There is a god in the sky

Chapter 248 Beauty Bones 8

After Xiao Ji left, Magistrate Xu came out from behind the screen.

"Why doesn't Your Excellency let him take over the Tong family's case? Minister Zhao is already very dissatisfied with it."

"He clearly doesn't want to go, so why force him?"

"You have high hopes for him?"

Chu Mo smiled and looked at Magistrate Xu, saying, "I know you've been in the Criminal Division for many years and are determined to get this position from me, but sometimes you have to accept your fate. Don't force what isn't yours."

"grown ups……"

"Okay, I'm not saying you have absolutely no chance, but you lack a reason for the higher-ups to choose you."

"Please enlighten me, sir."

“Xiao Ji has powerful backers, which is his advantage, unless you can find someone with an even stronger backer.”

Magistrate Xu's face turned completely red.

He comes from an ordinary family and has struggled for so many years to get to where he is today. Taking another step forward is as difficult as climbing to the sky.

But some people can walk faster and climb higher than him without lifting a finger.

After processing the backlog of official documents, Xiao Ji, seeing that it was getting late, prepared to take Shen Lan home.

When I came out, I was told that Shen Lan had already left.

He walked out of the yamen and saw the Zhao family's carriage waiting by the roadside. The driver looked familiar and said something to the back when he saw him.

Zhao Xuan stretched out her arm and waved to him.

Xiao Ji thought that after what happened last time, the other party didn't want to see him for a while.

He walked over and asked from a few steps away, "Did Miss Zhao come to see me?"

"Yes, I had some free time today, so I learned how to make a dessert and made it for Xiao Lang to try."

The maidservant came out carrying a food box and handed it to him.

Xiao Ji reached out and took it. "Thank you for your kindness, young lady. It's getting dark, you should go home quickly."

"Aren't you going to see me off?" Zhao Xuan looked at him with a mournful expression.

Xiao Ji couldn't refuse, so he had an official fetch a horse and prepared to ride her back.

The maidservant alighted from the carriage. "Lord Xiao, please get in the carriage, young lady."

Just as Xiao Ji was about to refuse, Zhao Xuan said, "You don't even dare to get into my carriage? Or do you not want to? You and Miss Shen often ride in the same carriage."

Xiao Ji was somewhat displeased with her comparison, but upon reflection, he realized that what she said was true.

He couldn't argue.

He lifted his robe and boarded the carriage, sitting face to face with Zhao Xuan.

Zhao Xuan poured him a cup of hot tea, then laid out some snacks, looking at him with bright eyes.

Xiao Ji found the food tasteless and couldn't taste what it was like.

Are you still angry about what I did last time? I apologize to you.

“The person you should apologize to is not me,” Xiao Ji corrected.

A flash of anger crossed Zhao Xuan's eyes.

Xiao Ji actually wanted her to apologize to that lowly commoner!

"Yes, I will definitely apologize to Miss Shen in person another day," Zhao Xuan readily agreed.

When Shen Lan realized someone was following her, she slipped into a side alley.

She thought Zhao Xuan was going to cause her trouble again, or that the group of assassins from last time had returned.

She hid behind a pile of bamboo poles, and when the footsteps approached, she pushed the bamboo poles over to block the person's way.

"It's me." A familiar voice reached Shen Lan's ears.

She pushed aside the bamboo poles and saw a man wearing a half-mask and a straw hat.

"Cousin?"

She reached out to remove his mask, but Shen Zhiyuan stopped her.

"I can't show my face," Shen Zhiyuan said, offering an excuse.

Shen Lan led him deeper into the alley and asked, "Where do you live now? When did you come to the city?"

"I rented a small room a few days ago."

Shen Lan wanted to go and see, but Shen Zhiyuan refused, citing safety concerns.

He saw Shen Lan on the street and couldn't help but follow her. He only intended to protect her for a while, but she discovered him.

Shen Lan led him through the alley and found a tavern in the alley to sit down.

When he tilted his head slightly, a bit of his scarred chin was visible.

Shen Lan paused, a bad feeling creeping into her mind.

She quickly removed his mask as Shen Zhiyuan looked up.

Shen Zhiyuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly put on his mask and lowered his head, not daring to meet Shen Lan's gaze.

Half of his face was covered in scars, and they were clearly burns.

Unless you burned it yourself, it's impossible for it to be distributed so evenly in this location.

Shen Lan patted her purse, took out a small porcelain bottle and handed it to him, "This is ointment for burns. Apply it to the scar three times a day, and at least... at least it will make the scar a little lighter."

Shen Zhiyuan happily accepted it, "I need this. Although scars can cover up one's appearance, being too ugly can also scare people."

How could you do that?

“I can’t get into the city if I don’t do this; the Liu family is still looking for me.”

Afraid of upsetting Shen Lan, he quickly changed the subject and asked, "By the way, I heard on the way that Lord Xiao was attacked in the suburbs, and many officials were killed or wounded. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I just encountered a professional assassin. Lord Xiao was injured, but luckily he ran into Li Ye."

"By the way, you haven't met Li Ye yet, have you? He's a novice monk now, his Dharma name is Liaochen. He was saved by the abbot of Fayin Temple years ago."

Shen Zhiyuan was surprised for a moment. "Really? Then he's quite lucky."

"Leave me a way to contact you. Next time you see him, I'll arrange for you to meet."

Shen Zhiyuan refused without hesitation, "There's no need to make a point of meeting. Since we're both in the capital, we'll meet eventually."

After taking a few sips of wine, Shen Zhiyuan suggested leaving: "We can't stay together for too long, it'll be easy to be exposed. I'm leaving now."

He turned and ran out of the tavern, quickly leaving the alley.

Shen Lan poured the remaining half glass of wine into her mouth, paid the bill, and left.

A light rain began to fall, and pedestrians on the road quickened their pace and ran.

Shen Lan also started running, and just before she was about to bump into someone, she nimbly dodged to the side.

Even though there was no collision, the person still fell to the ground, and she was pregnant.

Shen Lan was startled. Although she was certain she hadn't bumped into him, she couldn't be sure the other person had been frightened.

"Oh dear, my belly... my baby..."

Shen Lan helped her up, reached out and took her pulse, and found that there was nothing wrong with it.

She comforted her, "Sister, your child is fine, don't worry."

"You think it's nothing, it's nothing? Are you a doctor? My stomach hurts so much..."

The woman's cries attracted many passersby, who pointed and whispered about the two women.

Shen Lan frowned and said unhappily, "I didn't bump into you."

"It was you! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have fallen. If anything happens to my child, I will never let you get away with this!"

Those who watch the spectacle always tend to side with the weaker party.

The woman's belly was protruding high, indicating she was at least seven or eight months pregnant. She was pretty and fair-skinned, and lovable.

"I can't walk anymore, could someone please take me home? My husband will definitely pay me!"

An elderly woman, unable to bear it any longer, pointed at Shen Lan and said, "Young lady, you hit someone, you should at least take her home safely."

"Exactly, don't be so young and ignorant. Pregnancy is very hard."

"If it's not far, I'll give you a ride. If something happens on the way, you won't be able to explain yourself if you get hit."

"This is a matter of life and death; let's take him to the clinic."