Xiaosuisui’s gaze inexplicably sent a chill down Sister Ying’Er’s spine, after which she quickly launched into her explanation.
"When my adoptive brother was on the brink of death, Mister Wu did a divination for . He told to keep a lookout at the city gate. I was to go there before dawn every day and keep a close watch on anyone carrying a dicine box marked with the dicine King Residence logo. If I could sohow get hold of the dicine box, there might be a Life-Extending Pill inside. I spent a full five days at the city gate, but it was all for nought.
"On the day when my adoptive brother could no longer get out of bed, breathing more out than in, I actually saw a man bearing a dicine box with the dicine King Residence logo. He was leading a horse by the reins, waiting for the Soldiers to check him at the city gate."
She spoke rapidly this ti, uninterruptedly, and thus managed to get everything out in one breath.
"My initial plan involved causing a commotion at the city gate to snatch the dicine box, but to my surprise, the Soldiers didn’t inspect his belongings at all, allowing him to leave the city imdiately.
"Once outside the city, he imdiately mounted his horse and rode off at full gallop. In my haste, I stealthily shot a silver needle at the hindquarters of his horse.
"The idea was to make his horse buck and throw him off so that I could step in and play the Good Samaritan, ultimately stealing the Life-Extending Pill.
"However, I didn’t anticipate his superb horsemanship. He dashed away on his horse, covering over a hundred li in no ti. Devoid of a horse, I was undeterred and took my trained monkey, Dali, to pursue him by his tracks. Unfortunately, I ended up losing his trail, got lost myself, and wasted ti that delayed my return to the city.
"Thus, I went to the Yuelai Inn located thirty li outside the city, intending to take a breather.
"Unexpectedly, as if by heavenly guidance, I spotted a doctor from the dicine King Residence there. He was disheveled and carrying the dicine box as he sought lodging at the Yuelai Inn.
"As a result, I decided not to enter the Yuelai Inn and hid in a haystack outside instead.
"I did not release Dali until after midnight, at which point I let it sneak in through the back window to steal the dicine box.
"The first ti, Dali stole two boxes which were bound together. Upon inspection, I realized they weren’t the dicine box I was seeking. I intended for Dali to return them, but it refused.
"Wary of unforeseen setbacks under the cloak of night, I instructed it to try to find the dicine box again.
"Consequently, during its second attempt, it managed to toss out the dicine box. Having obtained the dicine box and the Life-Extending Pill, I hurried back to town imdiately. On the brink of my adoptive brother’s death, I fed him the Life-Extending Pill."
The listeners couldn’t help but let their mouths twitch. The world truly worked in such coincidental ways.
Never mind Xiaosuisui’s supposed ’jinxing mouth’! This was entirely one blunder leading to another, including those made by others!
Zhu Xiuxiu suddenly felt a pang of guilt. She rembered how, earlier that morning, she had heard about Xiaosuisui unintentionally revealing that her Third Uncle’s silver was all gone. Connecting this to Yunhang’s misfortune, she had blad Xiaosuisui for the impact of her words. The things she had said to Xiaosuisui at that ti made her feel unworthy of being her elder.
"Third Aunt was wrong to bla you, Xiaosuisui."
Zhu Xiuxiu lovingly patted Xiaosuisui’s head, openly admitting her mistake.
Xiaosuisui tilted her head, sowhat puzzled by Third Aunt’s words.
Ji Youzhi noticed their interaction and quickly smoothed things over, "She’s just a child; she won’t hold a grudge. In the future, Third Sister-in-law, protect her well and don’t let her be bullied."
Blushing with sha, Zhu Xiuxiu nodded.
"You said you once bought a Life-Extending Pill at an underground auction. This implies you have money and could have openly bought the dicine from my Second Brother. Yet, you chose to steal. This shows you are lying!"
Zhu Xiuxiu, being the daughter of a prominent family, picked up on this discrepancy in Sister Ying’Er’s story right away, a detail others might have overlooked.
"If I told you that despite being the manager at the Li Gambling House for so many years, I actually have no money, would you believe ?"
Upon hearing this, expressions of disbelief appeared on everyone’s faces. It wasn’t that they didn’t believe her; it was more that they couldn’t see any trace of falsehood on her face. But to believe her...
"The money I’ve earned these years isn’t much, and a large part of it was given to Mister Wu as thanks for saving my life. The Life-Extending Pill bought at the underground auction last ti was also purchased with Mister Wu’s silver."
Hearing this, Ji Youzhi quietly added, "So when he said he wanted to examine the Life-Extending Pill, you didn’t object. And when he claid it was gone, none of you dared to express dissatisfaction?"
Sister Ying’Er nodded. With that, the matter seed to have co to a close. Everyone present heaved a heavy sigh of relief; after all, they now knew what they needed to know.
Suddenly, Li You’an’s voice rang out.
"That’s not right! We inspected the Yuelai Inn. The windows and door of the room where Second Young Master and Jin Ge were staying were closed properly! And there were no traces of a monkey stealing boxes in the room either!"
Sister Ying’Er chuckled lightly and said, "I trimd all of Dali’s claws, and I also covered his four limbs with other fur."
"What fur did you use?"
Ji Youzhi narrowed his eyes. If what Sister Ying’Er said next matched the small details he had discovered in his Second Brother’s room, then he could determine that Sister Ying’Er was truly not lying!
"I used skin stripped from a wild cat, directly covering Dali’s limbs."
"So that’s what happened. Then this case can be closed."
These words from Ji Youzhi left Li You’an completely stunned.
"Close... close the case? We haven’t verified many details in here! We’re not even sure if what she said is true or false!"
The main issue was that they hadn’t used any torture on this Sister Ying’Er, so he really wasn’t sure if what she said could be trusted.
However, Ji Youzhi did not change his decision based on this concern. Instead, he picked up Xiaosuisui and said, "It’s getting late. Seventh Uncle will take you to the Imperial Palace!"
"Okay, okay!" Xiaosuisui nodded happily, letting Ji Youzhi carry her out of the Li Gambling House.
Suddenly, a fluffy white rabbit leaped down from the roof of the Li Gambling House. Its descent was incredibly graceful; it even did a twirl in mid-air before landing precisely in its Master’s arms!
"Xiaobai! What are you doing here?" Xiaobai’s sudden appearance had given Ji Youzhi quite a scare. He initially thought it was an ambush! He had just drawn his sword when he realized it was Xiaobai, so he relaxed his guard.
"Xiaobai, when did you arrive? Why didn’t you co in to find ? What were you doing on the roof?"
"What are you saying? Pretty Sister said so young novice monks have co down the mountain, and they’re here to catch ? Don’t worry, Xiaobai, the young novice monks can’t catch ! As long as that old Abbot from the temple isn’t constantly banging his wooden fish, they can’t beat !"
Xiaosuisui chattered confidently to Xiaobai.
Ji Youzhi and Zhu Xiuxiu’s expressions changed drastically upon hearing this. Xiaobai was actually relaying a ssage from Xie Pan’Er! Young novice monks had indeed co down the mountain, and they were undoubtedly after their precious niece!
"We need to get to the Imperial Palace quickly!" Ji Youzhi said to Zhu Xiuxiu with a grave expression.
Zhu Xiuxiu nodded, "Mm."
Then, carrying Xiaosuisui, they hurried towards the Imperial Palace. Their pace was so fast it was practically a jog.
"Wait! You two, wait! No, you three, wait for ! How can you be like this? Use soone and then toss them aside, you don’t even... even..." The rest of Dugu Xiao’s words were lost in his panting.
Finally, Dugu Xiao had a bright idea: he would use his lightness skill to catch up and get his questions answered.
However, just as he caught up with Ji Youzhi, before he could even speak, he heard a voice cry out, "Seventh Uncle, Feifei!"
Then he watched in disbelief as Ji Youzhi, holding the baby Eldest Princess Xiaosuisui and a white furball, leaped up, then landed, and after a few more jumps, disappeared from his sight.
Dugu Xiao stood there, eyes wide with disbelief, muttering, "Ji Youzhi’s lightness skill has improved again. It’s reached a level of perfection."
「Inside the Imperial Palace」
The Emperor, seated on the Dragon Throne, looked solemnly at National Master Feng Wushang, who was in a lower seat, just about to sip his tea.
"National Master! If We were to go to war with the Buddhist Faction, what do you think Our chances of victory would be?"
The National Master abruptly choked, spraying out a mouthful of tea, and stared in disbelief at His Majesty the Emperor on the Dragon Throne.
After a long mont, he dug a finger into his ear, then looked quizzically at the Emperor.
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