There is a god in the sky

Chapter 172 The Dance Competition Scandal 7

Inside the Zhao residence, Zhao Xuan unleashed a furious tantrum.

The maids and servants all knelt in the courtyard, not daring to utter a sound.

"You, Xiao Ji, how dare you openly humiliate me! Bringing a woman of lowly status to solve a case, how romantic!"

She smashed a guqin, which was a gift from Xiao Ji when she came of age, and she had always liked it very much.

"Young lady, Madam requests your presence here. She says she has something to discuss." A cold-faced old woman stood outside the door.

Zhao Xuan angrily shouted, "What right does Tang Shi, a mere second wife, have to interfere in my affairs?"

Zhao Xuan's biological mother has passed away. The current Mrs. Zhao is a woman who married into the family two years ago and is only three years older than Zhao Xuan.

The old woman said in a serious tone, "The second wife is also the master's lawfully wedded wife, so you should also call her mother."

Zhao Xuan stormed out, and when she reached the main courtyard, she saw Tang Shi applying flower petals to her face. She sneered, "Mother, don't waste your time. Can your face conjure up flowers?"

Although Tang was young, her appearance was only considered decent, and she paled in comparison to the beautiful Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan looked down on her humble background even more.

Tang was not angry. She removed the things from her face and said to her with a smile, "I invited you here today because I wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."

I know the young lady must be angry to see her future son-in-law with a female coroner today, but even if she's angry, we should be more rational.

What is the status of a coroner? It's a lowly profession, only for people who can't afford to eat.

That girl is too poor to be Xiao Ji's mistress; you shouldn't ruin your mood for some unrelated woman.

Tang only tried to persuade her after hearing that she had smashed up her boudoir.

Whether she listens or not is up to her.

Zhao Xuan has always maintained a dignified and elegant image in public, never showing the slightest displeasure in front of her stepmother.

"Mother is joking. How could I possibly stoop to the level of a woman of lowly status?"

"That would be best, of course. Xiao Ji is a man of good character and has a smooth career. He is the husband that many women dream of. Miss, you should hurry up and make your move."

Zhao Xuan asked jokingly, "Does that include you, Mother?"

Tang paused for a moment, then flew into a rage: "Zhao Xuan, what are you saying?"

She kindly reminded her, yet she was treated this way.

“Although my father is a bit old, he is a high-ranking official, much better than Xiao Ji. Mother should cherish him.” Zhao Xuan waved her hand and turned to leave.

Mrs. Tang was so angry that she cried.

The maids and servants surrounded her, trying to persuade her, but only daring to say nice things and not daring to say a single bad word about the young lady.

Xiao Ji was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice.

Sui Feng brought over a chair, and as soon as Xiao Ji sat down, Sui Ying immediately handed him a bowl of medicine.

Xiao Ji glanced at him in surprise.

Suiying said dryly, "The lady instructed that the master should take his medicine on time."

Xiao Ji finished his drink in one gulp and then had a maid brought over.

She had only been in the prison for less than half an hour, and the little maid's hair was disheveled and her face was deathly pale.

"What's your name?" Xiao Ji asked.

"Qiao...Qiaoyu".

"How big?"

"eighteen."

"How long have you been serving Miss Qingman?"

"More than three years."

Three years ago, Qingman became famous in Bianjing with her Rainbow Feather Dance, becoming the most popular courtesan in Longyuefang.

She appears in public once every three days, and not every time she dances, but whether she plays the piano or paints calligraphy and paintings, she amazes everyone with her skills.

The guests gradually forgot her identity and began to treat her as a famous person.

Longyuefang would not risk losing such a top courtesan as Qingman at this time. Not only did they prevent her from receiving customers, they also set rules for the guests who came to see her.

Gradually, only the powerful and high-ranking officials could see Qingman, making her more and more mysterious and improving her reputation.

Later, I heard that she became the crown prince's concubine, and no one else could see her anymore.

It wasn't until the eldest princess set up the challenge that she was able to stand in front of others again.

"What color does Miss Qingman like? What food does she like? Is there anyone she dislikes?"

Qiaoyu obediently replied, "The girl likes white, likes to eat tender bamboo shoots, and doesn't dislike anyone."

Xiao Ji nodded. As expected, he served Qingman closely and knew her preferences very well.

Was she alone in the house when the accident happened?

Qiaoyu lowered her head and replied, "Yes, that was true before I left."

"Were there any people that Miss Qingman knew in Bixiao Tower at that time?"

“My daughter rarely appears in public. The people present are either distinguished guests or dancers from out of town. There are no people my daughter knows.”

"But you said before that Qingman lost the competition and asked you to go find Young Master Lu. If she is not familiar with Young Master Lu, why did she go to him at this time?"

“This…” Qiaoyu’s gaze shifted.

She stammered for a while before finally explaining, "Because the young lady is not satisfied with the result, she would like to ask Young Master Lu to speak to His Highness so that she can go back on stage."

Xiao Ji learned that the people serving outside at the time did indeed hear Qing Man's shouts.

She said she didn't perform well and wanted to jump again.

The arena wasn't set up for her, so that's impossible.

But the fact that she could send her maid to find Lu Changzhi at least indicates that the two knew each other.

"Therefore, Young Master Lu did not see Miss Qingman."

"Yes, this servant could not find Young Master Lu."

Xiao Ji stopped asking after that point. This maid was quite vigilant; he needed to test her further.

"Take him away." Xiao Ji raised his hand.

Qiaoyu cried out in terror, "My lord... my lord, I am innocent..."

The jailer had seen many people cry out for innocence, and he had also seen many people who were wronged.

"You're just a lowly maid who's lost her master, so don't waste your breath."

The jailer was unaware of the new Lord Xiao's style and assumed that the maid was going to be used as a scapegoat.

Xiao Ji turned and left the prison. A little further west was the morgue.

Shen Lan is conducting further autopsies.

When Xiao Ji entered, he found that there were more people gathered there than at the yamen, and each of them had a ferocious expression.

Suddenly, a young official ran out, covering his mouth, and almost bumped into Xiao Ji.

Sui Feng and Sui Ying stopped the person from the left and right, thus preventing Xiao Ji from being hurt again.

The official pushed the two men aside, went to a corner of the courtyard, squatted down, and vomited.

Once there's a first, there's bound to be a second.

Xiao Ji walked in from the side, wanting to know what Shen Lan had done that made even these grown men, who were used to seeing all kinds of corpses, unable to bear it.

Needless to say, the smell in the morgue is unbearable, even in winter.

But what was even more terrifying than the smell was the scene before my eyes.

Shen Lan, her hands covered in blood, reached into the victim's abdomen and pulled something out.

The thing looked like a lump of flesh, which she placed on a white cloth to the side.

"It...it seems to be moving!" someone screamed in terror.

Shen Lan said calmly, "A fetus only starts to move at four months old. This child is probably only three months old. It's your misconception."

"fetus?"

Miss Qingman is pregnant!

This answer astonished the officials and yamen runners present.

Everyone says that Qingman is pure and virtuous and never entertains guests, so whose child is she carrying?

Could it be... the Crown Prince?

This speculation terrified many people, and some even secretly slipped away.

It's best to watch and listen to as little as possible.