Chapter 518: Assisting in the Investigation
Ye Chutang smiled and glanced at him. "What a question. Do you really think your big sister is some kind of psychic who can predict the future?"
To her surprise, Ye Jingyan actually nodded seriously.
"Yes."
To them, their big sister was a god.
Ye Chutang hadn’t expected him to say that. She let out a laugh, then thought for a moment before speaking.
"The people who tried to assassinate me today claimed to be the same group from three years ago, but their act was terrible."
Ye Jingyan’s sharp brows knitted together. "Then who could it be?"
’It wasn’t surprising that they would attract this kind of trouble; they had certainly displeased quite a few people since returning to the Capital City.’
’But he couldn’t figure it out. What were the origins of this other party, and for what purpose did they need to fake that identity?’
Ye Chutang, however, seemed unconcerned. She lightly traced the rim of her teacup and said, "I have the deepest grudge with that group. Wouldn’t they make the best scapegoat?"
Realization dawned on Ye Jingyan.
"No wonder."
The other party probably hadn’t expected the operation to be such a complete failure.
Not only did the disguise fail, but every last one of them ended up dead.
"But if that’s the case, it seems it’ll be even harder to determine their identity." Ye Jingyan considered this for a moment. "Big Sis, did you find any clues at the scene?"
"No."
Ye Chutang glanced sideways at the folding screen. ’Xiao Wu should be asleep by now.’
She said calmly, "They surrounded the carriage and attacked swiftly. The Black Cavalry Guard emerged just as quickly. With superior numbers, it didn’t take much effort. I was also in a hurry to get to the palace, so I didn’t linger."
Her words were simple, as if she were discussing a trivial, everyday matter rather than a life-or-death struggle where her life had hung by a thread.
But Ye Jingyan still picked up on the key point—
’Those people actually chose to attack while Xiao Wu was still in the carriage?!’
’No wonder Big Sis was so furious she didn’t leave a single one alive.’
He nodded. "In that case, they deserved to die. Since the matter has been handed over to the Shuntian Prefecture for investigation, I’m sure we’ll have an answer soon."
After a pause, his gaze followed Ye Chutang’s toward the inner room. He lowered his voice. "How is Xiao Wu?"
He had only gotten a brief look at her earlier by the dim candlelight and couldn’t see her clearly.
Ye Chutang froze.
This was, in fact, the only thing that worried her.
On the surface, Xiao Wu had no physical injuries, but... she couldn’t be sure if today’s incident had affected her.
It had been the same way back then. In the midst of the bloody slaughter, Xiao Wu had been under her, Yan’s, and A Feng’s protection and had not been physically harmed.
But she later discovered that Xiao Wu had been left with deep psychological trauma from witnessing the excessively brutal scene.
She lost all memory of that day and would panic and retreat, sometimes even cry, whenever she got near a carriage.
Ye Chutang had spent several years just to get her to a point where she could barely ride in a carriage like a normal child.
She had thought that if they just took things slowly, Xiao Wu would one day recover.
But all of that was destroyed today.
The expression on Ye Chutang’s face turned cold, the corners of her eyes and brows seemingly laced with frost, emanating a chill that seeped into the very marrow of one’s bones.
"She will be fine."
’For everything that happened today, she would make them pay a thousand times over!’
...
「That night.」
The Shuntian Prefecture was brightly lit.
Zhao Chengyin paced back and forth in the main hall, his hands clasped behind his back, so worried he felt like he could die.
"These people are insane! To make a move so openly in the Capital City is one thing, but to target Ye Chutang of all people! I swear they don’t have a grudge against the Ye Family, they have a grudge against me!"
The nature of this incident was extremely serious, and the Eldest Princess had already ordered him to uncover the truth and find the real culprits within three days.
He knew very well that if he couldn’t deliver by then, his time as the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture would be over.
Zhang Qian, standing to the side, also had his brows tightly furrowed.
"It’s true the culprits were delivered right to us, but they were all dead! If—if only they’d left just one alive!"
At this, he suddenly thought of something. He looked up at Zhao Chengyin and spoke tentatively, "My Lord, what if... what if we go to the Dingbei Marquis Mansion and make some inquiries?"
Zhao Chengyin whipped his head around. "What would we go there for!"
Zhang Qian coughed. "Well, uh... weren’t they the ones who delivered the bodies..."
Before the government office had even opened this morning, five bodies were laid out neatly at the main gate, catching them completely off guard.
Fortunately, they quickly learned that the ones who had acted were under the command of the Heir of Dingbei Marquis Mansion.
The other party had not intentionally concealed their identities; it was obvious with just a little digging.
"The whole Capital City knows by now that Second Miss Ye is being protected by the Heir of Duke Dingbei. Why don’t we just go ask him directly? Wouldn’t that be faster?"
He was, after all, a person directly involved.
They didn’t dare disturb Ye Chutang right now, but it would be fine to find the ones who had actually done the deed.
Zhao Chengyin looked at him, speechless. "Even if the entire Capital City knows, that means the Shuntian Prefecture can just openly show up at the Princely Heir’s door!?"
Zhang Qian was confused. "We... we can’t?"
Zhao Chengyin’s head throbbed. "Of course we can’t! This is clearly a case of the Princely Heir sending a Hidden Guard to protect Ye Chutang. What does ’Hidden Guard’ mean? Huh?! If we go over there now, what will the Princely Heir think?! He wanted to protect her in secret!"
"But—"
Zhang Qian felt like something wasn’t quite right. He mulled it over for a long while.
"But everyone knows now..."
"You! You’re still too young!"
Zhao Chengyin shook his head meaningfully.
"To get by in the world of officialdom, how can you not be more shrewd? If the Princely Heir wanted to publicize this matter, why would he need to use a Hidden Guard? This was clearly meant to be low-key! If we go over and ask directly at a time like this, what do you think the Princely Heir will make of it?"
Realization dawned on Zhang Qian. "I see! This subordinate has been taught a valuable lesson!"
Zhao Chengyin waved his hand dismissively.
But when Zhang Qian thought about the bodies and the successive orders from their superiors, he was still deeply worried.
"But our men have already examined those five bodies from top to bottom. They had nothing on them besides hidden weapons and their swords, and every one of them is an unfamiliar face. Even if we start the investigation with the weapons, three days is nowhere near enough time!"
This was also the point that gave Zhao Chengyin the biggest headache.
After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh.
"Forget it. Let’s just keep investigating for now. If the deadline arrives and we still have no results, I’ll take full responsibility."
Zhang Qian was alarmed. "My Lord, how can you—"
Before he could finish, the sound of hurried footsteps came from outside.
"My Lord! My Lord! Someone’s here!"
Zhao Chengyin looked outside. "Who would be coming at this time of night?"
The next moment, a lean, powerfully built young man appeared in his line of sight.
Zhao Chengyin was sure he didn’t recognize the man.
"And you are—"
"Black Cavalry Guard, Lu Yu."
The calm voice rang out, yet it startled Zhao Chengyin and Zhang Qian so much they nearly jumped out of their skin.
"Lo-Lord Lu!?"
Lu Yu was concise.
"I delivered the five bodies this morning. And, of course, I was the one who killed them."
Zhao Chengyin and Zhang Qian were both stunned.
They weren’t surprised by this fact, as the reputation of the Black Cavalry Guard was legendary.
But...
"Why have you come here?"
Lu Yu glanced at them.
"You’re supposed to be investigating a case, yet you delayed summoning me. I had no choice but to pay a visit myself."
’Did that mean—he was here to help them with the investigation!?’