Early the next morning, both Chu Huaishan and Cao Yang were summoned to the palace.
Chu Ruoyan knew this was to make it easier for Prince Yu to apprehend people, but she paid it no mind and stayed in the courtyard playing with the dog.
Not long after, the chasing and running Fubao stopped and barked twice towards the gate.
Immediately after, Prince Yu entered, accompanied by the Minister of Justice, Dou Sicheng, the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, and two young censors. His tone was sarcastic: "The County Mistress of Changle is certainly in high spirits. With such a pressing crisis at hand, she still has the leisure for amusement."
Chu Ruoyan smiled, tossing the leather ball in her hand lightly. "What, is Your Highness Prince Yu, at your venerable age, also interested in trying?"
Prince Yu, watching Fubao get excited by her actions, was furious. "You dare compare this prince to a dog?"
"I wouldn't dare. Those are your own words."
Prince Yu sneered. "The County Mistress is truly quick with her tongue. This prince wonders if you will remain as composed once we reach the Court of Judicial Review."
"The Court of Judicial Review?"
"Indeed. By His Majesty's decree, I am investigating the massacre of the Xue family! The sole survivor, Xue Baiqing, has testified that you were the one who ordered the arson that day, County Mistress of Changle. You will come with me now."
Hearing his confident declaration, Chu Ruoyan almost laughed. Prince Yu barked, "What? Would you dare defy the imperial decree?"
"No, it's just that Changle finds it somewhat amusing..." She shook her head with a light laugh. "Setting aside the question of when the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review began handling cases so carelessly, let's talk about you, Prince Yu. If you truly escort this County Mistress to the Court of Judicial Review, I'm afraid you will have a hard time explaining yourself."
"What nonsense are you spouting? This prince acts on my imperial brother's decree. What is there to explain?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a young eunuch rushed in. Prince Yu recognized him as the adopted son of Yin Shun.
The young eunuch announced, "Prince Yu, His Majesty has issued an oral decree: You must treat the County Mistress of Changle with utmost courtesy. The Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice are places of darkness and intrigue. She should not go there unless absolutely necessary..."
"What? Am I interrogating a criminal or an ancestor? Is my imperial brother—"
Prince Yu forcibly swallowed the words "senile and confused." He turned to glare at Chu Ruoyan, utterly baffled.
Why could she be so calm and collected, as if she had already anticipated the Emperor would protect her?
A faint smile flickered at the corner of Chu Ruoyan's lips.
This emperor wasn't completely foolish. Her husband was currently at war with the southern barbarians. Even if the sky fell, before Yan Zheng returned to the capital, or even before he handed over his military authority, the emperor wouldn't dare touch her.
As for why he had sent Prince Yu to arrest her yesterday, it was mostly for Consort Xue's benefit.
“His Majesty also said that although the Xue family case is serious, we must avoid excessive implications, lest we chill the hearts of meritorious officials. The appropriate degree in this matter should be left to Minister Dou to judge.”
Dou Sicheng hurriedly bowed, his mind clear as a mirror.
The Emperor wanted a loud thunderclap but only a light drizzle!
It was no wonder. The Chief Minister was fighting at the front. If his wife were arrested, what if he turned his army around and marched back?
"Prince Yu, what is your view?" he tentatively asked. Prince Yu, finally realizing the emperor had used him as a pawn, snorted coldly. "Handle it as you see fit!"
Dou Sicheng stepped forward. "County Mistress, you heard His Majesty's oral decree. This is essentially to give the Xue family some closure. Perhaps you could think carefully: is there any ungrateful, disloyal servant in your household? Hand them over, and everyone can be satisfied."
Hearing this, the two young censors frowned deeply. One of them could barely restrain himself from shouting in protest.
What was this? Finding a scapegoat?
Chu Ruoyan looked at him quietly for a moment, then raised her lips slightly. "Anyone will do?"
Dou Sicheng shook his head. "I'm afraid it must be someone close to you. Otherwise, with so many dead in the Xue family, it wouldn't be a sufficient explanation."
With that casual remark, the truth of the Xue family sank like a stone to the bottom of the sea, never to surface again.
Chu Ruoyan felt a pang of awe at the terror of imperial power, her expression growing even more detached. "That's impossible."
Dou Sicheng was taken aback. She continued, "Because I did not kill the Xue family members."
Silence fell over the courtyard. Prince Yu spoke as if hearing a joke. "Not you? Then why would a blind child like Xue Baiqing accuse you? Chu Ruoyan, don't push your luck. His Majesty has already been magnanimous and is not pursuing you. Hand someone over obediently, and we won't waste any more time here!"
Chu Ruoyan frowned slightly but didn't argue with him. Instead, she asked Dou Sicheng, "Where is Stone Deputy Minister? Yesterday, when he took Young Master Xue away, he witnessed someone framing this County Mistress!"
Dou Sicheng said, "He..."
He had barely started when Prince Yu, seemingly out of patience, interrupted, "Why waste words with her? Just arrest someone and be done with it!" He scanned the courtyard and pointed at Nanny Zhou. "Her! Take her away!"
The officers instantly rushed forward and seized Nanny Zhou.
Chu Ruoyan rose in shock and anger, but Nanny Zhou said, "Young mistress, don't worry about this old servant. Take care of your own health!"
Chu Ruoyan would not listen. She fixed a cold stare on Prince Yu. "If you dare take her away today, I guarantee you won't leave this courtyard alive!"
As her words fell, a sharp, palpable killing intent swept towards him, startling Prince Yu into a shudder.
He immediately jumped back. "Protect me! Protect me!"
The officers quickly formed a protective circle around him, throwing the scene into chaos.
Dou Sicheng hurriedly shouted, "County Mistress, she's just a servant! It's not worth this! Perhaps... perhaps choose another?"
His gaze first fell on Yulu, then shifted to a maid holding a tray nearby.
The maid fell to her knees with a thud, terrified. "Have mercy, my lord! Have mercy, County Mistress! This servant knows nothing! Nothing at all!!"
The two censors could bear it no longer and were about to speak when a sigh came from outside the courtyard gate. "Your Highness, what crime have the servants committed? If someone must be taken to bear the blame, then let Roumin go."
Everyone turned to look. There stood Princess Roumin, holding Xue Baiqing's hand.
A gray film covered her eyes, and the child she led also kept his eyes tightly shut. The sight of a weak woman and a young child, both blind, spurred the two censors to speak out indignantly. "Princess Roumin shows noble righteousness! How can the unjust case of the entire Xue family be allowed to sink without a trace?"
"Indeed! Even His Majesty cannot disregard the laws of the state! No matter that the County Mistress of Changle is the wife of a powerful minister, she cannot escape justice because of it! We will submit memorials upon our return. We would rather die in remonstrance to beg His Majesty to reconsider!"
This scene was beyond everyone's expectations. Chu Ruoyan looked at the hand holding Xue Baiqing, a mocking smile on her lips. "Princess Roumin, do you feel no guilt?"
Annihilating an entire family, then appearing in the guise of a benefactor.
It was truly nauseating!
Yet Roumin continued her hypocritical performance. "County Mistress, Roumin knows that because of the matter with Madam Cao, you deeply resent the Xue family. But they have already been punished. Why must you exterminate the entire family, not even sparing a child?"
Chu Ruoyan let out a cold laugh, picked up a teacup, and hurled it at her.
Roumin, with her excellent hearing, instinctively let go upon hearing the cup flying towards her.
Crash!
The teacup shattered into pieces, and the joined hands separated.
Xue Baiqing stood there, biting his lip. "County Mistress... is it you?"
Chu Ruoyan countered, "Do you think it's me?"
The young boy said conflictedly, "I... I don't know either... I only heard them say it was you, but I didn't see... I can't see..."
His childish voice was full of sorrow and confusion, stirring pity in all who heard it.
At that moment, Shi Hong strode in. Seeing the situation, he was taken aback. "Why is Young Master Xue here as well? And Princess Roumin... But this is fortuitous. The Xue family murder case has been clarified! Prince Yu, Lord Dou, this case has nothing to do with County Princess Changle!!"
