Chapter 201: A Visit
The Xu Family Mansion.
Lord Xu looked at Xue Zhan and Yun Xi standing before him. His face was extremely embarrassed, but he managed to force a smile. He clasped his hands in front of him and stepped forward. "What brings you here today, Lord Xue?"
Xue Zhan snatched the folding fan from Yun Xi's hand and smiled casually. "I heard what you said yesterday, Lord Xu. I've come today to visit Lady Xu. If there's anything I can do to help, I'll surely spare no effort."
Yun Xi watched Xue Zhan spout nonsense seriously. The smile on his face deepened a bit.
Lord Xu sneered inwardly but still wore that fake smile on his face. "Does Lord Xue not believe what I said?"
Xue Zhan's smile remained unchanged. "No. I've just come to pay a visit today. I have no other intentions."
"Does Lord Xu not believe us?" Yun Xi said with a smiling face.
Looking at the two smiling tigers in front of him, Lord Xu was so angry that he gritted his teeth, but he was helpless. He could only angrily invite them in. "Please come in, Lord Xue!"
The two exchanged a knowing smile, their eyes full of cunning.
Outside the quiet and luxurious small courtyard, Lord Xu stopped. His expression changed slightly. He turned to Xue Zhan behind him and said, "Lord Xue, if my wife offends you in any way, please don't take it to heart."
Xue Zhan waved his folding fan. "It doesn't matter."
The three stepped inside. Everywhere they looked was full of luxury. The peonies in the garden were in full bloom, looking extremely beautiful.
A middle - aged woman in a yellow dress was sitting at the stone table in the garden. She held a peony in her hand. Her fingers dyed with bright red cardamom would occasionally pluck off a few petals from the peony. Her eyes were empty, her mind wandering far away, and there was a tinge of sadness on her face.
This was Lady Xu.
Looking at the peonies in the garden, Xue Zhan nodded slightly to himself and said with a soft smile, "Lady Xu?"
Lord Xu nudged Lady Xu at the right moment. Lady Xu suddenly turned around. When she saw Xue Zhan behind her, a flash of hatred crossed her face. She clenched her delicate hand into a fist. "So it's Lord Xue. May I ask what brings you here?"
Her words were full of dislike and hostility.
Fortunately, Xue Zhan had always been thick - skinned. He smiled and said, "I've come today especially to visit you, Lady Xu. I heard you've been unwell. I wonder if you're feeling better?"
Lady Xu's face was full of mockery. "Thank you for your concern, Lord Xue. I'm in perfect health!"
The Widow Liu and that bastard were dead. She was really overjoyed. Sure enough, karma was real. Those who harmed others would eventually suffer retribution.
Xue Zhan sat down as if no one else was around, poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip. "That's good. I only heard yesterday that Lady Xu was suffering from a serious illness. In the middle of the night, she chased Lord Xu with a pair of scissors and stabbed a hole in Lord Xu's body, which also disturbed the neighbors."
Then he casually turned to Lord Xu beside him and asked, "I wonder if Lady Xu had another episode last night?"
Upon hearing this, both the husband and wife turned pale.
Lady Xu said angrily, "Lord Xue must be mistaken. I'm perfectly fine. Lord Xu's wound was accidentally caused by a servant!"
Lord Xu was also extremely embarrassed. He glanced at Xue Zhan and Yun Xi beside him and forced himself to say, "That's right. Lord Xue must have remembered wrongly."
Xue Zhan frowned slightly. He looked at Lord Xu thoughtfully but didn't say much. His face still carried a smile. "It seems I remembered wrongly."
Yun Xi looked up at Lord Xu and grinned. "I wonder if Lord Xu could accommodate us for one night? There was a death in the Liu family, and it's really not suitable to stay there. And the yamen is quite far from here..."
Looking at the smiling Yun Xi, Lord Xu couldn't help cursing inwardly. No wonder he was the younger brother of that bitch! Just as annoying!
Seeing that Lord Xu was about to refuse, Xue Zhan also nodded with a smile. "Indeed. I wonder if Lord Xu could do us this favor?"
Lord Xu had no choice but to swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue. "Of course!"
Then he turned to the steward beside him and said, "Go and prepare the guest rooms quickly!"
The steward naturally saw Lord Xu's gloomy face, but he could only sigh and nod. "Yes."
Businessmen should not fight against officials. This was exactly the truth!
Lady Xu was extremely unhappy. She curled her lips and smiled. "Why didn't Miss Liu come today?"
Yun Xi replied with a smile, "She's naturally investigating the case."
Lady Xu couldn't help sneering. Investigating the case? Probably hiding, right? Liu Rumei, you've finally got your comeuppance! Now that the Widow Liu and her bastard were dead, you should be the next one to suffer retribution!
"Really?"
Looking at the mockery on Lady Xu's face, the smile in Yun Xi's eyes deepened. "Naturally. It's just that some mad dogs keep causing trouble. But I believe that the mad dog will be caught sooner or later! After all, Miss Liu has the support of Prince Guo'an!"
The implication in these words was undeniable, full of threats and mockery.
Lord Xu's face instantly turned ashen. He forced a smile and said, "Young Master Liu is right. I'll just wish Miss Liu an early discovery of the real culprit here."
A flash of mockery also crossed Lady Xu's eyes. "Of course. She has the help of Prince Guo'an!"
The husband and wife's words were full of sarcasm, making the smile in Yun Xi's eyes even deeper.
After sitting for a while, the two left Lady Xu's courtyard.
Xue Zhan looked at Lord Xu beside him with great interest, waiting for his answer.
Although Lord Xu was angry when facing Xue Zhan, he was extremely respectful. He sighed and said, "My wife is unaware of her illness, so I deceived her. I hope Lord Xue will forgive me."
Xue Zhan smiled faintly, his eyes full of mystery. "Really?"
Lord Xu pursed his lips. "If Lord Xue doesn't believe me, I have no other way!"
Yun Xi yawned at the right moment. "Lord Xue, I didn't sleep well last night. I want to go and rest for a while!"
Xue Zhan nodded with a smile. He gave Lord Xu a meaningful look and then left with Yun Xi.
A dark and windy night was the best time for investigating a case.
In the exquisite small courtyard, Xue Zhan and Yun Xi were sitting in the room full of energy. One was holding a cup of tea, the other was holding some pastries. They looked extremely harmonious.
Looking at the night sky outside, Yun Xi said vaguely, "What if Lady Xu doesn't have an episode?"
Xue Zhan curled his lips and smiled. "We can only rely on luck. If not, we can just stay for a few more days."
If Lady Xu was really faking it, and they happened to be here today, she might "have an episode" tonight!
If she was really ill, they would have to stay and investigate the case slowly.
Yun Xi sighed leisurely. Just as he was about to speak, a series of exclamations came from outside.