There is a god in the sky

Chapter 316 The Brothel Murder Case 4

In the lobby on the first floor, the eldest princess still sat dignifiedly.

Officer Xing was leading his men to take statements from the prostitutes in the building, trying to find out the relationship between the two deceased.

As Shen Lan came downstairs, she overheard Madam Xu saying, "That room has been rented by Prince Consort Lu for almost five years now; it's practically become his second home."

Young Master Huang has come a few times as well. I remember he used to be closest to Peony, and he always requested her services.

Peony was the most beautiful courtesan at Zuixianglou, charming and alluring with a captivating figure. When she was summoned for questioning, she readily admitted, "Young Master Huang and I have been together a few times, but that was a year ago. Later, I ran into him at the Liu residence and saw him with a handsome young servant by his side, and that's when I knew what was going on."

Although I, Peony, am a woman of the night, I don't accept just any customer. After I refused him once, he never came looking for me again.

Many people know about this.

Shen Lan went downstairs and asked Madam Xu, "You said the Prince Consort has been renting that room for almost five years. Has he brought the same person with him all this time?"

Madam Xu, waving her handkerchief, replied, "How could that be? What man is ever truly faithful? Both men and women are."

"How often does he come?" the princess asked.

Lady Xu dared not be as casual in front of the Princess as she was with Shen Lan, and cautiously replied, "Actually, this humble concubine is not quite sure either, after all, everyone is busy and cannot keep an eye on that room all the time."

But it probably happens two or three times a month.

Previously, no one knew that the two people who died in the house were the prince consort and Young Master Huang. Now, after being questioned by the officials, they realized it.

Shen Lan took Xu Niangzi's hand and checked it from both sides.

Her hands weren't particularly delicate, but they weren't calloused or had any strange marks.

Madam Xu quietly put her hands behind her back.

"So you're from the Ministry of Justice? I was truly blind to your greatness before."

Peony stared at Shen Lan for a while, then asked Madam Xu curiously, "Do you know her?"

“I met her once; she came to the building to listen to me sing.”

Everyone looked surprised, but the person in question remained calm.

Shen Lan retorted with a half-smile, "I came here last time to investigate a mysterious organization, and then I ran into Madam Xu."

"Madam Xu has been at Zuixiang Pavilion for many years. Does she remember all the customers who come and go?"

"Of course not. Zuixianglou is very popular, with many customers coming and going every day, many of whom are from out of town. How could I possibly remember them all?"

"Well, you remember me quite well."

"The girl is beautiful; it's hard to forget her."

Xiao Ji pushed Shen Lan aside and said to the manager of Zuixianglou, "Don't let anyone enter or leave that room for now, and don't touch anything inside. Report any new clues to the Criminal Investigation Department immediately."

Officials carried the two corpses down, and the corpses were covered with white cloth.

The Lu family's children rushed forward, wailing and crying, only to find that the first corpse they uncovered was not their father's.

"Pah! This damned filthy thing, get it out of here!"

The eldest princess rolled her eyes, pressed down the restless Lu Changzhi, and ordered in a deep voice: "Carry the consort's body back to the Lu family, and send news of his death to all the mansions, saying that he died suddenly from a serious illness."

The eldest princess stood up and left without even glancing at him.

Lu Changzhi waved his fan and instructed his half-brothers, "That person is no ordinary person. Don't talk nonsense, lest you cause trouble for me and Mother."

No one is allowed to spread rumors about this case until the Criminal Investigation Department has thoroughly investigated it.

Also, I entrust the funeral arrangements to you. I will personally attend the funeral.

Before leaving, Lu Changzhi secretly winked at Shen Lan and made a "two" gesture.

Shen Lan understood what he meant; she already owed him two erotic picture books.

"Until the case is thoroughly investigated, Zuixianglou cannot open for business and no one is allowed to leave Bianjing; otherwise, they will be considered accomplices!"

On their way back, Shen Lan and her group encountered a funeral procession.

The large white flag had the character "谢" (Xie) written on it. After listening to the discussions of passersby, it was learned that the coffin contained Xie Kenian.

Shen Lan stopped and searched the group for a long time, but she couldn't find Xie Jingfeng.

That's true. Normally, a married daughter wouldn't have her funeral held by her maternal family if she died. It's just that Xie Kenian's status was special.

A walnut hit Shen Lan on the head. When she looked up, she saw Xie Jingfeng staring down at her with a gloomy expression.

"Sir, I won't go to the yamen. Please have someone deliver the things I left there to my home."

Xiao Ji also saw Xie Jingfeng and took her arm, saying, "I happen to have something to ask Young Master Xie, let's go up together."

As the mournful music faded into the distance, the two went up to the restaurant and saw Xie Jingfeng sitting alone by the window, drinking.

"Isn't Lord Xiao busy? Why does he even have to follow his own coroner everywhere?"

Xiao Ji sat down opposite him and took the wine pot from his hand. "Who are you putting on this show for, Young Master Xie?"

Xie Jingfeng chuckled softly, assuming that Shen Lan had told Xiao Ji that Xie Kenian was still alive.

He whispered, "Yes, everyone says that I, Xie Jingfeng, abandoned my family and reputation for a woman, and ended up losing both my money and my wife."

In the eyes of someone as accomplished as Lord Xiao, I truly am like a clown.

Xiao Ji slammed his hand on the table!

"Xie Jingfeng, don't play dumb in front of me. You've done quite a few things for the Crown Prince over the years, haven't you?"

Shen Lan suddenly looked up.

Yes, if the Crown Prince wants to meet with Consort Xie in private, then it must be for some other purpose, not a personal relationship.

Consort Xie served as the link between the Crown Prince and the Xie family.

"Lord Xiao, you're just an investigator, why are you meddling in the Crown Prince's private affairs? Have I committed some crime?"

"Was that funeral procession heading out of town?"

"Of course, Lord Xiao must know that my Xie family's ancestral graves are in a small town three hundred miles away."

"An empty coffin, yet such a grand funeral procession. Those who don't know the situation will think that Consort Xie had a lavish funeral after her death, while those who do know the situation will think that you are doing this for the Emperor's benefit."

But I believe your true purpose is not that.

"I don't understand what Lord Xiao is saying."

Shen Lan was also a little confused, but she was thoughtful and gradually sorted out the information in Xiao Ji's words.

She also thought that the Xie family's funeral procession was a show for the Emperor, to make him believe that Xie Kenian was dead.

For a concubine who had an affair, death was her only fate.

The most terrifying thing is that the adulterer is the commander of the Imperial City Guard, a man whom the emperor trusts implicitly.

Did the Xie family use Consort Xie to win over Commander Zhao? What kind of connection exists between the Xie family and the Crown Prince?

The more Shen Lan thought about it, the more terrifying it seemed.

The crown prince seems to be short of money. He used to profit from gunpowder, but that line of business was cut off, so he may be looking for other ways to make money.

The Xie family is undoubtedly wealthy.

"Given the Xie family's relationship with the Emperor, are you truly unafraid of death to have private dealings with the Crown Prince?"

Xie Jingfeng had drunk quite a bit of wine. He opened his collar, fanned himself, and mocked, "The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, the future monarch. How could our Xie family die?"

Xiao Ji gave a cold laugh, got up and left. Shen Lan followed him without saying a word to Xie Jingfeng from beginning to end.