The angrier he got, the more impulsive Yi Yuan became. He lifted his foot and kicked.
Xu Pan was caught off guard. With a "thud", he was kicked straight to the wall. He spat out a mouthful of blood with a "wow".
Everyone was startled and turned to look at Yi Yuan in unison.
Yi Yuan remained calm.
"Just slipped," he said.
Mian Xiao: Right, sly.
Lin An: Why is he so angry?
Ye Xi thought it was Xu Pan's reluctance to tell the truth that had angered Yi Yuan. She didn't think much of it and just stepped forward.
"Is Your Highness asking me to use 'Divination by Gazing'?"
Yi Yuan: I'm not really keen on it now.
However, as much as he thought so, he still needed to confirm some things. Yi Yuan stared coldly at Xu Pan and said,
"Yes, I need to confirm a few things."
"Alright," Ye Xi walked up to Xu Pan, who was lying on the ground. As usual, she made hand gestures and then placed her hand on Xu Pan's palm.
"Your Highness, please ask."
Yi Yuan stared intently at Ye Xi's fair hand. His voice was as cold as ice.
"Who is the mastermind behind the embezzlement of military rations? What exactly is hidden in the place you've been hiding?
"Where is that thing now?"
Xu Pan was bewildered.
Yi Yuan had interrogated him about these matters many times, and he had answered accordingly. But Yi Yuan never believed him. Could this fairy - like girl's touch on his hand change his answers? Would Yi Yuan finally believe him? It was ridiculous!
After some thought, Xu Pan still stuck to his original story.
"Your Highness, please see clearly. The embezzlement of military rations was truly forced on me by the governor. I was just a victim. I had no other choice..."
"The mansion, the one in the mountains, was just a hiding place I found for myself to avoid being killed. There's really nothing in it..."
However—
[One governor isn't enough? The embezzlement of military rations involved so many people. If I don't say anything, they'll just think I'm dead. If I do, I'll expose myself. What about my family?]
[The ledger in that mansion is my guarantee for survival if things go wrong. Would I tell you?]
[You still want to know where it is. Hmph~ You're dreaming! I've hidden it in a secret hole in the latrine. Let's see how you find it! Haha...]
Ye Xi: ...
This "Divination by Gazing" was really torture. It felt like the whole room smelled bad...
Seeing Ye Xi's awkward expression, Yi Yuan knew that she had gotten the answers she wanted.
But he still had a speculation to confirm, so he didn't stop Ye Xi for the time being. Instead, he continued to ask,
"One more thing. Why did Prince Chi Xuan die in battle? What exactly did he discover?"
Xu Pan was stunned.
[How would I know about Prince Chi Xuan! He discovered the problem with the military pay in the barracks and traced it to something big. He was killed by someone above. It really has nothing to do with me!]
Thinking this way, Xu Pan said it out loud.
"I really don't know anything about Prince Chi Xuan! I'm just a farm - management official on the border. How would I know what's going on behind the scenes? Your Highness, please investigate!"
Yi Yuan didn't care what Xu Pan was saying. He just stared at Ye Xi. When Ye Xi nodded, he immediately said,
"Alright, come and wash your hands quickly."
"Okay," Ye Xi obediently went to wash her hands and told Yi Yuan everything she had heard from Xu Pan's thoughts.
Xu Pan was so shocked that his eyes almost popped out.
What kind of divine being was this? She could really know what was on his mind.
Could she really be a fairy from the sky? But if she was a fairy, how could she get injured?
While Xu Pan was still in shock, Yi Yuan and the others, who had heard that the ledger was hidden in the latrine, all showed the same expression as Ye Xi had before.
Amazing. It felt like they all smelled bad...
Yi Yuan's face darkened as he gave orders.
"Alright, drag him down and lock him in the secret prison. Mian Xiao, send a message to the people over there. Tell them to find the thing immediately and bring it back."
Saying that, he stood up abruptly and shouted,
"Someone! Boil some water. I'm going to take a bath!"
Mian Xiao and Lin An: "I want to too!"
Since that was the case...
Ye Xi blinked and looked at Ling Yan.
"Let's go, Ling Yan. Let's go back and take a bath too."
However, just as they were halfway there, they met Sai Xing, who was in a hurry.
"Miss!" Sai Xing ran over quickly, out of breath. "I just received a message from Madam. She invited us to meet in the private room on the third floor of the Heroes' Tower tonight. I guess it's about Eldest Miss and that young master from the Cao family. She wants you to help them cover up."
The Madam Sai Xing mentioned was Qian Fangxue.
Ye Xi raised her eyebrows slightly.
"It seems she really can't wait. She sent someone to deliver the message as soon as she got back."
Saying that, Ye Xi tilted her head slightly and smiled faintly.
"Let's go, Ling Yan. Let's dress up nicely and see what information we can get from my 'good mother'."
After a long time of grooming and dressing up, afraid of revealing their identities, Ling Yan also wore a veiled hat and went with them.
The Heroes' Tower was as lively as ever. Ye Xi left Ling Yan outside the door and took Sai Xing to the private room.
Qian Fangxue was already waiting inside. When she saw Ye Xi coming, she immediately greeted her with a smile.
"Finally, the Immortal has come. Come, come, sit down quickly."
Ye Xi wasn't going to be polite since she rarely got to be treated like an honored guest. She sat down boldly in the main seat and got straight to the point.
"I wonder what important matter Madam has for me by inviting me here in advance?"
"Well..." Qian Fangxue winked at Nanny Hao, who was standing beside her.
Nanny Hao understood and took out a wooden box she had prepared in advance and placed it in front of Ye Xi.
When it was opened, neatly stacked silver ingots were inside, and there was also a stack of silver notes with an unclear amount underneath.
Qian Fangxue said with a beaming smile,
"This is just a little tea money for the Immortal. There is indeed something I need the Immortal's help with. There will be a generous reward after it's done."
Ye Xi glanced at the box of silver and money indifferently. She thought that the Ye family's fortune seemed quite substantial, so she wasn't going to be polite.
She calmly shifted her gaze and said indifferently,
"Madam, you might as well speak straight."
"Ahem..." Since it wasn't a glorious thing, it was hard for her to say. After much hesitation, she finally said,
"It's mainly about the recent rumor in the capital about my daughter and the young master from the Cao family. This matter... is definitely not what the outside world is saying, but it has really damaged my daughter's reputation."
"So, I invited the Immortal here this time to use the 'Divination by Gazing' technique to prove my daughter's innocence."
Ye Xi couldn't help but sneer.
Even at this point, she was still being evasive. Didn't she really have any idea in her mind?
Ye Xi let out a soft laugh and showed no mercy to Qian Fangxue.
"Since Madam has invited me here, why be so vague? If it were really nothing, I'm sure Madam wouldn't have come to me in advance."
"Since Madam needs my help, then speak clearly and boldly. Only then will I know how to act."