Chapter 28 No Good Banquet 7 Bai Xing's Clue
Xun Shu's repeated leaps pinned Bai Xing to the spot, leaving her powerless to defend herself. Her thoughts were unconsciously pulled along. "When the Master was in trouble, I was standing in the corner of the hall, unable to see clearly. I don't know what happened at that moment... But afterward, I went to check on the Master, and it looked like he'd been poisoned." Thinking of Magistrate Zhao's death, Bai Xing's eyes flashed with fear, and her body shuddered. She quickly glanced at Xun Shu and He Xuan, feeling somewhat relieved, before continuing, "As for who might have killed him, I truly don't know. Those who attended the banquet yesterday were all close friends of the Master. There's really no reason to murder him..."
Xun Shu's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly asked, "Do you recognize everyone at yesterday's banquet?"
Bai Xing nodded. "I used to follow Madam, and I've seen most of the people who came yesterday, except for Young Master Qiu." When she mentioned this person, a hint of confusion crossed her face. "I saw that Master and Young Master Qiu were very close, but before yesterday, I had never seen him, nor had Madam mentioned him."
Bai Xing and Madam Zhao had never met Qiu Anping? Xun Shu tried to recall the scene at the flower viewing banquet yesterday, and the expressions on everyone's faces when County Magistrate Zhao took the initiative to introduce General Yang and Qiu Anping, but he couldn't remember anything.
Normally, she didn't like to stare at unimportant people, for fear that she would accidentally see through other people's karma, but now she felt a little regretful.
I don’t know if any of those people yesterday knew Qiu Anping.
Xun Shu carefully noted down Bai Xing's words and, imitating Fang Yan and He Xuan, continued, "Besides Qiu Anping, do you know anything about the others? For example, what are the relationships between these people? Are there any conflicts or discords between them?"
Bai Xing frowned, thinking carefully, analyzing each point one by one: "County Magistrate Feng has spent the longest time in Chaozhou and at the county government office. After the master took office here, County Magistrate Feng helped him solve many troubles caused by his unfamiliarity with the place, and also led the master to make friends with the powerful people in Chaozhou. As a result, the master has the closest relationship with County Magistrate Feng, and often invites him to his house for drinks. County Magistrate Feng is cautious and meticulous in his work. Outsiders say that he is strict and fair, but I don't like him very much. I always feel that he is a hypocrite."
"Why do you say that?"
Bai Xing looked toward the courtyard gate, her gaze seemingly piercing through the two thick panels, resting on Zheng in the next courtyard. She said harshly, "Back then, it was County Magistrate Feng who took the master to those brothels, leading to the encounter with Zheng, who was in trouble. Just ask, why would a diligent and dedicated official, dedicated to serving the people, take a newly appointed, barely established superior to such a place? If it weren't for him, Zheng might not have entered the mansion, and what happened later wouldn't have happened."
The affair between Zheng and County Magistrate Zhao was actually connected to County Magistrate Feng. Why had it never been mentioned? Was it accidental or intentional?
Xun Shu bit her lip lightly and remained silent for a long while. Bai Xing looked bewildered, unsure if there was anything suspicious in these words, and even less sure whether she should continue. He Xuan's gaze shifted between the two of them, clearing his throat and offering an ingratiating smile: "Ah Shu, why not let her continue?"
He Xuan's voice pulled Xun Shu out of her thoughts. She blinked and said to Bai Xing, "Go on."
"Master Qu, County Magistrate Bi, and County Magistrate Fang all came to Chaozhou in recent years. Master Qu and County Magistrate Bi arrived at the Chaozhou County Government together shortly after my master took office. I heard that they were all transferred from other states and counties. Master Qu always has a smile on his face and is very gentle to us servants; County Magistrate Bi is very efficient in his work and looks cold, but he is indeed a polite person." Bai Xing lowered her voice, "Master Bi is over thirty years old, but he has not yet married. In addition, he is handsome and knows martial arts. The sisters in the mansion often talk about him in private, saying that it would be a good idea for her to be his concubine. Every time he comes to the mansion, if he meets the sisters who are peeking at him, he will chat with them. He has never looked down on them because of their different status.
"As for County Magistrate Fang, he only took office within the past year, so I'm not familiar with him. However, during Madam's case, I saw you walking with him. You should know more about him than I do."
Xun Shu hadn't intended to ask Bai Xing about Fang Yan. In her heart, Fang Yan was a friend she had known for many years, and she trusted him, so naturally she wouldn't suspect he was involved in the murder.
"What about General Yang? Do you know anything about him?"
"General Yang doesn't usually live in Chaozhou, only visiting every few years. He seems to have a very good relationship with County Magistrate Feng. Once, the master held a banquet at his mansion and only invited General Yang and County Magistrate Feng. The master was drunk that day, and I saw General Yang and County Magistrate Feng walking side by side, wandering around the house. I guess they were drunk, so they did such a shameless thing."
Last night, General Yang had taken the initiative to request to stay in the same courtyard with County Feng, and he hadn't concealed the fact that they had known each other for a long time. This wasn't unusual, so Xun Shu didn't dwell on it and naturally changed the subject.
"Then let's talk about what happened yesterday." Xun Shu finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind for a long time. "Yesterday, County Magistrate Zhao was stung by a bee. You were the one who left the hall to get medicine, so why did Zheng return with it? I remember that your relationship with Zheng was not good because of Madam Zhao... But you invited Zheng to go? Or was there another reason?"
Bai Xing's thoughts went back to last night.
At that moment, an unexpected incident occurred in the hall, and she was driven out to get medicine. After leaving everyone's sight, she slowed down her pace, wanting to make the heartless man suffer a little more. Unexpectedly, as soon as she turned a corner, she saw Zheng standing in the corner of the yard.
At that time, Zheng was standing among the flowers in a daze, not knowing what she was thinking. Since she met her, she could only go up to Zheng, greet her, and tell her what had just happened.
After hearing what she said, Zheng's expression became strange. She lifted her skirt and went to the backyard to get medicine. She was in such a hurry that she could hardly keep up. When she followed Zheng back to the hall, she saw her crying beside the master, and it seemed that her tears were sincere.
Bai Xing told Xun Shu what happened last night, and added at the end: "It is true that this servant will not take the initiative to look for Zheng, but now that I have met her, I can't pretend not to see her. After all, I still need to make a living at her hands."
Bai Xing told him everything she knew truthfully. After Xun Shu confirmed that she had no more doubts, she unconsciously glanced at He Xuan, but she didn't expect that he was looking at her.
His gaze was like a bottomless pool in the mountains. Sunlight just happened to shine on it, and the surface of the water shone with a smile as delicate as a gem. It could make people indulge in it and forget the danger deep inside. Xun Shu choked for a moment, then stiffly turned his gaze away and said slowly, "Do you have anything else to ask?"
He Xuan smiled, revealing a few large white teeth. "Of course there are." He was in a very good mood, and even his tone was a little lighter. "Yesterday when we just entered the Zhao residence, you said that you saw someone entering and leaving the Zheng courtyard more than once late at night. Are you sure it was the same person entering and leaving multiple times, or was it not the same person each time?"
Bai Xing hadn't expected him to remember what she'd said yesterday, much less to ask him this question now. Touched, she narrowed her eyes, thinking intensely. As she pondered, she spoke uncertainly, "I think I've seen it three times, all in the dead of night. Those who came to see Zheng wore cloaks, intentionally hiding their features. I could only see their backs, but they were of varying heights, so there must have been more than one person. But whether it was two or three, I'm not sure."
"The gates of the two courtyards are very close together. Although you couldn't see their faces, you should be able to see the way they walk or the clothes they wear. Is there anything special about them?"
"Seems just like any other person—ah, I remember now. One day, the moonlight was gorgeous, and there was a breeze. As someone was leaving, the hem of their cloak blew up, revealing the garment underneath. The garment was a dark color, perhaps black or navy blue, and was embroidered with a strange pattern in gold and silver thread. It looked like several small insects connected together, quite eerie. The pattern flashed by, and I had never seen it before. Perhaps it was a foreign design."
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After leaving Bai Xing's courtyard, the two did not linger around, but tacitly decided to return to their temporary courtyard first and then think about what to do next.
They walked side by side when they left, but when they returned, they were separated by a distance of half a person's width, not even touching the corners of their clothes. Anyone would sigh. He Xuan endured it all the way to the courtyard. Before Xun Shu could return to her room, he stood in front of her and expressed all his confusion. There was a hint of grievance in his voice: "When we were in Zheng's courtyard, you seemed to have something on your mind. Did I say or do something to make you unhappy? If I have done anything to make you unhappy, just tell me, and I will definitely change."
Xun Shu silently looked at the person standing in front of him, opening and closing his lips, closing and opening them again, over and over again, before finally deciding to speak out the knot in his heart: "He Xuan, do you remember what happened in the past?"
It turned out to be because of this incident.
For a long time, this was a sword hanging behind He Xuan's neck, and the rope hanging the sword was held in his hand. He could choose to let go and let the sword fall, or he could keep holding the rope and carefully maintain his balance.
He had clearly hidden this sword, intending to deliver a fatal blow to the enemy, but he didn't know when it had become what it is today.
He had long been tired of such days. Perhaps now was the time to tell the truth and put the choice in Xun Shu's hands.
He Xuan was about to speak when he heard Xun Shu say, "Or have you been lying to us from the beginning? Have you not forgotten what happened before?"
The words died on his lips. For the first time in his life, He Xuan felt that he was such a weak person. There was a rare timidity in his voice, and he looked at Xun Shu nervously: "If that's the case, what will you do?"
Xun Shu turned his gaze away, looking at the flowers and plants swaying in the wind in the corner of the yard. "I don't lie, and I don't like people who lie. If you've lied to me for so long, when I get back I'll tell Uncle Jiang to kick you out of the coffin shop, and we'll never see each other again."
Let’s go our separate ways…
He Xuan's back was covered with beads of sweat, soaking half of his clothes. He no longer had the courage to tell the secret in his heart. He just wanted to get through this no matter what, and then find a way to properly resolve the matter in the future.
"How could I lie to you? Of course I haven't remembered what happened in the past." He Xuan shook his head like a rattle, and the words he said were sincere as if they were cut from the heart, "Ashu, don't worry, I will never do anything to hurt you, nor will I do anything to make you unhappy."
Xun Shu lowered his eyes, and his long eyelashes covered the emotions in his eyes.
Cicadas chirped noisily, and my heart beat like a drum. In this noisy silence, Xun Shu whispered, "Then I will believe you again."
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The author has something to say: There will be no update tomorrow, the next update will be on Tuesday~
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