Chapter 52 Xie Nai Views Painting, Old Case Uncovered

Chapter 52: Xie Nai Views a Painting, Leading to an Old Case

“The eldest young master is back! Quick, come inside!”

Steward Wen rushed out hurriedly, just as Qin Ji was leaving.

Steward Wen was about fifty years old, an old family retainer who came with Qin Jiao’s mother from her maiden home, and he doted on Qin Jiao.

At this moment, Steward Wen’s eyes were red with emotion, “You’ve gotten thin, young master. You must have suffered in Nanzhou.”

Qin Jiao smiled to comfort him, “Steward Wen, you’re mistaken. I haven’t grown thin.”

Steward Wen’s eyes shimmered with tears, “You have! But it’s good to be home. Where’s better than home?”

“Mm.” Qin Jiao nodded with a smile and didn’t refute Steward Wen’s words.

“Quick, come inside! We knew you were coming back, so we got Mountain Sunset Residence ready!” With that, Steward Wen took the luggage from Qin Jiao and Cong Shuang’s hands and led them inside.

The Mountain Sunset Residence was the place Qin Jiao had lived in before leaving the capital. The courtyard was not large, but it was exquisitely crafted.

When Qin Jiao pushed open the gate to the courtyard, he felt disoriented. It had been so long that even the place he grew up in felt a bit unfamiliar.

“See if you’re missing anything, young master.”

“It’s fine. Thank you, Steward Wen.” Qin Jiao entered the room and put the red plum branch Jiang Qingrong gave him into a vase. Steward Wen poured tea and handed it over, but Qin Jiao took it and held it without drinking.

Cong Shuang looked around—everything in the residence was just as it had been three years ago. However, since they returned to the estate, they still hadn’t seen Qin Yuanshan or Yu Shuhan.

In other families, when a son came home, his parents would be thrilled and go all the way out of the city to meet him. But Qin Yuanshan and Yu Shuhan hadn’t even shown their faces or sent anyone to check on him.

Qin Jiao frowned slightly and looked at Steward Wen. “Where are my father and Madam Yu?”

When Qin Jiao was young, he called Yu Shuhan “Auntie,” but now that she was the lady of the Vice Minister’s household, he ought to call her “Mother.” Of course, Qin Jiao couldn’t bring himself to say that. Since Yu Shuhan had deliberately left him to rot in Nanzhou, he didn’t want to call her “Auntie” anymore, so he just used the household’s term—“Madam Yu.”

“Today, Chancellor Lin’s mansion is throwing a banquet for Old Madam Lin’s eightieth birthday. The Vice Minister and Madam went to the Lin Mansion to wish her a happy birthday.”

So they went to Lin Wen’s place. “I see. I thought they were avoiding me on purpose.” Qin Jiao’s voice was soft, but with a bite of sarcasm.

Steward Wen quickly tried to comfort him. “How could that be? Don’t overthink it, young master! They’ll be back in two hours at most. You can rest first.”

Qin Jiao smiled but didn’t respond.

“Steward Wen, let the young master rest. I’ll see you out.” Cong Shuang said.

“Very well.”

Cong Shuang walked Steward Wen out, leaving Qin Jiao alone to pace the courtyard.

But in a pavilion Qin Jiao hadn’t noticed, Qin Ji—who had just left—and the second young miss, Qin Han, stood watching him from across the courtyard.

Sixteen-year-old Qin Han wore a sky-blue brocade dress with little floral designs. She was already stunning, with bright eyes and an enchanting air. She held a bunch of vibrant ice flowers in her arms, her eyes locked on Qin Jiao. Beside her, Qin Ji kept his handsome face stern, looking like someone owed him a fortune.

They watched Qin Jiao the whole time he paced. When Qin Jiao finally went inside and disappeared from view, the siblings turned and left.

But Qin Jiao remained completely unaware of their arrival and departure.

——

The clouds cleared, and the stars came out.

“What’s so urgent you had to see me now? You’re about to head into the capital—can’t we talk back at the prince’s mansion?”

Right then, a young man stood at the entrance of the main tent in the Lingnan Army’s camp outside the capital, looking at Xie Nai from a distance, who was all in black.

“The situation in the capital is complex. It’s better to be cautious,” Xie Nai said, taking a painting from the table and unrolling it.

“Very well.” The young man walked toward Xie Nai. “What are you looking at?”

Suddenly, the young man’s voice cut off. The next second, he snatched the painting from Xie Nai, his expression turning cold. “This is…”

The familiar brushwork, the familiar small signature—the young man exchanged a glance with Xie Nai, who confirmed his suspicion: “This is your teacher’s painting.”

“Teacher…” The young man’s voice trembled slightly. He reached out cautiously to touch the painting, his eyes filled with visible reverence and affection.

“Where did you get this painting?” The young man stared at it with a burning intensity. “I know every one of my teacher’s paintings, but I’ve never seen this one.”

“Two men in black hid it on Firethorn Mountain. I came across it by chance.” Xie Nai looked at the painting with a deep gaze.

“And those two men in black? Did they confess anything?” The young man suddenly let out a mad, deranged laugh. “If they’re stubborn, you can hand them over to me.”

Though the Prince of Lingnan also had ways to make people talk, the Dali Temple had more methods.

“Killed.”

The flickering lamplight cast shifting shadows, illuminating Xie Nai’s sharp, stern face.

The young man’s voice turned low: “Did they say something?”

They had been investigating this case for a long time. The young man knew well that Xie Nai was not someone who acted on impulse. If something had enraged him, those two must have spoken some treasonous words.

A flash of ferocity passed through Xie Nai’s dark eyes. “All nonsense, best not to repeat it.”

“Then what do you plan to do next?” the young man continued.

Xie Nai’s face was as calm as water. “First, investigate this painting.”

The young man cradled the painting with great care, his eyes were bloodshot. “Then let me handle it.”

Each profession has its specialty. When it comes to investigating cases, it’s better for the Dali Temple to handle it.

Xie Nai said nothing, silently agreeing.

……

----------------------------------------