The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1114 - 1114 539 Young Master (Part 3)

Chapter 1114: 539 Young Master (Part 3) Chapter 1114: 539 Young Master (Part 3) “`

Meanwhile, another story unfolded. The Minister of Punishment led Xiao Hen out of the city overnight to investigate a case. Xiao Hen’s official position at the Ministry was that of Magistrate of the Imperial Library; logically, he should not be involved in case investigations. Nevertheless, the Minister had specifically requested him for his case-solving abilities.

The title of Magistrate was merely a front.

The Minister of Punishment was named Xing Shuwen.

Such a name hardly seemed befitting of a high-ranking minister, yet Xing Shuwen indeed held the position.

Xing Shuwen was one of the few ministers who came from a humble background. He had suffered many hardships before finally entering the Ministry of Punishment.

Lacking the backing of a powerful family made his ascent through the ranks much harder than it was for those born of nobility. He faced two external appointments: one for offending someone, and the other for meddling with forces he shouldn’t have touched.

But perhaps his fate was unusually tenacious, as he had survived it all.

He was a man of integrity with a respectable family, meeting the Emperor’s standards for selecting officials—the primary condition being that the Emperor took notice of him.

“It really was a coincidence. I was assigned to a small county near Fengdu Mountain during my second external appointment when I handled a case where the victim was from the Princess Residence,” the Minister recounted to Xiao Hen as they rode in the carriage.

Xiao Hen was unaware of this matter.

Before he left the Capital City, he hadn’t anticipated joining the Six Ministries, so he didn’t pay particular attention to their affairs. Princess Xinyang kept an eye on the goings-on within the court, so he’d occasionally heard about certain officials’ misconduct—such as Zheng Siye from the Guozijian accepting bribes.

But it was clear that the Minister of Punishment didn’t belong to the list of those who had skeletons in their closet.

He was a clean and honest official.

The carriage traveled along a bumpy trail, causing both of its occupants to jostle about.

As he swayed, the Minister continued, “To tell you the truth, the victim was just an insignificant servant, bullied by a local gentry who happened to have distant relations in the Capital City. Do you know what most people would do in that situation?”

Xiao Hen understood that the question wasn’t directed at him.

Indeed, the Minister went on, “They would trivialize a major issue to a minor one. Sometimes the lives of the common people, and those of servants as well, are not valued highly. Princess Xinyang asked me then, ‘Magistrate, do you dare to investigate this case?'”

Xiao Hen could almost picture Princess Xinyang’s expression at the time.

“I asked the Princess, ‘If I investigate and things go awry, can you guarantee the safety of my family?’ She said, ‘I can’t. Your case is not for me; it is your duty. You have the choice to be a good official or a corrupt one, and you must bear the consequences of your decision.’ My goodness, how impersonal, I thought. Hm… Even now, I think the Princess was too harsh. She’s a princess. How hard could it be for her to protect a few people? She put me on the spot without offering any escape for my family…”

“But Liulang, that’s how the world works. From the day I chose to become an official, I put the fate of my family on an unpredictable path. No one forced me; it was all my choice.”

“The case made it to the Capital, and you know what? That gentry was related to the Duke Residence. I nearly died, but heaven spared me, and when the Emperor heard about the case, he brought me back to the Capital. That was how I was saved.”

“She helped you,” Xiao Hen suddenly intervened.

“What?” The Minister looked at Xiao Hen, puzzled.

Xiao Hen said, “Princess Xinyang, she helped you.”

The Minister was taken aback.

Xiao Hen dusted off his wide sleeves, “Otherwise, how could the Emperor have heard about your case, and why would he suddenly call you back to the Capital? There are so many cases involving murder.”

“Ah… this…”

The Minister was overwhelmed by the revelation; to be frank, he had considered the possibility, but having met Princess Xinyang several times afterward, she never gave him any indication that he should be grateful to her.

Indeed, she wouldn’t even speak to him.

Could one do good deeds so anonymously?

What was Princess Xinyang after?

Did she want him to be a good official?

Did she want this face of his?

There were rumors that Princess Xinyang had many faces.

The Minister touched his rough face, recalling that once upon a time, he had been considered the handsome man of their county…

“Sir! We’ve arrived!” The coachman brought the carriage to a halt.

The reason the Minister had chosen to share his story with Xiao Hen during the carriage ride was his sense that this case was not simple, involving forces greater than they might imagine. He feared Xiao Hen would hesitate to delve further into the investigation, so he sought to inspire Xiao Hen with his own experience, encouraging him to aspire to be a good official who would not fear power, even without anyone to protect him, and who could soar to great heights no matter the obstacles.

However, it seemed that his plan had somewhat backfired.

“Ahem,” the Minister cleared his throat, “Let’s get going.”

This was the residence of the third witness they had tracked down.

Regrettably, they came up empty-handed.

The witness had not been home for days.

“`

The case of Minister Li was simple yet complicated. On his way to visit his concubine and illegitimate son, who were being raised in the manor, Minister Li encountered a group of robbers. The guards accompanying him managed to drive the robbers away just in time. Among them, two resisted fiercely, injuring Minister Li; the guards had no choice but to kill both in self-defense.

However, when the bodies were taken to the local Yamen, one of the deceased turned out to be a law-abiding citizen.

The family of the good citizen showed up, claiming that Minister Li killed their son.

The identities of the other robbers were also ascertained, but their supposed eyewitnesses were conveniently not at home.

From the experience gathered over many years of handling cases, Minister Xing suspected a premeditated frame-up, not targeting Minister Li, but rather the case he was working on.

Xiao Hen was a trustworthy person, so Minister Xing didn’t beat around the bush with him, “The case at Xianle Inn is of great importance; both the Jingzhao Residence and the Ministry of Punishment are investigating it.”

Xiao Hen nodded and then asked, “Then why are the people from Jingzhao Residence unharmed?”

Minister Xing thoughtfully said, “There’s only one possibility.”

The Jingzhao Residence had been bought off.

Xiao Hen also guessed this possibility, he said sternly, “If Minister Li continues with the investigation, it will not just be dangerous for him, but for you, sir.”

Minister Li was merely following orders; the decision lay in the hands of Minister Xing, so the real target must be him.

All these were conjectures based on the clues currently held, whether they were true remained to be verified by further investigation.

Unable to locate any witnesses, Minister Xing and Xiao Hen boarded the carriage headed back to the Capital City.

No sooner had the carriage started moving than an arrow whistled into their carriage, embedding itself squarely between Xiao Hen and Minister Xing and into the wall!

Such was the force that the arrow pierced right in, and the fletching was still quivering violently, indicating that had either of them been struck, it would have been instantly fatal!

Minister Xing’s eyes went cold, “Assassinating a court official? It’s good that I came prepared!”

He finished speaking, took out a bone whistle, and blew it forcefully.

One call, two calls, three calls passed.

Yet the expected master did not appear.

Minister Xing was confused, “What’s going on? Where are the experts from Jianghu that I paid a hefty price for?”

“They’re gone,” Xiao Hen said indifferently.

“Are you serious?” Minister Xing’s eyes widened, and another arrow flew in, this time landing right below his crotch, making Minister Xing feel a chill run down his ‘little minister’!

“Get out of the carriage!” Xiao Hen commanded.

Minister Xing pushed aside the curtains, grabbed Xiao Hen’s hand, and jumped out of the carriage together with him.

The very moment they tumbled to the ground, a whole volley of arrows rained down, turning the carriage into a sieve!

Minister Xing was breathless with shock.

If it weren’t for his and Xiao Liulang’s timely leap from the carriage, they would both be sieves by now!

“Damn it! Who did this! They’d better not let me find out! Otherwise, I’ll make sure they lose everything they’ve got!”

Whoosh!

Yet another arrow shot towards them, narrowly missing Minister Xing’s backside!

“Ah!”

Minister Xing jumped up violently, grabbed Xiao Hen’s hand, and ran for his life!

Initially, Xiao Hen thought they were after Minister Xing, until they entered a forest where Minister Xing fell down a slope. Instead of chasing Minister Xing, the attackers aimed at Xiao Hen.

Xiao Hen finally understood; it wasn’t Minister Xing they had mistakenly shot at, they had been targeting him from the start.

They were not trying to warn Minister Xing off the case through Minister Li; they planned to use him to lure Xiao Hen out of the Capital City to investigate, then kill him on the way!

What a shrewd tactic.

It seemed that the case with Mo Qianxue had been a trap from the very beginning.

Xiao Hen, facing the five approaching black-clad men, coldly asked, “Who is your master?”

The leader of the black-clad men responded coldly, “You’re about to die anyway, what’s the use of knowing our master?”

Xiao Hen calmly queried, “I should at least understand why I’m dying.”

The leader sneered, “Alright then, I’ll tell you. The person who wants you dead is our young master.”

Xiao Hen looked at him coldly, “Who is your young master?”