That wretched vixen has disguised herself as my wife!

But she got too close; the girl's warm breath tickled her ear.

Jiang Jingming held back for a while, but finally couldn't help but tilt his head.

then--

"But it doesn't matter, our plan remains the same! Anyway, with a dancer suddenly appearing to assassinate the Chief Secretary, Chen Sha will be quite busy. We can take advantage of this opportunity... Hey!!"

Jiang Jingming unconsciously tilted his head, and Xie Yunqi's lips lightly brushed past his ear.

It actually felt like an intimate kiss.

Jiang Jingming felt something soft and warm touch his ear. Turning to the side, he saw Xie Yunqi's peach blossom eyes, bright and clear, and his cheeks and ears were flushed.

"..."

Jiang Jingming belatedly realized what had happened and was about to apologize when Chen Sha's gloomy voice rang out from beside him:

"Miss, there's no need to be so ostentatious when plotting."

Jiang Jingming looked up and met his gaze, seeing deep suspicion in the other's eyes, but no anger.

Judging from this situation, he probably didn't notice what just happened.

From an outsider's perspective, at most they would just think the two were whispering to each other.

If he knew what had just happened, he probably wouldn't have come over to warn him; he would have drawn his sword immediately.

“Vice Envoy Chen, instead of disciplining the young lady, shouldn’t you deal with this assassin first?”

Although Wen Fuxiao said this, she still lazily slumped in her chair.

The dancer's chest was still dripping blood, but he showed no intention of moving aside.

Chen Sha turned his head coldly and raised his left hand.

A squad of imperial guards in official uniforms filed in through the side gate and surrounded the seriously injured musician who was lying on the ground.

"Take him back, but don't let him die."

Chen Sha gave the order, then turned around and walked to Wen Fuxiao, raising his hand to pull out the sword stuck in the back of the chair.

The dancer's body lost its support and fell backward.

Before she closed her eyes, those alluring green eyes had already lost their color, as if covered with a layer of gray.

Without the enhancement of her seductive arts, she wasn't considered particularly beautiful.

“Lord Wen, these are extraordinary times. If I remember correctly, I have reminded you many times to be wary of suspicious individuals.”

Chen Sha wiped the blood from his sword, his tone serious and cold:

"If there's a next time, I'm not sure I can guarantee your safety."

"I'm afraid I wouldn't have died even if you hadn't come this time."

Wen Fuxiao sat up with a smile and drank the last of the wine in her glass in one gulp:

"The guest I invited is no suspicious person."

What he said wasn't wrong. If Chen Sha's sword hadn't flown over just now, Wu Jiu would have blocked the dancer's blade in time.

However, this might actually deepen Chen Sha's self-doubt.

Jiang Jingming silently raised his eyes and, sure enough, saw that the other person's gaze had fallen on the Wujiu at his waist.

According to Jiang Wuwang, he had stolen the knife from a renowned blacksmith, whom Gu Tinghan also knew.

Then, Chen Sha might also recognize him.

Jiang Jingming was a little worried about his interrogation, but he didn't expect him to quickly look away.

"That's a fine knife."

Chen Sha simply made a light comment before leaning forward to look at the young lady who had been inexplicably hiding behind this mysterious young man.

very strange.

As far as he knew, this young lady rarely had such a long period of quiet.

As the saying goes, when a child is quiet, they're definitely up to no good.

Chen Sha looked over with suspicion. Xie Yunqi was looking down, seemingly lost in thought, and hadn't heard a word the others were saying.

"Young Miss, why is your face so red?"

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Imprisonment

"what?"

Xie Yunqi belatedly looked up and quickly glanced at Jiang Jingming.

Under Chen Sha's questioning gaze, she touched her face and felt a warm, burning sensation.

"I just had a drink."

When the young lady lies, she doesn't sound as smug as usual.

"Commander Xie has repeatedly forbidden you from drinking alcohol, and you are still thousands of miles from home. How can he be at ease with your actions, Miss?"

Chen Sha frowned and reprimanded him sternly.

"Then go and complain to him!"

Xie Yunqi glared back defiantly, her temper flaring up at this moment.

"Go ahead and complain to him, arrest me and behead me! The crime is that I drank alcohol!"

"you!"

Chen Sha flicked his sleeves and shouted:

"Where is Lu Zhao? When I left the capital, I repeatedly instructed you to keep an eye on the young lady's every move. What exactly did you monitor?"

"My lord, the person you are looking for is here."

The person who answered him was Fang Zhiyi.

She placed the wine glass on the table and pointed with a smile at Lu Zhao, who was sleeping soundly over there.

Chen Sha took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and turned his anger towards the person who organized the banquet.

"Lord Wen, since such a serious matter has occurred at your residence, we have no choice but to ask you to come with us."

"No problem, no problem."

Wen Fuxiao lazily raised her hand, indicating that he didn't need to say anything more.

Chen Sha turned around again, his sharp gaze sweeping over the remaining people.

"And a few other guests who are here, please come along with Professor Wen."

"Chen Sha!"

Xie Yunqi, however, was not convinced.

"I brought them all to the dinner party. If you doubt them, you're doubting me! If you want to interrogate someone, interrogate me alone!"

"Young Miss, do you really think I won't interrogate you?"

Chen Sha stroked the stubble on his chin, his expression cold and hard:

"Take them all with you!"

"Yes!"

The Divine Capital Guards who were standing guard around quickly surrounded them, and for a moment the sound of shackles clashing could be heard all around.

Jiang Jingming remained still, pondering for a moment.

Given the current situation, it is absolutely not advisable to alert the enemy.

Chen Sha is currently investigating the case of the dancer's assassination of the chief secretary, which is none of their business.

Their identities were simply those of guests who had attended the banquet with the young lady; they were innocent victims caught up in the situation.

If you resist forcefully at this time, you will only fall into a more difficult predicament. It would be better to cooperate with the investigation for the time being.

Thinking of this, Jiang Jingming turned slightly to look at A Qing.

Aqing waited quietly for him to turn around, awaiting his signal.

Her right hand was hidden in her sleeve, and she had clearly already gripped the hilt of the knife.

Jiang Jingming shook his head almost inaudibly, and she quickly released the knife, then put her hands into the shackles handed to her by the Divine Capital Guard.

Chen Sha gripped the hilt of his sword, silently observing the reactions of the guests.

If anything unusual happens, or if someone tries to resist, he will take immediate action.

Surprisingly, apart from Miss Xie, who was still throwing a tantrum, everyone else was very cooperative.

His biggest suspicion was of the white-clad youth of unknown origin, but the youth easily unsheathed the extremely dangerous-looking narrow black knife from his waist, smiled and nodded at him.

The maid in green had just displayed such a murderous expression that Chen Sha almost thought she was about to draw her sword to protect her master, but she didn't.

The slender, delicate woman in white not only voluntarily extended her hands to cooperate in having the shackles put on, but also wore a rather interested smile on her face.

Interest? The interest of being arrested by the cops for the first time?

A group of oddballs.

Chen Sha mentally made a judgment about the new friends the young lady had made.

……

As the victim of the assassination and holding the official position of Chief Secretary, Wen Fuxiao did not need to be shackled and should not have been grouped with the suspects.

But Chen Sha was impartial and wanted to punish him for dereliction of duty and letting the enemy in, so he had no choice but to ride in the same carriage as the suspects.

Although Lu Zhao was still fast asleep, he was punished for multiple crimes, put in shackles, and thrown in.

This carriage was probably used by the local government specifically to transport prisoners; it was filled with messy hay and smelled damp and musty.

The six of them were crammed into the small, cramped space, staring at each other with wide eyes.

As soon as Wen Fuxiao entered, she found the most comfortable corner, closed her eyes to rest, and hummed an off-key tune.

Lu Zhao slept face down like a dead dog, emitting comfortable snores.

Aqing sat next to Jiang Jingming. She had just handed over her dagger and was now looking down as if she was studying the structure of the Divine Capital Guard's shackles.

Fang Zhiyi had probably had a good time drinking tonight. When Jiang Jingming looked at her, he always felt that there was a hazy, slightly tipsy look in her eyes.

Jiang Jingming looked away.

The dancer's painstaking training in seductive arts, honed over most of her life, was no match for her casual glance.

That's called talent.

"I'm sorry everyone."

Xie Yunqi buried his head in his knees for a long while before finally speaking in a muffled voice:

"It was because I insisted that everyone accompany me to visit Master Wen that we ended up in this situation. I was too willful."

"Why do you say that?"

Fang Zhiyi leaned forward with a smile, laboriously raised her shackled wrists, and patted her head:

"This is the first time I've been arrested by the authorities as a criminal. It feels pretty good."

Is this considered comforting someone?

Jiang Jingming remained silent for a long while, then kicked Lu Zhao, who was fast asleep beside him:

"On the other hand, if it weren't for that dancer's assassination attempt, your plan would have succeeded."

"That's true!"

Xie Yunqi let out a breath and elbowed Wen Fuxiao, who was dozing off beside him:

"So it's all your fault! Why did you buy those dancers to bring to your mansion?!"

"Oh dear... Little Xie, take it easy, you're going to break this old man's body."

For the first time, Wen Fuxiao let out a weary, sorrowful cry, like an old man: