First, Xiao Tian didn't expect Xu Maozhi to make such bold remarks right at the beginning of their meeting. Second, he didn't expect Yi Qing to defend him without hesitation.
After all, just yesterday, she had been full of admiration for Xu Maozhi, and Xiao Tian had even felt jealous because of it.
Xu Maozhi looked up at Yi Qing with narrowed eyes.
Yi Qing was wearing a light red back robe today, with a white half-arm over it. There were only two black jade hairpins in her hair, giving her a calm and elegant temperament.
"Lady Xiao?" Xu Maozhi said slowly.
"Yi Qing."
"Then I should address you as Lady Yi."
Yi Qing said coldly, "His Majesty sent you here to investigate the case, not to slander the people in this mansion."
"Are you feeling guilty, Lady Yi?" Xu Maozhi retorted coldly.
"I wonder which of your eyes saw that?"
Seeing that people around, including the servants of the General's Mansion and those brought by Xu Maozhi, were all stealing glances at Yi Qing, Xiao Tian stepped forward and blocked her with his body. "Sir Xu, if you have something to say, you can talk to me directly. Lady, please go back first."
He really didn't know what had gotten into Xu Maozhi. First, he had picked on him, and now he was picking on Yi Qing.
Yi Qing didn't move.
Xu Maozhi stroked his chin and said unhurriedly, "The fragrance on Guard Xiao is very special. It happens to be exactly the same as the one on Lady Yi."
As soon as he said this, everyone around was shocked, and their eyes couldn't help but wander between Yi Qing and Xiao Tian.
"So what?" Yi Qing didn't show any sign of panic. She sneered and said, "Do you think you've got some earth-shattering evidence, Sir Xu?"
"I didn't know that in the General's Mansion, it's not a big deal for a guard to casually get close to the lady of the house. I must be out of touch with things." Suddenly, Xu Maozhi changed his expression. He bowed towards the direction of the imperial city and said, "I will definitely report this matter to His Majesty truthfully!"
Yi Qing thought to herself: So he wants to tattle to the emperor. He should have said so earlier. She wouldn't have bothered to talk to him at all.
She wasn't stupid. Couldn't she tell that the emperor had a closer relationship with Xiao Tian and even wanted to match them up?
Xiao Tian said, "Please do as you like, Sir Xu. But for now, shouldn't you focus on the arson case itself?"
Originally, he had wanted to tell Xu Maozhi about the incident of the bun scaring the horse, but now it seemed unnecessary.
"You're feeling guilty." Xu Maozhi pointed at Xiao Tian and said firmly, "As you said, you're also in charge of the study. I can totally suspect that you stole something and then set the fire to destroy the evidence."
Yi Qing couldn't bear it any longer. "If you insist on talking like this, Sir Xu, I can totally suspect that you're just seeking fame and making wild remarks to cover up the fact that you're a fool."
Want to have a war of words? Come on!
She always took sides with her own people.
If someone wanted to pick on the clumsy Xiao Tian, they had to see if she would allow it. Even when beating a dog, one had to look at its master!
Xu Maozhi glanced at Yi Qing. "Interesting."
To be able to defend this guard so openly after being publicly suspected by him in front of everyone, he didn't know whether to say she was bold and straightforward or just stupid.
"I find you very disappointing and boring, Sir Xu." Yi Qing then looked at Xiao Tian and said, "If I had known this, I would have investigated on my own."
"Do you also know how to investigate cases, Lady Yi?" Xu Maozhi asked curiously.
Yi Qing found that Xu Maozhi was really different from ordinary people.
One moment he was at odds with you, and the next moment he was smiling and chatting.
"I don't. But I just learned a trick from you, Sir Xu - calling a deer a horse. Maybe it's enough."
"Interesting, really interesting. You're a very interesting person, Lady."
Just then, a subordinate came over to report. "Sir, I've found something."
"Me too, Sir."
"Me too."
For a moment, there were responses one after another.
"Sir, Shentu and Yulei have also found something."
The names were quite interesting. They were named after the door gods, obviously referring to those two fierce mastiffs.
Xu Maozhi asked for a room and walked in with his subordinates in a leisurely manner. He left two people at the door to guard and didn't allow anyone to get close.
Xiao Tian whispered to Yi Qing, "Go back first."
"No, I want to watch."
"There will be a lot of people." Xiao Tian said, "I'll come back and tell you as soon as there's any news."
"I'm afraid you'll be taken advantage of." Yi Qing said, "This Xu Maozhi is not easy to deal with. I'm afraid he'll use his status to oppress you."
She was at least a first-rank lady, even if Xiao Tian was now a commoner.
Hearing her words, the corners of Xiao Tian's mouth couldn't help but curl up slightly. "Don't worry. There's still His Majesty. And I think -"
He lowered his voice. "Xu Maozhi is quite talented."
Although the other party suspected him, what he said seemed to be the truth?
There was indeed an ambiguous relationship between him and Yi Qing.
Yi Qing was extremely angry. "He accused you of murdering your master. Can you bear such a charge?"
"It's all baseless. I'm not afraid." Xiao Tian said, "Go back quickly."
Yi Qing knew that she really couldn't stay any longer. After thinking for a while, she nodded.
But when Xiao Tian came back, he didn't say anything about Xu Maozhi's investigation results.
"Just seeking fame." Yi Qing snorted. "I even thought he was really talented."
"That may not be the case." Xiao Tian still admired Xu Maozhi, but his face turned slightly red. "Maybe he just thought we weren't trustworthy and reported directly to His Majesty."
Yi Qing said, "I really want to make this a reality!"
"Huh? What did you say?"
"I said I really want to make this a reality!" Yi Qing said crossly. "There's really nothing between us. But after Xu Maozhi's words, everyone thinks we have an affair. If it were true, it would be okay. But there's clearly nothing..."
Xiao Tian glared at her.
Just then, he was called out, so the rest of her words were left unsaid.
In the evening, Xiao Tian was summoned to the palace by the emperor.
"Did Xu Maozhi find out anything?" As soon as he saw the emperor, he asked directly.
"Xu Maozhi has sharp eyes. He saw that there's something going on between you and Yi Qing and advised me to re-investigate the death of Xiao Jinghan. But you should be glad that there's actually someone in the court who's willing to speak up for you. It's really unexpected." the emperor said coolly.
Xiao Tian said, "Let's not talk about that. What did he find out about the arson?"
"Let's not talk about what?" the emperor was getting a headache. "He's pestering me now! He won't give up until he finds out the real cause of Xiao Jinghan's death. You don't know how stubborn he is!"
The emperor had given himself a big problem and was really headache now.
Xiao Tian said, "I just want to know about the arson case now. The bun scaring the horse is the most urgent matter."
The emperor said crossly, "It should be arson by someone. All the signs indicate that the arsonist is a woman. She's quite familiar with the General's Mansion and stayed in the study for a long time... If you want to know how he made these judgments, ask him. I'm getting a headache just listening to him. He now suspects that it was Yi Qing who did it."
"Nonsense. What motive could Yi Qing have for doing this?"
"He suspects that Yi Qing is a spy because..."
Xiao Tian's heart sank suddenly.
There was a tiger tally in the study!