Volume One, Chapter 13: I Will Not Serve as a Swordsman for Others

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"I am..." Xiao Wogu suddenly froze.

Indeed, he had lost his memory; it was uncertain how long the aftereffects of the Black Mandrake would last. Seeing this, Ye Fusang nodded inwardly with a hint of unease and said, "You’re the swordsman I hired to protect me."

Xiao Wogu furrowed his brows slightly and instinctively replied, "I don’t serve as a swordsman for others."

The greatest swordsman in the world was always proud and would never bow to anyone. Ye Fusang understood this well—after all, she had once held that title herself.

"Fool, didn’t you just say you can’t remember? I knocked on your head," Ye Fusang tapped him lightly, "You couldn’t before, and you still can’t now?"

Xiao Wogu’s expression darkened, his voice cold, "I can’t remember, not that I’m stupid."

"I can wield your sword," Ye Fusang suddenly picked up the sword beside Xiao Wogu, slicing the air with a strike that landed just by his ear. She said, "You’re not a swordsman, but I am. We used to be comrades in the way of the sword. Now, I’ve been framed and lost my inner strength, and you’ve been harmed and lost your memory, yet you became my swordsman, promising to protect me forever."

Xiao Wogu looked at the sword in Ye Fusang’s hand. His sword would never submit to anyone, yet now she wielded it with such ease. He hesitated, "Really?"

"Really," Ye Fusang nodded.

Seeing Xiao Wogu believe her, Ye Fusang pressed on, "This is our companion. Carry him on your back. Let’s go."

"I have no companion," Xiao Wogu objected.

"Right, you don’t have a companion. This is my companion," Ye Fusang coaxed.

In the end, Xiao Wogu reluctantly carried Master Qiu on his back.

Ye Fusang had not forgotten the matter at hand—she was still being framed!

The Ye family’s cemetery had been hidden without a trace for so many years, yet the Flower Plucking Banquet exposed it all. She refused to believe it was mere luck. With Ye Lian gone, either someone had acted first or they had been lured into a trap.

Ye Fusang decided to take the two back the way they came.

She tapped the lotus seal; the secret door opened, and Ning Zhen was still guarding outside.

"Young master, hurry, someone is coming," Ning Zhen said upon seeing Ye Fusang returning with two others, not asking further.

Ye Fusang lowered her gaze briefly, replying calmly, "No rush, we have nothing to hide."

Xiao Wogu, having carried Master Qiu all the way, was thoroughly displeased. Seeing water nearby, he dropped the man into it. Master Qiu was washed by the water and indeed regained consciousness.

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"It’s been half a day with no conclusion. Letting criminals investigate the truth—only you fools would do something so absurd!"

A middle-aged man's voice came from afar.

Soon, a group blocked the four of them.

"Yes, yes... I was unreasonable. Director Zhang is right," the chief guard apologized repeatedly with a forced smile.

"Such a huge mess happened in Lord Ye’s house. If you ask me, it would be better to have the residence under the Emperor’s watch so no one dares take chances! Arrest the murderer at once!" Director Zhang ordered, and a few moved to seize Ye Fusang.

Seeing this, Xiao Wogu’s sword moved immediately, but Ye Fusang shook her head.

"Director Zhang, how can the Ministry of Justice be so careless in handling the case?" Ye Fusang smiled brightly even as she was restrained. "All those corpses had acid on them. How could I have brought all that in alone?"

"Then there must be accomplices," Director Zhang said coldly. "Capture the other three!"

The fire was now upon him. Master Qiu wiped the water from his face calmly and took out a jade pendant engraved with the character “Yang,” saying, "Seeing this jade pendant is like seeing Her Highness the Princess."

"What... Your Highness the Princess!" Reluctantly, everyone knelt and saluted, except Xiao Wogu, who stood still.

"I am the Minister of the Princess’s Mansion—Master Qiu. Director Zhang, are you suggesting that I was incited by the princess to kill in the Ye mansion?" Master Qiu’s face, washed by water, was fair and calm, yet an aura of solemnity surrounded him.

"Oh, so you’re from Her Highness’s household. I wouldn’t dare say the princess is..." Director Zhang lowered his head. "But initially, only Ye Fusang was here. If not him, then who else?"

"That’s the case you should investigate," Master Qiu replied lightly.

"The Ye family’s affairs should naturally be handled by the Ye family," a few women’s figures approached from afar.

"Miss Ye," Master Qiu nodded.

Ye Mingzhu glanced at Ye Fusang and the others, her eyes soft yet sharp. "Today’s Flower Plucking Banquet had many noble guests. Such an incident cannot be taken lightly. I must trouble you all to stay a while longer."

"If my brother truly becomes a murderer, the Ye family will not tolerate it either. Mingzhu, handle it as you see fit," Ye Wanqing said calmly beside her, casting a glance at Ye Fusang.

This matter was riddled with doubts, but they all sought only one outcome—a scapegoat. If they could not pin it on others, then she would be the culprit.

"Miss Ye, I know who the real murderer is," Ye Fusang said, looking carefully at Ye Mingzhu with a faint smile, then glancing at the chief guard. "I said I’d investigate for a day, and I will have a conclusion within that day."

"The real murderer is you."

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Ye Fusang pointed at Ye Mingzhu. Amid the crowd’s shock, she signaled Xiao Wogu. In an instant, Xiao Wogu appeared behind Ye Mingzhu and tore off the human skin mask from her face, revealing a stranger’s visage.

Director Zhang, capable of reaching his position, reacted swiftly. "Seize her!"

"Speak! Where is the real Miss Ye?"

"Let go of me! I’m not the murderer!" The woman, caught, stared fiercely at Ye Fusang. "How did you figure it out?"

Ye Fusang recalled the graceful beauty on the screen, the place of Miss Ye. It was said Ye Mingzhu was skilled in painting, and the beauty depicted was naturally the lady herself.

Most noble daughters bore ear marks and wore earrings, yet only Ye Mingzhu lacked the mark, wearing ear cuffs instead, deceiving many.

But this woman had the ear mark.

As Ye Fusang finished speaking, the woman remained unwilling to yield. How could someone judge solely from a painting without ever seeing the person?

"I didn’t kill anyone. I’m the lady’s maid!" the woman shouted.

Ye Fusang knew she wasn’t the killer, but this murderer could only use her as a scapegoat.

It now seemed the Ye family had deliberately set a trap.

Master Qiu spoke, "Miss Ye’s disappearance is serious. Since the guard is protecting her, someone must have killed to harm her. Director Zhang, you might as well take her back for thorough interrogation."

"The eldest and second sisters came with this fake Miss Ye. They probably know something and should come along to cooperate," Ye Fusang smiled faintly at Ye Wanqing and another woman.

"Young Master Ye’s words make sense. Miss Ye’s safety is paramount. Please, the two ladies must accompany us."

Seeing Ye Wanqing and the other woman taken away, Ye Fusang was about to feel pleased when Jing Zhi suddenly appeared from somewhere. "Hey, the prince is calling you."

Wait—before Ye Fusang could reply, Jing Zhi deftly led her away.

Without hesitation, Xiao Wogu followed.

The onlookers whispered among themselves, "That’s Jing Zhi from the prince’s side. Could the Ye family’s illegitimate son really have a connection with the Regent Prince...?"