Chapter 724 - 723: The Outcome
Xia Wanqing was taken aback and said, "Surveillance?"
He had returned to the mansion yesterday and hadn’t gone out. Since the other party was surveilling, they naturally wouldn’t alert the snake, so he really didn’t know.
Bai Feichen solemnly said, "The people doing the surveillance are at the street corner. They are very cautious and experienced, paying close attention to everyone coming and going. I’m not sure of their identities, which is why I climbed over the wall to get in!"
Xia Wanqing didn’t take it to heart and said, "Come, sit here. Old Yu, tell the kitchen to prepare some dishes and bring a few jars of wine!" He then called out loudly, "Old Four, Old Li, Old Hu, Old Fifth is here!"
With this shout, three people walked out from the house on the east side. Zhuo Pengju joyfully said, "Old Fifth!"
Bai Feichen was also delighted and greeted the three of them as well.
Xia Wanqing led Bai Feichen into the side hall. Zhuo Pengju and the other two didn’t intend to follow, but Xia Wanqing said, "Old Fifth arrived in the Capital City long ago but was away on business, so he just came today. Let’s all listen to the results of his work!"
The food and wine hadn’t been served yet. Bai Feichen drank a few gulps of cold tea and then told Xia Wanqing everything he had investigated.
From the blind man at the foot of Jinzhou Haotian Village mountain, to Hua Yuanming being imprisoned for rescuing someone, almost leading to Xia Wanqing’s execution, and the things uncovered during the pursuit.
Soon, he finished explaining the findings that connected all the seemingly unrelated events with a common thread.
Those events appeared coincidental, but they all bore traces of human intervention.
Where there are traces, there are gaps to investigate. And the findings were truly alarming!
He spoke at a steady pace, but his words were concise and alarming.
Zhuo Pengju and his two companions’ expressions slightly changed. They all remembered the incident at the mountain involving Wenjin forcibly taking a "husband" to ward off bad luck, which everyone in the village knew, and they had participated in it.
They naturally understood that the so-called ’taking’ was merely a figure of speech. They used money; under such great rewards, many people from the foothills came to apply, there was no need for force. It was clearly a selection!
After countless selections, only one person with a matching eight-character horoscope was chosen. Who would have thought this one match would be like this!
At that time, those people were all there for the money. Huangfu Yuxuan, with a matching horoscope, claimed he wasn’t there for the money, but only to help out after hearing Xia Wenjin was on the brink of death.
Who in the village didn’t see him as righteous, a wealthy young master with the aura of a chivalrous hero? Good-looking and a perfect match for Wenjin. Could this too... be a scheme?
He was an Imperial Grandson, rich and powerful, what would he want?
And they only just heard about the imprisonment of the second and third brother a few days ago; turns out this was the case! Although there’s no final evidence for this matter, the suspicions are so large. Employing such sinister means, targeting the eldest, second, and third brothers, this matter cannot just be left as is!
And what Wenjin said yesterday...
They couldn’t help but look towards Xia Wanqing.
No expression showed on Xia Wanqing’s face, no surprise, no anger, not even a frown. He just looked at Bai Feichen with a deep gaze.
Zhuo Pengju thought of his shock yesterday and could understand Xia Wanqing’s current demeanor.
But Bai Feichen didn’t know; he paused and said, "Eldest brother doesn’t believe this result, right? After all, when I first discovered it, I didn’t believe it either. So I reversed my investigation until I confirmed it without a doubt."
Xia Wanqing said, "Hmm, I know!"
Does he still not believe it?
Bai Feichen’s eyes moved, and he said, "Eldest brother?"
Looking at it from another angle, for someone who achieves great things, they do not mind minor details. The ultimate purpose was still to gain the trust of Eldest Brother and the people in the village without causing any real harm.
Could it be that Eldest Brother thinks Huangfu Yuxuan is capable, has means, and given the marriage contract, sees great potential as this son-in-law and therefore doesn’t plan to pursue it?
Xia Wanqing turned his head and said to him, "Old Fifth, when I said I know, it doesn’t mean I don’t care about this matter or that I’m not angry or surprised. It’s just that I already had a suspicion in my heart, and it’s quite similar to what you found. I haven’t continued to wrong Wenjin just to keep this engagement. I’ve already called off the marriage! Now, I’m just a bit worried about Old Second and Old Third!"
Bai Feichen breathed a sigh of relief; he really worried that Eldest Brother had other priorities in mind. Now it seemed Eldest Brother was still Eldest Brother! He said, "As for Second Brother and Third Brother, Eldest Brother can tell them the truth; we are all brothers who bow with heads to the ground. They know Eldest Brother’s intention, and it’s still not too late to pull back now!"
Xia Wanqing thought of the attitude of Old Second and Old Third’s families yesterday, thinking the possibility was small, but he nodded and said, "I will find an opportunity to talk to them about it!"
Bai Feichen paused for a moment and said, "Moreover, the matter of Wenjin being kidnapped is strange; I haven’t found the result yet, but this method is similar to the previous ones!"
Xia Wanqing’s gaze suddenly became sharp, and he said in a deep voice, "You mean, that was also done by Huangfu Yuxuan?"
Li Ling gritted his teeth and said, "Was it really him? We thought Third Brother was just saying that to justify Wenjin’s unwillingness!"
Bai Feichen shook his head and said, "As with Second Brother and Third Brother’s incidents, he is the biggest suspect, but there’s no concrete evidence! So I can’t be sure!"
Xia Wanqing suddenly laughed, but there was a tone of gritting teeth in the low laughter, and he said, "Old Fifth, with your methods, in all you found, every clue ultimately breaks off, and every matter has his shadow in the background. Even if there’s no concrete evidence, once is coincidence, but three, four times, can still be coincidence?"
Bai Feichen thought Xia Wanqing was criticizing him for not investigating thoroughly enough to find a final result, and then he heard Xia Wanqing’s voice, "Thinking of myself, Xia Wanqing, who once thought to be unrestrained, free-spirited like the wind, treating people with sincerity, befriending honorable men. Who would have thought to be played around by a young man? I’m indeed getting old, not seeing as clearly as Wenjin!"
Those who surveilled the Xia Mansion, it doesn’t take guessing to know they must be Huangfu Yuxuan’s people.
Aside from him, who else would pay such "attention" to a man of the Jianghu like him?
Bai Feichen hurriedly said, "Elder Brother, don’t think that way; we Jianghu people act with straightforwardness. Those deceitful, scheming, calculating ways are really not our forte."
Xia Wanqing said in a deep voice, "Tomorrow, find Old Second and Old Third, tell them about this!"
Zhuo Pengju cautiously said, "Will Second Brother and Third Brother... believe it?"
Xia Wanqing coldly said, "Whether they believe it or not, as family, I won’t deceive them! If they believe, that is all the better; the brothers of Haotian Village will return to Jinzhou in a few days. If not, Old Second and Old Third should make a choice, whether to choose Haotian Village or their future. As their Eldest Brother, I will respect their choices!"