Chapter 459: So He Was the One Who Broke It

Chapter 459: Chapter 459: So He Was the One Who Broke It

Outside the Sunlight Tower, Commander Lu had already dispatched imperial guards to stand strict watch.

Shen Ningning remembered something.

She asked the imperial guard standing at the door, "I remember the Sunlight Tower isn’t usually guarded, but because the Glazed Buddha was enshrined here, Commander Lu was supposed to have imperial guards standing watch in shifts every day."

"So why did Xiao Wei say no one was on watch outside when she went in just now?"

The imperial guard cupped his hands and replied, "Commander Lu has already investigated. The two guards who were originally on duty rushed off to help because someone nearby suddenly shouted that a person had fallen into the water."

Mo Lingwei’s brow furrowed. "Someone fell in the water? Did they find the person?"

The imperial guard shook his head. "They didn’t find anyone. Commander Lu has already punished the two men."

This made Shen Ningning even more certain that it was Princess Consort Qi’s doing.

’First, she lures away the imperial guards on watch, and then Qi Xiuwei just so happens to arrive in the area.’

Shen Ningning and Mo Lingwei entered the Sunlight Tower.

Images of gods and Buddhas lined the walls, filling the space with a solemn and dignified air.

The shrine that had housed the Glazed Buddha was directly to the south.

Shen Ningning walked over and saw a few glass fragments on the floor that hadn’t been completely swept up. They glinted coldly in the lantern light.

Aside from that, there was nothing else suspicious in the area.

Just then, there was a sound at the entrance.

The two imperial guards cupped their hands in salute. "Lord Pei."

The door was pushed open, and in came Pei Yin. He had just rushed back to the palace and heard the news.

The three of them stood face to face, all momentarily taken aback.

Pei Yin offered a formal greeting before explaining, "On my way back, I heard an eagle had caused a disturbance in the Sunlight Tower and implicated Miss Qi. I’ve come to investigate the matter thoroughly."

Mo Lingwei frowned. "The eagle is yours?"

"Yes," Pei Yin nodded.

Shen Ningning pursed her lips. "I’ve seen Mengyi, too. He’s a bit of a glutton and very wild, but why would he come to the Sunlight Tower? There’s no food here!"

Mo Lingwei looked at Shen Ningning, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

’This little one knows that eagle, too?’

Pei Yin took a slow breath. "It’s impossible that Mengyi did this. He’s been eating too much lately and flying out frequently, returning for shorter and shorter periods. So, before I left the palace, I locked him in his cage."

He had only just changed his clothes before rushing over, and Mengyi had still been in its cage, flapping about in a huff.

Shen Ningning stomped her foot. "I knew it! Xiao Wei was framed!"

Pei Yin frowned slightly. "I heard she has already confessed. If she didn’t do it, why would Miss Qi say she did?"

He had come this time precisely to clear things up for both Mengyi and Qi Xiuwei.

Shen Ningning shot him a look from her bright, dark eyes.

"Why else? For you, of course! If Uncle Emperor were to find out that it was your eagle that broke the Glazed Buddha, you’d be punished as its owner for sure."

As she spoke, the little girl crossed her arms and lifted her chin, her pretty face full of spirited indignation.

"Xiao Wei is always so considerate of you. If you’re not going to accept her feelings, then don’t take advantage of her kindness. Hmph! I bet the girl who writes to you isn’t half as wonderful as Xiao Wei is."

Pei Yin was silent for a moment.

Then he said, "The person writing letters to me... it should be her."

Shen Ningning was astonished. "What? Then... then how was there a misunderstanding for so long? Why did you think it was me?"

Mo Lingwei, not understanding, grew impatient. "What letters are you talking about? Who has been writing to whom?"

A chilling look entered his eyes, and he shot a few displeased glances at Pei Yin.

It was a complicated story, and Shen Ningning hadn’t figured it out completely herself.

She gave a brief explanation.

"Lord Pei thought that his pen pal of four or five years was me."

Mo Lingwei’s expression instantly darkened.

Pei Yin added, "The misunderstanding has been cleared up."

But that wasn’t Shen Ningning’s concern right now. She had to find the person who smashed the Glazed Buddha.

After learning the full story, Pei Yin also understood Shen Ningning’s suspicions.

He felt something was off. "If, as the Princess says, this was Princess Consort Qi’s doing—setting aside for a moment why she would target the Qi Family—how could she have known that Miss Qi was in a bad mood and would come to the bamboo grove near the Sunlight Tower?"

Shen Ningning looked at him.

Pei Yin lowered his head. "I was too blunt and hurt Miss Qi’s feelings, which is why she left."

Shen Ningning pointed a small finger at him accusingly. "You! Honestly! Once this is all over, I’m going to encourage Xiao Wei to like someone else!"

Having said her piece, the little girl started her analysis. "Princess Consort Qi can’t predict the future. The only reason she would know Xiao Wei was in a bad mood is that someone must have tipped her off."

"Who could it be?" Pei Yin’s expression turned grave.

Shen Ningning recalled the Ninth Prince, whom they had encountered just as they were leaving the maze.

Because she was upset, Qi Xiuwei had borrowed the Ninth Prince’s carriage to return to the palace.

So, if the Ninth Prince’s people had told Princess Consort Qi, it wouldn’t have been difficult for her to arrange this entire scene at the last minute.

"It was probably one of the Ninth Prince’s people," Shen Ningning said, cursing inwardly.

’Princess Consort Qi is absolutely wicked!’

’I’m definitely going to teach Princess Consort Qi a lesson.’

Meanwhile, Mo Lingwei was still pressing her. "Do you usually write letters?"

Shen Ningning grabbed his arm. "Brother! Is this really the time for that? We need to focus on investigating the Glazed Buddha!"

At this, she sighed. "If only my stinky second brother were here. He’s brilliant at solving cases. He’d probably find all sorts of clues that we can’t see."

Unfortunately, Xie Ming’an was probably being given a hard time by King Shu and his followers in secret.

The cases piling up at the Ministry of Justice were growing, and he was so busy he hadn’t had a proper night’s sleep in days.

Hearing this, Mo Lingwei immediately turned and began to search the area.

’If her second brother isn’t here, I can handle it.’

Pei Yin immediately began to help as well.

Suddenly.

Mo Lingwei spotted the wooden staircase leading upstairs. It was hidden in the shadows, but when he shone a lantern on it, he saw footprints.

Someone had gone up to the loft! ℯℯ𝘭.

But the upper level of the Sunlight Tower was filled with scriptures; all the statues of gods and Buddhas were on the ground floor.

Other than the palace attendants assigned to cleaning, who would go up there?

He beckoned to Shen Ningning.

The little girl went over for a look and dabbed at a footprint with her handkerchief.

It came away with wet mud.

Shen Ningning suddenly understood and looked toward the window on the side.

It was the only window in the Sunlight Tower large enough for someone to climb in and out of.

And it happened to be right next to the bamboo grove.

The person who smashed the Glazed Buddha must have snuck in from the bamboo grove.

There were footprints leading up, but none coming down.

Shen Ningning immediately made a few hand gestures, signaling for Pei Yin and Mo Lingwei to follow her upstairs.

’The culprit must still be hiding up there!’

The imperial guards had arrived promptly, and they had returned immediately afterward.

’The person definitely hasn’t had a chance to escape yet.’

They crept quietly up the stairs.

The room was lined with bookshelves filled with scriptures, but there were also two large yellow pear wood cabinets used for storing items like silk and gold foil.

Mo Lingwei had Shen Ningning hide behind a bookshelf while he and Pei Yin approached the cabinets.

The moment the left cabinet was pulled open, a fist shot out!

"Ah, there really is someone in there!" Shen Ningning cried out.

Pei Yin and Mo Lingwei reacted in a flash.

Mo Lingwei lashed out with a kick, sending the person flying. With a pained cry, the hidden man crashed heavily to the ground. Pei Yin immediately twisted his arms behind his back and pressed a knee into his spine.

The man struggled relentlessly, but Mo Lingwei had already recognized him. "It’s you?"

Shen Ningning looked over and saw that it was a young man dressed as a little eunuch.

Pei Yin recognized him as well.

"It’s De Hai, the Ninth Prince’s personal eunuch."