Chapter 121: Chapter 121: The True and False Princely Heir
When Pei Ji’an received the message and went to the Xiao Family to investigate the separate courtyard, the Thousand-faced Monster Hand had already vanished without a trace.
It was then that the Xiao Family realized Chun Chan had long been dead, and the one who had entered with them earlier might have been a significant criminal fugitive from the court.
Mrs. Xiao’s entire legs went weak, and she collapsed onto a chair.
"If anything happens because of this, wouldn’t it be my fault?"
Ji Nishang hurriedly poured her a cup of hot tea and handed it over, "Aunt, don’t feel bad. You came here for Nuannuan’s sake. It’s only natural to be concerned and make mistakes because of love."
Since the "lost corpse" incident last time, Xiao Nuan had been having nightmares every night and her mental state was deteriorating.
Mrs. Xiao thought of taking her to Hanshan Temple to pray for blessings, seeking Buddha’s protection to ward off evil.
Who would have expected such a thing to happen?
After Ji Nishang finished speaking, she added, "If we must assign blame, it should be Heir Pei’s lack of supervision, not our concern."
She had inquired and found out that today her cousin and Heir Pei were responsible for the inside and outside of Hanshan Temple respectively. Now that Heir Pei’s supervision was lax and allowed villains to infiltrate, it’s his problem.
Upon hearing this, Mrs. Xiao’s guilt lightened considerably, but—
"Chun Chan had been with me for half my life, and now she’s so young and..."
Mrs. Xiao couldn’t help but wipe her tears.
Ji Nishang, however, didn’t have much affection for Chun Chan, "Give her family some extra silver as a reward, and that’s that for the master-servant relationship."
If it wasn’t for that girl insisting on picking wildflowers during a rest on the way, giving the villains an opportunity, she wouldn’t have died in vain, implicating her in being followed by the villains for so long. Luckily, nothing happened; otherwise, her reputation would have been lost.
Mrs. Xiao didn’t think that far. She picked up the Buddha beads and began to chant.
The pilgrims in the temple were strictly forbidden from going out, mostly staying in their accommodations or the courtyards.
Meanwhile, the people of Heir Pei and Prince Xiao continued to investigate secretly.
They had been investigating for two days without any results, still unsure of whom the villain had disguised as to deceive everyone.
The pilgrims, cooped up for two days, couldn’t help but want to go out. Mrs. Xiao was among them.
If it weren’t for this incident involving her, she wouldn’t have been able to sit still long ago, enduring till today was her limit, especially since nothing had happened these past two days, what could possibly occur?
Perhaps the villain had already escaped.
When the guards at the door blocked her from going out, she sent someone to call her son.
She had come on this trip to pray for her daughter’s blessing. It’s been two days, and if she didn’t go to pray before Buddha, it would seem insincere.
When Xiao Shiqing heard his mother’s request, he was quite troubled but had to go back and persuade her a little.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, someone called out to him.
"Cousin."
Ji Nishang, who had been waiting for a long time, saw her cousin arrive and quickly lifted her skirt to walk over, raising her head slightly with a smile, "Cousin, are you going to persuade Aunt?"
Xiao Shiqing paused slightly, looking at her, frowning, "What do you want to say?"
Ji Nishang seemed unaware of his deliberate aloofness, still smiling, "Cousin is busy with work, and I shouldn’t take up your time, but Aunt hasn’t been eating or sleeping well these two days, worrying about Nuannuan. That’s why she thinks of going to pray before Buddha. Aunt’s deep love for her daughter is understandable, and I hope cousin can understand a little."
Xiao Shiqing remained expressionless, yet he nodded and then walked inside.
Ji Nishang watched his tall back from behind, a trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes. She had deliberately adorned herself earlier, yet her cousin hadn’t spared her a glance.
Mrs. Xiao hadn’t seen her son for two days. The day she entered Hanshan Temple, when her son returned, although he didn’t blame her, Mrs. Xiao felt guilty. Later, when he didn’t come back, she didn’t dare say anything, but in her heart, she missed and thought about him. Now that she saw him, she happily approached, and after some concern, she brought up the main issue.
"Mother just wants to go pray before Buddha, what could happen? Look at your sister’s condition, don’t you feel for her?"
Xiao Shiqing truly didn’t feel much for her; she could hire someone to kill. She ought to be punished; otherwise, what wouldn’t she dare do in the future?
But in the end, he couldn’t speak those words. Xiao Shiqing only gently comforted his mother and then said, "Mother can go out, but once outside, please don’t wander around, especially to those remote places. Wherever you go, you must have guards with you."
As soon as Mrs. Xiao heard she could go out, she immediately nodded, "Mother knows, don’t worry."
She then immediately got up, happily preparing to go out.
Xiao Shiqing called for the guards, ordering them to follow throughout.
By now, continuously prohibiting the pilgrims from going out also wasn’t a solution. It would be better to let everyone out; perhaps there might be new discoveries, as long as everyone didn’t wander off to remote areas, nothing should happen.
The Xiao Family could go out, and naturally, so could the Pei Family.
Qu Fulan only accompanied the matron to burn incense and pray once before excusing herself due to discomfort, staying obediently in her room.
One can’t blame her for being so cautious; after all, the original plot was right there, and she, bearing the protagonist’s role, feared getting pulled back into the storyline with one wrong step.
Opportunities for ancient men and women to interact were already rare, and Li Jirou and Xiao Shiqing had grown up together since childhood, like childhood sweethearts, having feelings was too normal.
In such circumstances, if Xiao Shiqing saw her, he would definitely take her away against all odds.
By then, everything she had built so far would be for naught, let alone if she was brought to the Xiao Family, she certainly wouldn’t retain the freedom she enjoyed at the Pei Family.
Of course, she could choose not to go to the Xiao Family, but in her current situation, with no one to rely on, where could a woman go?
Although Xiao Shiqing would protect her for a while, he couldn’t protect her forever. Besides, his mother didn’t like her. Who knows what trouble she would stir from within?
At that time, forget about living a dignified life; she wouldn’t even know when she might lose her life.
Now, at the Pei Family, though a servant, she was lucky to have encountered a sensible superior with corresponding rights and freedom.
The key is she could entirely follow her own plan, and in the future, part ways amicably. The network she was building now wouldn’t disappear.
In contrast, Xiao Shiqing was like a plague to her, something she must avoid.
When Pei Ji’an came over, Qu Fulan was bent over writing.
Even out and about, one couldn’t neglect work tasks.
"Why didn’t you go out with the matron and others?"
Qu Fulan turned her head to see the tall and handsome Heir Pei, who had unknowingly arrived and was leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed, leisurely watching her.
She was about to ask why he had the time to come over, knowing that he had been as busy as a glimpse of a divine dragon these past few days, but the moment she saw Heir Pei walk in, she immediately understood.
"Your Highness, has there been any progress in catching the villain?" Qu Fulan’s expression remained unchanged, though her hand on the table moved imperceptibly.
"No," he said.
"Your Highness, I thought of a good way to make the villain appear, but haven’t had the chance to tell you." Qu Fulan seized the opportunity to speak.
"Oh? What way?" He seemed very interested.
"I have something..." Qu Fulan picked up a small box beside her, and as his gaze fell on the box, she swiftly scattered a powder packet with her left hand.
Successfully diverting his attention, she immediately dashed out.
"Eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen—"