Chapter 411 - 409: They’re Here! (First Update)

Chapter 411: Chapter 409: They’re Here! (First Update)

Just now, although Zhou Qi sat in the shadow of the pavilion, Xu Jing saw clearly that his hand was quietly placed on a bag at his waist.

If she guessed correctly, the bag contained a deadly poison.

However, he ultimately held back and returned the matter of punishing evil and promoting good to the hands of the government office.

Zhou Qi heard this, his body slightly stiffened, and after a long while, he shook his head with a bitter smile, "It’s not necessary to carry a stain on myself for such scum. If my father knew about it in the afterlife, he wouldn’t be happy. He might even jump up and scold me harshly."

A man in his thirties, when speaking of his father, couldn’t help but reveal a trace of softness, along with a faint pain and remembrance.

He suddenly took a deep breath, looked up at the half-rounded bright moon in the sky, and said with a quivering voice, "Thank you, Miss Xu, I can finally let go of the hatred for my father.

From now on, I can finally manage Tianyi Hall more purely."

Xu Jing looked at him and responded with a faint smile, "This isn’t just my credit. Mr. Yao and the others visited nearly two hundred restaurants in two days, which wasn’t easy. Thanks to them, we were able to quickly find the evidence of Hua Wen’s past contact with Shi Wenfeng."

Investigating cases can be a very tedious task, especially such ongoing and singular visitations and investigations.

The Western Capital is the capital of Great Chu, with hundreds and thousands of restaurants in the city. Finding the restaurant where Hua Wen and Shi Wenfeng met within two days was already considered lucky.

Zhou Qi turned to Xu Jing with a smile and suddenly said, "Now that the truth is out, Xinglin Hall’s suspicion of poisoning can finally be completely cleared. Now that Guangming Hall has fallen, the qualification to supply medicine to the military has become Xinglin Hall’s possession.

I’ll congratulate you in advance, Miss Xu. No matter what Xinglin Hall plans to do in the future, our Zhou Family will be your strongest support."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but let out a light laugh and said, "Then I must thank Mr. Zhou."

As they spoke, Mr. Yao had already captured the necessary individuals and walked over, saying, "Miss Xu, we need to return to the city. Are you ready to leave?"

The gates of the Western Capital had long been closed, and Xu Jing had to return with Mr. Yao.

Xu Jing glanced at Zhou Qi, and as if knowing what she wanted to say, Zhou Qi said, "I will go back to Anping County once. You don’t need to mind me. I don’t want Xian’er to know that I previously put myself in danger."

Xu Jing couldn’t help but glance at him and said, "Mr. Zhou, I’ve been meaning to say, you might be overprotective of your brother. Zhou Wulang isn’t someone who acts solely on emotions. Letting him know some things could perhaps promote his growth."

Actually, Zhou Xian’s issues weren’t particularly serious before, but no one in the Zhou Family could teach him well.

He was just overly protected.

Zhou Qi smiled helplessly, having realized this problem long ago, but changing such a habit from many years isn’t easy.

That was ultimately a family matter of the Zhou Family, and Xu Jing didn’t want to interfere too much, so she bid farewell to Zhou Qi and left with Mr. Yao to return to the Western Capital.

Cheng Xiao rode next to Xu Jing’s carriage and said softly, "Madam, it will take more than an hour to return to the Western Capital from here. It’s getting late; you should rest in the carriage for a while."

Hua Wen and the others were very cautious, only attacking after Zhou Qi and his company had left the Western Capital far behind.

Xu Jing responded faintly from inside the carriage, then began to close her eyes to rest, but her mind was constantly contemplating other matters.

She had just returned to the Western Capital from Anping County and encountered such a case, which took nearly eight days to fully resolve.

During this period, the Western Capital underwent dramatic changes. Not only did the Lin Family suddenly collapse, but many officials from the Jiang Family also began taking sick leave or personal leave to rest at home. Two days ago, the Family Head of the Jiang Family, Duke Xing (Jiang Shaoyan), suddenly requested leave from the Holy Emperor to return home due to a bout of rheumatism in his right leg. This incident immediately caused a great stir in the court, making even those least sensitive to politics aware that something unusual was happening with the Jiang Family.

Before ambushing Hua Wen today, Xu Jing had privately asked Mr. Yao whether Jiang Zhaoyin was still going to the government office regularly.

Mr. Yao naturally understood what she wanted to know. However, given the sensitivity of the matter, powerful officials dared not speak much, let alone him, an ordinary official without power or influence, so he cautiously said he hadn’t heard of Jiang Zhaoyin applying for leave recently, but indeed hadn’t seen him at the government office these past two days.

In Xu Jing’s heart, things became clear.

She had a premonition that a storm was coming, possibly brewing ever since Xiao Yi sent Xiang You to her side. Unfortunately, Xiao Yi often went out early and returned late these days, leaving her no time for a proper conversation.

When she planned to go out of the city to ambush Hua Wen with Mr. Yao today, Xiang You continuously opposed it, suggesting that Madam shouldn’t wander around during this time and should stay in the Western Capital. However, Xu Jing believed that once she took over a case, it wasn’t right to abandon it midway, so she had someone inform Xiao Yi about her departure and left with Mr. Yao.

Thinking of this, Xu Jing lost all inclination to rest, lifted the curtain by the window, and gazed at the stars and the moon outside.

Perhaps due to the current precarious situation, it was the first time she solved a case without feeling the usual sense of relief.

Now, with the Holy Emperor and Xiao Yi both openly and secretly targeting the Jiang Family, she didn’t believe the Jiang Family would sit idly by. It was only a matter of time before they stirred trouble in the Western Capital.

Perhaps it would happen soon, or even... tonight!

As soon as this thought emerged in Xu Jing’s mind, thunderous hoofbeats suddenly resounded from not far away, changing everyone’s expressions as Xu Jing’s carriage came to an abrupt halt.

Although Xu Jing lacked military experience, she could discern that such hoofbeats couldn’t be made by merely a few individuals—it required at least... an army!

In Great Chu, a battalion consists of 100 men, five battalions make a brigade, and five brigades make an army.

The newcomers, at the very least, numbered in the thousands!

Outside, Mr. Yao and the others were evidently panicked. Xu Jing sat inside the carriage, only able to hear Mr. Yao shouting, "Some of you, go see what’s happening up ahead! The rest, take cover in the trees over there. Proceed once we’ve assessed the situation!"

Suddenly, a slightly tense voice from Xiang You sounded by the window, "Madam, the approaching hoofbeats are coming from the direction of the Western Capital. Something might have happened over there. Lord once said that it’s perfectly normal for something to occur in the Western Capital these days. My duty is to ensure Madam’s safety. If we can avoid it, great. If not, Madam should seize the moment to escape, but it’s best not to flee toward the Western Capital at this moment..."

Xu Jing pressed her lips together slightly and said, "I understand."

However, just as they planned to take cover in the nearby woods, Mr. Yao suddenly cried out, "No! They’re here! We won’t have time to hide..."