After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

Xuan Qi glanced at the mess in the room and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Xiao Changqi and Shen Jingque were unharmed.

His explanation was concise and to the point.

"I'm investigating a case and I've found out that the perpetrator's accomplice is meeting at Fanji Xiangfang today."

"I just remembered that Miss and the Second Young Master came here today, so I rushed over."

A flash of inspiration struck Shen Jingque.

The fake seller had clearly intended to take Fan Suyao away by stuffing her into a sack, but only after hearing her and Xiao Changqi go upstairs did he reluctantly put her into the closet.

She disguised herself as Fan Suyao, seemingly intending to take her place.

Could it be... that Sister Fan in the sack is the "goods" they originally intended to hand over?

Shen Jingque slapped her thigh and stood up, pointing at the woman on the ground.

"Brother Xuanqi, could the accomplice you're looking for be her?"

Xuan Qi's gaze fell on the figure who was trembling from holding his breath, and his brows furrowed.

"What exactly happened here?"

Shen Jingque explained the whole story in just a few words.

Upon hearing this, Xuan Qi's expression grew even more solemn. He glanced around and lowered his voice.

"This matter has far-reaching implications and should not be investigated further here."

He bent down and twisted the woman's arms behind her back, quickly binding them. "I'll take her back for a secret interrogation first. Don't mention what you saw today to anyone else."

Shen Jingque was so curious that her heart was itching like a cat's, but she knew what was important and obediently nodded.

The woman was clutching her stomach, unable to straighten her back, and when Xuan Qi lifted her up, she immediately couldn't hold it in anymore.

Instantly, a series of crackling sounds erupted, and an indescribable odor spread out from her center.

Shen Jingque pinched her nose and took two steps back.

It stinks!

He actually wet his pants like that!

Remembering the lie he'd just told her, he mischievously leaned closer and added, "You've already pulled your intestines out..."

The woman's face turned deathly pale, her expression filled with terror, and she fainted after her eyes rolled back.

Shen Jingque: "..."

So easily frightened, yet still going out to do bad things.

Xuan Qi held his breath and led the person away.

On the soft couch in the inner room, Fan Suyao's eyelashes trembled, and she finally slowly woke up.

His gaze was initially unfocused, but gradually sharpened, and he immediately met Xiao Changqi's face, which was very close to his.

That usually smiling face was now tense, and her eyes held lingering fear and apprehension.

Fan Suyao paused, her throat dry and sore, her voice as weak as a mosquito's buzz: "Young Master Xiao...?"

Xiao Changqi shuddered, as if awakened by the voice. "You're awake! Is there anything else that's bothering you? Are you dizzy?"

His voice was urgent, completely lacking his usual composure.

After a moment, he realized he had lost his composure and stood helplessly by the bed.

Shen Jingque chuckled to herself, thinking how innocent her second brother was.

She tactfully got up. "It's good that Sister Fan is awake. I... I'll go outside and see how the staff are doing with the tidying up."

As she turned around, she winked at Xiao Changqi, then slipped out lightly, thoughtfully closing the door behind her.

The room fell silent.

Xiao Changqi stood by the couch for a moment before moving to the embroidered stool and sitting down, pouring himself a cup of warm water.

As he handed it over, his fingertips touched Fan Suyao's slightly cool hand, and both of them froze.

He quickly withdrew his hand, lowered his head, and spoke in a muffled voice.

"I...I didn't mean to barge into your private room. Please...please don't be angry with me."

Fan Suyao took a sip of water and moistened her dry, chapped lips.

Her gaze toward Xiao Changqi was no longer as cold as before. "If you hadn't come, I'm afraid I would be in grave danger today. Why would I be angry with you?"

Xiao Changqi suddenly raised his head.

For the past three years, no matter how much he flaunted himself in front of Fan Suyao, she ignored him.

This is the first time I've spoken to him so calmly, even gently.

Xiao Changqi sat restlessly by the bed, feeling as if he were in a dream, both excited and unreal.

Fan Suyao leaned listlessly against the bed, drowsy, probably because the effects of the medicine had not completely worn off.

So Xiao Changqi tactfully stood up, tucked the thin blanket around her, and said, "You rest well, I'll handle things outside."

He turned to leave, but his sleeve seemed to be gently hooked by something.

Looking down, I saw Fan Suyao's fingers.

"Thank you, Young Master Xiao."

Xiao Changqi stood there, the blush on his ears spreading up again, burning all the way down to his neck.

He gave a mumbled reply and walked out almost simultaneously.

Through the crack in the door, Shen Jingque saw everything, her lips curling into a wide smile.

She had a feeling that her brother might finally have a chance to sit at the table.

……

Imperial Prison.

This place holds prisoners arrested by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

It is dark and damp all year round, filled with a rusty, fishy smell.

It tastes like blood.

The flickering torchlight cast a dim, indistinct glow on half of Xiao Changgeng's profile.

The wheelchair stopped outside the cell door, and Xuan Qi stepped forward and unlocked the heavy iron lock.

A stench mixed with the smell of excrement and sweat hit you, making you frown.

In a corner of the cell, a woman was bound to a rack, her dress soaked through and emitting a foul stench.

The mask that had been used to disguise him had been removed, revealing a face with high cheekbones underneath.

Xuan Qi reported: "I have examined it and found that the mask is made of a special material, not an ordinary item from the martial arts world."

"According to the information provided by the young lady, her original plan was to kidnap Manager Fan and take his place, and to remain hidden in the incense shop for a long time."

Xiao Changgeng's gaze swept over the disheveled face, his voice as cold as ice.

Why choose Fanji Xiangfang?

The woman raised her head, a mocking smile curving her lips: "Kill me or torture me... it's up to you, but don't even think about getting a single word out of my mouth."

Xiao Changgeng gazed at her quietly for a long time, then suddenly smiled.

"You and the group that went to the palace, you're in cahoots, aren't you?"

The woman's pupils suddenly contracted.

Xiao Changgeng noticed her subtle reaction and his lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile.

You guessed right.

He stopped looking at her and gestured for Xuanqi to push the cart away.

The iron gate closed behind me, the sound of the lock echoing in the empty passageway.

Xuan Qi couldn't help but ask, "How did you know she was involved in the case in the palace?"

Xiao Changgeng leaned back in his chair, his face calm: "I didn't know, I was just bluffing her."

Xuan Qi was taken aback.

Xiao Changgeng slowly explained the reason.

A few days ago, palace servants found the mummified body of a palace maid in a dry well in a side hall. Someone recognized her as a palace maid from Consort Liang's palace.

However, those who recognized her said they had seen her on duty in Consort Liang's palace just the day before.

"A person who had been dead for a long time was still walking around the palace the day before."

Xiao Changgeng tapped his fingertips lightly on the armrest. "I suspected at the time that someone had killed the palace maid and impersonated her."

He didn't alert the enemy, but instead ordered his men to keep a close watch on the "fake palace maid's" every move.

"And today's fake Fan Suyao is using the same method."

The same skin mask, the same stunt double technique.

Such elaborate impersonation must have some ulterior motive.

Xiao Changgeng closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all that remained in his eyes was a cold and desolate clarity.

"Tell the captain who's watching the palace maid not to alert her."

"Wait for a bigger fish to bite."