The Prefectural Office of the Governor of Jingzhao.
Xie Lingqin examined Xiao Gouzi's body and it appeared that he had indeed committed suicide, and had not suffered much pain before his death.
“Huh? Yesterday, Miss Xie said she was afraid of seeing corpses and that it would frighten her. What’s wrong? She’s not afraid today?”
At this time, Li Qingyu was also there. In other words, according to the Prefect of the Capital, she had arrived even earlier than Xie Lingqin, hoping to find out the real culprit who killed Li Junru as soon as possible. Upon hearing the news of Xiao Gouzi's suicide, she came over, saying that she hoped to be of some help.
At this moment, the cell was dimly lit. Xie Lingqin withdrew her gaze from Xiao Gouzi's corpse and then calmly looked at Li Qingyu. "It is precisely because of fear that I must strive to overcome it. Since the Emperor has entrusted me with such an important task, if I cannot achieve results, wouldn't I be letting down the Emperor's high regard for me?"
That's quite a high-sounding statement.
However, Li Qingyu couldn't refute it at all.
"Alright, Lord Huo, please have someone take Xiao Gouzi's body away." Xie Lingqin sighed and spoke softly to the Prefect of the Capital.
Because of what happened last night, Lord Huo seems to appreciate Xie Lingqin even more.
There is never a shortage of capable people in this world. However, if an extremely capable person can also know their limits, know when to advance and retreat, and be very humble, then even if the other party is wary of you, they will still feel some joy towards you.
At least, the Prefect of the Capital now looked at Xie Lingqin with a more gentle and kind gaze.
Li Qingyu wasn't stupid; she could see the attitude of the Prefect of the Capital towards Xie Lingqin. Precisely because she saw it, she understood even less.
Last night, Xie Lingqin was supposed to be disciplining the daughter of the Prefect of the Capital, but how could Lord Huo tolerate it?
When she gave Huo Yanru advice, the reason she told her to lock Bai Ling in her courtyard was that if the incident became public, the Prefect of the Capital would find out and develop a grudge against Xie Lingqin.
After all, after yesterday's incident, she had to admit that Xie Lingqin was quite favored by the Prefect of the Capital.
This was not what she wanted to see; she simply hadn't expected that everything she had carefully planned would turn out so unexpectedly.
Lord Huo had already ordered his men to move Xiao Gouzi's body to the morgue.
In the dimly lit and slightly damp cell, Xie Lingqin lowered her brows and looked at Li Qingyu. "Miss Li, the cell is so damp, and I am truly grateful for your help in investigating the case."
"Not at all, it was just something I did to see if I could help."
Li Qingyu felt somewhat embarrassed in front of the officials, soldiers, and the Prefect of the Capital.
After all, Xiao Gouzi had absolutely no connection to the death of her brother Li Junru.
She came here simply because...
"By the way, Lord Huo, which cell is my junior brother being held in? The matter from last night should have been investigated, and my junior brother has nothing to do with it, right?"
This was Li Qingyu's real purpose in coming; she wanted to see how Xie Lingqin would handle the situation.
"this……"
Lord Huo understood Li Qingyu's meaning perfectly well; he simply wanted the people released.
At that moment, Lord Huo nodded solemnly, "Miss Li is right. Although the person who attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince has not been caught, it should be unrelated to Young Master Qi."
"Oh." Upon hearing this, Li Qingyu looked at Xie Lingqin and said, "Then what do you think, Miss Xie?"
"What?"
Xie Lingqin seemed to have just come to her senses, as if she hadn't heard the conversation between the two of them at all.
The acting was so realistic.
Li Qingyu patiently looked at Xie Lingqin with a light smile, "What I meant to say is that my junior brother is probably not involved in the case that Miss Xie is investigating."
How could there be any connection? Xie Lingqin clearly made it up yesterday.
"Unrelated?" Xie Lingqin waved her hand solemnly. "This hasn't been investigated yet, so we don't know whether it's unrelated or not. Therefore, we'll have to trouble Young Master Qi to stay in this prison a little longer."
After Xie Lingqin finished speaking, she looked at Li Qingyu, seemingly oblivious to her somber expression, and said in a very expectant tone, "Young Master Qi is Miss Li's junior brother. In this case, I would like to ask Miss Li to go and appease him. After all, she seems to have some prejudice against me. Although Prince Yi is Young Master Qi's senior brother, he is now seriously injured and unable to get out of bed. I would not want to trouble him. Miss Li, don't you agree?"
Li Qingyu...
Xie Lingqin, you're ruthless.
"Lord Huo, let's go out first."
Xie Lingqin ignored Li Qingyu's frustrated and depressed reaction and left the prison cell with the Prefect of the Capital, exiting through the long tunnel.
The weather wasn't as good as it was back then; the sun hadn't come out yet, and it was rather gloomy.
"Miss Xie, about last night..."
"What happened last night, Lord Huo?"
Before Lord Huo could finish speaking, Xie Lingqin asked curiously.
Upon hearing this, Lord Huo's somewhat embarrassed expression relaxed, and he immediately stopped talking and said with a smile, "It's nothing. I was just saying that I sent someone to escort Miss Xie back to her residence last night. Did Miss Xie have a good night?"
"Alright." Xie Lingqin smiled and looked around before looking solemnly at the Prefect of the Capital. "My lord, although His Majesty has instructed me to focus on investigating the case and to assist in all other matters as I see fit, I am aware of my own limitations. There is one more matter that I need to discuss with you."
Upon hearing this, the Prefect of the Capital's expression turned serious, and he immediately listened attentively, saying, "Speak."
"Xiao Gouzi's death was not accidental."
"The coroner just confirmed that Xiao Gouzi did indeed commit suicide."
Xie Lingqin nodded. "The coroner's words are naturally true, and he is also Master Dong's apprentice, so there is no mistake. However, Xiao Gouzi has been locked up in the prison for so long. He didn't die or want to die when the fire broke out. Moreover, I haven't interrogated him much these days. He doesn't deserve to die. So why did he suddenly decide to commit suicide?"
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