Dali Temple.
Sima Xuze couldn't wait for Mi Xiaoqi to come, so he had to send someone to Prince Nanye's post to inquire every day, and the answer he got was the same every day, and His Royal Highness and Miss Xiaoqi had not returned yet.
Sima Xuze had no choice but to start an investigation. He called several of the victim's cronies for interrogation, and soon obtained first-hand testimony. Cui Dongcheng participated with Sima Xuze throughout the process.
In a blink of an eye, five days passed.
"Master Cui, Miss Seventh hasn't come back yet. She is the biggest suspect in our case. Look, are we going to issue an arrest warrant?" Sima Xuze asked.
"Wanted order? Master Sima insisted that Miss Seven was a criminal based on the testimony of these servant girls. If you put Prince Nanye in it, if you really offend His Royal Highness, it will not be fun." Cui Dongcheng said.
Sima Xuze shuddered, really, he has heard of Nan Fengchen's reputation, "Master Cui is right, but now it's the day when the emperor ordered the trial to start, and he still can't catch anyone, how can he?" Is good?"
"It's not that there is another day, and then send someone to the posthouse to wait." Cui Dongcheng said.
"That's the only way to go." Sima Xuze nodded.
Taohuawu.
Xiaoqi has been here for five days.
Although Nan Fengchen was a little awkward, he quickly returned to normal, taking advantage of small things from time to time, and fighting with Xiaoqi.
As long as Nan Fengchen doesn't mention that he wants to take Xiao Qi away, Xiao Qi will be very happy. The peaches are already ripe. Xiao Qi will take Nan Fengchen to pick peaches in Taohuawu, make ice cream, make jam, make peach wine, and have fun. Very happy.
fifth day.
"Ah Chen, pick the big one." Xiao Qi shouted to Nan Fengchen who was standing on the top of the tree from under the tree.
Suddenly feeling a gust of cold wind behind him, Xiao Qi subconsciously turned around and saw Bei Gongyan with a gloomy face, "Ah Yan, you are here."
Xiao Qi pretended not to see Bei Gongyan's face, and threw herself into his arms happily.
Bei Gongyan's body visibly froze for a moment, although he was very angry at Xiaoqi's address to Nan Fengchen, but the moment he hugged her, his thoughts overwhelmed everything, and he lowered his head and gently kissed her lips .
"Xiaoqi, here are the peaches for you." Nan Fengchen's cool voice sounded.
Xiao Qi came back to his senses suddenly, and gently broke away from Bei Gongyan's restraint, "Eh, put it, put it in the frame."
"Thank you for His Highness the Crown Prince's care these few days. Now everything has been clarified. This king is here to take Xiaoqi back." Bei Gongyan looked at Nan Fengchen, his eyes met, well, it was still lightning.
"Okay, I heard that Dali Temple will hold a trial tomorrow, and I will go to testify for Xiaoqi, and I will bring two powerful witnesses with me. At that time, Xiaoqi can say whatever he wants, and we will cooperate." Nan Nan Feng Chen opened his mouth and said.
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness." Bei Gongyan did not refuse Nan Fengchen's help.
Although he has obtained certain evidence, if those people insist that Xiao Qi did those things, it will be a big blow to Xiao Qi's reputation and it will be very bad for their future.
Xiao Qi obviously didn't understand what the two were talking about, but she was smart enough not to ask.
"Farewell." Bei Gongyan took Xiao Qi's hand and prepared to leave.
"Xiao Qi, remember what you promised me." Nan Fengchen looked at Xiao Qi and said with a light smile.
"I remember, Chen, goodbye." Xiao Qi waved his hand and left with Bei Gongyan.
Three Kings Mansion, Mingyue Pavilion.
"Hmm..." Xiao Qi was taken directly to the bed by Bei Gongyan as soon as he entered the door...
After a strenuous exercise, Xiao Qi was so tired that he fell asleep.
"I stayed in Taohuawu so much that I don't want to come back." Bei Gongyan's sour voice sounded.
Xiao Qiqiang cheered up, "I'm jealous again, Bei Gongyan, don't bring such a thing, tell me what happened, and you leave me there."
"You and Nan Fengchen had a good time?" Bei Gongyan asked without answering.
Xiao Qi raised her forehead silently, "No, he and I are just friends, I only like you, except you promise not to like anyone else, life is your ghost and death is your ghost, Ah Yan." Bei Gongyan acted coquettishly for a while.
"That's the trick." Bei Gongyan pulled his lips and chuckled.
"As long as it works, if you are not angry, tell me what happened?"
Only then did Bei Gongyan tell Xiao Qi about the suicides of several women, and then told Xiao Qi about the evidence he had.
"These people really took great pains. Who do you think is the person behind her?" Xiao Qi asked.
"A few candidates are just not sure." Bei Gongyan whispered a few names.
Xiao Qi frowned, and thought for a while, "It's not as good as tomorrow..."
Bei Gongyan's eagle eyes lit up and he nodded.
The next day, Dali Temple.
Sima Xuze finally received good news before he was promoted, that is, Mi Xiaoqi had returned, and immediately expressed his willingness to go to court for interrogation.
Cui Dongcheng was by Sima Xuze's side, and the two of them took on the case together, so they naturally sat side by side behind the desk when they were promoted.
Bei Gongyan and Mi Xiaoqi arrived side by side.
There were also four family members of the deceased who came to listen. When they saw Mi Xiaoqi beside Bei Gongyan, they were all furious. They wished they could go up and tear her apart, but because of Bei Gongyan's face, they did not dare to act rashly.
Sima Xuze is about to shout for promotion...
Suddenly the yamen servant outside the door hurried in to report.
"My lord, His Royal Highness Prince Nanye, Mr. Weilan and Miss Wei are here."
"Please." Sima Xuze got up in a hurry, what are these guys doing here
Nan Fengchen and Wei Lan walked in side by side, and Wei Ziyi followed behind them.
"I have seen His Royal Highness, Mr. Weilan, Miss Wei..." Sima Xuze saluted respectfully.
"Lord Sima is free. I, Master Wei Lan and Ms. Wei heard that Xiao Qi was wronged, so I came to listen in. Don't Master Sima mind?" Nan Fengchen said gracefully, his eyes fell on Xiao Qi's face, He clearly felt the kind of stability and happiness that he had never experienced in the past few days from her body, and his heart felt uncomfortable for a moment.
"Naturally, naturally, come and watch the seats." Sima Xuze hurriedly ordered.
A yamen servant brought three chairs, and the three sat down.
The three of them came over to act as time witnesses for Xiao Qi, Bei Gongyan told Xiao Qi, so Xiao Qi was not surprised.
"Ascension!" Sima Xuze shouted loudly.
Yamen servants on both sides shouted mighty...
"Come here, bring witnesses." Sima Xuze wept silently. He should have brought the suspect first, but the background of the suspect was too strong, and he couldn't afford to offend him at all...
The yamen servant quickly brought over four servant girls and knelt side by side.
They are Wanmeiren, Mrs. Ying, Feng Xueer, and the servant girls of the side concubine Hou Xinyue.
Wanmeiren's dowry maid and died by bumping her head. At this time, it was Wanmeiren's other maid who was kneeling on the ground.
"Who are the witnesses?" Sima Xuze asked.
"The slave girl, Liu Ye, is Wanmei's personal maid."
"The slave girl, Ju'er, is Mrs. Ying's personal maid."
"The slave girl Mei Hong is the personal servant girl of Master Xue."
"The servant girl Bai Yu is the personal servant girl of the side concubine."
"What do you guys have to say?" Sima Xuze asked.
"Slaves have something to say..."
The four of them burst into tears as soon as they opened their mouths. The one who cried was full of grief, and then began to choke up and talk about their master's misfortune, how bad his master was at competing for favor, living in a corner of the palace with peace of mind, but being aggressive by Mi Xiaoqi , Repeatedly humiliated, it was only later that the master of the family could not bear the humiliation and committed suicide.
The four adults who were listening on the sidelines really hated their teeth when they heard about their daughter's tragic experience.
"There is such a jealous woman, my lord, I must give my ministers justice!" Hou Junjie, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, said sadly.
"If things are true as they said, I will give them justice." Bei Gongyan responded coldly.
"My lord, now that there are all the witnesses and material evidence, is it possible that the lord still wants to protect Mi Xiaoqi!" Lord You Jinwuwei said angrily.
In their view, Bei Gongyan is protecting Mi Xiaoqi.
"My lords, there is no need to get excited. Xiao Qi can prove her innocence." Xiao Qi walked down the hall spontaneously, her gaze fell on the faces of the maidservants. There is no sadness in the eyes of the individuals, they are just acting, and the acting is not good, at least they themselves have not been involved in the acting.
"Master Sima, can you allow Xiao Qi to prove his innocence?" Xiao Qi looked up at Sima Xu Ze who was seated.
Sima Xuze choked on his words.
"Lord Sima, Seventh Miss once helped the prince catch the criminal Bai Mufan in the tribute tea case. Her ability is obvious to all. If Seventh Miss can prove her innocence, we will avoid wronging good people and letting the real culprit go unpunished." Cui Dongcheng spoke in a timely manner.
Sima Xuze knew that he couldn't refuse, so he could only answer, "Miss Seven, please."
"Thank you, sir." Xiao Qi nodded slightly, then turned to look at the four servant girls kneeling on the ground. "Girls don't need to be nervous, just answer Xiao Qi's question truthfully."
The four looked at each other, but did not dare to make a sound.
"You are, Liu Ye, Wanmei's personal maid?" Xiao Qi asked.
Liu Ye nodded nervously.
"You said that I have been in and out of Luofeng Garden, so when was the last time I went to Luofeng Garden? When?" Xiao Qi asked.
Liu Ye was obviously taken aback by the question.
"Girl, girl, Jing, I often go, I can't remember the date..." Liu Ye said intermittently.
"Miss Liu Ye, I don't want you to tell me the time I go every time. I'm asking the most recent time, which is the day before Wanmei committed suicide. Since you said that I humiliated Wanmei many times, you made her Unable to bear the humiliation and commit suicide, then how can you not remember the time when I last appeared and what I said when I last appeared?" Xiao Qi asked lightly, without any threatening tone.
Liu Ye's tense palms were sweating slightly, "Servant, servant, I remember it was the afternoon before the beauty committed suicide. The girl sneered at my master as soon as she entered the door, saying that my master is destined to die alone."
"Oh, there are so many people living in Luofeng Garden, why did I only go to your master?" Xiao Qi blinked and asked.