Chapter 427 - 425: The Mysteriously Missing Head (First Update)

Chapter 427: Chapter 425: The Mysteriously Missing Head (First Update)

When Deng Youwei finished speaking, Xu Jing had yet to react, but Chen Hu said in amazement, "A case? Has something happened in Anping County recently?"

Moreover, it seemed to be a case serious enough to change County Magistrate Deng’s complexion.

"No, no, the case didn’t occur in An, Anping County."

Deng Youwei said this as he took out a letter and handed it to Xu Jing, saying, "Miss Xu, you, you should read it yourself."

Xu Jing was slightly stunned. She took the letter and opened it. Before she had even started reading its content, she was startled by the dignified seal at the bottom. The phrase "Given by the Mandate of Heaven, Live Long and Prosper" made her eyes widen in disbelief, and she looked at Deng Youwei for confirmation.

Deng Youwei nodded solemnly, saying, "This, this is from the Imperial Guard beside the Holy Emperor, delivered today at exactly 3:00 PM (around 4:00 PM), and it is said to be a letter written by the Emperor himself."

Xu Jing was momentarily dazed, then quickly and thoroughly read the entire letter.

After finishing, she remained silent for quite a while.

Chen Hu, who was beside her, was burning with curiosity. Seeing that Xu Jing finally raised her head, he hurriedly asked, "Miss Xu, what does the letter say? Can you share it?"

Xu Jing glanced at him and said, "According to the content of the letter, there’s no harm in telling you about it."

Chen Hu was instantly shocked.

What situation is this?! The Emperor’s personal letter actually mentioned him?!

Is he really this famous?!

Seeing his expression, Xu Jing smiled helplessly and said, "You don’t need to worry, it’s not a bad thing. The Emperor’s letter states that a case has occurred over in Xinzhou, and it’s of great importance. It so happens that he knew I was in Anping County near Xinzhou, so he hopes I can go over to assist in solving the case.

The Emperor specifically sent this letter to County Magistrate Deng, knowing that I often work with you on cases. Hence, he’s instructed County Magistrate Deng to lend me a few Government Officials with whom I’ve cooperated before, to assist me in the investigation."

Upon hearing this, Chen Hu exaggeratedly breathed a sigh of relief, patting his little chest and saying, "Miss Xu, you should have said so earlier. I thought I had somehow offended the Emperor!

So, Miss Xu, you’ll let me go with you to investigate the case, right?"

Saying this, he couldn’t help but look delighted.

He loved working on cases with Miss Xu the most!

Xu Jing smiled at him, "Out of all the Government Officials, I’ve worked with you the most, so who else would I choose if not you."

Chen Hu was overjoyed and didn’t forget to ask, "What case could it be that the Emperor personally writes to request Miss Xu for investigation?"

At this, Xu Jing’s expression turned serious again. She exchanged a glance with Deng Youwei before saying, "It’s... a case related to Prince Ling and the Princess Consort."

Seeing these two familiar names, Xu Jing was also surprised for a long time.

These names, she had heard not long ago from Xiao Yi’s mouth, and she hadn’t expected that she would soon meet this mother and son, and even take on... a case related to them.

Chen Hu was astounded, his eyes almost popping out.

Ling what? Is it... is it the two he’s thinking of?!

Xu Jing paused and continued, "Back when the Jiang Family started showing signs of rebellion, the Emperor sent someone to bring Prince Xing and the mother and son of Prince Ling, who were closely associated with the Jiang Family, to the Western Capital. Prince Xing arrived in the Western Capital three days ago. Because Prince Ling’s fiefdom is farther away, they only arrived in Xinzhou by the evening before yesterday.

However, starting around nine days ago, mysterious deaths began occurring around the mother and son of Prince Ling. The first to die were two personal maidservants of Prince Ling. At that time, they were staying in an inn in Huazhou’s Baima County. Because the inn rooms were small, Prince Ling only kept a young attendant to serve him closely, while the rest of the people had rooms elsewhere.

The two maidservants were staying together, and when they were supposed to leave early the next morning, they found that the two maidservants were nowhere to be found. The people sent by the Emperor personally went to their room to find them. Upon opening the door, they discovered the room was a scene of bloodshed, and the two maidservants lying in bed had no heads..."

Chen Hu opened his mouth, incredulous, "Who has the audacity to commit murder under the watch of so many guards? And why kill the maidservants? Where did their heads go?"

Xu Jing shook her head, her voice serious, "These questions are the unsolved mysteries of this case. What is particularly puzzling is the head of one of the maidservants. One maid’s head was found at the crime scene, but the other maid’s head disappeared mysteriously and could not be found. But because the Emperor’s delegates were in a hurry to bring Prince Ling’s mother and son to the Western Capital, after reporting the case to the local county government, they did not stay long and continued on their way.

The missing maid’s head was reported later by the County Magistrate of Baima County."

This matter is extremely bizarre. But the stranger the situation, the more they worried about something happening to Prince Ling’s mother and son, only urging them to travel faster.

Chen Hu frowned.

A case in an inn—where could the missing head be hidden? Even if the perpetrator wanted to hide it at a distance, they wouldn’t have had the time.

Generally, the victim’s head would be near the crime scene, so how could it not be found?

Xu Jing continued, "A couple of days later, more incidents occurred among their group.

This time, it was one of Princess Consort Ling’s maidservants and one of Prince Ling’s young attendants.

The maidservant beside Princess Consort Ling was named Dongxue. She also died in an inn, but not in a room; she was found dead in the place where she went to fetch water for Princess Consort Ling in the morning.

The young attendant of Prince Ling was found dead in his room. He was staying alone at the time, and it was because he hadn’t shown up in the morning that others noticed something was wrong and went to find him.

This time, the young attendant’s head disappeared mysteriously as well. Similarly, the local county government put in enormous effort and practically turned the entire county upside down but still couldn’t find his head.

This incident occurred in Shengzhou, Yulin County."

This time, the official in charge of escorting Prince Ling’s mother and son did not dare delay. After reporting the case to the county government, they hurried off again.

In the following days, nobody from their group died again, and they began to hope they could return to the Western Capital without incident.

Unexpectedly, the evening before last, when they arrived in Xinzhou, more people died.

This time, they couldn’t ignore it because one of the deceased had a different status than those who had died before.

This time, it was Prince Ling’s Princess and her two maidservants who were killed.

Chen Hu was shocked, "Even Princess Ling has been murdered? And... and three people killed at once. Could it be... that their heads were also chopped off?"

"That’s right."

Xu Jing nodded, her voice deep, "And this time, all three heads were at the crime scene.

Now, Prince Ling’s party has stayed in Xinzhou since the evening before last due to the death of Princess Ling. The case the Emperor wants us to investigate is this one."