Chapter 244: What If I Don’t Return?

“What do you mean?”

Ding Suian slowly turned toward Han Jingru. The latter did not dare to meet his gaze, instead casting an encouraging look at Chen Hong sitting at the head.

By this point, even if Chen Hong were any slower, he would still know how to follow the path paved by Han Jingru. He gave a light cough and smiled, “Duke of Chu County, do not be angry. Only after I have clarified the situation can I help clear the Duke of Chu County’s name, so as to avoid the gossip of ignorant people ruining the Duke of Chu County’s reputation.”

Ding Suian’s suspicion stemmed from the conflict between Zhao Yan and Yu Ruiyan.

He already had a reputation for being overprotective of his own. If someone spread rumors that he had secretly killed Yu Ruiyan to vent his anger for his little madam, some people might actually believe it.

“Oh? Then how does the Prince intend to clear this official’s name?” Ding Suian asked with a smile.

Chen Hong and Han Jingru exchanged a quick glance. The former pretended to be troubled, frowning in thought for a moment. “How about this: to prove the Duke of Chu County’s innocence, I will have the Tianzong Prefecture Yamen search the Chu County Dukes Residence. How does that sound?”

It seemed like a discussion, but in reality, there was no choice.

If Ding Suian did not agree, Han Jingru would take the opportunity to guide public opinion and label him as “having a guilty conscience.”

At that point, Chen Hong would not need to take action himself; the Yu family, having lost their daughter, and Prince Yinyang would naturally point their spears at Ding Suian.

However, if he agreed, there was no guarantee that the Yamen officials wouldn’t “accidentally” discover something suspicious during the search, such as physical evidence related to Yu Ruiyan or contraband items.

Then it would be even harder to explain.

Ding Suian had already thought of a countermeasure in an instant. He said calmly, “Central Heaven has a population of one million; why does the Prince insist on searching my humble residence?”

“Sigh, it’s all because of that old business between the female members of your residence and the Yu family’s young lady. Furthermore, the Duke of Chu County cannot explain where he was on the night of the fifteenth of May, can he?”

“I was at home.”

“Who can prove that?”

Chen Hong leaned forward slightly, waiting for Ding Suian to say that the servants in the residence could prove it. He could then invoke the “relatives and close acquaintances shielding each other” clause of the Great Wu Code, and with a light sentence of “testimony from servants is insufficient as evidence,” deal a fatal blow.

“This Seat can prove it~”

A lazy yet commanding mature woman’s voice rang out from outside the hall.

Everyone turned their heads in unison to see Xu Jiuxi, dressed in deep purple robes, walking into the hall with a steady, uniform gait.

Lin Hansu, who had been sitting steadily, stood up involuntarily, her body slightly tensed as if she had encountered a formidable opponent.

Chen Hong, at the head, was even more exaggerated; he hurriedly circled out from behind the official desk to welcome her. While still ten steps away from Xu Jiuxi, he subconsciously wanted to bow to pay his respects.

“Ahem~” Han Jingru beside him hurriedly coughed twice. Only then did Chen Hong remember that Lin Hansu, Ding Suian, and others were still present. He slowly straightened his half-bent waist, but the obsequiousness in his tone could not be hidden. “Welcome, Sect Leader. I do not know what instructions you have for gracing us with your presence.”

Xu Jiuxi clasped her hands together and performed a State Religion salute. With lowered eyes and a holy expression, she said, “I dare not give instructions. This Seat has come today only to provide testimony for the Duke of Chu County.”

“What testimony?” Chen Hong hadn’t reacted, staring straight at her. Xu Jiuxi raised her eyes to look at Ding Suian, then looked at Lin Hansu, and said calmly, “This Seat testifies that on the night of the fifteenth, the Duke of Chu County was at home the entire time.”

“Sect Leader, you…” Chen Hong’s brain short-circuited. He couldn’t figure out the logic—how would Sect Leader Xu know whether Ding Suian was at home or not? Could it be that you were together all night? But this question was too disrespectful, and Chen Hong dared not ask it.

But Xu Jiuxi was very understanding and said directly, “That night, This Seat was with the Duke of Chu County.”

“…” Chen Hong seemed to hear a “bang,” as if his heart had shattered. He was dumbfounded and reflexively asked, “What were you doing with him, Sect Leader!” In his haste, it sounded almost like an interrogation.

Xu Jiuxi’s beautiful eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly. “What a question from the Prince. A lone man and woman, spending the whole night together—besides the joys of fish and water, and intimate entanglement, what else could we be doing?”

“…” “…” Now, not only could Chen Hong not speak, but even Lin Hansu swayed as if dizzy, and Ding Suian reached out to support her. Whether the Princess sister was worried about this intimate action being seen by Chen Hong and Han Jingru, or whether she couldn’t accept the news for a moment, she gently pushed away Ding Suian’s outstretched hand.

Actually, Ding Suian himself was also very confused. Old Xu, didn’t we agree not to tell anyone? Why did you expose yourself?

But knowing her, if he questioned her like that, Old Xu would definitely say, “This Seat did it to help you clear your suspicion.”

But Little Ding didn’t need her to do this at all. He had already thought it out earlier: if Chen Hong insisted on searching the residence, Ding Suian could simply say, “Please ask the West Yamen to come and search.” The West Yamen was backed by Princess Xingguo, and Chen Hong wouldn’t be able to object. Old Xu, why are you causing trouble!

Xu Jiuxi probably felt Ding Suian’s gaze. She lowered her head slightly, and the dignified Sect Leader actually looked a bit aggrieved. “Young Master, say something?”

“…” What the hell do you want me to say? She even deliberately used the exclusive “title” Lin Hansu used for him; this was naked provocation! If the little fox was a little green tea, Old Xu was practically concentrated sulfuric acid!

“Prince, if the matter of the Yu family’s young lady has nothing to do with Zhao Yan, then I will take her and leave.” On that side, Lin Hansu’s expression was very ugly, but she was still able to maintain relative calm when she spoke.

Chen Hong, on the contrary, was more discomposed than her, standing in the hall in a daze, turning a deaf ear to Lin Hansu’s words.

“Sorry for the trouble, Princess. Please do as you wish, Princess.” Han Jingru spoke up to smooth things over.

Lin Hansu did not say another word, pulled Zhao Yan along, and walked out of the secondary hall of the Prefecture Yamen together.

“Prince, then we will also take our leave first.” Xu Jiuxi, who was “adding to the chaos when one side is in trouble,” lost most of her interest instantly upon seeing Lin Hansu leave.

“Sect… Sect Leader~” But just as she turned around, she heard a heartbroken low call from behind.

Xu Jiuxi turned back and saw Chen Hong’s hesitant, wanting-to-speak-but-stopping look, her brows knitting into a small knot. “Anything else?”

“I… This Prince…” Chen Hong’s fat, everted lips trembled, and he stammered, unable to speak.

Seeing him like this, Xu Jiuxi couldn’t help but feel even more annoyed. She simply grabbed Ding Suian’s sleeve. “Let’s go~”

After the two walked out of the Prefecture Yamen, Lin Hansu’s carriage had already moved a hundred paces away. He didn’t know if it was an illusion, but as Ding Suian watched the turning wheels of the carriage, they seemed to carry a hint of anger.

“Old Xu, you aren’t being loyal!” Ding Suian looked melancholy. Xu Jiuxi, in her dignified purple robes, enthusiastically hooked his arm and looked toward the departing carriage, smiling: “This Seat disregarded her purity to help you clear your suspicion; is that not loyal?”

“You? Purity?”

“Hehe, who wasn’t a maiden before? If I lost my purity, it was taken by you!”

A maiden? I’m still a virgin myself!

“Old Xu, you have no conscience saying that. Who was it before that kept saying they wanted me to help them cultivate?”

“Don’t worry about so much; I’m just asking you, did it feel good or not? If you dare to do it, you must dare to take responsibility. Don’t make me, Xu Jiuxi, look down on you!”

Hey! Listen to that—is that human language? It sounds like you didn’t enjoy it yourself!

At the Hour of the Rooster that day. At the Nine Gates Patrol Yamen, everyone had finished work, leaving only Chest Hair and a few colleagues on duty tonight.

Surprisingly, Ding Suian, who usually wouldn’t leave half an hour early if he could leave an hour early, stayed in the duty room all day today, working overtime proactively for the first time in history.

Chest Hair was very uneasy. He once thought his boss had been possessed by an evil spirit.

“Boss, aren’t you going home?”

“Ahem, state affairs are important. I will handle official business first.”

“Oh.” Chest Hair scratched his head. Just as he was about to leave the duty room, he heard Ding Suian say, “By the way, uh, bring me a quilt in a while.”

“Huh? Boss, are you sleeping in the duty room tonight? Not going home?”

“What home! State affairs are important!” Ding Suian’s expression became stern.

Home. How could he dare to go back! If he went back tonight, a three-hall interrogation would inevitably await him. Heh~ clumsy women, how could they compare to the consideration of lovely official business? State affairs are important!

Meanwhile. Law Academy, Qingjiao Pavilion.

Xu Jiuxi had one leg resting on the soft couch and the other hanging off the side, swaying it leisurely and contentedly.

Thinking of how Lin Hansu’s pretty face was frosty with anger when she was driven away that morning, the corners of her lips couldn’t help but curl up.

“Click~” In the back room, there was a slight sound of a mechanism.

Shu Yao walked up holding a glass bottle filled with half a bottle of crimson dew and placed it on the table. Seeing Xu Jiuxi’s smiling face, she asked curiously, “Headmaster, what is the happy occasion?”

Xu Jiuxi’s smile vanished upon hearing this, and she rolled her eyes at her. “None of your damn business~”

Shu Yao was already used to the capricious Xu Jiuxi, so she whispered a reminder: “Headmaster, the situation in Central Heaven is getting tighter and tighter. It’s better to kill her quickly to avoid bringing trouble.”

This time, Xu Jiuxi stared at the crimson dew shimmering with golden light in the glass bottle, thought seriously for a moment, and said, “Use things to their full potential; do not waste them.”

“Yes~” Shu Yao turned to leave Qingjiao Pavilion, but before long, she rushed back.

“Headmaster, someone has come from outside, requesting that the Headmaster go to the Three Sages Palace in Tushan immediately.”

“Three Sages Palace?” Xu Jiuxi slowly sat up straight. She guessed the reason and knew that after causing such a scene this morning, being summoned to the Three Sages Palace was a matter of time. She just didn’t expect it to be so soon. When the matter arrived, she actually felt nervous.

She remained silent for a few breaths, steadied her mind, then sat cross-legged on the couch with her eyes closed, her hands forming a seal on her knees.

As her Qi flowed, a faint red light permeated from her body, slowly rising from her chest and abdomen until it stopped at her throat. Xu Jiuxi tilted her slender neck and parted her vermilion lips slightly.

The red light continued to rise, and in an instant, a crimson pill the size of a Dragon’s eye was slowly spat out from her mouth.

The surface of the pill flowed with lava-like patterns, illuminating the entire quiet room as if it were soaked in a pool of blood.

Shu Yao gasped, “Headmaster! What are you doing?”

Xu Jiuxi’s expression remained normal. She raised her hand to take the floating pill, admired it in her hand for a moment, and suddenly flicked her hand, tossing it to Shu Yao.

Shu Yao was instantly scared out of her wits, Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and hurriedly caught it in a panic, saying angrily, “Headmaster! Half of your life’s cultivation is condensed in this; how dare you waste it like this? What if you drop and break it!”

“Pfft~” Xu Jiuxi sneered and said confidently, “It’s not that easy to break. I am entrusting you with a matter; take note.”

Seeing her suddenly become serious, Shu Yao also became solemn. “Headmaster, please speak.”

Xu Jiuxi rolled over and sat up, hands behind her back, and walked toward the door, saying, “If I don’t return tonight, then send this pill to…”

“Send it where?”

“Send it to the Chu County Dukes Residence.”

“Ah?”

“Ah what? What are you ‘ah-ing’ for?” Xu Jiuxi turned back, looking carefree and relaxed. “So that little guy doesn’t nag all day long, as if he suffered some great loss. If I don’t return, just consider it a keepsake for him~”