Chapter 232 - 230: Just a Minor Episode (First Update)

Chapter 232: Chapter 230: Just a Minor Episode (First Update)

Xu Jing and Zhao Shao Hua spent most of the day, finally finishing reading all the scrolls.

While organizing the scattered scrolls, Xu Jing said, "I thought earlier, although the murderer sneaked into Gui Xiang House to commit the murder in advance, he had to arrive before He Anming if he wanted to go to Gui Xiang House, and he would have had to arrive quite early. At that time, there were not many guests at Gui Xiang House. If he acted strangely, the staff might remember him.

But I didn’t expect He Anming to have gone to Gui Xiang House at around 7 p.m., by which time there were already many guests, and besides the main staircase in the hall, there are also staircases on both sides of Gui Xiang House leading to the third floor. So, it wouldn’t have been difficult for the murderer to sneak into the room unnoticed."

The people from the Ministry of Justice had questioned nearly all the staff on duty at Gui Xiang House that day, and no one had an impression of a suspicious person.

It seems that there isn’t much value in continuing the investigation at Gui Xiang House.

Zhao Shao Hua said, "No wonder the Ministry of Justice has not solved the case. I see they have done a lot, but it feels like they haven’t found the right path. However, in all the scrolls from the Ministry of Justice, there hasn’t been a mention of the Cold Food Powder."

Xu Jing said, "In fact, the only place where the Cold Food Powder appeared in this case is in the crack of the bed board in the room He Anming rented at Gui Xiang House. I’m also not sure if this Cold Food Powder is related to the case, but if it is, it could be the breakthrough point for the case."

After saying this, she got up and said, "Let’s go. It’s time to head to the next place."

Zhao Shao Hua couldn’t help but get excited. "Where are we going next?"

It was her first time participating so deeply in a case, and everything felt novel to her.

"To find out if the Cold Food Powder is related to this case, we naturally need to ask the servants around He Anming."

The He Family was considered a prominent noble family in Great Chu, though in recent years, without capable descendants coming to the fore, it had gradually declined.

With Little Quanzi paving the way, no matter what those people thought of Xu Jing coming to investigate, at least on the surface, they were respectful. Upon hearing that Xu Jing wanted to question He Anming’s personal servants, they immediately arranged a room for Xu Jing and her party to wait in.

After a short while, an elderly nanny with a stern face entered, followed by a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, fair and clean, who respectfully bowed to Xu Jing’s group and said, "This old servant is from the madam’s side. Miss Xu and Young Madam Zhao can call this old servant Nanny Cui. The madam... has not yet recovered from the grief of Ten Lord’s matter and cannot come to personally receive Miss Xu and Young Madam Zhao. I hope Miss Xu and Young Madam Zhao will not mind.

This is Hua Jiu, who has always been by Ten Lord’s side. I have instructed Hua Jiu to fully cooperate with Miss Xu in the investigation to find the murderer of Ten Lord as soon as possible."

Zhao Shao Hua secretly pursed her lips.

They could understand the madam’s overwhelming grief preventing her from greeting guests, but with so many people in the He Family, it didn’t make sense that no master was available to meet guests, right?

At the very least, they should have had their steward come in person.

Moreover, Xu Jing was there to find the murderer of He Anming. Normally, the family would be eager to catch the murderer and tear him apart. How could they not even have the time to meet with the investigation team? Previously, when Steward Liao was murdered, they followed the investigation closely, wishing they could personally solve the case!

Apparently, it was because it was Xu Jing who came, and they looked down on her, treating her with such neglect. She could be certain that when the people from the Ministry of Justice came, they weren’t treated this way.

Although Xu Jing didn’t understand the noble family rules as well as Zhao Shao Hua, she could also clearly feel the lukewarm attitude from the other side and said calmly, "Sorry for the trouble. I need to question Hua Jiu, so please, Nanny Cui, leave first."

Nanny Cui’s eyes flashed sharply, "The madam has instructed this old servant to stay with Miss Xu throughout to assist in the investigation."

This was about catching the murderer of their Ten Lord, and she couldn’t let this woman handle things recklessly.

It was foolish of the Holy Emperor to let a woman involve in this case, yet they couldn’t afford to be foolish too. If this woman messed up and let the murderer go free, or arrested the wrong person, their poor Ten Lord wouldn’t rest in peace even in death!

"Assist me in the investigation?"

Xu Jing curled her lips and looked at her with a slightly cold gaze, rudely said, "Leaving now would be assisting me in the investigation!"

Nanny Cui was stunned, her face tensing up, "Miss Xu..."

"If you refuse to leave, you’re obstructing official duties!"

Xu Jing didn’t want to argue with her, and her expression suddenly cooled as she said sternly, "Or is it that your madam’s true intention is to impede my investigation?"

This... one couldn’t say such things carelessly!

Nanny Cui’s face instantly turned pale, and she quickly bowed deeply, "Miss Xu’s words are risking this old servant’s life! I... I merely thought that having another person around might lend a hand when Miss Xu needs it. Since Miss Xu said so, this old servant... this old servant will take leave now."

Upon saying this, she hurriedly ran out.

Originally intending to step in, Zhao Shao Hua raised her eyebrows and then sat back in her seat calmly.

Indeed, with such a small matter, how could Xu Jing not handle it?

After that little incident, the young servant Hua Jiu obviously grew more nervous. Once Nanny Cui left, he obediently walked over to Xu Jing as instructed.

Xu Jing had Little Quanzi help record their conversation on the side, and she looked at Hua Jiu and said calmly, "When did you start serving your lord?"

"I... I’ve been with the lord since I was young."

"Other than you, are there any other servants who have always been by your lord’s side?"

"There are, but ever since the lord entered the Imperial College, our lord instructed him to cultivate himself and forbade him from taking too many servants, so I’ve been the only one with him."

Xu Jing nodded, asked him a few irrelevant questions, and seeing Hua Jiu’s expression gradually relax, suddenly her eyes flashed, and she said coldly, "So, you should be well aware of what your lord does daily, including the fact that he has been consuming Cold Food Powder routinely!"

Hua Jiu, who had just relaxed for a few seconds, suddenly tensed up again, even more severely than before, looking at Xu Jing in shock and instinctively saying, "You... what are you talking about? I... I don’t know anything about Cold Food Powder!"

Seeing his reaction, Xu Jing confirmed that the Cold Food Powder on that bed was indeed left by He Anming!

Xu Jing laughed coldly, "Denying is useless. I’ve already found evidence that your lord had been secretly consuming Cold Food Powder. The other deceased and Jiang Zhengdao, who was previously close to your lord, were taking it together too!"

"I... I..."

Confronted by Xu Jing’s relentless questioning, Hua Jiu began to panic.

Seeing he still wanted to resist, Xu Jing said coldly, "Seeing your reaction, could it be that you’ve taken it too? Afraid to admit it because it would expose the matter?"

"I haven’t!"

As Xu Jing expected, Hua Jiu instantly reacted, hurriedly kneeling on the ground with a thud and said, "Even if I haven’t read as many books as the lord, I know it’s illegal to consume that stuff! Every time I return home, my parents warn me not to fool around with the lord! I... I also tried to persuade the lord not to touch that thing again..."