Ran Yan was also very happy, saying to the two lads, "Call me 'Mother'. Mother."

The children, not sensitive to such a term, found it easier to adopt the modern way of addressing her. "Mama" was much easier to say than "Yeye," and they immediately learned to say, "Mama."

"I must have a daughter!" Liu Qingsong said with a sour edge. His favorite thing in this life was little girls, and his idea of a perfect life was to take a little girl to see the goldfish. Just watching goldfish would suffice.

Cheng Huailiang's face showed amazement as he stared at the three tiny human beings; he couldn't remember when his own illegitimate children had learned to call him "Father." Suddenly, he felt a sense of regret. Whether legitimate or not, they were his children, and he had missed such a wonderful moment.

Liu Qingsong grinned and moved closer, "Ruoruo, call me 'Uncle.'"

"Song-song." Ruoruo's voice was milkily sweet. She struggled to pronounce it clearly, and it ended up sounding like she was calling him by name.

Liu Qingsong didn't mind and joyfully touched her little face, "So good!"

After playing with the children for a while, Ran Yan instructed the kitchen to prepare lunch before returning to the Inner Courtyard with Ruoruo and the two lads to feed them.

After the children had left, the Maid tidied up the grand seating while the three knelt and each took several sips from their teacups.

Cheng Huailiang couldn't help but ask, "Jiulang, did Dejian actually participate in the crime?"

"It's unclear," Xiao Song put down his teacup, slightly diminishing the smile on his face, "Some saw Dejian leave the Jin Building after a meal and head for Qujiang, but no one saw what he did there. This case is likely to be troublesome."

"It must be a setup," Liu Qingsong declared.

Xiao Song said, "That still requires evidence. Right now, we have neither witness nor physical evidence, and the way things are developing is very unfavorable for him."

Cheng Huailiang sighed, "It's becoming more and more convoluted, Jiulang. You have always been clever since we were young. You must think of a way."

Xiao Song's slender fingers caressed the rim of the cup. It was quite an achievement already for him to clear his own name. After pondering for a moment, he slowly spoke, "Don't worry. Since you all believe that Dejian would not kill, as long as the facts bear that out, I will ensure his innocence is restored. But if he has brought this misfortune upon himself... with so many eyes in the court watching this case, I do not possess the power to protect him from heaven."

In the Great Tang at that time, from the Emperor down to the commoners, who wasn't paying attention to this case? Xiao Song usually conducted his work unshackled, but that was always within his capabilities. Unless pushed to desperation, he would never attempt to challenge imperial power.

Soon, a Maid came to invite the three to lunch.

After lunch, Xiao Song rushed back to the Government Office.

In the following days, Xiao Song was out before dawn, sometimes not even returning for lunch, and there were two nights when he worked on the case all night long. The officials from the Three Departments were also as busy as he, running around for this case. After all, the Emperor had given them only a month, which seemed like a lot of time, but once they started working on the case, time flew by, and half a month had passed before they knew it.

Ran Yan also felt sorry for his exhaustion, so every day, she helped him organize the case information and occasionally analyzed the case together.

The outline of the entire case gradually came to light.

The origin of the incident was the Crown Prince's dissatisfaction with the courtiers' admonishments, leading to his increasing abuse of them, and the courtiers, daring not to speak out, could only swallow their grievances.

But as time passed, some began to find it unbearable. Through the Three Departments' understanding of the victims' families, it was revealed that the deceased had expressed anger before their deaths and had made clear their intention to write a memorial to expose the matter and impeach the Crown Prince for his tyranny.

The three initial deaths included a Chamberlain, an Assistant Reader, and a Eunuch. The former two died in their own homes while the Eunuch was found dumped at Qujiang.

In the second group of victims, there were four: Zhang Xuanzhu, a Silver Insignia Gentleman of Leisure and the Crown Prince's Left Shushi, was ambushed in Qujiang with multiple stabbings, nearly resulting in his death. The other official who was with him was innocently murdered; Liu Pinrang, a Chamberlain of the Crown Prince, was beaten to death in Qujiang; and another Chamberlain of the Crown Prince suffered abuse that led to a fatal thrombosis in the Eastern Palace and his body was moved to a side hall.

These three were officials who had the responsibility to correct and supervise the Crown Prince's words and actions.

The common point among the six deceased was that they all had direct contact with the Crown Prince.

Li Dejian was implicated because he had invited the Chamberlain who died to dine at the Jin Building before his death, and afterward, went to Qujiang.

It has now been clarified that among the three who died in the first instance, aside from the Eunuch, the other two were stabbed to death by an Assassin.

In the second instance, Zhang Xuanzhu was also attacked by an Assassin.

Out of the six occurrences, two took place in Qujiang.

When a body was found floating in Qujiang, Li Dejian was boating there. He had a boat and it was he who had initiated the boating event. He could very well have secretly visited Qujiang beforehand, thrown the body into the water, and then calmly met with others from his household. It's also possible he could have taken the body onto the boat and tossed it overboard unnoticed.

Thus obtaining a witness.

Even more, Li Dejian might not have needed to dispose of the body himself.

When Chamberlain Liu Pinrang died, Li Dejian only had the testimony of Maids and Servants from his mansion to affirm he was asleep in his room, a claim clearly lacking in strength.

After seeing all this, even Ran Yan couldn't believe Li Dejian was unconnected to the case. Moreover, the identity of the person who threw Liu Pinrang from the attic was elusive; if that person was Li Dejian, it would make sense.

"You also think it's hard for Dejian to clear himself of this," Xiao Song, who had just bathed, embraced her from behind.

"Yes," Ran Yan sighed.

Xiao Song frowned at the dossier and after a long while, said, "Actually, that day, when I was on the boat to bathe, I passed by a room and smelled a strong mix of medicinal and sandalwood scents. Having grown up with Dejian, I knew he disliked strong fragrances."

Ran Yan replied with surprise, "You mean..." (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to go to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket, monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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