The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 1499 - 731 Second Watch

Wang Xu was completely floored.

He lay there dazed on the cool floor, staring straight up at the roof beams as if he had been struck by lightning a hundred thousand times.

Gu Jiao stood up with a bowl in her hands, gestured with her lips to Gu Chengfeng, and said indifferently, "Untie him, he’s one of us now."

Gu Chengfeng was utterly confused. That was it?

No, with so many people here, why order only me around?

Hmph, at least you know I am the most reliable!

Gu Chengfeng, bearing the mark of a rolling pin, strided over confidently and untied the ropes binding Wang Xu.

How could Wang Xu fail to recognize that this was the "commoner woman" who had trailed him all the way in the Avenue?

With an Adam’s apple... It was a man.

Wang Xu was filled with confusion.

Who were all these people appearing beside His Highness Changsun?

One was a terrifying expert who could knock him down with just a rolling pin, another was a master of lightness skill who had dressed in disguise and driven him to a desperate escape, and then there was Xiao Liulang, whom he did recognize as the doctor summoned by the sovereign for the deposed Princess.

It was he who had brought Xiao Liulang from the Imperial Palace Gate into the palace.

"No, why were you following me just now?" Wang Xu asked Gu Chengfeng.

Since the girl had said he was one of them, Gu Chengfeng had no intention of continuing his disguise as a woman.

His eyes flickered, and in his own male voice he said, "I wasn’t following you. I was following the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince met with the old Master of the Han Family, and I trailed him wanting to see what trick he was playing next, but then you showed up. Isn’t it suspicious for you to meet secretly with the old Master Han?"

Indeed, a man, Wang Xu thought.

Wang Xu considered the likelihood of this explanation for a moment.

The discord between the Crown Prince and the deposed Princess was indeed not a recent development; it dated back to when the Princess was deposed and the Crown Prince became the heir apparent. Anyone would think that the Crown Prince had taken away what rightfully belonged to the Princess.

More recently, there had been an altercation in the Imperial Harem between the Crown Prince and the deposed Princess, and the Crown Prince’s guards had even injured the deposed Princess.

Now that the deposed Princess had been persecuted once again, it made sense for His Highness Changsun to be the first to suspect the Crown Prince and have someone watch him.

After freeing him from his bindings, Gu Chengfeng stood up and extended a hand to Wang Xu.

Wang Xu took Gu Chengfeng’s hand and stood up.

"Hiss—"

That hurt.

Who was that big guy? His grip was way too strong!

He limped over to Xiao Hen and bowed in greeting: "I am Wang Xu, a humble official. I have the honor to meet Your Highness Changsun."

From Gu Chengfeng’s observation of Wang Xu, although the man was a bit obstinate, he did not seem to be bribed by old Master Han, proving to be a person of loyalty.

Xiao Hen nodded and said, "Today’s incident was a misunderstanding, and I hope Officer Guan won’t take it to heart."

"It is this humble official who was rash. Your Highness Changsun doesn’t take my fault to heart—I am more than grateful."

"The Emperor is at the Astronomical Observatory; you should go report back to him."

"Yes." Wang Xu bowed again and then left. As he turned to leave, he suddenly looked back at Xiao Hen, "Your Highness Changsun doesn’t ask whether I have found any clues?"

Even the Consort Han’s people had come to inquire in front of him.

Xiao Hen looked at him somberly and said, "I trust that Officer Guan will see justice done for my mother."

His Highness Changsun still trusts him as ever...

A wave of warmth swept through Wang Xu’s chest, and a surge of being trusted impacted his heart.

He solemnly said, "This humble official... will spare no effort!"

He left the room.

Gu Chengfeng stuck his head out to take a look, then came back in and clapped his hands, "Alright, he’s gone."

Xiao Hen took out a clean piece of gauze from his bosom and opened it to reveal a small strand of silk thread inside.

This was the item that had been found on Wang Xu. Wang Xu had wrapped it in a handkerchief, which seemed inconsistent with his status as Officer Guan, and it faintly emitted a scent of fresh grass and blood.

Xiao Hen guessed it was evidence Wang Xu found today at the crime scene.

Xiao Hen cut a small piece of the thread with scissors.

The clothes Shangguan Yun was wearing when she was injured had already been changed by Gu Jiao and, as evidence, were placed inside a box in the ward.

Xiao Hen carefully examined it and found that the strand of silk thread did not come from Shangguan Yun.

The four were seated around an Eight Immortal table. freewēbnoveℓ.com

Gu Jiao had finished her noodles and was now holding a bowl bigger than her face, sipping broth.

Xiao Hen sat beside her and said, "This must be from the assassin’s clothing, remaining in the grass or thorns at the scene."

Gu Chengfeng and Gu Changqing sat opposite them.

"Could it be from that... Han Ye’s cloth?" Gu Chengfeng asked.

Han Ye was a major suspect; not only had he attempted to assassinate Xiao Hen, but he had also made an attempt on Gu Jiao’s life. It seemed he was the Crown Prince’s most convenient tool.