Chapter 19: The Identity of the Deceased

The scratches on Steward Cao’s face and neck were likely caused by the deceased. However, such injuries alone could not serve as definitive evidence for a conviction.

Moreover, this involved Grand Secretary of the Cabinet Xu Xianyang. Would Wei Tai dare to arrest and interrogate him?

Also, Steward Cao was no fool. Confessing meant a death sentence for him; even under severe torture, he would not admit guilt.

Xiao Rui sighed and said to Xiao Yan, “We cannot alert the enemy. We should first investigate the relationship between the deceased family and Xu Haoran. What if they had no relationship at all, and all of this was just a coincidence? What if Steward Cao was climbing near someone else’s wall at night and got scratched by another man?”

Xiao Yan nodded, then said to Gao Quan, “Before you leave, go to my residence to get some money. Spare no expense to uncover the truth.”

“Yes, Ninth Highness,” Gao Quan replied.

The three returned to the city, and Gao Quan immediately set off for Luzhou.

There were still eight days left until the task deadline. Time was running short for Gao Quan.

Xiao Rui returned to his daily routine of studying. He no longer asked for leave and became more focused in class, which made Dr. Jin quite uncomfortable.

Another seven days passed.

Covered in dust and exhausted, Gao Quan finally made it back to the Capital City just before the city gates closed.

“Your Highness, I have returned,” Gao Quan said, looking weary, likely from the long and arduous horseback journey.

“Go get some food, take a hot bath, and rest,” Xiao Rui said.

Gao Quan shook his head. “I am not tired.”

“I am not in a hurry. I will send someone to fetch Xiao Jiu. You go and rest,” Xiao Rui insisted firmly.

Only then did Gao Quan go to wash up.

Xiao Yan arrived quickly. Half an hour later, Gao Quan woke up after a brief nap.

“What did you find out?” Xiao Yan asked eagerly.

Xiao Rui patted Xiao Yan. “Don’t rush. Let Gao Quan explain from the beginning, slowly.”

Gao Quan detailed his findings. “Your Highness, when I reached Luzhou, I knew that investigating the deceased family alone would yield little information, so I started with Xu Haoran. He had only returned to the Capital City three months ago. Everyone in Luzhou remembered this deputy magistrate who had been transferred back to the capital fondly. He had a good reputation, was gentle and casual, showed no bureaucratic airs, understood the people’s concerns, and was a good official who stood up for the common folk. I visited the residence where Xu Haoran had lived and asked the neighbors. They all said he lived a secluded life, devoted himself entirely to official duties, was unmarried, led a clean personal life, and was never seen bringing any women home. Just when I thought the trail had gone cold, I had a sudden idea and found a Subordinate Official who had worked under Xu Haoran during his tenure.”

“When I first arrived in Luzhou and directly asked this person about Xu Haoran, he naturally refused to speak and even tried to have me arrested. Left with no choice, I used an eight-thousand-tael Silver Banknote as bait to get him to tell the truth.”

“According to this person, Xu Haoran was indeed gentle, casual, refined, and scholarly. Having come from the Capital City, which unmarried young lady in Luzhou did not admire him? However, Xu Haoran never fooled around. His character was upright.”

“But, just over half a month after Xu Haoran was transferred away, a woman suddenly came to the Luzhou Prefecture office holding a child, asking for Xu Haoran. At that time, Xu Haoran had already returned to the Capital City. Seeing her acting crazily, they drove her away.”

“That woman stayed in front of the government office for half a day with her child, looking dazed. The Subordinate Official, who had previously worked under Xu Haoran, saw her looking devastated on his way home and asked her a few questions. The woman only said she came from Tian’an County and had something important to discuss with Xu Haoran, but refused to say anything else. The Subordinate Official told the woman that Xu Haoran had returned to the Capital City, seemingly to get married. Upon hearing this, the heartbroken woman let out a wail, hugged the infant, and ran off.”

When Gao Quan reached this point, Xiao Rui and Xiao Yan sat up straight. The crucial part was coming next.

“I immediately rushed to Tian’an County to investigate the woman’s identity. After some inquiries, I finally learned that a family from Tian’an County named Wang had gone to the Capital City to visit relatives and had not returned. This family of five consisted of the Wang couple, their son, their younger daughter, and the infant, who was the illegitimate child of their eldest daughter. This was a scandal in Tian’an County, so it was easy to learn about this family. I showed a portrait of the deceased, and it was confirmed that the deceased were indeed from the Wang Family.”

“The Wang Family were just ordinary commoners, not a wealthy family. It was only after the baby was born that they suddenly seemed to become rich. They bought a fine house and hired a large group of servants and maids, spending lavishly. However, judging by their social standing, it seemed impossible for the Wang daughter to have any connection with Xu Haoran. Despite my investigations, I could not find out how the two met or whether the child was indeed Xu Haoran’s.”

“Your Highness, this is all the information I managed to uncover.”

Gao Quan looked apologetic.

Xiao Rui patted his shoulder and smiled. “Time was tight. It’s already not easy to have found this much. At the very least, we have confirmed the identities of the deceased. However, you just mentioned the baby belonged to the Wang family’s eldest daughter. Where is she now?”

“It seems she died during childbirth due to complications,” Gao Quan said.

Xiao Rui nodded, feeling the relationships were becoming more and more tangled.

“This information is far from enough to convict Xu Haoran!” Xiao Yan said angrily.

But Xiao Rui said, “Now that the identities of the deceased are confirmed, we can determine their purpose for coming to the Capital City: to find Xu Haoran. Regardless of whether the baby boy is his biological child, the Wang Family was accommodated by the Xu family upon arriving in the Capital City, which is why no traces were found in inns, guesthouses, or rental houses. Later, for some unknown reason, the Wang Family left in a hurry. Steward Cao caught up with them, strangled the four adults, and smothered the infant.”

“Why kill them? There’s no reason. Even if the child were Xu Haoran’s, and he was to marry the Commandery Princess, there would be no need to kill the Wang Family. The baby’s mother was already dead. Also, Steward Cao carried out the killings. Was it arranged by Xu Haoran or by Xu Xianyang?” Xiao Yan asked.

Xiao Rui nodded. He checked the System. The task still showed no sign of completion. So, even though he had uncovered the identities of the deceased, without finding out the reason for the murders, the task remained incomplete.

Tomorrow was the task deadline. What should he do?

Xiao Rui had a headache.

“Maybe we should lure the snake out of its hole?” Xiao Rui suggested.

“Seventh Brother, you want to approach Xu Haoran directly and try to get information from him?” Xiao Yan was startled.

Xiao Rui nodded.

Xiao Yan quickly said, “No! If it were anyone else, with our status as Imperial Princes, we wouldn’t be afraid. But Xu Xianyang is a Grand Secretary of the Cabinet. Even as Imperial Princes, we cannot afford to offend him.”

“Do you have any other good ideas?” Xiao Rui asked.

Xiao Yan shook his head.

“Let’s do it!”

Xiao Rui stood up. This time, it wasn’t for the Advent Points, but for the five innocent lives lost, including the infant still in swaddling clothes!

“I’ll go with you,” Xiao Yan clamored.

“You can be my think tank. It’s not suitable for too many people to show up for this. You need to help me guard carefully against Xu Xianyang,” Xiao Rui refused.

Xiao Yan patted his chest. “Seventh Brother, don’t worry.”

Xiao Rui smoothed out a piece of paper and asked Gao Quan, “What were the names of the two Wang daughters?”

“The eldest daughter was Wang Qingling, the younger daughter Wang Qingyin. Oh, right, they were twins and looked almost identical,” Gao Quan remembered and quickly added.

Xiao Rui nodded, then wrote the three characters for Wang Qingyin on the paper and handed it to Gao Quan. “Tomorrow morning, deliver this to the Xu residence. Say that I invite Young Master Xu for a simple drink at Cuiyun Tower.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Gao Quan replied, taking the note and leaving.

Xiao Rui gazed at the flickering candlelight, narrowing his eyes.