Chapter 69 Deliberately Provoking Conflict
The wine on the stone table hadn't dried completely yet, and the two characters "Xu Ren" blurred along the stone's texture, like ink dripping onto rice paper, unexpectedly catching everyone's eye.
Pei Zhiwei was stunned for a moment, then her fingertips unconsciously touched the edge of the stone table, the wine stains on her fingertips feeling cool.
She stared at those two words, replaying the events of that night at Yuhuchun in her mind.
Xie Ji and Zhang Xiao started arguing around the end of the 11 PM - 1 AM, the decorated frame collapsed around the beginning of the 9 PM - 11 PM, and Xu Ren and his family arrived at the scene around the beginning of the 9 PM - 11 PM.
Is there enough time in between to cut the rope from the third-floor observation deck, rush back to the Xu family home, and blend in with the arriving family members?
Xie Jixian, who was standing nearby, suddenly became agitated. He jumped up from the stone bench, knocking over an empty wine jar at his feet with a soft "clang".
"Xu Ren? How could it be him?" He looked incredulous.
"I remember it clearly. That night, Xu Ren came with his mother, Wang Shi, and his brother, Xu Li."
From cutting the rope on the third floor of Yuhuchun to returning to the Xu residence, and then rushing over with his family, how long did it all take?
Is there enough time?
Pei Zhiwei didn't answer immediately; she was still searching her mind for the images.
That night, Xie Ji kicked Zhang Xiao's men into the private room where they were, and then she went out to see what was going on.
At that moment, everyone's attention was drawn to the collapsed observation deck, and almost everyone had their backs to it.
According to Xie Ji at the time, his private room was right next to Zhang Xiao's.
Following the normal fighting pattern, from the very beginning of the conflict, everyone's gaze was turned away from the flower stand.
If Xu Ren had made his move then, no one would have noticed.
She pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of another possibility.
"But what if he started the fight on the observation deck right when you first had your conflict?"
These words startled Xie Ji, and Xiao Yunzhan also raised his eyes, clearly following the same line of thought.
“Think about it,” Pei Zhiwei continued, resting her chin on her knuckles.
"He needs to prepare a dagger before he cuts the rope, right?"
They might even have sent someone in advance to deliberately lure Xu Fengyan and Chen Gong to a specific location.
This shows that he had already planned ahead.
Once you two start arguing, he'll take the opportunity to cut the rope. The reason he doesn't cut the rope directly is to buy himself time.
I've calculated that, according to what you said at the time, the conflict between you two had just started before 3:45 PM.
Even if he's slow, he should be able to finish everything in no time.
He left Yuhuchun in a very open and honest manner, taking a shortcut back to the Xu residence.
"Then, with my family coming over, there should be enough time."
Xie Ji stroked his chin, his brows furrowed tightly: "But how can he be so sure that I will definitely clash with Zhang Xiao?"
It's not like Xu Fengyan can just sit there with a dagger every time he goes to Yuhuchun, hoping someone will start a fight to attract attention, is it?
When will we be able to go?
Pei Zhiwei: "So that's the key."
He certainly knew that at that time of day, something would happen at Yuhuchun that would capture everyone's attention.
Xie Ji's face gradually darkened. He slammed his fist on the table, his tone tinged with resentment:
"You mean, I wasn't unintentionally used by the villain, but was deliberately schemed against by him?"
Did he already anticipate that I would argue with Zhang Xiao?
“Very likely,” Pei Zhiwei nodded.
"If that's the case, then the songstress who came to you for help is highly suspicious."
She was very likely arranged by Xu Ren.
Xie Ji pondered for a long time, then shook his head: "That's not right, how did they know I would go to Yuhuchun?"
I decided to go on a whim; I didn't even know I'd be going there that day.
Xiao Yunzhan, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke up: "It's not necessarily aimed at you."
All Xu Ren wanted was for 'someone to have a conflict at that time'.
You just happened to be the one who caused the conflict.
Even if you don't go, he'll have that songstress or someone else cause a conflict. What kind of conflict doesn't matter, as long as it gets everyone's attention.
These words seemed to awaken Xie Ji. He clenched his fists, his face slowly turning red: "Fine! You dare to treat me like a fool!"
I am irreconcilably at odds with Xu Ren!
"When the time comes, none of you can stop me. Once I find solid evidence and convict him, I, the young master, will beat him so badly that even his own mother wouldn't recognize him!"
Neither Pei Zhiwei nor Xiao Yunzhan paid any attention to his outburst. Xiao Yunzhan looked at Pei Zhiwei.
"Liu Jingchang is still keeping an eye on Wu Ming's matter. Tell him first thing tomorrow morning to bring that songstress back for questioning."
"Mm," Pei Zhiwei responded, and was about to say something more when she was interrupted by Lu Yinzhou's cough from the side.
Lu Yinzhou held the empty wine glass, twirling his finger along the rim, his tone slightly impatient: "Are you going to drink or not?"
If you're not going to drink, hurry up and find me a comfortable guest room.
My old arms and legs are so weak; I haven't used my full strength to run that far in so many years. My bones are practically falling apart; I need to rest properly.
Pei Zhiwei's eyes lit up immediately. "Grandpa Lu, have you been staying here lately?"
Lu Yinzhou glanced at her sideways, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Otherwise, how can I teach you the skills of the Thieves' Sect?"
Upon hearing this, Xie Ji immediately leaned his head close to Lu Yinzhou, looking ingratiating.
"Senior! Since you're teaching one person anyway, why not teach me as well?"
Look how clever I am! I learn things so quickly!
Lu Yinzhou chuckled twice, picked up his wine glass, glanced at Xie Ji, then at Xiao Yunzhan, and said nothing.
Seeing this, Xiao Yunzhan also picked up the wine glass on the table and raised it to Lu Yinzhou.
"If Senior Lu is willing to teach me, I would be more than happy to do so and will certainly learn diligently."
Lu Yinzhou put down his wine glass and raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you two, one a prince and the other the heir of the Marquis of Ding'an, learning these petty thievery skills?"
Aren't you afraid of embarrassing the royal family if word gets out?
Xie Ji immediately waved his hand, looking indifferent: "Hey, it's always good to have more skills!"
Besides, once I learn how to pick locks, I can open the box where my dad hides his secret stash of money with just a touch. Then I can take the money and go on a drinking spree—how satisfying would that be!
Lu Yinzhou spat out the mouthful of wine he had just taken a sip of, "..."
Pei Zhiwei: "..."
Xiao Yunzhan: "..."
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Pei Zhiwei woke up.
She changed into a neat lake-blue Hu-style dress, and as soon as she stepped out of the room, she saw Xiao Yunzhan and Xie Ji already waiting at the courtyard gate.
Xiao Yunzhan wore a sky-blue casual robe with delicate cloud patterns embroidered on the collar.
Xie Ji, on the other hand, was dressed in a navy blue short-sleeved shirt and looked very energetic.
"Good morning." Pei Zhiwei walked over. "Has everything been arranged with Lord Liu?"
"He said he would wait for us at the entrance of the brothel. Let's go, don't keep him waiting too long."
The three of them boarded the carriage and headed towards the brothel.
Xie Ji clung to the car window, looking at the food stalls outside, and couldn't help but swallow hard.
"After we finish investigating the case, we have to try the breakfast in Yangdu. I haven't had breakfast on the street since I came to Yangdu."
Pei Zhi smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll ask Lord Liu to recommend a few particularly delicious restaurants later."
Xiao Yunzhan didn't speak, but just looked at Pei Zhiwei's profile. For some reason, he suddenly remembered the scene when he saw her for the second time.
On her second day in the capital, she ate two flatbreads and a bowl of batu (a type of flatbread) by herself at a street stall.
He immediately realized that this young woman not only had some skills, but also ate quite a lot.
As he thought about it, the corners of his mouth slowly turned up.
Before long, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the Yihong Courtyard.
Liu Jingchang was already there with several yamen runners, waiting.
Since he was there to investigate a case, he was still wearing his light scarlet official robes.
Upon seeing them arrive, he quickly went to greet them: "Your Highness, Lady Pei, Prince Xie."
I'll send a constable to knock on the door right away."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the bailiff, with keen insight, stepped forward and pounded heavily on the gate of the Yihong Courtyard.
After taking pictures for a long time, the door suddenly opened from the inside, and a waiter wearing a coarse cloth shirt was seen rubbing his eyes, his face full of resentment.
"Which filthy, brain-dead bastard is banging on the door so early in the morning? Doesn't he know that the brothel only receives guests at night?"
He had barely finished speaking when he saw the constables and Liu Jingchang standing at the door. His expression changed instantly, and he quickly opened the door, bowing and smiling obsequiously: "It's you, sir!"
I'm so sorry, it's all my fault for being so blind and not seeing clearly.
"What are your orders, sir? I will do my best to fulfill them!"
Liu Jingchang didn't waste any words with him and walked straight inside: "We're looking for a songstress named Hanyan, is she here?"
The waiter hesitated for a moment, then quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, yes! Miss Hanyan stayed here last night, I'll go and fetch her right away!"
Just as he was about to run inside, he heard a woman scream from the second floor: "Ah... Help!"
The scream was urgent and loud, and Pei Zhiwei and the other two instinctively rushed toward the source of the sound.
Liu Jingchang and the yamen runners quickly followed.
A woman, disheveled and with her hair loose over her shoulders, rushed out of a room on the second floor, her face filled with terror, shouting for help as she ran.
Pei Zhiwei was the first to rush to her side. Just as she was about to help her up, she saw a masked man rush out of the room, holding a knife and slashing at the woman's back.
"Watch out!" Pei Zhiwei pulled the woman behind her and kicked the masked man's wrist.
The masked man's knife clattered to the ground. Seeing that his attack had missed, he didn't linger. He turned and ran to the window, kicked it open, and jumped out.
"I'll go after him!" Xie Ji shouted, then jumped out of the window and chased after him.
Xiao Yunzhan didn't delay either, jumping out of another window and chasing after the masked man with Xie Ji.
Pei Zhiwei wanted to chase after her, but the woman behind her held her arm tightly and refused to let go.
She had no choice but to take the woman back to the room. After much coaxing, she managed to get her to let go, took an outer garment from the shelf, and draped it over her shoulders.
"Don't be afraid, it's all over now."
The woman instinctively rubbed her hands together vigorously, her body trembling uncontrollably.
Pei Zhiwei gently stroked her back from top to bottom.
"It's alright now, the masked man has run away and won't hurt you anymore."
The woman gradually calmed down. She raised her head, looked at Pei Zhiwei, her eyes filled with fear, and her lips trembled.
"He actually sent people to kill me... He actually wants to kill me..."
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