The crime scene

What kind of talk is this? Between a man and a woman, as long as the distance isn't negative, they're not considered close. Xu Qi'an thought to himself, his expression darkening slightly.

Whether there are signs of something going on between a man and a woman is something both of them usually know. Even the most oblivious person will eventually realize it.

Biao Biao is somewhat oblivious when it comes to emotions. Firstly, she lacks experience, and secondly, she instinctively avoids expressing her own feelings.

So perhaps she didn't realize she had developed feelings for the little gong.

But Xu Qi'an wouldn't know?

Impossible!

Whether in his past life or this one, Xu Qi'an is a man with a rich romantic history. The trust and closeness that this charming young woman, Biao Biao, occasionally shows him conveys a message:

This girl likes me.

The Crown Prince is also a man, so there's no point in Xu Qi'an denying it in front of him.

"What does the Crown Prince think?" Xu Qi'an countered.

"I heard that Father Emperor originally intended to bestow upon you the title of Viscount of Changle County, but after learning of your resurrection, he cancelled it?" the Crown Prince asked.

"His Majesty promised me that as long as I thoroughly investigate Consort Fu's case, I will be granted a title in no time," Xu Qi'an replied.

The Crown Prince pondered for a moment and said, "The rank of Viscount is ultimately too low. If you can clear my name, I can help you rise higher. You must understand, there are some things that a Viscount is not enough for."

Xu Qi'an chuckled and said, "Your Highness, why not just reward me with a thousand taels of gold? That would be more practical than making empty promises."

The Crown Prince raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe me?"

"It's not that I don't believe it, but what the Crown Prince can give me, the Duke Wei can also give me. And what the Crown Prince cannot give me, the Duke Wei can still give me."

"Xu Qi'an, Wei Yuan was a lone minister. Looking at history, which lone minister had a good ending?" the Crown Prince said in a deep voice.

Xu Qi'an bowed and left the room.

The Xu Residence.

"Where's the big pot? Where did the big pot go again?" Xu Lingyin asked, looking around with a meat bun stuffed in her mouth.

"Your older brother isn't here," the aunt replied, as she put a small cloth bag around the little girl's neck.

"I'm not leaving without the big pot! I want the big pot!" Xu Lingyin said angrily.

"Don't give me that crap. You just want an excuse not to go to school, don't you?" Auntie poked the little boy's forehead with her finger.

The little boy was surprised; the idea he had come up with after thinking for so long had been seen through by his mother at a glance.

Why is it that Mom is so smart, yet she's still often driven to despair by my older brother?

"Mother, how about I stay home and study with my second brother?" Xu Lingyin said sweetly.

"Ugliest in appearance, but with the most beautiful dreams," Auntie scolded. "Your second brother is about to take the imperial examination; he won't have time to deal with a stupid child like you."

What is the Spring Imperial Examination?

"It's the imperial examination system."

What is the imperial examination?

"It's an exam."

What is an exam?

"Xu Lingyin, are you trying to drive me crazy?" Auntie yelled in exasperation.

At this moment, Xu Erlang entered the mansion carrying a bag of green tangerines. Seeing his mother scolding his younger sister, he didn't pay any attention and casually handed the tangerines to her.

"Lingyin, I'll take you to the cram school to eat."

Xu Lingyin happily took it, but upon seeing that it was a green orange, her little face scrunched up, and she frowned, saying, "Second brother, this orange doesn't taste good."

Xu Erlang was taken aback. "You've eaten it?"

Auntie explained, "Your father bought these green tangerines last time."

Xu Xinnian looked deeply at his aunt and said, "Mother."

His aunt looked at him suspiciously. "Just say what you have to say, stop beating around the bush."

"It's nothing serious," Xu Erlang said casually. "I saw my elder brother give Father fifty taels of silver yesterday. You should take it back as soon as possible, lest he go out and squander it."

Upon hearing this, the aunt's eyebrows shot up. "That Xu Ningyan, how hateful!"

Actually, Xu Erlang was lying to his aunt. He said that so that his mother would squeeze all of his father's secret savings out of him. To appease his mother, his father would grit his teeth and hand over his secret savings, thus preventing him from going out and indulging in debauchery.

Then, the annoying older brother will be resented by the mother for a long time.

Killing two birds with one stone, perfect!

Xu Erlang returned to his study to read, satisfied.

The Imperial Palace.

Holding the token, they entered the palace without any hindrance and arrived at Shaoyin Garden to pick up Biao Biao and go solve the case together.

Princess Lin'an was dressed in a bright red palace gown today, the same color as yesterday, but a different style. She skipped over happily, her oval face beaming with a sweet smile, her peach blossom eyes brimming with bright charm.

After getting to know Lin'an, Xu Qi'an realized that a vixen wasn't just someone with a sharp, oval face; there were also women with oval faces who could be very charming and alluring.

It's a pity that the era limited Lin'an's potential; otherwise, with her big wavy hair, denim shorts, and tank top, she would have been a total glamorous goddess.

The kind of person who's very popular in nightclubs.

Biao Biao skipped over, twirling lightly, her skirt billowing. She was deliberately showing off her beauty to Xu Qi'an, perhaps without even realizing it.

Xu Qi'an asked, puzzled, "Why do you always wear red dresses?"

As soon as she finished speaking, Biao Biao's face fell instantly.

"Hmph, you dog servant, didn't you say I look especially beautiful in a dress?"

Xu Qi'an suddenly covered his eyes and screamed.

Biao Biao asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

"Your Highness is so beautiful, so radiant, that it dazzles this humble servant!" Xu Qi'an exclaimed.

Upon hearing this, Biao Biao's anger turned to joy. Xu Ningyan's words were so pleasant to hear and so interesting.

"Your Highness, I plan to visit Qingfeng Palace today," Xu Qi'an said.

Lin'an nodded and said sweetly, "I'm waiting for someone."

A smug look shone in her eyes as she raised her chin, revealing her long, slender, snow-white neck.

Xu Qi'an's heart sank suddenly. He thought to himself, "No way, no way, it can't be what I'm thinking, can it?"

In just a quarter of an hour, Huaiqing arrived, dressed in a white palace dress, exuding a cool and exquisite beauty, her every step revealing an indescribable charm.

Xu Qi'an: "."

Princess Lin'an, hands on her hips, puffed out her cheeks like a little hen, and said in a coquettish voice, "Huaiqing insists on following us, mistress and servant, to broaden her horizons. I'll grant her wish, you dog. Xu Ningyan, what do you think?"

She emphasized the words "master and servant" very heavily, as if to assert someone's ownership.

Xu Qi'an roared inwardly: I feel so angry!

"When I become your servant?" he smiled faintly. "It doesn't matter to me."

Princess Huaiqing's clear eyes swept over them, and she said calmly, "Then I will accept your kindness, sir."

"Princess, it's not what you think. Lin'an and I are completely innocent. I'm still your servant. "Xu Qi'an's lips twitched.

He hadn't expected Huaiqing to be involved in the Consort Fu case, but upon further reflection, he felt it was inevitable.

First of all, Huaiqing was very interested in investigating and solving cases, but as a princess, she had no reason or environment to get involved in it before.

During the Sangbo case, Huaiqing often summoned Xu Qi'an to the palace to inquire about the details of the case, and even accompanied him to bury himself in history books to search for clues.

Now that such a major case has occurred in the palace, it's understandable that Huaiqing would pay attention and develop a strong interest.

Previously, the organizing body was the Three Departments, so Huaiqing couldn't get involved. Now that Xu Qi'an has become the presiding judge, Huaiqing naturally came. Of course, Xu Qi'an suspects that Biao Biao is also involved in causing trouble.

For example, he would scurry up to Huaiqing and say, "My loyal servant is back! He's the most obedient servant to me!" and so on. He would brag in any way he could.

Xu Qi'an, who belonged to a family with three surnames, felt awkward. So, on the way to Qingfeng Palace, he silently lagged behind the two princesses, not uttering a word, trying to minimize his presence.

Damn it, this woman keeps doing this. One day I'll get into trouble for cheating on her, and I'll end up tearing my balls.

On the way, he sent the guard on duty to find the young eunuch from yesterday.

The young eunuch's attitude changed drastically. After bowing respectfully to Huaiqing and Lin'an, he bowed to Xu Qi'an and said, "Lord Xu, I was impolite yesterday. Please forgive me. I will always remember your kindness."

Xu Qi'an was taken aback, thinking to himself, "What good intentions do I have? What are you talking about?"

But he didn't show any emotion, simply giving a nonchalant "hmm".

The group walked towards Qingfeng Palace, with the two princesses leading the way. One was dressed in white, the other in red; both were exceptionally beautiful. Their beauty lay not only in their appearance and temperament, but also in their figures, which were an indispensable part of their beauty.

Lin'an's buttocks are not as big as Huaiqing's.

His legs weren't as long as Huaiqing's; Huaiqing was half a head taller than Lin'an.

Oh dear, Biao Biao, how come you can't compare to your sister in anything? You're useless.

Huaiqing truly lives up to her image as the cool and aloof goddess of the workplace; she inspires a strong desire to conquer her and even make her cry.

For the first time, Xu Qi'an could quietly admire the twin sisters like this. As he admired them, he realized that Princess Huaiqing seemed to have the better figure in terms of the fullness of her hips.

However, the way her waist swayed and her skirt swayed while walking was more exaggerated in Lin'an. This shows that Biao Biao was better at wiggling her hips than Huai Qing.

Huaiqing possessed cultivation, and beneath her loose palace attire, she should have had a slender waist and sexy abs. But Biaobiao's slender waist seemed boneless, twisting and turning.

She was an inwardly alluring woman, not one to deliberately flirt or pose, but her occasional unintentional actions, or the glimpses of her body revealing a certain allure, were infinitely more captivating than those women skilled in seduction.

For example, her alluring peach blossom eyes, brimming with springtime passion, always look at people with a dreamy gaze. And then there's her now-slender, boneless waist, and her swaying, seductive hips.

When Xu Qi'an first met her, he felt that she perfectly fit the image of a nightclub queen. This was not an arbitrary judgment, but rather the result of his extensive experience from driving so many cars.

Soon, the group arrived at Qingfeng Palace.

Qingfeng Palace has been sealed off by palace guards, and palace maids and eunuchs are confined to the courtyard.

The influence of Princesses Lin'an and Huaiqing was of no use. It was only after Xu Qi'an showed his gold token and revealed his identity that the guards allowed them to pass and respectfully led them inside.

The so-called Qingfeng Palace was actually a two-courtyard palace. The front courtyard was where low-ranking palace maids and eunuchs lived, while the back courtyard was where Consort Fu's confidants lived.

The main hall is a two-story pavilion with upturned eaves and corners, exuding a magnificent and imposing presence.

The railing on the second-floor observation deck was broken off; it is likely from here that Consort Fu fell to her death.

Xu Qi'an estimated the height to be about six or seven meters. Falling from that height, it basically depends on whether the King of Hell will take you or not.

The fact that Consort Fu landed on the back of her head could be interpreted as the King of Hell coveting her beauty and summoning her to accompany him in death, leaving no one able to save her.

The main hall was also sealed off, with four guards standing watch at the entrance to protect the scene.

"Where did Consort Fu die?" Xu Qi'an asked the head guard.

The foreman pointed to where Lin'an had landed and said, "That's where Consort Fu fell."

Like a nimble, startled rabbit, the framed figure leaped away in a flash.

Xu Qi'an stood where Consort Fu's body had fallen, glanced up at the pavilion, then looked away and said, "No one has ever entered the pavilion?"

"The officials from the Three Judicial Offices went in."

"Has anything been taken or damaged?"

"No, I was watching the whole time. The broken railing was kept in the storeroom and wasn't taken away by the Three Judicial Offices."

Someone was present to supervise the scene, and the evidence was not allowed to be taken away. Emperor Yuanjing was indeed a master of political maneuvering, directly eliminating the possibility of the Crown Prince's faction helping him "clean up the mess".

Xu Qi'an said, "Open the door, I want to go up."

After entering the attic, we climbed the stairs to the second floor.

Xu Qi'an and Princess Huaiqing had sharp eyes, carefully scanning every corner of the scene. Biao Biao glanced at the two of them and also pretended to be "searching seriously".

The first things they noticed were the overturned stool beside the table; a cup of tea that had long since gone cold; the disheveled bed; a corner of the bed curtain torn off; and calligraphy and paintings peeling off the east wall.

Xu Qi'an twitched his nose and sniffed around.

"What are you smelling?" Biao Biao couldn't keep up the act any longer.

"Don't make a sound, I'm smelling DNA."

"What acid removal?" Biao Biao was confused.

Xu Qi'an ignored him. Actually, he was just smelling the air to see if there was any residual odor. It wasn't necessarily deoxyribose, since so many days had passed and the odor couldn't have been preserved.

However, the necessary screening still needs to be done.

"What is deoxyribose?" Huaiqing asked.

It stems from a female academic high-achiever's innate thirst for knowledge.

Xu Qi'an, one of our descendants, pointed to the bed in the bedroom and asked the junior leader, "Is this how messy the bed is?"

"It was searched by the three judicial departments, but it was chaotic when they first came," the foreman replied.

It's a pity we can't do DNA testing, otherwise we could have solved the case right away. The technology in my previous life was so much better! He grumbled as he walked to the lookout tower.

After inspecting the broken section of the railing, Xu Qi'an sat down cross-legged in the observation hall, closed his eyes, and his powerful mental strength boosted his profiling abilities.

Based on the current feedback from the scene, he sketched out a dynamic picture in his mind:

The Crown Prince staggered upstairs, drunk. Consort Fu poured him a cup of hot tea to help him sober up, but instead of touching the teacup, he touched Consort Fu's small hand or something else, causing her to be startled and knock over her chair.

Then the Crown Prince forced himself on Consort Fu, dragging her to the bed. In the ensuing trembling, the bed was in disarray, a corner of the bed curtains torn off. Consort Fu somehow broke free from the Crown Prince's grasp and rushed towards the watchtower to cry for help, knocking over paintings along the way.

Seeing that the situation was dire, the Crown Prince, driven by evil intentions, pushed Consort Fu off the watchtower. Then, he went to the outer room and fell into a deep sleep, pretending that he had done nothing wrong.

Xu Qi'an opened his eyes and exhaled.

Those who had been keeping a close eye on him, Huaiqing and Lin'an, immediately asked, "Did you find anything?"

"The case isn't actually that difficult, but there are a few things I need to confirm first," Xu Qi'an said.

PS: Thanks to "Miracle Entertainment" for the generous donation.

A book recommendation from a reader. "Driving a Taxi in the World of American Comics".