The Prime Minister's Darling
Chapter 1422 - 1422 692 first watch

Chapter 1422: 692 first watch Chapter 1422: 692 first watch “Liulang! Liulang, where did you go? Liulang!”

It was Mu Chuan’s voice.

Gu Jiao had been gone too long, and Mu Chuan, having waited in vain, went out to look for him with Zhao Wei, Yuan Xiao, and others. A little Palace Maid from the central and harmonious court also came with them.

This was a small miscellaneous courtyard of the central and harmonious court, generally deserted, with a small wooden hut for janitorial tools, a high wall, and several big trees.

And now, Gu Jiao was squatting under a big tree near the high wall, in front of her a man lying in a pool of blood, and three unconscious eunuchs were lying near the little hut behind her.

“What, what’s going on here?” Yuan Xiao asked, dumbstruck.

“Liulang!” Mu Chuan strode over.

Yuan Xiao and Zhao Wei followed swiftly.

As they passed the small hut, they all glanced at the three eunuchs sprawled out in disarray.

Yuan Xiao shook his head at the two of them.

He could sense that these three were already breathless.

Worried, Zhao Wei looked at the small silhouette squatting on the ground, unsure if she was drawing circles or doing something else: “Liulang won’t be in trouble, will he? Is he injured or scared silly?”

This was clearly a horrifying murder scene!

What normal person could squat there? Wouldn’t they run scared or hide far away to clear themselves of any connection?

The three of them quickly reached Xiao Liulang’s side, Mu Chuan on the left, Yuan Xiao and Zhao Wei on the right. Zhao Wei, thinking himself too far from Xiao Liulang, simply walked around the man on the ground to face Gu Jiao.

And the little Palace Maid who had come with them had already dashed off to summon help.

“Liulang, are you alright?”

The three asked in unison.

Having played soccer together for so long, their rapport had increasingly grown.

Gu Jiao responded with an “oh” and said, “I’m fine.”

Only Mu Chuan among them had seen Nangong Li, but unfortunately, Nangong Li’s face was smeared with blood, making it hard to identify him. Plus, Mu Chuan was so preoccupied with worrying about Xiao Liulang that he didn’t recognize the other.

Mu Chuan furrowed his brows and asked, “What happened here?”

Gu Jiao honestly replied, “He was murdered.”

Looking puzzled, Mu Chuan turned to Gu Jiao: “Then why are you squatting here? Waiting to be arrested as the murderer?”

I am the murderer.

Gu Jiao said, “My feet went numb.”

They truly had, the kind of numbness that made it impossible to stand up.

Mu Chuan: “…”

Yuan Xiao: “…”

Zhao Wei: “…”

Mu Chuan and Yuan Xiao each reached out a hand and hoisted Gu Jiao up.

On the other side, the little Palace Maid arrived with Li Sande, the eunuch in charge from the central and harmonious hall, followed by several Imperial Palace guards.

These were not the Imperial Forest Army, the Imperial Forest Army could only be deployed by the Emperor, who currently was holding court in Jinluan Hall. Li Sande had not yet reported the incident.

Li Sande saw students from Tianqiong Academy and his gaze fell on Gu Jiao’s lapel.

Following his gaze, the brains of Mu Chuan and the others buzzed.

Good heavens!

Why was there a bloody handprint on Liulang’s clothes?

As Gu Jiao had been squatting there, hugging her knees, her lapel had been covered, so they had not noticed the handprint right away.

It was left by Nangong Li when he clutched her lapel to leave his last words.

According to Gu Jiao’s original plan, as soon as Nangong Li breathed his last, she would’ve fled the scene, and it wouldn’t matter if her clothes got dirty, as she wore an extra layer underneath.

But her feet had gone numb.

Plan A was officially dead in the water, but luckily, she had quickly thought of a Plan B in the heat of the moment.

Next was to execute Plan B.

The little Palace Maid had already reported the situation to Li Sande. He knew that Mu Chuan and the others had arrived afterward, and at the time of the crime, Xiao Liulang was alone at the scene.

Li Sande confirmed the identities of the three eunuchs. The young one had the surname Hu and was called Little Huzi, the other two eunuchs were Ting Hou and Wan Xi, not from the central and harmonious hall but belonging to the Twelve Chambers; they managed Imperial Cuisine, including the palace’s food and banqueting matters.

The Twelve Chambers, due to their special functions, had the privilege of entering the Grand Halls; both had come today to inquire about the monarch’s lunch.

But hadn’t they already finished their inquiry and left? Why were they murdered here?

What was even more mysterious was the presence of burlap sacks and ropes on the ground with no clear purpose. What was all this meant for?

“Are you sure they were murdered?” Li Sande asked the Imperial Palace guards.

All three nodded affirming they were absolutely certain.

Gu Jiao watched Li Sande and his group. The deaths of these three eunuchs had nothing to do with her; they accidentally died from Nangong Li’s internal energy during the mishap.