Chunyang and Chunxiang felt as if they had been struck by lightning. They quickly turned their heads and saw a man carrying a light blue embroidered begonia flower bundle in one hand, running swiftly away.
They recognized the bundle; it was indeed theirs, but... ever since they moved here, they had folded it up and put it away! When did they pack such a bundle?
Xu Jing's eyes darkened as she slowly looked around at the Peng Family members, silently sneering in her heart.
It seemed someone was using the fact that she had a falling out with Peng Shi yesterday to try and pin Peng Shi's murder on her.
Only the Peng Family members entered their room earlier. This bundle could have only been planted by one of them.
This indicated that the person who killed Peng Shi was very likely a member of the Peng Family.
Perhaps the perpetrator was the one who hastily framed them with the bundle, or perhaps that person was just following orders...
There wasn't enough evidence now; everything was just speculation. She needed more evidence to find out the truth of this case, if she had the chance to examine the body...
The Peng Family members' expressions changed drastically when they saw the bundle. The maid beside Mrs. Cao immediately said with a stern face, "And you still say you didn't kill our Lord!"
Mrs. Cao's face turned pale. After taking a deep breath, she harshly commanded, "Someone! Tie up Miss Xu for me..."
"Stop!" Xu Jing eyed the guards approaching her with a cold voice, "Mrs. Cao, adjudicating a case is not child's play! Determining who the murderer is, is not up to you!
Peng Shilang's death has nothing to do with me! If you insist on claiming that I am the murderer, then let's go to the government office and let the County Magistrate investigate thoroughly who really killed Peng Shilang!"
Chunyang sharply turned her head towards Xu Jing.
Vice Minister Xiao came to Anping County to investigate the case. If this issue goes to the government office, Miss Xu might indeed end up facing Vice Minister Xiao!
But... if Vice Minister Xiao hears about this matter, he might lend Miss Xu a helping hand, who's to say? No matter how reckless Miss Xu had been in the past, Vice Minister Xiao would always send people to clean up after her.
Though she knew she shouldn't hope, Chunyang couldn't help but feel a faint sense of anticipation.
Mrs. Cao apparently didn't expect Xu Jing to be so composed until now; she frowned at Xu Jing intensely.
Beside her, a woman dressed up flamboyantly immediately said, "Oh, you speak so righteously, even bringing our County Magistrate into this!
You've even packed your bundle, who knows if you'll run away when we're not paying attention!"
Xu Jing glanced at her, sneering lightly, "They say the Peng Family is the most well-known family in Hutou Village. If you can't even keep an eye on a weak woman like me, don't talk about avenging your lord, just disband then!"
"You!"
The woman's face changed, surprised by Xu Jing's sharp tongue and satire.
At this moment, a man dressed in a dark green robe strode over. He appeared to be in his twenties, tall, with a square face, fair skin, and unremarkable features. His attire was similarly plain, with his only adornment being a bronze turtle-shaped belt hook and a high-quality white round jade pendant hanging from his belt.
Yet, he exuded a calm and serene aura, easily extinguishing the small flame in the courtyard.
He was seen coming out of Xu Jing's room. He walked directly towards the women led by Mrs. Cao, gave her a bow, and said calmly, "Madam, I've already had someone search the entire room. Besides the packed bundle, we also found that a kitchen knife was missing from the knife block in their kitchen. The missing knife is obviously the murder weapon that killed our lord."
As he spoke, he suddenly glanced sideways at Xu Jing with a somber look, like a vulture emotionlessly staring at a lifeless corpse.
Xu Jing frowned slightly, feeling a sudden discomfort in her heart.
But the man quickly withdrew his gaze, speaking in a soft tone, "I also heard Miss Xu's words just now. Miss Xu is right; the one who should be determining the case should indeed be the County Magistrate above the high court. Since Miss Xu demands to go to the county government, then let's go. The truth is the truth, and no matter who handles the case, the result will be the same."
The man stood to the front left of Xu Jing, so she couldn't see his expression. However, she noticed Mrs. Cao seemingly glanced at him quickly after hearing his words, clasped her fingers tightly, then nodded after a moment of silence, declaring loudly, "Someone, prepare a carriage, we will all go to the county government to bring justice to our lord!"
Xu Jing couldn't help but knit her brows even tighter.
Chunxiang was just a paper tiger with no substance. Upon hearing this, she immediately clung to Xu Jing's sleeve, nearly on the verge of tears, "Miss... Miss, what are we going to do..."
They certainly didn't commit the murder!
But judging by the current situation, even a fool would know things looked very unfavorable to them!
Xu Jing took a deep breath, lowered her voice, and said, "Don't worry, I have a plan.
Chunyang."
Chunyang immediately moved closer to Xu Jing, saying, "What are your orders, Miss?"
Xu Jing, with the corner of her eyes observing the Peng Family members, seized the opportunity to slip a folded piece of paper into Chunyang's hand while they weren't looking, whispering, "Their attention is on me now, you and Chunxiang have more freedom. Look for a chance to see if you can find someone reliable to send this note out."
Chunyang was stunned, having not noticed when Miss Xu wrote this note, nor who it was addressed to.
Yet she asked nothing, immediately tucked the note into her sleeve pocket, nodded, "Rest assured, Miss, I will do my utmost to get it done."
The Peng Family members didn't make things too difficult for the three of them. Though they were constantly monitored, they were assigned their own carriage.
On the way, Chunyang took the opportunity, using the excuse of an upset stomach to go to the toilet in a nearby farmhouse.
When she returned to the carriage, she looked at Xu Jing with a complicated expression and unconsciously opened her mouth, "Miss..."
Xu Jing then knew she had figured out a way to send the note and surely read its contents, knowing who it was for.
Casually glancing at the two Peng Family maids closely watching them, Xu Jing slightly curled her lips and said, "I told you last night not to drink so much fruit wine, and look, it upset your stomach. Thanks to the locals' simplicity and kindness, they let you use their bathroom."
Chunyang, understanding the situation, quickly adjusted her mindset, saying, "Mrs. Fang is indeed a good person. When I first went to the market to sell embroidery, I didn't know a thing, and Mrs. Fang taught me everything, step by step. I only dared to borrow the restroom because it was Mrs. Fang's house; otherwise, I'd rather hold it in than embarrass myself."
Xu Jing smiled faintly, saying no more.
The two maids beside them were puzzled, unable to understand how, at such a time, the mistress and servant still had the mind for small talk.
One of the maids sneered, saying, "You're facing death, yet you still care about dignity. Don't think taking it to the county office will solve anything. Our lord's noble status means even killing all three of you wouldn't be enough to pay for his life!"
It was the maid who had followed closely beside Mrs. Cao earlier who spoke, and Xu Jing remembered that she was called He Xiang.
Xu Jing looked at her, suddenly smiling faintly, "Noble status? Just how noble? More noble than the Holy Emperor himself?"