Chapter 45: Overnight Stay

Chapter 45: Overnight Stay

It was entirely normal for the Criminal Affairs Bureau to visit a suspect's residence and request a look at their face as part of an investigation.

None of them had seen Hongxiu before. They didn't know if she always covered herself up like this, or only did so in front of strangers, or perhaps only when they were around. In any case, it was all rather suspicious.

If Hongxiu had simply removed her veil without hesitation, revealing a face that was clearly distinct from the wanted portrait, then that would be the end of it. She would be temporarily removed from the list of suspects.

But to everyone's surprise, Hongxiu took a small step back and apologized, "My lord, I'm afraid I cannot comply."

That was peculiar.

Fang Mingyan asked, "Why? Is there something wrong with your face that can't be seen?"

Hongxiu shook her head.

Fang Mingyan continued to look at her.

Have you misunderstood the situation? I'm not your devoted subject, but here to investigate a case. Is it up to you whether or not I look?

Feeling the sternness of the person before her, Hongxiu explained, "Your Excellency, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I refuse to reveal my true face; I've made a vow since childhood that only my husband can see my visage. Whoever sees my face must marry me."

That was peculiar. Fang Mingyan turned his gaze to the maid standing nearby.

He refused to believe that Hongxiu, a woman who used her beauty to manipulate men at Cui Zhuxuan, had never shown her face to anyone.

Leaving aside everything else, those young masters weren't fools either. They wouldn't just throw money at her for some light banter and singing and dancing. Nobody's wealth fell from the sky.

Without bait, who would take the hook?

The maid proved to be quite astute. Noticing Fang Mingyan's stare, she nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, that's right," the maid said. "Your Excellency, you might not know this, but our Miss always wears a veil when meeting guests. Whether it's conversing, playing the zither, reciting poetry, or engaging in wordplay, she does so with the veil on. She never removes it in front of any unrelated males."

Indeed, it was something difficult to describe.

In Jiang Yunxin's mind, a series of indescribable scenes unfolded.

Perhaps wearing the veil adds a touch of intrigue.

From her voice alone, Red Sleeves was undoubtedly a stunning beauty.

If she insisted on keeping her veil on, there might be a reason behind it – perhaps a scar on her face or some feature she was displeased with.

She knew that once her true appearance was revealed, her business would come to an end. Thus, she chose to cultivate an air of mystique and ambiguity.

It was like a lute player partially concealing her face – seeing it all would somehow diminish the allure.

With the right marketing skills, one could captivate countless men without even showing their face.

However, Fang Mingyan was not just any ordinary man.

He said, "I'm not here to recite poetry or enjoy your performances. We're investigating a murderer, and we suspect that you might be the culprit. So, whether you like it or not, you'll have to remove your veil today."

Though his words seemed unreasonable, Jiang Yunxin found Fang Mingyan to be quite a refined official.

Red Sleeves whispered softly, "If you were to see my face, Lord, you'd have to marry me. Would you be able to do so?"

None of them could understand how Hongxiu could say such a thing.

If every female suspect employed this tactic, Fang Mingyan's home, even with its twenty mu of land, wouldn't be enough to accommodate them all.

It was Jiang Yunxin who came to the rescue in crucial moments.

Just as Fang Mingyan was about to ask Long Qiao to proceed, Jiang Yunxin suddenly spoke up, "It's alright, I'll do it. You said yourself that only men aren't allowed to see your face. As a woman, I can take a look instead."

Everyone was taken aback. How did they not think of that?

Fang Mingyan's expression softened.

Indeed, there was no difference between Jiang Yunxin looking and him doing so. Hongxiu was merely making trouble for no reason, and Fang Mingyan had no intention of stooping to her level. Ultimately, a mere glimpse of her face would reveal the truth.

It was true that having a woman in the court made many tasks easier to handle.

Work was less exhausting when done by both genders, as the wisdom of their ancestors had always said.

With this, Hongxiu had no choice but to nod and say, "Please follow me, Miss."

As Jiang Yunxin was about to follow, Fang Mingyan interjected, "Stay here and watch. If you turn away, we won't look either."

Hongxiu was still a suspect; if she were the murderer, it would be perilous for Jiang Yunxin, who knew no martial arts, to trail behind her.

Despite everyone here testifying that Hongxiu had an alibi during the crime, her face was perpetually veiled. Who could guarantee that the Hongxiu present was truly the real Hongxiu?

Hongxiu didn't insist and slowly turned around to remove her eyepatch, handing it over to a maid beside her. Then, she took off her veil.

Jiang Yunxin approached for a glance.

Indeed, it wasn't her.

The servant girls' description of the woman they'd seen on the night Ma Xiuneng died bore no resemblance to Hongxiu.

Though this one was also beautiful, it was a different kind of beauty.

It was a matter that could be settled with a single glance. After Jiang Yunxin shook her head at Fang Mingyan, indicating that it wasn't the same person, she observed Hongxiu's poised demeanor.

Though not of noble birth, they were well-versed in social etiquette, ensuring every gesture and expression was graceful, conveying the most pleasant impression.

Red Sleeves spoke softly, "May I put on my veil now?"

Fang Mingyan replied, "Go ahead."

The crowd sighed in relief but also felt a tinge of disappointment.

If not Red Sleeves, then who else could it be?

Red Sleeves donned her veil and then her eyepatch before turning around.

"Lord Fang, you may now verify that I am not the murderer you're seeking."

Fang Mingyan remained silent.

He still harbored suspicions about Red Sleeves, despite the fact that this face wasn't the one he was looking for. But what about the attire?

The killer had worn ordinary clothes when returning home with Ma Xiuneng, but upon leaving, had donned an extravagant outfit to kill the two minions.

There was a chance that the murderer had changed clothes, or perhaps there were two culprits in the first place.

In that instant, Fang Mingyan felt that further investigation of the Emerald Bamboo Manor was worthwhile.

He glanced at the dark sky outside. "It's already late, and the journey back would be inconvenient. Would it be possible for me to stay here for the night?"

Of course, Red Sleeves was a million times unwilling.

If Fang Mingyan were a playboy like Ma Xiuneng, she would have chased him away without hesitation to maintain her dignity and aloofness.

But Red Sleeves didn't dare refuse.

Fang Mingyan was entirely different from the other young masters she had encountered. They were negotiable, but Fang Mingyan was not. He carried an air of solemn authority and a chilling menace.

Living in the capital, Red Sleeves had naturally heard of the Criminal Court. It was a name that could scare children at night. Who didn't know that the Criminal Court was a living hell, where even the innocent lost half their lives upon entering?

One could invite a deity easily but find it hard to send them away. With Fang Mingyan requesting to stay, Red Sleeves felt powerless to turn him away.