Chapter 273: Growing Closer
Chapter 273: Growing Closer
Meng Qianqian was a bit dazed, and she suspected that if she didn't move, he might say, "Don't be too greedy, Meng Xiaojiu. Do you want me to carry you, too?"
"Let's go!"
Meng Qianqian hurriedly got up.
Lu Yuan coldly snorted, "You really wanted me to hold your hand, didn't you?"
Meng Qianqian: "…!!"
Lu Yuan led Meng Qianqian out of the courtyard.
Wan Mumu, Hu Mumu, and Du Guniang gathered in the courtyard from various corners, curiously watching the young couple's "affectionate" backs, and they let out admiring sounds.
Du Guniang: "Sir and Miss are truly growing closer!"
Hu Mumu nodded, "Isn't that so? The last time Sir carried Miss back to the courtyard, oh, my old face turned red."
Wan Mumu said, "What do you know? That's called affection!"
Du Guniang: "Our Miss has truly married the right person… By the way, has Sir been away for a few days, and has he been tempted by any improper women?"
Once bitten, ten years of fear. They had been traumatized by Lu Lingxiao.
"It's impossible." Wan Mumu took out a handful of sunflower seeds from her pocket, cracking them as she spoke, "Those flowers and grasses outside, Sir doesn't even glance at them."
Du Guniang grabbed a few sunflower seeds from Wan Mumu's hand, puzzled, "How do you know?"
Wan Mumu said, "Yu Zichuan told me."
Du Guniang, surprised, asked, "He told you this? Are you two that close?"
Wan Mumu sighed, "You don't understand, do you? Guard Yu is actually a good person."
Yu Zichuan, who was cleaning his bow on the roof: Hmm, it seems Lu Yuan's inside information can get me a lot of sunflower seeds.
---
Tinglan Manor.
The young couple paid their respects to the Elder Lady.
The Elder Lady was delighted, holding Lu Yuan's hand, "Grandson-in-law, you're back! Why were you gone for so long? I missed you so much!"
Lu Yuan said, "I missed you too, Grandmother. Next time I go out on business, I'll try to come back earlier."
Meng Qianqian muttered, "One thing can control another. He's a tiger in front of me, but a little puffball in front of Grandma."
Lu Yuan turned his head, "What did you say?"
Meng Qianqian smiled, "Nothing, the tangerine you peeled is really delicious!"
Lu Yuan: "Are you getting addicted to being served?"
Meng Qianqian: "Hmm?"
Lu Yuan took another tangerine and started peeling it carefully for her.
Meng Qianqian looked at the tangerine in her hand, with even the pith removed, and finally understood why the children at the border liked him peeling walnuts for them.
It was really perfect.
Not long after, the tired Bao Shu came to find Meng Qianqian.
She held a small milk bottle, slurping as she walked into the room.
She calmly glanced at her stepfather, her little feet not stopping as she dove into Meng Qianqian's arms.
Lu Yuan, both amused and exasperated, picked up the little girl who was deliberately ignoring him, "You haven't seen me for a few days, and you don't even call me Father?"
Bao Shu let go of her milk bottle and blew a milk bubble from her mouth.
Pop!
The milk bubble burst, splattering Lu Yuan's face.
---
Ministry of Justice.
All the Shier Wei who had appeared in the capital were currently detained here.
They were not convicted criminals but were being held as suspects and witnesses for investigation by the Ministry of Justice.
Secretary of Justice Xing did not use torture on the Shier Wei. First, he did not advocate for severe punishment, and second, he doubted that torture would be effective on the Shier Wei.
"Secretary Xing, you've been asking the same questions for five days now, and my answers are the same as before."
"I understand."
Secretary Xing nodded at Wei Yang, and Hu Shiyi recorded his statement for the day. After confirming that it matched his oral testimony, he had Wei Yang press his fingerprint.
"Wei Yang, I appreciate your cooperation. Please stay at the Ministry of Justice for a few more days. Once the truth is revealed, if you are innocent, I will release you."
The closing remarks were the same as the previous days.
Wei Yang couldn't understand how such a person could become the Secretary of Justice.
Was this his interrogation technique?
Is there really no one else in the court?
Wei Yang stopped talking, crossing his legs and closing his eyes to rest.
Secretary Xing left Wei Yang's cell and went to Chen Long's, repeating the same process.
Hu Shiyi, confused, whispered, "Sir, their statements haven't changed. Should we try a different approach?"
Secretary Xing said, "I have my plans."
Chen Long and Wei Yang were kept in separate, secure rooms.
Ji Li, Si She, and Hai Zhu had just arrived and were temporarily placed in the same secure room.
Secretary Xing didn't rush in to question them but stood at the door, listening quietly to the commotion inside.
Ji Li was the first to speak.
Their weapons had been confiscated, but under Lu Yuan's leniency, Ji Li was allowed to keep a fan for show.
Ji Li tapped the fan against his palm and sighed, "Old Pig, what got into you to become the Prime Minister's lackey?"
Hai Zhu didn't answer.
Ji Li continued, "Alright, let me rephrase. Why did you betray General Chu?"
Hai Zhu remained silent.
Si She couldn't stand it anymore, his blue eyes filled with growing menace.
Ji Li quickly stopped him, "Hey, hey, hey, Old Snake, wait! Don't be impulsive!"
He turned to Hai Zhu, "Old Pig, I saved you all the way. If I hadn't stopped him, ten of you wouldn't be enough for this venomous snake to kill! If you don't confess, I can't hold him back much longer!"
Hai Zhu closed his eyes faintly.
Ji Li: "Ah—now you're ready to die with dignity—"
The iron door opened.
Secretary Xing walked in, "Take Hai Zhu to the torture chamber."
Two guards approached with ropes.
Ji Li sneered, "Your Ministry of Justice's ropes can't bind him."
As he spoke, he gripped the folding fan and, in a flash, appeared before Hai Zhu, using the fan to strike several pressure points on his body.
He shook his head coolly, "Alright, now you can tie him up. He won't be able to use his martial arts for six hours."
Secretary of Justice Xing nodded, "Thank you, Lord You Ji."
Ji Li snapped open his fan, "Call me Ji Li."
Hai Zhu was taken to the interrogation room.
Despite its name, the interrogation room had few instruments of torture, making the room seem empty and eerie, with only the moonlight illuminating the white bones on the floor.
Hai Zhu sat on a cold iron chair, his chains linked to the walls on either side.
Even though his martial arts were sealed, the strength of the Shier Wei should not be underestimated.
Secretary Xing left only Hu Shiyeh behind, while the guards stood outside.
Secretary Xing sat opposite Hai Zhu, and Hu Shiyeh sat in a corner, with a desk in front of him for writing down the confession.
Secretary Xing said sternly, "Hai Zhu, you poisoned General Chu and forged his orders to transfer the Shier Wei. Do you admit your guilt?"
Hai Zhu replied, "Do you have any evidence to convict me?"
Secretary Xing took out a written confession, "Shen Hou's daughter personally stated that you deceived Shen Hou into passing the false orders. This is her confession."
Hai Zhu laughed, "You mean that fake Lin Wan'er? Do you really believe her testimony?"
Secretary Xing stared straight at Hai Zhu, "How did you know she was fake?"
Hai Zhu realized he had said too much and quickly corrected himself, "I saw the real Lin Wan'er at the border."
Secretary Xing said, "But according to my investigation, you never met her in the capital. How could you determine she was an imposter if you never saw her?"
Hai Zhu met Secretary Xing's gaze without flinching.
He seemed to understand why this man had become the Secretary of Justice. Despite lacking obvious skills or ruthlessness, he had a sharp gaze like that of Si She.
He had always prided himself on the Shier Wei, believing they were the most capable in the world, and thus held little respect for court officials.
But at this moment, under the scrutiny of this official, he felt a sense of his secrets being exposed.
He lowered his eyes, deciding not to meet his gaze, "Can't I have seen a portrait?"
Secretary Xing gave Hu Shiyeh a nod, signaling him to record everything accurately.
Hai Zhu sneered, "Your court is so good at investigating, right? Now that I've told you she's fake, shouldn't it be easy for you to find evidence?"
Secretary Xing nodded, "Indeed, the evidence is right here in this confession. She admitted it herself, including her dealings with you and your crimes."
Hai Zhu's sarcasm grew, "You believe a fake? If you want to frame me, I'm not that foolish! It was Shen Hou who betrayed General Chu! Chen Long and Wei Yang heard the orders from Shen Hou. You've interrogated them for days, have they changed their statements?"
Secretary Xing said, "If you are innocent, why did you run?"
Hai Zhu answered dismissively, "Because I know you were out to frame me. If I fell into your hands, I would never be cleared!"
Secretary Xing shook his head, his gaze sharp, "Hai Zhu, you are so stubborn. Do you think Shen Hou's death means no one can testify against you?"
Hai Zhu leaned back in his chair, his expression clearly saying, "Yes, Shen Hou is dead, what can you do to me?"
Secretary Xing: "Do you think Shen Hou is really dead?"
Hai Zhu frowned, "What do you mean?"
Secretary Xing said, "The person you had Xiaoli wait for was Shen Hou, right? You must have suspected he was still alive. As long as Lin Wan'er is alive, he would come to find his daughter. You had Lin Wan'er wait for him... he has already appeared!"
Hai Zhu's expression changed, "Impossible... you're bluffing me!"
Secretary Xing stood up, walked to the door of the interrogation room, and looked back, "Hai Zhu, I will make you die knowing the truth!"
As they left the interrogation room and walked down a long corridor, Hu Shiyeh whispered once they were sure no one could hear them, "Sir, Shen Hou is dead. Where will we find someone to testify against him?"
Secretary Xing said, "We don't need him to testify in court, just make him confess. Find someone to impersonate Shen Hou."
Hu Shiyeh sighed, "But where can we find such a person?"
Secretary Xing looked at the bright sun, "He should be arriving soon. Go to the city gate and meet him."
Hu Shiyeh stammered, "Ah, you had it all planned out."
---
Night fell.
Hu Shiyeh paced outside the North City Gate.
A guard asked, "Shiyeh Hu, it's time to close the gate. Is the person you're waiting for not here yet?"
Hu Shiyeh replied, "Yes, he was supposed to arrive at noon. I've been waiting all day!"
The guard suddenly pointed, "Hey—Shiyeh, look!"
A man in a black cloak rode a powerful horse toward them, his presence commanding and his mount as fierce as a warhorse.
Hu Shiyeh felt as if he had seen a legendary warrior from ancient times, his mind momentarily blank, rooted to the spot.
The guard was also stunned, not daring to breathe a word.
The man and his horse stopped at the gate.
"Ministry of Justice?"
The man spoke to Hu Shiyeh, his voice deep.
"Ah, yes, yes!"
Hu Shiyeh came to his senses, fumbling in his chest to pull out the Ministry of Justice token, "I am Hu Shiyeh from the Ministry of Justice, sent by Secretary Xing to wait for someone."
He leaned closer to the man and whispered, "You are the... fake Shen Hou?"
(End of Chapter)
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