Shen Qingqing arrived at the study. Before she could push the door open, she heard the sounds of an argument coming from inside.
"I didn't know Father King would do this. I wanted to refuse the position to Father King at the time. I didn't want to stay here. I wanted to go back to my city."
The butler was very stubborn. "But this is the King's command."
Pei Xing's voice held a hint of helplessness. "I know you are loyal to Father King, but when I left, Father King had already agreed not to force me. I believe that if Father King were still alive now, he would certainly not insist on this decree."
This decree was indeed made before his conversation with the King.
Shen Qingqing pushed the door open and entered. Everyone immediately looked over. The butler glanced at her, frowning slightly. "Miss Shen, I know you are in charge of investigating the murderer of our master, and I am grateful for that. However, this matter is truly not suitable for you to interfere with."
Pei Lie spoke in disagreement. "Butler! What are you saying?"
Shen Qingqing was clearly their benefactor, and speaking to her like that was too rude!
The butler's face was stern. "I am stating facts. Miss Shen is indeed capable, but outsiders cannot meddle in this matter. It is the King's last decree, and it must be executed no matter what."
However, the center of their discussion, Shen Qingqing, was very at ease. She even casually found a chair and sat down comfortably.
Everyone looked at her with strange expressions.
"Don't you have anything to say?" Pei Ji couldn't help but ask.
"Say what? I am an outsider." Shen Qingqing propped her chin with one hand. "I have no right to express my opinion on this matter."
This meant she was displeased.
Pei Ji quickly explained, "That's not it, Butler didn't mean that!"
Shen Qingqing waved her hand. "That's not important. You should discuss your matters first."
"Elder brother, what do you think?"
Pei Ji was helpless and could only look at Pei Lie.
Pei Lie's expression was unchanged. "I have no objections. As long as the second prince is willing, the enthronement ceremony can be held at any time. It's good to settle this matter sooner rather than later."
He felt that as long as the enthronement ceremony was not finalized, there would always be problems.
Pei Ji then looked at Pei Xing and earnestly discussed. "Second brother, I know you don't want to leave your city. But now that Father King is gone, and neither Elder brother nor I want this position, you are the only one left to bear the responsibility for us."
Pei Xing gave a bitter smile. "If I had wanted to, I wouldn't have left in the first place."
"But you didn't object at the time either," Shen Qingqing suddenly asked.
"I thought I would delay it for a while." Seeing Father King's state at the time, he couldn't refuse. When Father King got angry, no one could stop him.
Shen Qingqing nodded. "So, none of you wanted to take the throne."
Pei Ji couldn't help but complain. "Who would want that position? It's too tiring, and you have to stay in the palace every day with no freedom at all. Only Father King could endure it."
But even Father King occasionally complained.
Especially when he saw him running around outside, looking so free and happy.
Shen Qingqing spread her hands helplessly. "This is strange. In other families, people would fight to the death for a mere family fortune, but you three are so humble."
Pei Ji and Pei Lie exchanged glances and both gave bitter smiles.
Pei Xing's attitude remained firm. "In any case, I disagree. If you want to fulfill Father King's last wish, then you two do it."
He said this and turned to leave.
Pei Lie grabbed him and said sternly, "Second brother, how can you leave? You dare to act so irresponsibly."
"Neither of you is particularly responsible either."
Pei Xing retorted unsparingly.
Pei Lie was taken aback, but he held on tighter. "Second brother, you know that the third prince has always pursued freedom since he was young. He cannot take that position."
"Then there's you."
Pei Xing looked at him with genuine admiration in his eyes. "Elder brother, you can do it. I believe in you."
Pei Lie shook his head, his expression even more complex. "I can't. You know I have... a grudge against Father King. Now that he's gone, all the past has vanished like smoke. But I just want to settle things here as quickly as possible."
Leave as soon as possible.
Pei Xing heard the unspoken meaning in his words. "But I..."
Pei Lie and Pei Ji both looked at him. He couldn't bring himself to refuse. He glanced at the butler, who was even more stubborn.
He was wholeheartedly devoted to the King, and his only wish was for the second prince to obey the King's wishes and enthrone him as soon as possible.
"Your Highness, please agree!"
With things reaching this point, what else could Pei Xing say? He could only nod.
Thus, the matter was settled. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, especially Pei Ji and Pei Lie. Shen Qingqing found it amusing.
When everyone left, she asked the two brothers.
"You really don't want to be king?"
Pei Lie seemed to want to avoid it at all costs. "Don't mention it. I don't want that position at all. I don't want to die young."
Pei Ji nodded in agreement. "Didn't you notice? Father King's hair has been getting thinner in recent years. I'm a little scared."
He touched his hair.
He didn't want to become bald!
Shen Qingqing looked at the two of them and felt a sense of admiration. The people of country H were indeed good in this regard, with good temperaments. Even after experiencing painful events, they would come out of it within a couple of days.
According to Pei Ji, after Father King's death, he had become an angel and gone to see God.
Shen Qingqing scoffed at this, but as long as they could overcome their grief sooner, there was nothing wrong with self-deception, so she didn't pry.
The enthronement ceremony was scheduled for tomorrow, and Pei Lie realized there were still many things to arrange. "Shen, I will temporarily entrust the investigation to you. I need to prepare for tomorrow's enthronement ceremony. I will leave some personnel for you, and if you need anything, just give them instructions."
"Okay."
Pei Lie left in a hurry.
Pei Ji also said, "I need to go see Mother."
"She's not awake yet?"
"She woke up this morning and is sleeping again." Pei Ji sighed when he mentioned this. "I don't know when Mother will fully recover."
"She will. Since she's awake, recovery is not far off."
Shen Qingqing's words greatly reassured Pei Ji. He nodded, controlled his wheelchair, and left. Shen Qingqing, on the other hand, turned back to her room.
Fu Jing Shu was in the room. "How did it go?"
Shen Qingqing walked over and naturally leaned against him. He also naturally hugged her, and casually brushed the stray hair from her temple.
"Are you tired?"
Shen Qingqing shook her head and leaned comfortably against him. "It can now be confirmed that it wasn't the Count."
"Are there any new suspects?"
"Not yet." Shen Qingqing shook her head. "It feels like we're caught in a mystery."
This person killed the King; there must have been a motive.
But after the King's death, what could he gain?
If it were the throne, then it must be among the three sons. But none of these three sons wanted the throne, so it didn't look like they would kill their father.
Unless...
Someone was putting on a show.