12dz Chapter 2231: Blatant Provocation
Chapter 2231: Blatant Provocation
The aroma of medicine in the treatment center was still strong, mixed with the cool morning air, and drifted in through the half-open window.
Doctor Cao's silver needles were still inserted in Yan Ruyu's forehead and temples. With a steady rhythm, he gently twisted and turned them, gradually relieving the swelling and pain in her head.
Yan Ruyu closed her eyes, feeling the slight soreness and distension coming from under the needle. Her temples, which had felt like they were being crushed by a heavy object, gradually relaxed, and the dizziness that had been radiating around her subsided by more than half.
She let out a long sigh, her breathing becoming much calmer, but a deep melancholy still lingered between her brows. The self-reproach that haunted her even in her dreams still weighed heavily on her heart.
Doctor Cao carefully removed the needles one by one from her scalp.
"Your Highness, your pulse has stabilized considerably, and your headache should have eased a lot. After a little more rest, you'll be fine." He carefully put away the silver needles, his tone a mixture of relief and worry.
As soon as she finished speaking, Yan Ruyu slowly opened her eyes, still looking somewhat tired.
She propped herself up on the edge of the couch and slowly sat up.
"Thank you, Dr. Cao." Her voice was still a little hoarse. "I'd like to go to the fresh produce shop."
Huo Changhe stayed by her bedside the whole time, his large hand always holding hers, the warmth of his palm never fading.
Upon hearing this, his fingertips tightened slightly, and he quickly supported her arm, gently advising, "Yu'er, you have just woken up and are still weak. It is not advisable for you to travel."
"I've already had someone take care of the guards."
Yan Ruyu shook her head and looked out the window, where the morning light had already pierced through the thin mist and illuminated the osmanthus tree in the courtyard, but it could not penetrate the gloom in her eyes.
“I sent him there. If I hadn’t chosen him to impersonate Manager Zhou, he wouldn’t have lost his life.”
Her voice was soft, yet carried an unspeakable heaviness: "I have to go see him, even if... it's just to see him off on his final journey."
"This is not your fault." Huo Changhe frowned slightly, his voice low and comforting. "It's because the murderer was too cruel, it has nothing to do with you."
You have already done enough for the people of Youcheng; you don't need to take all the responsibility upon yourself.
He reached out and gently brushed the stray hairs from her forehead, his fingertips applying a tender touch: "Rest well. I will have someone investigate the matter thoroughly and will definitely avenge him and give him an explanation."
Yan Ruyu turned her head and looked at the heartache and worry in Huo Changhe's eyes. Her heart stirred slightly, but she still did not change her mind.
"I know it's not my fault, but I can't not go."
She gently pulled her hand away from his and tried to get out of bed. Her steps were a little unsteady, but unusually firm. "I want to see him one last time and know how he died."
"Your Highness, please let me go."
Seeing her stubbornness, Huo Changhe knew he couldn't persuade her otherwise.
He sighed, "Fine, I'll go with you."
His tone was tinged with helplessness, but even more so with indulgence: "You've just recovered, so you mustn't push yourself any further. If you feel unwell, we'll come back immediately."
Yan Ruyu nodded and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness."
The two walked out of the treatment center. The morning mist had not completely dissipated, shrouding the streets of Youcheng. There were few pedestrians, and the occasional cough added to the desolate atmosphere.
Most of the shops on both sides of the street were closed, with only a few breakfast stalls open, emitting wisps of smoke, yet they still seemed particularly deserted.
The fresh produce shop was located in a small alley in the south of the city. From a distance, you could see several yamen runners standing guard at the entrance, dressed in blue official uniforms, preventing others from getting close.
The shop door was open, and the faint sounds of voices could be heard inside, mixed with the whispers of the coroner during his examination.
Huo Changhe helped Yan Ruyu approach. When the yamen runners saw that it was the prince and princess, they quickly stepped aside and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness, Greetings, Your Highness, Princess."
Yan Ruyu waved her hand, her voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "No need for formalities. How is the situation inside?"
The head constable quickly stepped forward, bowed, and reported: "Your Highness, the coroner is examining the body inside. I have ordered the surrounding area to be guarded, and no one is allowed to enter or leave. The scene has also been left as it is."
Yan Ruyu nodded and stepped into the shop.
The shop was in a mess, with some fresh vegetables and fruits scattered on the ground, though they were already wilted and covered in dirt.
The backyard gate was open, leading to the woodshed, where the body of the guard lay.
The coroner was squatting in the open space in front of the woodshed, carefully examining the corpse. When he saw Yan Ruyu and Huo Changhe enter, he quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness, Greetings, Your Highness's Consort."
"How's the inspection going?" Yan Ruyu went straight to the point, her gaze falling on the corpse lying on a straw mat not far away, and her heart tightened.
The coroner bowed and replied, "Your Highness, the initial examination revealed that the deceased had only one wound, which was fatal. It was located in the heart area, a single, swift, and ruthless sword strike, indicating an instantaneous death."
Yan Ruyu frowned slightly and asked, "Besides that, are there any other unusual occurrences?"
The coroner hesitated for a moment, stammered, and didn't continue immediately.
"only……"
He paused, seeming to find it difficult to speak.
Yan Ruyu's heart skipped a beat, realizing that something was definitely amiss. She didn't press further, but instead walked to the corpse and slowly squatted down.
Huo Changhe quickly stood up to support her, afraid that she might lose her balance.
The corpse remained in the same position it was in when it was discovered, lying on the straw mat, still wearing Manager Zhou's clothes, except that the chest area was soaked in blood, and the dark red bloodstains had congealed, giving it a somewhat ferocious appearance.
Yan Ruyu's gaze slowly swept over the corpse, finally landing on his forehead, and her expression instantly turned cold.
On the forehead of the corpse, there was a clear fork-shaped wound of varying depth.
Because the deceased had disguised himself before his death, with a thin layer of disguise cream on his face, when the fork was used to cut, the disguise cream and the surface skin rolled up together, revealing the original skin color underneath, which looked particularly strange and terrifying, like a torn mask.
Huo Changhe stood aside and saw the whole scene clearly. His eyes instantly turned cold and sharp, and the atmosphere around him seemed to drop a few degrees.
He said in a deep voice, "We must thoroughly investigate the murderer! Use all available resources to capture this person, and I will interrogate him personally!"
Cui Chong bowed and replied immediately, "Yes! I will make arrangements right away to expand the search area and leave no stone unturned!"
Yan Ruyu slowly stood up, her fingertips slightly cold.
She stared at the forked wound, her heart churning with rage. It wasn't a simple murder to silence a witness; it was a blatant provocation!
The murderer clearly knew that the deceased was an imposter, Zhou Zhanggui, and that the fork was a show of defiance against her and against Huo Changhe.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and turned to Huo Changhe: "Your Highness, have any messages been sent back from the guards responsible for keeping an eye on Zhou Zhenghang?"