Why wasn’t Prince Kaiyang leaving?

Even if you asked Wei Han this question, he couldn’t give an answer.

Why did there need to be so many reasons? In any case, there was nothing to do upon returning to the manor.

However, the Crown Prince seemed to be paying him particular attention today—perhaps he should leave.

Thinking this, Wei Han gently set down his wine cup and was about to rise.

At this moment, a manor servant hurried over, heading straight for Prince Pingnan: “Your Highness, something has happened!”

“What is it?” Prince Pingnan was very displeased, suppressing his anger as he asked.

At Princess Consort Pingnan’s birthday banquet, countless people had come to offer congratulations. Besides the main banquet hall, several small halls had been set up separately. Those he could accompany in this hall were all people of distinguished status.

In front of these people, having a servant run over in such panic—what kind of propriety was that?

However, this also made Prince Pingnan’s heart sink with an ominous premonition.

The servant came forward and reported in a lowered voice: “Elder Chen’s eldest granddaughter has been killed—”

“What?” Having only heard the beginning, Prince Pingnan knocked over his wine cup, crying out in shock.

The hall immediately became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Countless pairs of ears perked up, though their faces still maintained an air of nonchalance, holding wine cups—full or empty—to their lips for appearance’s sake.

“Continue!” Prince Pingnan had no time to care about the wine flowing to his hand and shouted sternly.

The servant lowered his voice even more: “Miss Chen’s body was discovered beneath the peony flowers, with a dagger thrust into her. It’s said the dagger belongs to Grand Commander Luo’s legitimate daughter, Miss Luo…”

Prince Pingnan gripped the wine-soaked table edge, his expression frozen.

Grand Commander Luo’s daughter?

That was quite a lot of information.

Everyone: “…” What on earth did that damned servant say? We can’t hear clearly!

“There’s also a maid’s body discovered in the bamboo grove—”

Prince Pingnan suddenly stood up, his gaze finding Elder Chen as he steeled himself: “Elder Chen, your granddaughter has had an incident. Please accompany this Prince to the garden.”

Elder Chen stood up completely bewildered.

At his age, he was just here to enjoy the excitement—how did the excitement land on him?

Prince Pingnan then cupped his hands toward Grand Commander Luo: “Grand Commander, please accompany this Prince as well.”

Grand Commander Luo calmly stood up.

He knew it—how could any excitement lack his daughter?

Being a father meant endless worries.

Seeing Grand Commander Luo stand up, everyone suddenly understood: It seems Grand Commander Luo’s daughter has caused trouble again!

Informing Elder Chen and Grand Commander Luo wasn’t the main point—the main point was that Prince Pingnan looked with heavy heart toward the Minister of Justice.

The point was to invite the person who investigated cases over, but once that happened, the matter couldn’t be concealed immediately.

Forget it—such a major incident couldn’t be concealed anyway.

Prince Pingnan steeled his resolve and declared loudly: “Minister Zhao, please accompany this Prince as well.”

At these words, everyone’s expressions became subtle. After Prince Pingnan left with the three men, the hall immediately became lively.

“Calling the parents is one thing, but why call Minister Zhao over too?”

“Hiss—Minister Zhao heads the Ministry of Justice. Today’s matter seems significant!”

Someone with sharp ears said hesitantly: “I think I heard the words ‘corpse’…”

“It can’t be—how could friction between young ladies involve corpses?”

“If it were a small problem, why call Minister Zhao over?”

A voice said: “How about—we all go take a look?”

Those who heard fell silent for a moment, then stood up one after another: “Let’s go, let’s take a look.”

“Distinguished gentlemen—” The manor steward left behind was sweating anxiously, but with so many important officials wanting to watch the excitement together, how could he stop them?

“This, this—” The manor steward turned in circles, then discovered Wei Han and the Crown Prince still seated.

The Crown Prince and Prince Kaiyang truly had cultivation!

Wei Han stood up.

“Is Royal Uncle returning?”

Wei Han glanced at the Crown Prince and said indifferently: “Going to take a look.”

Even after Wei Han left, the Crown Prince still couldn’t quite process it.

What was wrong with this little Royal Uncle today?

The Crown Prince followed out with puzzlement.

Left alone in the hall, the manor steward: “…”

He might as well go look too!

Facing a garden full of pale-faced young ladies, Prince Pingnan and the others who had rushed over looked even more grim.

Elder Chen said hoarsely: “Grand Commander, regarding today’s matter, please give this old man an explanation!”

Grand Commander Luo showed no weakness: “My daughter says it has nothing to do with her. Elder, please calm yourself. Let’s wait for Minister Zhao to question everything clearly before speaking.”

Minister Zhao, who was steeling himself to ask questions, felt bitter inside.

He hadn’t become Minister of Justice because he excelled at solving cases!

Now he could only question while waiting for his capable subordinates to arrive.

“So you’re saying when you came to this peony cluster, you encountered Miss Luo walking back?”

Several noble ladies looked at each other and nodded one after another.

Minister Zhao stroked his beard: “In other words, Miss Luo was the earliest to arrive here?”

Grand Commander Luo couldn’t help but refute: “How can you draw such a hasty conclusion? Just because no one saw anyone arrive earlier doesn’t mean my daughter was the earliest, does it?”

A dignified Minister of Justice, yet completely unprofessional in questioning!

Elder Chen said angrily: “Your daughter had a conflict with my granddaughter today—she has motive. The dagger that stabbed my granddaughter to death belongs to your daughter—that’s physical evidence. These young ladies saw your daughter returning from this peony cluster—that counts as witness testimony. Now with witness testimony, physical evidence, and motive all present, does Grand Commander Luo still think the conclusion that your daughter is the murderer is hasty?”

Minister Zhao couldn’t help but nod.

Elder Chen’s analysis made sense—he seemed even better at solving cases than himself.

But Grand Commander Luo had only one sentence: “My daughter says it has nothing to do with her, so it definitely has nothing to do with her!”

Though his daughter had many faults, whenever she caused trouble, she never failed to acknowledge it.

Elder Chen’s beard trembled with rage: “Grand Commander Luo, your words are laughable! With both witness testimony and physical evidence present, can denying it settle the matter?”

A voice carrying coldness rang out: “I have a few words to say.”

Grand Commander Luo was startled: “Sheng’er—”

Luo Sheng only glanced at Grand Commander Luo once before withdrawing her gaze to look at the several noble ladies giving testimony: “Did any of you see me holding a blade and killing someone?”

The several noble ladies slowly shook their heads.

Luo Sheng raised her chin at Elder Chen: “Elder, you heard them. They didn’t personally witness me killing anyone. What kind of bullshit witness testimony is this!”

The several noble ladies immediately felt embarrassed.

Bullshit witness testimony… that was too harsh.

“Then what about the physical evidence?” Though Elder Chen was emotionally agitated over his granddaughter’s death, having weathered official storms, he could still maintain restraint facing a young lady.

“Physical evidence?” Luo Sheng raised her eyebrows. “Is the Elder referring to that dagger that stabbed Miss Chen to death?”

Speaking of this, she smiled with raised brows: “But that dagger isn’t mine.”

“You say it isn’t and it isn’t?” Zhu Hanshuang stood in the crowd, unable to bear it and spoke up.

Luo Sheng didn’t acknowledge those who interrupted randomly and instead smiled at Minister Zhao: “I haven’t had a chance to say this—I gave away that gem-encrusted dagger of mine long ago.”

Gave it away?

Everyone secretly shook their heads.

This reason was too flimsy. Could simply saying it was given to some friend or relative clear her of suspicion?

“Ah, the person who received my dagger is also here.” Luo Sheng’s gaze passed over the crowd as she smiled faintly at Wei Han.