Chapter 33: A Breakthrough in Path

Luo Yunyao defended herself, silently telling herself that her beloved was, of course, speaking up for her. It was already remarkable that he could state his position with such composure; furthermore, given Qin Jinghao’s status and his established character, it was no small feat that he had spoken at all.

As someone who intended to navigate the treacherous waters of the imperial court—and bring her husband along with her—Luo Yunyao understood the subtext of Xiao Limo’s words. She followed his lead, saying, "A drop of water in need shall be repaid with a spring in return. This is the precept my father instilled in me, and I have always kept it at heart." As if suddenly struck by a thought, she looked at Xiao Limo with gratitude. "From the moment I entered the service of the Western Qin, I have never dared to forget your kindness, Your Highness. If not for you, I truly would not know what to do in the face of this ordeal. I have received so much grace from you that I am overwhelmed with trepidation, having no way to repay you. Should you ever have need of me in the future, I shall willingly offer my loyalty, even at the cost of my life."

It was a polished piece of courtly rhetoric, but while the speaker meant nothing by it, the listener certainly read into it.

Though Xiao Limo’s gentle smile betrayed no reaction to her words, he responded in a soft tone: "You are quite useful, Yaoyao. The future is long; I shall wait for the day you repay me."

The long-unused pet name "Yaoyao" surfaced, clearly a sign that her previous remarks had pleased him. Luo Yunyao, however, felt her scalp prickle. She quickly diverted the conversation: "Where was I? Ah, yes—the speculation regarding what transpired between the maid and me during General Qin’s absence."

Luo Yunyao cast her gaze toward the window, her voice detached, as if recounting a past event rather than a baseless accusation designed to frame her.

"The theory is likely this: the maid was sent by General Qin to summon me to pay my respects to the Crown Prince. I happened to be rummaging through some of the General's sensitive documents and was caught red-handed. Fearing exposure, I decided to silence her. She must have tried to flee, intending to report the matter to her master, the General. She took the path you all were destined to pass, and I trailed her, killing her just moments before you arrived."

Luo Yunyao stared blankly at the scenery outside. "That explains why I would want to harm the General, why I pursued the maid, and why I had to silence her. The timing, too, is consistent."

Xiao Limo remained indifferent to the entire affair, indicating his own disbelief in the theory. "Yes, most would think that way. But the inconsistencies are too numerous."

Luo Yunyao nodded, listing the flaws without the slightest awareness that she was the prime suspect. She sounded more like an investigator: "First, the maid could not have known of my relationship with Du Runsheng. I would not be foolish enough to discuss my ties to him while rifling through documents. Second, it would have been impossible to chase her along that path without attracting the attention of the household staff—they are not blind. Third, how could I have possibly killed her at the exact moment she was about to encounter her master?"

Xiao Limo evaluated her points. "The first point relies on the assumption that the speculation is true. Let us set that aside. Now, Yaoyao, you must clarify the second and third points."

Luo Yunyao felt the same. "Regarding the second point, let me describe what actually happened." Naturally, she could not admit that she had taken that path because she believed the maid was leading her to a place to hide. She told a lie, silently mocking herself as a master of deceit—yet, in the imperial court, one could not survive without it. "I am unfamiliar with the General’s estate. Even if I had visited before, the layout is labyrinthine, and I have always been slow-witted regarding such things. I needed the maid to guide me. Strangely, she took a secluded path. When I asked her why, she replied, 'The General says to take the shortcut so as not to keep the Crown Prince waiting and risk appearing disrespectful.' I was touched that the General, a hero on the battlefield, was so meticulous, and I followed her without a second thought."

Xiao Limo nodded. "A secluded path is easily verified. Now, tell me about the speculative scenario."

Luo Yunyao breathed a sigh of relief, having spun her tale without any apparent cracks. "If we follow the speculation, the situation is simple: she took a shortcut to report to her master. But the flaw is this: why concern herself with a distant master instead of spreading the word to other servants? That would have been far more effective. Firstly, she wouldn't have been left alone to die with her secret. Secondly, if the entire household knew, I would have been helpless. As you said, Your Highness, I am merely a frail youth; if she had sounded the alarm, the servants could have easily restrained me until you and the General arrived."

She sighed. "Of course, if one argues that the maid was uneducated, foolish, and stubborn, that explanation is technically possible, though far-fetched. As for..."

Xiao Limo interrupted her nonchalantly. "Whether a dead person was intelligent or not can be verified by asking those who knew her."

Luo Yunyao was struck by his agility of thought, but remained undeterred. "Indeed, Your Highness. Then, one might argue she was so terrified by me that she lost her wits and chose the wrong path."

Xiao Limo disliked her argumentative nature; it lacked the submissiveness expected of a girl, and more importantly, it felt uncontrollable. "That, too, is a possible explanation." He raised an eyebrow, dismissing her. "I have studied many case files in the Ministry of Justice. When a person is under extreme fear or emotional duress, they act according to their most deeply ingrained habits. If she chose that path, she must have frequented it." He looked at her coolly. "A path most familiar to a maid, especially one leading to her master’s study, should be the one she uses for her daily duties—not a secluded trail. If she favored this path, there would be traces of it among those she associated with."

Luo Yunyao wondered if the maid had been secretly in love with Qin Jinghao, using that path to steal glimpses of him. She did not doubt the allure of the General. She thought that such a secret affection would, of course, be kept hidden from her peers.

Just as she felt her reasoning was sound, she paused. If the maid walked that path every day, the wear on the path would reveal the truth.

Luo Yunyao shook her head, deciding to drop the topic. She noted the Crown Prince’s disapproval of her rebuttal and dared not cross him further—the future ruler of the land. Besides, arguing over this would only lead to a dead end; it was self-defeating and would only undermine her own confidence.

"Your Highness is correct," Luo Yunyao conceded. "The breakthrough regarding this path lies in the maid’s intelligence and her familiarity with the route. Whether we consider the truth or the speculation, both involve extreme panic. While the degree of panic may differ, finding a breakthrough here is unlikely."

"I shall have someone look into it," Xiao Limo said, signaling her to continue.

Having analyzed the "path" so thoroughly, Luo Yunyao found it difficult to reconnect her thoughts. Seeing her troubled expression, Xiao Limo smiled gently. "You have explained the second point—that the path was secluded, thus avoiding the household staff. Now, for the third point: the 'perfect timing' of the murder."

He laughed softly, and hearing his spring-breeze tone, Luo Yunyao felt her tense nerves finally relax. "As for the third point, it is even simpler. The timing was remarkably coincidental. If the heavens were truly helping me, I would be overjoyed."

If she were truly the killer, she should buy a lottery ticket based on such timing! Then she thought, *lottery tickets are too vulgar.* She would rather focus on falling in love with General Qin; that might yield better rewards. She felt a surge of excitement as she silently whispered the name *Qin Jinghao* in her heart, though, just as quickly, the spark of joy faded into nothing.