"What does Kristy have to do with it?" Liang Xiao looked at Gu Hai with confusion.
Gu Hai explained, "The constables discovered two men in a residential basement who had been chopped into mincemeat. The reason they found them in time was that someone was asking around the market, 'Have you seen Princess Kristy's true appearance?' Concerned residents, worried they might pose a threat to you and Kristy, quietly informed the constables..."
"The constables investigated covertly and found that the two murdered men claimed to be from the capital and had indeed seen Princess Kristy, who had invited them away. The constables kept an eye on these individuals and followed them secretly. They found they were merely chatting, and so didn't pursue it further. However, when they didn't emerge from the residence for a long time, the constables went in to investigate, and eventually found them already chopped into mincemeat in a secret room..."
Liang Xiao frowned, "They were killed just because they saw Kristy?"
Such a bizarre murder case even struck him as strange.
There were many people who had seen Kristy at the Bai Chun Tower and the Temple of General Tian!
"Marquis Anguo certainly couldn't be the murderer. This case is truly strange, and I dare not conceal it, so I reported it promptly!" Gu Hai sighed.
In fact, even he and the new sect leader were bewildered and couldn't figure it out.
"The murderer wasn't found?" Liang Xiao asked.
He Jingyun shook his head, "When the constables found the two men, everyone in that residence had already vanished. They must have used some secret passage. We are searching, but I fear they are long gone, having even abandoned their original Jinling household registration! Lurking for so long, and committing such inexplicably cruel acts, it must be related to the Hui Chun Cult!"
Liang Xiao nodded solemnly, "It seems the Hui Chun Cult has set their sights on people close to me, causing innocent harm... Do those two have any family?"
"We've checked. They were alone in the capital, with no family!" He Jingyun replied.
Liang Xiao sighed, "Burn some paper money for them. Remember, don't let anyone know that I discovered this murder case."
"Why?" they both looked puzzled.
"The enemy must be planning something, and might come for me and Kristy sooner or later," Liang Xiao replied.
The two suddenly understood, nodding solemnly.
"Minister Gu, how is the investigation into the cases of Nie Yuan and Zhao Wu going?" Liang Xiao asked again.
Gu Hai blushed, and said with a wry smile, "We are strictly guarding Duan Sheng, preventing him from being harmed by the Hui Chun Cult, but the mastermind remains at large. We will not give up the investigation!"
Liang Xiao nodded, "Then cooperate with Marquis Dingguo and increase the defenses and patrols throughout Jinling to prevent similar murders from happening again."
"I am ashamed!" Gu Hai said, his face full of shame, head bowed, no longer the resolute figure of the past.
Liang Xiao sighed, "The enemy is cunning, so it's not entirely your fault, Minister Gu. However, Minister Gu should also understand that too much rigidity can lead to breaking."
"Your subordinate will bear in mind Marquis Anguo's teachings!" Gu Hai nodded repeatedly.
He Jingyun, standing nearby, trembled and looked dejected.
He had known Gu Hai for decades and had never seen him act so cowardly.
Not only did Gu Hai not show him, an old friend, any deference, but he even dared to talk back to the Prime Minister and the Grand Tutor.
After seeing them off, Liang Xiao immediately went to talk to Zhuo Zifang about the matter.
Zhuo Zifang exclaimed, "How could such a strange thing happen? Is the enemy trying to target this princess? This must not be spread. It's best not to let anyone know that you have already discovered this murder case!"
Liang Xiao nodded, "That's what I intended, but it's truly unbelievable that they would kill so brutally simply because someone saw Kristy. The enemy's next appearance might be related to Kristy's looks!"
Even in his other homeland, he had never heard of such a bizarre case!
"Just in case, you should talk to this princess properly," Zhuo Zifang reminded him.
Liang Xiao immediately went back to fetch Kristy.
Considering that Kristy had already pledged allegiance to Da Gan, Liang Xiao truthfully informed her of the murder case. The four girls looked bewildered.
"How could it be, that I'm the reason for people being killed just because they saw me..." Kristy felt full of guilt and said anxiously, "Marquis Anguo, should we burn paper money for them? May I go?"
Liang Xiao shook his head, "The enemy's target is you, and possibly all of us. You cannot show your face in public anymore. Wear a veil when you go out. From now on, at the Temple of General Tian, you must be strictly protected by the Western Region warriors who accompanied you to Da Gan, and you must not approach strangers casually!"
"But I, I must still offer sacrifices to General Tian..." Kristy lowered her head.
Liang Xiao had anticipated this and comforted her, "General Tian does not need the world to labor over him, or waste resources. He only requires sincerity."
Kristy looked up at Liang Xiao, her eyes full of surprise, "Really?"
He understood General Tian so well??
Kristy's heart churned with astonishment!
Liang Xiao nodded and asked, "Is General Tian really that important to you?"
Kristy said excitedly, "He has long surpassed everything! I am willing to give him everything, including my life and my... my virginity..."
Realizing she had misspoke, Kristy stammered at the end, her face flushed.
She wasn't sure if Liang Xiao was General Tian, but at least she knew that as Liang Xiao's nominal wife, saying such a thing in front of him was like cuckolding him again.
The Da Gan Kingdom was relatively open-minded and prohibited arbitrary killing.
According to the history books she had read, in the Da Zhou Dynasty or Da Heng Kingdom, in such a situation, a husband could even kill his wife on the spot, even if the wife was a princess of a nation!
Yue Lian said softly, "Sister Sīti, young master will never blame you for this. But if you are outside, you should still be mindful of your words, lest it affect you, young master, and even General Tian's image..."
"Yue Lian is right. I, Liang Xiao, never force women. However, you must also consider yourself and the General Tian in your heart," Liang Xiao added.
Kristy nodded shamefully, her heart filled with doubt.
Affecting General Tian's image?
The General Tian in her heart?
In her heart?
Kristy, as the foremost wise woman of the Western Regions, had a quick mind and an almost photographic memory. She felt that Yue Lian's words didn't sound right, and by extension, Liang Xiao's words also seemed a bit off.
After Kristy returned to her room with Zhuo Xun, Jian Qinwan hummed, "A hero saves the beauty~ Dazzled and smitten~"
"Surpassing everything~" Yue Lian echoed Jian Qinwan's tone, adding a final blow.
The two girls were a little jealous.
Liang Xiao chuckled and took Jian Qinwan's and Yue Lian's slender hands respectively, disregarding their blushing.
Suzhou, by the lake.
Including Hong Qu, who was recovering from his injuries, the four sat opposite Zuo Wushang, looking shocked.
"She, she might really be alive??" Hong Qu looked bewildered.
Hong Jie's face was extremely grim, "It's not impossible, after all, even the princess is still alive..."
Only Zuo Jing's forehead veins bulged, "So, it wasn't that I acted poorly, it was purely fate!"
The four fell silent.
Zuo Wushang sighed, "Man proposes, heaven disposes. We can only say, it's all destiny!!"
Shangguan Jiusi said anxiously, "So Liang Xiao has definitely discovered something. Marshal, what do we do now??"