The Second Prince was dead, who could ultimately gain from it?
Naturally, it would be the First Prince.
Because now, Khan Apa has only one son left.
But with the abilities of those men serving the First Prince, it was impossible for them to kill the Second Prince without alerting anyone.
Unless the First Prince schemed with the Sui Empire's ambassadors, then pleaded Feng Xiao to do it.
Yet no matter what, the Sui Empire's ambassadors were the ones with the heaviest suspicions.
After all, in the day, everyone saw how the Second Prince was desperately provoking them, pushing them to their deaths.
Jin Lian felt like her heart was being squeezed by an invisible hand.
She witnessed with her own two eyes how Cui Buqu's tongue wagged before, and knew its capabilities.
Now Jin Lian could only hope that Cui Buqu would be able to think of a plan for himself to escape, or perhaps this was something he has expected, and once he opened his mouth, all the problems would be solved.
Under Jin Lian's gaze filled with hope, Cui Buqu finally opened his mouth.
"Since the Khan insisted that this is our doing, then we have nothing to say."
What?
Jin Lian suspected that her own ears were faulty.
She stared at Cui Buqu with disbelief and could not help but felt the urge to rush up and seal his mouth shut.
Khan Apa laughed coldly, "Good, since you said it yourself..."
"What I said was, that if the Khan insisted on pinning this sentence on us, then I have nothing to say. But!" Cui Buqu raised a hand to cut him off, "Everything needs to be based on evidence. Who here saw we killed someone? Or who saw us sneaking out of the Second Prince's yurt? There are so many people around the Second Prince, even if they could not win against Feng Xiao, could it be possible that they did not even see him?"
Khan Apa's voice became cold, "Just now when Ade was killed, your Vice Commander left during the same time. Last time, before the Shaman's death, someone saw him sneaking into the Shaman's stone hut. To see him once is fine, but how can everything be a coincidence? Who else do you people want to blame? Men! Catch them!"
Cui Buqu, "Give me one day, I can find the real murderer!"
Khan Apa squinted his eyes, "One day?"
Cui Buqu said plainly, "That is right. Only one day. After one day, if we cannot find the murderer, then you may do whatever you wish to us."
"No!" The Khan interrupted him, "If you people ran away, after one day, what else would there be left for me?"
Cui Buqu, "We came forth on behalf of the orders of the Emperor. If we cannot accomplish our task, then we have no face to return home, so what use is there to keep our lives? In fact, this matter has nothing to do with us, that is to say, that the murderer of the Second Prince and the HeiYue Shaman is still among you people, and they could attack again anytime. His next target, would very likely be you, Khan."
One Göktürk royalty who was close to the Second Prince said, "Do not think that if you speak like that, we would believe you!"
Cui Buqu did not pay him any attention, "Khan! If you killed us, are you not afraid that the murderer is someone else who still hides from your sights? I do not need you to release us, we only need one day."
Jin Lian used the opportunity to add, "Khan, this murder of the Second Prince is too obvious! The ambassadors they would not do such a stupid thing. Someone else must be the murderer!"
Even the big Kedun said, "Please grant them this chance, Khan."
Last time, Cui Buqu has already got to witness this big Kedun's soundless wisdom, and since she is not stupid, she can definitely conclude that a lot of people would think that the big Kedun and her son are scheming with the Sui Empire's ambassadors, so first they kill the Second Prince, then the Khan, to take Western Göktürk into their own hands.
So to prove that they were innocent, she needed to speak and convey an impassive attitude.
People who allied themselves with the Second Prince were no few in number, but since the Second Prince was dead, no matter the cause, the big Kedun and her son would only be more indispensable. A lot of people dare not offend them, so since the big Kedun suggested it, a great many agreed with her.
Khan Apa cannot ignore the opinions of these people, so he was silence for a moment, before saying suspiciously, "Only one day?"
Cui Buqu, "That is right."
Khan Apa pointed at Feng Xiao, "His martial arts are too great. To give you an entire day, you people would have escaped."
Cui Buqu said plainly, "But we would still need to go out looking for evidence, otherwise how can we find the murderer and prove our innocence? If the Khan does not feel secure, you can pick a hostage among us."
From the moment Cui Buqu requested for a day, Feng Xiao could smell a familiar scent.
This scent was something that only he alone could smell, and that other people would never be able to smell it.
In other words, it was the scent of himself getting prepared to jump into a pit.
To say that he needed one day, then it meant that he needed to look for the murderer within a day. However, Khan Apa would never allow them all to roam around, so a hostage would need to remain. Therefore, Feng Xiao knew that ten out of ten, Cui Buqu would choose to make Feng Xiao remain.
Feng Xiao touched his nose, and felt that the wound on his shoulder had begun to itch.
Even though he had expected this, it still felt unpleasant for one to feel like they've been led by the nose.
But in the next moment, the finger that was rubbing his nose froze.
Because he heard Cui Buqu said, "I will remain, Feng Xiao will look for the murderer."
Feng Xiao was shocked as he stared at Cui Buqu.
Khan Apa furrowed his brows, "No. His martial arts are too incredible, he will escape!"
Cui Buqu, "He is only the Vice Commander, I am the Commander. Although I do not know any martial arts, my life is worth more than his. I am willing to remain so the Khan may be at peace. But if you are not willing, then we can fight to the death now and escape ourselves. I suppose that would not be an issue?"
Khan Apa was intimidated until he took two steps back, allowing his guards to defend him from the front, wariness all over his face.
For someone who could kill even Fo Er, naturally he could surpass most of the people present.
Even if the Göktürks could hold him down due to their numbers being far more superior, there was no knowing how big a price they would need to pay.
Khan Apa treasured life, and although he was heartbroken by the death of his Second Son, but he was not willing to follow his son into death.
Jin Lian picked the right time to give a reminder, "Khan, once Fo Er died, our relationship with Khan Ishbara was ruined, there is no reason to offend people from the Sui Empire."
Khan Apa stared at Cui Buqu and said suspiciously, "Can you really find the murderer within one day?"
Cui Buqu did not show a lot of confidence, he only said, "I will try."
Khan Apa, "After one day, regardless whether or not you have found the murderer, your Vice Commander needs to return. Otherwise, I will kill you."
Feng Xiao laughed.
The Khan frowned, "What are you laughing at!"
Feng Xiao walked forth.
His footsteps were not in a rush, and in front of him there was a lot of people, yet no one dared to stop him.
Everyone has unaware stood aside to open up a path for him as he gently walked up to Cui Buqu.
"Relax, Khan. Even if you only permit a day, within this day, I will try my best to find the evidence. Otherwise, if he is killed by you, then, where will I go to seek my lover?"
Jin Lian translated Feng Xiao's words to Khan Apa, but when she reached a certain part, she suddenly got stuck.
She claimed herself having seen most of the things in the world, and has weathered through many storms and waves that has once made her feel trapped or cornered, but when she heard Feng Xiao's address of Cui Buqu, Jin Lian could not help but felt stunned.
Of course Cui Buqu knew that Feng Xiao said that on purpose, in fact he purposely wanted to say them in front of Khan Apa and everyone.
At least if Khan Apa misunderstood their relationship, then he would believe that Feng Xiao would not leave and never return. Before he harms Cui Buqu, he would also reconsider his decision.
So Cui Buqu did not move and simply allowed Feng Xiao to hold in his arms and hugged him, allowing him to bombastically comfort him, "QuQu ah, I need you to wait for me. I will definitely find the murderer and prove your innocence!"
Cui Buqu even cooperated with him, he reached out with a hand and hugged him back.
Jin Lian stared dumbfounded.
Khan Apa was torn between believing it and denying it.
But in the First Prince's gaze, one can even find a silver of envy?
"Do you really have the confidence?" He heard Feng Xiao whispered in his ear, "If we leave now, they would not be able to stop us."
Cui Buqu responded, "En." He do not know how to speak in code, so he cannot say more in this sort of situation.
Feng Xiao lets him go, before he turned around and did not even look back, determination plastered all over his face. Compared with his behaviour with Cui Buqu just now, it felt like two different people.
Cui Buqu twitched his lips, and pushed the ceramic bottle that he had just been given deeper into his sleeve.