Chapter 187 - 185: The Truth Behind the Fire (Second Update)

Chapter 187: Chapter 185: The Truth Behind the Fire (Second Update)

Xiao Yi saw Xu Jing looking conflicted and slightly raised the corners of his mouth. "Don’t force yourself if there’s no clue for now. This case has stumped the Ministry of Justice for five years, indicating that the criminal isn’t easy to find. I hear from your guards that you’ve been very busy lately yet always find time to come by. They’ve privately mentioned to me that they’re worried you might be overworked."

Xu Jing was slightly stunned.

She indeed had been busy recently but hadn’t expected those usually stiff and serious guards to show concern for people.

Her mouth curled up slightly, and she said, "It’s fine. I enjoy the feeling of being busy."

Dongli, who was serving nearby, couldn’t help but glance silently at her lord.

Although he wasn’t as enthusiastic as Xianyun about matchmaking, he somewhat understood Xianyun’s frustration with her lord.

Obviously, the person who’s concerned is his lord. Why involve those clumsy brutes?

Her lord really feared that Miss Xu would detect his feelings.

After Xu Jing finished speaking, she looked at the sun outside and was about to say she would leave since there was nothing else. But suddenly, Xiao Yi turned and looked at her.

Xu Jing slightly raised an eyebrow. "Does Vice Minister Xiao have something to say?"

Xiao Yi’s dark eyes fixed on her, feeling for the first time in his life that his heartbeat was out of his control. Slightly parting his thin lips, he said, "In five days, it will be the Mid-Autumn Festival. Chang Xiao mentioned wanting to spend that day with you. What does Miss Xu think?"

Xu Jing was momentarily stunned, never expecting him to say this.

Her heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She opened her mouth, instinctively wanting to find an excuse to refuse. The man before her seemed to know what she wanted to say; his dark eyes deepened, and he suddenly said softly, "Me too."

Xu Jing paused, then looked at the man before her with some confusion, only to see he was staring at her without blinking. Unlike the relaxed state at home, his expression held a seriousness that Xu Jing couldn’t comprehend. Those dark eyes seemed to possess some magic, leaving Xu Jing unsure how to respond.

After a long while, she finally heard her own voice, "We’ll see. I don’t know if I’ll be free that day..."

The man before her slightly raised an eyebrow. Despite being an unclear answer, a faint smile suddenly rose in his dark eyes as he said, "Alright, I’ll wait for you."

Dongli, standing nearby: "..."

How did the lord suddenly become enlightened?

No, what is with this atmosphere that makes one uncomfortable all over? Is this the legendary public display of affection?!

Xu Jing, in the end, wasn’t sure how she walked out of that room.

Xiao Yi wanted to see her off, but a retainer came looking for him, saying someone from the Ministry of Justice had arrived, so Xu Jing took the opportunity to say goodbye and left on her own.

What Xiao Yi said earlier was likely just to express that he didn’t mind spending the festival with her.

After all, it was Chang Xiao who suggested spending the festival together. Although Xiao Yi usually seemed indifferent towards Chang Xiao, he dotes on him no less than she does. If it’s a request from the little guy, it’s understandable that Xiao Yi would say an extra word to get her to agree.

The more Xu Jing thought about it, the more she felt this was the case. The odd feeling in her heart after Xiao Yi’s words soon dissipated.

Just as she was heading towards the back door, a man in a crow-green, round-neck, narrow-sleeved robe walked towards her and paused slightly when he saw her. "Why are you here?" he asked.

It was Zhao Jingming.

The Purple Gromwell Ointment Xu Jing made last time had greatly satisfied Madam Cen. She sent someone to invite Xu Jing into the residence again within two days, enthusiastically praised her, ordered fifty jars, and introduced several ladies and madams suffering from gynecological issues to her. As a result, Xu Jing frequented the Zhao Family more often and became increasingly familiar with Zhao Jingming.

Xu Jing also stopped and said, "I came to discuss the ’Smiling Killer’ case with Vice Minister Xiao."

Zhao Jingming couldn’t help but silently muse about these two people who, upon getting together, talked about murder and arson. Forget about the romantic tales of ladies and lords; even ordinary men and women didn’t behave like this.

Suddenly, Xu Jing thought of something, hesitated for a moment, and said, "By the way, Zhao Liulang, I have something to ask you. Last time the Wang Family’s manor caught fire suddenly. Was the cause found out?"

When she asked Xiao Yi about this last time, his reaction gave her some concern. Now that she was at Xiao Yi’s house, Xu Jing remembered this matter and couldn’t help but ask.

Zhao Jingming slightly raised an eyebrow. "Yanci didn’t tell you?"

Xu Jing’s thoughts turned slightly, and she smiled faintly, "I wanted to ask Vice Minister Xiao just now, but people from the Ministry of Justice came and took him away before I could."

Xu Jing just wanted to test it out but unexpectedly got an answer completely different from what Xiao Yi had told her.

Zhao Jingming realized, "I see. You should know about this. Yanci later conducted a thorough investigation. A kitchen maid under Mrs. Yu said two fireballs suddenly shot from the direction of the kitchen that morning, causing the fire. Since the court and major families were on the main entrance side, none saw those fireballs.

Later, Yanci took people to investigate in that direction and found a catapult there. The fireballs were obviously launched using that catapult. Yanci immediately questioned the nearby villagers. Several hunters said they heard strange noises in the woods the night you were captured by Mrs. Yu, sounds likely from someone assembling the catapult. At that time, Yanci hadn’t even returned to the Western Capital."

Xu Jing’s heart suddenly thudded, taking a deep breath she asked, "Who were those people targeting?"

She suddenly had a bad feeling.

There were many people in the manor that day, and if those people were targeting someone else, Xiao Yi wouldn’t have hidden it from her.

There was only one possibility: those people were targeting her.

Zhao Jingming looked at her and said, "Although there’s no concrete evidence yet, we guess those people were sent by the Prince Xing Faction. Those days, Yanci started taking action against the weapon storage established by the Prince Xing Faction in Great Chu, which led to their frenzied retaliation. They likely targeted you because of this."

Seeing Xu Jing’s face not looking good, Zhao Jingming couldn’t help but say, "You don’t need to worry too much. Recently, the Holy Emperor is holding people accountable for the weaponry incident, unearthing many people. Those people are fearful and unlikely to bother you during this tumult. Other members of the Prince Xing Faction won’t risk exposure at such a critical time; they should remain quiet for a while. Besides, Yanci and I will do our utmost to protect you."

Seeing Zhao Jingming racking his brains to comfort her, Xu Jing faintly smiled and said, "I understand, thank you Zhao Liulang."

After speaking, she continued towards the back door.

Though the answer was shocking, she might have already accepted that someone from the Prince Xing Faction was watching her, so she wasn’t overly flustered.

What she couldn’t understand was Xiao Yi’s attitude. Why did he hide it from her? Was he afraid that telling her the truth would cause panic, or was there another reason?

When she first learned about this, she was little at a loss and privately blamed Xiao Yi for getting her involved. However, after dealing with countless vicious criminals, the incidents of planned revenge and threats weren’t new to her. She quickly accepted the situation.

Moreover, she had proactively approached Xiao Yi about cooperating on the Zheng Shouyan case. Being drawn into this situation couldn’t entirely be blamed on Xiao Yi.

She understood Xiao Yi’s subsequent arrangements too. After all, it’s his job concerning the safety of the state and not something to be abandoned for just one person. In her shoes, she’d make the same choice.

She felt her attitude should have been clear enough.

Suddenly, she was slightly taken aback.

Was Xiao Yi not telling her because he feared she’d feel pressured and be forced to accept the Holy Emperor and Xiao He’s proposal to fake remarry him?

With how they interacted lately, Xu Jing didn’t think Xiao Yi would dislike her as he did before, hence why he wouldn’t want to fake remarry her. Yet, he should see her as an ordinary friend or colleague and would not want their relationship to become too complicated.

The more Xu Jing thought about it, the more she believed this was the case. Originally a bit angry at Xiao Yi for hiding the truth, the more she thought about it, the less upset she became.

After all, she assumed she understood him well enough—ugh, the thought of fake remarriage, just the thought, makes one feel utterly uncomfortable!

After coming to terms with this, Xu Jing felt refreshed. Just then, she arrived at the Zhou Family residence.

She got off the carriage and had just stepped into the Zhou Family when she saw Zhou Qizheng leading five or six men briskly walk towards her. Upon seeing her, his face lit up with a smile, saying, "Miss Xu, you’re back just in time. I have something to discuss with you."