"It's likely eight or nine out of ten.
After all, given Fu Xun's cunning, the fact that he deliberately appeared before me at Wolong Villa could be part of his scheme.
The purpose was to have me associate the identity of Su Mo, the fourth disciple of Manor Lord Long, with him, forming a fixed impression that he was indeed Su Mo."
"If your deduction is correct, Sister Ning Yue, then Fu Xun is truly a terrifying person!"
The more Lin Qingge thought about it, the more her blood ran cold. It wasn't for nothing that he was a notorious member of the Dawn, was it?
If this brilliant mind were used for proper matters, it would surely lead to great achievements in any field, let alone steady advancement.
"However, going around and stripping everyone's clothes to check their shoulders might alert the enemy.
Are there any more direct methods of identification?"
Lin Qingge pondered for a moment, then a flash of inspiration struck her. "I've got it!"
With that, she took out the blood-stained handkerchief from her boot.
"Right, Sister Ning Yue, did Xiao Hei enter the palace with you all?"
"Yes."
"Then that's perfect."
As Lin Qingge spoke, she walked towards the door. Just then, Yan Tinghao, who had been gathering information, returned.
"Reporting to Your Highness, Princess. Your subordinate inquired around. There were originally two imperial guards on duty nearby tonight.
However, both of them suffered from upset stomachs. After seeing the Crown Prince of Dongying into his room to rest, they went to squat in the latrine and remained there until their legs went soft. They were eventually found in a state of exhaustion in the latrine by others and are now recuperating at the Imperial Hospital."
"Both of them had upset stomachs?
And were so ill they collapsed?
How could it be such a coincidence?"
Lin Qingge murmured, repeating his words. Then she ordered,
"Officer Yan, go back to Changshou Palace and bring Xiao Hei here."
"Yes, Your Highness, Princess!"
Feeling that she would eventually be harmed by this simpleton's mouth, Lin Qingge waved him away dismissively.
Understanding Lin Qingge's intentions, Leng Ningyue frowned and said,
"Although Xiao Hei is a dog, it has never received professional training in this area. If you use Xiao Hei as a police dog, can it find Fu Xun?"
"Sister Ning Yue, although Xiao Hei isn't a police dog, it does have 'dog' in its name.
Moreover, Xiao Hei can even do the work of a constable. Finding people is a trivial matter, it's surely no problem!"
Not long after, Yan Tinghao brought Xiao Hei over.
"Come, Xiao Hei, sniff carefully and find anyone with a similar scent!
Do a good job, and you'll get extra chicken legs tomorrow morning. If you don't do well, it's okay, we'll just have dog meat hotpot tomorrow."
Xiao Hei:?!!!
Ignoring the dog's wide, terrified eyes, Lin Qingge directly shoved the handkerchief into Xiao Hei's nose and muttered to herself,
"In order to frame someone, the killer, after murdering the Crown Prince of Dongying, would have to pull the murder weapon, a dagger, from the Crown Prince's chest. It's inevitable that they would be splattered with the gushing blood.
This handkerchief not only has the deceased's blood on it but also retains the deceased's scent.
As for the smell of my feet, let's ignore that. After all, it was just tucked into the side of my boot, not stepped on.
Of course, even if I had stepped on it, it wouldn't matter. My feet don't smell."
"Your Highness, Princess, never mind your feet. If you keep holding it there, Xiao Hei will be gone!"
Lin Qingge, coming back to her senses, quickly released her hand. Xiao Hei, now with rolled-up eyes, stuck out its tongue and gasped for breath, then turned and bolted.
Seeing this, Lin Qingge and the others hurriedly followed.
After running for a while, Xiao Hei suddenly stopped beside a clump of bushes.
"Woof woof!"
Lin Qingge hurried over and expertly instructed the simpleton beside her, "Officer Yan, go take a look."
"Yes."
Soon, Yan Tinghao returned, carrying a piece of clothing.
"Princess, your subordinate found a blood-stained... Ugh—"
Yan Tinghao hadn't thought much of it at first. Under the moonlight, he finally saw what was on the clothing he was holding, and his world spun. He felt dizzy.
Since he had already vomited everything earlier, this time he could only retch.
"See, Xiao Hei is more useful than you!"
Lin Qingge chided, then took the bloodstained garment and examined it carefully.
"This is an outfit from the Dongying delegation, likely discarded here by the killer after the crime.
However, since it was removed from the killer, it must carry the killer's scent.
Xiao Hei, sniff this again and see if you can follow the trail to the person who wore this clothing."
This time, Xiao Hei didn't need Lin Qingge to handle it. It eagerly sniffed the garment and then ran off again.
"Officer Yan, this piece of evidence is for you to keep. Remember to take it back and seal it."
Lin Qingge said, tossing the bloodstained garment near Yan Tinghao, and then followed Xiao Hei.
"Your Highness, Princess, please wait... Ugh, ugh—"
Yan Tinghao had just started to speak when he began retching uncontrollably. Fortunately, someone approached from a distance.
"Officer Yan, what's wrong?"
Yan Tinghao heard the voice and laboriously lifted his head. Upon seeing the approaching person, he managed a strained smile and greeted him,
"Ah, Brother Lu... Ugh, ugh~"
Lu Huaiying: ...
"Brother Lu, you've arrived just in time. Please convey a message to Changshou Palace, ask Master Hua or Ling Han to come over and take this evidence back... Ugh, ugh—"
"Evidence?"
"It's this bloody garment. They say the killer wore it... Ugh, ugh—"
Yan Tinghao pointed at the clothing. A glance at the bloodstain made him start retching again.
While Yan Tinghao was bent over, retching incessantly, Lu Huaiying walked over step by step.
At the same time, his hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
However, just as Lu Huaiying was about to reach Yan Tinghao.
A boisterous shout came from a distance:
"Officer Yan, you're here!
On my way here, I met my beloved, and she said you were suffering from a blood phobia and asked this mighty and heroic young master to escort you back to Changshou Palace."
"Zhan Fang, you must not be disrespectful to Young Master Yan.
Also, the person you just met was the Empress, not your so-called beloved.
If you anger the Emperor, even if you narrowly escape death, you'll have your skin peeled off!"
"Brother, His Majesty and I are rivals for love, the kind that will never yield!
However, Lord Lin is truly disappointing. Not only did His Majesty abduct his wife, but he also openly crowned her Empress! https:/
Brother, when can I abduct my beloved back to our Xiao family to be your sister-in-law?"
"Don't even think about it!"
Xiao Zhanbei, unable to bear it any longer, raised his hand and gave his brother, who was either courting disaster or on the verge of it, a heavy tap on the head.
He then looked at the man beside him, who had a very low presence, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
Perhaps because Xiao Zhanbei's questioning gaze was too obvious, Lu Huaiying, who had already discreetly moved his hand away from his waist, clasped his hands in a salute.
"I am Lu Huaiying, Captain of the Cavalry of the Imperial Guards, and I greet General Xiao."