Chapter 345: The puzzle that can't be put together
Zhu Qingyan was stunned for a moment, then shook his head in confusion.
"No, I mean, this little girl doesn't look well these days. Maybe she hasn't gotten over the death of her relatives.
Maybe you can go and give her some advice when you have time. I don’t know how to say it.”
Zhu Lan hummed softly and said nothing, seeming to be thinking about something else.
That's right, she was suspecting Chu Xin.
But there's no exact reason.
Zhu Lan just habitually checked around himself first——
There couldn't be any problem with the friends who traveled through time together. Zhu Qingyan had followed me all the way, so it wasn't her who was causing trouble.
So the only person I have had the most contact with recently is Chu Xin.
Zhu Lan began to compare everything he remembered about Chu Xin with all the doubts in his mind.
After a moment, he shook his head gently again.
It doesn't match.
First of all, she was present when Chu Xiuning died. As an eyewitness, her memory would not lie.
At that time, he and Si Ying, a patrol officer of the Dali Temple, had also suspected Chu Xin. However, Chu Xin had been telling stories in the teahouse as usual throughout the entire day when the incident occurred, and many people could testify to this.
According to the confession of the teahouse waiter at the time, the time when Chu Xin was last seen leaving the teahouse was the time when Chu Xin returned home and realized something was wrong and found Si Ying to report the case. The time interval between these two events was very short, so it was impossible for the crime to have been committed.
In addition, the condition of the doors and windows at the time also proved that the murderer had been hiding in the house early in the morning and left only after killing Chu Xiuning.
Based on this reasoning, it can be concluded that Chu Xiuning’s death had nothing to do with Chu Xin.
Zhu Lan suspected again whether Chu Xin was the third prince's man, but quickly ruled out this possibility again.
Because the mysterious man who appeared on the roof of the Xiangyang County Government Office a few days ago... was obviously sent by Prince Qi, and he returned to the capital a day earlier than his group to inform Prince Qi.
If Chu Xin was King Qi's man, then King Qi would not have had to send that mysterious man. Not only would it be superfluous, but it would also risk alerting the enemy.
The most important thing is, if there was something wrong with Chu Xin, then what he had done last night to have her pretend to be Old Lady Chen and deceive King Qi would not have been successful.
After such calculation, Chu Xin's suspicion was reduced to a very low level.
It feels like there is a piece missing from the puzzle in front of you. You have a piece in your hand, but you can't put it together.
Perhaps, there are some people and things that I have overlooked...
Zhu Lan shook his head, his thoughts a little confused. He decided not to jump to conclusions and prepared to go see Chu Xin.
Chu Xin lived in Qiao Youyou's original room. Zhu Lan knocked on the door and walked in after hearing Chu Xin's voice.
Chu Xin was lying on the dressing table in a depressed mood, with faint traces of tears in the corners of his eyes.
"Sister Zhuangyuan, I miss my father... and my aunt."
When Zhu Lan came closer, Chu Xin hugged Zhu Lan's waist and started crying softly.
Zhu Lan felt a little soft-hearted. After all, Chu Xin was only a fourteen-year-old girl. It was normal for her to be unable to accept the loss of her loved ones one after another.
Zhu Lan patted her on the back.
Chu Xin suddenly raised his head, looking aggrieved, "Sister Zhuangyuan, you said... can the murderer who killed my aunt be caught?"
What he got in return was Zhu Lan's silence.
After a long time, Zhu Lan pulled a stool over and sat in front of Chu Xin, looking at her seriously.
"Chu Xin, I want to know something about your aunt. The more details the better. This will help us find the murderer."
Chu Xin immediately sat up straight, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will tell you everything I know."
…
In the evening, there was a knock on the door of the East Palace.
After a while, Eunuch Zhao walked through the corridor into the inner courtyard and went straight to Ziwei Pavilion.
From Dong Lanxin's bedroom, the sound of her talking to Yan Xiuyun could be heard.
Eunuch Zhao knocked on the door carefully, and after getting permission, he pushed it open and walked in. He saw Dong Lanxin holding the newly born eldest grandson Yan Ning, with a loving smile on her face, and talking to Yan Xiuyun.
Yan Xiuyun looked a little haggard, but he listened with his lips slightly raised.
The scene is surprisingly warm.
"Your Highness, someone wants to see you." Eunuch Zhao lowered his head and said softly.
Yan Xiuyun frowned slightly, wondering who would come to see him so late.
Eunuch Zhao said, "The man who came claimed to be an envoy from Wuzi, and his name was... Danqi."
Hearing this name, Yan Xiuyun's eyebrows were tightly twisted into the shape of the Chinese character "川".
Why did the Uzbek envoy come to see me so late at night?
Yan Xiuyun recalled the tea-horse trade that had been the subject of much discussion in the court and the public recently. The Prince of Zhenbei had arbitrarily adjusted the price of tea and horses and profited from it, which had caused great dissatisfaction on the Uzbek side. As a result, they sent envoys to meet the Emperor, but Emperor Liang had not responded yet.
Danqi came to visit, could it be that he wanted my help?
However, all the ministers in the court have given all the advice that should be given on this matter, but my father has not expressed his opinion. He must have his considerations, and it is useless for me to persuade him.
"No." Yan Xiuyun refused directly.
As the crown prince, he privately received envoys from other countries. This matter could be a big deal or a small one. If it got out and was used by some people to make a fuss, he would be asking for trouble.
Eunuch Zhao did not leave, but hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, he said... he did not come for the tea-horse business, but for today's court..."
Eunuch Zhao raised his eyes and glanced at Yan Xiuyun's face, then continued cautiously:
"Your Highness has realized what he fears most."
Yan Xiuyun's whole body trembled slightly, and several emotions began to intertwine in his eyes.
A long time passed.
"…Let him in."
“Don’t go through the main door.”
…
Dong Zhu, who had served before, was still recuperating after being caned. After Yan Xiuyun left, Dong Lanxin and Nanny Li were the only ones left in her bedroom, except for the infant Yan Ning.
Dong Lanxin said something to Nanny Li, and Nanny Li went out and came back after a while.
Qin Yuwei followed behind her.
After entering the room, Qin Yuwei greeted Dong Lanxin respectfully. Dong Lanxin raised her hand slightly, and Nanny Li quietly retreated, closing the door.
Inside the room, the candlelight flickered and there was silence for a moment.
Qin Yuwei sat with her eyes lowered, and roughly guessed Dong Lanxin's intentions.
In the end, it was Dong Lanxin who spoke first. She was half leaning on the bed, her face was a little pale, and her lips were not very bloody.
Her first words were to thank Qin Yuwei.
What she was thanking for was naturally what happened this morning. If Qin Yuwei hadn't discovered it in time, she would have never had the chance to see her child again.
"It's all my responsibility. The Crown Princess is blessed with great fortune and with the protection of God, nothing will happen to her."
Qin Yuwei directly used a template-like answer.
There was another silence.
Qin Yuwei waited quietly. Dong Lanxin asked her to come in the middle of the night and dismissed the servants. It couldn't be that she did it just to say thank you.
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