"It's okay. I'm fine now, Zian. Thanks to my silver tongue, I managed to clear my name. How about it? Am I amazing?" Wei Shuxuan's smug look was really quite amusing.
Ge Zian just gave a furtive smile. "Yes, yes, yes. I knew that Young Master Wei is an extremely capable person."
"Are you two done chatting?" Xin Zizhao, who had been left on the sidelines by them, finally spoke up, his tone extremely cold.
I don't know if it was just an illusion, but why did Wei Shuxuan feel that Xin Zizhao's tone was much colder than when he had just come back? Even his eyes had become so cold. He seemed very unhappy.
"We're done chatting. We were just chatting for a while. Why are you so angry?" Wei Shuxuan pouted and complained discontentedly.
"I'm not angry. I'll go back and rest first. You two can continue chatting."
Although Xin Zizhao's heart was slightly touched by the slightly coquettish tone in Wei Shuxuan's words just now, he still felt quite jealous. To avoid this situation, he made an excuse and left.
After Xin Zizhao went back to his room to rest, Wei Shuxuan pulled Ge Zian to one side of the main hall to discuss what she had just found out during her investigation.
"According to my investigation, Noble Lady Tong is the queen's cousin, and the queen seems to attach great importance to her cousin. In fact, I think that Noble Lady Tong and the queen colluded to frame me this time."
"Why do you think so?" Ge Zian asked puzzledly.
"It's just a hunch. Wasn't I tied up by Noble Lady Tong and taken to the Palace of Gathered Elegance? Noble Lady Tong's eyes were always on the queen. Although the queen didn't make eye contact with her, when it was finally decided to convict me, I seemed to see the queen smile slightly."
"Seemed? Are you sure?" Ge Zian was very confused about Wei Shuxuan's choice of words.
"I'm not very sure. That's why I want to investigate them."
"Aren't you going to investigate Concubine Jie?"
"I want to investigate them all together. If I do it one by one, I think it will be too slow. I have to speed up. Some things can't be delayed for too long. It's not good for me to solve the case."
"Speaking of which, didn't I tell you before that Xiang'er, the senior maid beside His Majesty, is recording His Majesty's daily life and words and deeds? Do you know that Xiang'er was sent here only after the previous senior maid died?"
"Does that mean that the previous senior maid beside His Majesty was one of the victims?"
Wei Shuxuan thought for a while. She felt as if she had caught a glimmer of a clue, but she still couldn't see the whole picture. She bit her lip, a look of distress on her face.
Ge Zian knew that Wei Shuxuan was thinking at this time, so he didn't disturb her. He went back to the west wing room first to pack his things and prepared to go back to the general's mansion. He had already bothered the Fifth Prince in his palace for too long. If he didn't go back soon, the Fifth Prince would surely give him a cold look and might even say some sarcastic remarks to him.
"Xuan'er, it's getting late. I still haven't dealt with the matters in the military camp. I'll go back earlier today. Tell me when you've made up your mind. I'll help you investigate."
"… Okay. Thank you, Zian."
Hearing Ge Zian's words, Wei Shuxuan then came to her senses and nodded. "Okay, Zian. If you have something to do, go back first."
The sun was gradually setting. The orange - golden afterglow filled the sky, and even the earth was enveloped by the evening glow. The afterglow shone into the main hall of Fenghe Hall from outside, forming a sharp contrast with the other side of the main hall that was not illuminated by the afterglow.
Coming out of his room, Xin Zizhao planned to go to the main hall for dinner. As soon as he entered the main hall, he saw that it was almost swallowed up by darkness, with only a little afterglow remaining. He vaguely saw a figure sitting there motionless in the main hall.
"Who's in the main hall?"
"… It's me. Why did you come out?" Wei Shuxuan turned her head and only then realized that the room was pitch - black. "Damn it, why is it so dark?"
"It's already dark. What do you want to do without lighting a lamp here?"
Xin Zizhao took out a fire starter and lit the oil lamp on the table. He told Chief Eunuch Li that from now on, all the lamps in the room should be lit as soon as it got dark. "Also, Chief Eunuch Li, go and prepare the dinner."
"This servant obeys."
"Regarding today's matter, have you thought of anything? Is there any breakthrough in the case?"
Xin Zizhao sat down beside Wei Shuxuan and poured himself a cup of tea. Wei Shuxuan lay on the table and looked at Xin Zizhao. "I see that you like drinking tea very much. Why is that?"
"If I like it, that's all. Do I need a reason?" Xin Zizhao turned to look at Wei Shuxuan. His deep eyes were filled with Wei Shuxuan's image. Seeing herself in his eyes, Wei Shuxuan couldn't help but be stunned. Then she quickly turned her head away and didn't look into his eyes.
Seeing Wei Shuxuan's obvious evasive reaction, Xin Zizhao couldn't help but smile. The corner of his mouth lifted into a shallow arc, as beautiful as the blooming of flowers in spring. It was a pity that Wei Shuxuan didn't see this smile.
"… Let's get back to the case."
Just now, Wei Shuxuan felt her heart beating very fast, just like the flutter of first love. She quickly adjusted her state of mind, looked at Xin Zizhao again, and told him about the case.
Getting some key information from Wei Shuxuan, Xin Zizhao thought carefully. "Aren't all the victims in the case people beside Father? Besides those concubines, the maids and eunuchs will surely be replaced with a new batch after they die."
"Yes. Zian told me that Xiang'er was transferred to be the senior maid beside His Majesty only after the previous senior maid died. In fact, I suspect that there's something wrong with those newly - sent maids and eunuchs, but I don't know how to investigate them by myself. Moreover, I still have those concubines to investigate."
"Why don't you ask me if I can help you?" Xin Zizhao leaned closer to Wei Shuxuan.
"… Oh, right," Wei Shuxuan looked up and met Xin Zizhao's gaze. "Will you help me investigate?"
Unexpectedly, this time Wei Shuxuan met his eyes so frankly, which made Xin Zizhao feel embarrassed instead. He had to turn his face away and replied, "I understand. I'll help you send someone to keep watch on those newly - sent maids and eunuchs."
"Thank you. But I'm feeling very hungry now and need to eat. Isn't the dinner ready yet?" Finally having solved one problem, Wei Shuxuan could eat in peace.