Chapter 281 - 279: Here to Give You an Answer

Chapter 281: Chapter 279: Here to Give You an Answer

Xiang Zuo immediately said, "I was just about to explain to Madam, eight days ago, a deputy under Cui Han, Li Huaiying, jumped into the river and committed suicide. His suicide note was found in his room, accusing Cui Han of privately training troops, illegally making royal robes, and harboring treacherous intentions. Each Military Governor has someone sent by His Majesty by their side. Another deputy of Cui Han, Yuan Zaili, immediately reported the matter to the people His Majesty stationed in Lingzhou, united with them to arrest Cui Han, and imprisoned him in the dungeon, with Yuan Zaili temporarily taking over the duties of the Shuofang Jiedu Envoy.

The Lord was sent to help His Majesty verify the authenticity of this matter."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but frown slightly.

If this matter were true, Cui Han would indeed be too inept, betrayed by the two deputies by his side simultaneously.

Past experience in investigations instantly conveyed to Xu Jing—there’s something fishy about this matter.

Moreover, since this involves a plot of treason, Xiao Yi’s trip will undoubtedly be fraught with danger, and there’s no telling when he’ll return.

Xu Jing remained silent for a long time, and Xiang Zuo continued to kneel without speaking.

Xu Jing snapped back to reality, couldn’t help but cast a helpless glance at Xiang Zuo. She often heard Zhao Jingming complain that Xiang Zuo had a one-track mind, and now she understood. After a pause, she said in a calm voice, "Stand up, there is something I would like to entrust you with."

Xiang Zuo responded and stood up, still respectfully keeping his head lowered.

Until he heard Xu Jing’s words, surprisingly losing his composure for the first time in his life, abruptly raising his head with a shocked expression and looking at Xu Jing.

He had often heard Dongli sigh about how unconventional their madam’s thinking was, always coming up with ideas that could scare people. Those with low endurance were unsuitable for working by her side; now, he understood.

Thus, both parties gained a deeper understanding of each other.

Half a month later, at Lingzhou Prefecture.

After arriving in Lingzhou by fast horse eight days ago, Xiao Yi had been busy reviewing the financial and military situations of Lingzhou and Shuo State under Cui Han’s jurisdiction for the past few years, hardly getting a decent rest.

Suddenly, a figure swiftly entered, accompanied by a clear, mellow voice with laughter, "Yanci, you’ll ruin your health if you continue like this. One must learn to balance work and rest."

It was the Heir of Duke Liang—Zhao Jingxuan.

Xiao Yi looked up at him, raised his hand, and rubbed his brow, saying, "Your Highness."

"I’ve told you, call me by my given name, Changming, you have always been on good terms with my brother, and we’re not that different."

Zhao Jingxuan walked over, glanced at the scrolls in Xiao Yi’s hand, and his smile faded, saying, "Our people have searched Lingzhou and Shuo State several times over but still haven’t found Cui Han. He’s most likely already escaped from these two states.

Unexpectedly, missing him by just two days, that fellow has already broken out of jail."

Xiao Yi was silent for a moment, then said, "I’m sorry, it’s because I insisted on staying for three more days..."

"Why apologize? That guy intended to escape from jail. Besides, Lingzhou is his territory; who knows how many of his people are inside. They say a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake. Even if we had arrived before he broke out, he could still have escaped."

Zhao Jingxuan waved his hand nonchalantly, saying, "Now, finding his location is the most urgent matter. Originally, he only had suspicions of rebellion, but his jailbreak is almost like self-indicting himself."

Xiao Yi’s eyes darkened slightly but replied, "However, after reviewing the financial and military situations of the counties under Cui Han’s management over the past three years, he doesn’t seem to be secretly recruiting soldiers or training troops. To maintain a large army, a vast and continuous supply of silver coin is essential, yet these counties’ accounts, despite some minor errors, have no major issues. Taxes should be paid have been paid, and the remaining budget has been utilized appropriately.

Apart from taxes, where else could Cui Han get the money to support an army?

Moreover, the number of soldiers recruited in Lingzhou and Shuo State over the past few years is entirely in line with the court’s regulations and hasn’t exceeded the upper limit imposed by the court."

It could be said that, based on this information, Cui Han’s adherence to regulations was so thorough that it was hard to find any mistakes.

This is rare, especially for a Military Governor wielding substantial power.

"He was said to be secretly training troops; only an idiot would do such a thing openly, an act punishable by exterminating the nine generations of kin, so it’s normal not to find his mistake on the surface."

Zhao Jingxuan lightly tapped on the table with his fingers, wearing a pensive expression, "What concerns me is something else. You said, according to the forensic doctor’s autopsy, there’s a significant possibility that Li Huaiying didn’t commit suicide?"

Xiao Yi glanced at him and said, "Precisely, Vice General Yuan told us that Li Huaiying was found in the Mo River over half a month ago. A senior who specialized in picking up garbage by the river spotted a dark shadow underwater, which led to the discovery of Li Huaiying’s corpse."

"I also dispatched people to inquire that senior and the other folks who later witnessed this event. The senior’s testimony had no issues.

And Li Huaiying was indeed drowned, but the area around his nose and mouth was incredibly clean."

Zhao Jingxuan, not being a professional in investigations, didn’t immediately grasp the significance. "Is there a problem with being too clean?"

"Rivers contain a lot of silt, and usually, the bodies of drowned people have silt or algae-like grime in their noses and mouths. If not, it strongly suggests he wasn’t drowned in the river and was likely thrown into it after death."

A crisp and pleasant voice suddenly rang from the doorway, startling the two men in the room into turning their heads in disbelief.

This voice clearly belonged to someone who shouldn’t be here!

When they saw the sharply dressed woman in men’s clothing at the door, Xiao Yi stood up with a rare display of shock, exclaiming, "Jing?!"

Behind Xu Jing stood Xiang You, who wore an expression of helpless frustration. Seeing the situation, he quickly kneeled on one knee, saluting, "Please forgive me, Lord! The Madam arrived so suddenly, and I worried that letting her wait outside might alert others to her presence, so I had no choice but to bring her in first..."

Zhao Jingxuan regained his composure, couldn’t help but burst into laughter, "Miss Xu, have you come chasing your husband over a thousand miles? However, a man who abandons his bride on the second day of marriage really doesn’t seem appropriate."

He said this with his eyes darting mischievously to glance at Xiao Yi.

Zhao Jingming’s elder brother appeared steady and proper, yet upon further acquaintance, one would find him to be quite the mischief-maker, similar to Zhao Shao Hua in temperament.

Xu Jing chuckled lightly, "You’ve misunderstood, Prince Zhao. I came to see Yanci as a mere side task. I have genuine business to attend to in Lingzhou..."

Before she could finish speaking, the man not far away had already briskly walked to her side, with a sullen expression, grasped her wrist, and pulled her closer.

Caught off guard, Xu Jing fell straight into his arms.

"Ahem, don’t see what you shouldn’t see; don’t listen to what you shouldn’t hear."

Zhao Jingxuan immediately lifted his hand in a pretense of covering his eyes and very conscientiously stepped out, teasing Xu Jing along the way, "Miss Xu, Yanci seems to be quite startled by you; you must comfort him well. I really don’t wish to handle two people’s work alone."

Xu Jing: "..."

Who would have thought you were such a Duke Liang’s Heir!

After Zhao Jingxuan went out, he very considerately closed the door behind him.

Xu Jing finally lifted her head slowly, looking at the man’s deep, repressed eyes before her and hearing him ask in a hoarse voice, "Why are you here?"

"I told you, I have some things to do in Lingzhou."

Xu Jing blinked and suddenly smiled, "And to give you an answer while I’m at it."