"Go verify what she said," Song Qingshu instructed the guards. There was no curfew in Xingqing Prefecture now, so it was plausible that she had gone out to buy something in the evening. Still, it needed to be checked. Those hooligans had most likely been deliberately arranged by someone to delay her.
The Yellow-robed Woman, being of noble birth, immediately sensed something was wrong. "You're the Princess's senior maid. Why would buying rouge require you to go personally? Couldn't you have simply sent one of the younger maids?"
"The Princess told me to buy it because I know her preferences best. She was worried the other maids would buy the wrong kind," Huan Bi explained.
Just then, officials from Western Xia arrived after hearing the news. The one leading them was Yelü Nanxian. Seeing Song Qingshu together with the Yellow-robed Woman, she could not help wearing an odd expression. "You really do turn up everywhere."
Song Qingshu shrugged. "Can't be helped. I'm just too popular."
Yelü Nanxian gave a soft snort and began learning the details from the Tibetans. When she found out that Song Qingshu was handling the case, she said naturally, "You uncovered what happened with Goryeo last time, so leave this one to you as well."
With envoys from different nations suffering incidents one after another in Xingqing Prefecture, Western Xia was under immense pressure as well. They trusted Song Qingshu with the matter.
"Oh, and because of this incident, the competition has been postponed for two days. You'd better uncover the truth within that time. We cannot wait indefinitely."
With Western Xia's official resources behind him, investigating the case became far more convenient. Song Qingshu directly had First Rank Hall investigate Gusiluo's subordinates. Gusiluo could not possibly have handled such matters personally.
Because delegations from various