Xuan Ruoling stared at Wei Shuxuan, who was being protected behind Ge Zian. Her face was full of resentment. She just felt that this Wei Luo had ill intentions towards her Brother Zian. With such a handsome appearance, did he want to seduce her Brother Zian?
She had heard of the terms like male homosexuality and same - sex love, but she didn't believe that her Brother Zian would be attracted to this good - looking Wei Luo.
"You little fox spirit! You're trying to seduce my Brother Zian!" Xuan Ruoling took a few steps forward and raised her hand, intending to slap Wei Shuxuan. Wei Shuxuan wasn't afraid of her. She was just a loud - mouthed girl.
"Princess Ninth, please show some respect!" Ge Zian angrily grabbed Xuan Ruoling's raised hand and flung it hard. Due to the excessive force, Xuan Ruoling's slender body tilted. She almost fell to the ground.
She staggered a few steps before steadying herself. She looked up, glaring at Wei Shuxuan with hatred. When she looked at Ge Zian, her eyes became pitiful. "Brother Zian, don't be angry! I won't do this again!"
Wow, what an actress! She's amazing!
Seeing how quickly Xuan Ruoling changed her expression, Wei Shuxuan secretly gave her a thumbs - up from behind.
"Princess Ninth, I've been childhood friends with Young Master Wei since we were little. And Young Master Wei's family has sacrificed a great deal for me. So, I hope Princess Ninth won't make things difficult for Young Master Wei. Also, if possible, please stop harassing me. I've made it very clear to Princess Ninth before that I have no intention of getting married for the time being."
"Brother Zian, why? I like you so much!" Hearing Ge Zian say this, Xuan Ruoling's heart was almost broken.
"Sometimes, love isn't just about one person's feelings. Love should be mutual. One - sided love is unfair to everyone. If Princess Ninth doesn't understand what I've said, I don't think I can ever like the princess. I've overstepped my bounds. Young Master Wei and I will take our leave first."
Ge Zian bowed to Xuan Ruoling, then pulled Wei Shuxuan away. He completely ignored Xuan Ruoling who was left alone in this secluded place. Wei Shuxuan turned around and looked at Xuan Ruoling's back. She felt... a bit pitiful. Ge Zian had been a bit too harsh. Even though Xuan Ruoling was very willful and headstrong, she was still a girl after all.
"Hey, Ge Zian, you were a bit too harsh. Even if that little hot - tempered princess is really willful and violent, you shouldn't talk to her like that. It really hurts a girl's feelings."
Hearing Wei Shuxuan's words, Ge Zian, who was walking in front, stopped in his tracks. He turned around and looked at Wei Shuxuan. "If I don't say it like this, Princess Ninth won't understand. We can't be soft - hearted about this kind of thing. Moreover, your family has made too many sacrifices for mine. This time, let me protect you well. I won't let you get hurt again, Xuan'er."
"Sacrifices?" Wei Shuxuan caught the key word in Ge Zian's words. "Zian, what do you mean?"
"I'll find a chance to tell you about this later. It's better not to talk about it in the palace now. After all, walls have ears."
Wei Shuxuan understood that some things couldn't be casually talked about in the palace. She nodded. "Okay. How about we talk about this at your general's mansion?"
"Sure. You can set the time. I'll also come to help you investigate the case tomorrow. For now, I'll send you back to Fenghe Palace."
"Hey? No need. I can go back by myself. It's almost dark. You should go back quickly, Zian."
"No. I'll send you. Otherwise, I won't be at ease, Xuan'er."
Hearing this address, Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of her mouth. "Hey, don't call me that. I don't want others to know for the time being."
"Don't worry. I'll keep it a secret. I'll only call you like this when it's just the two of us."
After seeing Wei Shuxuan safely return to Fenghe Palace, Ge Zian felt relieved. Then he planned to go back to the general's mansion. Wei Shuxuan originally wanted to invite Ge Zian to have dinner in Fenghe Palace, but thinking of Xin Zizhao's strange attitude recently, she gave up this idea.
"Back?" Xin Zizhao had already returned and was holding a book in his hand.
"Yeah, I'm so tired. I spent the whole afternoon looking for a plant with scratch marks in the yard. I'm almost exhausted!" Wei Shuxuan carelessly sat down on the chair and just slumped there, not moving.
"Hey, watch your sitting posture."
Xin Zizhao looked at her actions with some dissatisfaction. "Don't think that just because you're wearing men's clothes, you can really act like a man. Sit properly."
"Anyway, you already know. I'm not afraid of anything. I'm used to sitting like this. It's more comfortable. You won't understand."
"I don't want to understand."
After that, Wei Shuxuan and Ge Zian went to the crime scenes of the seventh and eighth victims. Although Wei Shuxuan had been there before, she still wanted to go again to see if there were any other clues.
At the crime scene of the seventh victim, which was near the imperial kitchen, Wei Shuxuan didn't find any useful clues. This victim had died from a cut throat. It was estimated that the murderer had just run away after killing. As for the eighth victim, the pile of stones in the rockery hadn't been found yet. She really wanted to find this pile of stones quickly.
Although Wei Shuxuan had lost hope, she had already asked the imperial guards to look for it since the day of the incident, but there was still no news for her.
"As you said, there used to be a pile of stones behind this rockery?"
"Yeah. The imperial guards told me. I'm not quite sure if it's true. But if so, then that pile of stones is very likely the murder weapon. It's a pity that it hasn't been found yet. I think the murderer may have destroyed the evidence."
"It's possible. Since it hasn't been found for so long."
Ge Zian thought for a while. By chance, he caught sight of a pond not far away. There were also some rockeries piled up in the pond, and the green pond water was flowing beneath. He called Wei Shuxuan over and pointed to the pond in front. "Have you searched this pond? There are also rockeries here. As far as I know, the imperial garden design has always been the responsibility of the same person. It's estimated that the stones used are the same."
"Why didn't you say so earlier!" Ge Zian's words were like a sudden awakening to Wei Shuxuan. She immediately ran over. "The water in this pond isn't deep, right?"