Chapter 24: Tangled
After Qiandeng returned to the palace and changed his clothes to rest, Cui Fufeng also completed his investigation of Xue Xiyang's itinerary and sent it over.
"Everyone at the Imperial Music Bureau confirmed that there was indeed a dispute yesterday, which necessitated Xue Lecheng's personal intervention. The situation didn't dissipate until after 5 p.m. Even if Xue Xiyang rode at top speed, it would have taken him around 15 p.m. to get from the Pear Garden to Qujiang Pond. Time-wise, he'd have arrived at Qujiang Pond, then immediately rushed to kill Princess Gao, and then returned to the waterside pavilion to greet the county lady as if nothing had happened. His timeline is incredibly tight."
Qian Deng nodded slightly and asked, "So, what about his relationship with Princess Gao?"
"That's true. The girls in Pingkangfang can all confirm it. They also remember that three days ago, Princess Gao and Xue Xiyang had a disagreement. When she dropped the carriage curtain, she sternly ordered the maid not to let such a villain come within three feet of her again."
"So, although Xue Xiyang and Princess Gao did have a relationship worth investigating..." Qian Deng pondered, looking at the Spring Outing painting that had just been hung on the study wall, and said slowly, "But they just had a disagreement, and Princess Gao and him have already broken off relations. It's unlikely that she would have such an intimate meeting with him in Qujiang Pond, right?"
Cui Fufeng followed her gaze and looked at the painting Xue Xiyang gave her.
The painting shows five people from the Changhua Palace enjoying a spring outing. Their postures are different but they all look lively and affectionate, as if the family members are still by her side, still laughing happily in the spring.
This gift must have touched the heart of the county lady...
Cui Fufeng thought about Xue Xiyang's appearance just now and thought to himself, this man has been around women for years and really understands other people's minds. He can even calmly and calmly be humble to the county lady in front of them, looking so pitiful...
He was still deliberating when he heard Ling Tianshui speak: "I think this Xue Xiyang seems to have a way with women. The method he used on the county lady just now may also work on Princess Gao, right?"
Cui Fufeng was a little surprised and looked at him meaningfully.
Ling Tianshui also felt that his words were inappropriate, but since he had already said them, he simply added, "In short, Xue Xiyang had contact with Princess Gao and had recently fallen out with her. Judging from these two points, he fits the possibility of being able to meet privately but then kill her - and with his methods, it shouldn't be difficult for him to quickly mend the previous rift."
Qian Deng couldn't help but sigh: "It seems that many of the husbands in my backyard are more or less involved with Princess Gao... What kind of luck is this?"
"There really isn't anyone who's easy to deal with." Ling Tianshui asked Cui Fufeng, "Why didn't you choose some simple, good people to come in?"
Cui Fufeng pondered the situation, feeling rather helpless. "Princess Gao has been active for decades, so she naturally has connections with many of the young and promising officials in the court. Furthermore, I also selected several gentle, respectful, frugal and modest husbands, but such men would find it difficult to survive in times of adversity."
Qiandeng couldn't help but think of Yu Guangling and Shi Jingning, feeling uneasy. Her life was full of twists and turns, and there was really no place for a gentle and peaceful husband.
She let out a long breath and collected her thoughts: "At this point, there is still one man left in the backyard. Let's go ask him..."
The last one is naturally Meng Lanxi.
Cui Fufeng glanced at Ling Tianshui, then took out the case file he had just retrieved from the Dali Temple and said, "No rush. I've already received the court's approval regarding the Mingjiu incident. Now we can go and inquire about his whereabouts."
"Ha? Are you kidding me? I have the intention to kill Princess Slap?" As expected, Mingjiu jumped up as soon as they mentioned this, and cried out in his broken Chinese, "That's nonsense! I'm a dignified Huihe prince. No matter how much I hate Princess Slap, how could I possibly kill her?"
Cui Fufeng smiled faintly and said, "Prince, don't take it too seriously. This is just a routine inquiry regarding the people at Qujiang Lake yesterday. Legal principles are paramount. The other gentlemen have already been questioned. Even though your status is noble, you still have to go through the motions."
Ming Jiu wanted to protest, but Ling Tianshui glanced at him from the side. He could only sit down angrily and cross his legs. "Ask."
"When did Prince Mingjiu arrive at Qujiang Pond yesterday, and what did he do there?"
Mingjiu stared at Cui Fufeng in shock and pain. "No way! You can be an official with such a bad memory? Wasn't I late yesterday? I almost missed the Xianzhu birthday party!"
"Yes, you are indeed late." Cui Fufeng flipped through the records he had made at the time and showed them to him. "But as far as I know, you didn't return from hunting until 3 p.m., yet it was already late in the afternoon when you appeared before us. From the southeast outskirts of the city to Qujiang Lake, a fast horse only takes about half an hour, but with such superb riding skills and horses like your prince, it actually took a full hour to arrive. This is hard to understand."
"You're Sister Fei, and I'm Brother Fei!" Ming Jiu said angrily, "It's just that big pond. Can't we just open it up for people to see? Why are you making it so twisted and turned? This side is the river, and that side is the road. The guards carrying the sheep and I didn't know the direction, and we passed out from wandering around in there!"
Qian Deng asked, "Since you are not familiar with Chang'an, why don't you find someone to guide you?"
Mingjiu pointed at Cui Fufeng in anger and complained to Qiandeng, "They said your birthday, Xianzhu, is shameful and told me not to tell anyone!"
Cui Fufeng had no choice but to explain to Qian Deng: "We just told him that the County Princess's birthday cannot be revealed to anyone else. We also wanted to give you a surprise, so we asked him to keep it a secret."
"I believed your lies and only brought the guards who carried the sheep!" Ming Jiu argued confidently, "I can't even find the immortal pearl, so how can I find that dead woman, drag her to the nearby river, and crush her to death in it?"
The words are crude but the truth is there. Although they are vulgar, given his past relationship with Princess Gao, it is impossible for him to leave any trace of the scene.
"So, you got lost by Qujiang Pond, but is there anyone who can testify?"
"No, God knows why there is no one in that shabby place. I want to find someone to ask... Oh, I remember, I saw someone."
"Who? Can they prove it for you?"
Mingjiu came up to Qiandeng and slandered her, "That's the guy in the backyard, the one who smells so good all day and the bastard who often comes to see you at night."
Qiandeng was slightly surprised: "Meng Lanxi?"
"Yes, Meng Lanxi. He was looking around by the river. I wanted to ask him where the county lady was, but he was holding something blue in his hand, and his face was mumbling, as if he was laughing. That laugh was also mumbling, and it made me feel very uncomfortable. My body was covered in goosebumps!"
"What's that gurgling?" Ling Tianshui frowned.
Cui Fufeng guessed: "He must be trying to say that Meng Lanxi is weird and gave him goose bumps."
Qian Deng asked, "You said the smile on his face was weird. How weird was it?"
"Just like..." Mingjiu Han couldn't express himself at all. He tried to grin, but Qiandeng couldn't imagine how such a sinister grin could appear on Meng Lanxi's face.
After all, that elegant young man, who burned incense for her quietly every night, soothed her anxiety and sleepless nights like a clear stream. He was the only man in the world who could temporarily free her from nightmares.
"Anyway, go ask them yourselves. It's just very strange!" Ming Jiu was furious when Qian Deng didn't believe him. "I already knew he was a bad guy, so I didn't bother to wrestle with him. I figured the fairy pearl must be nearby, so I kept circling around. Finally, I found it!"
Ling Tianshui pondered for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Later, when you were celebrating the county lady's birthday, roasting the lamb by the water, were you alone?"
"Nonsense, I baked it with my own hands and my heart!"
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