Chapter 126 We Are Still Young
The room where the bodies were kept was chilly. A man saw Xue Han and greeted him hurriedly, “Sir.”

The man was Xue Han’s subordinate and had extensive experience in autopsies.

“How is it?” Xue Han strode over, lifted the green cloth covering the corpse and took a look.

“Reporting to the Lord, the deceased’s throat is clean, and there is no ashes or anything like that. According to my judgment, he did not die from the fire, but had died before that…”

Xue Han listened to what his subordinates said and nodded slightly.

This is consistent with his judgment.

Because patrols were stepped up at the prince’s residence, they were able to rush over as soon as the fire broke out. The fire spread upwards, trapping the prince in a high building, but the eunuch guarding the building had ample opportunity to escape.

It seems that someone killed the eunuch guarding the building and set fire to it.

Xue Han left the place where the bodies were placed and called Hu Si: “Have you collected information about the eunuchs guarding the building?”

“Sir, here it is.” Hu Si handed over the booklet.

Xue Han looked through it and went to see Xue Quan.

“Is there something wrong with Han’er?”

“After checking, it was found that the eunuch guarding the building had died before the fire.”

Xue Quan’s face changed: “So this fire was not an accident?”

Xue Han nodded affirmatively.

“Where are the other clues?”

“I asked my men to investigate the deceased. This eunuch was originally a servant in the palace. He was transferred here after the palace was built. He has been in charge of guarding the Zhaixing Tower…”

“I left the capital many years ago and have no relatives or friends here. It doesn’t sound suspicious to me.”

“Yes.”

Xue Quan raised his eyebrows: “The palace servants are on duty during the day and will not stay in the prince’s residence after their shifts. They should not have the opportunity to take action.”

This is not only true for the Crown Prince’s residence, but also for Emperor Jingping’s. Once they move in, they still have to use the same facilities they are used to on a daily basis. People from the temporary palace are not qualified to get close.

“Before there is any progress, please do not report the eunuch’s death to the emperor, as it will cause him trouble.”

“Father–“

Xue Quan glanced at Xue Han, his face showing displeasure: “Why, your father can no longer be the head of the Imperial City Division?”

“That’s not what the child meant.”

“The fire at the Crown Prince’s residence has already caused panic among the people. If people knew it was not an accident, wouldn’t it cause chaos?”

“But over there today——”

Xue Quan’s face darkened slightly. “As a minister, you should share the worries of your sovereign, not add to them. Besides the suspicious cause of death of this eunuch, a fire has destroyed all traces. If we want to investigate further, we have to thoroughly investigate everyone around the prince. Han’er, let me ask you, can the Imperial City Bureau handle such a commotion? Is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince happy to see this? What if nothing is found in the end?”

Xue Quan asked three questions in a row, but Xue Han remained silent.

“Han’er, often the more you do, the more mistakes you make. Don’t let your merits turn into mistakes. I only have you as my son, and I will not harm you.”

“I know, kid.”

“Go.”

Xue Han walked out, raising the corner of his lips slightly.

He had expected this result; it was the choice his adoptive father would make.

“Master Xue.”

Xue Han bowed and said, “Meet His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.”

The prince came over and said in a friendly manner, “Why does Lord Xue look so worried?”

Xue Han glanced at the prince and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

The prince walked beside Xue Han and said gently, “I see how dedicated Lord Xue is. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.”

Xue Han hesitated for a moment and lowered his voice: “The eunuch guarding the Zhaixing Tower did not die in the fire…”

The prince paused and looked at Xue Han with a deeper look.

Xue Han didn’t need to reveal such inside information to him. And the fire was not an accident, which meant it was aimed at him.

Who would want to kill him? It was too hard to say. Although he knew it was impossible, looking at history, there were emperors and fathers who wanted to kill their sons. This was not to say that he doubted his father, but that Xue Han’s words to him were precious.

“Thank you, Lord Xue, for the reminder.” The prince said seriously.

The person who harmed him was probably right next to him, and it would be difficult for the Imperial City Office or other government offices to investigate in a big way. But for him, being on guard from now on was the most important thing.

His younger brothers either died young or were too young, so he thought his role as crown prince was secure, but that turned out not to be the case.

This was probably what he gained from a fire that took him through life and death.

The prince glanced at the straight-limbed young man with a smile in his eyes.

He is still young, and Xue Han is still young too.

In the past, Xue Han was Xue Quan’s adopted son and Xue Quan’s eyes and ears outside the palace. But he was looking forward to the future.

“Greetings, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.” A female voice came.

The prince looked over and asked with a smile, “Miss Qiu Liu came to the palace to visit Lady Qiu again?”

“Yes.”

“Go ahead then.”

Qiu Heng stood aside with her head down, waiting for the prince to pass by. She met Xue Han’s eyes and raised her lips to him.

Xue Han couldn’t help but curl the corners of his lips.

The eunuch who had been keeping an eye on Qiu Heng saw this scene and looked up at the sky in silence.

I really don’t know what to say about this Miss Qiu Liu.

He felt that she had feelings for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and was even flirting with the Imperial Envoy Xue Han. He couldn’t stand this the most.

But to be honest, this girl saved his life.

This eunuch was Liu Qi. Because he gossiped about Qiu Heng, the prince was displeased. So when the prince went to Zhaixing Tower, he was replaced by another person to serve him. The eunuch slipped and fell to his death while escaping from the fire.

Liu Qi looked at Qiu Heng with complicated eyes, then left with the prince.

“Sixth Miss is here.” Zheng Yu greeted her warmly.

Although they were both eunuchs, their feelings when seeing Qiu Heng were completely different.

Seeing Lady Qiu, Qiu Heng bowed and said, “Sister.”

Lady Qiu pulled Qiu Heng up and said, “I thought Sixth Sister wouldn’t come today.”

Such a serious incident as the fire in the prince’s residence had naturally spread throughout the harem.

“I thought my sister might not have slept well last night, so I didn’t come over this morning.”

Going to the palace to see Concubine Qiu every day is a clear path, and Qiu Heng will naturally not give up such an opportunity to go out openly.

She also wanted to ask Xue Han about the fire in Zhaixing Tower.

After meeting Concubine Qiu, Qiu Heng left the palace and saw Xue Han.

Qiu Heng walked towards him and asked directly, “Master Xue, have you found anything about the fire last night?”

“It was man-made…” Rescuing the prince in time was inseparable from Qiu Heng’s reminder, and Xue Han did not intend to hide it from her.

“So, someone wants the prince’s life.” Qiu Heng fiddled with the tassels at her waist and murmured.

It turns out that the fire recorded in the book was not an accident, and the prince’s death was not an accident.

Who would murder the crown prince?
“Master Xue will not give up the investigation, right?”

“No, but there may not be any result.” Xue Han’s eyes were filled with lush vegetation, the vast sky and the vast land. “This fire has ruined the emperor’s mood. I’m afraid he will have to return to Beijing soon.”

“It’s been so long since I came out, it’s good to go back.”

This autumn hunting trip was finally safe and sound, and we accomplished what we were supposed to do.

“Master Xue, when I return to the capital, I would like to ask you to help me find someone.”

“who?”

“A Taoist priest who taught me how to make incense pendants.”

She had asked Brother Ling to look for the master, but unfortunately he was not found. In terms of finding people, the Imperial City Division might be easier.