Conclusive Proof

Su Ziji no longer looked at the unwilling corpse. He did know when the pair of little beggars had hidden there. At the time, Xun Sichen had been speaking, perhaps too agitated to notice two children with no martial arts skills approaching him.

Seeing both little beggars' faces covered in blood, too frightened to move, Su Ziji paused. He strode over, crouched down, took a handkerchief from his sleeve, and wiped their faces clean.

Though the brother and sister trembled faintly, they did not scream. Su Ziji nodded. "Follow me from now on."

As he spoke, the sounds of fighting outside gradually faded. As Su Ziji rose, he heard a shrill voice cry, "In this peaceful and prosperous age, beneath the bright heavens, someone actually dared assassinate a court official! I must return and report this to the Imperial Commissioner, so he can investigate the matter and give everyone—give Lord Su—an explanation!"

By the end, the voice was trembling. It was impossible to tell whether it came from fury or fear.

While Su Ziji had faced Xun Sichen earlier, Cen Rubai, who had also been behind the screen, had sensibly hidden himself in a corner so as not to burden Su Ziji.

Su Ziji looked like a frail scholar on the surface, yet was actually an immensely formidable figure. Cen Rubai, on the other hand, was a genuinely frail scholar, inside and out.

If he had stayed by Su Ziji's side, he would not have been helping at all—he would have been a real and utter burden.

Only now did he slowly walk over. After glancing at Xun Sichen, who was thoroughly dead on the floor, he said to Su Ziji, "I knew Young Master would certainly deal with this man."

Su Ziji smiled and pointed at the two children.