Chapter 18: The Unbelievable Clue

Among the four greatest joys in life, the wedding night should be a festive and exciting occasion. Yet, Xiao Rui thought the groom, Xu Haoran, looked off during the ceremony, even forcing a smile.

Could it be a forced marriage?

Xiao Rui couldn’t help but imagine a dramatic plot.

“Little Nine, this Xu family young master is smiling awkwardly. Does he not like our cousin? He looks unwilling,” Xiao Rui asked.

Xiao Yan nodded. “He really does. He looks listless. But it shouldn’t be like this. I heard Xu Haoran and Xiao Qingqing fell for each other first, then their families started discussing marriage. For this, Lord Xu even requested His Majesty to transfer Xu Haoran back from Luzhou Prefecture, taking a demotion of one rank to join the Censorate.”

“Oh,” Xiao Rui nodded.

Suddenly, he reacted and asked, “You said he was transferred back from where?”

“Luzhou! What’s wrong? He served as the Luzhou Prefectural Judge, a Sixth Realm official at a young age,” Xiao Yan explained.

“What a coincidence?” Xiao Rui muttered to himself.

Xiao Yan saw him looking distracted. “Seventh Brother, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing.” Xiao Rui snapped out of it and replied. Then he looked at Xu Haoran, his mind beginning to wander.

He couldn’t help it. Who told him to mention the keyword Luzhou.

As the ceremony ended, the wedding banquet officially began.

After three rounds of drinks, Emperor Xia returned to the palace. With him here, no one could eat comfortably.

Xu Xianyang personally went to see Emperor Xia off. Accompanied by Xu Xianda, Xu Haoran first came to the main hall to propose toasts.

He toasted the Imperial Princes and the four Grand Secretaries first, then came to the table with the Imperial Princes.

He toasted each one in turn, and soon it was Xiao Rui’s turn.

On a whim, Xiao Rui took the wine Xu Haoran offered and whispered, “Congratulations, Young Master Xu. We almost missed your wedding wine. Luckily, Lord Wei of Yingtian Prefecture mentioned your marriage.”

Xiao Yan, who was eating beside him, froze upon hearing this. In his heart, he thought Seventh Brother was talking nonsense to stir trouble. He quickly tilted his ear to listen.

Xu Haoran’s smile stiffened. He asked instinctively, “Your Highness went to Yingtian Prefecture… If there’s anything to handle, I’d be glad to help.”

Xiao Rui said, “Nothing major. You know about the recent murders in the Capital City. Five lives, including an infant still in swaddling clothes. Alas, I reported the case, so naturally I’m concerned…”

While speaking, Xiao Rui stared at Xu Haoran and was surprised to see a flicker of confusion in his eyes. Xu Haoran’s hand holding the wine shook, almost spilling it, but it was quickly covered by a blooming smile.

“Oh, I heard about that too,” Xu Haoran said. “Your Highness, I toast to you.”

After saying that, he drank it down and was about to leave.

Xiao Rui suddenly grabbed his wrist and smiled. “I hope the deceased didn’t affect your happy occasion.”

Xu Haoran’s eyes met his, then instantly looked away. He smiled and said, “No effect, no effect at all. Your Highness, please sit.”

Xiao Rui sat down. Xu Haoran toasted Xiao Yan and quickly left the main hall.

Xiao Yan saw Seventh Brother still staring intently at Xu Haoran’s retreating back and immediately asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong, Seventh Brother? Do you suspect he’s related to the murder case?”

Xiao Rui glanced around and whispered, “Let’s talk outside.”

The two immediately sat up straight, eating and drinking as they should.

The wedding feast ended, and guests departed one after another.

Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan bid farewell to their older brothers and took a carriage back.

In the carriage, Xiao Yan couldn’t wait any longer. “Seventh Brother, you suspect Xu Haoran is related to the murder case? How is that possible? There’s no connection at all?”

“You said he was transferred from Luzhou, so my mind started wandering and connecting things, so I tested him. Who knew the test result would shock me,” Xiao Rui said gravely. “You saw Xu Haoran’s reaction. If you said he wasn’t hiding something, would you believe it? And this matter feels strange. The clue came out of nowhere.”

Xiao Rui suspected the System was up to something, but it didn’t feel like it. His instinct told him there was definitely a problem here.

Xiao Yan nodded. The image of Xu Haoran’s behavior earlier flashed in his mind. Was that how someone uninvolved should act? He was flustered, his hands trembling, but he forced himself to stay calm.

“This is getting serious,” Xiao Yan couldn’t help but say.

Xiao Rui laughed. “What’s wrong? Are you scared?”

“Scared of what?” Xiao Yan said stubbornly. “Seventh Brother, what should we do?”

“Let’s investigate first,” Xiao Rui immediately said righteously. “We must not tell anyone. Only you and I know. Understood?”

“Understood,” Xiao Yan nodded repeatedly.

The next day, Xiao Rui sent Gao Quan to investigate all the servants and guards of the Xu family.

Gao Quan spent the whole day before hurriedly returning.

“Why did it take so long?” Xiao Rui asked.

Gao Quan said, “I was afraid of alerting the enemy, so I used connections to invite one of the Xu family’s stewards, got him drunk, slipped him some silver, and then inquired.”

“Oh? Any valuable clues?” Xiao Rui asked eagerly.

Gao Quan said, “By asking this steward, I didn’t hear about any outsiders staying at the Xu house ten days ago. However, there’s a lead concerning what Your Highness specifically asked about. Someone in the Xu Manor did indeed take a long leave and hasn’t been at the manor during this time.”

“Who?” Xiao Rui sat up straight and asked quickly.

Gao Quan said, “Xu Xianyang’s trusted aide, Steward Cao. I heard he suddenly requested sick leave over ten days ago and hasn’t been seen since.”

“Huh?” Xiao Rui was startled. How did this involve Xu Xianyang now?

Could it be that not only Xu Haoran was involved, but also his father, Xu Xianyang, the Minister of Works and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall?

“Damn, this is huge.”

Xiao Rui suddenly felt like he was facing something terrible ahead.

That damn System. It really wouldn’t stop until it got him killed.

“Investigate! Find out Steward Cao’s residence and locate him!” Xiao Rui gritted his teeth and said fiercely.

“Yes, Your Highness,” Gao Quan immediately took action.

The twelfth day after the murder was discovered.

Gao Quan tried every means to inquire and finally found traces of Steward Cao. He had returned to his hometown, a village under Liuhe County in Yingtian Prefecture.

Finding the trace was thanks to Gao Quan’s cleverness. He directly found Steward Cao’s favorite courtesan and got the information from her. Otherwise, just asking around would never have worked.

Simultaneously, Xiao Rui realized the drawback of lacking manpower. Relying solely on Gao Quan wasn’t a good solution either.

Upon learning Steward Cao’s location, Xiao Rui couldn’t sit still. He immediately took Xiao Yan out hunting, quietly arriving at Steward Cao’s hometown. He sent Gao Quan into the village to check. In the village, Gao Quan happened to see Steward Cao wandering around leisurely.

Sick?

He looked perfectly healthy. Sick my foot.

It was just that his face and neck had scratch marks, which had already scabbed over.

Gao Quan quickly left the village and joined Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan.

“How was it? How was it?” Xiao Yan immediately asked.

Gao Quan looked at Xiao Rui.

“You saw him?” Xiao Rui asked.

Gao Quan said, “Yes, he was wandering around. Didn’t look sick. There were scratches on his face and neck. Judging by the timing, it could match the case!”

“So it is him!” Xiao Yan said in shock.

Xiao Rui also took a deep breath and exhaled.

“So, what’s the motive?” Xiao Rui asked with burning eyes.

“Let’s go to Luzhou!” Xiao Yan suddenly said.

“Hmm?” Xiao Yan was tempted, but he shook his head. Imperial Princes cannot leave the Capital City without permission. Getting caught and brought back by the Imperial Guards would be embarrassing.

“Gao Quan, you go!” Xiao Rui had no one else, so he could only send Gao Quan.

“What about this Steward Cao? Arrest him?” Xiao Yan asked.

But Xiao Rui fell into hesitation.