When Xu Renfei and Bi Xia arrived at Mr. Li’s residence, they found that Mr. Li’s study was in complete disarray, with all sorts of scrolls scattered all over the floor. It looked as if someone had been desperately searching for something.
Bi Xia’s starry eyes narrowed as he looked at the chaotic scene, his brows furrowing slightly.
Xu Renfei stepped inside, his eyes scanning the ground bit by bit. He slowly crouched down and examined the footprints imprinted on the scrolls. "Little Jiu’er, look."
Bi Xia walked over and picked up one of the scrolls, examining the footprint on it. It was a large footprint. The inkstone on the desk had been overturned, and ink had spilled everywhere. The person must have stepped in the ink and left a very clear footprint on the scroll.
However...
Bi Xia lightly pursed his red lips, feeling something was strange...
"If you were looking for something, would you kill someone first and then search?" Bi Xia turned and asked Xu Renfei.
Xu Renfei smiled, "Am I stupid? The best time to search is when the person isn’t home, right?"
"Exactly," Bi Xia nodded. "Then let me ask you this: if you were searching for something, would you be this reckless? This is too obvious. Most importantly..."
Bi Xia took out the scroll Xu Renfei had just noticed, pointing to the footprint on it. "Would you leave such clear evidence? As long as we find who has ink stains under their foot, we’ll know who searched Mr. Li’s house, right?"
Xu Renfei stroked his chin thoughtfully, "It seems intentional."
"Indeed." Bi Xia nodded and slowly stood up, surveying the entire study. His gaze suddenly fixed on the paintings hanging on the wall.
His starry eyes half-closed, "Ms. Li..."
His mind flashed back to the painting with a dedication to Ms. Li that he had seen at Landlord Wang’s house. Could it be that these two "Ms. Lis" were in fact the same person?
"Little Jiu’er!"
Xu Renfei turned and pulled Bi Xia to the center of the study, pointing at the incense burner. "Look."
He opened the incense burner, and Bi Xia leaned over to look. There, he saw gray ashes and a half-burnt piece of paper inside.
Just as Bi Xia was about to reach for it, there was a sharp slap as Xu Renfei’s hand smacked the back of Bi Xia’s hand. Bi Xia quickly withdrew his hand, looking at the reddened back of his hand. He glared at Xu Renfei, "That hurt!"
Xu Renfei was stunned. He looked at his hand and then at Bi Xia’s hand. "Heaven knows, I didn’t use any force!"
Xu Renfei pulled Bi Xia’s hand closer to examine it. Seeing that it had indeed turned red, he immediately felt guilty. Seeing Bi Xia’s aggrieved expression, Xu Renfei couldn’t help feeling sorry. "I’m sorry, Little Jiu’er, I really didn’t mean to. Why don’t you kick me a few times or slap me a dozen times, make me as red as your hand, how about that?"
He gently blew on Bi Xia’s hand. "Oh dear, our little Jiu’er’s hand is so tender. It turns red with just a slap. It’s all Brother Qi’s fault. Indeed, a younger brother should be cherished..."
Listening to Xu Renfei’s sappy words, Bi Xia’s mouth twitched. He lifted his foot and kicked Xu Renfei in the butt. "Behave yourself!"
Xu Renfei grunted in protest while Bi Xia rolled his eyes. "Why did you hit me?"
Xu Renfei huffed, "Heaven knows! I really didn’t do it on purpose! I just didn’t want you to touch it. What if the fire was still smoldering or if there was something hot inside? I... I wouldn’t be able to explain it!"
Fourth Brother would skin him alive if he found out!
With that, Xu Renfei pouted, reached out, and took the half-burnt paper. After making sure it wasn’t hot anymore, he handed it to Bi Xia, raising his voice dramatically, "Your Majesty, please inspect this~"
Bi Xia raised an eyebrow and took the paper. "You may rise, Mr. Xu."
Mr. Xu: ... Have you ever seen such a handsome eunuch!!!
Bi Xia’s eyes fell on the piece of paper. He paused and then a slow smile curled on his red lips. "Interesting."
Hearing this, Xu Renfei leaned over to look. On the unburnt part of the paper, it read:
The Wang Family and the Li Family, from this day forward, the bonds of friendship are severed... hatred, I hope my son will forget...