Master Xiao
Zhu Qinghe completely lost face tonight. When Uncle Mu took her to rest, Shen Wumei teased her, "Even Mr. Science has his day."
She was so angry she wanted to bite her teeth.
I should have known better than to take him in; he got a good deal and is now acting all innocent.
After learning her true gender, Qingchen became much closer to her than before. On the way back to her room, she asked her curiously, "Are you and Lord Shen colleagues in the government office, young lady?"
"Of course not." Zhu Qinghe knew that it was indeed illogical for her, as she was not a member of the public service, to rashly intervene in the case. However, the matter was complicated, and Zhu Qinghe could only sum it up in one sentence.
"I am just an unofficial staff member invited by Lord Shen to help out. I am nothing to mention."
Qingchen was extremely envious: "You're really amazing, young lady."
After saying that, her expression turned somber: "Unlike me, I'm just a lowly servant girl, unable to do anything."
After Zhu Qinghe comforted her for a few words, the two stopped talking about it.
The next morning, after Zhu Qinghe woke up, Uncle Mu told her that Shen Wumei had returned to the yamen. She yawned and nodded, "I know, Uncle Mu, you can go ahead and do your work."
Now that Shen Wumei has left, she needs to go back to the shop to let Ruyi know she's safe.
After a few days apart, Ruyi tearfully accused her of neglect: "Miss, have you forgotten that Ruyi doesn't want Ruyi anymore? You've become more and more wild since you came out, and now you don't even come back at night."
"Oh dear," Zhu Qinghe put her arm around her shoulder and comforted her, "How could I possibly abandon you? This is a matter of life and death."
Ruyi pouted, looking unhappy: "Miss has so many friends now, she doesn't even consult Ruyi when something happens."
"I came back to discuss this with you, didn't I? Don't be upset, I brought you some pastries from the Xu family's shop in the east of the city."
Ruyi's eyes lit up, and she asked again, "Why did Miss go over there? It's so far from here."
“I stayed at Uncle Mu’s place last night, and bought some pastries on my way back this morning.”
Uncle Mu, recalling that man, Ruyi's eyes narrowed slightly, "What is Miss going to see him for?"
Seeing Ruyi's displeased expression, Zhu Qinghe was a little puzzled: "Ruyi, what grudge do you have with Uncle Mu? When I asked you to find them, you weren't very nice to Uncle Mu. You even forced me to send Uncle Mu and the others to the most remote branch."
Ruyi kept a straight face: "What grudge could there be? I was just standing up for Miss. When Madam passed away, Miss was all alone and needed help. With their abilities, how could they have been outmaneuvered by Madam Song? But they still left the Zhu residence. It's obvious they were afraid of getting into trouble. They abandoned us first."
Seeing Ruyi's indignant expression, Zhu Qinghe smiled gently, "Hey, so much time has passed since then. Besides, the situation was complicated back then, and Mother was no longer here. Naturally, they had no say in the Zhu family. It was right to avoid their sharp edge. If we had fought the Song family head-on until now, we would have no one left. How could we still have so many helpers now?"
Ruyi snorted: "It's only because Miss is so easy to talk to. If it were me, I would definitely teach them a lesson and let them know who the master is."
"Alright, alright, let's eat some pastries."
After Zhu Qinghe appeased Ruyi, she remembered something else: "Ruyi, have any guests come these past few days?"
Ruyi nodded after recalling the events: "A servant-like man came last night to ask if Mr. Sai was here. You hadn't returned yet, so I said he wasn't."
Zhu Qinghe asked, "Is this the only one? Do you know which household he belongs to?"
Ruyi shook her head: "I don't know. He just asked that one question and left. I didn't even get a good look at what he looked like."
Zhu Qinghe frowned and fell into deep thought. The Xiao family had caused quite a stir these past few days, and with Xiao Yuanyou coming to challenge them, the matter had become common knowledge. Until the truth came out, no one would come to her door to ask her to tell their fortune.
The person who came to ask this question is quite suspicious; clearly, he didn't come for fortune-telling. So why does he want to know if she's there? That means her presence or absence has a significant impact on him.
Could this person be related to the murder case in the Xiao family? Even if he is not the murderer, he is a related person. Unfortunately, Ruyi was unable to see his face clearly. This clue can only confirm once again that the Xiao family case is not simple, and it does nothing else.
Thinking about it in the shop wasn't going to solve anything. After eating a few bites of pastries, Zhu Qinghe decided to go out and look for Shen Wumei. She wondered if he had found any other clues when he returned to the yamen.
Ruyi hurriedly said, "Miss, wait a moment, I'll go get you the newly made peace talisman, you can wear one to ward off evil."
"My little girl has become increasingly superstitious lately," Zhu Qinghe sighed inwardly.
A moment later, Zhu Qinghe heard arguing outside. Ruyi asked in a clear and impolite voice, "Who are you? Our Master Sai is not open for business these days. How dare you barge in like this?"
Zhu Qinghe's heart tightened, thinking someone had come to cause trouble again. But after taking a few steps, she saw who it was and her expression turned to surprise: "Officer Mo, what brings you here?"
The newcomer was dressed in plain black clothes, holding a sword in his hand. He had regular features and a serious and solemn expression. He was none other than Mo Wu, one of Shen Wumei's subordinates.
Ruyi's expression froze. Constable Mo? He's a constable?
Mo Wu pulled his arm out of Ruyi's grasp, and Ruyi awkwardly took a step back.
After straightening his cuffs, he clasped his hands in a salute and said, "Something has happened. The boss sent me to pick you up and take you to the Xiao residence."
On the way, Mo Wu briefly explained the current situation to her. It turned out that this morning, Madam Xiao's personal maid suddenly discovered that Madam Xiao had hanged herself.
Hanging herself? Zhu Qinghe still found it unbelievable. When she saw Madam Xiao yesterday morning, although she looked haggard, she didn't seem desperate enough to want to die. Besides, last night she was still in the mood to send assassins to deal with Qingchen. How could such a person die just a few hours later?
It can't be that she doesn't want to live just because she didn't kill Qingchen.
This is utterly absurd.
For some reason, Zhu Qinghe suddenly thought of the strange, mysterious person who visited last night that Ruyi had told her about. The timing seemed to match up with Madam Xiao's death.
The Xiao residence.
The car stopped in front of the door, and Zhu Qinghe hurriedly followed Mo Wu inside. Zhu Qinghe had rushed out today and hadn't put on a beard, but fortunately she hadn't changed out of her men's clothing. If you didn't look closely, she was still a handsome young man, and her identity could still be kept secret.
Upon arriving at the main hall, they saw Shen Wumei standing with her back to the door, and an old man with a cane slumped on a chair to the side, looking dejected and forlorn. It seemed to be Master Xiao.
Within a few days, all of his family members were murdered; even someone made of iron would not be able to withstand that.
Zhu Qinghe felt a pang of sadness. After entering the room, Mo Wu spoke first: "Boss, the person has been picked up."
Shen Wumei turned around and looked at Zhu Qinghe. Seeing that she looked well and in good spirits, she nodded slightly and said, "Mo Wu, go outside and keep watch. Don't let anyone in."
Mo Wu accepted the order and left. In an instant, only Shen Wumei, Zhu Qinghe, and Master Xiao, who was slumped in a chair, remained in the main hall. Even the servant who was supporting Master Xiao was asked to leave.
Shen Wumei sat opposite Master Xiao, while Zhu Qinghe sat next to him across a mahogany tea table, creating a tense atmosphere in his presence.
Shen Wumei's gaze fell on Old Master Xiao's graying temples and the cane in his hand, and she asked, "Old Master Xiao, are your legs not very good?"
Old Master Xiao's eyes were desolate, as if he had aged ten years overnight. His reactions were also very slow, and his lips moved a few times: "The family is in misfortune, how can things be good?"
Shen Wumei gave up on the casual interrogation method; this approach was indeed unsuitable for him.
He went straight to the point: "Where were you, Mr. Xiao, when Madam Xiao hanged herself last night?"
Mr. Xiao looked up, his eyes somewhat cloudy: "My wife and I have been separated for many years, and I am in poor health, so naturally I am lying in my own room."
“A thief broke into the manor last night, but Master Xiao was truly unaware of it.” Shen Wumei’s tone was calm and unwavering.
Zhu Qinghe admired him greatly. As expected of the cold-faced Yama Lord Shen, even though he was the thief who broke into the Xiao mansion last night, he showed no guilt whatsoever when the topic was brought up today. His mental fortitude was truly formidable.
Master Xiao shook his head: "I went to bed very early last night and slept soundly after burning agarwood. I have no idea what happened outside."
"Then..." Shen Wumei paused at just the right moment, "I wonder where your second young master went? Why haven't I seen him today?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the cane in Mr. Xiao's hand trembled, and he tapped it: "I'm getting old, and my hands aren't as good as they used to be."
“You’er is still young. After his mother’s accident, I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to handle it, so I had someone send him away to stay for a while.”
Shen Wumei nodded: "I see. Master Xiao really dotes on the second young master. I wonder what the eldest young master would think if he knew this in the afterlife. Would he be gratified or saddened?"
Old Master Xiao's eyelids twitched slightly, and the wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen.
Zhu Qinghe found it strange. What were Shen Wumei asking? Didn't they get that shocking secret from Qingchen last night? Why didn't they tell her?
She stole a glance at Shen Wumei, who noticed her: "Say whatever you want to say. Anyway, I already know the cause of Xiao Yuanzhou's death, and your suspicion has been cleared."
Zhu Qinghe's eyes widened in surprise: "You already know the cause of Xiao Yuanzhou's death? How did he die? Was it really poisoning?"
The muscles on Master Xiao's face twitched slightly. Shen Wumei noticed this and said calmly, "Naturally, he died of poisoning."
"Huh?" Zhu Qinghe was somewhat disappointed. "It really is poisoning."
“However, the poison wasn’t on the peace talisman,” Shen Wumei said. “Your peace talisman was just a scapegoat for someone else.”
"The real poison that killed him was put into the agarwood burner in Xiao Yuanzhou's room."
Zhu Qinghe was even more puzzled: "But when I went to see him that day, there was no sandalwood incense burner in Xiao Yuanzhou's room."
"Of course you can't see it, because the incense burner was taken away long ago, don't you think, Master Xiao?"
A light sheen of sweat had appeared on Master Xiao's forehead. Zhu Qinghe understood what was going on with him. Could it be that this seemingly weak Master Xiao had actually played a crucial role in this matter?
If that's the case, then it's far too complicated.
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