Chapter 443: Investigate Qingzhou
Ye Yunfeng turned and swung himself onto his horse.
Ye Chutang looked at the approaching Feng Zhang.
"I’ll have to trouble Mr. Feng to look after him from now on."
Feng Zhang was filled with emotion.
This young woman appeared beautiful and gentle, yet her spirit was exceptionally resilient.
’Anyone else would have been unable to bear sending their thirteen-year-old brother away.’
’Then again, she herself had weathered countless storms at such a young age.’
’How could a young man truly mature without being tempered by hardship?’
He cupped his fist in farewell to Ye Chutang and the others, then pulled on the reins and gave a sharp shout.
"Giddy-up!"
The sound of hooves rose as his figure gradually receded into the distance.
Xiao Wu’s tears immediately welled up. She turned and threw herself into Ye Chutang’s arms, her small body wracked with sobs.
Ye Chutang soon felt a warm, wet patch spreading on her shoulder.
She gently patted Xiao Wu’s back.
"Don’t worry, your fourth brother treasures his life dearly. Besides, he promised he would come back, so he will never break his word."
With red-rimmed eyes, Xiao Wu nestled against her shoulder, nodding through her sobs.
Ye Jingyan watched them depart. When he turned and saw this scene, his heart softened as well.
Ye Chutang said, "Alright, A Feng has left. Yan, you should head back to the Imperial College, too."
’You’ve certainly taken a lot of leave lately.’
Ye Jingyan shook his head. "It’s fine."
The curriculum at the Imperial College progressed slowly, so it didn’t affect him much.
Ye Chutang didn’t press the matter.
’Yan has always been sensible in his actions.’
Holding Xiao Wu, she turned to go back inside but suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching.
"Miss Ye!"
Ye Chutang paused and looked back to see a government officer heading toward them.
He looked somewhat familiar.
After a second look, Ye Chutang recognized him as one of Su Wei’s men.
She smiled faintly.
"Is Lord Su looking for me?"
The government officer froze in astonishment. "How did you know? Lord Su would like to invite you to the Ministry of Justice!"
Ye Jingyan’s brow twitched. He subconsciously took a step forward, shielding Ye Chutang behind him. "The Ministry of Justice? For what reason?"
"Yan."
Ye Chutang said his name and shook her head gently, signaling for him not to be nervous.
"Lord Su must be very busy lately. Since he’s looking for me at a time like this, it must be for something very important."
The government officer quickly said, "Yes, yes! Lord Su said he just wants to ask Miss Ye a few questions regarding the assassination of Lord Ye Zheng all those years ago."
Ye Chutang understood.
Ye Jingyan also breathed a sigh of relief, but on second thought, he found it a little strange.
’The mastermind behind this incident is Xiao Chengxuan—that’s already set in stone. Why would they suddenly summon my sister for questioning now?’
Ye Chutang, however, seemed to have expected this all along.
"Yan, you should go back to the Imperial College first. I’ll take Xiao Wu to the Ministry of Justice."
Ye Jingyan hesitated. "I should still accompany..."
Ye Chutang smiled. "I’ll be fine on my own."
Seeing her insistence, Ye Jingyan could only nod.
"Alright, then... if anything happens, Sister, let me know immediately."
’Now that A Feng is gone, I have to protect my sister and Xiao Wu even more.’
Ye Chutang smiled and nodded. "I know."
’This kid is really becoming quite mature for his age.’
She looked at the government officer. "Let’s go."
...
This was Ye Chutang’s first time formally visiting the Ministry of Justice.
Su Wei had already been waiting for some time.
When he saw Ye Chutang leading Xiao Wu over, he immediately stood up.
Only then did Ye Chutang see that beside him stood several other men in official robes.
They all appeared to be officials from the Ministry of Justice.
"Greetings, Lord Su."
Ye Chutang curtsied.
Su Wei said quickly, "Miss Ye, there’s no need for formalities. I’ve invited you here today because there is a matter I’d like to ask you about."
Ye Chutang nodded. "Please ask, Lord Su. I will surely tell you everything I know."
Su Wei exchanged a glance with the other men, deliberated for a moment, and then asked:
"It’s like this. During a court session, the Heir of Duke Dingbei mentioned that back when Lord Ye Zheng was assassinated, Second Miss Ye witnessed it firsthand and saw that the assassin’s arrows were engraved with a special pattern."
Ye Chutang’s dark brows arched slightly.
"He also said that in Qingzhou, you saw that same distinctive arrow a second time and suspected that the same group of people knew you had returned to Qingzhou and had specifically gone there to eliminate you all. However, for various reasons, they were unable to act."
Ye Chutang: "..."
Xiao Wu: ???
She tilted her head up and looked at Ye Chutang in confusion.
’Sister, did we see that? Why don’t I remember it at all?’
Ye Chutang’s mind raced.
’Shen Yanchuan actually gave me such a pleasant surprise.’
’Since that’s the case, I’ll gladly accept this favor.’
She nodded.
"That’s right. I’ve seen it."
Xiao Wu: ???
Su Wei asked hurriedly,
"What exactly did the arrow look like?"
The others all looked over in unison.
What Ye Chutang said next would very likely provide them with a clue to find the answer quickly.
Xiao Chengxuan’s case had a witness, but it also needed evidence—the more, the better.
And Ye Chutang was an extremely crucial link.
Ye Chutang’s eyes flickered slightly. "This... Did the Princely Heir not mention it before?"
Su Wei shook his head. "The situation during the court session was tense. The Princely Heir didn’t have time to speak in detail."
They had originally wanted to ask Shen Yanchuan about it in detail, but after thinking it over, they decided it was best to ask the person involved directly.
That was why they had sent for Ye Chutang.
Ye Chutang raised an eyebrow slightly. "Oh?"
’He didn’t say? Well then, I will.’
She lowered her lashes, as if reminiscing.
After a moment, she spoke slowly, "Please prepare a brush and paper for me."
Su Wei immediately said, "We have that. Someone!"
Someone quickly presented a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
"Second Miss Ye, please."
Ye Chutang stood before the table and picked up the brush.
Everyone’s gazes converged on her.
Ye Chutang’s expression was calm. Her hand moved smoothly and freely, and in just a moment, a strange pattern came to life on the paper.
"It looked something like this."
Ye Chutang put down the brush.
"My lords, please take a look."
Su Wei picked up the paper and examined it with the other officials.
After studying it for a while, none of them could make heads or tails of it.
"This pattern... we’ve truly never seen it before."
Su Wei, however, was not surprised. He said, "Our culprits are cautious. It’s a good thing Second Miss Ye remembers it. Even if we don’t recognize it now, if we investigate thoroughly, we’ll definitely get to the bottom of it!"
The men all nodded in agreement.
One of them suddenly said, "Second Miss Ye was only back in Qingzhou for a short time, yet the culprits seem to have been prepared well in advance. It seems they are extremely well-informed about news in the capital."
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
This matter was related to Xiao Chengxuan. How could he not know about every little thing that happened in the Capital City?
It hadn’t seemed strange before, but ever since they learned that Xiao Chengxuan was the mastermind, everything had started to make sense.
It was as if the more they investigated, the more there was to find!
Su Wei nodded, breaking the silence. "Qingzhou is Lord Ye Zheng’s hometown, after all. It’s only normal that the person behind this would pay it special attention. Perhaps..."
His expression grew even more solemn.
"Perhaps there has been a problem in Qingzhou for a long time. It really must be investigated thoroughly!"