Chapter 177: Ao Tian Imprisoned (3)

Yu Handan, who was behind Yu Zesi, also saluted gracefully, "General Su." With a gentle voice and elegant posture, she was a beautiful scene no matter how one looked at it. Unfortunately, not only did Su Ling not show happiness, his sword brows furrowed even tighter. He just nodded coolly at her and turned to look at Yu Zesi, asking, "Does Magistrate Yu have anything to do this time?"

After Yu Zesi bowed deeply again, he said embarrassedly, "Coming here today is really... a last resort. This old man has an ungracious request, hoping General Su can agree."

"Magistrate Yu, please speak." Looking at the fact that Yu Madam had once saved his mother, Su Ling naturally would not refuse if Yu Zesi opened his mouth. It was just that he hadn't come to ask him for so many years. What exactly was the matter this time? His black eyes swept over Yu Handan, who was standing quietly, and Su Ling had a bad premonition in his heart.

Yu Zesi sighed low and replied with worry, "Thanks to the favor of the Western Empress Dowager, Handan was specially appointed to perform for the envoys of various countries during this celebration. This is the honor of our Yu family. It's just that Handan accidentally witnessed a murder case yesterday and encountered the culprit head-on. That villain is extremely cruel, and I am afraid he will be unfavorable to Handan, so I want to ask General Su to send someone to protect her safety."

Before Su Ling could speak, Gu Yun, who had been indifferent, suddenly gained spirit. She didn't care if she would interrupt Su Ling's words and stared at Yu Handan, who was silent, asking, "You encountered the murderer head-on? Then did you witness the process of him killing someone? Did you see his appearance clearly?"

Yu Handan was stunned and looked at Su Ling silently. He actually didn't explode, and there was no sign of anger on his face. It seemed that Gu Yun's sudden interruption was not a big deal. It was on that face that she had always been afraid to look directly at that she discovered the faint doting and tolerance. Slowly masking her gaze, Yu Handan replied in a low voice, "Yesterday night, I went to Miaoyin Residence with my maid to pick up a newly made zither. The tone of the zither had some problems, and it took a long time to tune it. It was already 9:30 PM when we returned to the mansion. Because it was late, in order to return to the mansion as soon as possible, we decided to walk through the alley. Just as we reached the entrance of the alley, I saw..."

Always trying to remain calm, but thinking of the scene she saw last night, Yu Handan's breathing was still obviously unstable. After taking a deep breath, she continued, "I saw a silver-haired man holding a woman with her clothes stripped off in his arms, holding a short blade in his hand, the blade tip... still dripping with blood! I screamed in fright, and the man turned his head and saw us. I was very scared at the time, not knowing how to react, and stared at him for a while. At this time, people who heard the scream ran over, and the man ran in another direction. He stood in the dark alley, and I couldn't see what he looked like clearly, only vaguely seeing that his face was very thin, and his eyes looked like a knife!"

In this way, when she heard the scream, the murder was in progress, and at that time, Ao Tian had left her sight for less than a quarter of an hour. How could Ao Tian have returned to the dark alley to commit murder? This was clearly impossible! In this way, it must not be Ao Tian who killed the person, so was his appearance at the crime scene really a coincidence? Or was he covering for the murderer to delay time? Or was it another possibility, that the murderer was just to frame Ao Tian, so he killed someone where he appeared?

Gu Yun's brain was running at high speed, analyzing various possibilities. Everyone was waiting for what she would say next, but she entered her own world, not caring about anyone at all. The study instantly felt awkwardly quiet.

Su Ling was helpless. After pondering for a while, he said to Yu Zesi, "Regarding the matter of this case, Magistrate Yu should discuss it with the Ministry of Justice." It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but this was a case presided over by the Ministry of Justice after all.

Yu Zesi smiled bitterly and replied, "This old man just came from the Ministry of Justice. Magistrate Dan said that the government is currently investigating the case with all its strength, and there is a shortage of manpower. The security of this celebration is the responsibility of General Su, so this old man hopes General Su can protect my daughter's safety. This also relates to the smooth holding of the celebration. I implore the General to agree!"

Under Su Ling's gradually darkening expression, Yu Zesi's voice also became smaller and smaller. No one could speak as usual under his cold hawk-like gaze, except Gu Yun.

Just after Yu Zesi finished speaking, Gu Yun smiled and took the opportunity to say, "You want Miss Yu to move to the General's Mansion, this is the safest place, right?"

Yu Zesi was about to nod, but Su Ling's cold voice refused unceremoniously, "No. There are no women in the General's Mansion, it's not convenient for Miss Yu to live here." After Su Ling finished speaking, he was also stunned. Qing Mo was sitting beside him, this was...

Yu Handan's elegant face flashed a trace of forced laughter, and Yu Zesi also looked at Gu Yun strangely. Compared to their embarrassment, Gu Yun laughed offhandedly and sighed self-deprecatingly. Well, in Su Ling's eyes, she probably didn't count as a woman.

Being called not a woman should be considered an insult, but this woman indeed smiled it off so freely, and the scar on her face destroyed her beautiful appearance, but it couldn't hide her sharp and dazzling brilliance. Yu Zesi finally knew who this woman was. The woman bestowed by the Emperor—Qing Mo. It was just that Su Ling would let her come to the study, which was beyond his expectations. Looking deeply at the woman who was sitting casually and generously, Yu Zesi withdrew his gaze, thoughtful. After a long time, he said in a low voice, "This old man knows that this request is really abrupt, but that culprit appeared once last night, and the Yu family only has this one daughter, Handan, this old man is really..."

"Wait." Before Yu Zesi finished speaking, Gu Yun caught a key point and looked at Yu Handan, who was calm, again, urging, "The murderer went to find you yesterday?" Ao Tian was already in prison last night. If the murderer appeared, it further showed that the murderer was not Ao Tian.

Yu Handan hesitated for a while before saying softly, "I didn't see it in the room, it was Fu'er who saw a black shadow in the courtyard."

"Wait." Before Yu Zesi could finish, Gu Yun caught onto a key point. She looked again at the calm-faced Yu Handan and asked urgently, "The killer went to find you yesterday?" Ao Tian was already in prison last night; if the killer appeared, it only further proved that the killer was not Ao Tian.

Since Su Ling had already said so, Yu Zesi couldn't say anything more. Just as he was about to respond, the woman who had been sitting steadily on the side suddenly stood up, stood before Su Ling's desk, and said, "The celebration is so important, Miss Yu as a performer relates to the face of Qiongyue. Her safety naturally cannot be ignored by the Su Family Army. Su Yu should be very busy during this time, so why not let her stay here for now? Anyway, there are a few empty rooms in Yitian Courtyard. I am bored alone, and it will be good to have Miss Yu as a companion."

She would be bored?! Su Ling stared at Gu Yun with a ghostly look. He had never seen her idle! With her back to the Yu family father and daughter, Gu Yun made a "hurry up and agree" mouth shape at Su Ling. Su Ling's sword brows furrowed tighter and tighter. Gu Yun desperately winked at him. Just when she felt her eyes were about to twitch and was ready to give up, she finally heard Su Ling's cold voice compromise, "Fine."

She had better give him an explanation! Otherwise... hmph hmph!

The dark alley was pitch black, and one couldn't see one's fingers. The bright moonlight couldn't shine into this narrow and dirty passage at all. Since the last case happened, no one dared to walk in such an alley at night. The squeaking sound of mice in the alley full of rotten breath sounded particularly clear and bizarre.

"Master, Ao Tian entered the Ministry of Justice prison himself, what should we do next?" If it weren't for the anxious male voice ringing in the alley, no one would have noticed that there were still people here.

In front of the man, a lean black shadow stood there. The dazzling silver hair was the only bright spot in the dark night, pale and dazzling, and the darkness around him didn't affect him at all, because he himself belonged to the night. In such an environment, it made him even more at ease.

"Have you found out the identity of that woman?" The cold voice carried a hint of hoarseness, sounding like an old man, but looking at that figure, it didn't look like one.

The man replied respectfully, "Her name is Qing Mo, from Haoyue. She is a gift sent by the Haoyue Kingdom. Her sister Qing Ling married Lou Xiyan, and Qingfeng was named Consort Qing."

So that woman had such a background. Thinking of the way he defended her that day, the crimson lips curled coldly.

Ao Tian, oh Ao Tian, I don't believe I can't lure you out of prison!

Sixty-eight... sixty-nine... seventy... seventy-one...

Yu Handan held her chest, staring with wide eyes at Gu Yun, who was hanging on the tree and could lift herself up by the strength of her arms. She only felt that her breathing was somewhat unsmooth. She had already done eighty... wasn't she tired? Unexpectedly, her delicate body, arms as thin as hers, actually had such strength. Sweat dripped from her forehead, and her face became somewhat red because of continuous exertion, but the firm look in her eyes told her that if this woman hadn't completed her goal, she would absolutely not stop. Sure enough, although the last few were done very difficultly, Gu Yun still insisted on doing one hundred pull-ups before letting go.

Landing easily, Gu Yun sat on the grass, panting heavily.

Staring at Gu Yun, who was sitting casually, covered in sweat, and could be said to be somewhat disheveled, Yu Handan's mouth curled up unconsciously. This woman had a charm different from ordinary women. No wonder Su Ling was willing to make an exception for her.

"Why did you help me?" This was the point Yu Handan didn't understand. Didn't she like Su Ling? Why let a woman into the General's Mansion? Or was she really that confident, not taking any woman seriously?

"What?" Gu Yun had just finished exercising and didn't pay much attention. For a moment, she was bewildered. In fact, Yu Handan really wronged Gu Yun. She didn't look down on other women, but—she didn't think in that direction at all. Meeting Yu Handan's puzzled eyes, Gu Yun came back to her senses and smiled, "For your safety."

Yu Handan snorted, but her good upbringing didn't let her do something like rolling her eyes. Sitting gracefully beside Gu Yun, Yu Handan asked straight to the point, "If you have anything to ask, just ask."

Gu Yun raised her eyebrows lightly and smiled, "You are very keen, but I should already know everything I should know, no need to ask you." She still went to the Ministry of Justice in the afternoon. She had read all the materials she should have read. She believed Yu Handan didn't lie, and she also knew that she had said everything she should have said. Keeping her in the General's Mansion was really for her safety, because her testimony almost proved that Ao Tian had no time to commit the crime. If the murderer wanted to frame Ao Tian, killing her was inevitable.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 178 =====

Yu Handan scoffed, though her good upbringing prevented her from doing something like rolling her eyes. Sitting down gracefully beside Gu Yun, Yu Handan got straight to the point: "Ask whatever you want to ask."

Gu Yun raised her eyebrows slightly and smiled: "You are very sharp, but I already know everything I should know; there is no need to ask you." She had still gone to the Ministry of Justice in the afternoon, and she had seen all the documents she needed to see. She believed Yu Handan was not lying, and she also knew that she had already said everything she should have. Keeping her at the General's Mansion was truly for her own safety, because her testimony almost proved that Ao Tian had no time to commit the crime. If the killer wanted to frame Ao Tian, killing her was inevitable.

(End of chapter)