Song Chuyi and her party left the city, and it wasn’t until evening that they reached the outskirts of Tongzhou. The sky had already darkened. If they didn’t hurry along, by the time they arrived in Tongzhou it would likely be pitch black where one couldn’t see one’s own hand before their face. And nighttime had always made people anxious and fearful. Qin Chuan furrowed his brow and urged everyone to move faster.
When they departed, not only had Old Madam Song given countless instructions and reminders, but Song Chengru and the Prince Consort had also repeatedly told him to protect this Sixth Miss well and absolutely not let any harm come to her. He didn’t dare relax in the slightest.
Fortunately, by rushing urgently along, the group finally managed to enter Tongzhou. All around them, many tenant farmers carrying hoes over their shoulders were hurrying home under the stars and moon. Qin Chuan breathed a sigh of relief, and considering that Song Chuyi had already been jostled about in the carriage all day, he had people gradually slow their pace.
But just as they turned past Dougezhuang village, when they could already see their destination ahead, suddenly a large group of people surged out, fleeing in their direction.
Qin Chuan was scared out of his wits. He immediately ordered the guards to surround Song Chuyi’s carriage, while he himself spurred his horse forward and caught up with one of the youths dressed in brocade.
“From the Earl of Changning’s estate?” That youth was clearly somewhat surprised. After standing frozen for a moment, he smiled. “What a coincidence—who would have thought we’d run into acquaintances here?”
Acquaintances?
Qin Chuan froze, not knowing what the youth meant.
Nanny Xu had already dismounted from the carriage. After asking about the situation, she told Song Chuyi through the curtain, “I don’t know what has happened, but there are soldiers and officials all around. I’m afraid we’ve encountered some important person handling official business.”
Hong Yu’s face turned pale in an instant, and she looked at Song Chuyi with eyes full of resentment. She knew that coming out with her young miss could never be peaceful and uneventful. Well, they hadn’t even entered the estate yet, and trouble was already following close behind.
“Chief Manager Qin need not be alarmed—you don’t recognize me, but I know you.” That youth laughed heartily. His brocade robe made him look even more elegant and otherworldly in the moonlight. “I heard from Song Jue that Chief Manager Qin’s martial arts skills are impressive. Next time if there’s an opportunity, I must seek more guidance.”
The person before him could actually call out his name, and it sounded like he was quite familiar with Song Jue. Qin Chuan was even more confused, but knowing the youth had no ill intentions, he clasped his hands and smiled. “Sir is truly too modest. May I ask which distinguished person you are? I’ve been ordered to escort my young miss to the estate to recuperate, and I ask that sir show some leniency.”
“Easy enough to accommodate. I am Ye Jingchuan.” Ye Jingchuan gazed toward the Song household’s carriage from afar, the smile at the corner of his lips deepening. “The Zhennan Prince’s estate and the Earl of Changning’s estate have always been family friends. Since we’ve encountered a young lady from the Earl’s household, it’s only proper that I escort her part of the way.”
So it was actually the legitimate second son of the Zhennan Prince, Ye Jingchuan! Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan instinctively wanted to refuse. “It appears Second Young Master is handling official business with his subordinates—it wouldn’t be good to delay you. We brought enough guards on this trip, so there’s really no need to trouble Second Young Master.”
“No trouble at all.” Ye Jingchuan waved his hand at ease. “Chief Manager Qin, you don’t know—today a murder case occurred at Dougezhuang village. The murderer killed all eight members of Instructor Li’s family. Such a conscienceless and insane person has escaped, and who knows how much disaster they might cause. Just to be safe, let me escort you over with my troops.”
A murder case? Qin Chuan’s expression turned unpleasant upon hearing this. After thinking it over, he clasped his hands toward Ye Jingchuan and went back to ask Song Chuyi’s opinion.
Hong Yu’s face grew worse and worse as she listened, and she couldn’t help but grip Qing Tao’s sleeve tightly.
Song Chuyi was also somewhat shocked. She hadn’t expected to run into them right when they were investigating a family annihilation case, and even less had she expected that the person investigating the case was actually the Zhennan Prince’s legitimate second son, Ye Jingchuan, the current Hundred Households Commander of the Capital Guards.
However, after thinking it over, she nodded and agreed to Ye Jingchuan’s suggestion. What he said was correct—although the guards brought from the Earl’s estate were sufficient, if they truly encountered those conscienceless villains who had annihilated an entire family, they probably wouldn’t be able to handle them.
Ye Jingchuan watched with great interest as Qin Chuan consulted with the person inside the carriage through the curtain, his eyes gradually revealing increasing fascination.
A few days ago, his father the Prince had mentioned that the Earl’s household had a very special Sixth Miss who, at such a young age, had already planned and orchestrated the Xiao Ding incident with thorough attention to detail. Now seeing how Qin Chuan was so obedient to this young miss’s every word, it seemed he had happened to encounter her.
Seeing Qin Chuan nod, he waved his hand and had his府军Capital Guards subordinates surround Song Chuyi’s party in the middle, escorting them into Dingfu Estate.
Outside the Earl’s estate, Uncle Zhang and Nanny Xu were already leading some hired workers and tenant farmers, holding lanterns and waiting with anxious expressions on all their faces.
Finally arriving safely at the estate, Qin Chuan breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to thank Ye Jingchuan.
But before he could even turn around, Uncle Zhang came stumbling up, gasping for breath as he said something had also happened at the estate.
“A long-term hired worker who was helping us harvest wheat in the back courtyard died in the well.”
Qin Chuan suddenly felt his end was near. His mouth gaped open, and for a moment he didn’t know how to react.
It was Ye Jingchuan, who had been wearing a relaxed smile all along, who changed to a grave expression. Frowning, he asked, “When did he die? Do you know who the murderer is?”
“Doesn’t seem like one of our local people,” Uncle Zhang wiped the sweat from his face, feeling utterly unlucky. “At the time, that hired worker had just picked up a long bench to bring it to the hall to prepare to finish work for the day. Who knows how, but suddenly a person rushed out from the hall and slit his throat.”
Song Chuyi in the carriage heard clearly, and suddenly recalled the matter of Instructor Li’s family being silenced.
Hong Yu had already lost the ability to speak. Frightened, her hands were even trembling slightly. She wanted to urge Song Chuyi to turn back to the capital, but thinking about it again, she was afraid of encountering those murderers in the dark of night.
Qing Tao was also somewhat worried. A murder had occurred at the estate—how could they still stay here?
If some people with ill intentions were still hiding inside, what would happen then?
At this point, there was no time to worry about other matters. Song Chuyi thought it over and instructed Qing Tao to go invite Ye Jingchuan.
Qing Tao didn’t dare delay. Without a word, she jumped down from the carriage to invite Ye Jingchuan.
Ye Jingchuan had already put away his casual manner at this point. Upon hearing this, he couldn’t help but want to shake his head, but remembering his father’s earlier words, he reconsidered and dismounted from his horse, approaching Song Chuyi’s carriage.
“I heard that Instructor Li’s family was annihilated at the hour of wei, yet Elder Brother has brought men here and stationed them for three full days already.” Song Chuyi went straight to the point. “I wonder if Elder Brother has already guessed who the murderer is?”
The last trace of playfulness on Ye Jingchuan’s face was completely restrained. With a complicated expression, he looked toward the carriage, as if trying to see through the curtain to glimpse what kind of person was sitting inside.
He didn’t reply for a long time, but Song Chuyi didn’t seem to care much. She immediately followed up with another question. “Instructor Li’s side was killed at the hour of wei, while the incident at our estate occurred at the hour of shen. I wonder if these lawless villains might also be roaming other places, waiting at any moment to commit crimes?”
Dougezhuang village was still some distance from Dingfu Estate. For the murderers to commit crimes at such close intervals meant there absolutely weren’t just one or two of them. If this was premeditated, then the entire Tongzhou area was probably dangerous now.
Song Chuyi struggled to recall what major events should have occurred at this time in her previous life, her heart growing increasingly anxious.