Chapter 1559: Chapter 1559: Officer Jiang
Everyone looked at Ruth Frazer, waiting for her alternative version.
“I think the idea of the witch advising the king sounds a bit off. Leaving aside how a witch during the era of slavery could meet the king, even if she did, didn’t she know the danger of doing so? Being burned to death in the end without escaping feels really far-fetched…”
Ruth Frazer slowly said, “Is it possible…that the witch actually had a lover? Because war was imminent, her lover was conscripted. The witch knew that Kalinga couldn’t resist Ashoka’s war elephant army, and in order to save her beloved, she risked her life to advise the king.”
Someone immediately laughed, “Oh, oh, oh, that’s women for you, that’s women! They can tie everything to love. The idea of personal and national grudges seems far-fetched, but introducing a lover makes it all seem reasonable?”
“I actually like this version, not because of love, but because stories that have been beautified are more readily accepted by people. It reflects a kind of packaged value. For instance, the Legend of the White Snake, the earliest version had nothing to do with love either. A young man encounters a woman in white, becomes infatuated with her beauty, lives with her for three days where they indulge in pleasures, and finally turns into a pool of blood. But the beautified version became well-known, didn’t it?”
The group discussed animatedly, while Ruth Frazer listened with a smile.
People love to explore the stories behind each painting, and those stories can endow the artwork with an intangible added value.
During the discussion, Ruth Frazer glanced at the always-silent Gavin Graves, whose eyes were fixed on her, a cold gaze mixed with curiosity and scrutiny.
Ruth Frazer was startled for a moment, then returned a somewhat nervous smile, and shifted her gaze away, no longer making direct eye contact with Gavin Graves.
Everyone was engrossed in the conversation in the studio, when a servant came to find Ruth Frazer, whispering that two police officers were outside wanting to speak with her to understand some matters.
Ruth Frazer’s expression slightly changed.
She barely smiled at everyone, “Please excuse me for a moment.”
Everyone looked at each other in confusion.
Gavin Graves pondered for a moment and followed her. Once he left, the others lost interest in continuing the discussion and followed to see what was happening.
…
In the living room sat a man and a woman, not in uniform, initially not recognizable as police officers, especially the woman, who was excessively beautiful.
Once Ruth Frazer arrived, they showed their documents, and the woman extended her right hand to her: “Hello, I am Aria Jackson from Clearwater City Police Department, I’d like to understand some matters, is it convenient for you now?”
To be honest, it was not convenient.
However, assisting in an investigation is a duty that citizens must fulfill, so any personal matters must be temporarily set aside.
Seeing this, the guests bid farewell, and Ruth Frazer exchanged a few pleasantries, agreeing to meet another time.
Gavin Graves recognized Aria Jackson, though not very well, he nodded with a smile as a greeting.
He went to the room to find Cherry, and the two prepared to leave. As they passed through the living room, Ruth Frazer and the officers were already gone, presumably to discuss elsewhere.
Gavin Graves thought for a moment, then left Ruth Frazer’s house without lingering.
The car slowly descended the only winding mountain road, and just before reaching the fork at the foot of the mountain, Gavin Graves asked the driver to pull over.
Cherry, feeling dizzy from the car circles, found it strange when the car stopped, and asked, “What’s up?”
“No rush, let’s wait a while.” Gavin Graves glanced in the rear-view mirror, looking thoughtful.
They waited at the foot of the mountain for about twenty minutes, watching a car drive down.
Gavin Graves waved, and that car slowly stopped, with Aria Jackson sticking half her head out of the window, smiling as she greeted, “Mr. Graves.”
Finally, she saw Cherry and became even more amiable, “Oh, Cherry, you’re here too.”