167: Ambitious and ambitious

Jiang Xuan said with a desolate expression, “Three years ago, I married Xue Li. I thought I was marrying for love, but I never expected it to be the beginning of a nightmare…”

She pulled up her sleeve, revealing all sorts of scars: knife wounds, whip marks, and burn marks.

Jiang Yu was stunned when she saw the scars on Jiang Xuan’s arm.

Jiang Xuan self-mockingly said, “When I first married Xue Li, he still had some interest in me, but gradually that interest faded. He would beat and abuse me all day long, and often indulge in pleasure with other women. I didn’t dare to say anything because if I displeased him even a little, he would kill me.”

She looked at Jiang Yu and murmured, “Later, you were targeted by Xue Li. He proposed to take you as a concubine, but unfortunately, you didn’t agree! So he made me lure you out and then imprison you.”

“So you helped him imprison me?”

Jiang Yu said coldly.

Jiang Xuan said with a complex expression, “If I didn’t agree to his demands, beatings and scolding would be minor issues. He also said he would send me to the Black Market. You might not know what happens to those sent to the Black Market. Any woman Xue Li has defiled would be sent by him to the Black Market, and their ultimate fate would be a tragic death… I didn’t want to die, so I could only agree to his demands.”

“……”

Jiang Yu’s face was full of cold mockery.

Xie Weilou looked at Jiang Xuan and said indifferently, “Now for the second matter: tianqi gold tea! Tell me everything you know.”

“golden tea…”

Jiang Xuan’s body trembled, and her face turned incredibly pale.

Xie Weilou said indifferently, “The Guojiu Mansion’s involvement in the golden tea production is something you must know about. Speak, and you might have a chance to live. If you don’t, then you can just wait to die!”

“I’ll speak…”

Jiang Xuan nodded quickly. She said tremblingly, “One time, Xue Li was drunk and hit me. He said that tianqi gold tea was produced by the Xue family, and those women he targeted would eventually be sent to a place in the Black Market called the Black Gold Den. Any woman sent there would have their flesh and blood stripped off and ultimately refined into golden tea. The reason I helped him harm Jiang Yu this time was because of this… I’m truly terrified, I don’t want to die!”

Jiang Yu fell silent. She wanted to ask Jiang Xuan why she didn’t report it, but thinking of the outcome of her own report this time, she still didn’t ask such a foolish question.

The Guojiu Mansion is immensely powerful. What would be the outcome of reporting them? She had experienced it firsthand!

If the Tianquan Division hadn’t taken over her case this time, her ultimate fate would surely have been a tragic death in prison.

Xie Weilou continued to ask, “You said the Xue family produces golden tea. Do you have any other evidence?”

Jiang Xuan hesitated for a moment and said, “Xue Li has a residence in the City called Meirenxuan. He often takes women there for pleasure, and hidden inside is an account book detailing the Guojiu Mansion’s golden tea production and sales.”

When Xie Weilou heard this, he said indifferently, “This interrogation ends here! Remember what you just said.”

He waved his hand lightly.

Two Captians immediately led Jiang Xuan away.

Xie Weilou looked at Jiang Er, “Jiang Er, your case is clear. Now you just need to wait for news.”

At this point, he took out a bottle of pills and handed it to Jiang Yu, “These are some pills. After taking them, they will aid in your recovery. Stay at the Tianquan Division for these two days.”

“Thank you, Young Lord!”

Jiang Yu dazedly accepted the pills, then looked at Xie Weilou with a complex expression, “Young Lord, the Guojiu Mansion is immensely powerful, and it even involves people within the palace. You must be careful.”

Xie Weilou smiled indifferently, “In this Tianqi City, who doesn’t have some background?”

After speaking, he walked out.

Jiang Yu looked at Xie Weilou’s back, momentarily lost in thought.

Inside a grand hall.

Xie Weilou looked at Qinghuang, “Qinghuang, next, I’ll trouble you to do something. There’s an account book hidden in Meirenxuan. Go and quietly retrieve it.”

“Alright!”

Lin Qinghuang replied with a single word, then turned and left.

Xie Weilou pondered for a moment, then also left the hall.

——————

First Princes Residence.

“Greetings, Young Master!”

The guards of the residence immediately saluted when they saw Xie Weilou, showing immense respect.

Xie Weilou said, “Please inform him that Xie Weilou wishes to see the First Prince.”

The guard quickly said, “The First Prince has ordered that if Young Master comes here, there is no need to announce. You can go directly in to find him.”

“……”

Xie Weilou smiled and nodded, then walked inside.

“Brother Xie!”

A surprised voice sounded as Yan Junlin quickly walked over.

Xie Weilou cupped his fists towards Yan Junlin, “Greetings, First Prince.”

“Ah! No need for such formality.”

Yan Junlin quickly held Xie Weilou’s hand. He asked curiously, “Brother Xie, is there something you need by coming here?”

Xie Weilou said with a serious expression, “My alcohol addiction has flared up. I came to have a drink with the First Prince.”

“Hahaha! Of course, of course, Brother Xie, please follow me.”

Yan Junlin immediately extended his hand.

Then the two walked towards a pavilion.

Inside the pavilion.

Yan Junlin poured Xie Weilou a cup of wine. He whispered, “Brother Xie, the news of you arresting people at the Guojiu Mansion has already spread…”

This Xie said with a very serious expression, “For the First Prince, This Xie has offended quite a few people this time! The Guojiu Mansion, the Third Prince, the Holy Academy, and perhaps even the imperial concubines in the harem.”

“Uh… Brother Xie said it was for me?”

Yan Junlin was somewhat taken aback.

Xie Weilou said with emotion, “Originally, Commander Lin was in charge of this case, but This Young Master proactively took it over, because This Young Master knows that handling this case well will be very beneficial to the First Prince!”

“This… Brother Xie, please continue.”

Yan Junlin looked at Xie Weilou.

Xie Weilou said with a solemn expression, “Who in the court doesn’t know that the Third Prince is close to the Guojiu Mansion? The Guojiu Mansion is his huge backer. If his backer can be dealt with, wouldn’t that be very beneficial to you?”

“This…”

Yan Junlin’s expression was hesitant, “The Guojiu Mansion is deeply entrenched, and behind them is Imperial Concubine Xue. That Imperial Concubine Xue is a concubine favored by my Imperial Father. If we want to move against the Guojiu Mansion, she will definitely step forward!”

Xie Weilou’s face hardened, “What is Imperial Concubine Xue? The First Prince’s mother is the current Empress! If Imperial Concubine Xue dares to act recklessly, can’t you just invite the Empress to intervene?”

“……”

Yan Junlin felt somewhat speechless. He actually understood the nature of this case very clearly. He just wanted to use Xie Weilou as a blade, to let him thoroughly investigate the Guojiu Mansion and Yan Wuchen, while he himself remained uninvolved.

As a result, this Xie Weilou fellow, as soon as he arrived, wanted to drag him into it and even wanted his Imperial Mother to step forward?

Yan Junlin smiled bitterly, “Brother Xie, to be honest with you, my Imperial Mother doesn’t favor me! She says I’m overly ambitious, prone to grandstanding, and reckless in my actions… It’s very difficult for me to even see her.”

Xie Weilou put down his wine glass and stretched, “This is a rare opportunity!”

Clang!

Just then, a token suddenly fell out of his sleeve.