Chapter 25: Bathroom Fight (Bumper Chapter! 3 In 1!)

Fang Rui stood outside the window, heard a woman’s voice coming from the bathroom, and coupled with that dreadful thought, he had no time to think of a slow way to save Shen Yu. The fastest method now was to rush in immediately, there could be no delay.

Fang Rui did not hesitate at all and broke through the window. The woman, hearing the noise, glanced at the person coming in through the window and immediately turned and ran toward the door.

As soon as Fang Rui entered he looked at Shen Yu. In that one glance he saw her clothes clinging to her body, every curve plainly visible. His head suddenly flooded with blood and his foot slipped. Luckily he regained his balance quickly, otherwise he would have fallen straight out of the window.

What Shen Yu cared about now was not her clothing but that her identity had been exposed. She urgently told Fang Rui, “She knows my identity!”

Fang Rui came to his senses, suppressed the flush of heat, and drew the soft sword at his waist.

The woman was someone from the jianghu with some skill. She had already reached the door, but the door had more than one lock from the inside. Her face changed instantly when she saw the locks, and she muttered angrily, “This woman! She even puts so many locks on when she bathes!”

For the first time, Fang Rui thought it was very prudent that Shen Yu had put on two locks while bathing!

Seeing the door blocked, the woman turned to try to escape through the window, but Fang Rui’s sword was faster and directly thrust toward her. She sidestepped, struck the door, and immediately dodged to the side.

She squinted at Shen Yu and snarled viciously, “So you were trying to stall me!”

But apparently she realized it too late. Her bodyguard was already back.

Shen Yu quickly put on her clothes, looked at Fang Rui, and repeated, “She knows my identity!”

Fang Rui heard this, let his gaze fall on the woman and surveyed her. He suddenly sneered, “It seems Huyan Suoyun, though a person of the righteous path, keeps a pack of scoundrel friends.”

The woman, upon hearing this, flashed a feral light in her eyes and snarled, “So you know who I am.”

Fang Rui stepped in front of Shen Yu and coldly laughed, “Poison Scorpion Lady. Who doesn’t know your name?”

Fang Rui had seen the Poison Scorpion Lady when he once roamed the jianghu in a previous life and remembered her for her peculiar appearance: ordinary women lacking eyebrows would paint delicate ones, but this Poison Scorpion Lady had hers shaved off. She was not beautiful to begin with, perhaps around thirty, and after shaving off those brows her image was unforgettable.

Her name alone, Poison Scorpion Lady, meant she was clearly no good person. Though a woman herself, she took pleasure in tormenting young, beautiful women.

The Poison Scorpion Lady didn’t kill these women directly, yet countless women, unable to endure her torture, chose to take their own lives. The Poison Scorpion Lady had no idea how many deaths she had indirectly caused.

The Empress Dowager, who held great power, undoubtedly had much blood on her hands, and for acts of murder she naturally made use of people from the Jianghu. It was not surprising that among her subordinates were people like the Poison Scorpion Lady.

The Poison Scorpion Lady curled her lip in derision and sneered, “Since you know who I am, why don’t you get out of the way quickly!”

Fang Rui glanced at Shen Yu. Seeing she was dressed, he didn’t have to worry about her anymore. He raised the soft sword and said, “Do you think that if you know what you shouldn’t know I’ll let you go?”

The Poison Scorpion Lady’s gaze swept over Shen Yu and then returned to the masked Fang Rui, she retorted, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll shout right now that the dignified Minister of Ceremonies Shen Yu is a woman?!”

In an instant Fang Rui thrust his sword at the Poison Scorpion Lady, radiating a killing intent. She dodged, but the soft sword weaved like a swimming dragon, its tip moving with her every direction.

“If you shout, first see whether you can even live until they verify Shen Yu’s true identity,” he said, deftly turning the soft sword, leaving a slash of blood on the Poison Scorpion Lady’s cheek.

The Poison Scorpion Lady truly did not dare to shout now. She had come on Lord Cui’s orders to steal the key. If she had stolen the key without alerting anyone to Shen Yu’s gender, she could have reported it to Lord Cui. But now the cat was out of the bag. She was merely a small figure in the jianghu, and if others wanted to kill her it would be very easy.

Realizing she couldn’t defeat Fang Rui, she retreated repeatedly and wisely surrendered, retreating as she spoke, “I can keep secret that Shen Yu is a woman, and I can also tell you who sent me to steal the key, so don’t kill me!”

Fang Rui gave a cold laugh. “People like you have no credibility. Besides, even if you don’t tell me, I already know who sent you.”

The Poison Scorpion Lady’s eyes went cold. It seemed there was no reasoning with him. When her gaze returned to Shen Yu, she began to contemplate.

Although the struggle in the bathroom had been loud, because the aim was to steal the key, Cui Hao had long since ordered the constables at Shen Yu’s residence to be transferred away, so after fighting for quite a while no one came.

After retreating several steps, the Poison Scorpion Lady suddenly fled toward the already opened window. Fang Rui would not allow her to escape and struck at her relentlessly, so she was at a disadvantage. When he pressed for her life, she kicked the screen beside the bathing tub toward Fang Rui to momentarily halt his pursuit, then reached out with her claws toward Shen Yu.

Shen Yu, seeing the Poison Scorpion Lady strike at her, was slightly startled and stepped back several times.

Panic appeared in Shen Yu’s eyes, but just as the Poison Scorpion Lady’s hand was about to touch her, the woman’s hand suddenly froze halfway, her eyes bulged horrifically as if they would pop from their sockets, her expression clearly one of utter disbelief.

The soft sword pierced directly through the Poison Scorpion Lady’s chest.

Shen Yu’s face went ashen as she watched the Poison Scorpion Lady collapse to the ground before her, her eyes wide and unseeing.

Fang Rui withdrew his sword, stepped over the body without a word, and swept Shen Yu into his arms. His voice trembled slightly, “You’re all right, that’s what matters.”

Shen Yu had served as an official for years and had overseen many executions, so she had seen many deaths. Her pallor wasn’t because the Poison Scorpion Lady died before her, but because before the death she had nearly been taken hostage by the woman.

In just a moment Shen Yu calmed and, expressionless, pushed Fang Rui away. “Put your hand back where it belongs!”

Fang Rui’s hand had, in the confusion, again rested on her waist! She was not some ordinary girl who would lose her mind at every threat to life.

Fang Rui released Shen Yu, and while admiring her composure he let his gaze drop below her neck and awkwardly said, “Put your clothes on properly.”

After saying this he turned to look at the Poison Scorpion Lady’s corpse. She still clutched the key in her hand. Fang Rui narrowed his eyes. Beneath his mask his expression was icy, and killing intent flashed in his eyes.

They were increasingly not treating him, the emperor, with respect. They had dared to even come after his Shen Yu.

He bent down, lifted the corpse with one hand, glanced at Shen Yu, and said, “Finish dressing and then come out.”

Then he opened the door and carried the corpse out of the bathroom. Each step was terrifyingly imposing. He was clearly going to settle the score.

Shen Yu looked down at her still-disheveled clothes. She’d been hurried and had not bound her chest beneath. She waited until Fang Rui carried the corpse out, then quickly tidied her garments and chased after him.

By the time Shen Yu caught up and reached the main hall of the Court of Judicial Review, a large group of constables had already gathered, flames leaping high. Though many in number, they were eerily quiet. When Shen Yu arrived, everyone instinctively made a path for her.

Shen Yu pushed through the crowd and saw Cui Hao and Huyan Suoyun standing on the steps, while Fang Rui, dressed all in black, stood below. One could not see his expression or eyes, but his mere presence suppressed everyone.

Hearing footsteps from behind, Fang Rui turned and, seeing Shen Yu had arrived, immediately raised his right hand, clenched his fist, then released it. A key tied with a red cord dropped from his hand.

Seeing this, Cui Hao, who had already considered the worst, thought it better to act first than be controlled. But Huyan Suoyun was quicker. He stepped forward, turned, and knelt directly before Cui Hao.

Cui Hao had not expected Huyan Suoyun to suddenly kneel and was momentarily stunned. He asked, “Prison warden Huyan, what are you doing?!”

Though kneeling, Huyan Suoyun still held his back straight, his expression was as stiff as ever as he confessed, “My lord, I am guilty.”

Huyan Suoyun kneeling caught Shen Yu by surprise. She had been suspicious earlier. Cui Hao came in daylight asking her for the key to Chen Chi’s cell, and now at night someone came to steal the key. There was no need for further doubt: the thief could be confirmed as sent by Cui Hao.

Fang Rui’s eyes narrowed slightly and a mocking smile crossed his face. Indeed, this was quite a show.

“I have heard outsiders gossiping about you, saying that when you ordered Chen Chi held separately you actually swapped the criminal and that the one locked in the cell is not Chen Chi. They slandered you. To prove your innocence, I had no choice but to resort to this measure and have someone steal Lord Shen’s key,” Huyan Suoyun declared.

Cui Hao reacted quickly. With Huyan Suoyun taking the blame for him, his expression at once became indescribable. “Prison warden Huyan, how could you be so foolish!” he exclaimed.

The two were putting on a show, and Fang Rui did not intend to expose them then. After all, someone had already confessed and there was no proof that Huyan Suoyun acted on Cui Hao’s orders to send someone to steal Shen Yu’s key.

Fang Rui snorted coldly and said, “If you all want to see whether the person in the cell is indeed Chen Chi, then just inspect him. Why use such low methods?”

When Shen Yu heard Fang Rui tell them to have the cell inspected to confirm whether the person inside was Chen Chi, she was shocked and hurried to his side, whispering, “Jia Ming!”

Fang Rui turned to Shen Yu. Though she couldn’t see his expression, he smiled at her and his tone softened from harsh to mild, “While current rumors point to Lord Cui, it was you who asked to have the criminal held separately, and there was only one key that’s been with you the whole time. If something truly happened, you would be hard to absolve. It’s better to let them inspect now, to prevent lingering suspicions.”

Shen Yu frowned slightly, a faint, barely noticeable doubt in her eyes. After thinking for a moment she looked at Cui Hao and said expressionlessly, “Inspect the cell then.”

Shen Yu then turned and walked toward the cells, with Fang Rui closely following.

Watching their backs, Cui Hao’s face soured. Shen Yu’s straightforward agreement made him wonder, could Chen Chi still be in the cell and not swapped?

Huyan Suoyun stood and followed alongside Cui Hao. Cui Hao looked at the two ahead and lowered his voice to ask, “How has the security around the cell been these past days?”

“My lord, it’s been airtight.”

Cui Hao’s steps faltered then continued, his eyes full of thought.

That shouldn’t be the case. Why did Shen Yu insist on Chen Chi being held separately, and why did she repeatedly prevent him from checking the cell during the day?

He narrowed his eyes slightly and thought of a possibility, his heart suddenly filled with dread.

Could Shen Yu really have obtained the ledgers and realized something?!

The prefect of Suozhou was truly more good at making trouble than achieving things. Dead, and yet he left behind something so important!

When they all stood outside the cell, Shen Yu stepped aside to let Fang Rui open the door. Fang Rui did not hurry to open it. Instead he turned to Cui Hao, taunting as he said, “Lord Cui, see for yourself whether the person inside is Chen Chi.”

Seeing Cui Hao’s grim expression, Fang Rui snorted inwardly.

They unlocked the cell; the person sitting cross-legged on the stone bed did not move, appearing asleep. A messy shock of half-white hair covered their face so completely one could not tell whether this was Chen Chi.

Not a flicker crossed Shen Yu’s face. She coldly glanced at Cui Hao and said, “The person is here. Lord Cui, inspect him yourself.”

Cui Hao instructed the two constables beside him, “You two go check.”

The two jailers obeyed and approached to examine the person on the bed, but that person suddenly spoke.

“I wonder what brings the two lords here so late?” he said, then raised his hand and swept aside the hair that had covered his face, revealing a gaunt face.

It was undoubtedly Chen Chi.

Shen Yu had suspected that Jia Ming had not swapped the prisoner, but seeing Chen Chi still in the cell with her own eyes, she couldn’t help but be surprised.

After such an uproar that night, they still hadn’t swapped him? What on earth was that man thinking?!

At the moment he saw Chen Chi, Cui Hao’s suspicions deepened and a thought sprang up: perhaps these rumors were spread by Shen Yu to mislead him. Perhaps even the theft of his seal and the destruction of the plaque were Shen Yu’s plotting, to provoke him into acting rashly. What a deep schemer he must be!

Shen Yu did not know that as she pondered why Jia Ming had not swapped the prisoner, Cui Hao in the cell had placed a grand accusation upon her.

Shen Yu ignored Chen Chi and instead looked at Cui Hao with sharp eyes and asked, “You’ve seen him now. Is that sufficient for you?!”

Cui Hao’s gaze flickered and he put on an apologetic expression, “Lord Shen, I apologize for frightening you this evening.”

He then scolded Huyan Suoyun, “Prison warden Huyan, do you know what crime you have committed tonight?!”

Huyan Suoyun stepped forward, bowed his head and said, “I am willing to accept your punishment, my lord.”

“Ordering a night raid on the bathroom, stealing my key, and colluding with a court criminal. You know well how serious this crime is. Lord Cui, you wouldn’t show favoritism, would you?” Shen Yu enumerated Huyan Suoyun’s offenses one by one, her gaze pressing on Cui Hao.

Cui Hao nodded faintly and replied, “Whoever errs must face the corresponding punishment.”

Shen Yu glanced at Huyan Suoyun and said, “Good.” Then she swept her sleeve and left the cell first.

Fang Rui looked at everyone and teased, “Are you all staying behind because you wish to have a cozy chat with the criminal?”

The crowd hesitated then left the cell. Fang Rui was the last to go, his gaze settling on Chen Chi, still unmoved on the stone bed, and the corner of his lip curled.

It would be better to cooperate willingly; What he feared was someone making a last-ditch struggle when death approached.

After locking the cell he returned to Shen Yu’s room and opened the door to find her sitting at the table with her lips pressed tight, her wrists on the tabletop, staring steadily at the entering Fang Rui.

He had already guessed Shen Yu would be waiting, so seeing her serious expression he showed no surprise.

He went to sit opposite her, took two cups, filled two cups full of tea, pushed one toward Shen Yu, lifted his own, sipped, set it down, and calmly said, “If you have questions, ask them.”

Shen Yu pushed aside the tea Fang Rui had poured for her, a trace of anger on her face. “If you didn’t swap the man, why didn’t you tell me?!”

When she had heard him tell Cui Hao to go ahead and inspect the cell, Shen Yu had already guessed he had not followed her plan. Such outward compliance and inward defiance stoked her anger.

He remained the most shameless person she had ever met. Threatening her was one thing, but he constantly teased and toyed with her, and that flame in her heart never died down.

He pushed the tea back to Shen Yu with a breezy tone, “Have some tea and cool off first.”

Shen Yu glared at him and said, “If Chen Chi dies in the cell today, will you be held accountable?!”

Fang Rui chuckled twice. Seeing Shen Yu still wouldn’t drink, he took the cup and emptied it in one gulp, then, in an inscrutable tone, said, “Surely I wouldn’t let my wife take risks, would I?”

Without thinking Shen Yu picked up the tea cup on the table and hurled it at Fang Rui. He barely moved aside and the cup flew past him to the door, hitting it but not breaking. It only shattered with a crack when it hit the floor.

“Alright, alright, I won’t call you ‘wife’ and don’t be so furious. I only thought that when you proposed holding the man separately, people might not suspect at first, but as time passed suspicions would inevitably rise.”

“Let them suspect if they will! I asked you to help so you could swap the man!” This was the Emperor’s order!

“Calm down. I even got hurt putting on this whole ‘mantis stalks the cicada while the oriole waits behind’ act for you, and I haven’t seen you be kind to me even for a moment,” Fang Rui said with a hint of plaintive grievance.

This was what infuriated Shen Yu most: though he had not followed the plan and acted alone, he had been wounded so severely, yet she accused him of not trying hard enough.

Now that things had come to this, words were useless. The Emperor had given her half a month to investigate Chen Chi. Nine days had passed and six remained, so time was pressing. They could only speed up the interrogation of Chen Chi.

She shot the man across from her a cool look that said, “Shut up,” and then called toward the door, “Zhou He.”

Outside the door, the retainer called Zhou He replied, “My lord, what is your command?”

“Make preparations. Tomorrow we will open the court and try Chen Chi.”

“Yes, my lord.”

As the footsteps outside receded, he withdrew his attention and looked at Shen Yu’s face, asking, “You can’t wait? I thought you’d interrogate him on the last day.”

“I don’t want to speak with you now. If you can, please leave. If you won’t leave, then please be quiet.” She tried to restrain herself from provoking him, but his very presence and every action somehow incited her.

Fang Rui raised both hands and crossed two fingers in front of his mouth as a gesture that he would be quiet.

With no way to handle him, Shen Yu issued one last warning, “If you dare lie on my bed again, I’ll let you die in my….” Suddenly recalling what he had said during his last teasing, she couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

Last time Fang Rui had said that if he had to die, he wanted to die on her bed, die on her…

She looked up and saw Fang Rui’s chin lift slightly. Even through the veil she felt the burning gaze beneath it, as if he were waiting for her to finish the sentence.

“You rogue!” Shameless!

Shen Yu felt that one day she might not be able to hold back and would kill someone with her own hands. This man in front of her was always provoking her, always pressuring her to take up a weapon and kill him.

Her shout of “rogue” made Fang Rui laugh aloud, “I’m the only one to whom you can show the gentle demeanor of a woman.”

When Fang Rui finished, Shen Yu suddenly fell silent. After a moment, expressionless, she told him, “Either be quiet or leave.”

She stood, walked to the desk, sat again, opened the book she had not finished reading today and turned page after page. It was so quiet one could only hear the sound of Shen Yu turning pages.

Fang Rui swallowed and let his gaze rest on Shen Yu. Once quiet, he had time to think about things he hadn’t had time for earlier, those sordid thoughts.

His mind replayed the hurried moment he had come back to save Shen Yu. The fleeting glance at her exquisite figure haunted him: the white robe clung as if she wore nothing, and with his keen sight he could vaguely see two pale red blossoms atop two snowy peaks, a slender waist, those long…

His eyes beneath the veil were deep and, beyond his control, swept over Shen Yu from head to toe.

Suddenly his nose warmed and he felt a hot flow coming out. This familiar sensation, just like when he last peeped at Shen Yu bathing. In plain terms, he was having a nosebleed.

Shen Yu’s mind was entirely on how to interrogate Chen Chi tomorrow and she did not notice the wolf in sheep’s clothing watching her, always ready to tear her apart.

Fang Rui’s mouth was parched. Cup after cup of tea did not quench his thirst. If anything his mouth grew drier. In the end the teapot had not a drop left.

With a rustle he stood up, the chair scraping. Shen Yu, who had been focused, frowned and looked up toward Fang Rui at the sound.

Fang Rui fanned himself with his hand and said irritably, “It’s exceptionally warm tonight, I’ll step out for a walk.”

Shen Yu couldn’t have wished him gone faster and replied, “Go on, leave quickly.”

Fang Rui had never left Shen Yu’s room in such a hurry. Tonight he was especially impatient, and Shen Yu couldn’t understand why.

Fang Rui had fallen asleep very late last night and dreamed of Shen Yu. In a previous life he had often dreamt of Shen Yu too, but back then Shen Yu in his dreams had been male and beneath him…

Naturally the position had not changed, only Shen Yu had transformed from man to woman, and the flat plain became hills. In the dream Fang Rui did everything to Shen Yu that he had wanted to do but had not yet managed.

The next day, with the sky only just lightening, Fang Rui awoke and, listening to the chirping birds outside, sat on the bed and covered his face with his hand.

He had dreamed the whole night. For his body not to have reacted was nearly impossible, and his reaction embarrassed him greatly.

Last night he had gotten on a horse and…ran with it…

As an emperor, to have reached this point… Forget his father - even his imperial grandfather would likely be so furious he’d kick open his own coffin in the mausoleum, crawl out, and give him a beating, scolding him a worthless man who couldn’t even win a wife.

He got up, changed into dry clothes, donned his mask, and left the room in a somewhat dejected manner. As he was closing the door he faintly heard the name “Huyan” from afar.

He thought for a moment, then focused and listened more intently.

“Is the prison warden really locked up by the lord?!”

“He was locked up last night. You think our lord could avoid doing that? That Shen Yu is the Emperor’s favored person. The criminal in the cell, just before having his cap removed, was still impeaching Shen Yu. If he hadn’t targeted Shen Yu so often, how could the Emperor have unmasked his crimes right then?”

“We needn’t worry who was detained, just do our own duty.”

After hearing the two constables, Fang Rui was not the least surprised.

The mistake Huyan Suoyun had made was not a capital one, nor one warranting a severe demotion. It depended on how Cui Hao handled it after locking him up. To preserve himself without losing a capable subordinate, Cui Hao would certainly try to clear himself first and then exonerate Huyan Suoyun. This was beyond doubt.

Putting thoughts of Huyan Suoyun and Cui Hao aside, and taking advantage of the early hour when things were still dim and people half-asleep, Fang Rui went to the outer wall, looked left and right, and seeing no one stepped back a few paces, then in a few quick strides put a foot on the stone beneath the wall and vaulted over it.

…

The hearing for Chen Chi was scheduled after 8am. Shen Yu was only a supervising official, not the presiding officer, so this trial would be led by Court of Judicial Review Minister Cui Hao. Shen Yu had not seen Fang Rui before the court opened. Not just this morning, in fact. After he said he was going for a walk last night he had not returned to her room nor had anyone seen him outside.

Previously before sleeping Shen Yu could always see him leaning against the trunk of the begonia tree in the yard, sitting in the branches. But last night before she slept she did not see that man’s figure in the tree.

Shen Yu did not think much of it. After all, he was a free man and did not owe her an explanation for where he went.

Just as the court opened, a constable rushed in, his expression flurried and panicked. Shen Yu, who despised panicked people, frowned and asked, “What is the hurry?”

The constable reported, “My lord, Grand Steward Rong Tai from the palace has arrived.”

Shen Yu was slightly stunned and rose from the observer’s seat. Cui Hao also stood up from his position.

Just as they were about to go out to welcome him, Rong Tai, clad in black embroidered with golden flying-fish patterns, entered the main trial hall through the front gate, and everyone’s eyes fell upon him.

Rong Tai smiled at Cui Hao and Shen Yu, and then said, “You two needn’t mind me, I did not come because of the Chen Chi case.”

Cui Hao and Shen Yu had both assumed Rong Tai was here because the Emperor remained unconvinced about the Chen Chi case, so hearing he had not come for that left them puzzled.

Cui Hao asked first, “Then Grand Steward, what business brings you to the Court of Judicial Review?”

After smiling, Rong Tai’s expression grew flat and he replied, “After you finish trying Chen Chi we can speak further. I’ll just sit aside and observe, don’t pay me too much mind.”

Cui Hao nearly choked on his own blood upon hearing this. Shen Yu alone made him tremble with anxiety. He feared Chen Chi might say something during questioning that he shouldn’t. Now Rong Tai added to the danger, because both men were the Emperor’s favorites. If Chen Chi misspoke and aroused their suspicion, they would hand the matter over to the Empress Dowager for punishment. “Don’t pay me mind”? He paid very, very close attention!

Cui Hao suddenly regretted not having quietly removed Chen Chi when Shen Yu first came to the Court of Judicial Review. But he feared Chen Chi’s holdings, after all. Every corrupt official feared having their deeds exposed someday and kept a contingency to save their life if things unraveled. Chen Chi was no exception.

Otherwise, when Chen Chi was captured the higher-ups would have ordered his immediate elimination rather than planning for him to ‘kill himself out of guilt.’ But saying this now seemed too late.

Yet Cui Hao was ninety percent confident Chen Chi would not blab recklessly. After all, Chen Chi’s wife and children were still under his control. Unless Chen Chi didn’t care about their lives, he wouldn’t speak out of turn.

Cui Hao had someone show Rong Tai to his seat, then ordered Chen Chi to be brought forward.

Meanwhile, elsewhere Fang Rui’s clothes were somewhat rumpled as he drove a carriage, followed by two mounted guards. They all carried an unwashed scent of blood.

Driving the horses, Fang Rui heard a child in the carriage trembling as he spoke to his mother, “Mother, I’m afraid.”

Then a woman’s comforting voice replied, “Mother’s here, don’t be afraid.”

Fang Rui slowed the carriage slightly, watched the road ahead, and told those in the carriage, “Don’t worry, I’ve promised you and I will fulfill it.”

After Fang Rui finished speaking, silence fell in the carriage again.

After settling the people, Fang Rui hurried back to the Court of Judicial Review and arrived closer to 11am. The court was in session when, strikingly, someone strode through the main gate. Rong Tai, who had just taken a sip of tea, nearly spewed it out upon seeing his tightly wrapped sovereign enter the hall. He swallowed, face reddening, forcing down the urge.

This! Was! Really! His! Majesty?!

The appearance truly startled Rong Tai. Though he had never seen the Emperor in night clothes and a mask, he had prepared those garments and had served the Emperor for over a decade. His stature and gait were imprinted in Rong Tai’s mind, so at a glance he recognized his sovereign.

Watching his sovereign swagger to stand behind Shen Yu, Rong Tai looked away. After all, before him the Emperor remained supremely wise, but in front of Shen Yu… he did not wish to comment further.

As Fang Rui walked, a faint jingle of bells sounded from him. Everyone watched as he approached Shen Yu, including Chen Chi, who saw a black cord at his waist with a piece of black jade attached. But Chen Chi’s gaze was not on the jade. It was on the three tiny bell beads hanging from the jade tassel, the size of red beans, delicate and distinctive.

Upon seeing the little bells, Chen Chi’s expression suddenly relaxed considerably.

Cui Hao, who had always disliked Fang Rui for spoiling his plans, was infuriated that he barged in without a word. His face darkened. He slammed the judge’s gavel down with a crack and sternly scolded, “I am still presiding! How dare you stride in so brazenly! You have no respect for me, this is contempt for the court!”

As Cui Hao angrily berated Fang Rui, Chen Chi, who had been kneeling silently, suddenly looked up and addressed Cui Hao, “My lord, I, the guilty one, have words to say.”

Everyone’s attention had been on Fang Rui, but Chen Chi’s declaration that he had something to say drew everyone’s focus to him.

With attention no longer on the man behind her, Shen Yu glanced at Chen Chi and lowered her voice to ask, “Where did you go?”

Fang Rui, standing behind, curled his lips slightly and said, “I’ll explain it to you later.”

Shen Yu, hearing this, did not pursue the question and returned her attention to the trial.

Cui Hao, certain Chen Chi would not speak recklessly, took a deep breath, steadied himself and said to the kneeling man, “Speak.”

Under a dozen or so gazes, Chen Chi lifted his chin and straightened his back. Though filthy and with disordered hair, he gave the impression of someone who had bent his back all his life and now finally straightened his spine.

“I, Chen Chi, have embezzled and taken bribes and treated lives like grass. This is true. But these deeds were not done by me alone.”

As soon as Chen Chi finished, Cui Hao widened his eyes considerably then noticed his own lapse and quickly masked his shock, leaving only a trace of surprise. He told Chen Chi, “You better think carefully before you speak. If you dare slander any innocent person, I will not spare you.”

Chen Chi showed not an ounce of fear. He enunciated slowly and clearly, “The Ministry of War, Deputy Minister Lu Shangqing.”

When Chen Chi named the Ministry of War’s Deputy Minister Lu Shangqing, Fang Rui’s mouth curled more beneath his mask, with a trace of extreme coldness.

Cui Hao was secretly startled. He couldn’t fathom why Chen Chi had named only Lu Shangqing of the Ministry of War. For now, however, he could not allow him to continue naming others!

Looking at Chen Chi, Cui Hao continued, “Do you have any evidence to prove that Deputy Minister Lu Shangqing of the Ministry of War colluded with you?”

“Under an osmanthus tree in my courtyard there is an iron box buried. Inside that box are all the incriminating documents of Minister Lu.”

Hearing Chen Chi, Cui Hao’s heart was struck with alarm. If there was incriminating evidence, how could it possibly implicate only Lu Shangqing!

He thought to himself that that iron box must be brought into his possession first, or he might even become implicated.

Cui Hao only assumed Chen Chi had named Lu Shangqing to seek leniency, completely unaware there was another reason.

And this reason was something he had not foreseen.

Chen Chi had now revealed where the evidence was stored. It seemed like a deliberate attempt to alarm the enemy, but it was not. What plan lay behind it, likely only Fang Rui himself understood.