Chapter 24 Why Let More People Die?
"Don't worry about that matter, brother. It's been resolved." Mu Xun's voice was as gentle and considerate as ever, as if he didn't care at all about his drunken self-disclosure.
Mu Xi couldn't possibly be at ease: "How was it resolved?"
Mu Xun avoided answering: "Brother, there's no need to ask. Father has already made a decision on this matter, and I will handle it cleanly without leaving any hidden dangers."
The more she said that, the more uneasy Mu Xi became: "I remember that night... at that time... besides you and me, there was only that female boss and a silly glutton in the room... just those two people, how did you manage to handle it?"
Mu Xun was clearly trying to change the subject: "Brother, there's no need to ask. I've already taken care of the aftermath. But what about the matter of you being 'possessed' earlier? Was it true or false?"
"So what if it's true or not? Who told you all to be absent from such a big event as summoning a spirit?" Unable to get a direct answer, Mu Xi grew increasingly irritated. "Tell me the truth, you haven't already killed them to cover it up, have you?"
"Not yet..." Mu Xun blurted out, then regretted it and quickly added an explanation, "How could Father and I not be there? We were just dealing with this matter when Father and I went out to discuss it briefly. How could we have imagined that you wouldn't wake up for three days and three nights? Even the Imperial Advisor has been performing rituals for a day and a night. And yet, in the short time we were out, this happened."
"You went to discuss how to handle this matter? And all you came up with was to kill him to cover it up? Is there even a need to discuss this?" Mu Xi didn't consider herself a sharp-tongued person, but she couldn't help but speak up when facing this father and son.
Mu Xun wasn't offended, but he was puzzled: "Brother, you never used to concern yourself with these things. What's wrong? Just take care of yourself and rest these next few days. Once things have calmed down, everything will be fine."
Mu Xi was determined not to let it go: "Then tell me, why did you come up with the idea of killing someone to cover it up? If I had a better way, wouldn't we have avoided killing someone?"
Ultimately, if the original owner's identity had been changed after faking her death, as arranged by Jin Fangjun, then the fact that the Jin Fang prince was a woman disguised as a man would never have been revealed.
But Mu Xi doesn't think that way now. She wants to live openly and honestly with her rightful identity, so the fact that the original owner disguised herself as a man to become the Prince of Jinfang will be revealed to the public sooner or later.
Since the truth will be revealed sooner or later, why kill two innocent lives?
However, this revelation must not be exposed by others, but rather she must reveal it herself at the appropriate time.
The exposure must not harm anyone's interests, and the original owner's identity and status must be restored.
It's a bit difficult, but nothing is impossible for a willing heart.
Mu Xi was confident that she could do it.
Now, she is about to take the first step. At this critical juncture, it is best not to harm more people. When the time is right, whether these two people will betray her will no longer be a problem.
Mu Xun was clearly taken aback by Mu Xi's attitude, but he had no idea what Mu Xi was planning, and continued to reassure him, "Brother, there's no need to worry..."
"I told you not to call me 'brother'." Mu Xi couldn't suppress his anxiety any longer and adopted a more authoritative tone. "Who do you take me for? I order you to tell me, what exactly did you do to them? How was the so-called 'cleanup' done that night?"
A hint of hurt flashed across Mu Xun's calm, moon-reflecting eyes, but they quickly returned to their deep, gentle gaze. He sighed helplessly, "Alas, just as you said, of the four people in the room that night, only two of them saw you... In short, all others know is that after Prince Jin Fang came back from the dead, the first thing he did was go to a brothel, where he got completely drunk, and after returning to his residence, he remained unconscious."
"And then?" Mu Xi didn't need to think to know what would be "rumored" outside about her visiting brothels.
This was the "effect" she wanted, but not the "result" she desired.
Mu Xun gently helped Mu Xi sit down on the bedside before continuing, "Don't worry, those people in the brothel who have seen you once and know that you are the Prince of Jin Fang are not a problem, and we won't harm them. Only the female boss and the silly waiter... cannot be kept alive."
Clinging to her last glimmer of hope, Mu Xi asked, "You just said you haven't killed them yet?"
Now that he had already spoken, Mu Xun no longer intended to hide anything: "Before killing them, we must investigate thoroughly. Moyang City is the capital, a gathering place for high-ranking officials and nobles, needless to say. Merchants who can gain a foothold here often have intricate networks of relationships behind them. Therefore, we must investigate thoroughly before eliminating them to avoid leaving any future troubles. Moreover, her surname is 'Qi,' so we must be even more cautious... However, regardless of her background, since she saw what she shouldn't have seen, she cannot be allowed to live. It's just a matter of how to deal with her."
"Surname 'Qi'? How is it special?" Mu Xi was immediately led astray, mainly because the original owner's memories of the outside world were mostly blank.
"The Qi family of Xiangnan is the richest family in Yansheng. This woman also has the surname 'Qi,' so we need to investigate her carefully." Mu Xun spoke these words with a very calm expression, showing no sign that he was talking about murder. "If it is related to the Qi family of Xiangnan, it will be more troublesome. If it is not related, it will be easier to handle."
Mu Xi understood immediately and could no longer remain calm. She jumped up from the bedside and said, "Hmph, so this is what you were discussing when you weren't guarding the altar. You were trying to figure out if Qi Erniang had a powerful background and was easy to bully, so you could kill innocent people without worry."
"..." Mu Xun was speechless, which could be considered a tacit agreement.
Mu Xi then recalled another incident: "So, that night you specifically took me to the brothel because you knew it was run by a female owner, and that it would be easier to deal with any trouble that might happen?"
“Indeed, that’s a consideration.” Mu Xun didn’t see anything wrong with it. “After all, Qingguan is a place that is both famous and relatively low-key. Since the young master is going out, it is my duty to find a suitable place.”
"Heh, so you're saying I'm the one who killed them?" Mu Xi felt a chill of disdain, especially since Mu Xun's eyes were still so calm and gentle as he looked at her.
Why do those eyes, capable of drowning someone, not even blink when talking about murder?
But Mu Xun said more calmly and firmly, "No, whether it's indiscriminate killing of innocent people or disregard for human life, I will bear all the sins."
"You..." Faced with such unwavering determination, an indescribable emotion choked in Mu Xi's throat.
In the original owner's memories, Mu Xun, as the half-brother born in the same year, was always gentle and obedient when facing the original owner, who was nominally his "elder brother".
However, Mu Xun had another name outside, known as "Young Master Leng Yu".
His face was as handsome as jade, but his heart was as cold as iron.
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