Chapter 442: The Taste of the Men of the Xie Family

Chapter 442: Chapter 442: The Taste of the Men of the Xie Family

Half a month later, Xie Ming’an returned, weary from his journey.

He had uncovered the truth.

In Jinluan Hall, he took the initiative to detail the case of the so-called man-eating locusts.

As it turned out, it wasn’t a case of locusts eating a person at all. Someone had simply smeared flour over a fresh corpse.

The locusts had swarmed it to devour the flour, leading passersby to believe they were eating the person.

Hearing this, the Emperor furrowed his brow slightly, and the civil and military ministers all sighed softly.

"With all the frequent natural disasters, everyone is already on edge. To think such a simple matter caused the common folk to panic," the Emperor said, shaking his head.

Xie Ming’an’s expression was grave as he cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, I believe the most important issue is not the truth behind the man-eating locusts, but the fact that I was targeted in three separate assassination attempts on my way to Shu State."

The ministers were aghast, exchanging shocked glances.

Even Crown Prince Mo Lingwei, seated beside the Emperor, couldn’t help but frown.

He looked Xie Ming’an over from head to toe. It was a relief he was unharmed.

’Otherwise, even if Shen Ningning feigns annoyance with her second brother, she would have been terribly worried deep down.’

The Emperor’s voice was grim. "Did you capture the assassins? Did you learn anything from their interrogation?"

Xie Ming’an shook his head, a hint of regret in his voice. "Before I left, my younger sister gave me three venomous snakes to carry for my protection. So, when the attacks occurred, in addition to my guards fighting the assassins, the three snakes also wounded them."

"There were seven assassins in total. All of them died from the snake venom."

Xie Ming’an thought it was a great shame. If only one had been left alive for him to interrogate.

Unfortunately, he couldn’t communicate with the snakes his sister had given him.

During each of Xie Ming’an’s three assassination attempts, they had excitedly slithered out of his sleeves.

At some point, they had stealthily crept onto the assassins’ bodies.

The assassins were often so focused on the fight that by the time they noticed, a venomous snake would already be on their shoulder, HISSING as it flicked its tongue.

The snakes bit and wouldn’t let go. What’s more, the three worked in tandem—one would bite a neck, another an ankle, while the third would sink its fangs straight into an assassin’s abdomen.

As a result, not a single assassin survived.

Xie Ming’an had, however, brought back the assassins’ bodies.

The Emperor’s gaze was sharp. "To let them die so easily... Did you find anything on their bodies?"

Xie Ming’an shook his head again.

"The assassins’ bodies were clean. They carried nothing on them, so they must have come prepared."

The Emperor’s expression grew stern.

Then, Xie Ming’an said, "However, we are not entirely without clues."

The Emperor’s head snapped up. "Oh? Let’s hear it."

"I was previously a forensic doctor, so I examined the bodies to ascertain their identities. I flayed their skin and cut through the flesh, discovering that their leg and arm bones were warped to varying degrees. This suggests they wielded swords year-round and were constantly on the move."

"Furthermore, the calluses on the soles of their feet were thick. Combined with their fighting skills, I suspect they may be Hidden Guards, specially trained by someone. The bones in their left hands are severely warped, proving they are adept at wielding a sword with their left hand."

"I have thus deduced that the person who ordered my assassination is no simple figure. Cultivating a group of Hidden Guards like this would be incredibly expensive. However, because they all died, this is as much as I can currently uncover."

The Emperor’s expression was icy as he slammed his palm on the table. "Good! You are brave and resourceful, with keen observational skills and outstanding ability. You have also handled the matter I entrusted to you impeccably. I should reward you!"

As it happened, the previous Minister of the Ministry of Justice was about to retire and return to his hometown.

With a wave of his hand, the Emperor wrote an imperial edict on the spot, immediately promoting Xie Ming’an to Third-Grade Minister of the Ministry of Justice.

"You are a prodigy when it comes to investigating cases, and I admire your talent. As for the assassins, it may have been a personal vendetta. Be careful in all matters and remain vigilant. If anything else seems strange, you must report it to me."

Xie Ming’an cupped his hands, accepting the order and offering his thanks.

Throughout the court session, from beginning to end, Mo Lingwei seemed distracted.

The Emperor was about to leave when he noticed him still sitting in his place, his sharp brows slightly furrowed, his gaze as deep and turbulent as the sea.

"Ling Wei, what is it?" the Emperor asked, gently patting his son’s shoulder.

Mo Lingwei snapped back to reality. "It’s nothing."

He led his men away. After returning to Zichen Palace, Mo Lingwei looked up and saw the Plum Blossom Treasure Sword hanging on the wall.

It was a gift from King Shu on his seventh birthday, which he regarded as a priceless treasure and had hung on the wall for display.

However...

Mo Lingwei remembered that King Shu had a group of Death Warriors who were, in fact, left-handed swordsmen.

The assassins Xie Ming’an described were also adept with their left hands.

’Could it be a coincidence?’

...

Joy filled the Xie family’s home.

The housekeeper was instructing the kitchen to prepare a feast to welcome Second Young Master Xie Ming’an home.

Just then, Xie Mingxu, Xie Ming’an, and Xu Jingxi were all crowded into Shen Ningning’s room.

Everyone watched as Xie Ming’an produced the three venomous snakes from his sleeve.

Xu Jingxi marveled, "They really don’t bite you, Second Brother?"

Xie Ming’an looked a little smug, his sharp eyes glancing at Xie Mingxu. "My sister specifically told them to protect me. Of course they wouldn’t hurt me."

Xie Mingxu pursed his thin lips and said coolly, "When I was training the soldiers’ courage in the army, our sister lent me three tigers."

Xie Ming’an was speechless.

The moment the venomous snakes saw Shen Ningning, they started HISSING and flicking their tongues as they slithered toward the little girl.

Shen Ningning’s face lit up with a pink, playful smile.

"Big Treasure, you’ve gotten thinner! Second Treasure, I heard you did a great job this time! Third Treasure, wake up, you can sleep when you’re home!"

The little girl’s fair, delicate hands played with the three deadly black snakes.

No matter how they looked at it, the sight made her brothers’ hearts pound with fear.

They only relaxed after Shen Ningning tucked the snakes back into her sleeves.

"There, their mission is complete! You stinky second brother, it’s a good thing you had Big Treasure and the others with you. Otherwise, the assassins would have turned you into a human shish kebab!"

Xie Ming’an raised an eyebrow with a slight smile. "I’ll go out and buy them some roasted chicken later to reward them properly."

When the conversation turned to the assassins, Xie Mingxu still felt a lingering fear for his younger brother.

"It’s strange. You’ve never been one to make enemies. Why would someone try to assassinate you on a trip to Shu State?"

Xie Ming’an’s eyes dimmed for a moment. He clearly knew who wanted him dead.

But his expression brightened as he smiled at his older brother. "I uphold justice impartially at the Ministry of Justice. Being incorruptible, I’ve lost count of the enemies I’ve made."

Shen Ningning blinked her large, dark eyes.

’I bet it was either Princess Consort Qi or King Shu,’ she guessed.

’No matter who it is, I won’t let them harm my family!’

A short while later, Xie Suzhi also returned home.

Along with Second Master Xie and Xu Jingxi, the family of six gathered around the round table, enjoying a cheerful meal together.

During the meal, the topic of hiring a tailor to make Shen Ningning’s clothes for the next season came up.

Hearing this, the little girl shook her head so hard it was like a blur.

"I don’t want Papa and my brothers picking someone to make them! The last time, Changyi and the others said the dresses looked like something from a military barracks!"

The men of the Xie family exchanged glances, their equally handsome faces showing matching frowns of bewilderment.

They were all men, and Shen Ningning was the only young girl in the house. How could they possibly be expected to pick out good-looking dress designs?

Xie Suzhi was unwilling to shirk his fatherly duties.

"If Ningning doesn’t like them, then we can copy the palace designs. Each year, when they make your regulation dresses as a Princess, we can ask to see the patterns. How does that sound?"

Shen Ningning still shook her head.

"The palace has its own regulations. I want to have some outfits I can wear for everyday occasions."

Unfortunately for the men of the Xie family, the little girl didn’t like a single one of the patterns they chose.

Xie Mingxu’s choice looked like a military uniform, Xie Ming’an picked fabric in a gloomy dark color, and Xu Jingxi’s choice of style was too plain.

And as for Second Master Xie, he thought all dresses looked exactly the same.

Finally, Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. "For making my clothes, could I please ask Aunt Qingdai to help me?"