Chapter 47: A Friend Who Shows Up

The Great Yu Dynasty is not a corrupt and incompetent dynasty, and he is not a fool.

The Yun Family's discovery of the relics in Tilan Mountain was already known to the Imperial Household; otherwise, he would not have personally come to Maple Forest Town this time.

Yun Jin's excuse, to be frank, is rather lame; even a child of a few years old couldn't be fooled by it.

However, Li Xingchao does not intend to hold onto it; after all, it is not yet the time to break with the Yun Family.

"Yun Jin, you're joking—what's there to blame?" Li Xingchao smiled faintly: "Since there really are relics in the mountains, we should adjust our plan for this trip."

"Later, I will personally lead a detachment of the elite Golden Scale Army into the mountains with Yun Jin, and leave the affairs of the wizards of Maple Forest Town to Xun'er and Wan'er."

"This also gives the younger generation a chance to get closer and cultivate their feelings."

Li Xingchao is skilled at scheming.

Having caught the Yun Family's concealment of the relics, he then proposed letting Yun Wan and his own son jointly handle the wizard affairs, so that the two could grow closer; neither Yun Wan nor Yun Jin dare refuse.

"Very well." Yun Jin forced a smile and nodded in agreement: "Just treat it as giving them an opportunity for experience."

"Wan'er, be sure to follow the Heir Apparent closely and learn more." Yun Jin, fearing Yun Wan might not grasp the importance, immediately instructed.

Although Yun Wan harbored a hundred reluctances at that moment, she could only grit her teeth and bear it, slightly bowing to Li Xun and saying: "Thank you for your guidance, Heir Apparent."

Li Xun jumped down from the stool, smiling as he approached Yun Wan, reaching out to take her hand, but Yun Wan dodged.

He sheepishly touched his nose, then clasped his hands toward Yun Jin and Li Xingchao, saying: "Father, Aunt Yun, I will then take Miss Wan to investigate the case."

Li Xingchao nodded: "Go, be careful."

The two left the government office; Li Xun furtively glanced at Yun Wan's graceful figure, then said solemnly: "I heard you've been in Maple Forest Town for a while?"

Yun Wan nodded, speaking indifferently: "Yes."

"Have you sorted out the details?"

"When did the wizards first appear?"

Li Xun asked in a low voice.

Yun Wan answered each point in turn, and he listened very attentively.

"In that case, the source of this matter is the Wang clan you mentioned and that commoner called Fang Xu?"

Yun Wan blinked slightly, then nodded.

"Let's go."

"Take the Heir Apparent to have a look." Li Xun spoke, hands clasped behind his back with an air of self-importance.

Yun Wan puzzled: "Where does the Heir Apparent want to go?"

Li Xun gave her a strange glance: "Naturally, to go find that Wang clan and that commoner to learn the situation."

Fang Xu's small courtyard.

Wang Shi came to the courtyard carrying a basket of fresh apricots, seeing Fang Xu and Chu Mu just finished their meal, she smiled and said: "Fang Xu, Chu Mu, Elder Brother Yun from the county brought these apricots; I'm bringing some for you."

She placed the basket on the side stone table, picked out a few larger ones from the basket and gave them to Chu Mu, then gave two to Fang Xu: "Washed, they're sweet."

Seeing the two acting somewhat intimately, Chu Mu pouted, somewhat displeased: "Brother Fang Xu, I'm going back to the room first."

Saying that, without waiting for Fang Xu to reply, she turned her wheelchair back to her room and firmly shut the door.

Looking at the closed door, Fang Xu gave a wry smile and shook his head.

Wang Shi also seemed at a loss, asking softly:

"Does Chu Mu not like me?"

"Or was it that I raised my voice that night, letting her hear it?"

Fang Xu was about to speak when two figures appeared outside the courtyard gate.

"Miss Yun?"

Seeing that the visitors were Yun Wan and a child who looked about eight or nine years old, Fang Xu felt somewhat surprised.

Wang Shi stood respectfully to the side with her head lowered.

"You're all here, perfect—no need to make another trip." Yun Wan introduced: "This is the Heir Apparent of the dynasty; he wants to learn from you about Wang Ergou."

The Heir Apparent of the Imperial Household?

Upon hearing that, Fang Xu gave the "child" a brief look, then hastily clasped his hands in salute: "I, Fang Xu; I greet the Heir Apparent."

Wang Shi beside him also hurriedly bowed: "I, Wang Shi; I greet the Heir Apparent."

Li Xun lifted his chin, glanced at the charming Wang Shi, shook his head slightly, and muttered: "She has quite the looks, a pity she's lost her virtue…"

"Get up."

"Are you Fang Xu?" he said arrogantly, staring at Fang Xu.

Fang Xu clasped his hands: "Yes."

"Tell me everything about what happened before and after you discovered Wang Ergou's death; if you conceal anything, be careful of your life."

Fang Xu hurriedly bowed and recounted everything that had happened before.

This matter originally had nothing to do with him, so there was no question of lying.

Li Xun had been watching his expression and demeanor, but saw nothing amiss.

"Is everything he said true?" After listening to Fang Xu's account, Li Xun then asked Wang Shi.

Wang Shi nodded repeatedly: "All of it is true."

Meanwhile, Yun Wan saw that the little girl Fang Xu had rescued that day was no longer in the courtyard, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Given the little girl's appearance and delicate demeanor, if Li Xun discovered her, he would likely not let her go easily; should a conflict arise, Yun Wan knew what the consequences would be.

"Since that's the case, you, take the Heir Apparent to the scene of the incident to have a look." After a moment's thought, Li Xun pointed at Fang Xu and said.

Fang Xu glanced at Yun Wan; seeing she said nothing, he slightly clasped his hands: "Please, Heir Apparent."

Li Xun lifted his chin and strode arrogantly out of the courtyard.

"Sister-in-law, please look after Chu Mu for a moment; I'll be right back."

After giving a word to Madam Wang, Fang Xu immediately prepared to follow, but Yun Wan lightly tugged his sleeve and whispered: "Don't let the Young Master see that little girl."

Fang Xu blinked slightly, then looked gratefully at Yun Wan.

"Miss Yun, please."

Leading Yun Wan and Li Xun to the place where Wang Ergou met his demise that day, Fang Xu said: "Young Master, please look; this is where I discovered Wang Ergou's corpse."

"This is where his family's ox died."

"The ox's flesh and blood all over its body were like wind-dried, its death state extremely horrifying."

Quickly briefing Li Xun on the situation at the crime scene, Fang Xu respectfully stood to the side.

Li Xun came to the two places Fang Xu mentioned, lightly sniffed, and sneered: "Indeed, it's that bunch!"

"You're not bad."

"I will stay in Maple Forest Town for a while to investigate this matter; seeing you are clever and familiar with this town, you will follow by my side during this time."

Fang Xu heard this, his expression startled, and he quickly looked toward Yun Wan.

Yun Wan calmly said: "Serving the Young Master is your honor; if you handle this well, the Young Master will naturally not treat you poorly."

Fang Xu, helpless, could only cup his hands and say: "Thanks to the Young Master's favor, I will naturally attend to his needs and serve him."

This little flattery obviously pleased Li Xun, who immediately nodded and said: "Not bad, this cleverness is to the Young Master's liking; if you manage this well, the Young Master will take you to Central Province."

Fang Xu hastily made a grateful bow and said: "Thank you, Young Master!"

"Let's go, let's head back and have a look." Li Xun said.

The three returned from outside the town to the town center, then made another trip to the charitable burial house under reconstruction, and only finished their bustling activities by night.

"I've heard that Maple Forest Town's famous wine, Maple Leaf Brew, has quite a flavor; is that true?"

At the end of the You hour, the three walked through the town when Li Xun suddenly spoke.

"Does the Young Master want a drink?" Fang Xu heard this, blinked, then secretly delighted, thinking: "I know there's a wine shop in town whose Maple Leaf Brew is the most authentic!"

Li Xun nodded: "Lead the way ahead."

Seeking monthly tickets, seeking readers, elders, thank you for your hard work, thanks thanks!

(End of chapter)