Chapter 23: Throwing A Little Tantrum

Shen Yu and Fang Rui had a cold war that lasted a full three days. No matter how Fang Rui acted up, the girl simply ignored him, not uttering a single word, as if Fang Rui were air.

Fang Rui felt a sudden pang of regret. He knew Shen Yu did not take jokes lightly, yet he had provoked her. But while he regretted it, he couldn’t stop recalling the feel of his hand on Shen Yu’s slender waist, and his gaze kept drifting to it now and then.

Each time Fang Rui’s eyes landed on her waist, Shen Yu felt like this man was thinking of placing a big stone in front of her to trip her so she would fall into his arms again. Truly afraid he might do such a thing, Shen Yu no longer walked upright staring ahead. She kept her eyes on the ground to avoid being tripped by some unknown object.

While Shen Yu guarded against Fang Rui, a rumor spread from the Court of Judicial Review that the prisoner Chen Chi had been acting very strangely: a few days ago one could still see him clearly, but suddenly, in recent days, those bringing his meals only saw someone with hair disheveled, covering the entire face, who didn’t speak. It was very odd.

Because there had once been a case where a criminal had someone pretend to be him in prison to help him escape, the rumor spread quickly and reached Shen Yu’s ears.

By the time the rumor reached Shen Yu, it had become nearly indistinguishable from reality. The prisoner Chen Chi had very likely been swapped.

Just as Shen Yu heard this rumor, Cui Hao arrived accompanied by Huyan Suoyun.

Huyan Suoyun walked behind Cui Hao, showing no sign of discomfort. Five days earlier Shen Yu had ordered her men to give Huyan Suoyun thirty lashes, each stroke struck with full force, yet it was said he hadn’t even frowned. After one night’s rest he behaved the next morning as if nothing had happened, showing no trace that he’d been beaten the day before.

Shen Yu roughly understood why they had come, and even so she would in no circumstance open the prison door. To do so would render all her efforts futile.

Cui Hao glanced at Shen Yu, who showed not the slightest panic. He felt a flicker of uncertainty, but remembering that he’d just been to the cell, opened the small window and inspected Chen Chi carefully, that doubt vanished instantly.

Chen Chi sat on the stone bed with hair in disorder, his face completely obscured. He shouted a few times at the door, but the one inside only shook his head and had no other reaction.

Chen Chi had appeared reasonably tidy a few days before, then suddenly became like this. And considering that a few days back Huyan Suoyun had, per his orders, delivered threats to Chen Chi’s side, Chen Chi ought to have made a decision by now. Even if he were feigning madness and stupidity, he would still have to think of his family’s lives.

Everything felt eerie. Clearly there was deception.

The cell holding Chen Chi was locked with a bolt that would be hard to open even for someone most resourceful, and there was only one key that was now in Shen Yu’s hand. Thinking that Shen Yu might well have the ledgers in her possession, Cui Hao suspected all the more that Chen Chi had been switched by her and hidden elsewhere.

Cui Hao wore an impassive expression, set his tea cup on the table, and looked at Shen Yu with a relaxed smile.

“Lord Shen, may I borrow the key to Chen Chi’s cell?”

At this, Shen Yu, seated at the desk, looked up at him, “Could it be, Lord Cui, that you also suspect I gave the key to someone else so they could swap Chen Chi out?” Shen Yu showed no hint of evasiveness.

Shen Yu’s biggest lie had been claiming she was a man. She’d told it for a full twenty years and nearly convinced even herself. Were it not for the daily need to undress and bathe, she might not have remembered she was a woman.

She’d maintained that lie for two decades, so no matter what else she lied about, it was difficult for her to have any guilty expression.

Hearing Shen Yu, Cui Hao shook his head repeatedly and said, “Lord Shen, you’ve misunderstood me. It’s just that the rumors within the Court of Judicial Review are unfavorable to you. Rumors only grow, and once they reach the capital they will not be good for you.”

Cui Hao’s words were lofty and solemn, but Shen Yu did not believe them for a moment.

They say a servant reflects their master. Ever since Huyan Suoyun attacked Fang Rui, Shen Yu had lost all fondness for Cui Hao. Without Cui Hao’s trust, how could Huyan Suoyun have dared act so brazenly under her nose against someone nominally under her authority?

“If others don’t trust me, what have I to fear? As long as the Emperor believes me, that’s enough.”

When Shen Yu spoke, she did not realize how confident her expression was. Cui Hao saw that look and felt very uneasy.

No one liked to admit that someone younger than themselves was more capable. Since they wouldn’t admit it, they naturally envied Shen Yu for not being more able and yet repeatedly favored by the Emperor.

And the subject of the gossip sat beside Shen Yu, the curve at his mouth never flattening, always tilted upward.

“Lord Shen, this is a major state crime and matters of importance. If something goes wrong, His Majesty might well believe you, but as Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Lord Cui would find it hard to escape blame.”

“Suoyun, do not be rude.” Cui Hao rebuked Huyan Suoyun, then forced a smile at Shen Yu. “Those of the martial world are not always bound by courtly manners, please forgive us, Lord Shen.

Shen Yu glanced coldly at Huyan Suoyun and sneered, “Indeed. Otherwise why would one so casually lay hands on someone else?” The “someone else” she referred to was none other than Fang Rui standing nearby.

In truth… Huyan Suoyun’s attack on Fang Rui was warranted. Huyan Suoyun hadn’t recognized the wrong person at all. It was just unfortunate that Fang Rui turned out to be more crafty. He could never have guessed Fang Rui had a trick up his sleeve: no wound, no proof.

“I apologize for the last incident, truly, but Lord Shen, this matter is indeed grave. The rumors have already spread outside: they say I, under the pretense of holding Chen Chi separately, intended to pull a switch and let him go. Some even claim that I am colluding with Chen Chi. If these charges fall upon me, even four heads wouldn’t suffice for me to atone. So I request Lord Shen’s key to inspect the cell and close those mouths.”

Shen Yu had already made up her mind: she would absolutely not open the cell door until Chen Chi confessed his accomplices.

“Lord Cui, a straight body needs not fear a crooked shadow. Since you, Lord Cui, have not done such things, why fear what others say?” Even if she had actually done those things herself, she claimed she would not fear ill gossip.

“Well…” Initially still skeptical, upon Shen Yu’s repeated refusals to lend him the key and open the iron door, Cui Hao had already concluded that Shen Yu truly had the prisoner swapped out.

If someone independently arranged the swap, regardless of motive, people would suspect a connection between himself and Chen Chi. Moreover, there was fear that the swapped Chen Chi, under torture, would implicate court ministers and endanger the Empress Dowager.

In any case, Chen Chi could not be left as he was. He had to be dealt with quickly.

Sighing, he stood and said, “Since Lord Shen insists, I will not press the matter. We’ll return for now.”

Shen Yu also rose and replied, “I won’t see you out.”

Outside Shen Yu’s study, Cui Hao’s face instantly darkened. He instructed Huyan Suoyun, “Find an opportunity tonight to steal the key from Shen Yu’s side.”

Huyan Suoyun hesitated a moment and replied, “That covert guard Jia Ming is no ordinary hand. It will be hard to take the key from Shen Yu silently.”

Cui Hao paused, looked at Huyan Suoyun and said, “Then lure the tiger away from the mountain. Shen Yu’s refusals and unwillingness to open the cell door indicate something amiss. I simply cannot believe it.”

Huyan Suoyun thought briefly and answered, “I know what to do.”

After Cui Hao left, Shen Yu resumed reading Chen Chi’s last confession, hoping to find the tiniest clue, with not the least worry that her own matters would be exposed.

Fang Rui poured a cup of tea and pushed it onto Shen Yu’s desk, saying, “You’ve been talking so long now that your mouth must be dry. Drink some water to soothe your throat.”

Shen Yu ignored him, stood, went to the table, took another cup and poured herself a cup of tea. After sipping a few mouthfuls she set it down, not once meeting his gaze.

She wanted him to know that even if he held a handle on her, she still had a temper!

Fang Rui felt somewhat helpless but also amused. Since Shen Yu could sulk at him, it showed her wariness of him was beginning to ease, which was, in its way, a good sign.