Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Brother and Sister Reunited (Double-Length Chapter)

Gongsun Yi is dead.

There are strangulation marks on the neck, and whip wounds on the body, both about a finger’s width.

This matches the thickness of the long whip held by Tang Xiao, and the whip also has barbs.

"I’ve had Ah Xiao handle Gongsun Yi several times," Tang Xiaobai said in a low voice. "Gongsun Yi could never get along with Ah Xiao. Last time at Wenren Bookstore, Gongsun Yi even threatened Ah Xiao, but Ah Xiao gagged him and threw him out. Many people heard and saw this."

These are known conflicts, and there are others unknown to the public, but known to the government.

Gongsun Yi once falsely accused Tang Xiao of being a spy for the Turkic.

This is no ordinary conflict; this is an attempt to kill.

Thus, there is a motive for murder, and a suspected murder weapon.

If investigated thoroughly, Ah Xiao’s innocence should be proven.

However, unfortunately, the young ancestor’s identity can’t withstand a thorough investigation.

"And also—" Li Xingyuan said.

"Also?" Tang Xiaobai felt a throbbing pain in her temples.

Li Xingyuan sneered, saying, "A person from the Prince Jin Mansion died a few days ago, named Feng Pu—"

"I know!" Tang Xiaobai said.

Li Xingyuan glanced at her in surprise, then continued without introducing Feng Pu: "Feng Pu’s family said that before he died, a young man wearing a mask had come to him."

Tang Xiaobai was silent for a moment, then asked, "What reason does Ah Xiao have to kill Feng Pu?"

"There are rumors that the Tang Xiao from the Duke Yan Mansion is a descendant of the Qin Family from Taiyuan—" Li Xingyuan paused, "Do you know the Qin Family from Taiyuan?"

Tang Xiaobai nodded, "I know, Emperor Hui Zhao’s tutor was from the Qin Family in Taiyuan."

Li Xingyuan was surprised again, "You know quite a lot, huh?" Seeing her silent, he asked again, "Then do you know what grievances there are between the Qin Family in Taiyuan and Feng Pu?"

"Feng Pu’s original name was Feng Tong, and he was the one who exposed Prince Qin’s tutor for colluding with the enemy to betray the country. Someone wants to slander Ah Xiao for killing Feng Pu in revenge."

By this point, Tang Xiaobai was no longer shocked.

Starting from Gongsun Yi’s false accusation, she had sensed it, someone is setting up Qin Xiao to expose his identity.

The death of Gongsun Yi, and even Feng Pu, was all for this purpose.

But while she wasn’t shocked, Li Xingyuan was a bit taken aback, "You know all this?"

He was actually just mentioning it casually to this young lady.

Because, upon receiving this news, the Crown Prince was already in Ganlu Hall, and the message couldn’t be passed in, so they had to rely on the Crown Prince himself to handle it.

Luckily, the worst result was exposure of the prince’s identity, turning darkness into light, which, though more troublesome than now, wasn’t a dead-end.

So he just sent people to arrange affairs outside, waiting for news at Duke Yan Mansion.

With nothing to do, seeing this young lady seemed very worried about the Crown Prince, he simply made her more worried.

Unexpectedly, after the conversation, Miss Tang actually calmed down.

Which left Li Xingyuan a little dissatisfied, and he continued, "Right now, the governor of Jingzhao has entered the palace to talk about these two cases. Although the cases haven’t been clarified, it’s necessary to stop Your Majesty from conferring titles on Ah Xiao first, otherwise it’d be embarrassing for His Majesty if they were found guilty... Now this will be presented before His Majesty and the Prime Minister, probably requiring clearance of innocence on the spot, and it’s uncertain whether Ah Xiao can handle it..." he said, watching the young lady’s expression.

Miss Tang lowered her eyes, pondered for a moment, then suddenly turned and ran.

Li Xingyuan curiously followed her.

Only to see her run into the Crown Prince’s chamber in Duke Yan Mansion and begin rummaging through things.

"What is Second Miss looking for?" Li Xingyuan asked.

"Looking for evidence!" Tang Xiaobai replied casually.

The opponent used Gongsun Yi and Feng Pu to set up, intending to expose the young ancestor’s heritage.

The governor of Jingzhao immediately took these two cases to the palace to make a scene before the emperor, catching the young ancestor off guard. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He couldn’t deny being a descendant of the Qin Family, as denial would lead to a thorough investigation.

So he had no choice but to admit it.

Yet once admitted, he would have to face the accusation of killing Feng Pu and being identified as a fugitive.

Thus, he had only one way to turn the tables—

"What evidence are you looking for?" Li Xingyuan asked.

Tang Xiaobai stopped rummaging, glanced around; she had almost turned everything over.

"Evidence that proves he didn’t need to kill Feng Pu." Tang Xiaobai spoke, climbing onto the bed to search the pillows.

"Is there such evidence?" Li Xingyuan chuckled, recalling Ye Qingrong’s letter.

There was nothing on the bed either.

Tang Xiaobai collapsed in a sitting position, exhaling, "As long as he admits being a descendant of the Qin Family and presents evidence to overturn the case against the Qin Family, there would be no motive to kill Feng Pu—"

...

"... Definitely a descendant of the Qin Family—"

This admission left many in Ganlu Hall with changed expressions.