The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!-Chapter 50: Dead

Cao Ji’an was anxious and shouted, "Then why don’t you quickly send someone to put out the fire? What are you doing here?"

The patrol hurriedly said, "I can’t mobilize them, the fire is very big... Not enough manpower!"

Cao Ji’an understood that over by Ronghua Pavilion, aside from the two teams of more than twenty people guarding the Madam’s courtyard from thieves, nearly two hundred people were surrounding that little thief.

No City Defense Army was deployed, and the Governor Mansion’s patrol guards totaled two hundred and fifty people. Normally, this is a massive number.

But a highly skilled little thief appeared. To catch this thief, it was only logical to summon all patrol guards from elsewhere, leaving only a few to perform their duties at various posts.

Now that Cuihua Pavilion is ablaze, there are already few people at the posts, and they can’t be removed. So, manpower is naturally insufficient.

The Cuihua Pavilion is vast, and if the fire gets too fierce, what use are the servants and maids?

Living in the Cuihua Pavilion is Eighteenth Madam, Lord Governor’s most beloved concubine. Due to his affection, many good things have been sent there.

Cao Ji’an is very clear that in the Governor Mansion, the most important places are Ronghua Pavilion and Cuihua Pavilion. Other places can have incidents, but these two must be well-guarded.

The thieves come, after all, for money and jewels. Lord Governor has plenty of money and treasures, and missing one or two items isn’t a concern. Besides, the little thief was spotted early, so it’s uncertain if they’re empty-handed.

Weighing the situation, Cao Ji’an immediately ordered, "Except for one patrol team to stay and capture this little thief with me, everyone else quickly go to Cuihua Pavilion to put out the fire!"

Those guards who received the orders hurried to Cuihua Pavilion, while the patrol guards followed Cao Ji’an to intercept Huangfu Jingchen.

But even when they had more people earlier, Huangfu Jingchen couldn’t be handled, let alone with only two teams now.

Cao Ji’an’s palm was ruptured, and blood stained the cloth wrapped on the knife handle, soaking through. Though he fiercely held onto his knife, the pain was unbearable.

He himself was hesitant, shouting commands but not moving forward, while those patrol guards were even less capable of stopping anyone.

Huangfu Jingchen knew that the fire at Cuihua Pavilion wasn’t accidental. He didn’t know who helped him, but whoever it was, they acted secretly. By holding up some people here, he gained more time for the arsonist.

Moreover, now that these patrol guards and defenders were all intent on putting out the fire, they were rushing chaotically, headless and heedless. He simply turned back, flailed among those preparing to rush to Cuihua Pavilion, punching and kicking, stopping as many as he could.

Those who got Cao Ji’an’s orders didn’t dare delay combat, scattering like chickens from the coop.

After all, Huangfu Jingchen was just one man, unable to hold off so many, plus there’s still a patrol team left dealing with him.

Seeing he couldn’t be stopped, he charged at Cao Ji’an.

Cao Ji’an cursed inwardly, seeing the opponent aimed straight at him, neither daring not to flee nor to blatantly escape.

In Ronghua Pavilion, chaos ensued until a quarter-hour later, when Huangfu Jingchen felt it was time. He seized the opportunity, knocked two people down, and vanished into the shadow of the flowering tree.

The patrol guards were about to pursue, but Cao Ji’an, aggravated, shouted, "Why chase? Go check out Cuihua Pavilion’s fire! If Eighteenth Madam is in trouble, we’ll be in hot water! Hurry!"

A bunch of fools, they can’t fight even if they catch up, what are they struggling for?

The patrol guards, having been toyed with by Huangfu Jingchen, many punched and kicked, lay injured on the ground, realizing firefighting was safer, eagerly hoping not to chase!

After circling around the Patrol Office, Huangfu Jingchen finally returned to the courtyard. Partly, he wanted to see who started the fire at Cuihua Pavilion; if indebted today, he would repay later. If that person hadn’t escaped yet, he could lend a hand.

Secondly, to prevent secret trackers, this circling would make them reveal, allowing him to shed them, avoiding trouble in this remote little courtyard.

Cuihua Pavilion’s fire was large, screams from maidservants, the sound of beams collapsing, and the crackling of the blaze intertwined, forming a chaotic scene.

A young lady in nightclothes surrounded by maids and servants, hair disheveled, in a dreadful state, was cursing and commanding them to rescue her treasures.

She must be the Eighteenth Madam Cao Ji’an mentioned, seeming under twenty, very beautiful, no wonder deeply favored by Governor Wang.

Cao Ji’an had just arrived, pulling a patrol guard to ask, "How did the fire start? Was it caused by a thief?"

The guard was one previously stationed at Cuihua Pavilion, hurriedly replied, "Didn’t see anyone, the fire suddenly flared up. We saw thick smoke and rushed here, but the fire had already grown, so we sent someone to report to you."

Hearing it might have been an accident, Cao Ji’an breathed a sigh of relief. If another little thief started the fire, he’d be out of a job as the one responsible for the Governor Mansion’s safety.

He quickly shouted, "Put all effort into extinguishing the fire, hurry..."

All patrol guards, together with Cao Ji’an, focused on rescuing people and putting out the fire, while Huangfu Jingchen sneaked over without being noticed.

He didn’t go through the door, leaping gracefully from a wall, landing inside.

However, as soon as he entered the courtyard, he sensed something amiss.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, hesitating briefly, he moved swiftly, discovering several traces.

Moreover, Xia Wenjin’s window was open.

Although the lad was shamelessly bold, careful when acting. What would he want opening the window past midnight? Is he not back yet?

If he hadn’t returned, the window wouldn’t be open. Here are signs of an intruder, has someone gone to her room?

Could it be for the ledger?

Huangfu Jingchen was suspicious and couldn’t worry about returning to his room, instead sneaking under Xia Wenjin’s window, listening intently. The room was quiet.

He was too late returning, even if there was a thief they might have left.

Nevertheless, Huangfu Jingchen climbed through the window.

He felt a shock as his feet landed; there was a scent of blood in the room!

He brightened the flint, lighting the candle on the wall. As he turned, his face changed drastically, hand loosening, the flint dropped to the ground.

Behind the table, Xia Wenjin lay on the ground, blood on her waist and neck, eyes wide open, silent...

Huangfu Jingchen wasn’t worried for Xia Wenjin’s safety. This young person was slippery as an eel; thieves would only suffer against her.

Yet the scene before him struck heavily at his heart; he almost couldn’t believe his eyes, hurrying over to support her shoulders, whispering, "Xia Wenjin, Xia Wenjin..."

Xia Wenjin’s body hung limp, moving with his shaking.

Huangfu Jingchen’s mind went briefly blank.

The scene before him made him scarcely believe his eyes.

Summer Wenjin... was dead?