Chapter 444 - 442: Afraid of Losing One’s Mind (Part 2)

Chapter 444: Chapter 442: Afraid of Losing One’s Mind (Part 2)

"What ’why’?"

Han Yi clicked his tongue and said, "Two people have already died, do you think I would still dare let them run around recklessly? Luckily, they also understood the gravity of the situation. When I told them that the guards would be protecting them closely from now on, they didn’t make any fuss about it.

Even the Princess Consort Ling didn’t say anything.

After that, unless they were in their rooms, those guards would follow them closely."

Xu Jing thought for a moment and asked, "What about the servants around Prince Ling and them? Will the guards keep an eye on them too?"

Han Yi pursed his lips and sighed, "If they had kept a close watch on those servants too, the second murder case wouldn’t have happened.

My main responsibility now is to protect Prince Ling and his companions. If I had to assign people to watch every servant, no amount of manpower would be enough. After all, the guards are not just there to stick to Prince Ling and his companions, there are many things to manage.

I could at most assign a few people to guard outside the servants’ rooms."

In other words, the ones being closely monitored were only Prince Ling, Princess Consort Ling, and a few others, not the servants.

Xu Jing nodded and suddenly asked a question that puzzled Han Yi, "Do you remember what clothes Consort Fang was wearing on the day of the second murder?"

Han Yi was slightly taken aback, scratching the back of his head and said, "I’ve kind of forgotten, but I remember it was also a rather brightly colored dress."

After all, he was annoyed about this matter that day, secretly thinking about how these people were just so disobedient, even harder to manage than the soldiers under him.

But with so many things happening, he quickly pushed it to the back of his mind, having no time to think more.

Xu Jing nodded, feeling more clarity in her heart, and said, "Thank you General Han for solving my doubts. As for that person I just mentioned, please keep a close watch on them, General Han."

Han Yi couldn’t help but take a few more looks at Xu Jing.

How does he feel that this wife of Qi Lang is acting mysteriously, always asking him weird questions.

Could it be, that the clothes Consort Fang wore have something to do with the case?

Couldn’t be, Consort Fang being the culprit! With her slender arms and legs, she might not even be able to lift the big knife.

After replying to Xu Jing, Han Yi couldn’t help but shake his head and go upstairs.

Anyway, Qi Lang has always been smart since childhood, understanding the art of war faster than these battle-hardened old generals when Old General Xie taught him.

Just regarding intelligence, Qi Lang and Miss Xu really are a perfect match.

If Old General Xie were still alive, he would have been very fond of this granddaughter-in-law.

After sitting in the hall for a while, Xu Jing went back to her room.

The night passed peacefully.

When Xu Jing got up the next morning, she had breakfast in the hall with Song Qingyun as usual.

As for the Princess Consort Ling’s side, Dongyang came down to get breakfast, and after she went up, Sanye also came down.

Because of the chicken soup Xu Jing gave her yesterday, Sanye now had a particularly good impression of her, came over to pay her respects, exchanged a few greetings, and then continued to the kitchen.

Shuangrui came down last.

He came over to pay his respects to Xu Jing. Xu Jing looked at him and said, "You seem to have come down a bit late?"

Shuangrui looked somewhat weary, with faint dark circles under his eyes. While Xu Jing was speaking to him, he couldn’t hold back a yawn, and said, "Forgive me, yesterday His Highness seemed a bit restless, tossing and turning all night. I was a bit worried about His Highness, and kept him company until nearly dawn, which is why I got up late today."

Xu Jing was slightly stunned and frowned gently, "Why was His Highness suddenly so restless?"

Shuangrui replied with some distress, "Ever since the princess was killed, His Highness’s mental state has been poor, and sleepless nights are the norm. It was just that last night was especially late, otherwise, His Highness’s cold wouldn’t have taken so long to recover.

His Highness has a gentle nature and is very filial to the Imperial Concubine. Even if he has concerns in his heart, he wouldn’t easily show them to avoid worrying the Imperial Concubine.

I’m really worried that if this continues, His Highness will wear himself out."

Xu Jing asked, "Has Prince Ling always kept everything bottled up like this?"

Shuangrui sighed lightly and nodded, "Yes, when he was in Qi State, there were fewer worries, so his personality didn’t affect his health as much. Now with more troubles, his health has taken a toll. We, as servants, don’t even know how to help him..."

After pausing, he seemed to realize he had spoken too much, quickly waved his hand and said, "I seem to have disturbed Miss Xu’s breakfast, please forgive me."

With that, he paid his respects again and hurried off to the kitchen.

Beside him, Song Qingyun couldn’t help but say, "Can’t blame them. It’s been almost four days since the Princess was murdered, and they can’t leave this inn for the time being, staying every day at the scene of the murder. The pressure on their hearts must be significant."

Trying to imagine it, if she were staying at the place where her relative was murdered, with a murderer hiding nearby and possibly targeting her at any moment, she’d probably go mad.

Xu Jing acknowledged it noncommittally, only giving a faint "Hmm".

The inspector who went to investigate still hadn’t returned, and having finished breakfast, Xu Jing had nothing else to do, so she took Song Qingyun out to stroll on the streets.

Though smaller than where Anping County is located, Xinzhou, being near the Western Capital, was relatively bustling.

Though perhaps because it’s wartime, beneath the bustling surface there lingered a faint tension and unease, and occasionally a few destitute refugees who fled from the northeast could be seen.

Most refugees, without proper credentials, weren’t allowed to enter the city.

But there would always be some who found loopholes to sneak in, and the local authorities couldn’t do much, only driving them back outside the city when they were caught during patrols.

Walking beside Xu Jing, Song Qingyun gazed at the citizens who wore more or less worried expressions, and sighed softly, "I don’t know when this war will end. So many people have been dragged into this war."

Not just the average citizens, but they, along with Prince Ling and others, seemed to be enveloped at all times under the shadow of this war.

The Jiang Family has done far too many sins.

Xu Jing glanced at those citizens, and murmured, "It will end eventually."

This time, she didn’t have much she specifically wanted to buy, only buying some unique toys of Xinzhou for Little Point in Anping County. As Xu Jing stepped out of the shop after finishing her purchases, Cheng Xiao beside her suddenly whispered, "Madam, someone is following us."

Xu Jing’s eyes deepened a bit, and she gave a calm "Hmm".

However, Song Qingyun wasn’t as calm, her face slightly pale, and she asked, "Who could it be? Could it be an accomplice of the murderer?"

Xu Jing said faintly, "At a time like this, why would the murderer’s accomplice be stalking me? Are they going to deliver themselves into the net? It should be... Jiang Family people."

Song Qingyun was momentarily stunned. Jiang Family people?

"Nearby here, there might be a lot of Jiang Family people lying in ambush."

Xu Jing surveyed the surroundings discreetly and said softly, "Prince Ling and them have stayed here for nearly four days, enough time for all the Jiang Family people near Xinzhou to gather around."

This sounded like a pretty serious situation!

Song Qingyun looked at Xu Jing’s still calm expression, opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say.

Seeing Ah Jing like this, she felt that if she were to act too alarmed, it might make her seem... foolish.

Xu Jing turned to see her hesitant look, smiled and said, "No worries, we also have a lot of people on our side, and most importantly, once we understand their intentions, it’s not difficult to guard against them.

Let’s go, we’ve been out long enough, it’s time to head back to the Full Moon Building."

On the way back, Song Qingyun pondered for a moment and couldn’t help but say, "Ah Jing, could it really be like Mr. Chen said, that everything is the Jiang Family’s doing behind the scenes? That way, they can take advantage amidst the chaos to snatch Prince Ling away..."

Before she finished speaking, there was suddenly a burst of alarming shouts from not far away—

"Oh no, oh no! The Full Moon Building... is on fire! The Full Moon Building is on fire!!"