"No Wedding Unless Enemies and Lovers" 《不是冤家不拜堂》Chapter 201

 The two walked side by side, no one felt the pace was slow, the moon lengthened out the two of their shadows.

Silence fell over them, Ji Ling Xue turned to look at Xiao Yi Chen beside her, the moonlight lit up the outline of half his face, it appeared rather tender and mysterious.

Ji Ling Xue said: "There's a question I always wanted to ask you."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, indicating Ji Ling Xue can ask, he would answer without hesitation.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Xiao Yi Mo had manipulated you before, so why did you not immediately kill him after you seized the throne, instead you imprisoned him in the secret prison?"

Xiao Yi Chen pinched his chin, after thinking for a while: "As an emperor he ought to remove anyone who is a threat to him, that is what the generations of emperors have done, before he didn't think about their brotherly relationship, but after I seized the throne, it settled the score, keeping him in the secret prison was only a temporary solution, he was once above it all, ruler of the country, all things were under his control, he must have thought that one day he may be imprisoned in a dark space, facing endless panic, don't you think sucha fall would cause someone to be suffocate with no hope."

Ji Ling Xue's lips twitched, wordlessly looking at Xiao Yi Chen, before she thought she couldn't read him, now his heart was even more unreadable, it's not a surprise, people always say the emperor's heart is hard to fathom.

Of course Ji Ling Xue didn't want to ask where Xiao Yi Mo was, so she changed topics: "Huanhun grass can really make the dead rise?" Recalling Mo Xiang had mentioned it to her, Xiao Yi Chen had planted the grass before her tomb, then he wanted it back.

Xiao Yi Chen shook his head: "We only heard a rumour, I've never seen it in person, do you want that plant?"

Ji Ling Xue shook her head: "When Mo Xiang mentioned the grass I was very curious, I thought it was only something from a book, if something really does happen to me and you took that grass and bring me back to life, I would be very moved."

A light smile appeared on Xiao Yi Chen's lips, like the clouds had been dispersed by the wind.

The past was the past, he had previously stupidly love one person, willing to risk life and limb for her, in order to save her he paid any price, at that time he had fallen from a cliff getting the legendary grass that could bring someone back to death, he had passed out for an unknown amount of time, to return as quick as possible, he travelled on horseback through day and night ignoring the wounds on his body, in the end he found out she had been buried, he couldn't see her for the last time, he couldn't even send her off for the final time, at that time he was so disappointed, no matter how disappointed it wasn't as heart breaking as finding out she had faked her death to leave him.

Although time can fade memories, it can also heal scars, but a broken heart would always have been broken before, even if Ji Ling Xue had returned to his side again, he would no longer stupidly risk everything for one person.

Xiao Yi Chen looked behind Ji Ling Xue: "We've arrived!"

Ji Ling Xue turned her head, prince Chen's residence, the three words were illuminated under the lanterns, there were so many memories here, both happy and sad, Ji Ling Xue pushed open the door, there were no lamps inside the residence, it was pitch black, ever since Xiao Yi Chen moved into the palace, this was left unused, a night breeze blew by, the place was desolate.

Ji Ling Xue asked: "There are no guards at the residence?"

Xiao Yi Chen said: "There is, they've been sent away tonight."

Ji Ling Xue glanced at Xiao Yi Chen, Xiao Yi Chen held a flint in his hand as he lit the closest lantern to him.

Xiao Yi Chen said, "Let's go directly to Yu Qing's courtyard." As he spoke he took the lead, Ji Ling Xue followed behind him, maybe because she hadn't walked around in the dark for a while, with the night breeze her neck turned cold, feeling like there was a pair of eyes in the dark watching them.

Ji Ling Xue turned her head, the feeling of being watched disappeared, behind her was the beautiful sound of insects.

Xiao Yi Chen pushed the courtyard door open, the door screeched, scaring the insects in the courtyard to cry out, suddenly it was silent, thhe wind blew leaves onto the ground.

The flint in Xiao Yi Chen's hand turned, he said: "It's been a while, a lot of the evidence has already disappeared, after the incident I did get Chi Feng to record the scene of the crime." As he spoke Xiao Yi Chen took a long folded piece of paper from his chest handing it to Ji Ling Xue, "I thought you might want to take a look, so I brought it with me."

Ji Ling Xue took the paper, she didn't rush to open it, pointing at the wall she said: "That night I climbed over that wall to enter." There was conveniently a tree to easily climb.

Ji Ling Xue said: "Ji Yu Qing hadn't gone to bed yet, the room was still lit, but her personal maid Zi Ye wasn't there to serve her, I easily entered her room." Ji Ling Xue pushed open the door and entered, just like the night of the incident.

Xiao Yi Chen followed behind her, lighting the oil lamps inside the room.

Ji Ling Xue walked to the dressing table, "That night, Ji Yu Qing was sitting here drawing her eyebrows, talking to herself, will prince come and see me tonight? I stood behind her, because of the angle, she didn't see me approach her..."

Ji Ling Xue vividly described the events of that night, "The knife scar on her neck was from me, she finally told me that the imperial uncle and Yi Yun's cousin were the one behind ruining my reputation, when I left I gave her a healing cream."

Xiao Yi Chen said: "When Chi Feng investigated the scene, Ji Yu Qing did indeed have wounds on her, one on her neck, but it wasn't fatal,  the fatal blow was to the stomach, was the healing cream in a white bottle?"

Ji Ling Xue nodded, "Yes."

Xiao Yi Chen took out a handkerchief from his chest and opened it up, inside laid a broken piece of white porcelain, "This is what Chi Feng gave me, it was found in the pool of blood, but there was only one piece, we thought it was a piece of a bowl or plate."

Ji Ling Xue frowned, "The bottle of cream broke? When I left I heard porcelain being shattered, I thought Ji Yu Qing had smashed it in anger, it seems it was the murderer, Ji Yu Qing was directly killed." That would explain why there was porcelain in the pool of blood.

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "From the angle of the wound, the coroner surmised the person who killed Yu Qing was a man." But because you had no proof, you were the most suspicious.

Ji Ling Xue curled her lips, "Then did you find the murderer?"

Xiao Yi Chen said: "You just said you didn't see Zi Ye right, after the incident Chi Feng sent someone to question Zi Ye, Zi Ye said she had fallen asleep in the kitchen while boiling water, and it just happened to be when you entered Ji Yu Qing's room, the next day Zi Ye went to tell Chi Feng that the clothes she hung in the courtyard to dry had disappeared, she was worried it was related to the case so she came to tell him."

"Is that so, being able to easily bypass the secret guards and enter Ji Yu Qing's room to kill her then escape unscathed, it must be someone Ji Yu Qing is familiar with, the secret guard also looked from afar, no wonder apart from me no one else entered Ji Yu Qing's room, they forgot the murderer could have disguised as Zi Ye."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "That's a reason, the murderer disappeared suddenly after committing the crime, we searched the entire residence, we couldn't find any clues, causing you to be the person of interest, what's more after you committed suicide by poison, everyone thought you had killed yourself in apology, to the extent..."

Ji Ling Xue tilted her head to look at Xiao Yi Chen, waiting for him to continue.

Xiao Yi Chen suddenly stopped speaking, Ji Ling Xue raised her eyebrow in confusion, waiting for a while for the rest of the words after "to the extent".

Xiao Yi Chen walked to the window, pushing it open, a cold wind brushed against his face, his gaze on the wall opposite: "The person killed Ji Yu Qing to frame you, he was waiting for an opportunity, that person was very familiar with the residence, and knew you very well, it must be someone inside the residence, is there anyone you're suspicious of?"

Ji Ling Xue looked at Xiao Yi Chen calmly, "If I say that person's name, will you go and investigate?"

Xiao Yi Chen raised an eyebrow, Ji Ling Xue's words carried an implicit meaning.

Ji Ling Xue crossed her arms: "This case has already become a mystery, but if we think of it from another angle, who would benefit from this the most, who is the most suspicious?"

Xiao Yi Chen lowered his eyes, after a while he said: "You suspect Yi Yun?"

Ji Ling Xue shrugged, looking at Xiao Yi Chen she knew he clearly believed Yi Yun had nothing to do with this incident, Yi Yun got along with Ji Yu Qing, no one would suspect she was related to Ji Yu Qing's death.

Ji Ling Xue said: "I'm only suspicious, just saying, don't take it seriously."

Xiao Yi Chen lightly gave an en, closing the window: "It's already the fourth night watch period, time passed really quickly!"

Ji Ling Xue rolled her eyes, I told you not to take it seriously and you really...did! 

Ji Ling Xue who had been crouching stood up patting her hands: "It's no longer early, let's return to the palace."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, the two of them headed out, when they passed Yilan courtyard, Ji Ling Xue faltered, Xiao Yi Chen who walked in front of her turned around and asked: "What's wrong?"

Ji Ling Xue said: "I suddenly remembered, there's something I haven't taken."

Xiao Yi Chen nodded, "I'll go with you."

"No need, I'll go by myself." Having spoken Ji Ling Xue turned and ran into Yilan courtyard, leaving Xiao Yi Chen to stand in the wind alone.

"What is so secretive she can't let me see?" Xiao Yi Chen asked himself, but he remained on the spot.

"Ah..."A shriek entered Xiao Yi Chen's ears, he narrowed his eyes rushing into the courtyard, the room was lit by a lamp, Xiao Yi Chen broke the door down and entered, he thought an assassin had arrived, he gripped the sword in his hand tighter.

Ji Ling Xue walked from behind the screen holding a jar, looking at Xiao Yi Chen with suspicion.

"Did something happen?" Xiao Yi Chen asked.

Ji Ling Xue shook her head, "Nothing happened."

Xiao Yi Chen looked around the room, but didn't see anything out of place, Ji Ling Xue explained: "Just now I was venting my feelings, I'm sorry I scared you."

Xiao Yi Chen's lips twitched, pointing at the jar in Ji Ling Xue's hand, "This is what you wanted?"

Ji Ling Xue smiled nodding.

At that moment a black shadow dropped from the roof, kneeling at the door he greeted Xiao Yi Chen: "Your majesty, no good something happened at the palace...Xiao Yi Mo disappeared."

Xiao Yi Chen's expression was calm as before, his black eyes were still as stagnant water.

Ji Ling Xue: Xiao Yi Chen left the palace, something then happens, coincidence can't explain it.

Xiao Yi Chen held Ji Ling Xue's hand: "Let's go return to the palace."