Chapter 169 - 3.65

In the end, after more than fifteen minutes were spent on briefing the case and enlightening them on the matter, Xu Jiaqi ended up having her palm on her face. This story was just as dubious as a soap opera's cliche tropes.

Han Zhongli was your so-called typical unloved son. His parents focused solely on his elder brother, who was the heir of the family. He was much more capable than him, and it was a matter of course that his existence soon became forgotten by the masses to the point that when you came around and asked the masses about his existence, nine out of ten would say that they don't recognize such a person. Even though he was supposed to come out of a well off family.

It was likely that this guy got embroiled in the tragedy of the imperial palace. Since the System ended his report at a vague statement, it meant that even him couldn't find out where this man was right now. Coupled with the fact that his information seemed to have been erased..

This case was hard to work with!

'So, can I still meet this person? Or is he dead?' Xu Jiaqi questioned. This was the most important query of all, because it concerned the resolution of her mission. It was very troubling.

[Answering Host.. It's likely that he actually traded his life for the life of another. I'm not too sure, but I think there is a high chance that he died along with the tragedy that struck the Empire when the times changed.] The System reported, feeling a bit saddened over the matter.

[Also.. This might just be a vague assumption, but please take a look at this timeline I made for you, Host.] The System launched up its mechanisms, and soon, there was a sparkling timeline that appeared in front of her eyes.

Xu Jiaqi carefully looked over all the information and quickly found out what the System was trying to insinuate by bringing out this topic.

'...Hm. The part where he sent this letter should be after I was born.. Is a little bit sketchy.'

[Host, don't you think that something is strange? Please think of it like this. You're a baby who was thrown into an evil caretaker who used up all of the assets meant for you for another purpose.. But if you consider that heinous person's attitude, who threw you into the streets, would you even have survived long enough to be able to last a day on the streets?] The System wanted to fight for his case, and so he did.

'Ah, you're talking in circles. I get what you mean, but it's still a bit.. farfetched for now.'

The System's meaning was that Xu Yan originally did not throw out Xu Jiaqi right after she was born. This was likely just an assumption from Xu Jiaqi, because as far as she could remember, she lived a hard life. Perhaps, the original soul thought that Xu Yan intended to do this from the start, when that wasn't the case at all. She just couldn't remember the earlier years of her life. When she was a baby with no awareness whatsoever. 

In her memories, it was that Xu Yan didn't want her from the start since she felt betrayed by Han Zhongli. If that was the case, then how was he able to send her a letter that seemed so loving? The timeline from when Xu Jiaqi was born to the world, from what she could see,  it seemed like Han Zhongli was still visiting around that. How could Xu Yan detest her right from the start?

If Xu Yan truly did not want her, then there was no other path for her other than having to die, in the environment she was put in. Also, she never left the brothel. If Han Zhongli ended up sending that letter, it meant that he still had some feeling towards her.

If.. If there was a reason for his disappearance? The reason he ran away from his love even though he could've chased and assured her? Could that be a possibility to consider?

[Host, it's good to have a vast imagination. As long as we piece out the story correctly, if Han Zhongli is truly dead, then we wouldn't have to chase after him anymore.]

'But there's no concrete evidence that he's dead. How are we going to get the Main System to recognize our theories and check our mission? These are all just assumptions. Mere assumptions.'

[Simple, Host. We trick the System manually. If we just land on the correct story, then we can solve the case...! Probably...]

Dear readers, what you are seeing is called 'desperation' when someone is too stuck, so stuck to the point that they are in denial and wants to stay as optimistic as they can even though the case was helpless.

Xu Jiaqi: ..Aren't you also a System? Do you want to be tricked, mommy?

System: Someone come take this unfilial daughter away, I don't want her!

Xu Jiaqi: Hehe.

'..That could work, but how many tries do we have to go through before we even get to the final outcome? If we have bad luck, aren't we talking years of blind guessing? You're just saying this because you got stuck while gathering the information, is it? There has to be some type of way we can work around this.' Xu Jiaqi shook her head, dismissing the System's words temporarily.

There had to be another way that they could take. One with more credibility to its name.

The System was visibly saddened, because what Xu Jiaqi said was correct. He had tried his hardest to uncover more materials, but he couldn't find anything that could further assist them in this case. It broke his heart and tore it apart into several pieces.

She didn't blame the System because there was a limit into how much one's capability was, especially when the System was already this hardworking and lovable. She was extremely thankful, even.

As she consoled the desperate System, Xu Jiaqi racked up her brains to think of a solution.

Within minutes of brainstorming, she landed on one idea!

'...Wait.' Xu Jiaqi replayed the System's words, and took a look at the information in front of her with great detail. 'System, come take a look. You said that he was the attendant for the princes.. would Xie Yongrui still remember him? Or at least.. remember what happened to him in the end. As an attendant, I reckon Han Zhongli had to be around him a lot.'

There was a very high chance that he was long dead, but for proof and testimonies, it would be perfect if they could rely on this late Imperial Prince's assistance.

[Ohh?! Host, you have such a brilliant idea! I overlooked this because I thought that Xie Yongrui would be too young.. But if we're lucky.. then Han Zhongli might've stayed with your man until the end!] The System enthusiastically spoke.

'Mhm, that's what I thought. You don't have to raise your voice that high, though. My head hurts.'

[M-my apologies, Host...] The System tearfully spoke. He got too excited.

'Anyway, since we've settled on that for the time being.. I'm going to have you make a report on all the clues that might help us trigger Xie Yongrui's memory. He was a child at that time after all.. We don't know how far back he remembers, especially if it's a traumatic event for him. His mind might've made him forget about it.' Xu Jiaqi was anxious and uncertain, but she wanted to bet on this chance.

She waited for the man to come back, not in the mood to come downstairs and seek him out. She stayed beside the System and looked over the project they held, making sure that everything was well organized and could support their probable claims.

Xu Jiaqi sighed. At first, she thought that this mission would be relatively easy. It was just looking for one man. One man who frequently visited one specific place, where one person would always be there waiting for him. That one person was even her mother.

Who would've thought that it was going to give her this much problems? She was exasperated as she shook her head.

Right after, the door was opened, revealing the familiar figure of a certain Xie Yongrui, whose eyes immediately lit up after seeing Xu Jiaqi all awake.

"Qiqi! How are you feeling now? Do you still need something? I will go get it for you right now."

"No.. I don't need anything, but can we have a long talk?" Xu Jiaqi asked tenderly.

Xie Yongrui was scared beyond belief. By the way Xu Jiaqi was phrasing it, it made him think that this serious matter she was going to talk about.. concerned the two of them. For example, their ambiguous relationship. They spoke up about how they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, but what if Xu Jiaqi suddenly changed her mind? Would he even be able to let her go if that kind of thing happened?

Xie Yongrui pursed his lips and braced for whatever Xu Jiaqi was about to say. He sat beside the tired woman, who extended her hands upwards to poke Xie Yongrui's abdomen.

"Qiqi, hurry and tell me, what did you want to say so badly, hm?" Xie Yongrui tried his hardest to restrain his emotions, so that the unease and worry he had wouldn't be detected by the woman in front of him.