Chaрtеr 18: То thе Ministry of Justiсе
“What arе we going thеrе fоr?”
Тhоugh susрicious, Zhu Yаn obediently followеd Shеn Du, evеn mounting thе hоrsе withоut hesitаtiоn аftеr а glanсe from him.
Onlу whеn Shen Du sеttled behind her did Zhu Yаn realizе how naturаllу shе hаd just асtеd, feeling а suddеn flush of еmbаrrаssment. Shе tried tо shift fоrward slightly, but wаs unеxрectedlу encirclеd bу thе man bеhind her as he rеасhed аrоund tо tаkе thе reins.
“I nеvеr eхpеcted thаt aftеr shаring а ride just оnсе, mу wife would be sо unreserved.”
Beсause of thе casе at Wеstеrn Brightnеss Temple, many curious onlookers had gathered there. Zhu Yan suddenly understood—Shen Du was deliberately making a spectacle to dispel rumors through public gossip. Her urge to retort faded slightly, though she still cared about her dignity and attempted to cover her face a little.
Once past the marketplace, the horse suddenly picked up speed. Zhu Yan, who had been covering her face, lost her balance and leaned forward, grabbing Shen Du’s arm for support. This earned a light chuckle from the man behind her.
“You!” Zhu Yan turned to scold him, but just then the horse halted abruptly, throwing her directly into Shen Du’s embrace. Her forehead struck the golden armor on his chest, leaving a bruise and making her dizzy. She could only lean weakly against him.
“Me what? My wife hadn’t finished what she was saying earlier?”
Shen Du’s voice came from above. Zhu Yan steadied herself, touching her forehead to find a large swelling already formed. Raising her eyes, she saw the teasing glint in Shen Du’s gaze, and her expression instantly turned cold.
“Great Pavilion Commander, you fear me because of Minister Zhang, but have I ever harmed you to this day? If not for our childhood bond, I might not have been willing to marry you. You wanted to control public opinion, and I cooperated. I even put aside the humiliation you inflicted before the wedding sedan. We bear no grudges against each other. I don’t expect a harmonious union lasting a hundred years, but I ask that you cease these pointless actions from now on. Let us not interfere with each other.”
The woman’s almond-shaped round eyes were clearly filled with anger, her brows knitted in indignation as she forcefully accused him of his past behavior, each word sharp and clear.
Shen Du lowered his gaze, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: “You are now the rightful Lady Shen. You should also know that once you’ve entered this game, there is no choice of retreating unscathed.”
A flicker of helplessness in the man’s eyes was like a sudden crack in a sheet of ice, strikingly visible amidst the pure white. Zhu Yan even wondered if she was hallucinating, seeing such emotion in this bloodthirsty White King of Hell.
That slender youth in white robes, leaning against a vermilion pillar reading scrolls, seemed to exist only in fleeting memories now.
Zhu Yan lowered her eyes, dismounted, and asked softly with her back to Shen Du.
“Shen Du, do people ultimately change?”
The wind swept through the clouds, brushing against her face with a dry harshness. Perhaps it was sand blown into her eyes, but Zhu Yan suddenly felt a sting in her nose. Without waiting for Shen Du’s reply, she walked straight ahead. “The Ministry of Justice isn’t far from here. I’ll walk.”
The woman’s slender figure gradually disappeared from sight, her thin back held straight, her green robes fluttering faintly. Shen Du suddenly realized that apart from her wedding attire, Zhu Yan never seemed to wear the bright pinks and yellows favored by other women.
Shen Du pressed his lips together lightly, his narrow eyes regaining their usual cool detachment. He urged his horse forward, galloping past her side.
Wu Taiming, the chief clerk of the Ministry of Justice, was still investigating the case at Western Brightness Temple, leaving only a vice minister to oversee duties at the ministry. Who would have thought they would end up welcoming the merciless White King of Hell?
When Gao Chengxue heard that name from the gatekeeper, he was so frightened he sprang up from his chair."Grand... Grand Commander Shen?"
This White King of Hell usually didn't even spare a glance at the Six Ministries, nor did he hold the Court of Judicial Review in any regard. If he hadn't just married Zhu Liuniang a few days ago, Gao Xuecheng would have suspected that this lord had come with a great blade to cut someone down.
The moment Shen Du stepped into the main hall, Gao Xuecheng descended from the high seat. At a glance, he noticed the sword at Shen Du's waist, its scabbard inlaid with green agate and pearls, and his legs began to tremble. Yet, his expression remained composed, feigning a flattering demeanor.
"Grand Commander, how does a noble such as yourself find time to visit our Ministry of Justice today?"
Shen Du rubbed the thumb ring on his hand, his eyes lowered without even glancing up, but his words carried the chill of deep winter. "Am I not allowed to come?"
Gao Xuecheng was so frightened he nearly collapsed on the spot, hurriedly waving his hands. "No, no, no, Grand Commander, what are you saying? Even if you lent me a hundred times the courage, I wouldn't dare."
Shen Du had no patience for such sycophantic talk and directly stated his purpose: "I've come to request someone."
As soon as the words fell, Zhu Yan entered from outside the main hall. As if not noticing Shen Du, she walked straight toward Gao Xuecheng, bowing low with a clasped fist. "Vice Minister."
Startled, Gao Xuecheng stepped back, gesturing behind him toward Shen Du with his eyes, signaling her to quickly pay her respects. Zhu Yan understood at once that Shen Du hadn't told Vice Minister Gao they had come together, so she stepped forward and performed a proper official salute to Shen Du. "Grand Commander."
Gao Xuecheng inwardly relaxed. Having previously heard that the two didn't get along, he had feared Zhu Yan would openly clash with Shen Du right in front of him. If this lord then took his anger out on him and reported it to His Majesty, he might lose his official hat.
Fortunately, Zhu Yan seemed to understand propriety.
"Since the Grand Commander needs someone, naturally, it's easy to discuss. Why don't you tell me, and I'll go fetch them immediately?"
Request someone? Pouring herself a cup of tea, Zhu Yan frowned at Shen Du, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart. Sure enough, the next moment, she saw the corners of Shen Du's lips curl slightly. He appeared to be answering Gao Xuecheng's question, but his gaze remained fixed on her.
"No need for you to find them. She's right here."
Zhu Yan, who had been drinking tea, suddenly choked, coughing uncontrollably until her face flushed red as she looked at Shen Du. The man's slender eyes held a mocking glint, and Zhu Yan lowered her head.
Seeing her reaction, Shen Du was visibly displeased. The movement of his fingers paused as he turned directly to Gao Xuecheng.
Only now did Gao Xuecheng realize—could it be that the two had come here specifically to show off how affectionate they were as a couple? As his mind raced, he was about to praise their deep bond when he heard Zhu Yan say, "Grand Commander, the Inner Guard Bureau is full of talent. When did it become necessary for the Grand Commander to stoop so low as to come to the Ministry of Justice to request someone?"
The words he had been about to speak stuck in his throat. Gao Xuecheng glanced at Shen Du and quickly admonished, "Archivist Zhu! What are you saying? Since the Grand Commander needs someone, naturally, he has his own reasons."
Zhu Yan sighed inwardly. What Shen Du wanted wasn't a person—it was likely her life.
"Sir, this official has already been assigned by Chief Clerk Wu to assist in solving the case. Moreover, as a newly appointed official, I am unfamiliar with the rules and protocols. The case files on this desk have yet to be recorded, and I am stretched thin. I hope you will assign another capable person to handle matters at the Inner Guard Bureau."The Ministry of Justice had just hired two new female document clerks, and all the previously piled-up, unattended case files were dumped on her and Lu Chuichui. Even counting rest days, they hadn’t had a break since starting the job, yet the stacks remained as high as mountains.
How could Gao Chengxue fail to notice Zhu Yan’s reluctance? Though he didn’t know the reason, he said, “What are you talking about, Clerk Zhu? Just leave those case files to Clerk Lu—they’re not that urgent anyway. You should go with the Great Pavilion Commander now.”
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