Miss Truth
Chapter 270 - 170: Your Majesty, Stop Being Capricious_2

Chapter 270: Chapter 170: Your Majesty, Stop Being Capricious_2

Actually, Sang Chen lost both his parents when he was young. Considering his situation, it was both a misfortune and a blessing.

It was approaching the end of the Wei period when Xiao Song finally set down the chess pieces and sighed, "I’ve lost."

Sang Chen didn’t feel happy about winning. "You didn’t give it your all."

"I did give it my all." Xiao Song’s slender fingers tapped on the chessboard as he said, "Actually, I didn’t lose terribly. I knew when I would lose, but you don’t know when you will win."

As soon as he finished speaking, a strange voice came from the entrance of the courtyard, "Assistant Minister Xiao."

Ran Yan was slightly shocked. To calculate to such an extent, was it too abnormal! Or was it just a coincidence? She didn’t think further and looked towards the source of the voice. There, in the Inner Gate, stood a man in his forties, robust and round-waisted, who looked more like a butcher if not for his green round-neck official uniform. The man had thick black eyebrows, several times wider than his eyes. From afar, one could only see his eyebrows and not his eyes. His lips were thicker than those of an average person, but only his well-defined nose redeemed some of his looks.

"This officer has fully carried out his mission..." The man, noticing the situation in the corridor, glanced between Xiao Song and Sang Chen for a moment, and finally, he bowed to Xiao Song, saying, "Assistant Minister Xiao, I have found the information you ordered me to investigate."

If Ran Yan was not mistaken, Xiao Song might have simply ordered his subordinates to delegate the task and had never met this man before. Both Sang Chen and Xiao Song looked outstanding, yet he recognized the right person within two breaths, which was quite remarkable.

"County Magistrate Feng, no need for formalities, please sit down." Xiao Song stood up straight, instantly shedding his previous languid demeanor and naturally exuding an imposing aura.

County Magistrate Feng quickly bowed his head, took off his wooden clogs under the porch, stepped onto the corridor, and knelt down not far away.

Ge Lan and Wan Lu left to make tea. Sang Chen did not leave, but Xiao Song didn’t mind and said to County Magistrate Feng, "Go on."

"Yes, this officer has ascertained that along with Zhang Xuan and Feng Zhao, there were five others who left their menial jobs years ago and supposedly got rich through business and thus changed their lines of work. A month ago, one died, named Yu Chuande, who was addicted to gambling and owed a large debt to the gambling house, fearing arrest for labor, he took poison and committed suicide," County Magistrate Feng said, slightly intimidated by Xiao Song’s calmness and imposing nature. He had heard about Xiao Song before, but always felt that he was just a young man in his twenties and probably exaggerated.

But seeing is believing. Today, upon seeing him, County Magistrate Feng hardly dared to raise his head, afraid that those sharp eyes could penetrate the human heart.

"Continue." Xiao Song took the tea that Ge Lan brought him, glanced at the froth on it, slightly frowned, and set it down without drinking.

Ran Yan called Ge Lan over and whispered a few words to her.

County Magistrate Feng quickly said, "Yes, eight days ago, Zhang Xuan died in the main hall of Yue Lai Inn, and after Doctor Liu examined the body... this is the examination report..."

County Magistrate Feng pulled out a thin piece of paper from his sleeve and handed it over, continuing, "Another one named Feng Zhao was chopped to death in the western forest of the city six days ago... The others are Yu Zhi, Wang Si, Liu Fang, and Ze Pingzhi. Among them, only Ze Pingzhi remains in this county, while the other three have settled in Luoyang."

Ge Lan brought another cup of tea and placed it before Xiao Song. He looked down at the tea, momentarily stunned, then looked towards Ran Yan, his dark eyes showing a hint of tenderness.

Xiao Song didn’t like tea with added flavor, so Ran Yan had Ge Lan change it for another cup.

This was a trivial matter, but Xiao Song felt so blessed that he took a sip of the tea, warming up his aura, "Let’s talk in detail about this Ze Pingzhi first."

"Ze Pingzhi, also known as Ze San, is indeed the owner of Yue Lai Inn," County Magistrate Feng said.

Xiao Song’s hand holding the tea paused slightly. He didn’t continue to inquire but instructed, "Write down all the information you’ve found and send it to me. Also, the case file of the beggar Liu Wen and the bandit leader Zhuang Yin who was jailed in the past, send those as well."

"Yes! I’ll go handle it right away!" County Magistrate Feng didn’t even dare to sip his tea and hurriedly left.

"Ze San..." Xiao Song mused for a moment, and then began to savor his tea carefully.

After listening to County Magistrate Feng’s report, Sang Chen sank back into his own world and quietly got up to drift back to his room like a ghost.

"Wife, would you like to come inside?" Xiao Song turned his head and asked with a smile.

The term "Wife" usually made Ran Yan numb, but for some reason, when Xiao Song called out with his magnetic voice, it reminded her of the term used between husbands and wives in an unknown dynasty.

Could it be his voice was naturally seductive enough to lead one astray? Ran Yan thought to herself.

Lost in her thoughts, she realized Xiao Song was still watching her. Her cheeks heated up, and looking down, she said, "Inside..." then thinking she should let him carry her in, she quickly added, "Not going inside."

Xiao Song couldn’t help but laugh silently, then instructed Wan Lu, "Go get a cloak for your mistress."

"Aren’t you supposed to be solving a case?" Ran Yan gently issued an order to leave.

Sensing her discomfort, Xiao Song felt a touch of joy and complied with her wish, "Hmm, yes, there are some matters to handle. Shilang went to Luoyang to fetch medicine, and should arrive in about two quarters of an hour."

Watching his upright figure, Ran Yan suddenly called out, "Thank you."

Xiao Song stopped and turned back, a faint smile curling his lips, and he spoke warmly, "If you’re bored, there are case files upstairs."

Ran Yan paused, subtly realizing that Xiao Song’s actions today were probably meant to entertain her. If he had handled the cases privately, he probably would have done so more swiftly. Thinking this, Ran Yan couldn’t help but smile. People usually do good deeds without leaving a name, yet he, afraid she would be too slow to notice, had to drop a hint.