Buxiu suddenly noticed another person standing beside the crowd in the courtyard. A youth of fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a robe embroidered with green dates, held a thick case file. He had clear, handsome features and an elegant bearing.
Following Mingyi’s gaze, the youth looked over and nodded slightly: “How much silver is it worth?”
It was none other than Si Tu Ling, the newly appointed coroner and patrol officer of the Judicial Hall.
Buxiu hurried over and cupped his hands in greeting: “In response to Your Honor, this storehouse is used by our master to store gifts from the Grand Secretary and other clan relatives. The value is considerable, though there’s no exact figure. However, the gift registers are kept and can be checked.”
Hearing this, Mingyi drew in a sharp breath: “Gifts from the Grand Secretary and clan relatives – those must be incredibly valuable!”
She then frowned and glared at Si Tu Ling: “Burning items bestowed by the Grand Secretary would be a grave offense.”
Si Tu Ling was torn between laughter and tears: “Sister Mingyi, I’m not the one who set the fire.”
“If not you, then who? Us?” Mingyi stomped her foot. “You visit when our master is away, specifically asking to see me. Aren’t you forcing me to call all the servants here as an alibi? Who knew the storehouse would catch fire right after, with no one noticing? Isn’t this a diversionary tactic?”
Si Tu Ling shook his head repeatedly: “This is my first visit here. I don’t even know where the storehouse is located. How could I deliberately set it on fire? Moreover, I came today intending to look at the items in the storehouse. Compared to me, Sister Mingyi, you’re more suspicious.”
Mingyi stared at him in disbelief, pointing at her nose: “Me? I’ve been in the Liuzhao Residence the whole time. Governess Xun can testify. I only came to the front courtyard because you arrived, Young Master. I haven’t even touched the storehouse door once. How am I more suspicious?”
“Has Sister Mingyi forgotten?” Si Tu Ling tilted his head. “You have Yuan…”
Before he could finish, Mingyi covered his mouth.
Buxiu and Governess Xun were startled. They saw her smile nervously, then mutter something under her breath.
They were too far away to hear, but Si Tu Ling heard clearly. She said through gritted teeth: “Didn’t we agree you’d keep this secret for me?”
Si Tu Ling blinked, trying hard to recall.
That day at Duke Gong’s mansion, she had single-handedly defeated a group of strong men, then knelt before him in gratitude for saving her life. From start to finish, they didn’t seem to have “agreed” on anything.
However, Sister Mingyi was very beautiful, and her Yuan Power was formidable. He might as well consider it a promise.
She released her hand and curtsied apologetically: “I just saw a fly earlier. I’ve offended you, Young Master.”
Si Tu Ling shook his head: “No need for formalities, Sister Mingyi. As long as you tell the truth, I won’t mind anything else.”
“I am telling the truth,” Mingyi sighed. “When you arrived, Young Master, Governess Xun and I were having a meal. I had no idea why you came, and I certainly wouldn’t burn down the storehouse for no reason. Everyone in the household knows I’m most concerned about money. How could I waste things like that?”
Si Tu Ling found this reasonable. He thought for a moment and said: “Then let’s wait until the fire dies down before we take a look.”
“Young Master is wise,” Mingyi nodded and curtsied, ordering someone to bring a chair for him to sit.
Behind them, a few servants whispered curiously: “How can such a young boy already be an official?”
“That’s Si Tu Ling, the one with an extraordinary talent for solving cases. He’s of commoner birth and can’t use Yuan Power, but he’s extremely clever. Lord Zhao has been relying on him a lot lately.”
“Is that so…”
Mingyi stood next to Si Tu Ling, maintaining a calm smile on her face, but her heart was in turmoil.
How could there be such a coincidence? That young scholar she randomly pulled in to take the blame and save her life that day was Si Tu Ling.
If someone like him knew she could use Yuan Power and let it slip, how could Ji Bozai keep her around?
Troubled by these thoughts, she rubbed her temples.
When the fire department arrived, the blaze was still intense. Fortunately, those firefighters could use Yuan Power. They condensed their Yuan Power to suppress the flames, gradually extinguishing the seemingly unquenchable fire.
As the household began assessing the damage, Si Tu Ling took the lead, bringing people to cordon off the scene.
Buxiu stood behind Mingyi, looking slightly nervous: “Miss?”
Mingyi didn’t even look up: “Don’t worry.”
With just these two words from her, Buxiu inexplicably felt reassured. He did nothing but lead people to wait in the front courtyard.
Half an hour later, Si Tu Ling returned and told Mingyi: “Most things were burned, except for some boxes containing fabrics. They were made of fireproof materials and escaped unscathed.”
Mingyi was heartbroken: “Only some fabrics left? What about the gold, silver, and jewels?”
Governess Xun smiled faintly: “The Grand Secretary and clan relatives’ gifts are mostly cultural relics. Other common items aren’t kept in the storehouse.”
Mingyi’s mouth twitched as she muttered: “Not treasuring gold and silver, but valuing some fabrics and papers instead… Well, at least the loss is smaller this way.”
As she spoke, Si Tu Ling stood beside her, carefully observing her expressions and movements.
Unfortunately, after thorough observation, he found that this sister showed no flaws as if she truly didn’t care what fabrics were in those boxes.
Lowering his eyes in thought, Si Tu Ling spoke again: “The reason I came today was to ask Sister Mingyi if you’ve seen a skirt made of Mulan-blue fabric?”
Mingyi looked at him, puzzled: “No, I already answered Lord Zhao before. Given my lowly status as a dancer, where would I find mulan-blue?”
“Lord Ji hasn’t gifted you any?”
Mingyi pouted: “As Young Master said, mulan-blue is precious. How could the master bear to give it to me?”
“But I heard that Sister Mingyi is highly favored.”
“Highly favored?” She smiled self-mockingly, then quickly dropped it, her eyelids lowering to conceal her tears. She pointed to the nearby corridor, “With such a big fire in the mansion while I’m still here, have you seen where Lord Ji is? If he doesn’t even care about my life and death, how can you speak of favor?”
Si Tu Ling was young and didn’t understand matters of the heart. Hearing her words, he frowned and asked Buxiu: “Where has Lord Ji gone?”
Buxiu was somewhat impatient: “Young Master, you’re asking too much. How would we servants know about the master’s schedule?”
“This is now part of the investigation,” Si Tu Ling instructed the person behind him, “Go and invite Lord Ji to return.”
As the person behind him went to do so, he turned back to Mingyi: “If Lord Ji hasn’t gifted you a mulan-blue dance skirt, then where did you get the skirt you wore to the clan’s private banquet?”
Mingyi was perplexed: “Who told you I went to the clan’s private banquet?”
Si Tu Ling sighed softly and handed her a copied testimony. She took it and glanced over it, her face immediately turning pale. Tears welled up in her eyes again, and her lips trembled: “What is she saying?”
“Zhangtai has already confessed that on the day of the clan’s private banquet, Xu Lan abused her power and let you go to the banquet in her place,” Si Tu Ling pressed his lips together. “Why is Sister Mingyi lying?”