The manservant stood up.
Zhou Zhi went straight to the point and asked, “Is your master, Minister Li, around? Has he been out recently?”
Su Xiaolu glanced at Zhou Zhi. Zhou Zhi did not seem to like beating around the bush.
When the manservant heard this, he hurriedly replied, “Your Highness, my master hasn’t seen any guests since last month. The shopkeeper has been in charge of the family’s business. Now that the plague has broken out in the city, my master won’t go out. My master hasn’t gone out since last month.”
Minister Li had not gone out for almost two months.
How could a businessman be so strange?
Zhou Zhi asked again, “Your master is in the business world. Why hasn’t he gone out for so long? Is there something going on?”
There was indeed something wrong with Minister Li. People in the business world had to socialize the most. It was unbelievable that Minister Li had not gone out for more than a month.
Knowing that there was something wrong with Minister Li, Zhou Zhi looked at Su Xiaolu and saw that she was not in a hurry. He just listened to the manservant’s answer.
When the manservant heard Zhou Zhi’s question, he did not hide anything. He said, “There’s indeed a reason why my master doesn’t go out. It’s because Madam is sick. Actually, my master has already rejected many invitations this year to accompany his wife in the residence. My master treats his wife very well and even spent a lot of money to find the divine doctor for her.”
“My master is kind-hearted. Now that there’s a plague, he even asked the servants in the residence to go home. The servants in the other residences are all death contracts. My master is different. The servants in the residence are all living contracts, and the monthly salary is not low. My master is a famous philanthropist.”
The manservant told him all this because it was not a secret. As long as he asked around, he would know. Moreover, the main family was indeed kind. Those with families had all gone home. He was originally alone, and the Li Residence was his home.
Su Xiaolu asked, “Then why didn’t you go back when everyone else went back?”
The manservant smiled and said, “Miss, I fled here. I’m the only one left in my family. Minister Li kindly took me in, and I treat this place like my home. After I save some money, I’ll marry a wife and have a home. Now, the residence is quiet. Apart from me, there’s also an old cook. She’s also alone, so this Li residence is our home.”
Only the owners and two servants remained in the huge Li Residence.
And this manservant didn’t look like a sick person.
Su Xiaolu asked again, “The servants have all gone back. Then what are the arrangements for food in the residence now? Don’t Minister Li and Madam Li need someone to serve them?”
Su Xiaolu asked tentatively.
The manservant smiled and said, “There’s no need. My master and Madam have deep feelings for each other. Madam is sick, and my master is worried, so he took care of her himself. Now that there’s a plague, my master doesn’t need servants to serve them. If anything happens to us now, we’ll call him outside the main courtyard. Because of the plague, we can’t step into the main courtyard.”
Speaking of Minister Li, the manservant was filled with gratitude. Such a good master was too rare and easy to serve. His monthly salary was not low, and he did not scold the servants harshly. Anyone who saw him had to say good things.
Zhou Zhi and Su Xiaolu looked at each other. Zhou Zhi smiled at Su Xiaolu and then said to the manservant, “We want to see Minister Li. Lead the way.”
The manservant was in a difficult position. He thought it was the same to ask him about these things. He had already told him everything he knew.
If it were anyone else, he would have rejected them on behalf of the main family, but this person was the Second Prince.
The manservant could only lead Su Xiaolu and Zhou Heng into the house.
The manservant secretly guessed that there was nothing else going on in the Li Residence. Minister Li had done nothing wrong, so what else could it be?
However, this was not something a manservant like him could ask.
The manservant brought Su Xiaolu and Zhou Zhi outside the main courtyard. The manservant shouted, “Master, the Second Prince is investigating. Please come out quickly.”
After the manservant advanced, he said to Zhou Zhi and Su Xiaolu, “Your Highness, this is the main courtyard. Master and Madam live inside. You can go in.”
He was a servant. It was Minister Li’s rule that he could not enter the main courtyard. As long as Minister Li did not allow it, he would not step into the main courtyard.
Su Xiaolu and Zhou Zhi stepped into the main courtyard.
Jin Wu followed behind.
This courtyard was clean and did not look dangerous, but this was the most likely source of the plague.
Zhou Zhi looked at Su Xiaolu beside him and said, “Xiaolu, why don’t you wear another mask?”
Su Xiaolu nodded. She was not sure if this was the source of the plague, but in this courtyard, she smelled the plague. It was best to be careful, so she took out a handkerchief and covered it with a layer of water. She looked at Zhou Zhi. “You should add another layer too.”
Zhou Zhi smiled and said, “No need. These plagues are useless to me.”
He had a poisonous body to begin with. His body was immune to all poisons, and plagues were no exception.
Su Xiaolu looked at Jin Wu behind her. “Add another layer to your guard.”
Zhou Zhi looked at Jin Wu. “Jin Wu, add another layer.”
Jin Wu was a little flattered. He quickly added another layer and said, “Thank you, Master. Thank you, Miss Su.”
They were about to walk forward when a person came out of the main courtyard.
The person was wearing a black robe and was tightly wrapped up from head to toe.
The person said, “Your Highness, please forgive me for my rudeness. In the face of the plague, I asked everyone to go back. That’s why I was negligent. Please forgive me.”
After Minister Li finished speaking, he bent down to bow.
Zhou Zhi raised his hand. “Those who don’t know are innocent. Get up and answer.”
They wanted to look for Minister Li. Minister Li came out, so now it was time for investigations.
Minister Li stood up and said respectfully, “Thank you, Second Prince. I will definitely cooperate with the investigation.”
Zhou Zhi asked, “Bring us to the main courtyard first. We’ll talk as we walk. I heard that your wife is sick. Where is she? Is she seriously ill?”
Minister Li came out on his own. Knowing that it was the royal family investigating the case, his wife should have come out if she could stand up.
Zhou Zhi looked at Minister Li. Although he only revealed his eyes and could not see any emotions, he could still see a lot from his unwilling eyes.
Su Xiaolu was also observing Minister Li, but he was wrapped too tightly and could not see much. Moreover, Minister Li looked fine. He did not have a plague and was a healthy person.
If he had the plague, he wouldn’t have come out to talk. However, the strange thing was that he didn’t have a plague. Why was he wrapped up so tightly? Apart from his eyes, his entire body was covered.
Minister Li led them into the main courtyard to check. He said, “My wife has already passed away. She didn’t like attention when she was alive, so I didn’t let anyone know and let her leave quietly.”
Zhou Zhi and Su Xiaolu were surprised by this news.
