Chapter 255: Miss Xin

Chapter 255: Miss Xin

Whether by coincidence or not, just as Xin You was staring intently at Chang Qing, Chang Qing's gaze swept over like lightning.

Standing in the crowd, Xin You went unnoticed. An officer spotted her movement and shouted, "Hold still!"

The scorching sun hung high in the sky, and both the kneeling death row prisoners and the onlookers were drenched in sweat.

Xin You felt eyes on her. Pretending to fix her hair, she glanced sideways and saw someone staring at her.

It was a tall young man, quite familiar-looking, probably one of the Jinlin Guards Lord He had lent her before.

Xin You acted as if unaware and turned to leave, but after a few steps, two men appeared and blocked her path.

One of them was the familiar Jinlin Guard, while the other approached from a different direction, not within the range of her earlier glance.

"Jinlin Guard," the tall Jinlin Guard flashed his badge. "Sir, please come with us."

The other Jinlin Guard kept a close eye on Xin You, ready to prevent any attempt to escape.

Two more Jinlin Guards appeared behind Xin You, closing in on her.

These Jinlin Guards weren't initially targeting the youth suspected of being Songling, but in such chaotic situations, undercover Jinlin Guards were always present to gather information and monitor the scene.

Xin You had anticipated this, which was why she appeared in the guise of Songling at the execution ground.

Given that people believed Songling was loyal to the Empress, it made sense he'd attend the execution of those responsible for her death.

She lowered her head and followed the guards, blending in seamlessly.

The guards surrounded her cautiously, eager to get her back to the office as quickly as possible. Once Xin You was in the carriage, they breathed a small sigh of relief. One Jinlin Guard drove at breakneck speed, while two squeezed into the small compartment, never taking their eyes off Xin You.

Xin You sat expressionless, allowing them to scrutinize her without reaction.

She was prepared for whatever situation Songling might face and had considered what image of Songling would be appropriate.

Unlike Miss Kou, who sometimes needed to appear sweet and obedient, the Songling who sought revenge for the Empress with unwavering courage, calmness, and defiance was more fitting. If she appeared anxious or overly eager, it would seem incongruent.

Songling was more like her former self.

The carriage sped along, and before long, they arrived at the Northern Pacification Office.

"Get out!" a Jinlin Guard said in a low voice, with a hint of warning.

Xin You silently stepped out of the carriage and entered the Northern Pacification Office once again, coming face to face with its highest official, He Qingxiao.

"My lord, we found someone suspected to be the person in the portrait at the execution site in the west market!" The Jinlin Guard who brought Xin You reported to He Qingxiao, unable to hide his excitement.

They had been searching for the person in the portrait for a long time, even wanting to turn the capital upside down, but there had been no progress. Unexpectedly, they found this person at the west market today. Confirming this would be a huge achievement.

Compared to the excitement of his subordinates, He Qingxiao's mood was much more complicated, filled with surprise, helplessness, and a hint of realization.

"My lord?" Seeing that He Qingxiao remained silent after the report, the subordinate called out in confusion.

Did they catch the wrong person?

No, this youth looked very much like the person in the portrait.

He Qingxiao suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said calmly, "Step back. This matter is confidential, and I will interrogate him personally."

"Yes."

Everyone in the hall left, leaving just the two of them alone.

They locked eyes for a long moment before He Qingxiao finally broke the silence, asking, "Should I address you as Mr. Songling or Young Master Xin?"

This question was essentially asking how Xin You wanted to position the relationship between Mr. Songling and Young Master Xin.

Xin You understood what he meant and answered calmly, "I am both Mr. Songling and Young Master Xin."

No one had ever seen Mr. Songling, but plenty knew Young Master Xin. Now, acknowledging that Mr. Songling, the author of *Journey to the West*, was actually Young Master Xin would make her next steps easier.

"I understand." He Qingxiao's expression changed as he looked at the handsome youth and sighed softly, "Miss Kou, why put yourself through this?"

Xin You smiled. "Since I decided to stay in the capital, I must face what’s to come. It’s better to be myself than to continue using Miss Kou’s identity."

Using Miss Kou's identity was initially necessary, a cautious step-by-step plan. Now that the other party was aware of Young Master Xin’s existence, there was no need to worry about causing a stir from Shaoqing Mansion. Resuming the identity of Young Master Xin would be more practical for investigating her mother's killer.

There was one point Xin You had never revealed to anyone. After experiencing the whip punishment here, she had come to a realization: she could leave this place of right and wrong and live a carefree life with her abilities. However, if she chose to stay, relying solely on the identity of the cousin lady of Shaoqing Mansion, even with the favor of Princess Zhaoyang and others, she would still be too weak when facing real power.

To that person, even the respected Miss Kou was just another notable citizen.

"Miss Kou, are you sure about this?"

"Is there any room for regret?" Xin You asked with a smile.

He Qingxiao's voice lowered. "If Miss Kou regrets, there will be a chance."

After a moment of silence, Xin You shook her head. "How could Lord He justify that? Don’t you care about your future and life? Since I’ve made my decision, I won’t hesitate. Plus, I can help Lord He earn some credit. It’s a win-win, right?"

Seeing that Xin You’s resolve was firm, although He Qingxiao didn’t want her involved in these troubled waters, he could only respect her decision. "I will have to keep Young Master Xin here for a while. I need to make a trip to the palace."

Once "Young Master Xin" was mentioned, the tranquil days of the Qingsong Bookstore owner and book-loving Lord He were over. From now on, it would be Young Master Xin, the suspected legitimate prince, and He Qingxiao, the commander of the Northern Pacification Office.

Before leaving, He Qingxiao gave Xin You a deep look.

Though she was dressed as a man, her demeanor and actions showed no signs of femininity, and even her voice was different, clear like a young man’s.

He Qingxiao gave Xin You a slight nod and left the Northern Pacification Office, heading straight for the imperial palace.

At that moment, Emperor Xingyuan was engrossed in Buddhist scriptures.

Taoism and Buddhism have long histories. Some emperors emphasized Taoism, while others emphasized Buddhism. The emperor’s emphasis determined the status of these religions in the current dynasty. Unlike his predecessors, Emperor Xingyuan, a commoner-born founding emperor, believed in whichever he needed at the time—very pragmatic.

At that moment, he was reading Buddhist scriptures simply because there were too many executions over the past two days, some of whom were his long-time ministers, like Lord Pei. He was reading to calm his mind.

"Your Majesty, Changle Marquis He Qingxiao requests an audience."

Emperor Xingyuan put down the scriptures and said coldly, "Summon him."