The Martial Doctor-Chapter 131 - 121: Proper Business

Si Miaoxue, upon hearing this, felt a twinge of jealousy, but she knew that the position of Senior Sister Sun Youwei in Lin Miao’s heart was irreplaceable. She asked, "A female bodyguard is hard to find, especially one with high cultivation and loyalty. Actually, you have a good relationship with the Su Family and even saved Bai Feng. You can ask Bai Feng to introduce a female disciple from the Snow Mountain Sect to you."

"I thought about it, but Bai Feng is Bai Feng, and the Snow Mountain Sect is the Snow Mountain Sect. If I speak up, Bai Feng will certainly do her best to arrange it, but it inevitably carries the implication of seeking a favor for past deeds," Lin Miao nodded. What Si Miaoxue could think of, he had already considered.

"Then what is the reason you’ve come to see me?"

"We’re family, is this really asking for a favor?"

With that single sentence, Lin Miao made Si Miaoxue’s heart blossom with joy. Yes, if they are family, shouldn’t they help each other without scheming and calculating? Otherwise, how could they call themselves family?

"Do you acknowledge that I am part of your family?" Si Miaoxue’s eyes glistened with tenderness and affection.

"Of course, it’s just that your identity is not suitable for public disclosure now, so it’s temporarily hidden," Lin Miao said.

"Alright, you don’t have to look for anyone else for your senior sister’s safety. Leave it to me. After all, she doesn’t go out often, and I can spare some effort to protect her," Si Miaoxue assured, patting her chest.

"The day after tomorrow, there’s a lantern festival at Shanglin Temple in the evening. I’ll be going with my senior sister," Lin Miao said. "I plan to set up a trap to ensnare that Mr. Xue."

"Are you really going to take ruthless action against Mr. Xue?" Si Miaoxue was shocked. She knew Lin Miao was not as kind and gentle as he appeared. He must have killed before, and it wasn’t just one person; wasn’t Ye Xizhao indirectly killed by him?

Moreover, in the eastern market, with the martial prowess he had demonstrated, killing Ye Xizhao’s two bodyguards would be a breeze.

But there was no evidence whatsoever.

Now, the martial arts cultivation and strength he’s showing will surely raise more suspicions.

"You’ll know when the time comes."

"Mr. Xue is not Ye Xizhao. If you kill him, there will be major trouble," Si Miaoxue also became anxious. Lin Miao was young and impulsive, reckless even; she couldn’t go crazy with him. If Mr. Xue died, the consequences were not something they could bear.

"Who said I was going to kill Mr. Xue? Do I look like a murderous demon?" Lin Miao stared at Si Miaoxue and asked rhetorically.

"You don’t look like one. Do I look like one...?"

"You do, actually," Lin Miao said, quite affirmatively.

"What do you mean?" Si Miaoxue’s expression changed slightly. Lin Miao’s demeanor suggested he had seen her kill before.

Lin Miao glanced at the pond below the pavilion and remained silent.

Si Miaoxue instantly understood. Her entire process of killing Ding San’Er had been seen by Lin Miao. But at that time, she had searched the entire pavilion and found no one.

"Miaoxue, you once said that you and I are the same kind of people, and that evaluation is very accurate." Lin Miao saw the slightly pale look on Si Miaoxue’s face and knew what she was thinking. She didn’t really want Lin Miao to know about her ruthless side.

She was afraid that once he knew this side of her, he would reject her and eventually abandon her.

"So, Mr. Lin, will you always want to be with me?"

"I already said, we are family."

"Then I won’t randomly kill anymore. I’ll listen to you. If you want me to kill someone, I’ll do it, okay?" Si Miaoxue said.

"Your wrath in killing Ding San’Er was not just because he was peeping at your bathing, was it? Wasn’t there another reason?" Lin Miao asked.

"He was a traitor, selling information from Huaye Tower to Qunfang Courtyard, causing Huaye Tower to lose its advantage in attracting clients, and many previous investments went down the drain," Si Miaoxue nodded. Being a traitor was the most hateful thing.

"So, why did you direct him to cause trouble for me?"

"First, to teach you a lesson for messing up my plans, and second, to test his loyalty," Si Miaoxue explained.

"I see." Lin Miao nodded, "Then I’ll be leaving first. Wait for my news."

"Alright."

...

Shanyuan Square, Ye Mansion.

"Patriarch, Ye Mi Yuan requests an audience!"

"Let him in."

"Miyuan pays respects to the Patriarch." A man in his thirties entered Ye Shengyuan’s study and kneeled on one knee, announcing.

"Miyuan, stand up quickly." Ye Shengyuan came over and personally helped Ye Mi Yuan up from the ground. "During the New Year, I summoned you back from Lanzhou; I hope you don’t blame me?"

"Miyuan dares not."

"Sit," Ye Shengyuan said, leading Ye Mi Yuan to sit down. A servant came in with hot tea.

"Although Xizhao’s cause of death seems straightforward, I always felt there was more to it, which is why I called you back from Lanzhou. As a catch-thief officer in Lanzhou, you have a wealth of investigative experience. I want you to help me look into it," Ye Shengyuan said.

"Patriarch, the young master has been gone for many days. Even if there were clues, they would have long been erased," Ye Mi Yuan said in surprise.

"That’s true, but if I had called you back then, you might not have been able to return, don’t you think?"

"Indeed. As an imperial catch-thief officer, I cannot leave my duties, or else I would face repercussions from the court, losing my position would be the least of my worries," Ye Mi Yuan nodded.

"That’s precisely why I waited until now to call you back. First, to mislead the killer and put them at ease. Second, because only during the New Year could you request leave, providing you with enough time to help me investigate," Ye Shengyuan explained. "I’ve discreetly bought and secured the site of your brother’s death. If there are any clues at the scene, they should still be there."

"I understand the Patriarch’s intentions," Ye Mi Yuan nodded. "Does the Patriarch have any suspects?"

"Last year’s ’Physician Examination’ third-place winner, Lin Miao, is a prime suspect."

"Could I see the information on this person?"

"Of course, I’ve already prepared it for you," Ye Shengyuan said, handing over all the information he had gathered on Lin Miao.

Ye Mi Yuan glanced at Lin Miao’s file, furrowing his brows. This Lin Miao came from an ordinary background, yet he made a stunning impact at the Dongshan Prefecture’s ’Physician Examination,’ securing third in both the written and practical diagnoses tests.

With two third-place rankings, he earned the nickname "Little Flower-Seeker," and subsequently, he applied for the "Path to Sagehood" trials—such a young man.

Such cases were truly rare.

"Patriarch, how did the young master become entangled in a feud with Lin Miao?" From Ye Mi Yuan’s perspective, it seemed like Ye Xizhao and Lin Miao had no reason to clash, being completely unrelated. How did it escalate to this point?

"It’s because Xizhao, this child, took a liking to Lin Miao’s senior sister and sought her, leading to some misunderstandings," Ye Shengyuan gave a vague explanation.

Ye Mi Yuan frowned deeply. Although he was posted in Lanzhou, he had heard rumors about Ye Xizhao in Dongshan City.

It must have been that Xizhao used some method against the man’s senior sister, leading to an intense conflict that ultimately resulted in tragedy.

This case would not be easy to investigate. If not for his own connection to the Ye family and a debt of gratitude owed to Ye Shengyuan, he would not have wanted to take on the task.

Yet he retained a keen interest in investigations, especially in peculiar and mysterious cases like this one.