Chapter 7 Joining the Investigation

Chapter 7: Joining the Investigation

Little Master Qin almost lost his cool: Intentional favoritism, private protection?

This pheasant spirit sure has an imagination... and a whole new set of phrases every time.

But after He Zhao's ruckus, everyone's attention fell on Qin Jiao and Cong Shuang.

Xie Nai also looked at Qin Jiao. The young master stayed unruffled, his expression open: "We are willing to assist in the investigation, but my maidservant can't speak. When I discovered the body, I immediately covered her eyes, so she saw nothing. Don't pressure her—just ask me."

As Qin Jiao finished speaking, Xie Nai glanced at Cong Shuang, then looked away coldly.

"Then, Little Master Qin, please explain why you were at the crime scene, and you..." Luo Bei repeated the same questions to Qin Jiao that he had asked He Zhao.

Qin Jiao answered each carefully, while Cong Shuang nodded along.

After listening, Luo Bei bowed his head and thought for a bit, then asked, "Aside from what you've mentioned, did you notice anything else suspicious at the scene, Little Master Qin?"

"Let me think..."

Qin Jiao lowered his head in thought, but the memory of the alley was too gruesome, and recalling it was genuinely painful.

The young master’s face still had a fresh wound, his delicate brows knit tight, making him look almost pitiful.

Xie Nai stayed expressionless as he used his slender hand to lift the tea lid, instantly filling the room with the rich scent of tea.

And right then! In a flash, something struck Qin Jiao!

"I just remembered! Besides the blood smell, there was a weird scent at the scene!"

Qin Jiao hadn’t remembered that scent until Xie Nai lifted the tea lid—the burst of aroma jogged his memory!

He’d felt sick earlier not just from the blood, but also from that mysterious fragrance.

The new clue lifted everyone’s spirits, and Luo Bei’s voice went up an octave: "What kind of strange fragrance? There are many exotic flowers and plants at the crime scene—could it be the scent of one of them?"

"It wasn’t like land plants—more like something you’d smell in water."

When Qin Jiao finished, everyone got quiet. A water scent?

That description was kind of vague...

"Isn’t water just fishy? How can there be a weird smell?"

He Zhao, still on the floor, cocked his head, thought it over, then blurted at Qin Jiao, "Are you a bloodhound?"

"..."

Qin Jiao held back his urge to deck this pheasant spirit. "Who says water only smells fishy? There’s the scent of water, mud, summer lotus, spring duckweed—they all have smells. But I can’t tell what that weird smell at the scene was."

Xiao Nianzhang, the Governor of Nanzhou who knew the local flavor best, put in, "Nanzhou has a river that loops around the city, with hundreds of tributaries spreading everywhere. So tracking down that water scent could be tough."

Nanzhou was a border city shaped like a ring, with a river that, just like its name, wrapped around the whole city.

After a moment, Qin Jiao said: "Maybe we can start with the canal transport and the floating flower markets. Canal workers have seen a lot and know their stuff. The floating flower markets are even easier. As far as I know, there are two major floating flower markets in Nanzhou. If you send someone to ask around, it should take about a day."

"Thank you, Little Master Qin." Since this was the third murder in Nanzhou, Xiao Nianzhang was set on cracking the case, so he was ready to follow the clue Qin Jiao gave. "Your Highness, what about next steps?"

Qin Jiao saw Xie Nai set down his teacup and say: "Luo Bei and Governor Xiao will go to the water transport and floating flower markets together. As for Little Master Qin—witness and clue-giver—he needs to assist the investigation..."

Xie Nai's gaze fell on Qin Jiao. "You’ll accompany me."

"?"

"What do I need to do with you, Your Highness? I have other matters to attend to..." Qin Jiao immediately tried to refuse. He was investigating—why drag me along?

But Qin Jiao’s refusal was about as effective as a fly pushing a rock—Xie Nai just ignored him.

"This one on the floor..." Xie Nai, probably not wanting to deal with He Zhao’s theatrics, didn’t even spare him a glance and just told Luo Bei, "Give him the Bone-Crushing Pill."

The Bone-Crushing Pill—just the name sounded nasty, and He Zhao instantly got on guard. He popped up off the floor like a cat and tried to bolt.

But Luo Bei was quicker. A red pill in hand, he closed the gap in just a few strides, then forced it down He Zhao’s throat and left without a word—the whole thing went off without a hitch.

"Cough! Cough!" He Zhao's face flushed, and he coughed incessantly. "What did you feed me, you bastard!"

"The Bone-Crushing Pill, as its name suggests, crushes bones with its poison. Without the antidote, you'll die within a month. So this time, don't think about running off on your own." Luo Bei was referring to the time He Zhao had escaped from the Governor's residence.

"I'll cooperate with the investigation, okay? Why use such a cruel method to restrain me!"

Ignoring He Zhao's wails, Luo Bei returned to stand behind Xie Nai.

Qin Jiao was stunned by the scene. The war god's decisive action indeed revealed a cruel and reckless nature!

A draft passed through the hall, rustling the leaves of a cotton rose in a pot. Xie Nai, whose countenance was even more beautiful than the cotton rose, turned slightly toward Qin Jiao: "What were you saying just now, Little Master Qin? That you had something to do and didn't want to accompany me..."

"No, I have nothing! I am willing!"

At that moment, Qin Jiao dared not have anything else to do...

Hearing Qin Jiao's answer, a faint smile curled at the corner of Xie Nai's lips.

At that moment, Xie Nai shed his usual lazy aloofness. The small red mole at the corner of his left eye sparkled, giving him a kind of enchanting, ravishing beauty.

In the silence, Qin Jiao heard Xie Nai say, "Very good."

Qin Jiao thought: I don't know what's good about this, but I'm certainly not good...

Xie Nai led Luo Bei and the others outside. Qin Jiao lagged a few steps behind to give instructions to Cong Shuang. After sending her off, a figure darted to his side.

It was He Zhao.

Qin Jiao: "Something?"

He Zhao looked at Qin Jiao. "See, the Prince of Lingnan is definitely showing you favoritism." He said with indignation and speechlessness, "We were both witnesses, yet only I, a commoner, ended up poisoned!"

Qin Jiao: "..."

"You've misunderstood. Just now it was your own fault..."

Qin Jiao tried to explain, but He Zhao suddenly bellowed, his voice echoing through the hall: "Don't deny it! That day at the Governor's residence, the Prince of Lingnan tried to hold your hand, and you didn't agree. I saw it when I was escaping!"

Qin Jiao: !!!

He quickly covered He Zhao's blabbering mouth and said urgently, "Don't shout, don't shout! You really misunderstood! It's not what you think!"

"Don't stop me! I used to think the Prince of Lingnan was upright and selfless, but it turns out he's... Mmmph."

The rest of He Zhao's words were smothered by Qin Jiao's hand.

"You really misunderstood. Listen to me—at that time, we were fighting over a jade pendant..."

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