Xu Qi An took out the prepared secret letter and placed it on the table.
Su Su eagerly unfolded it, reading it repeatedly. The tears in her eyes seemed to grow more intense, yet they wouldn’t fall. The glistening tears were a strong emotional hue, but not real. How could a ghost cry? Indeed, she couldn’t even cry for her family.
“How… how could my father have made so many enemies? This… this doesn’t make sense,” Su Su lamented.
“The Su family case is extraordinary,” Li Miaozhen patted the paper maid’s shoulder, comforting her. “One of our purposes for coming to the capital is to investigate your family’s case. Don’t worry, I’ll help you uncover the truth about that case from back then.”
Xu Qi An cupped his hands and bowed, “Then I’ll trouble Martial Artist Feiyan. I look forward to good news.”
Li Miaozhen immediately turned her head, her powdered face showing annoyance as she glared at him.
Of course, she was just saying it casually to encourage Su Su. How could she handle this alone? Xu Qi An would have to take the lead.
This man just couldn’t stand seeing her in the spotlight.
“I’ll trouble you then, Mister Xu,” Li Miaozhen said with a pout.
“I did promise you both, but,” Xu Qi An showed a troubled expression, “I originally thought it was a small case, something I could handle easily. But I didn’t expect it to be so deep. Moreover, I’m no longer a Constable, so investigating will be difficult everywhere. I’m afraid…”
Su Su’s face changed slightly, “You want to go back on your word?”
Xu Qi An shook his head and said solemnly, “No, but we need to extend the time frame.”
Zhong Li and Li Miaozhen didn’t immediately understand, but Su Su did. She lowered her head shyly and said softly, “How… how long?”
Xu Qi An teased, “We’ll discuss that later.”
He hadn’t expected Su Su to agree. He was just joking around, teasing the beautiful ghost woman.
As they were talking, Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, called out from the courtyard with a hint of panic, “Young Master, Young Master, officials are here…”
Hearing this, Li Miaozhen furrowed her brows, grabbed the flying sword from the table, and pushed the door open.
Xu Qi An followed her out, just in time to see a group of people forcefully entering the manor. Leading them was a middle-aged man wearing the armor of a Forbidden Army Commander, followed by over a dozen heavily armed soldiers.
Additionally, several Night Watchers were accompanying them, including Silver Constable Li Yuchun, and Bronze Constables Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao.
The initially aggressive Forbidden Army Commander’s sharp gaze swept across the inner courtyard, taking in Chu Caiwei of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Zhong Li, Li Miaozhen of the Celestial and Mortal Sects, and Chu Yuanlin…
His gaze softened slightly.
Xu Qi An and Li Yuchun’s eyes briefly met before they looked away, not exchanging any further communication.
The Forbidden Army Commander, with one hand on his sword hilt, announced loudly, “Xu Qi An, by His Majesty’s decree, we’ve come to inquire about the Princess Consort’s abduction. Please cooperate.”
Emperor Yuanjing seems very concerned about the Princess Consort. Even at this sensitive time, he still sends people to investigate me. This shows how much he values the Princess Consort…
I need to handle this carefully. Otherwise, it might disrupt the current peace. If Emperor Yuanjing finds out I’m “hiding” the Princess Consort, he certainly won’t let it go…
Xu Qi An nodded silently, his tone calm, “What does the General wish to ask?”
The Forbidden Army Commander said gravely, “Please gather everyone in your manor, Mr. Xu. Also, this is not the place to talk. Let’s discuss inside.”
Xu Qi An immediately had Old Zhang gather all the servants, while he led the Forbidden Army Commander, Li Yuchun, Song Tingfeng, and Zhu Guangxiao into the inner hall.
Since all the servants were gathered in the main courtyard, no one served tea. Xu Qi An sat in the main seat, his face expressionless as he looked at the Forbidden Army Commander.
What an attitude, simply arrogant… The Forbidden Army Commander glanced at him, also maintaining a stern face, and said:
“His Majesty has heard about the Princess Consort’s abduction from the envoy. But there are still some unknown details. Please tell us truthfully, Mr. Xu.”
Seeing Xu Qi An nod, the Forbidden Army Commander continued, “According to the maid who returned to Duke Huai’s manor, after the Princess Consort was kidnapped, Mr. Xu caught up with the four barbarian leaders. Is this true?”
Xu Qi An answered honestly, “Yes.”
The Forbidden Army Commander pressed, “And then?”
“Then, of course, they escaped. Does the General think that I, a Sixth-Rank martial artist, could defeat four Fourth-Rank experts? Even with the magic book bestowed by the Confucian school, I couldn’t do it, right?” Xu Qi An replied with a rhetorical question.
The Forbidden Army Commander didn’t refute this, seemingly accepting it, but he hadn’t fully believed it. Narrowing his eyes, he asked further:
“If you knew you were no match for them, why did you chase after them, Lord Xu?”
Xu Qi An’s expression remained unchanged, “At the time, I didn’t know another Fourth-Rank expert was lying in wait. I pursued them simply to fulfill my duty as a subject, to see if there was any chance to rescue the Princess Consort. When I saw it was impossible, I naturally gave up.”
Fulfilling your duty as a subject? You’re the least dutiful in the entire court… The Forbidden Army Commander was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly showed a meaningful smile:
“It seems no one ever told you the Princess Consort was still alive? According to the maid’s account, the ‘Princess Consort’ had already died at the hands of the snake demon Hong Ling. How did Lord Xu know the Princess Consort was still alive?”
When Xu Qi An arrived, the fake Princess Consort was already dead.
The envoy reported that the Princess Consort had been kidnapped and her whereabouts were unknown because they hadn’t witnessed this scene. Xu Qi An, however, had seen it. Logically, in his understanding, the Princess Consort should have been dead.
Now, Xu Qi An showed no surprise at the fact that the Princess Consort wasn’t dead. What did this mean?
Faced with the Forbidden Army Commander’s questioning, Xu Qi An also showed a meaningful smile, “It seems no one ever told you that I didn’t know that was a fake Princess Consort?”
The Forbidden Army Commander frowned.
Xu Qi An smiled confidently, “At that time, Prime Minister Chu abandoned the envoy and fled alone. He not only carried the ‘Princess Consort’ but also had his guards carry a maid as they escaped.”
“Heh, Prime Minister Chu isn’t a saint. If I couldn’t see that the real Princess Consort was mixed in with the maids, wouldn’t my reputation as the First Divine Investigator of Great Shang be undeserved?”
The Forbidden Army Commander was stunned. He couldn’t refute Xu Qi An’s words and even felt that this was exactly how it should be.
If the fake Princess Consort could fool Xu Qi An, then he wouldn’t be the legendary Divine Investigator.
At this moment, a soldier of the Forbidden Army came to the inner hall’s doorway and respectfully said, “Commander, the inspection is complete.”
The Forbidden Army Commander immediately stood up and said, “We’ll take our leave.”
He didn’t even look at Li Yuchun and the others, leaving directly with his men.
In the inner hall, only the former colleagues remained four people who once shared deep bonds, yet now couldn’t find a topic of conversation, all silent.
After a long while, Li Yuchun stood up. Xu Qi An quickly followed suit. Brother Chun walked up to him, looked him over, and reached out to smooth the creases on his chest, saying calmly:
“Wrinkled clothes make you look less presentable. Remember to take care of these small details yourself.”
Then he lowered his voice and said, “You did well. I’m proud of you.”
“Chief…” Xu Qi An’s eyes grew moist.
Li Yuchun waved his hand and looked at Song Tingfeng and Zhu Guangxiao.
“Ning Yan, leave the capital as soon as possible.”
Song Tingfeng opened his arms and embraced him, whispering in his ear, “His Majesty won’t let you off.”
Zhu Guangxiao said in a muffled voice, “Once you leave the capital, don’t come back. We three brothers might never meet again. But it’s better than losing your life.”
Xu Qi An grinned and said, “I won’t leave for now. If there’s a chance in the future, let’s listen to music at the brothel. My treat.”
He escorted the three out of the inner hall. Just as they reached the doorway, they saw Zhong Li sticking close to the wall, cautiously inching over, looking left and right, guarding against potential dangers.
Then, she came face to face with Li Yuchun, their eyes meeting.
Xu Qi An saw goosebumps rise on Brother Chun’s neck. Then, as if encountering something terrifying, he instinctively jumped back while kicking out.
Bang!
Zhong Li was kicked away, rolling to a distance.
Li Yuchun opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. Not daring to look at Zhong Li, he covered his face and left.
Xu Qi An rushed over to help Senior Sister Zhong up. She asked tearfully, feeling wronged, “Why did he hit me…”
“…”
Xu Qi An also opened his mouth, at a loss for words. He gently patted her head, “He has issues. In the future, if you see him, just avoid him.”
…
The Forbidden Army Commander left the Xu manor with his subordinates. After riding for a while, he slowed down and asked, “How’s the situation at the Xu manor?”
The subordinate replied, “There are no new servants recently, and no signs of disguises. We’ve confirmed everyone’s identity and can cross-check with the household registers at the government office and Changle County office later. Also, we briefly searched the manor and found no women of unknown origin.”
It seems he has no connection to the Princess Consort… The Forbidden Army Commander nodded and ordered:
“For the time being, have someone watch the Xu manor. Pay attention to everyone entering and leaving. If there are any new servants, report immediately.”
The subordinate nodded in agreement, then asked, “Should we have someone follow Xu Qi An?”
The Forbidden Army Commander replied irritably, “Can you keep up with a Sixth-Rank martial artist?”
“…”
After returning to the palace, the Forbidden Army Commander reported the situation truthfully. Emperor Yuanjing didn’t respond, neither ordering further investigation nor dismissing the matter.
…
The afternoon sunlight carried a slight warmth, and the green leaves shimmered with iridescent halos under the bright sun.
Aunt decided to make sour plum soup for everyone, earning unanimous praise from Xu Lingyin, Li Na, and Chu Caiwei.
Xu Qi An pushed open the door to the Second Young Master’s study. Xu Er Lang was playing chess with Chu Yuanlin, drinking wine, playing chess, and chatting about various topics.
Knock knock… Xu Qi An tapped the table twice to get their attention, then said thoughtfully:
“Er Lang, I remember there’s an official position responsible for recording the Emperor’s every word and action in the palace, no matter how trivial.”
Chu Yuanlin smiled, “That’s the Court Diarist.”
Xu Qi An immediately nodded, “Yes, yes, the Court Diarist. It’s part of the Hanlin Academy, right?”
Xu Er Lang raised his chin slightly and nodded, “The Hanlin Academy is responsible for compiling historical records, and the Court Diary is one of the important bases for writing history. Naturally, it’s the esteemed scholars of our Hanlin Academy who serve as Court Diarists.”
Xu Qi An pressed further, “Can you access it?”
Xu Er Lang hesitated slightly, then nodded, “It’s a bit difficult but possible.”
Xu Qi An said in a low voice, “I need all the Court Diaries since Emperor Yuanjing’s ascension to the throne.”
… Xu Er Lang immediately refused, “Absurd. The Court Diaries can’t be taken out, and it’s impossible to copy them openly.”
Xu Qi An shook his head, “I’m not asking you to copy them or bring them out. Memorize them with your mind, then recite them to me. With your Eighth-Rank Cultivator memory, you should be able to remember everything at a glance, right?”
Xu Er Lang’s face paled, “That’s still very tiring. The Court Diaries are extremely lengthy…”
Xu Qi An patted his little brother’s shoulder, “Aren’t you flirting with the Wang family’s young lady? In a while, Big Brother will teach you a secret technique: the Forty-eight Hands of Edo.”
…
The next day, Xu Qi An rode his beloved mare to a restaurant, reserved a private room, ordered food and wine, and waited patiently.
In less than a quarter of an hour, Chief Constable Chen from the Ministry of Justice and the Deputy Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review arrived for the appointment.
Both were dressed in casual clothes and had disguised themselves slightly, seemingly afraid of being recognized.
“Lord Xu is now a taboo figure. Meeting with you privately requires caution,” the Deputy Chief Justice said with a seasoned smile, leisurely eating and drinking.
Chief Constable Chen’s expression was serious as he got straight to the point, “What business do you have with us?”
Xu Qi An poured wine for both of them and smiled, “I need a favor from you two. I want to investigate an old case. The subject is named Su Hang, a successful candidate in the imperial examination of the 29th year of Zhende. In the 14th year of Yuanjing, he was demoted to serve as the prefect of Jiangzhou for unknown reasons. The following year, he was executed for bribery and corruption.
“This man was once one of the ministers, of no low status. The Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review should have his files. I’d like to take a look.”
The Deputy Chief Justice frowned, “I’ve never heard of this person. Why is Lord Xu suddenly investigating a case from over twenty years ago?”
Xu Qi An casually explained, “To be honest, Su Hang’s eldest daughter is my concubine.”
After saying this, he saw Chief Constable Chen and the Deputy Chief Justice’s expressions change dramatically.
“???”
The Deputy Chief Justice swallowed, “A man who died in the 14th year of Yuanjing, his… his eldest daughter is your concubine?”
Chief Constable Chen didn’t speak, but his look at Xu Qi An seemed to say: You’re into that?
Ah, Su Su’s real age is indeed old enough to be my mother… Xu Qi An realized, smiling nonchalantly:
“Just joking. It’s his eldest daughter’s daughter who is my concubine. Due to an accident, that eldest daughter happened to be away from home at the time, so she escaped the disaster.”
The Deputy Chief Justice nodded, “That’s manageable. Three days from now, at the same time, meet here. I’ll bring you the files, but you can’t take them away. After you’ve read them, I’ll take them back.”
Chief Constable Chen said, “The same for me.”
Xu Qi An sighed in relief, “Thank you both.”
He then took out two bank notes worth 100 taels each.
The Deputy Chief Justice didn’t accept it, self-deprecatingly saying, “I just mentioned that Minister Zheng has awakened my conscience. Don’t taint me again. Consider this meal as payment.”
Chief Constable Chen: “The same for me.”
Are you Zhang Yide?… Xu Qi An inwardly joked, raising his wine cup with a smile.
After the meal, he mounted his mare and rode rhythmically towards the slave market.
There was still a beautiful woman waiting for him to settle.
…
After lunch, the Princess Consort returned to the inn, feeling gloomy. She sat silently at the dressing table.
She suspected she had been abandoned. The Holy Maiden of the Celestial Sect had been gone for four days without a word. And that stinky man seemed to have forgotten her completely.
He hadn’t come to see her again.
She still had money, enough to stay at this inn for ten days, but without support, she couldn’t find a sense of security.
Especially today, after breakfast, the Princess Consort disguised herself as an ordinary woman and wandered around the city alone, eventually reaching a theater.
The theater was so interesting, and lively, with good plays to watch.
She spent five copper coins to watch a play. It was about a young lady from a wealthy family who fell in love with a poor scholar. Due to their different social status, her family disapproved, so they eloped.
At first, life was sweet and happy. The scholar studied hard for his exams, while the young lady learned needlework. They cooked simple meals, living a poor but content life.
But gradually, as the money the young lady brought ran out, and the scholar only knew how to study, life became difficult.
So the wealthy young lady was abandoned by the scholar and kicked out of their home.
She walked alone desolately on the street, finally choosing to drown herself in the river.
Watching the ending, the Princess Consort’s tears flowed freely, feeling she was just like that pitiful wealthy young lady.
Tricked out of her home with sweet words, then cruelly abandoned.
“That damned Xu Qi An must have forgotten about me, thinking I’m a burden…” the Princess Consort sat at the dressing table, silently weeping.
Just then, there was a knock at the door of her room.