Chapter 17 Ambiguous Red Marks

Chapter 17: Ambiguous Red Marks

Everyone turned to look, and it turned out to be Cong Shuang who had come out with a lantern to pick up Qin Jiao. Now the lantern lay on the ground, and her face was full of shock.

"Sister Cong Shuang..."

Seeing Cong Shuang's expression, and recalling what Xie Nai had just said about "savior," Qin Jiao's heart tightened, and he realized something was wrong!

The next second, Cong Shuang indeed ran over a few steps and urgently signed to Qin Jiao, "Last time you said you were rescued by a kind person on a rainy night—was that person the Prince?"

Qin Jiao weakly pressed his forehead—no, this really is a misunderstanding...

When Cong Shuang saw Qin Jiao rub his forehead, she more or less knew her guess was correct. Originally, she was extremely afraid of Xie Nai, but now that she knew he had saved Qin Jiao, her feelings shifted from fear and awe to warm gratitude.

"Young master, it's so late—the Prince and his men must be hungry by now! The meal is ready inside the residence; let's invite them to join us. I'll go stir-fry a few more dishes..."

Taking Cong Shuang's hand, Qin Jiao signaled her to stop first: "The Prince is busy investigating the case, so we shouldn't disturb them. Please go inside first, Sister; I'll come in a moment."

"Trying to fool me? Even if you're busy investigating, you still need to eat!"

"I wouldn't dare deceive you, Sister—they really are busy..."

The people nearby looked at the interaction between Qin Jiao and Cong Shuang with confusion. He Zhao waited for a pause in their signing to ask, "May I ask what this sister is saying?"

"It's nothing... Ah! Sister..."

Qin Jiao was about to fudge an answer when Cong Shuang stepped forward, made a scooping gesture as if eating from a bowl, then pointed toward the residence gate.

He Zhao immediately understood: "Is the sister inviting us into the residence for dinner?"

"Mm-hmm." Cong Shuang nodded, then pointed at Luo Bei and Luo Yue, and finally fixed a warm, enthusiastic gaze on Xie Nai.

Though she didn't speak a word, everyone understood her intent.

As everyone stood stunned, He Zhao burst into laughter. "Little Qin Jiao, you're being dishonest! Sister wants to invite us to dinner at the residence, and you're making excuses!"

Qin Jiao tried to explain himself: "No, it's just that the food in the residence is too simple—I'm afraid you won't like it, especially the Prince..."

After speaking, Qin Jiao secretly glanced at Xie Nai. Just today he'd said there was no need for further contact, and now he was inviting him to dinner at the residence? That... was inappropriate, inappropriate.

"Oh, come on! Though the Prince is noble and refined, he's weathered the battlefield—he's not that fussy. And I'm even easier—I'll eat anything! Let's go, let's go! I'm really hungry now. Hurry, hurry, into the residence!"

"I..."

Before Qin Jiao could finish, He Zhao pushed him toward the residence. Luo Bei and Luo Yue didn't dare act on their own and stood behind Xie Nai without moving. Qin Jiao was pushed along in a daze, but when he saw Xie Nai also step forward to enter the residence, he felt even more bewildered.

This bewilderment persisted until everyone entered the residence and finished dinner—Qin Jiao still hadn't snapped out of it.

——

A little while later, the fish soup pot was empty. He Zhao sprawled on a chair in the flower hall to digest his food, while Luo Bei and Luo Yue helped Cong Shuang clear the table.

Qin Jiao looked at the young man before him and hesitantly asked, "Would the Prince like to use some medicine?"

He was referring to the red mark on Xie Nai's neck.

"No need." Xie Nai's voice was cool, then he glanced at Qin Jiao's hand. "The young master is delicate; you should be more careful."

Qin Jiao: ...Are you sure you're not mocking me?

You, the Prince of Lingnan—born with a silver spoon, raised like a precious pearl—are calling me, a mere young master from the residence of the Vice Minister of Rites, delicate?

Fine, fine. Let's get to business.

Qin Jiao shook his head, casting aside the chaotic thoughts, and began to ask about the day's events—the families of the victims from Liming Academy seeking justice, and Zhao Yunzhi.

Earlier, Luo Yue had briefly mentioned Xie Nai's questioning of the victims' families. In short, they were begging the Prince of Lingnan to seek justice for their sons, insisting their sons were innocent, and they all mentioned a place called Zhaoxiu Tower.

Zhaoxiu Tower—Qin Jiao remembered Principal Li had mentioned it before, saying that Xue Lin often liked to go to Zhaoxiu Tower to buy things.

"Then shall we go to Zhaoxiu Tower tomorrow?"

"You don't need to go tomorrow." Xie Nai didn't deny that he planned to go to Zhaoxiu Tower tomorrow, but he didn't say Qin Jiao should come along.

"Didn't you say earlier that we needed to cooperate in the investigation?"

"Isn't it obvious? Now all the evidence points to Zhao Yunzhi and Zhaoxiu Tower. We're no longer suspects, so naturally we don't need to tag along." He Zhao's voice came through the screen.

"But I still want to continue participating in the investigation."

Qin Jiao had already been drawn into this case, and he didn't want to drop out halfway.

The unidentified female corpse in the Nanzhou morgue still hadn't been identified. Such a young woman, in the prime of her life like blooming flowers—she shouldn't vanish like smoke and dust without a trace.

During the day, Zhu Qi and Xue Lin's relatives had cried out for justice for them, but that poor girl had no one to speak for her.

Qin Jiao knew Xie Nai would seek justice for the deceased, but he wanted to witness with his own eyes that heavenly justice was clear and the wicked were brought to their knees.

"Your Highness, may I?"

Xie Nai didn't answer Qin Jiao directly—didn't say yes, didn't say no.

Qin Jiao couldn't read his mind, so he looked at him with hopeful eyes. After a long moment, Xie Nai said coldly:

"You may, but the young master must promise to stay by my side at all times. If something happens again, I'm afraid I can't afford to cost Prime Minister Lin a marriage partner."

Qin Jiao: ...Why bring up Lin Wen? Annoying.

Steadying himself, Qin Jiao replied, "Thank you, Your Highness, for allowing me. I will stay with you and take good care of myself."

"Mm." Xie Nai nodded. Just then, Cong Shuang brought in freshly brewed tea, and their conversation paused.

After handing tea to He Zhao and Qin Jiao, Cong Shuang carried a white porcelain tea cup decorated with carved plum blossoms to Xie Nai's side.

"Sister Cong Shuang, don't busy yourself anymore. Please go rest."

Qin Jiao smiled warmly, his voice soft and gentle with a hint of urgency.

"Mm." Cong Shuang respectfully placed the tea on the small table beside Xie Nai, smiled at Qin Jiao, bowed, and left.

"This tea is quite good." He Zhao lifted the lid, and the room was instantly filled with tea fragrance.

Xie Nai glanced at Qin Jiao, then reached for his tea cup.

"It's good, it's good—everyone, please try it." Qin Jiao smiled nervously.

He didn't dare look at Xie Nai. Of course it was good—this was the high-quality Yugu tea that Cong Shuang had specially bought, originally meant to be taken back to the capital as a gift for Lin Wen. Even the white porcelain with carved plum blossoms that Xie Nai was holding was part of the matching tea set prepared for the gift. And now...

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