Chapter 197 - 195: Contest of the Three Foxes (Three Updates)

Chapter 197: Chapter 195: Contest of the Three Foxes (Three Updates)

The estate of Marquis Huaiyin is also about two quarters of an hour’s distance from Feiyue Lake. As soon as the group arrived at the gate, the guard there immediately stepped forward to stop them, scrutinizing them with suspicion, frowning slightly. "Who are you? Do you know this is the estate of Marquis Huaiyin? Not just anyone can enter!"

Xiao Yi stepped forward and took out a token from his waist. "I am the Seventh Son of the Xiao Family, and I heard your master is here, so I came to visit."

He deliberately used the vague term "master" to test the guard in front of him.

The guard hesitated for a moment, carefully examining the token in Xiao Yi’s hand, and then respectfully bowed. "So it’s Xiao Qilang. Our princely heir comes here to relax, and it’s rare for anyone to specifically come seeking him. That’s why I was so surprised. Please wait, I will inform the heir now."

The heir?

The person inside is actually the Heir of Huaiyin Marquis!

Xu Jing instantly thought of the fair and elegant heir of Huaiyin Marquis she had once seen at the marquis’s residence, her eyes darkening.

If it was him, it would indeed completely fit the description of the second murderer given by He Qiusheng and Zhou Wan.

After waiting for a long time, the door slowly opened again, revealing a refined, graceful, and tall man standing inside. It was Xin Lei, the Heir of Huaiyin Marquis!

The door was clearly pushed open by him personally.

Xu Jing’s eyes were fixed on his left hand, which he hadn’t yet lowered.

The Heir of Huaiyin Marquis is indeed left-handed!

His face bore a gentle and refined smile, yet his eyes were strangely cold. After slowly surveying everyone present, he smiled slightly at Xiao Yi and said, "So it is Xiao Qilang. I remember I have no personal ties with Xiao Qilang. I wonder what brings Xiao Qilang here?"

Xu Jing couldn’t help but let out a cold chuckle inwardly.

This man is quite good at pretending.

Xiao Yi stepped forward and gave a slight bow, speaking calmly: "To be honest, I am here on official business. The Zhou Family just reported a case, saying their Third Lady has suddenly gone missing. I suspect her disappearance is related to the Smiling Killer case I am currently investigating, so I request that the heir allow me to conduct a search."

It was pointless to hide their purpose. The Holy Emperor had assigned him full responsibility for the Smiling Killer case, and everyone in the court knew it.

Even if Xiao Yi made up an excuse for his presence, he wouldn’t believe it.

Xin Lei squinted slightly and suddenly laughed, "Vice Minister Xiao thinks the missing... Third Lady Zhou is here, or that the Smiling Killer you’re hunting is here? Unfortunately, I have always been in this estate and have seen no suspicious person. Even if Vice Minister Xiao enters, you will find nothing."

This was clearly a refusal to let them in.

No wonder Xiao Yi previously had Doctor Chen go back to apply for a search warrant. It’s customary that officials cannot search private residences without a search warrant. If it were a common individual’s home, they might force entry. However, this is the estate of Marquis Huaiyin, and if they force entry, the Heir of Huaiyin Marquis surely wouldn’t be courteous to them.

Xu Jing coldly stared at him. When she first met him, she completely couldn’t see that he was such a deceitful and dangerous character. It could only be said that his disguise had reached a masterful level.

He was adamant that they had no evidence, so he wouldn’t let them in. If they left, he would certainly deal with Zhou Wan immediately.

By the time they returned with a search warrant, they would find nothing, and he would remain spotless and clean.

But would they let him go so easily?

As long as they stalled him until Doctor Chen brought back the search warrant, he wouldn’t be able to escape!

Xiao Yi apparently thought the same, smiling lightly, "I haven’t conducted a search yet, so how would the heir know I won’t discover anything?"

Xin Lei remained calm, "It’s my estate. Would I not know what’s happening? Please go back, Xiao Qilang."

Xiao Yi squinted slightly and said, "Conducting a search is also for the heir’s safety. If, indeed, a murderer is hidden in your estate, the heir’s situation would also be dangerous."

"Oh?"

Xin Lei suddenly smiled with interest, a malicious tease flashing in his eyes, "Vice Minister Xiao thinks, how would that murderer endanger me?"

Xu Jing’s heart tightened suddenly.

This guy, something’s off!

The words Xiao Yi just said were essentially meaningless nonsense. He couldn’t possibly fail to notice that Xiao Yi was deliberately stalling for time.

According to Xu Jing’s guess, he should be trying to escape from them and Xiao Yi, or at least show some signs of panic!

Yet he showed no panic at all, seeming even in good spirits as he chatted with them.

Unless, he wasn’t afraid at all that Xiao Yi might present a search warrant at any moment.

But he really wouldn’t let them into the estate, so it wasn’t likely he had already dealt with Zhou Wan.

There was only one possibility—he was also stalling! They assumed that kidnappings were his secret and he wouldn’t divulge this to others. But what if they were wrong? What if someone around him knew his crimes all along and acted as his accomplice?

Zhou Wan is in danger!

Xu Jing secretly gritted her teeth, tugging slightly on Xiao Yi’s sleeve with her right hand.

Xiao Yi looked sidelong in her direction, and upon seeing Xu Jing’s stern gaze, seemed to understand something, his brow furrowing slightly.

If there was no other choice, they could only force their way. But this was the estate of Marquis Huaiyin, and there were surely many guards; forcing entry yielded little chance of success.

At that time, he could only try his best to protect the woman beside him—

Suddenly, Doctor Chen’s excited voice rang out not far away, "Vice Minister Xiao! I brought Mr. Yao! Mr. Yao... Mr. Yao has a search warrant!"

Everyone turned their heads in disbelief and saw Doctor Chen on horseback racing toward them with a group of men, reaching them in no time.

The middle-aged man dressed in scarlet official robes was indeed Mr. Yao, whom they only saw yesterday!

Even Xiao Yi was somewhat astonished, "What is going on?"

Mr. Yao dismounted with a hearty laugh, "The Zhou Family reported that their Third Lady is missing, suspecting it to be linked to the Smiling Killer case. I happened to be at the prefecture, so I immediately brought people over. Anticipating that we might need to search from door to door, I applied for a search warrant from Prefect Jiang in advance! Who knew I would meet Doctor Chen on the way."

Xu Jing immediately looked at Xin Lei, who had originally been calm and was now, after a moment of astonishment, showing a brief contortion of his expression.

However, even as someone from a noble family, he dared not act rashly in front of a search warrant, coldly glaring at Xiao Yi and Xu Jing for a long moment before finally stepping aside.

The government officials Mr. Yao brought and the Zhou Family’s servants immediately rushed inside. Xiao Yi and Xu Jing did not follow but waited outside for the search results.

Mr. Yao, being an experienced official, understood the situation by observing it, and secretly glanced at the now sullen-faced Xin Lei, trying his best to hide his shock.

After some time, a government official finally ran out, exclaiming loudly, "Mr. Yao, Vice Minister Xiao, we found the missing Third Lady Zhou! A servant from the estate had tied her up, intending to escape through the back door, but we intercepted him in time! Other than being frightened, Third Lady Zhou is unharmed, and the Zhou Family’s servants are with her! Moreover, we’ve found a... very bizarre basement, inside... inside are various torture equipment and weapons, and in the nearby ice cellar, there are several blood-stained human skins..."

Before he finished speaking, Xin Lei, who had been silent all along, suddenly flashed a cold gleam in his eyes, suddenly appearing behind Xu Jing, and drew a dagger from his waist to stab her fiercely.