There is a god in the sky

Chapter 313 The Brothel Murder Case 1

Shen Lan is not interested in other people's privacy.

But she remembered that Consort Xie preferred women, so how could she be pregnant again?

"I want to take a bath and change my clothes," Xie Kenian said, tugging at Shen Lan's sleeve.

Since the incident, she has smelled terrible, even she finds the smell disgusting.

She didn't want to leave this world dirty.

Shen Lan pulled out her sleeve and said calmly, "I'll have someone bring you hot water. You can't take a bath now, but you can wash up and change into clean clothes."

"You're such a kind person. Are you and Lin Miaoniang good friends?"

"Yes," Shen Lan answered honestly.

Xie Kenian looked at her with a pale face and a complicated expression. "Don't you think Lin Miaoniang's promotion is too fast? And how could a dancer with no background have gotten this far unscathed? Is it just luck?"

"What do you want to say?"

"Ahem... You can't judge a book by its cover. The most harmless person may be the most venomous."

Shen Lan disagreed with her and retorted, "Last time you framed Miao Niang, although you didn't succeed, you still caused a death. If it weren't for the Emperor protecting you, do you think you would still be alive today?"

She felt that Xie Kenian's plight was both hateful and pitiful.

Xie Kenian laughed self-deprecatingly, "Yes, with special privileges, I dare to act recklessly in the palace, and even the Empress doesn't dare to do anything to me."

But I also want to be a normal woman!

Tears welled in Xie Kenian's eyes. She pretended to be attracted to the woman, only to reassure the emperor.

Only a woman who is ruthless towards men can retain her virginity.

But when you meet a man who makes your heart flutter, how can you hold onto him?

A maid brought in water, and Shen Lan stepped outside, where she saw Xie Jingfeng leading a man in black in.

It was already dark, and the man was dressed in black from head to toe, walking hurriedly.

Xie Jingfeng stopped and said to Shen Lan, "Miss Shen, you must be tired after a long day. Go and rest."

Shen Lan stepped aside, looked at the man behind him, and said with a smile, "Commander Zhao is really quite a surprise."

Zhao Jinxiao took off his hat, bowed to Shen Lan, and said, "Miss Shen has a good eye."

Shen Lan was good at judging people by their bone structure. Zhao Jinxiao was more robust than the average man, and considering what had happened in the palace, she understood what was going on.

She really didn't expect that the two of them would have a romantic relationship.

"I didn't expect Commander Zhao to be such a womanizer." Shen Lan turned and left.

Although there's no right or wrong in this affair, women always seem to suffer more in such matters.

Xie Kenian doesn't even know if she'll survive now. If she dies, all her past will be for naught.

However, she probably won't regret it.

As Zhao Jinxiao entered the house, Xie Jingfeng followed Shen Lan.

The scenery of Qingfeng Garden is beautiful. The courtyard where Shen Lan lives is full of peach blossoms, which are in full bloom.

“Miss Shen, I’m here to fulfill my promise.”

Xie Jingfeng, standing some distance away, said to Shen Lan, "The medicine that the person in the palace is currently taking belongs to the Shen family. The Xie family ancestors had heard of that prescription, but later Imperial Physician Shen disappeared, and almost no one knows about the prescription anymore."

As far as I know, the time when the emperor received the prescription coincides with the time when Miss Shen's family was destroyed, so I suspect that Miss Shen's purpose in coming to the capital is probably not pure.

Shen Lan had never thought Xie Jingfeng was smart; on the contrary, he seemed a bit foolish because of love.

Now it seems I misjudged him.

How could the eldest son of a wealthy family, who has been carefully raised, possibly be a good-for-nothing?

"Is there anything else?" she asked.

Xie Jingfeng shook his head, "I don't know much either. This was all gathered by my younger sister. What else would Miss Shen like to know?"

"Want to know when Young Master Xie started investigating me?"

"When Physician Chen recommended you before, I was curious and sent someone to investigate."

However, only some information was found; most of it was still personal speculation.

"Oh," Shen Lan replied noncommittally.

Xie Jingfeng laughed, "It seems Miss Shen already knows some things. Perhaps we should exchange the consultation fee for something else."

"The money the young master gave me last time was enough." Shen Lan walked into her residence and told Xie Jingfeng before entering, "Tonight is the most dangerous time for your sister. If anything happens, you can send someone to call me."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Shen Lan was afraid of getting sleepy at night, so she went straight to sleep after entering the house.

She didn't know how long she had been asleep when she heard a slight noise. She suddenly opened her eyes and saw a shadow fall.

She instinctively reached out to slap him, but her arm was grabbed.

"Miss Shen, it's best not to resist. Please come with me."

"Commander Zhao? What do you mean by this?"

She hadn't expected that Zhao Jinxiao would still be here after all this time.

Zhao Jinxiao released her, took the outer garment from the screen and threw it on the bed, "Put it on, and set off immediately."

She followed Zhao Jinxiao out and asked in confusion, "Where are we going?"

In a hazy state, she seemed to hear crying.

"Consort Xie is dead?"

Zhao Jinxiao did not answer, and led her out through the back door. When they got into the carriage, Shen Lan saw Xie Kenian lying on the soft quilt.

Although she was motionless, Shen Lan could tell that she was still alive.

But as she walked along, white banners were already hung in Qingfeng Garden, clearly indicating that she was considered dead.

"You want her to fake her death and escape?"

"Yes, please take care of Kenian on the way, Miss Shen. Consider it a favor I owe you."

The personal connections of a high-ranking commander of the Imperial City Guard are extremely valuable.

Shen Lan had no choice. After passing several streets, she parted ways with Zhao Jinxiao and followed the carriage, which meandered east and west.

She thought she would leave the city.

The curfew meant nothing to Zhao Jinxiao; he could simply ask to leave if he wanted to.

However, the carriage eventually stopped at a private residence, where servants were already on hand so they could rest immediately upon arrival.

Shen Lan stayed with Xie Kenian here for three days.

Her health had always been weak, but it had not worsened; instead, it had gradually begun to improve.

Three days later, Shen Lan proposed to leave. Xie Kenian could not stop her, nor could the servants. Instead, they presented her with the medical fee given by the Xie family.

One hundred taels of gold.

Shen Languang received enough medical fees from the Xie family to live comfortably for the rest of his life.

She's quite wealthy now.

Carrying one hundred taels of gold through the streets was not a wise move, so Shen Lan simply hired a carriage to take her to the Ministry of Justice.

The Criminal Investigation Department was in complete chaos, bustling like a marketplace.

"Coroner Shen is back."

"Did Coroner Shen know that a murder had occurred before he came here?"

"Lord Xiao just asked me to invite Coroner Ji. Is this case very serious?"

The speculations of the crowd aroused Shen Lan's curiosity as well.

She went to see Xiao Ji and found his head buried in a pile of files, so engrossed that he didn't even notice someone coming in.

She coughed and asked, "Sir, where has the murder occurred?"

Xiao Ji looked up from the file and, seeing her, exclaimed with delight, "You're back?"

His joy was so obvious that Shen Lan also felt better and joked, "You look like you haven't slept for three days, sir."

Xiao Ji rubbed his face, stood up and stretched. "I haven't been home for three days. I was just starting to get some leads when an official came to report that a murder had occurred at a brothel in the west of the city, and two纨绔子弟 (sons of wealthy families who are spoiled and dissolute) had died."

If an ordinary citizen had died, the case wouldn't have come to the Provincial Judicial Commissioner; the Prefectural Capital could have handled it.

It seems the deceased was no ordinary person.

"Let's go and take a look together."