Chapter 35: He is the Third Wheel for Xie Qiang and Sen Ji
As soon as Sen Ji and Cang Jiu left, Hong Que immediately pressed Xie Qiang back into the sofa chair, pushing her toward the logistics department.
Jiang Qingwan followed, walking by Xie Qiang’s side, not forgetting to continue her previous proposal. “Your Highness, what do you think about performing a thorough purification for all A-class Sentinels?”
Hong Que frowned hearing this, his tone very impatient. “Xie Qiang only bullied a small portion of A-class Sentinels. Why should she purify everyone?”
Jiang Qingwan looked at him with some helplessness. “Inspector Hong, please mind your wording. The Princess didn’t bully them; she abused them. And dozens of Sentinels is not a small number; it has already affected the A-class Sentinels’ trust in the Empire.”
“Tsk, didn’t Xie Qiang promise not to do it again?” Hong Que said dissatisfied.
She has been doing very well recently, not bullying those Sentinels anymore. Instead of being grateful, those A-class Sentinels want compensation?
Keep dreaming!
Jiang Qingwan glanced at Xie Qiang. “Inspector Hong might be willing to trust the Princess, but as the true victims, they obviously cannot trust the Princess based on empty words.”
“How about this…” Jiang Qingwan thought for a moment and gave another plan. “The Princess performs thorough purification for those victimized Sentinels first.”
Her gentle gaze fell on Xie Qiang’s face, examining her expression inch by inch. “What does the Princess think?”
Xie Qiang shook her head.
Jiang Qingwan’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. She looked at Xie Qiang silently, then suddenly started another topic. “I heard the Princess was assassinated last night.”
Xie Qiang was just about to say her real plan, but hearing this, she was instantly distracted. “Guide Jiang knows too?”
“Mm, I knew the assassin who died.”
Jiang Qingwan lowered her eyes slightly, her tone carrying a bit more sadness. “A few days ago, he just came to talk to me, saying he had applied for leave and would soon be able to return to the Empire to visit his family.”
Xie Qiang’s fingertips trembled lightly.
She looked up at Jiang Qingwan. The woman’s face was gentle, a faint sadness and regret spreading on her soft, quiet face, as if feeling sad for Qi Feng’s death.
But Xie Qiang clearly remembered that when she was assassinated last night, the eyes under Qi Feng’s black robe were filled with terrifying bloodshot veins, staring at her like a rampant ghost, roaring that he wanted to kill her.
Clearly I am the victim, yet Jiang Qingwan is lamenting Qi Feng’s death in front of me, the victim?
Hong Que also frowned at Jiang Qingwan. “What do you mea—”
“I don’t quite understand Guide Jiang’s meaning.”
Xie Qiang’s soft voice rang out simultaneously, cutting off Hong Que. She looked up directly at Jiang Qingwan. There was no evasion in her clear eyes; instead, there was a frank clarity.
She asked calmly, “Are you suspecting that a person longing to go home to visit family wouldn’t choose to assassinate me knowing he would be executed by my guards, right?”
Hong Que looked at her with some surprise. Yo, this guy got smarter, actually able to hear the implication in other people’s words?
Jiang Qingwan pursed her lips and shook her head. “I didn’t mean that, just didn’t understand it a bit.”
“Then does Guide Jiang think the Inspector and I deceived everyone together?” Xie Qiang narrowed her cat eyes slightly. Her usually soft expression also became a bit sharper. “You think Qi Feng wasn’t executed by me for assassinating me, but that I haven’t changed my ways, abused and killed him, then faked it as an assassination?”
Jiang Qingwan paused. “This… I didn’t mean that.”
“If it’s neither, then please give me a definite answer, Guide Jiang.” Xie Qiang looked at her persistently. Although there was no anger on her face, one could clearly perceive the oppressive feeling coming from her.
This was the first time Jiang Qingwan saw such a Princess. Those clear, transparent eyes seemed able to see through all pretenses. Although lacking the usual harshness of royalty, it was enough to unsettle those with ulterior motives.
She clenched her fist lightly, revealing a trace of apology in her eyes. “Sorry, Your Highness, I misspoke.”
Hong Que finally caught a chance to interrupt. He looked askance at Jiang Qingwan, but his words were directed at Xie Qiang, carrying a bit of deliberate showing off. “Before Qi Feng moved to assassinate you, he met this defec—this woman. In my opinion, she likely participated in this assassination case!”
Hearing this, Jiang Qingwan panicked suddenly, hurriedly waving her hand to deny. “Inspector Hong, absolutely not!”
“Then you are lying.” Hong Que pressed relentlessly. “I remember there is no surveillance in the Guide’s office, right? How can you prove he went to your office saying he wanted to take leave to go home, instead of plotting an assassination?”
Jiang Qingwan bit her lip. “Since he said he requested leave, the leave application record can prove…”
“Tch.” Hong Que let out a cold laugh, his tone full of disdain. “That could also prove he planned it long ago—after assassinating Xie Qiang, leaving the war zone using the convenience of the leave slip. Maybe he mentioned this to you specifically so that if he were investigated in the future, someone would stand up to defend him!”
Jiang Qingwan shook all over, finally speechless, lowering her head and clasping her hands helplessly. “Did he lie to me…”
Hong Que snorted, looked down at Xie Qiang, and said, “She is as stupid as you used to be.”
After saying that, he quickly glanced at Xie Qiang’s expression and added quickly, “But you are much better now than before.”
Xie Qiang looked up, glancing at him with some helplessness. “Yes yes yes, our Inspector is the smartest and most powerful.”
“Cough!” Hong Que pressed his hand on her cheek, turning her head back, then retracted his numb arm to his side and rubbed it, muttering, “Don’t think just because you praise me a couple of times, I will like you.”
Really, there are outsiders here; she has no shame at all.
Luckily there are no Sentinels who love to imagine things nearby, otherwise if rumors spread that he is the third wheel for Xie Qiang and Sen Ji, he would lose all face!
Hong Que pushed Xie Qiang back quickly. To prevent the Zerg from ambushing the logistics department, he pushed Xie Qiang door to door shouting, “Guides inside, go stay in the Princess’s office! This time it’s high-level Zerg attacking. Once they ambush logistics, I won’t have time to save you one by one!”
Guides poured out one after another, obediently going to Xie Qiang’s office. Soon, the spacious space was filled, and even that small room full of unhealthy memories was now standing full of people.
Hong Que surveyed the office, pointed at a wall, and asked Xie Qiang, “Can break through?”
Xie Qiang was asked somewhat blankly. “You ask me?”
How would I know? I don’t know how hard the material of this wall is?
“Aren’t you an S-class Sentinel… should be able to break through, right!” Xie Qiang said uncertainly.
Hong Que looked at her speechlessly. “I am asking you, do you mind if I break through this wall! After all, this is your office!”
Xie Qiang’s face turned red instantly. Unexpectedly he meant this. She said hurriedly, “Don’t mind.”
Really strange, why did he suddenly become so polite? Before, he always kicked open the door to her office, never asking if he could enter.
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