On her wedding night, she went into exile with her pharmacy arsenal

Chapter 2232 Encountering the Sound of the Qin Again

Huo Changhe shook his head, his tone grave: "Not for now."

According to protocol, they wouldn't easily send a message back unless something unusual happened.

Generally speaking, no message means no abnormality has occurred.

But Yan Ruyu always felt that things were not so simple. The guard had just met Zhou Zhenghang and was brutally murdered that very night. This was too much of a coincidence.

She pondered for a moment and said, "The guards went to see Zhou Zhenghang in secret. Apart from us and him, very few people knew about it."

Now that he's in trouble, Zhou Zhenghang's side is definitely not unrelated.

"You suspect Zhou Zhenghang?" Huo Changhe raised an eyebrow, a hint of inquiry flashing in his eyes.

“I’m not sure, but he’s the prime suspect.” Yan Ruyu said firmly. “I told him to call the guards back. I want to ask them myself what happened to Zhou Zhenghang last night.”

Huo Changhe nodded and immediately ordered his attendant, "Go, call back the guards who are watching Zhou Zhenghang, and tell them to come here immediately."

"Yes, Your Highness." The attendant bowed and quickly left.

Just then, the constable in charge of disposing of the corpse was about to clean off the disguise cream when Yan Ruyu quickly said, "Wait, let me see."

The constables stopped what they were doing and stepped aside.

Yan Ruyu stepped forward and watched as the bailiffs carefully wiped the disguise cream off the deceased's face, gradually revealing a young face.

He did indeed look to be under thirty, with clear features, but at this moment his face was as pale as paper, lifeless, and a trace of lingering fear remained in the corners of his eyes and brows.

Looking at that face, Yan Ruyu felt a pang of sorrow in her heart.

She had some impression of him, but not a deep one. She only remembered that he was someone Song Ping had brought out, and that he was usually taciturn but very reliable in his work.

Unexpectedly, such a young life came to an abrupt end because of this mission.

"Your Highness, Your Highness." A series of hurried footsteps approached, and Song Ping strode in from outside. His robes were still covered in dust, indicating that he had rushed over after receiving the news.

When he saw that familiar face on the straw mat, he stopped abruptly, the color draining from his face, his pain barely concealed.

He walked forward step by step, his eyes fixed on the corpse, his lips trembling slightly, as if he could not believe his eyes.

Song Ping clenched his fist, recalling the guard's voice and smile.

The young man wasn't a local from Youcheng, but he had a hard life. He was orphaned at a young age and grew up with his uncle and aunt, enduring a lot of scorn.

As he grew a little older, his aunt couldn't stand him anymore. She didn't give him anything left by his parents and kicked him out of the house. He barely survived to adulthood by begging and doing manual labor.

When Song Ping met him, he was being bullied. After asking what happened, he learned that Song Ping was trying to help the old man selling vegetables. He was kind, compassionate, and able to control himself from using violence.

Song Ping liked him very much, and just then the Prince's Palace was recruiting people, so he brought him into the palace.

The guard was extremely grateful. After eating his first meal at the Prince's Palace, he told Song Ping that it was the first full meal he had ever had in his life.

He trains very hard and helps with all sorts of chores in his spare time, never complaining. Everyone likes him very much.

When asked what his wishes were, he said he wanted to work hard at the Prince's Palace until he could no longer work, and that he also wanted to save money to get married so that his deceased parents could rest in peace.

Song Ping was filled with grief and disbelief. Her eyes were slightly red, but she held back her tears.

"Your Highness, Your Highness," Song Ping took a deep breath, turned his head, and looked at Huo Changhe and Yan Ruyu with a determined gaze, "I will avenge him myself. No matter who the murderer is, I will make him pay for his crimes in blood!"

Looking at Song Ping's grief-stricken appearance, Huo Changhe said in a deep voice, "I have already ordered a thorough investigation into the matter of revenge. The murderer will not escape justice."

Your most important task now is to stay calm and help us find out the truth. That will be the best way to honor him.

Song Ping nodded, suppressing the grief in his heart, and bowed, replying, "Yes, I understand."

Not long after, two bodyguards strode in.

Upon seeing Huo Changhe and Yan Ruyu, they immediately bowed in greeting.

"No need for formalities." Yan Ruyu waved her hand, her gaze falling on the two of them, her tone serious, "You were keeping an eye on Zhou Zhenghang last night, what was his whereabouts?"

Is there anything unusual? No matter how small, describe it clearly and without omission.

The two guards exchanged a glance, and one of them spoke first: "Your Highness, Zhou Zhenghang stayed in his residence all night and did not go out."

One of his subordinates kept watch at the front door, and the other at the back window. They remained there the entire time, and no one else entered or left the residence. Everything seemed normal and unremarkable.

Another person quickly added, "This morning, Zhou Zhenghang came out of the house around 7:00 AM as usual, walked around in the yard for a while, and then went to the study. He seemed to be doing nothing out of the ordinary."

Yan Ruyu frowned even more deeply.

If that's the case, then Zhou Zhenghang really doesn't seem to have had the time to commit the crime.

But the guard's death happened right after he had seen him, and the connection between them is truly puzzling.

Did you really think too much?

Or does Zhou Zhenghang have some unknown means to commit crimes right under the noses of the secret guards?

She pondered for a moment, about to ask again, when one of the guards suddenly remembered something and said, "Your Highness, it's not really unusual."

Last night, around midnight, I heard some very beautiful music playing the zither, which lasted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Aside from that, there was nothing else particularly noteworthy.

"The sound of a zither?" Yan Ruyu's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly asked, "Are you sure it's around midnight?"

Where is the music coming from?

Another guard chimed in, "Your Highness, I heard it too."

It was indeed around midnight when the music seemed to come from the backyard of Zhou Zhenghang's residence. The tone was clear and melodious, sounding unlike anything from ordinary music. However, I didn't pay much attention at the time, assuming that someone in his household was skilled in music.

Yan Ruyu's eyes flickered, and a strong premonition welled up in her heart. This zither music was not just a simple matter of "being good at music".

It was late at night, and all was quiet, when suddenly the sound of a zither began to play.

This matter seems quite unusual no matter how you look at it.

Moreover, the fact that the guard was murdered on the very night of the incident suggests there must be some unknown connection between them.

Moreover, she had heard the music more than once before.

She looked at the two guards, her tone becoming more urgent: "What were your feelings after hearing the music?"

Do you feel dizzy or restless?

The guards exchanged glances, pondered for a moment, and then slowly shook their heads.

"I didn't feel uncomfortable at all; I just found it beautiful and captivating."

Another guard frowned, recalling the incident, and suddenly said, "However..."