Chapter Thirty-One: A Provisional Conclusion

Luo Yunyao shook her head, her expression one of confusion.

Yue Liuxi stepped forward, pointed at her, and declared, "You are lying! Minister Luo, you certainly have a silver tongue, but you cannot deceive me." Her beautiful eyes widened. "With every word, you attempt to shift blame and frame others, trying to absolve yourself of all responsibility. Do you really think you can pull the wool over our eyes so easily?" Yue Liuxi pressed aggressively. "Let me ask you this: since you claim you were framed, why did you not explain yourself to us the moment the incident occurred? Looking at you just now, you were clearly panic-stricken because your scheme had been exposed."

Luo Yunyao found it amusing, though she knew that admitting to her initial daze would make her sound even more ridiculous. Still, ridiculous or not, she had to speak: "The Princess is correct; this is indeed my own failing. As a man, I was terrified by the sight of blood, which is quite cowardly of me." She offered an explanation, "Everyone present likely knows that I am the son of Luo Zhongming, the Minister of War for Biluo. When Biluo was besieged and fell to the Tiansheng Empire, I was young, but the sight of blood flowing like rivers remains etched in my memory. It is a childhood trauma. Seeing this maid die so suddenly before me, I naturally felt frightened and lost."

Yue Liuxi would not let it go: "You speak well; you truly sound like a benevolent official. But I must say, if Minister Luo truly had no hand in killing this maid, there would be no reason to be so completely at a loss."

Luo Yunyao felt she had no way to deal with the unreasonable yet seemingly logical Yue Liuxi, so she replied softly, "The innocent are not guilty; it is their possession of a rare treasure that is the crime." She had no intention of convincing anyone.

Xiao Limou interjected, "Minister Luo is naturally kind-hearted. Was the matter of the refugees in Nanjiang not enough to prove that?" This comment was clearly meant to defend Luo Yunyao against Yue Liuxi.

Yue Liuxi cast a resentful glance at Xiao Limou, pursing her lips in silence.

A breeze blew, rustling the banana leaves. It carried the scent of grass and trees, but even more so, the stench of blood. It felt stifling and unsettling.

Silence reigned, heavy as death.

With things having reached this point, the investigation could proceed no further.

Xiao Limou, in his position of highest authority, delivered his final verdict: "General Qin, please have the coroner examine the body, and then see to the disposal of this place." Turning to Qin Jinghao with formal courtesy, he added, "I am deeply shocked by this occurrence, but I ask that you, General, do not take this matter too much to heart, lest it spoil the elegance of the day."

Qin Jinghao returned the gesture. His gaze swept over the maid’s corpse, which was already beginning to discolor, and he replied with indifference, "I appreciate your concern, Your Highness, but you worry needlessly. I have not taken this matter to heart at all. Firstly, I do not believe there is anything I possess that those with ulterior motives would covet. Secondly, this triviality pales in comparison to the trials of the battlefield."

Luo Yunyao glanced at Qin Jinghao.

His words were, in effect, a defense of her.

The atmosphere was so rigid that Luo Yunyao followed the thread of the conversation with a bitter smile: "General Qin puts it well. I, too, am at a loss to think of what I might possess that could attract those with ulterior motives." She seemed to realize something suddenly and added, "Ah, right—my life. It seems I have been too prominent lately. Alas." She bowed her head and shook it.

Truly, the tallest tree in the forest is the first to be broken by the wind; moderation is indeed essential.

Xiao Limou watched Luo Yunyao with a smile, continuing to manage the chaotic situation: "Then, Liuxi, stay here and comfort General Qin. Minister Luo and I will not intrude further. We shall take our leave."

Both Yue Liuxi and Luo Yunyao looked at Xiao Limou in utter disbelief.

Xiao Limou met their gazes with composure.

Yue Liuxi lost her patience first and asked, "Your Highness, do you mean... we are just going to let this matter go?"

Xiao Limou frowned at her with a hint of reproach: "How could that be? A human life has been lost; I must provide General Qin with an explanation."

Yue Liuxi was at a loss for words. Her large, beautiful eyes stared at Xiao Limou as she stammered, but could find no further words.

Luo Yunyao, feeling helpless, took over for her: "Since you must provide General Qin with an explanation, should I not be subjected to an investigation?"

Xiao Limou looked at Luo Yunyao with a gentle smile, a hint of indulgence in his eyes: "Naturally, I will need to ask you a few questions. Why, do you not wish to be questioned?"

He framed this grave matter as merely "a few questions," with a tone suggesting that if she truly did not wish to be investigated, he, as the Crown Prince, could spare her the trouble.

Luo Yunyao blinked, not knowing what to say.

Yue Liuxi finally grew angry, ignoring the difference in status between herself and Xiao Limou: "What do you mean, 'a few questions'? Should someone like Luo Yao not be handed over to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review?! Your Highness, surely you are not..." She swallowed the word "confused." She had not forgotten that she was only a princess; if she were to say that, she would be the one acting confused.

Xiao Limou was not annoyed. Ignoring Yue Liuxi, he turned his gaze toward Qin Jinghao: "Does the General have anything to add to how I have handled this?"

Qin Jinghao seemed to snap out of his reverie, withdrawing his gaze from the swaying banana leaves. After meeting Xiao Limou’s eyes for a moment, he seemed to understand and replied coolly, "Of course not. I have troubled Your Highness."

Since the master of the General’s Mansion and the superior of the deceased maid had spoken, Yue Liuxi had no choice but to swallow her words and suppressed indignation, biting her lip in silence.

As Qin Jinghao shifted his gaze back to the banana trees, his eyes brushed over Yue Liuxi. Seeing her expression, he offered a rare moment of tenderness: "Princess, you look pale; you must have been frightened. The General’s Mansion is no longer in a state to entertain you properly. Perhaps... it would be best for His Highness to escort you away."

Yue Liuxi looked at Qin Jinghao in disbelief. Qin Jinghao only offered her his jade-like profile, devoid of any warmth.

Yue Liuxi closed her eyes and replied softly, her voice devoid of strength: "I shall trouble the Crown Prince, then. Brother Qin, if you ever need Liuxi, I will come at any time."

Qin Jinghao gave a barely perceptible nod. His demeanor remained completely unruffled.

Princess Yue Liuxi had naturally arrived by carriage.

Luo Yunyao, however, had walked. Of course, she could not let people know she had come to see Qin Jinghao, so she had been as low-profile as possible.

When Xiao Limou invited her into his carriage, Luo Yunyao had no way to refuse.

She looked at the strong, powerful hand extended toward her.

After boarding the carriage, Xiao Limou stood at the doorway, lifting the curtain with one hand and reaching out to her gently with the other. "Come up."

Luo Yunyao sighed inwardly and placed her hand in his.

Her hand was delicate, with faint callouses, but they were not as rough as Qin Jinghao’s. Her skin felt cool, lacking the solid warmth of his.

In short, only that person’s hands could bring her peace of mind.

Luo Yunyao was lost in thought when she was suddenly pulled into Xiao Limou’s embrace. She looked up at him, confused, masking the refusal and fear in her eyes.

Xiao Limou gazed gently into her eyes: "What are you thinking about?" Having said this, he naturally released her and sat down in the middle of the carriage's brocade seat.

Seeing that he was not truly interested in the answer, Luo Yunyao remained silent. It was one less lie to tell.

She surveyed the layout of the carriage. The center seat where Xiao Limou sat was off-limits; even setting aside etiquette, there was clearly no room for her. She took a seat to the side.

Before she had even settled, she heard Xiao Limou’s soft voice: "Tell me, what is going on with Du Runsheng?" This was clearly an interrogation.

Luo Yunyao looked at him in surprise, thinking, so this "asking a few questions" meant the Crown Prince would do it himself? Was this not a bit... ominous?

Despite her thoughts, she replied respectfully, "Everything I said at the General’s Mansion is the truth. I would not dare to deceive you, Your Highness."

Xiao Limou gave an "Oh" and narrowed his eyes as he watched her.

During the days Luo Yunyao was injured, he had gone to see her every single day. At the time, he had been truly concerned for her. Moreover, his uncle and he had played a significant part in her injury—a very large part. She was hurt because of him.

As the Crown Prince, Xiao Limou had never cared so much for anyone. Even when Chancellor Lu was ill, he had only sent people to deliver medicine, never visiting to pay his respects in person.

Now, the Crown Prince was showing such devotion to someone, only to be met with ingratitude. She had turned him away for so many days.

When Luo Yunyao finally allowed him to see her, she treated him with such estrangement—even more so than when they had first met.

How could a royal scion endure such treatment? Yet Xiao Limou had endured it, simply because the person was Luo Yunyao.

Still narrowing his eyes, he asked casually, "I heard that during the time Minister Luo was injured, Young Master Du visited quite often."

Luo Yunyao realized that since they met today, Xiao Limou had called her "Minister Luo" rather than "Yao'er." Although this form of address was distant and carried a hint of danger, she preferred it from the bottom of her heart. She did not feel they were familiar enough for him to call her "Yao'er," so "Minister Luo" actually made her feel more at ease.

"That is correct. As I said before, Runsheng is a person of great character, a caring friend, and well-bred." And also quite naive, she added to herself, wondering if Du Runsheng might be sneezing somewhere.