Chapter 361: Chapter 357: The Return of an Old Friend

Parting ways at the intersection, the wheels turned towards Qinren Street.

“Send someone to Xue Seventh Son’s house to inquire,” Tang Xiaobai instructed softly, “Keep an eye on Xue Seventh Son’s fiancée.”

Earlier, she had asked Xue Shaojian about this fiancée, and Xue Shaojian had only said, “It’s a matter concerning the household, I’m not very clear.”

But since Xue Shaojian was so close with his cousin, and Xue Shaoqin’s household only had two female members, how could he not know at all?

There must be something unusual about this.

This anomaly quickly surfaced.

In less than half a day, Tao Zi had already gathered information and returned.

“The woman’s surname is Su, named Zhenniang, from Sichuan. After arriving in the Capital City with Xue Seventh Son, she stayed with the Xue Family. After the marriage was set, she rented a house in the southern part of the city as a place to move into after marriage. However, whether staying at the Xue Family or in the southern city, she remains reclusive, and very few people have seen her;”

“After Xue Seventh Son was murdered, someone saw Su Zhenniang at the Xue Family, but two days later, she disappeared, and no one has seen her since.”

Tang Xiaobai frowned and asked, “Is Lady Xue ill?”

Tao Zi nodded, looking somewhat indignant: “Lady Xue was widowed for over ten years and finally managed to raise Xue Seventh Son, how could she bear such a blow? She fainted on the spot. Su Zhenniang initially took care of Lady Xue for a night, but by the next day when Lady Xue regained consciousness, Su Zhenniang was gone. To think Xue Seventh Son treated her so well, her conscience eaten by dogs!”

Tang Xiaobai felt an odd sense within her heart and asked, “Did Lady Xue say anything?”

Tao Zi’s expression was one of pity: “Lady Xue was so heartbroken that she seemed like she’d lost her soul, how could she bother with these things?”

Tang Xiaobai nodded in contemplation.

Strangely enough, she had never met this woman named Su.

When encountering Xue Shaoqin on the street, she didn’t see her;

When Xue Shaoqin attended the examination at Chongwen Hall, she didn’t see her;

Now that Xue Shaoqin has met with an untimely death, she still hasn’t seen even the shadow of Miss Su.

According to Xue Shaoqin, he and Su Zhenniang were deeply in love, and he brought her all the way from Sichuan to the Capital City to marry her.

Then why was she absent from all of Xue Shaoqin’s important occasions?

Even if the affection was fake, she should’ve at least pretended, right?

Was it by chance that she didn’t see her? Or did she deliberately avoid her?

Now that Xue Shaoqin’s body is barely cold, and the fiancée is missing.

Was someone forcing her to leave? Or did she want to leave?

The more Tang Xiaobai thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

She had heard before that in homicide cases, except where there is clear evidence pointing to someone, the close relatives of the deceased tend to be highly suspect.

Thinking of this, Tang Xiaobai instructed, “Make a trip to Anyi Village and ask Brother Tao to help investigate Su Zhenniang!”

After Cheng Zi left with instructions, Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment and then instructed, “And find out who took over Xue Seventh Son’s case?”

…

This time, there was no need for her to find out; someone personally brought the news to her.

The case was directly transferred from Wannian County to the Ministry of Justice, with Chief of the Ministry of Justice Lu Jin presiding over it.

There was only one presiding judge, but there were two supervisors.

One was Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Yan Ling.

Yan Ling was the third son of the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Yan Yuebin, the elder brother of Yan Jingjing, and also the Prince Consort of Princess Runan, known as Yan Third Son.

Yan Third Son wasn’t known for having any real skills, his title as Junior Minister of the Ministry of Justice was purely for the sake of Royal Family’s prestige.

The possibility of appointing him as a supervisor was more about filling quotas, as Tang Xiaobai wasn’t really concerned about him.

But the other one was rather concerning.

The other supervisor was Prince Jin, Li Shu.

Tang Xiaobai, after hearing this, pondered for a moment and then looked toward the person delivering the news: “What does your master mean by this?”

“Master Ten instructed me to ask Second Miss if she still remembers the beggar Jia San?”

Tang Xiaobai’s gaze shifted.

…

Xue Shaoqin and the other two were all locals of the Capital City.

Initially, due to the unclear cause of death and surrounding rumors, the county government hadn’t formally filed the case, so the bodies were still kept at their respective homes for the funeral.

Currently, with the Ministry of Justice ordered to investigate, the bodies needed to be taken to the government office for a thorough autopsy.

Yet, on the night before the Ministry of Justice planned to take the bodies for examination, a fire broke out at Xue Shaoqin’s residence.

The Xue clan members fought desperately to rescue the unconscious Mrs. Xue and a charred, unrecognizable corpse from the flames.

…

It was the height of spring, the fragrant grasses and green branches, peach and apricot trees competing in beauty.

But just within a mere dozen steps was scorched earth, collapsed beams and columns.

Tang Xiaobai stood at the street corner gazing distantly, her eyes growing sore.

In this very place, she had once seen the joyous comings and goings of young men;

In this place, she had seen white silk hanging at the gate;

But now, what lay before her were charred ruins, government officials carrying out charred bodies.

Even if burned beyond recognition, the bodies still had to be taken away by the Ministry of Justice.

“That fire burned really fiercely.” An icy voice reached her ears.

Tang Xiaobai turned her head to look.

In a purple robe with a jade belt, brows cold and stern.

When speaking, his eyes were fixed on the Xue Mansion ahead; unless there were no others around, it would be hard to tell he was speaking to her.

Tang Xiaobai slightly frowned, bowing in respect, “Prince Jin.”

Her gaze swept past Li Shu again, her heart wary.

What was Prince Jin doing here?

“In the twelfth year of Taixing, Fire broke out in the Morgue of Wannian County office, burning several corpses beyond recognition,” Li Shu turned his face, looking coldly at her, “Too many corpses in the morgue made distinguishing them difficult, but the Xue Family only had Xue Shaoqin’s body.”

Tang Xiaobai nodded indifferently, “What Prince Jin said is very true.”

The Xue Family had only Xue Shaoqin’s body, so logically it wouldn’t undergo thorough identification.

“What if it’s discovered it isn’t Xue Shaoqin?” Li Shu fixed his gaze unwaveringly on her.

Tang Xiaobai smiled slightly, “Prince Jin will surely make a decision.”

If it’s found not to be, then they should just find the body, what else can they do?

After all, they won’t be able to find it on her.

Li Shu squinted, seemingly pricked in his eyes, frowning and averting his gaze, “The spring warmth is spreading, many things can’t be hidden even if one wants to.”

“What Prince Jin said is very true.” Tang Xiaobai didn’t even bother to change her lines.

Li Shu gave her a long look, then turned and left.

Tang Xiaobai silently watched his departing back.

Li Shu was correct, as the weather warms, the body can’t be hidden for long.

Moreover, if hidden for too long, it might prove useless.

Getting into the carriage: “To Anyi Village.”

Tao Fen lived in Anyi Village.

As soon as he saw Tang Xiaobai, he proactively reported the progress: “Haven’t found the person yet. The neighbors nearby have only seen Xue Seventh Son visiting, none have seen Su Zhenniang stepping out. If Su Zhenniang hadn’t run out on the day Xue Seventh Son was killed, they’d be doubting if anyone lived in there at all.”

“No one saw her face even when she ran out?” Tang Xiaobai asked puzzled.

Tao Fen shook his head, “It’s said Su Zhenniang wore a bamboo hat with a veil, covering herself tightly.”

This was even stranger.

Her fiancé died so suddenly and in her grief, she still remembered to cover her face?

“Su Zhenniang didn’t return to the southern house after leaving that day. Don’t worry, give me a bit more time to find out about her.” Tao Fen comforted.

Tang Xiaobai recollected herself and shook her head, “I’m not here to rush for information about Su Zhenniang, there’s another more urgent matter I need Brother Tao’s help with.”

Tao Fen’s expression became serious, “What matter?”

“Spread the news of Xue Seventh Son’s death, as quickly and widely as possible!”

…

Tang Xiaobai wasn’t sure how Tao Fen was spreading the news.

But seven days later, the person she was waiting for appeared.

Under a bamboo hat, face full of dust, who knows how many days of rushing with no rest, a pair of phoenix eyes seemingly stained with fresh blood:

“Where is the body?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep