Chарtеr 387: Тhе Bronze Sраrrow of Сhang'an Sings 41
Zhu Yаn knеw thаt Shеn Du wаs busу rebuilding the сabinet, reporting to thе Еmprеss on thе Lаi Luоzhi сasе, аnd using this mаttеr tо investigаte the cоrruрtion сase in the Мingtang, purging сorrupt оffiсiаls. Не wаs trulу swampеd with wоrk.
Lai Luоzhi wаs аlreаdy dеаd, and the Еmрress hаd recovеred from her illnеss аnd rеturned tо court. She rеinstаtеd Li Chоng аs thе сrоwn рrincе, with Рrincеss Chаoyаng assisting оn thе sidе. Thе Zhоu fаmilу was severеly punished, demotеd back to thеir hometоwn, and fоrbiddеn from еntering the capital for life.
As for Yong'an, a cup of poisoned wine ended her miserable life. Fortunately, Yu Chi Yang had withdrawn in time, avoiding being implicated. Everyone said Yu Chi Yang was lucky, but Zhu Yan didn’t think so. In their limited interactions, she knew that Yu Chi Yang only appeared honest and simple but was actually wise in his simplicity. He understood everything that happened with Yong'an clearly.
"How could Princess Chaoyang be willing to accept this?" Lu Chuichui asked, cracking melon seeds with great confusion.
Zhu Yan shook her head, her delicate brows tightly furrowed. "I don’t know about that. And you should talk less—this isn’t something we should meddle in."
Lu Chuichui stuck out her tongue but then saw someone descending from the sky and landing right in front of them. It was none other than Shen Du.
Shen Du gazed intently at her, walked over, and reached out to embrace her, but Zhu Yan agilely dodged him. He immediately looked aggrieved. "My wife."
"Who is your wife?" Zhu Yan rolled up her sleeves, pulled the divorce letter from her bosom, and threw it into Shen Du’s arms. She narrowed her eyes and bared her teeth, like a kitten that had been provoked. "Grand Commander Shen, this is the divorce letter you wrote yourself—clear and unambiguous. Who is your wife? Hmm?"
Seeing her angry expression, Shen Du didn’t take offense. Instead, he found it adorable and endearing. Ignoring the crowd in the teahouse, he pleaded softly:
"My wife, I was wrong. I wrote that in a moment of desperation to protect you, so…"
"So what?" Zhu Yan placed her hands on her hips, her little face puffed up like it was stuffed with sugar cakes. "When we got married, you threatened me, saying I wouldn’t live past three months and that you’d divorce me. I let that slide, but now you give me a divorce letter? What a gentleman can endure, I cannot!"
She grabbed Lu Chuichui’s hand and lifted her chin.
"Chuichui, let’s go."
Lu Chuichui whispered, "You’ve been avoiding him for a month already. Still avoiding him?" When will this end?
Zhu Yan, still fuming, dragged Lu Chuichui all the way back to the Ministry of Justice. Only after calming down did she remember that Shen Du was still wearing a mask. Had his injuries not healed yet?
Hmph, serves him right.
Shen Du stood in full view of everyone, holding the divorce letter in his hands. Looking at the neatly folded document, a bitter smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He had truly lifted a stone only to drop it on his own foot.
The next day, Shen Du, followed by Jing Lin carrying gifts, appeared once again at the gate of the Zhu residence, just in time to see Zhu Yan preparing to leave for her duties at the Ministry of Justice.
"My wife."
Zhu Yan glared at Shen Du and tried to bypass him to get into the carriage. Shen Du attempted to stop her, but at that moment, Zhu Manshu ran out. As a martial artist, she was dressed today to personally escort Zhu Yan to the Ministry of Justice.
"Shen Du, it’s you again." Zhu Manshu had also lost patience with Shen Du, who showed up at the Zhu residence punctually every morning and evening. "My sister doesn’t want to see you. Leave quickly."
Before Shen Du could speak, Jing Lin, as if suddenly enlightened, stepped forward and blocked Zhu Manshu.
"You!"
Zhu Manshu rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight, but when she saw Jing Lin’s face, she froze for a moment. "Why haven’t I seen you the past few times?"
Jing Lin instinctively replied, "This subordinate has come every time. It’s just that Miss Zhu the Fourth didn’t notice."That's right, previously, Zhu Manshu didn't always send Zhu Yan to the Ministry of Justice; sometimes it was Zhu Mojie and her other two brothers who had been dismissed from office due to the Lai Luozhi case.
Zhu Manshu circled around Jing Lin as if she had discovered a new continent, completely forgetting about her younger sister's safety.
Seeing that no one was paying attention, Shen Du pulled Zhu Yan into his arms, only to have her stomp on his foot. He winced in pain and let go, looking at her helplessly. His usually calm and composed dark eyes were filled with grievance and innocence: "Madam, that hurts."
Zhu Yan shuddered but didn't relent: "Who's your madam? Grand Commander Shen, I advise you to show some self-respect."
As she spoke, she tried to leave but was pulled back by Shen Du, who grabbed her wrist.
The distance between them closed, and if Zhu Yan had just looked up, she could have touched Shen Du's lips. Instead, she bit down hard on his collarbone with a fierce "chomp," then stepped back, smiling triumphantly. However, her expression changed when she saw what her fourth sister was doing.
Zhu Manshu was enthusiastically introducing herself to Jing Lin: "My name is Zhu Manshu, and you're Jing Lin, right?"
Zhu Manshu smiled brightly, but Jing Lin, nervously clenching his fists and avoiding eye contact, only wanted to escape. He mouthed "save me" to Shen Du.
Shen Du hadn't even managed to placate Zhu Yan yet, so how could he possibly pay attention to him?
Zhu Yan pulled Zhu Manshu aside, rescuing Jing Lin: "Fourth sister, it's time. If we don't go now, our monthly stipends will be docked."
Jing Lin sighed in relief, patted his chest, and walked over to ask Shen Du how things were going.
But he was met with a cold glare from Shen Du: "Don't ask what you shouldn't."
Jing Lin rubbed his forehead: "I advised you back then, Commander, didn't I? You've gone too far this time. I'm afraid Madam won't be so easily coaxed back."
This guy actually had the nerve to gloat.
"It seems to me that you don't need your monthly stipend this month."
"Don't say that!"
—
Although Madam hadn't been won back yet, official matters still had to be handled.
Shen Du entered the palace again, and when he emerged, Zhang Baohuan came out with an imperial decree, publicly rehabilitating the Shen and Zhu families.
First, the case of the Shen family's wrongful execution had been verified as masterminded by Lai Luozhi, with the Zhou family's involvement. The Empress, who had chosen to remain silent at the time to protect the Zhou family, now admitted her shortcomings. She rehabilitated the Shen family, returned their original residence, removed their criminal status, and bestowed countless rewards.
Second, the Zhu family was not only innocent but had rendered meritorious service. They were rehabilitated, with the two brothers reinstated to their official positions. Zhu Yan was promoted to Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Justice and awarded the plaque "Great Zhou's Divine Female Investigator."
Third, the reconstruction of the Mingtang would be overseen by Zhang Baohuan, with the cabinet participating, ensuring the integrity of officials.
This move naturally earned praise from the entire city's populace, though many wondered why the elderly Empress, who had also "fallen seriously ill," didn't simply abdicate to enjoy her remaining years in peace. Li Chong and Chaoyang were both growing older—why cling to power?
As for the Zhu family, after receiving the imperial decree, Zhu Kuo immediately sought out Ru Shi and Jin Shi to discuss resigning from his official post.
Jin Shi, still weak from the shock she had suffered, was being cared for by Ru Shi in her room, where they shared some heartfelt words.
Zhu Kuo promptly stated his intentions, and Ru Shi naturally had no objections:
"Of course, that's fine. Now that the eldest and second sons have been reinstated, Sixth Niang has been promoted to Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Justice, and Fifth is actively preparing for the imperial examinations, our family has already entered officialdom and gained status. We don't need to cling to your minor position—resigning is just as well."
Jin Shi also agreed: "Master was never skilled in official dealings and nearly sold Sixth Niang out as well. It's better to resign, stay home to tend flowers, plant grass, walk the birds, and occasionally go to Furong Garden to watch operas. That way, you won't cause trouble for the children."Zhu Kuo's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. What did "not causing trouble for the children" mean? Was he really that incompetent as an official?
However, the matter was essentially passed unanimously. That same day, Zhu Kuo submitted his resignation and returned home feeling completely at ease.
When Zhu Yan returned home and heard about this, she didn’t have much of a reaction. Zhu Kuo had been indecisive in his official career, swaying like a reed in the wind, nearly bringing the Zhu family to ruin. It was better for him to quietly retire at home.
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