The man didn't expect Xiao Xiao to strike suddenly. Looking at his suddenly severed finger, his face contorted in pain.
"You! It was clearly your fault, yet you dare to commit violence right in front of so many people. It seems you don't put us common people in your eyes at all."
Naturally, the others behind him joined in the commotion.
"That's right, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager should manage your own people well. This person dared to commit violence in public. God knows what else she has done behind our backs."
"Why not just arrest and punish this person? Otherwise, innocent common people might suffer."
Saying so, those common people were about to attack Xiao Xiao directly. Xiao Xiao was about to suppress them by force, but was pulled back by her own master.
Shi Muyuan used herself as a shield and stood between the two groups.
She stared coldly at the crowd in front of her and spared no effort to protect Xiao Xiao.
"If you have the guts, step over my dead body. Otherwise, I will surely settle the score with you people."
This brief sentence immediately silenced everyone. They didn't expect things to turn out like this.
Although they were extremely angry at the maid protected by the Empress Dowager, even if they had the audacity of ten tigers, they didn't dare to cross the Empress Dowager, let alone do anything to her.
Helplessly, they could only stand there and argue their case.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, are you still going to protect such a person? This kind of person clearly isn't a good one. Since she dared to attack us common people today, who knows if she will attack you tomorrow."
Shi Muyuan casually glanced at their faces and didn't take their words to heart.
"I know my own people well. I won't be swayed by your attempts to sow discord."
As soon as these words were spoken, those people immediately fell silent, and their expressions became strange.
"Your Majesty the Empress Dowager, we are just thinking about you."
"Enough. I know what you're up to. I will surely give justice for the deaths of your relatives, but not today. If I see anyone causing trouble next time, the outcome won't be so good."
After she finished speaking, she directly looked at the finger of the leader. The others realized that the Empress Dowager wasn't joking and couldn't help but shiver.
Helplessly, even though they had a lot of dissatisfaction in their hearts, they had to suppress it all at this moment.
"We will follow the Empress Dowager's teachings. We are also willing to give the Empress Dowager some time."
Just when it seemed that this matter was about to pass, the leader refused to let it go.
His eyes were as cold as a snake's as he stared closely at Xiao Xiao. "I wonder how many days the Empress Dowager will need to resolve today's matter?"
Perhaps this was the only commoner in the world who dared to confront the Empress Dowager head - on. Although the others admired him in their hearts, it was only in their hearts.
They weren't fools. They had just dared to say those things following this man because they thought the Empress Dowager had few people with her. Now that the Empress Dowager had spoken, they didn't have the guts to challenge her.
However, the result always surprised everyone. The Empress Dowager wasn't angry at all when faced with such words. She calmly said, "Just give me five days, and I will surely find the murderer behind this."
"Heh, isn't five days a bit too long? Three days then. The Empress Dowager has extensive influence, and with the help of the eldest young master Shi and the Emperor, perhaps it will only take two days to find the murderer."
Shi Muyuan gradually began to pay attention to this man who kept causing trouble for her. He seemed to know a lot about the affairs of the court. The words "eldest young master Shi" were rarely heard by common people.
Her elder brother had been fighting battles outside for many years and had only returned in the past few months. His words clearly showed that he was very familiar with her elder brother's identity.
It seemed that there were probably other surprises among these people today.
In that case, she might as well start with these people. Maybe she would find something interesting.
Thinking this way, Shi Muyuan directly agreed.
"Fine, three days. I will surely give you all an answer here."
With her promise, the others quickly dispersed. The bodies in the tent were also sent by Shi Muyuan to the coroner for examination.
The leader quietly walked to the edge of the epidemic area when no one was paying attention. Looking around and seeing no one, he whistled. Soon, a pigeon flew onto his arm.
He curled his lips, looking extremely proud. When the King came, he would surely make all these people pay for his severed finger.
Just when he thought he had done all this secretly, he didn't notice a figure quietly appearing behind him.
Just as he was about to put a small note on the pigeon's leg, Xiao Xiao silently struck. The man only felt a sudden darkness in front of his eyes, and then his body went limp and he fell to the ground.
The pigeon was startled. It turned its head and tried to flap its wings to fly away, but as soon as it made a move, it was mercilessly caught by Xiao Xiao.
"Little thing, it's been a long time since my master had meat. Since I've got you now, my master's lunch is settled."
Singing a song, she stuffed the man on the ground into a sack, slung it over her shoulder, and holding the pigeon in one hand, walked towards Shi Muyuan's tent.
Shi Muyuan was originally writing and drawing on paper in the tent, trying to find a clue. But suddenly, she heard a "bang". She raised her eyebrows; this sound was actually expected.
Calmly dipping her pen in ink, she kept writing down various clues on the paper.
"Have you caught the man?"
"Just as the Empress Dowager expected, this guy went out and secretly sent a message to someone outside. I just happened to catch the carrier pigeon."
"Then we'll have an extra dish for lunch. I'll just have a leg."
Xiao Xiao nodded seriously upon hearing this. Then she tied up the man on the ground and turned to leave.
The man was woken up by the smell of pigeon soup. He had been spying here for several days and hadn't had a bit of meat. Now, subconsciously smacking his lips, he woke up.
"It smells so good."
These words immediately drew a sneer. Shi Muyuan's voice reached his ears.
The man remembered something and looked over in horror. He saw Shi Muyuan smiling at him. He wanted to take a few steps back, but suddenly felt that his hands and feet were restricted. Looking down, he found that his hands and feet had been tied up at some point.
Seeing this, he understood everything in his heart.