Chapter Thirty-Two: Interrogation of the Murder Case

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Luo Yunyao was still thinking that ever since she recovered from her injury, she hadn’t paid any attention to Du Runsheng, dedicating herself wholeheartedly to official duties. Well, more precisely, she was wholeheartedly busy courting Qin Jinghao. Was this a bit... neglecting her friends for the sake of romance? Feeling a twinge of guilt, Luo Yunyao touched her nose nervously, thinking she ought to catch up with Du Runsheng later.

But when she looked up, she found the Crown Prince gazing at her with a dark, brooding look, which startled her so much that she couldn’t even control her expression properly.

Luo Yunyao parted her lips slightly; she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. In Xiao Limo’s eyes, she looked utterly pitiful.

In fact, such an expression often stirred the dominant’s desire to torment, especially in someone like Xiao Limo at this moment.

“That’s enough. Luo Yao, you keep mentioning Du Runsheng left and right. With your intelligence, haven’t you seen through this? This whole matter was directed at you all along. Now you keep bringing up Du Runsheng—is that to confirm your guilt before me?”

Xiao Limo’s usually pleasant voice was now laden with a darkness Luo Yunyao had never heard before. Yet as she cautiously studied the Crown Prince’s expression, she saw nothing but gloom—no trace of anger.

Luo Yunyao couldn’t tell if the Crown Prince was angry. Judging by his words, he seemed both furious and disappointed, but his face betrayed no such emotion. Still, there was no reason to believe he wasn’t angry.

Though puzzled, Luo Yunyao replied respectfully and cautiously, “Your Highness, I believe the innocent clear themselves, and the guilty expose themselves. Du Runsheng and I have nothing between us; that is why I can speak openly. If I were hiding something, wouldn’t that truly be suspicious?” She thought of herself and Qin Jinghao and stuck out her tongue inwardly before continuing to persuade Xiao Limo, “Moreover, even if there were something between Du Runsheng and me, from the whole situation, it wouldn’t pose any threat to General Qin...”

Xiao Limo cut her off with a threatening glare and cold words, “How dare you!”

Luo Yunyao was caught off guard, still mulling over her unfinished thought, and looked at Xiao Limo in confusion. “Huh?”

Dare to what? Dare to scheme against General Qin? This sounded fishy. Among Qin Jinghao’s many troublesome romantic affairs, was there one fierce as a tyrant flower? Perhaps the Crown Prince?

Luo Yunyao gnawed her teeth in frustration and tried to clarify with Xiao Limo, composing herself to speak calmly, “Your Highness, I certainly wouldn’t dare...” She lowered her head cautiously, then glanced sideways at him and whispered, “Dare to what?”

Xiao Limo had initially softened upon hearing her denial, wanting not to frighten her. But her question infuriated him, and all his gentle thoughts vanished. Gritting his teeth, he said, “You dare to have an ambiguous relationship with Du Runsheng.”

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Luo Yunyao blinked, realizing the matter was between the Crown Prince and Runsheng, meaning Qin Jinghao might be misunderstood. Yet she couldn’t fully dismiss the possibility that the Crown Prince’s denial stemmed from his desire for power. Still, she replied submissively, “Yes, yes, I don’t dare.”

Xiao Limo’s gaze softened slightly at her obedient demeanor.

He had just thought, “Luo Yao, if you dared, I would break your legs, lock you away, and keep you as my personal golden cage.” Luckily, his reason told him it wasn’t yet time. Fortunately, Luo Yunyao did not openly defy him.

Feeling she had handled that interruption well, Luo Yunyao bravely resumed her earlier reasoning, “As I said before, neither Runsheng nor I have motive or reason to target General Qin.”

Under Xiao Limo’s stern look, she corrected herself and continued under his gentler expression.

“If someone were to harm a person, there must be motive or benefit. As General Qin said, there’s no gain in harming him. He commands the military, separate from us civilians, and has always been neutral, like the gentleman of the village who stands apart from worldly affairs...”

“Alright, that’s clear. Proceed,” Xiao Limo leaned back and lightly interrupted her torrent of words.

Luo Yunyao had wanted to extol Qin Jinghao further but was cut off by the Crown Prince. Reluctantly, she moved on, “Furthermore, for General Qin to be in danger or grudge from us would be illogical. We civil and military officials have separate duties and no grievances.” She reasoned carefully, then lowered her head, “Yes, this is the surface explanation. You might say any grudges are known only to us, since not all matters happen in daylight.”

Xiao Limo, who had been leaning casually with a lazy gaze occasionally resting on Luo Yunyao, now saw her confidence wane slightly, replaced by a trace of gloom. He comforted her, “Don’t worry about these things yet. Now, tell me your estimate of this matter.”

Luo Yunyao had indeed been pondering it. Hearing the Crown Prince’s reassurance—her heart eased somewhat. She tiredly leaned against the carriage wall like him. Since her guess wasn’t very certain or accurate, her voice was low.

She began slowly, “The whole incident started with a maid’s suicide. Oh...” She corrected herself, “Actually, from the whole perspective, it began with the maid I supposedly killed.”

Hearing this, Xiao Limo’s expression darkened, his heart tightening for the woman he cherished. He couldn’t help but comfort her, “I believe you didn’t kill her.” He tried to ease her, “With your delicate youth, a frail young master, how could you have the strength to kill a maid who’s always busy?”

Luo Yunyao had been relieved that someone of authority believed her, giving her courage to explain further. But hearing Xiao Limo’s blatant discrimination, she suddenly recalled the earlier accusation of her having a secret affair with Du Runsheng. Did they think she was the submissive one?

Damn it. Du Runsheng was hardly the dominant type. Thinking this made Luo Yunyao very upset. Her mind clouded, she started undermining herself, disregarding the Crown Prince’s offered way out: “This body of mine must trouble Your Highness. I truly feel uneasy.” After this polished official phrase, she began revealing more, “But even though I’m slender, I am still a man. That maid, despite her duties, was a girl. Also, we don’t yet know if she was a favored personal maid or a mere servant. As for whether I killed her, based on our deductions, that’s unlikely.”

Though Luo Yunyao’s reasoning was sound, when she looked up, she caught Xiao Limo’s half-smile—warm yet tinged with danger—curling at the corners of his lips. “Hmm, frail young master.”

Luo Yunyao couldn’t grasp the deep meaning behind those words and thought he was teasing her, so she chuckled awkwardly, “Looks like I should eat more and grow stronger.”

Xiao Limo smiled, raising an eyebrow, his gaze subtly lingering on her chest before nodding, “Stronger.” But the glance was fleeting, and he quickly averted his eyes to the passing scenery outside the window. “As for the maid, we can wait for the coroner’s report before continuing. You may proceed.”

Luo Yunyao shivered under that look, almost crossing her arms protectively over her chest. Fortunately, it lasted only a moment. Collecting her thoughts and emotions, she continued, “Our current clues and investigation focus stem from what the deceased maid revealed.”

Closing her eyes to concentrate, she said, “To prove my innocence, we must start with the maid. Regarding her identity, we can clarify everything after the coroner’s examination and by inquiring at General Qin’s residence. I know nothing for now; all I can do is begin with her death.”

Her hands unconsciously clasped together. “There is a flaw in this frame-up... No, according to our investigation, a point of doubt.” Her words seemed to lose coherence.

Xiao Limo understood perfectly well that Luo Yunyao was trying to assert her innocence even while analyzing the case.

“First doubt: if I intended to kill her, why wait until then? Given the current situation, if Du Runsheng and I had plotted something, and the maid had known early, she would have told General Qin. Yet General Qin defended me, meaning he was unaware of anything. So, the maid must have been killed the moment she discovered the conspiracy. From this, we can estimate that the time of her death coincides with when General Qin went to greet Your Highness and the princess.”

Luo Yunyao paused to clear her throat, about to describe what everyone speculated had happened during that time.

But Xiao Limo chuckled softly, breaking the silence, “You are one to repay kindness.”

Watching her puzzled expression, he continued, “Qin Jinghao only mentioned it casually, not intentionally clearing your name, yet you remember every little favor he’s done for you.”