Xue Rui knelt on the ground, hugged Yu Shu to his chest, and treated the injury on her hand. He gently held her trembling left hand with one hand, raised his head, and said coldly to Ren Qiming, "Sir Ren, you brought her back to the Celestial Commissioner for interrogation without distinguishing between right and wrong, and you even used private torture. Don't you know that this is a violation of the law?"
Upon hearing his questioning, Liu Tan and Ruilin had a strange look on their faces. Both of them knew Xue Rui for more than a day or two. They knew that he was usually dignified, cautious in his words and actions, and always pretended to be gentle and refined. However, his temper was actually the worst. Looking at him now, it was obvious that he was about to fall out.
Ren Qiming looked at Xue Rui and said expressionlessly, "I was ordered by the emperor to find the whereabouts of the descendant of Yunhua Yi and Princess Luyue. I received a report and found out that this person had been in contact with Daozi, so I sent someone to bring her back. As for the torture, Mr. Xue, you are being too serious. However, she refused to confess, so I accidentally got someone to break her finger. She can just reattach it when she goes back. How can this be considered violating the law?"
"Haha," Seeing that the situation was not good, Ruilin quickly jumped out to interrupt. He laughed dryly at Ren Qiming and winked at Xue Rui, "Brother Rui, aren't you going to tell my brother-in-law about Daozi's whereabouts?"
Yu Shu leaned in front of Xue Rui, endured the pain, and concentrated on listening to their conversation. When she heard what Ruilin said, her eyelids twitched.
She guessed that the Ji family wanted to harm her and had already thought of a plan to deal with it. However, she did not expect that Xue Rui would appear halfway. Obviously, he wanted to protect her and tell them about Jing Chen.
Although it was a mess, it could also be regarded as a delaying plan.
Sure enough, as soon as Yu Shu thought about it, she heard Xue Rui say, "Daozi's name is Jing Chen. A month ago, he stayed at my sworn sister's house. As far as I know, Daozi used to suffer from amnesia, and I don't know where he came from. Later, he recovered his memory and left alone. My sworn sister is also looking for his whereabouts, but she doesn't know where he went. I also sent someone to help her inquire, and I got the news that a few days ago …"
Hearing this, Yu Shu suddenly coughed and interrupted him. She said in a hoarse voice, "Brother, don't say …"
Her stop was heard by several people in the building. Ren Qiming was listening to the key point of Xue Rui's story, but he was stopped by Yu Shu. His face turned cold, but before he could say anything, he heard Xue Rui say in a low voice, "Why don't you say it? You saved Daozi's life, took care of him all the way, and worked hard for him without complaint. After he recovered, he left without saying a word. Now you have been wronged and suffered. Why do you still want to cover up for him?"
Yu Shu was stunned when she heard this. She was able to discern that Xue Rui was really angry, and she actually didn't know how to reply for a moment. Her broken pinky felt another wave of pain, and it pierced her to the point her teeth chattered, causing her to grab tightly onto his sleeve and lean her head against his chest. She pressed her forehead against his thick chest, and she gritted her teeth to prevent herself from crying out in pain.
Xue Rui noticed her little movement. He knew that she was uncomfortable, but he couldn't replace her. He could only gently tighten his arms, trying to make her feel better.
Ren Qiming had been frowning since Xue Rui opened his mouth. He didn't worry about anything else, but he was worried that the news of Daozi's life in Ketu Star would be leaked. So at the beginning, when he found that Yu Shu was hiding something, he wanted to deal with her as soon as possible in case she already knew it.
But looking at the current situation, the young master of the Xue family seemed to know something, which made it difficult for him to deal with.
Looking at Liu Tan and Rui Lin on the side, Ren Qiming thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Rui Lin, there's nothing for you to do here. You go back first."
The ninth prince knew some inside information. It didn't matter if he stayed here, but his brother-in-law didn't know, so he couldn't let him get involved.
Rui Lin had some insight. Hearing his brother-in-law driving him away, he hesitated for a moment and said to Xue Rui, "Brother Rui, I'll wait for you outside the prison."
Then he winked at Liu Tan and turned his head to go out.
As soon as he left, Ren Qiming said to Xue Rui with a serious face, "Sir Xue, do you know that His Majesty is worried about Daozi's whereabouts and can't eat or drink? As an official, we must share the burden of the emperor. If you know anything, please tell us the truth so that we can find Daozi as soon as possible, so that His Majesty won't be overworked. If the dragon body is delayed, you and I can't afford it."
These words of persuasion were actually a warning. If Xue Rui hid anything, it would be deceiving the emperor.
"Cousin." Liu Tan called softly, reminding him.
Xue Rui's eyes flickered and he said in a low voice, "Daozi seems to have been assassinated on the way. Someone used a poisonous trick in Jianghu. Silver needles were buried in his acupuncture points and he lost his memory. My sworn sister didn't know Daozi's identity. She only took care of him because of her chivalrous heart. My sworn sister has an elder who is proficient in the art of Qi Huang. He diagnosed Daozi's illness and treated him with the needles. However, a few days later, Daozi disappeared in the morning. He must have recovered his memory and left. "
Yu Shu listened to Xue Rui's narration. Her eyelids moved, she pursed her lips and didn't make a sound.
She had never told him about these things, but he knew.
When Ren Qiming heard this, he was inwardly shocked. Daozi had been assassinated!
"Sworn sister was worried that his body hadn't recovered and that he was penniless, so she begged me to send people to search for him. Not long ago, I received a clue that someone in the southern garrison saw Daozi leave the city on the morning of the 22nd day of the twelfth month. Sworn sister and I thought that he had left and didn't continue to search. This is all we know. There is absolutely not half a word of falsehood.
Daren can send people to investigate. "Ren Qiming's complexion was heavy and his hands were clasped tightly together. Looking at Xue Rui's expression, it didn't seem like he was lying. If that was the case, then it was very bad!
Therefore, he asked in a deep voice, "Since this is the case, she should tell the truth in full detail. Why is it that when I asked her just now, she refused to admit that she had seen Daozi and said that she didn't recognize the person in the portrait?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Rui lowered his head to look at Yu Shu. His eyes flickered a few times and he said with disappointment and frustration, "Thinking about it, when Daren Ren interrogated my sworn sister, it wasn't that she didn't want to talk, but that she didn't know where to start. She is a young and fair-skinned girl and was entangled with Daozi. Now that the imperial court is looking for him with great fanfare, if she can't tell you where Daozi went, how can you let her go? If Daozi is injured and you can't find him, won't you blame it all on her?"
Hearing Xue Rui trying to defend her, Yu Shu's lips moved and she sighed. She didn't say it not because she was afraid that they wouldn't let her go, but because she didn't want to let some people go.
"Come!" Ren Qiming suddenly stood up from his chair and called for the imperial bodyguard outside the door. He ordered, "Quickly go and invite the Head Prefect here."
"Yes, Sir."
The imperial bodyguard obeyed the order and left. Ren Qiming turned to the people in front of him and said solemnly, "This is a serious matter, all of you wait here."
Ren Qiming invited the Head Prefect, Liu Tan didn't do anything. Even though Xue Rui didn't want to stay any longer, he knew he couldn't leave. Therefore, he looked around and saw an empty chair under the south window. He carried Yu Shu horizontally and gently placed her on the chair. He then poured a cup of water from the coffee table and fed it to her mouth.
"Cough, cough." Yu Shu was still ill. After this torment, she barely had any breath left. She had no strength to support herself, so her body tilted and leaned on Xue Rui. She muttered, "Thank you."
At this moment, Xue Rui wasn't in the mood to avoid arousing suspicion. He put an arm over her shoulder so that she could lean more comfortably. His other hand gently touched her burning forehead. His eyes darkened and he whispered, "Bear with it a little more."
Yu Shu closed her eyes and silently agreed. Yes, bear with it a little more.
Liu Tan also found a place to sit. For a moment, there was no sound in the building.
*
*
*
*
Just like this, the time to drink a cup of tea passed.
Suddenly, there was a voice at the door. Xue Rui and Liu Tan thought that the Head Prefect had arrived. Unexpectedly, the imperial bodyguard hurriedly entered and reported, "Junior Supervisor daren, Right Judge Ji daren requests an audience. He also brought a man with him, claiming that he is the Daozi that the Emperor ordered to find!"
It was like a stone that gave rise to a thousand ripples, and the expressions of the three men in the building went pale. Only Shu who was leaning on Xue Rui suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes, and a fierce light flashed within them.
It really was this pair of bastards.
Ren Qiming and Liu Tan both stood up from their chairs. The former reacted the fastest and hurriedly said, "Quickly let them in."
The imperial bodyguard retreated. A moment later, three people followed him in. They were Ji Huaishan, Ji Xingxuan, and Jing Chen who had rushed over from the Right Judge's Office.
The people who came in looked at the people in the building, and the people in the building looked at the people who came in. Several gazes intertwined.
"Seventh Martial Uncle!" Liu Tan beamed with joy and strode forward to greet them. His voice had undoubtedly confirmed Jing Chen's identity.
Ren Qiming stared in Jing Chen's direction and saw his face clearly. His serious face, which was like an iron plate, unexpectedly revealed an excited expression. He was worried about the Daozi's safety and was afraid that something bad would happen. Who would have thought that the situation would take a turn and he would see the people who came.
Jing Chen had no one else in his mind. When he saw Yu Shu, he left Liu Tan and quickly walked towards her.
"Xiaoyu." Jing Chen could see that Yu Shu's condition was not good. He reached out to touch her forehead, but was firmly held by a hand that stretched out from the side. The hand stopped half an inch in front of her forehead and could not move forward.
Jing Chen followed the hand and looked at its owner. He saw a frosty face looking at him coldly. The instinct of a martial artist made Jing Chen smell a bit of danger from the other party.
Jing Chen frowned slightly and did not compete with him. He lowered his head to look at Yu Shu, but because her dark sleeves covered her, he did not see her broken fingers. He could see that she looked very pale and worried.
"Xiaoyu, how are you?"
"I'm fine. Cough, cough." Yu Shu coughed as soon as she opened her mouth. Xue Rui stroked her back. She took a deep breath and shook her head at Jing Chen. "I'm fine. I won't die."
As she spoke, Yu Shu looked at the grandfather and grandson who had come to take advantage of the situation. She took a deep breath and sneered without saying anything.
"Daozi," Ren Qiming called out to Jing Chen. Seeing that he did not respond, he turned his head to Ji Huaishan and asked seriously, "Right Judge Ji, what is going on? Where did you find the Daozi?"
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