Xin Zizhao effortlessly scooped up Wei Shuxuan in a princess carry and laid her on the big bed in the room. He sat beside the bed, gazing at Wei Shuxuan's sleeping face. Gently caressing her cheek with the back of his hand, he wondered when Shuxuan would finally tell him the truth. They were already married, yet she still kept so many secrets from him.
Although Xin Zizhao said he didn't mind at all that Wei Shuxuan was keeping things from him, in fact, he cared a great deal about it in his heart.
They had been on the road for most of the day and then went to investigate the case. Even Xin Zizhao felt exhausted. He got up, blew out the candle, and then went straight to bed.
The next morning, Wei Wei, Xin Shang, Sima Yongheng, and the father - son pair Ge Zian and Ge Long'an looked at Xin Zizhao and then at the empty space beside him. It was Ge Long'an who couldn't hold his tongue first. "Why hasn't my Shuxuan gotten up for breakfast so late?"
"She's a bit tired and said she wanted to sleep a while longer. We can start eating first. There's no need to wait for her."
Xin Zizhao gave Ge Long'an a non -chalant look and answered his question. But Ge Long'an thought something was amiss. He asked at the dinner table, "Did the two of you do something shady last night? That's why Shuxuan can't get up this morning?"
"Father, it's breakfast time. Don't talk nonsense. If Shuxuan hears you, she'll surely be angry with you!" Ge Zian quickly stopped Ge Long'an from speaking further.
Although Xin Zizhao was initially startled by Ge Long'an's question, he remained calm. He glanced at Ge Long'an and said, "No. Shuxuan just inhaled the white powder we collected from Yang Xiaojing's place yesterday."
"Why did she inhale that? Isn't that a poison?" Xin Zizhao's answer concerned everyone. Ge Zian didn't expect their emperor to answer the question so seriously.
"It's not a poison. I've tested it. It's just ordinary knockout powder. Shuxuan said she wanted to see how long the effect of this knockout powder would last, so she tried it."
"Why did Sister Shuxuan test the knockout powder instead of you?" There was a hint of resentment in Sima Yongheng's words.
"I also said I could test it, but Shuxuan said my martial arts were better than hers and that I could protect her, so she wouldn't let me test the drug." Xin Zizhao's words were full of Wei Shuxuan's dependence on him. "By the time, Shuxuan should be waking up soon. I'll go up and check on her first."
Sima Yongheng was outmaneuvered by Xin Zizhao and instantly lost his momentum. He lowered his head and continued to eat his breakfast. Wei Wei looked at the dejected Sima Yongheng. He actually understood Sima Yongheng's feelings well, but he knew how to be patient and that he should let go. So he didn't feel as miserable as Sima Yongheng, who didn't know when to give up.
"Yongheng, sometimes, you should let go of things that don't belong to you. Only then will you not be so sad."
Hearing Wei Wei's words, Sima Yongheng looked up at him in surprise but still didn't say a word.
Xin Zizhao returned to the room and saw that Wei Shuxuan was still sleeping in the big bed, showing no sign of waking up. He took out a medical book from his bag and started reading. Not long after, he felt the person on the bed move. He put down the medical book and immediately went to check on her.
"Shuxuan, Shuxuan..."
In a daze, Wei Shuxuan heard someone calling her. She knew it was Xin Zizhao's voice. She tried hard to open her eyes and saw Xin Zizhao's worried face magnified in front of her. "Xin Zizhao!"
Wei Shuxuan sat up suddenly, then touched her empty stomach and said with a smile to Xin Zizhao sitting beside her, "Xin Zizhao, I'm hungry!"
"I see. Wait for a moment. I'll ask the waiter to prepare something for you to eat."
"Okay. Thank you."
After Wei Shuxuan finished eating, Xin Zizhao saw a small crumb on the corner of her mouth. He wiped it off with his finger and asked, "Next, are you going to find Yang Xiaojing?"
"Yes. Then, we'll go find the victims one by one according to the records in the ledger. I'm going to thoroughly investigate this case."
"Then I'll go with you."
"Okay."
Yang Xiaojing poured tea for Wei Shuxuan and Xin Zizhao and served them snacks. Wei Wei and Xin Shang sat on one side waiting for them, while the others waited in the carriage outside.
"Xiaojing, I came here because I have something to ask you."
"Shuxuan, just ask me. I'll answer you in detail if I know."
Wei Shuxuan nodded. "Xiaojing, I just want to ask you if you remember the exact time you woke up the next day. I'd like to know the exact time."
Yang Xiaojing thought Wei Shuxuan would ask her some difficult question, but it was just this. "Of course I remember. I remember I got up at the fourth period of the day. Usually, my husband and I get up at the fifth period to work."
What time is the fourth period? Wei Shuxuan was a bit confused. She'd ask Xin Zizhao later.
"Okay. Thank you, Xiaojing. We have something else to do, so we'll leave first. See you next time."
"See you, Shuxuan."
After asking Xin Zizhao, Wei Shuxuan learned that she had actually slept for a full three hours after inhaling the knockout powder last night. "Xin Zizhao, help me calculate. If the effect of the knockout powder only lasts for three hours, then what time should Xiaojing's husband have been taken away?"
"...It should be the third period, when people are sleeping soundest."
"The third period..." Wei Shuxuan still couldn't remember the corresponding times of the twelve periods. Oh well, she'd just go and investigate first.
Previously, when Wei Shuxuan flipped through the ledger, besides the people from Kele Town, there were also people from other small towns, but the number was not large. They said they came to Kele Town to visit relatives or do business. They never expected that they would encounter such a thing just after staying for one night.
"Let's go. Let's go to the first victim's house and take a look."
Wei Shuxuan and the others came to the first victim's house. An old couple came out to greet them. The one who was missing was their youngest son. It had been three whole months since their son disappeared, but the government still hadn't made any progress. They were almost in despair.
"Uncle, Auntie, don't worry. We will definitely help you find your youngest son. Trust us!" Wei Shuxuan looked at the old couple confidently.