4. Snowy Owl
◎What a coincidence, Your Majesty◎
Chapter 4
Hundreds of lit candles flickered in the empty room. Although it was night, the room was so bright that it didn't feel like night at all.
The four sides are magnificent and golden, and majestic golden dragon sculptures are coiled around the giant pillars that rise from the ground.
Sitting on the high chair above was the current emperor, who was listening to Ji Ci standing below reporting on the investigation of the Zhang family case.
"So, it sounds like this is the only survivor of the Zhang family, but I heard from the Minister of Justice that she was arrested and tried by you on the first day."
The sound coming from above was a little hollow. Ji Ci lowered his eyes and said, "It's just an open interrogation."
"An open interrogation? What does that mean?" The emperor was stunned and leaned forward to ask.
Ji Ci nodded and said, "Zhang Liang's wife is indeed fully suspected of murdering her husband and has a motive. Even now, her suspicion has not been completely ruled out. But Your Majesty, compared to the more than one hundred people in the Zhang family who were tragically killed by having their throats cut, her motive is not that important in this case."
The emperor tapped his fingers on the table and said in agreement, "To be able to quickly kill so many people from the Zhang family in one night, including the General's household soldiers, they must be organized and disciplined killers."
"Regardless of whether Zhang Liang died at the hands of his new wife, whether his death was an accidental coincidence with the assassins, or whether they collaborated privately, or whether he was poisoned by the assassins, Qiu Ziye must be kept under our watch."
Ji Ci continued calmly, "If she seems to be colluding with the killer, then we should follow the clues and uncover the person behind the annihilation of the Zhang family and the organization under his command."
"If she hadn't conspired with the killer, she would have been the last one to escape the Zhang family and would have been targeted by the real killer. She would then be the key to catching the real killer."
The emperor nodded in praise: "Is that why you released Qiu Ziye again?"
After Ji Ci replied affirmatively, the young widow's peach blossom eyes suddenly flashed through his mind. They were clear and bright. She was obviously trembling with fear, but she still offered to be the bait.
But the sense of contradiction in her was really weird.
The emperor laughed heartily upon hearing this and said, "Well, you are indeed Jian Xi. Such an assassin organization, whether it is a spy for the Li Kingdom or some ignorant individuals attempting to rebel, must not be allowed to remain."
"yes."
"Jian Xi, I will hand this case over to you and the three judicial departments for joint trial. If you need cooperation from any party, just go and tell them directly."
Ji Ci bowed and said, "I will definitely fulfill your mission."
The emperor stood up and walked down the steps. He slowly stood in front of Ji Ci, holding his arms with both hands to lift him up. He sighed and said, "How is Jian Xi's health now? I heard that he changed the doctor's prescription. Is it working?"
Ji Ci smiled slightly and said, "I am grateful to Your Majesty for your kindness. The new medicine is very effective. The doctor said that this is a long-term life, and the key is persistence and gradual progress."
The emperor nodded and said with a smile, "That's good. You've suffered a lot these years."
"It is my honor to share the country's worries. I have never felt any hardship."
"Jian Xi...Now, you are the only person I trust."
The emperor raised his hand and patted Ji Ci's shoulder, his eyes under his thick eyebrows fixed on his brother, whose appearance and bones were perfect. It was not just his appearance, he could wear the appearance of a general and also had the bones of a scholar.
Ji Ci smiled slightly. At this moment, the chief eunuch quickly stepped into the hall, bowed to the two of them and said, "Your Majesty, the Concubine Shu requests an audience with you."
The emperor nodded and said, "I understand. Let her in."
Seeing this, Ji Ci bowed again and said, "It is already late. I will not disturb your Majesty and your Majesty's sweet dreams. I will take my leave first."
"Go ahead."
The emperor waved his hand and watched Concubine Shu enter the hall with a food box in her hand. When Ji Ci left, the two of them saluted each other again.
Walking out of the Taiji Hall, Ji Ci looked at the bright lights in the distance, but the stars and the moon were sparse. The white jade steps were dim in the night light, and the palace was really empty.
"What did Qiu Ziye do after he was released from prison?"
Tian Qu said, "According to the secret guards, Qiu Ziye originally wanted to return to the General's Mansion after leaving the Ministry of Justice, but it was sealed off, so he had no choice but to return to the Anguo Mansion. But I heard that..."
"What did you hear?"
"I was caned according to family law."
After reporting back, he handed over the stove and cloak, and said respectfully, "Your Highness, the autumn night is cool."
Ji Ci gazed at the vermilion city wall, wondering what he was thinking. He waved his hand and walked quickly forward, sighing softly, "Qiu Ye, winter is almost here."
…
At noon the next day, the long-overcast sky finally broke through with a few warm rays of sunlight. Shengjing's streets were wide, bustling with vendors and pedestrians.
Jiang Qiuye, supported by her personal maid Jinhong, slowly walked into a prosperous medicine shop, found an old shopkeeper, and bought some medicinal herbs.
He helped her limp out of the pharmacy. Jinhong looked at her sideways and whispered, "What's the mission?"
"A list of spies stationed in Li State, and a map of Shengjing's defenses."
Jinhong sighed softly, "It's not easy."
Jiang Qiuye didn't look back at her, but just thought about the task he had just received.
This pharmacy and its owner are a contact point planted by the Feiyan Pavilion of the Li Kingdom in Shengjing. The owner is also known as Snow Owl.
And Jinhong, of course, is not a real maid, but a bronze ghost sent to cooperate with her in this mission.
Jiang Qiuye had always looked down upon a mere bronze ghost. But after the Zhang family case, she suddenly realized that she needed a handy tool.
People were hurrying around him. The whip marks on his body reminded Jiang Qiuye to pretend that he was struggling to walk. Beads of sweat kept coming out of his forehead. "Wait, Jinhong, let me rest for a while."
Jiang Qiuye stood by the roadside, panting. The sunlight was a bit dazzling. Suddenly, she felt a gaze coming towards her. Slowly looking up, she found that it was from the second floor of the teahouse nearby. She had just met that person yesterday. It was Ji Ci.
He was sitting by the railing, opposite two other men, with their backs to Jiang Qiuye, so his faces could not be seen clearly.
It's such a coincidence.
She returned Ji Ci's indifferent gaze, curled her lips into a smile, and said softly, "Jinhong, wait for me outside."
Withdrawing his gaze from the second floor, a man limped into the teahouse, holding up his skirt.
The teahouse is filled with a refreshing fragrance, and the decoration is simple, where various scholars and writers gather to discuss romance and poetry.
She walked very slowly, going up to the second floor one step at a time. It was extremely difficult. When she reached the last step, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of her eyes. She seemed to be frightened and slipped. Her shoulders shrugged and her body fell backwards uncontrollably.
Before she fell, a strong hand suddenly grabbed Jiang Qiuye's slender wrist and pulled her forward, allowing her to stand firmly on the steps.
Jiang Qiuye smiled secretly, but frowned. He tried hard to take another step up, and looked up after standing firmly on the platform on the second floor.
Today, Ji Ci is wearing a jade crown and a moon-white brocade robe, looking like a god-like being in the bright and beautiful moon.
Jiang Qiuye was flattered and said, "Thank you so much for what you did just now, Your Highness. If it weren't for you, I would have fallen down the stairs."
Ji Ci put away the hand that had just supported Jiang Qiuye, hid it under his sleeve and clenched his fist, feeling a little itchy.
He paused for a moment, then narrowed his eyes and asked, "Why are you here?"
The young widow stalked him?
She had just been punished by the family, and instead of staying at home to recuperate, she was actually hanging around outside. Today, when he was meeting someone to discuss confidential matters, he actually met this young widow.
It's really suspicious.
She secretly glanced at the serious Ji Ci and sighed, "I was beaten when I returned to the Anguo Mansion yesterday. My family wouldn't send anyone to treat me, so I had no choice but to bring my maid out to buy medicine. She was waiting for me outside the teahouse with the herbs she had bought. What a coincidence, Your Majesty."
There was a moment of silence, and before Ji Ci could reply, Jiang Qiuye suddenly felt that the atmosphere was a little awkward.
She tried to smile and said, "I asked my maid to stay outside, for fear of disturbing the prince. Did you see the prince just now talking about official business?"
Ji Ci frowned slightly, thinking that this young widow not only talked a lot of nonsense, but her brain also sometimes didn't work well, despite being so eloquent in the Ministry of Justice.
"Will you not bother me anymore?"
Jiang Qiuye: “…”
"I'm so sorry. Actually... I have something important to discuss with Your Highness. I originally wanted to come up next door and wait for Your Highness to finish his business before I come back to you."
Before Ji Ci could speak, Jiang Qiuye added, "Oh, by the way, it's about the case."
Well, this way she wouldn't seem too deliberate. Although it was incredible that she could meet him in such a big city like Shengjing, she did plan to look for him.
Ji Ci turned around with his hands behind his back, strode forward, and said, "Follow me."
"Yeah, okay."
Jiang Qiuye lifted her skirt and trotted for two steps before suddenly realizing she couldn't run that fast due to her injuries. So she stopped where she was, one hand on her waist, a look of pain in her eyes, biting her lip, and moving forward with difficulty, step by step.
After walking a few steps, Ji Ci felt that there was no sound behind him. He turned around and looked back, only to see Jiang Qiuye walking in unbearable pain, with cold sweat on his forehead.
He sighed inwardly. This young widow was truly spoiled. It was a relief that she was only slapped once that day. If she had been slapped with twenty sticks, she would probably have been killed by the Ministry of Justice.
He stood there and watched Jiang Qiuye, dressed in green, move slowly towards him like a tortoise. After she caught up, he continued to move forward. However, this time, he seemed to be walking much slower, as if to match the tortoise's pace.
Finally they arrived at the door. Ji Ci opened the door of the private room and motioned her to come in and talk.
Jiang Qiuye curled her lips slightly, and after entering the private room, she found that the two people who had been talking with Ji Ci had left at some point. There were only three cups of cold tea left on the table, and a faint scent of bergamot beside her.
Jiang Qiuye sat down opposite Ji Ci and looked up, watching him take out a new cup and pour hot tea into it. The light bamboo in the box swayed slightly, and along with the flowing water was not only the slowly flowing tea, but also the pair of slender hands with distinct bony fingers in front of him. The steam from the hot tea rose, and a few barely visible water droplets condensed on the thin hands.
So clean.
Jiang Qiuye sighed in her heart at this moment. She had seen men with skin fairer than women and men with wheat-colored copper-yellow skin and masculinity, but this seemed to be the first time she had seen a man as clean and pure as this.
Ji Ci felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, feeling that the seduction was a bit strong. He suppressed his irritation and said coldly, "So what exactly do you want to talk about?"
The clear man's voice broke Jiang Qiuye's trance-like thoughts. She suddenly came back to her senses, said "oh" and looked at Ji Ci with a scrutinizing and indifferent expression.
The two looked at each other.
She could tell instantly that he didn't believe this chance encounter.
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