferior to those of the Xiangli family. Yuan Qi unconsciously made the comparison. The Xiangli family was a powerful clan that dominated the Sumeru Continent, and they didn't even respect the royal family. Their servants were so powerful that no royal family in any country dared to offend them, so naturally no one cared whether their carriages exceeded the standard.
On the way, Hong Sibao whispered to Yuan Qi about Xiao Yi's recent situation.
"His Highness the Crown Prince has recently felt that he is about to lose control. He has already killed fourteen innocent people, including six palace maids, four eunuchs, three retainers, and one beauty. Miss Seven, please do not spread this matter. His Highness said that you told him that if he encounters a problem that he cannot solve, he can come to you. So His Highness sent me to invite Miss Seven."
Yuan Qi roughly understood that the Crown Prince's situation was similar to Jiang Juncai's, but the Crown Prince lost control more often and killed more people, but he didn't know why.
"Didn't Your Highness consult the Imperial Advisor?"
Hong Sibao was somewhat effeminate, which Yuan Qi didn't like, but he didn't show it. He shook his head, quite helplessly: "I've tried to find him privately, but the Imperial Preceptor and his two disciples were injured when they encountered the Black Mist a few days ago and have no time to take care of the Crown Prince. Besides, the Imperial Preceptor only obeys the Emperor's orders, and His Highness the Crown Prince can't command him either. So I can only come to you."
Yuan Qi pondered to himself that the Ghost King had come prepared this time, and his goal was probably not as simple as just taking something.
But she's not sure what the Ghost King wants to do, so she can only take it one step at a time.
Before long, they arrived at the Eastern Palace.
Hong Sibao took Yuan Qi directly to Shangyang Palace, where Xiao Yi was.
Xiao Yi looked almost exactly the same as when Yuan Qi last met him; he hadn't changed at all, remaining as gentle and dignified as ever, with a faint smile on his lips.
The Shangyang Palace was very quiet. As soon as Yuan Qi arrived, all the other maids withdrew, leaving only Hong Sibao to serve him.
"Has Hong Sibao already told you about my situation?" Xiao Yi asked gently, inviting Yuan Qi to sit down.
Yuan Qi's gaze was sharp as he looked around, finally settling on Xiao Yi's face. He was calm and composed, much more so than Jiang Juncai when he faced this problem. He truly lived up to his title as the Crown Prince.
"As I've said, I roughly know what happened. Now I will examine Your Highness's body. Please extend your hand."
Yuan Qi pulled Xiao Yi's arm, took his pulse with three fingers, and injected spiritual energy into his body to check for any abnormalities.
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