Chapter 26 Broken Hairpin Message

Chapter 26: A Broken Hairpin Delivers a Message

Not only did Qin Jiao have no power in Nanzhou, even in the capital, he was just the son of a minor official, the Vice Minister of Rites.

"Then someone wants to use you to send a message to the Prince of Lingnan or Xiao Nianzhang," He Zhao, who hadn't been to Zhaoxiu Tower and didn't know what was going on, said. Qin Jiao thought for a moment. "This message should be for the Prince."

The matter was becoming increasingly bewildering, and they needed to find Xie Nai quickly. He Zhao also realized this problem. "Let Xiao Nianzhang send someone to look for Xie Nai outside the city."

Speak of the devil. "Little Master Qin! Are you okay!" Xiao Nianzhang hurriedly ran toward Qin Jiao from not far away, followed closely by Xiao Yue and a group of government runners. Xiao Nianzhang was running so fast that he almost tripped.

"We're fine, Governor. Take it easy." Qin Jiao reached out and helped steady Xiao Nianzhang.

"Good, you're all safe! Someone at the government office just reported that your mansion was on fire, so I rushed over. Quick, go put out the fire!"

Xiao Nianzhang directed the runners to extinguish the fire. He was even more worked up about the fire than Qin Jiao was. Seeing that the three of them were disheveled, Xiao Nianzhang said, "You all must be shaken. Why not head to the Governor's residence to freshen up?"

"We wouldn't want to trouble—" Before Qin Jiao could finish his polite refusal, He Zhao's cold voice cut in: "I'm not going to the Governor's residence. You kept me locked up for two days—I haven't forgotten!"

Xiao Nianzhang looked a bit embarrassed. "That was all a misunderstanding. What do you say, Little Master Qin?"

Qin Jiao also had no intention of going to the Governor's residence. First, Xiao Nianzhang's invitation was clearly an attempt to cozy up to Xie Nai; second, the Governor's residence was too far from Zhaoxiu Tower, making going back and forth a waste of time.

Qin Jiao handed the broken hairpin and the small note to Xiao Nianzhang and briefly explained what had just happened. After listening, Xiao Nianzhang frowned and urgently instructed Xiao Yue, who was standing nearby: "Go to the camp outside the city and tell the Prince to come into the city right away."

"Yes!" Xiao Yue replied and ran toward the horses.

"Governor, the situation is urgent and we cannot afford further delay. We'll find an inn to clean up first. When the Prince gets into town later, we'll head to Zhaoxiu Tower." Qin Jiao said.

"Alright." Xiao Nianzhang beckoned a runner. "Take Little Master Qin and his people to Yuanfang Tower."

"Thank you, Governor," Qin Jiao said.

"You're welcome, Little Master Qin. Please go ahead and rest at Yuanfang Tower. I'll join you there after I handle things here."

"Very well."

Xiao Nianzhang had someone escort Qin Jiao and the others out, then led several runners to begin inspecting the surroundings. The fire at the Qin Mansion was too suspicious—whether it was a natural disaster or arson, he needed to personally oversee the investigation.

Dawn broke, the wind ceased, and the fire was extinguished. After the fire, the Qin Mansion was a total mess—pitiful to see. After spending some time at the fire scene, Xiao Nianzhang took his men and headed to Yuanfang Tower.

By the time Xiao Nianzhang entered Yuanfang Tower, Qin Jiao and the others had already washed up. As Xiao Nianzhang entered, he happened to run into Qin Jiao, who was about to go out.

Xiao Nianzhang hurriedly stopped him. "Little Master Qin, has the Prince arrived?"

"No, I was actually looking for you, Governor, to ask about the fire." Qin Jiao thought waiting idly for Xie Nai was not a good plan; it would be better to resolve one matter first by finding Xiao Nianzhang.

"I already have some leads on this. Let's go inside and sit down to talk."

"Alright." Qin Jiao was slightly surprised; he had expected it to be complicated, but there were already leads.

Entering Yuanfang Tower, He Zhao and Cong Shuang happened to be coming downstairs just then. The owner of Yuanfang Tower recognized Xiao Nianzhang and quickly brought tea and pastries. Xiao Nianzhang didn't even touch his tea; he had the runners bring in a grimy little beggar and a night watchman.

"I questioned everyone around the mansion. These two both said that before the fire, two men in black entered your mansion. Therefore, I suspect this fire was not an accident but arson."

"In fact, people had been hanging around the mansion for a few days already," the night watchman added nervously.

Qin Jiao's expression changed slightly. So last night, his feeling that someone was outside the mansion was not an illusion.

"Did you see the faces of those two men in black?" He Zhao asked through clenched teeth.

"It was too dark, we didn't see..." The little beggar and the night watchman both shook their heads.

"So it was planned! If I ever get my hands on them, I'll shove a bottle of Bone-Crushing Pill down their throats!"

Qin Jiao saw He Zhao was furious and quickly said, "Calm down."

Xiao Nianzhang also said seriously, "I'll keep investigating and I'll find who did this. As for the damage to your mansion..." He was about to suggest listing the losses to get compensated later when the culprit was caught, but Qin Jiao waved his hand. "They're just things, not worth much. Besides, I'm headed back to the capital soon, so the losses don't matter."

Qin Jiao thought to himself that the mansion's most valuable "prize"—Cong Shuang—had already been taken out. As for other material possessions, burning them was fine. He had come to Nanzhou with nothing, and he'd go back to the capital just as empty-handed.

"Little Master, you can list the losses; it's not hard to make a record," Xiao Nianzhang tried to persuade him again, but then he saw Xiao Yue, the man he'd sent to find Xie Nai outside the city, had come back.

Seeing Xiao Yue, Xiao Nianzhang instinctively looked behind him, but there was no sign of Xie Nai.

"Where is the Prince?" Xiao Nianzhang's expression turned displeased.

Xiao Yue panted heavily as he replied, "Reporting to the Governor, the Prince is not at the camp outside the city. I didn't see the Prince."

"Are Luo Bei and Luo Yue gone too?" Qin Jiao's brow furrowed slightly.

"No." Xiao Yue was low in rank, and the people at the camp outside the city only said that Xie Nai was not there; they wouldn't tell him anything else.

He Zhao was already pacing. "I knew he was a scoundrel! He disappears when we need him most!" Beside him, Cong Shuang stood up, looking worried.

"What do we do? Keep looking for the Prince, or head to Zhaoxiu Tower first?" Xiao Nianzhang didn't dare make a decision on his own. Qin Jiao kept his cool. "Governor, have your men keep looking for him. We'll go to Zhaoxiu Tower first."

Time was running out; they couldn't wait for Xie Nai anymore.

"Alright." As soon as Qin Jiao finished speaking, He Zhao was about to dash out, but Qin Jiao grabbed him.

He Zhao gave him a questioning look.

"He Zhao, stay behind and take care of Sister Congshuang for me. The Governor and I will go to Zhaoxiu Tower together." Seeing He Zhao's confused look, Qin Jiao leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I'm afraid those two unseen men in black will strike again."

Cong Shuang couldn't speak; if she ran into danger, she couldn't even call for help. So Qin Jiao needed someone he trusted to look after her.

He Zhao was silent for a moment, then nodded firmly. "I'll take care of Sister. You be careful yourself."

Qin Jiao squeezed He Zhao's hand, his eyes hard and determined.

"Thank you. We're off."

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