Chapter 14 Playing with Fire "Xue Rongyue, I don't believe you."...
Outside the window, the clouds dispersed and the sun rose in the east. The bamboo leaves rustled, and the accumulated rain poured down from the eaves, constantly washing the lush green bamboo grove under the eaves.
The magnificent afterglow of the sunset swept away from the distant mountain peaks, two rows of swallows and sparrows drifted like smoke, and dappled sunlight poured down over the mountains, illuminating the hall.
Qin Jin stood against the light, his broad and upright figure like a cypress or pine. He shook his head as if in disappointment: "So excited, then it seems it really isn't you."
Xue Rongyue retorted sarcastically, "It seems that this attempt to shift the blame is the work of the Crown Prince."
Qin Jin crossed his arms, hissed upon hearing this, and said uncertainly, "You also think it was me? I drank a bit too much last night, so I'm really not sure."
...?
Xue Rongyue was taken aback by Qin Jin's unconventional behavior and blurted out, "Are you crazy?"
This murder case reached the ears of the emperor, and everyone else, fearing to get involved and get themselves into trouble, vehemently denied it. He, however, became hesitant in his words.
Xue Rongyue mocked, "Your Highness should say this to the Yan guards outside, so they will have a direction to follow and can release the innocent people sooner."
"An innocent person?" Qin Jin raised an eyebrow, tilting his head as if puzzled, his gaze falling on the graceful figure behind the screen. "I was summoned here by the Guards because of a dispute at the tavern. Why are you being interrogated, Xue Erniang?"
He emphasized the name "Xue Erniang" heavily, drawing out the words with a teasing tone that carried an ambiguous undertone.
Xue Rongyue's expression was unpleasant: "What's it to you?"
"I wanted to repay a debt of gratitude." Qin Jin's voice was tinged with a smile. "No one could have vouched for my innocence last night, but thanks to Madam Xue's hangover soup. After you left, I not only invited a famous doctor from Chang'an but also a Taoist priest. To my surprise, that hangover soup was indeed free of poison and evil spirits."
"Second Sister Xue, if you have a favor to ask of me, you might as well just say so."
Xue Rongyue knew he was testing her and scoffed at it. Just as she was about to retort, a sudden inspiration struck her, and an idea popped into her mind.
After much deliberation, she decided it was feasible.
Although separated by a thin veil embroidered with wild geese, Xue Rongyue's increasingly intense gaze made Qin Jin shiver. Seeing her staring silently, Qin Jin slightly bent his knuckles, about to gently tap to urge her, when the figure behind the screen suddenly stood up.
Stepping out from behind the screen, Xue Rongyue and Qin Jin were the only two people in the hall, making it easy to talk: "Young Master Qin, has your precious fighting rooster woken up yet?"
Qin Jin's alarm blared: "Why do you care about my Overlord?"
He didn't answer, and Xue Rongyue didn't bring it up again, instead asking, "Doesn't Prince Qin find it strange?"
Stepping out into the sunlight, Xue Rongyue walked up to Qin Jin and said, "Why do these recent events in Chang'an seem to be aimed at you and me?"
"The Overlord mistakenly ate your soup and was unconscious for several days, almost dying. I was also murdered by villains when I went to the banquet. Now, the two of us are drinking in a tavern, and someone is spreading rumors about our two families. The deceased died after arguing with the Prince of Qin. Doesn't the Prince of Qin find this suspicious?"
Qin Jin cut to the chase: "What are you planning to do?"
Taking two steps closer, Xue Rongyue's delicate lips curved slightly, her almond-shaped eyes filled with sunlight, seemingly possessing a gentle quality: "Young Master Qin, don't you want to expose the person behind this?"
Sunlight streamed into the hall.
Willow branches and stray hairs at Xue Rongyue's temples swayed gently in the morning light. The golden sun spread across Xue Rongyue's apricot-yellow cloud-patterned beaded dress. Her long, curled eyelashes trembled slightly, each one distinct in the sunlight, making her almond-shaped eyes even brighter.
When Qin Jin was young, he had a pet cat that usually ignored him. Only when it was begging for food would the cat climb onto his lap, stand upright on its front paws, tilt its head back, and stare at him with bright eyes.
It may seem innocent and harmless, but if you let it get its way, it will immediately turn on you and leave without waiting for you to stay. As it leaves, its tail will deliberately and mercilessly sweep across you.
With his eyes slightly narrowed, Qin Jin stepped forward, his affectionate peach blossom eyes shimmering with a subtle light.
He bent down, his eyes probing.
The delicate fragrance of pear blossoms invaded her at this distance, causing Xue Rongyue's face to show a hint of panic. She involuntarily took a step back, her long, slender, white neck tensing.
Staring intently at her, Qin Jin snorted and concluded, "Xue Rongyue, you really are up to no good."
Xue Rongyue, feeling guilty, said, "What ulterior motives? I just want to make a deal with you!"
She met his gaze and reasoned with him, appealing to his emotions: "Although we have our grudges, there's plenty of time in the future. But if we don't find out who's behind this, there's no guarantee that more trouble won't arise."
She paused, then said defiantly, "Or is it that Prince Qin is so willing to let others provoke you?"
Qin Jin straightened up, raising his eyebrows slightly: "What Madam Xue said is not wrong."
Xue Rongyue was overjoyed.
If they could join forces with Qin Jin, firstly, with his and the Ding'an Marquis's mansion's help, it would save them some time in trying to find the person behind the scenes. Even if they couldn't succeed, they could still drag Qin Jin into this mess so that she could fish in troubled waters.
Secondly, as long as this person is not eliminated, Qin Jin can be kept in check, and there is no need to worry that Qin Jin will take the opportunity to trip her up.
Thirdly, this matter would allow the two of them to have more interaction, making it easier for her to find an opportunity to win over Qin Jin—this matter endangers her life, and no matter how unwilling she is, she cannot act out of spite.
This matter is beneficial and harmless to her, and Xue Rongyue has always spared no effort to make things happen as long as it gives her the upper hand.
"Compared to you, I am indeed more annoyed by those lurking in the shadows."
"But……"
Before Xue Rongyue could beam with joy, Qin Jin suddenly changed the subject, calmly asking, "Can I trust you?"
Sensing the sarcasm in her words, Xue Rongyue's expression froze.
Qin Jin scoffed meaningfully: "Xue Rongyue, you used this trick to fool me when we were young, and now you're still using the same old trick in a different guise."
"I hate the person behind the scenes, and you are a smooth-talking liar."
With his arms crossed and eyes downcast, Qin Jin said expressionlessly, "Xue Rongyue, I don't believe you."
"What nonsense! Don't you dare slander me with baseless accusations!" Xue Rongyue's eyes widened, her ears turning red with anger and embarrassment. "Qin Jin, in this matter, you and I are both..."
Before she could finish speaking, she heard footsteps outside. Xue Rongyue stopped talking, her eyelashes trembling uncontrollably for a moment.
The door to the main hall was opened, and a guard from the Imperial Guard stepped in, saying in a deep voice, "Madam Xue, please."
What's meant to happen will happen.
With a somber expression, Xue Rongyue exhaled a breath of stale air, and without further delay or arguing, she coldly bypassed Qin Jin and left with Yan Wei.
Yan Wei did not take her to the underground prison, but instead to a woodshed that had been set aside for temporary interrogation.
A moderate approach, with some consideration, is good news.
She bit her trembling tongue, the pain bringing her back to her senses. Without stopping, she stepped into the dusty, musty woodshed without looking to the side.
Bloodstained instruments of torture were laid out behind Cao Mingyu, some still covered in flesh and blood, making one's breath catch in their throat.
Cao Mingyu sat in the main seat and raised his hand, saying calmly, "Madam Xue, please sit down."
Glancing at the chair still stained with filth and water, Xue Rongyue's eyes revealed undisguised disgust as she coldly said, "Bring a new chair."
After a moment of silence, Cao Mingyu glanced at his side, and a guard from the Yan Guards, following orders, brought over a clean chair.
Cao Mingyu said, "Everyone in the Guards is tormented. I will no longer stand on ceremony with Madam Xue and will get straight to the point."
Xue Rongyue remained calm and said, "Please."
"According to the shopkeeper and customers, Madam Xue brought a female slave and a guard into the tavern last night. The female slave did follow Madam Xue the whole time, but the guard disappeared afterward. I came here today, but I didn't see him either. Madam Xue, could you tell me where the guard went?"
"You mean Luo Zhen?" Xue Rongyue seemed to think for a moment before speaking, "He did escort me to the tavern last night, but since we were already there, I didn't need him to serve me. Why should I restrain him? I just let him go and do as he pleased."
While tending to the brazier used for torture, Cao Mingyu casually said, "Madam Xue is quite considerate of her servants. Aren't you afraid of danger without guards in the tavern?"
“Anyone who knows me well knows that I’ve always been like this. As for encountering danger…” Xue Rongyue looked at Cao Mingyu with a half-smile, “This is Chang’an, with the Imperial Guard patrolling day and night. What danger could I possibly encounter in a tavern full of guests? Besides, I have female slaves serving me.”
Last night, with so many people around, and the Guards already interrogating the shopkeeper and customers, they knew that Luo Zhen had disappeared midway. So, it's likely that the fact that Luo Zhen left with Zhong Yuan couldn't be kept secret either. That's why her story is even more airtight.
The matter of Luo Zhen disciplining Wang Jinhu is itself unclear. If Cao Mingyu insists that Luo Zhen accidentally killed Wang Jinhu after he confesses, then she and Luo Zhen will truly become scapegoats.
As long as her testimony matches Luo Zhen's and she stubbornly denies it, Cao Mingyu will be helpless without evidence.
Cao Mingyu stopped what he was doing and looked up at him: "Then why didn't he go to the Xue residence to work today? Has he not had enough fun yet?"
“If Lord Cao asks about this, I really do know.” Ignoring the room full of torture instruments, Xue Rongyue said calmly, “Today is Luo Zhen’s birthday, and I have granted him leave, so he will naturally not be at the mansion. Yesterday at Chenshi, I also gave him five taels of silver as usual to celebrate his birthday. This silver was drawn from the account, and Lord Cao can send someone to the mansion to check.”
She bought Luo Zhen from a slave trader. He had no parents, and her birthday was set by her. Although she was busy recently and did not plan to grant Luo Zhen a day off, the money was indeed handed to him yesterday at Chenshi (7-9 AM).
Cao Mingyu waved his hand, and the guards withdrew and rode off to the Xue residence.
He continued, "Does Madam Xue know where this person will go today? I sent my men to search his house, but they couldn't find any trace of him."
"I don't know about that. Although I am in charge of the affairs of the manor, I don't have to ask where the servants go on their days off. You should wait for Lord Cao to find him and ask him himself."
Cao Mingyu scoffed, "Where did Madam Xue go all night? We can't possibly not know that."
Xue Rongyue remained calm and said, "Last night I was drunk and it was close to curfew, so I went to a nearby private residence to stay for the night. Is this illegal?"
Seeing how clean she was trying to distance herself, Cao Mingyu couldn't help but sneer: "So, Madam Xue is truly innocent, only finding out about Wang Jinhu's death when I cornered her at her residence?"
Just when everyone thought Xue Rongyue would maintain her flawless act, they were surprised to see her furrow her brows, seemingly hesitant, and slowly say, "Yes and no."
Cao Mingyu couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"
Lowering her eyes, Xue Rongyue sneered inwardly.
Qin Jin refused to join forces with her, but since the fire had not yet completely spread to him, he was fearless.
Since that's the case, she doesn't mind getting him into trouble.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Brother Buxin suddenly appeared
Xiaoyue: If we join forces, we're not afraid to be enemies with the whole world.
Qin Jin: ? Why should I be at odds with the whole world?
Xiaoyue: Hehe, I'll help you! [Kiss]
Next chapter preview: Xiaoyue's fiancé is about to make his appearance! Who will be able to handle it? [doge]
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