Chapter 194 - 192: Has Miss Xu Made Up Her Mind? (Update 1)

Chapter 194: Chapter 192: Has Miss Xu Made Up Her Mind? (Update 1)

Xiao Yi adjusted himself in his seat and said, "Speak."

Doctor Chen responded, "At first, I approached several fruit vendors to ask about this, but none of them could identify the fruit. I then thought that this seed might not belong to a common fruit, which is why the regular vendors were unaware. Later, I had a sudden inspiration and consulted a familiar Imperial Chef. He confidently identified it as a lychee pit. Every year in May and June, the southern provinces supply lychees to the palace, and the people in the Imperial Kitchen often cook with them."

It was indeed a lychee pit!

Xu Jing frowned slightly and asked, "Did the Imperial Chef mention where else in the Western Capital one might find lychees apart from the palace?"

Doctor Chen said, "Typically, noble families would have them. After the palace receives lychees every year, a portion is given as a reward to favored officials or those who have been honored during that time. The concubines are also given a share according to their rank. Many concubines send the lychees back to their families.

Additionally, certain trade caravans specializing in southern routes transport lychees to sell, but due to the freshness of the fruit and the demanding transportation requirements, the price is often very high."

Xu Jing concluded, "This means that ordinary people would generally not have access to this fruit. He Qiusheng, who consistently took the northwest route, is also unlikely to have had such an opportunity. The lychee pit found in the deceased’s stomach could only have come from a second perpetrator!

And this second perpetrator likely comes from a prestigious background!"

Doctor Chen was taken aback, "It could also be someone from the trade caravan specializing in the southern routes; after all, they would have access, which would be normal..."

"I don’t think so."

Xu Jing said calmly, "Just now, Si Langzhong mentioned that in the fourth year of Tianxi, He Qiusheng wasn’t originally planning to return to the Western Capital, but after meeting an elegant and aristocratic-looking person there, he agreed to return. That person was very likely the second perpetrator. If he were from a trade caravan, describing him as elegant and noble wouldn’t fit, right?

Moreover, it’s no longer the lychee season of May and June. Any lychees available now would be leftovers kept preserved in an ice cellar, which ordinary households rarely have."

Doctor Chen listened with admiration.

Indeed, that’s how it is!

This lady’s mind works remarkably fast!

Xiao Yi, who had been silent the whole time, observed the situation and then spoke in a slightly deeper voice, "Since that’s the case, focus the investigation on the households that received lychees from the palace this year. Anything leaving the palace must be reported to the Department of Internal Affairs. A list can quickly be gathered by asking there. Also, check which families purchased lychees from the trade caravans this year."

Doctor Chen immediately saluted and said, "Yes!"

After speaking, he turned and hurriedly left.

Xu Jing couldn’t help but glance at Xiao Yi.

The noble families of the Western Capital often interact with each other, and if the second perpetrator indeed has an unusual background, he might be an acquaintance of Xiao Yi.

Who could have thought at the beginning of the investigation that the Smiling Killer’s case would involve so many people?

Xiao Yi sat still in his seat, seemingly deep in thought. Suddenly, he turned to Xu Jing, "The results won’t come out quickly; should Miss Xu go home for now? Once there’s a result, I will send someone to inform you."

Xu Jing was momentarily surprised, then nodded and said, "That’s fine."

When leaving the Ministry of Justice, it was Xiao Yi who escorted her.

Throughout the journey, Xiao Yi remained silent. Just as Xu Jing thought he would quietly see her off, near the entrance to the Ministry, the man next to her spoke, "Has Miss Xu given any thought to my proposal?"

Xu Jing was startled and turned her head, looking at him with some confusion.

Xiao Yi gave a light cough, "Didn’t I speak with you yesterday morning about hoping you could spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with me and Chang Xiao?"

Ah, so that’s what he was referring to.

Xu Jing felt a bit guilty. Frankly speaking, the past two days, her thoughts had been entirely preoccupied with the case, and she had all but forgotten about this matter.

But with only four days left until the Mid-Autumn Festival, she couldn’t take too long to decide, lest she inadvertently disrupt Xiao Yi’s own plans.

Suddenly, she thought of something and asked, "During the Mid-Autumn Festival, don’t you have any banquets to attend?"

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "On the Mid-Autumn Festival, the palace usually hosts a banquet, and officials of the third rank and above are invited along with their families. I... don’t have a wife, and Chang Xiao is too young, so I attend the palace banquet alone every year."

Xu Jing frowned, "When you attend the palace banquet, what about Chang Xiao?"

Just as she expected, her initial reaction was concern for Chang Xiao. Xiao Yi smiled helplessly and said, "The palace banquet usually ends around 7 p.m. I return home after that to spend the holiday with Chang Xiao."

But because the household consists mostly of grown men, the celebration is usually quite lonely.

Xu Jing almost couldn’t resist asking if he didn’t need to spend the holiday with his family, but she held back.

Given what she had learned over this time, it was clear to any sensible person that there was some tension between Xiao Yi and his family.

Such personal matters were not something an outsider like her should casually inquire about.

She quickly made a decision and said, "Alright, I’ll spend the holiday with you both."

Her primary concern was for Chang Xiao. Although Xiao Yi would return after the palace banquet, she worried about how the little boy would spend the time alone before that.

For a moment, Xiao Yi thought he had misheard. Once he regained his senses, he slightly turned his head, and a pair of dark eyes unintentionally softened. Looking at the woman in front of him, he softly said, "Alright."

Xu Jing observed this rare gentleness in his expression and inexplicably felt a bit uneasy, quickening her pace as she walked out of the Ministry of Justice’s gate, "Then I will head back now."

However, upon returning to the Zhou Family, the driver solemnly informed her, "Miss Xu, Wu Sanlang from the Marquis Wushun’s residence has sent people to follow you again."

Xu Jing’s face darkened slightly.

That guy is at it again?

How much time has even passed since she last deterred him? He couldn’t have changed his ways so quickly, could he?

What’s his next move? More harassment? Or waiting to seize a chance for retaliation?

Xu Jing sighed inwardly and said, "Ignore him for now."

Until she figured out what he wanted to do, there wasn’t much she could do.

Since he was unwilling to leave her alone, it was only a matter of time before he made his presence felt.

She would handle things as they came then.

Currently, she was not someone easily bullied.

With that, she got off the carriage and walked into the Zhou Family home.

For Xu Jing, the time lately was divided between busying herself with training and preparing Purple Gromwell Ointment for Madam Cen.

Now that Chunyang and Chunxiang had arrived, they could help her with the medicine-making, allowing her some relief.

In the afternoon, as Chunxiang processed the medicinal herbs, she couldn’t help but exclaim, "This medicine is so meticulously crafted, requiring different ingredients for different seasons. It’s no wonder the pharmacy’s business is always thriving!"