The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1116 - 1116 541 Scheming Xiao Hen (Second Update)

Chapter 1116: 541 Scheming Xiao Hen (Second Update) Chapter 1116: 541 Scheming Xiao Hen (Second Update) “`

The courtesan from Xianle Inn, believed to be dead, had suddenly appeared before his own eyes—could there be anything more absurd than this?

If she was Mo Qianxue, then what was the deal with the female corpse lying at the Yamen?

Moreover, Xiao Hen was absolutely certain he had never met Mo Qianxue, so who did Mo Qianxue mistake him for?

In an instant, countless doubts flashed through Xiao Hen’s mind.

A chord in his heart was tightly strung, giving him the feeling that he might have unwittingly stumbled upon some truth.

When Xiao Hen didn’t wish his emotions to be seen, no one could penetrate his facade. He immediately reined in his thoughts, entering a state of acquaintance with Mo Qianxue, “But I heard that the courtesan of Xianle Inn was dead.”

“Just a scapegoat died,” Mo Qianxue said nonchalantly.

This was a very secret matter, yet Mo Qianxue seemed to have no scruples or fear discussing it in front of him.

Xiao Hen watched her, expressionless.

“Ah, it hurts so much, help me up,” Mo Qianxue gasped in pain, reaching out her hand. Xiao Hen didn’t move, but Mo Qianxue only extended it briefly before seeming to remember something, quickly withdrawing her hand, “I can do it myself!”

She bore the pain and moved to sit down on a stool beside the table, then said to Xiao Hen, “Right, why are you here? Last time I saw you, weren’t you an official from the Hanlin Academy? You are not wearing the uniform of Hanlin Academy today.”

Xiao Hen replied, “I was on duty at the Ministry of Justice today.”

Mo Qianxue snorted, “The Ministry of Justice?”

Without betraying any emotion, Xiao Hen said, “Yes, today I was investigating your case. If I had known earlier that you had faked your death, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

Mo Qianxue waved her hand dismissively, “Just investigate casually, don’t take it too seriously, otherwise, I’m afraid you’ll bring trouble upon yourself.”

As if casually, Xiao Hen asked, “What trouble could I attract?”

Mo Qianxue sighed, “Well, it’s a long story. I only have a rough idea myself and don’t know how to explain it clearly to you.”

Xiao Hen’s eyes flickered slightly, “Is it the young master behind you?”

Mo Qianxue looked at him with a face full of shock, “You know of our young master?”

Calmly, Xiao Hen stated, “Today I went with the Minister of Justice to investigate the case, and on the way, we encountered an assassination attempt. Those people let something slip about a ‘young master’.”

Xiao Hen didn’t lie, but he didn’t reveal the entire truth either—such as the fact that those people were actually after him, unrelated to his investigation.

Xiao Hen was probing Mo Qianxue to find out what role she played in this plot and how much she knew.

“You weren’t hurt, were you?” Mo Qianxue’s response was this.

Lashes lowered, Xiao Hen replied indifferently, “I am fine, Minister Xing suffered some minor injuries.”

This statement might give the impression that those people were targeting Minister Xing.

Mo Qianxue pouted and said, “It must be because you were investigating the case too closely. They wanted to warn you. Otherwise, you might not have returned alive. I understand the methods of our young master.”

Apparently, Mo Qianxue didn’t know that those people were actually after his life. So in Mo Qianxue’s eyes, what was her young master hoping to achieve by causing a homicide?

Suppressing his urge to ask who the young master was, Xiao Hen poured a cup of tea for Mo Qianxue and asked, “Why did you fake your death?”

“To kill someone,” Mo Qianxue said, her mood turning downcast.

Xiao Hen paused while he was about to put the teapot back, his eyelashes trembling slightly as he took the teapot back and poured himself a cup of tea, “Who?”

In a low voice, Mo Qianxue said, “The owner of this Medical Hall.”

Xiao Hen’s grip tightened, spilling a couple of drops of tea on the table.

Without a trace, he covered them with his teacup, his voice flat, “Did you intentionally get injured to get close to her?”

“Yes,” Mo Qianxue nodded with a downcast air.

Casually, Xiao Hen commented, “Such severe injuries, aren’t you scared of dying?”

Mo Qianxue, thinking that Xiao Hen was guessing the severity of her injuries from the bandages on her body, didn’t consider that Xiao Hen already knew she had nearly died that night, replied, “If the injuries weren’t severe, how could I gain her trust?”

Xiao Hen placed the teapot back, suppressing the urge to eliminate Mo Qianxue on the spot, and asked blandly, “You’ve gained her trust now, why haven’t you made your move?”

Mo Qianxue was silent.

“Still planning to act?” Xiao Hen asked.

“I don’t know,” Mo Qianxue replied.

Taking a sip of tea, Xiao Hen said, “You mentioned yourself how capable your young master is, aren’t you afraid of being punished by your young master if you disobey?”

Mo Qianxue sighed deeply, seemingly conflicted.

“Forget about me, let’s talk about you. What is your identity now?”

“Hanlin Academy Reader, Ministry of Justice Scribe,” he said.

“What’s your name?”

“Xiao Liulang.”

“Oh,” Mo Qianxue responded, seemingly unimpressed with the name, “So… have you accomplished what you said you came here to do?”

Unflinchingly, Xiao Hen said, “Still in progress.”

“What exactly is it?” Mo Qianxue asked, curious.

Xiao Hen’s lashes quivered briefly as he stated solemnly, “I will tell you when it’s done.”

Mo Qianxue hummed, “Boring.”

“`

Xiao Hen could only use drinking tea to conceal the turmoil within his heart.

As something occurred to her, Mo Qianxue added, “By the way, are you feeling better from your illness?”

Xiao Hen’s expression stalled, and if he hadn’t been certain that she had mistook him for someone else, he almost would have thought she was asking about his leg ailment.

“Yes, it’s better,” Xiao Hen said.

Mo Qianxue said, surprised, “It could be cured, then? Why were you trying to come up with such a desperate solution in the first place?”

Xiao Hen almost couldn’t continue, “…you would believe it even if I lied to you.”

Mo Qianxue nodded thoughtfully, “That makes sense, you didn’t seem like someone who would do that initially.”

From the Grand Hall, there came several shouts from the second shopkeeper.

Mo Qianxue said in a hurry, “You should leave quickly, the owner of this Medical Hall will be back soon, and it won’t be good if she discovers you!”

Xiao Hen: … She’s my wife, thank you.

Mo Qianxue added, “Also, you mustn’t tell anyone that you know me, if the word gets out, and reaches the ears of our Young Master, I fear you might be silenced.”

Xiao Hen was just considering how to steer the conversation back to this mysterious Young Master when Mo Qianxue brought him up herself.

He had refrained from asking before because he felt it might be abrupt and suspicious but now, the moment seemed right to go with the flow.

With a hint of curiosity, Xiao Hen regarded her, “You keep mentioning your Young Master, I’m very curious, who exactly is he?”

A flicker of apprehension crossed Mo Qianxue’s eyes, “Someone in Zhan Country you wouldn’t want to provoke.”

“Let’s hear it,” Xiao Hen said with a challenging tone.

Mo Qianxue pondered for a moment, then waved her hand, “Forget it, it’s better not to say. Knowing too much isn’t good for you.”

Xiao Hen said earnestly, “If you don’t tell me who he is, how will I know how formidable he truly is, and whether it’s worth the risk of being expelled from the Ministry of Punishments to persuade the Minister to suppress the case?”

Mo Qianxue hesitated.

After a long pause, she suddenly reached out her fingertip, dipped it in some tea, and slowly wrote three characters on the table.

“This is the name of the Young Master,” she said.

Xiao Hen’s gaze fell on the name, which was not entirely unfamiliar to him, and his heart turned cold.

…

Guozijian had not yet started the new term, so Xiao Jingkong had quite a lot of free time and his trips to walk the chickens increased.

He had taken them out in the morning, and went out again in the afternoon.

When he returned to the Mansion with seven chickens, an eagle, and a dog, he saw his sister’s bad husband standing motionless at the entrance.

He peeked into the Mansion.

Jiaojiao was not there.

In an instant, he transformed into the little tyrant of Bishui Alley, commanding in a pushy manner, “What are you doing?”

Xiao Hen, both amused and annoyed, ruffled his little mushroom head, saying, “Do you want to enter the Imperial Palace?”

Xiao Jingkong, “I don’t want to.”

Xiao Hen, “No, you want to.”

Then Xia Jingkong was baffled as he got dragged away.

Xiao Jingkong, once again used as a tool, was reluctantly hoisted into a carriage by his bad brother-in-law and taken to the Imperial Palace with an expression full of grievances.

The guards stopped the carriage.

Xiao Hen immediately lifted the curtain and held up Xiao Jingkong.

Seeing a familiar, expressionless little face, the guard smiled, “Ah, it’s Young Master Jingkong, my apologies, my apologies.”

The guards allowed them to pass.

Indeed, the monk’s face was more useful than a Token.

After the carriage entered the palace and came to a stop, Xiao Hen took Xiao Jingkong’s hand and walked on.

Xiao Jingkong once again lapsed into a state of being led astray, his little head hanging low, walking unwillingly as if he were a soulless little puppet.

However, when he passed by the Imperial Garden and saw the beautiful flowers, he swiftly plucked one.

Xiao Hen looked back.

He quickly hid the flower behind him and continued to walk forward with his head hanging low.

Xiao Hen wanted to laugh, “Do you know whose flower you’ve picked?”

Xiao Jingkong said, “I didn’t pick any flowers.”

Oh, so he’s learned not to get caught in words.

Xiao Hen then said, “That’s a flower planted by Princess Xinyang, it’s poisonous.”

Xiao Jingkong rushed to throw the flower away.

Xiao Hen barely held back a laugh.