Sensing something was amiss, several people immediately quickened their pace.
What greeted their eyes was Pan Li with a gash on his neck, his eyes wide open and blood gushing out. Huang Liu was beside him, wearing a ferocious grin, his face spattered with blood. He was still holding the knife he had taken from a constable's scabbard, the blade dripping with fresh blood. His abdomen was pierced by an official's sword, and his whole body was covered in blood, looking extremely hideous. The other witnesses and Yan Zhongyi were all huddled on the ground in fear, trembling non - stop.
Sharing a tacit look, Ye Xi and Yi Yuan both frowned tightly. How could it be such a coincidence? The two most important people were both dead.
Xie Huaiyue was so angry that she was almost fuming. Limping, her body seemed to be on fire.
"Are you all useless? You can't even control things right under your noses! You're all good - for - nothings. What's the use of you!"
"My lord, please calm down,"
The constables knelt on the ground in a huddle. The constable whose knife had been snatched was filled with guilt.
"Huang Liu was originally tied up properly. We don't know when he managed to break free from the ropes. It all happened so suddenly. I wasn't on guard and he took advantage of the opportunity. Please punish me, my lord!"
"What's the use of punishing you now that the people are dead!"
Xie Huaiyue kicked him angrily, but due to her injury, she winced in pain before her foot even touched the man.
"A Yue,"
Unable to stand it any longer, Yi Yuan stepped forward and grabbed the furious Xie Huaiyue, saying calmly,
"Since the people are already dead, don't hurt yourself any further. First, have the others taken into custody. As for your subordinates..."
"I know," Xie Huaiyue's face was extremely grim. She pointed at two constables by the door. "You two, go and call someone to take these people to the prison."
Then she pointed at the kneeling constables and continued,
"You lot, get into the inner chamber!"
"Xiao Xi."
Yi Yuan didn't waste any words. He turned back and softly called out.
"Okay."
Ye Xi nodded and quickly walked up to Yi Yuan.
After everyone was cleared away, Yi Yuan let go of Xie Huaiyue and turned to protect Ye Xi as they walked towards the inner chamber.
Xie Huaiyue, who suddenly lost her support, almost fell. She glared angrily at the woman - obsessed Yi Yuan and followed him muttering.
Under the pretext of checking if the constables had helped Huang Liu cut the ropes, Yi Yuan asked questions while Ye Xi observed. Soon, they had read the minds of a bunch of constables.
"How is it?"
After sending the people outside, Xie Huaiyue couldn't help asking.
Shaking her head, Ye Xi said,
"No, they are all innocent."
"Well,"
Xie Huaiyue slapped the red - wood round table.
"It's also a good thing. At least most of my subordinates are trustworthy."
There was obvious desolation in her words. Ye Xi glanced at Yi Yuan, signaling him to comfort her.
Nodding to show that he understood, Yi Yuan said,
"Check on your people properly. Xiao Xi is still injured. We'll be leaving first."
Ye Xi:...
That's not how I meant for you to comfort her.
But Xie Huaiyue didn't say much. Maybe it would be better for her to be alone at this moment. Ye Xi smiled at Xie Huaiyue, said nothing more, and followed Yi Yuan, who was carefully holding her hand, out of the door.
"How's your injury?"
Yi Yuan carefully lifted Ye Xi's hand and asked,
"I wasn't here yesterday. Did you miss me?"
Ye Xi gave Yi Yuan a coquettish look. Her cheeks turned slightly red, and her eyes were filled with smiles.
"It's not a big deal. Um... I missed you very much."
Yi Yuan let out a soft laugh, and the coldness in his eyebrows and eyes softened.
"I missed..."
"Miss Ye."
Shen Zhou's voice suddenly sounded, and the word "you" in Yi Yuan's mouth was swallowed back. His whole body exuded a cold aura, and his black eyes were full of hostility.
"How's your injury..."
"A Yuan!"
Ye Xi exclaimed. The rest of Shen Zhou's words were all forced back by Yi Yuan's silent sword thrust.
Reacting quickly, Shen Zhou dodged Yi Yuan's sharp sword just in time. However, the sword qi was so fierce and full of killing intent that it slit open the front of his robe with a "tear" sound.
"Sir!"
"Don't interfere!"
Sheng Yu's anxious shout and Shen Zhou's order rang out at the same time. Seeing that his master was already fighting with the Prince of Yu'an, Sheng Yu was extremely worried. His master's whip wounds on his back from failing to complete a task hadn't healed yet!
But no matter how worried Sheng Yu was, he was helpless. Over there, Shen Zhou was already fighting with Yi Yuan. Mian Xiao and Lin An were glaring at him nearby. Sheng Yu didn't doubt that if he moved, they would immediately rush over.
The outcome was soon decided.
At his full strength, Shen Zhou might be able to fight Yi Yuan. But he was injured and felt guilty. How could he be a match for Yi Yuan, who was determined to get some revenge for Ye Xi?
In less than ten rounds, he was heavily slapped on the chest by Yi Yuan. He let out a pained groan and slid backward for dozens of feet.
Just as he managed to stabilize his figure, Shen Zhou felt a sweet taste of blood in his throat. He spat out a mouthful of blood with a "pu" sound. At the same time, Yi Yuan's sword followed like a shadow and pierced into the position of his heart.
"A Yuan!"
"A Zhou!"
Two shouts rang out at the same time.
One was an urgent stop, and the other was full of panic.
Having learned that new witnesses had been found, the Ministry of Justice was holding a joint trial today. Shen Zhou would represent the Shen family. Yun Qianying had begged Yun Qi, who originally wanted to visit Ye Xi in the Zhihong Garden, to come and check the situation together.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived, they saw this scene. Yun Qianying let out a scream in fear and ran over angrily and fearfully.
But Yi Yuan's sword didn't pierce through. It only made a shallow cut, almost the same depth as the wound on Ye Xi's heart.
"How dare you still ask?"
Yi Yuan stared directly into Shen Zhou's eyes. His voice was bone - chillingly cold.
"Didn't you cause Xiao Xi's injury?"
Shen Zhou's pupils shrank suddenly. He subconsciously looked at Ye Xi, who was running towards Yi Yuan.
Yi Yuan knew. What about Yingying? Yingying must know too. Would she hate him? His Yingying, would she loathe him, despise him, and never want to see him again...
A great sense of panic gradually engulfed Shen Zhou. He could only squeeze out the last and most feeble excuse through his teeth:
"I didn't know..."
"A Zhou, A Zhou..."
Yun Qianying had run closer. She helped Shen Zhou in a flurry to check his injury and interrupted his unfinished words.
But it didn't matter anymore. Even if he didn't know that Yingying was Man Ping, so what? After all, he was the one who did it.
"Prince of Yu'an, you've gone too far!"
Yun Qianying was so angry that her eyes were full of tears. She threw a tantrum, kicking and punching Yi Yuan.
"The lifting of the ban on the Shen family was an imperial edict personally issued by the emperor. You failed to frame the Shen family and now you're openly attacking people. Do you think the world is yours... Ah!"
Letting out a scream, Yun Qianying was grabbed by Ye Xi, who had arrived a step later, by the wrist that was pushing and hitting Yi Yuan. Ye Xi gave a sudden jerk and threw her to the ground, making her cry out in pain.
Yun Qianying was stunned.
"You, you dare to push me!?"
Ye Xi snorted.
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll do more than just push you."
It had been a very long time since someone had been so rude to her. Those people had all ended up in extremely miserable situations. She had been living a life of luxury for more than a decade, but she didn't expect to be pushed to the ground by a girl with no background today.
"Brother!"
Yun Qianying cried like a flower in the rain. Supported by her maid Liuyun, she covered her arm and threw herself into Yun Qi's arms to complain.
"My hand, my hand is broken! Brother, Xiao Ying is in so much pain, wuwu..."
"She pushed me, brother. You have to seek justice for Xiao Ying!"