In the imperial study, the Emperor's expression was solemn as he looked at the young Grand Tutor in front of him. "I don't know when Grand Tutor Liu became so concerned about Hong 'an Junzhu's matter?"
"I am doing my duty. Moreover, there are many suspicious points in this matter. We might as well wait for the Ministry of Justice to investigate for a few more days and open a trial to convince the world." Liu Min was neither servile nor overbearing. This young man had never formed cliques. Although he was a new noble, he had made some achievements in the court. This was the first time he faced the Emperor's questioning gaze, but his eyes were still calm and unhurried.
With a "pa" sound, a booklet fell heavily on Liu Min. The Emperor's face darkened as he said in a low voice, "I am asking you, when did you become so concerned about Hong 'an Junzhu's matter?"
As the ruler of a country, the palace was filled with eyes and ears. It was inevitable that he would hear some rumors. The Emperor was already displeased with Liu Min. However, Liu Min still stood straight and his expression did not change. He still said in a low voice, "I am only doing my duty. It has nothing to do with selfishness."
Eunuch Li glanced at the person in front of him. The young man was bright and gentle, but in his bones he had the stubbornness and aloofness of a scholar. This person was originally specially cultivated by the Emperor for the future of the Great Jin Empire, but now he had brushed against the Emperor's reverse scale, and still looked like he would not give up until he achieved his goal. Eunuch Li pondered in his heart. Old General Zhao had already come by in the afternoon, and Empress Dowager Yide had also spoken. Although Xiao Shao hadn't said anything, given his temperament, he wouldn't just stand by and watch. Now even Liu Min, the Grand Tutor of the Jiang family, had spoken up. The daughter of the Jiang family, Hong 'an Junzhu, was indeed not an ordinary person. However, Liu Min's words were adding fuel to the already unhappy Emperor's fire. It was not a good countermeasure.
The Emperor stared coldly at Liu Min for a while and suddenly slammed the table. "It has nothing to do with selfishness! Since all of you are pleading for Hong 'an, why not give me a few more days? Fine, I want to see what other evidence you can bring! Get out! "
The Emperor was furious. Liu Min only bowed in a low voice and retreated. Eunuch Li comforted him in a soft voice, "Your Majesty need not worry too much. What Grand Tutor Liu said is not without reason. I am afraid that there is something fishy about this matter. I am afraid that someone with ulterior motives will make a fuss about it.
"Do you take me for a fool?" The Emperor looked at the memorial on the table with some disappointment, "We just don't understand, how could one or two of them have been poisoned by Jiang Ruan? Could it be that she's really a demoness?"
…
After Liu Min left the Imperial Study, he went out of the palace and went to the prison of the Ministry of Justice. The head of the prison was startled at first when he saw him. Then, he hurriedly stood up to welcome him. "What brings you here, Grand Tutor?"
"I'm here to see someone." Liu Min frowned slightly. Even though he had been in the bureaucracy for a few years, he was still not used to people who flattered him. Even so, he still took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and handed it to the jailer.
The jailer was overwhelmed by the favor. He thought to himself that the Grand Tutor, who was rumored to be pure and untainted by dust and dirt, was nothing more than this. He still understood the art of bribing people in the bureaucracy. Why did he need to put on an aloof and virtuous appearance for others to see? Although he was thinking this way, he still put on a very respectful appearance and said, "Of course, of course. If Lord Grand Tutor has anything to say, just tell this lowly one. As long as it is convenient, this lowly one will do his best to help." Finished speaking, he asked, "Which one does Lord Grand Tutor wish to see?"
"Hong 'an Junzhu." Liu Min replied.
Jiang Ruan was locked in the innermost cell of the prison, where criminals sentenced to death were kept. Although the sentence had not been decided, almost everyone believed that she would not be able to escape this time. After killing a Junzhu, how could she escape unscathed? But because of Xiao Shao or Zhao Guang's connections, at least her time in the prison was quite smooth. The prison guards did not make things too difficult for her.
When Liu Min walked to the innermost cell, he saw Jiang Ruan sitting on the ground with her back against the wall. He did not know what she was thinking about. She seemed to have come from a good family, but she did not look distressed or panicked. He breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, but then he laughed at himself. If he had known earlier that she was not an ordinary woman, the scene of an ordinary woman crying and making a scene in the prison would not have happened to her.
"Junzhu." He opened his mouth to call out.
Jiang Ruan returned to her senses and raised her head to see him. A trace of astonishment flashed in her eyes, but she immediately smiled and said, "Grand Tutor Liu."
Liu Min squatted down in front of the cell and looked at her through the bars. He looked around the cell. Although the conditions were simple, they were not harsh. It was completely different from the scenes he had seen in the other cells along the way. Jiang Ruan's clothes were clean and tidy. Presumably, she had not suffered much. Someone must have taken care of these things for her.
"Grand Tutor Liu, what brings you here?" Jiang Ruan saw that he was focused on looking inside without saying anything, so she asked.
Liu Min glanced at her, "I … came to see you." After a pause, he asked, "Are you well?"
The young man's eyes were full of affection. Even though he tried his best to conceal it, he still inadvertently revealed some of it. Jiang Ruan herself was good at observing people's words and body language. She frowned slightly, but immediately smiled, "I am very well. I have troubled Grand Tutor to worry about me."
She was always so polite, but she also kept a distance that pushed people a thousand miles away. Liu Min's heart was slightly bitter. Thinking of today's matter, he sternly said, "I believe you. You did not kill Princess He Yi."
Liu Min felt that although Jiang Ruan appeared to be a cold person, she was actually very kind. Otherwise, when she had seen Princess He Yi bully the Thirteenth Prince, she would not have lent a helping hand.
"Naturally, I did not kill her." Jiang Ruan looked at him, "I did not need to kill her."
Hearing Jiang Ruan's words, Liu Min's expression brightened a bit. He said, "Don't worry, I will definitely think of a way to rescue you."
Jiang Ruan was slightly astonished. Although she had helped Liu Min in the past so that he would one day pave the way for her in the future, Grand Tutor's current behavior and actions were contrary to her original intention. Such sincere feelings were undoubtedly a kind of pressure to her.
"Many thanks to Grand Tutor Liu." Jiang Ruan muttered to herself, "However, I have my own plans for this matter. One day, the truth will come to light. Grand Tutor Liu need not worry too much."
Disappointment flashed across Liu Min's eyes, "You do not regard me as a friend." Not waiting for Jiang Ruan to speak, he continued, "In the past, you helped me. Now, it is time for me to repay you. I will naturally help you once. You do not need to say more. As the ancients say, a drop of water is repaid with a gushing spring. In the past, you gave me such a great kindness. My fate was rewritten because of you. I, if I do not repay you, then what kind of person would I, Liu Min, be?"
After being silent for a long time, Jiang Ruan shook her head and said, "Grand Tutor Liu is an extremely sincere person. I am willing to sincerely befriend you. However, at this time, I do have an idea. It would not be good for Grand Tutor to rashly help me. In the future, when I have trouble, I will ask Grand Tutor Liu to help me. At that time, Grand Tutor Liu will not refuse."
"It is impossible for me to refuse." Liu Min hurriedly said. Under the weak light, Jiang Ruan's eyes were like water. Her facial features were even more beautiful and flawless. His heart was moved. The words that he had wanted to say all along slipped out of his mouth, "You, are you willing to receive my protection?"
Jiang Ruan looked at him in astonishment.
Liu Min's handsome face seemed to be slightly flushed. After all, this was the first time he had said such words to a girl. His gaze did not have the original trace of aloofness and aloofness. Instead, it was filled with clumsy shyness, "I, I have admired Junzhu for a long time. Now that Junzhu is struggling in the court, it can be seen that there are many people in the court who want to harm Junzhu. If Junzhu continues like this, it will be difficult to guard against her. If Junzhu can marry into another family at this time, she will have a layer of protection. Liu Min is untalented. Although he has not made any great achievements, he still wants to protect Junzhu for a lifetime. I will do my best to protect Junzhu and not let Junzhu suffer even the slightest bit of grievance. "
Jiang Ruan looked at him. She had not seen Liu Min's ending in her previous life. Presumably, with Liu Min's talent, if he could not be used by Xuan Li, it would be difficult for him to escape death. It was just that in her previous life, she had seen him rise from the bottom to the top with her own eyes. A freak combination of factors had given this upright and plainspoken young man a chance to prosper. Every step he took was like a lotus flower. Finally, he did not disappoint his lifelong ambition.
However, in her previous life, the two of them had no interaction at all. In this life, they had met by a freak combination of factors. She had only wanted to make use of him, but she had inadvertently obtained his true heart.
"I …" Jiang Ruan was about to open her mouth when she heard a familiar and cold voice coming from the front. It seemed to be slightly displeased.
"She does not need your protection, because she is mine."
A familiar figure walked out from the darkness. The corner of his pure black robe fluttered, and in the darkness, there was a golden splendor. Xiao Shao walked to the front of the prison door and glanced indifferently at Liu Min, then looked at Jiang Ruan. He passed the basket in his hands through the small window, "The Wang fu's chef made some snacks and some clothes. It's cold at night, so don't catch a cold."
He seemed to be somewhat unhappy, and his tone was stiff. However, this kind of action and the things in his hands, each and every one of them conveyed that the relationship between him and Jiang Ruan was not shallow. Liu Min had already been shocked by Xiao Shao's words, "She is mine." At this moment, when he saw his actions, his expression immediately changed.
Behind him, Jin San silently rolled his eyes. His master's jealousy was really too strong. When Jin Si turned around and said that Grand Tutor Liu had gone to the Imperial Study and then to the Ministry of Justice's prison, Xiao Shao had rushed over without stopping. This kind of action was simply driving people to death. If she was Grand Tutor Liu, she would have already knocked Xiao Shao over with a single punch. Of course, she could not beat Xiao Shao, and Liu Min, a weak scholar who did not even have the strength to truss a chicken, was even more impossible.
Grand Tutor Liu, who was a gentleman, really stood up and looked at Xiao Shao with a frown, "Xiao Wangye, please take some responsibility for your words." His expression was rather indignant, "What does this have to do with Hong 'an Junzhu's reputation?"
"Ah Ruan." Xiao Shao did not even look at Liu Min and only looked at Jiang Ruan, who was in the prison. In a gentle tone that he had never used before, he said, "The public trial will be held in three days, don't worry."
This call of "Ah Ruan" caused Jiang Ruan to be somewhat dazed and unable to turn around. She was stunned for a moment before she regained her senses. However, she did not know that in Liu Min's eyes, her dazed action was tacit agreement. Thinking that Xiao Shao and her had already addressed each other so intimately, Liu Min's face immediately turned pale. When Jiang Ruan saw his complexion, her heart was moved and she immediately smiled at Xiao Shao, "Alright, with you here, I am naturally not afraid."
Jin San looked at Grand Tutor Liu sympathetically. It was obvious that Grand Tutor Liu was very angry and hurt by these two people's brazen display of affection. If Xiao Shao's words just now had already given Liu Min a fatal blow, then Jiang Ruan's flower-like smile at this moment had ruthlessly added another stab.
Liu Min moved his lips and with great difficulty squeezed out a few words, "If that's the case, Junzhu, Liu Min will take his leave first." After saying this, he hurriedly left without even turning his head back. However, no matter how one looked at that silhouette of his back, it revealed a bit of sadness.
Jiang Ruan was still staring at Liu Min's silhouette when Xiao Shao suddenly walked in front of her and blocked her line of sight. Jiang Ruan raised her head and Xiao Shao looked down at her, saying, "No need to look, he has left."
"..." Jiang Ruan glared at him. Recently, Xiao Shao had become more and more abnormal, as if he had changed into a different person. Sometimes, she wondered whether this was the cold and indifferent, calm and mature young prince that the common people spoke of. In her opinion, Xiao Shao's actions were clearly unbearably childish. Childish?
She took a deep breath, "Xiao Shao, what are you doing here?"
"If I had not come, you would have become the wife of the Grand Tutor," Xiao Shao reminded her.
"…."
In the darkness, Jin San could not help but let out a low groan. Young Master's words were full of worry and anxiety. He should have also asked Steward Lin to come and take a look. At that time, he would understand what it meant by the legendary saying that a man in love was brainless!
"I will not enter the Grand Tutor's fu." Jiang Ruan said, "If I really marry him, his official career will come to an end."
"You are always thinking of him, no wonder he misunderstood." The great beauty Xiao was unforgiving.
"Today, you came uninvited, didn't you also cause him to misunderstand?" Jiang Ruan said, "In the future, he will not misunderstand again."
Xiao Shao frowned. He was born elegant and heroic, and with such a frown, under the light, he appeared even more handsome and celestial. His thin lips were tightly pursed. In the end, he still bore a grudge because of Liu Min's matter. It was not the first time that he had seen Liu Min expressing goodwill towards Jiang Ruan, so how could he be reconciled to it? However, since Jiang Ruan had already said so, he lowered his eyes and said faintly, "En, in the future, don't see him again."
How could this person be so tyrannical! Jiang Ruan was annoyed and casually picked up the things that he had just handed over. Sure enough, it was some food and clothing. Everything had been carefully prepared. In fact, these past few days, Xiao Shao had also sent people to make arrangements. His days in prison were not much different from those in the fu. He could not help but recall that in his previous life, he had also been locked up in prison, but he had been extremely capable of torturing people until they were out of shape.
She could not help but be lost in thought. Seeing her like this, Xiao Shao stretched out his hand and lightly knocked on her head, "Concentrate."
Jiang Ruan was not used to such intimate actions, so she turned her head away, "Tian Zhu should have told you about this matter. I have already made my own decision, you do not need to intervene."
"I know." Xiao Shao said in a low voice, "You just need to let go and do it, I am here for everything."
His words were reassuring, so Jiang Ruan bowed her head, "Thank you very much."
Xiao Shao said, "If you can seek my help, I will actually be even happier." Tian Zhu was right, Jiang Ruan was used to solving everything by herself, and did not easily ask for help from others. Even if she did seek help, it would be with the attitude of a mutually beneficial businesswoman, and she would not accept kindness in vain. In fact, this was her isolating herself from others, and she put an end to all the kindness and affection that she might receive.
Xiao Shao looked at her thoughtfully. He could not find Jiang Ruan's secret, and Jiang Ruan would not take the initiative to say it. However, it was very difficult for a person to walk into a closed heart. Since Jiang Ruan was now his person, Xiao Shao hoped that Jiang Ruan would not have the idea of fighting alone in any matter. At least, Jinying Wang fu still had the ability to protect her. Xiao Shao's person could only be protected by him alone.
"There is no need," Jiang Ruan rejected him as expected, "The inner courtyard is a woman's battlefield. For example, my eldest brother is invincible on the battlefield. Naturally, I also have my own methods to establish an invincible position in the inner courtyard of the palace."
Xiao Shao stretched out his hand and finally pressed on her shoulder, "I will always be on your side."
…
The most senior coroner in the palace, Wu Ming, sighed deeply at the corpse of Hong 'an Junzhu. Only then did he take off the cloth he was wearing and wipe the sweat on his forehead, "Replying to daren, this He Yi was stabbed in the abdomen and died from excessive blood loss. The time of the death is also correct as His Highness Fourth Highness said."
The judge in charge of the Ministry of Justice, Luo daren, lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment before instructing the person beside him, "Go and write down the coroner's examination results on the case file. The rest of you, follow me to the crime scene again."
The Emperor had already issued a death order that the court would hold a hearing in three days. Unfortunately, this time, it was not an ordinary case. The case of Hong 'an Junzhu seemed to be just a murder case seen by the imperial family, but in reality, it involved many forces. If the verdict was not careful, it would cause the power imbalance in the court, and it would be an endless disaster for him.
Moreover, in the case of Hong 'an Junzhu, on one side was the Emperor, Consort Shu, and the Fourth Prince. On the other side was Empress Dowager Yi De, Zhao Guang, and Xiao Shao. He could not afford to offend any one of them. When he thought of being caught in a dilemma, Luo daren could not help but sigh, his heart heavy with thought.
At the Eighth Prince's fu, Xuan Li was playing with the white porcelain wine cup in his hand. He gently swirled the wine in the cup and smiled, "How is the matter going?"
The person below him hurriedly replied respectfully, "Replying to Your Highness, everything has been settled. The coroner has also examined it, there is no problem."
Xuan Li had been in the palace for many years, and it was not that he was completely incapable. He had more or less planted his own people in every place. It was not impossible for him to tamper with Junzhu He Yi's corpse. In fact, it would be an easy matter for him to do so. As long as he used some smokescreen to deceive the coroner, no one would not believe his words. After the coroner examined the corpse, it would be the material evidence. With Xuan Lang as a witness, it would be a simple matter to convict him of a crime.
The most intolerable thing in the world was to seek and not be able to obtain the position he fancied. One day, he would obtain it. The person he fancied, he could not obtain it. It was merely a woman. Since he could not obtain it, he would abandon her and kill her. Since Xiao Shao wanted to fight with him, he might as well destroy Jiang Ruan.
However, for some unknown reason, Xuan Li's heart suddenly flashed with a trace of unease. This feeling was very subtle, and he almost ignored it. He composed himself and tried his best to ignore this strange feeling. Slowly, he tightened his grip on the wine cup in his hand and took a small sip.
"I am truly sorry, Junzhu."
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