AUBTN -Chapter 358 Lu Yan Imprisoned

He could only silently observe the unfolding chaos.

Lord Liu, the Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, was still kneeling on the ground. Several officials from the Court of Judicial Review had also lowered their heads, not daring to breathe loudly.

Around them, envoys from various countries watched and pointed, their buzzing discussions like countless bloodthirsty flies.

Facing the aggressive pressure from the Court of State Ceremonial and the foreign envoys,

Shen Jue slowly swept his gaze across the entire scene.

Finally, his eyes landed on Lu Yan.

He spoke slowly: “Lord Liu is right. Since this matter involves the Jinyiwei, if we do not investigate it thoroughly, it will indeed be difficult to convince the public.”

He slightly raised his chin, and his gaze toward Lu Yan carried a complex light.

“To prove the innocence of our Great Wei and to give an explanation to the envoys of all nations—Prince Jing, Lu Yan, will be temporarily handed over to the Eastern Depot for custody and sent to the Imperial Prison for interrogation!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was shocked!

“Supervisor! Absolutely not!” the Court of Judicial Review immediately objected!

“Your Highness the Regent, perhaps this matter should still be handled by our Court of Judicial Review? Prince Jing can also be held there pending trial!”

Official Zhang of the Court of Judicial Review proposed with a strange expression.

Shen Jue’s eyes turned cold. “Oh? Can your Court of Judicial Review bear the responsibility for the murder of a foreign envoy?”

Official Zhang was left speechless and lowered his head.

The East Ying deputy envoy Ito revealed a smug, arrogant cold smile.

“Good!” Tuo Batie clapped his hands, clearly enjoying the chaos, his eyes full of mockery.

“Even a reigning prince can be thrown into prison without hesitation. As expected of the Regent—truly impartial and admirable!”

Behind Shen Jue, Su Hewan’s pupils suddenly constricted.

【Has Shen Jue gone mad? Putting Lu Yan in the Imperial Prison?】

【No… wait. With Lu Yan’s martial arts and the Jinyiwei forces here, if Shen Jue really wanted to arrest him by force, it would definitely end in a bloodbath. Shen Jue is absolutely not someone reckless. At such a critical moment, making unnecessary losses would only benefit enemies. This is… a delaying tactic?】

Su Hewan subconsciously stepped forward and said urgently, “Your Highness, there is still doubt in this matter—”

Before she could finish, Shen Jue had already slightly turned his head and glanced at her.

Su Hewan understood immediately.

She bit her lip and forcibly swallowed the rest of her words. Her hands hidden in her sleeves unconsciously clenched tightly.

She instinctively looked toward Yu Qing.

Yu Qing was completely stunned.

She stood frozen as if struck by lightning, staring at Shen Jue in disbelief.

【This damn eunuch Shen Jue! A pervert! A twisted psycho! He actually wants to lock Lu Yan in the Imperial Prison!】

Yu Qing’s thoughts rang in Lu Yan’s mind, carrying an uncontrollable sobbing fear.

Lu Yan’s eyes flashed with a trace of tenderness. Then he looked at Shen Jue, his face showing not a trace of surprise.

At the moment their gazes met, it was as if blades and swords clashed in midair, yet also as if they had reached some unspoken tacit understanding.

Lu Yan slowly lowered his eyes, his long, powerful fingers resting on the buckle of his waist saber.

A soft click.

The embroidered spring saber was decisively removed and, under everyone’s shocked gaze, tossed to his deputy commander, Chang Lin.

“Commander!” Chang Lin caught the blade abruptly, his eyes instantly reddening. His tiger-like eyes widened, veins bulging on the back of his hand.

“I refuse to accept this! The Eastern Depot’s eunuch faction is clearly abusing power for personal revenge!”

The surrounding Jinyiwei instantly drew their blades again, killing intent surging into the sky.

“Enough.” Lu Yan’s voice carried unquestionable authority.

He glanced at Chang Lin.

“Guard the Fourfold Pavilion. Without my orders, no one is to act rashly.”

With that said, he turned around to face the group of Eastern Depot agents.

As he passed by Su Hewan, Lu Yan’s steps paused slightly.

He solemnly uttered four words:

“Take good care of her for me.”

Su Hewan’s heart jolted, and she nodded heavily.

Only then did Lu Yan turn toward Yu Qing, who was on the verge of collapse, her eyes red-rimmed.

Seeing her pitiful appearance—so timid and frightened, yet forcing herself not to let her tears fall—Lu Yan’s heart suddenly softened completely.

“Lu Yan, don’t… don’t go, okay…”

Yu Qing looked at him, tears trembling in her eyes, ready to fall but not falling.

He gave her a gentle smile.

“Don’t be afraid,” Lu Yan said, his low voice carrying endless attachment.

“Be good and listen. Wait for me to come back.”

“Take him away.” Eastern Depot’s punitive thousand-household officer Zhao Zhou sneered and waved his hand.

Heavy chains clattered onto Lu Yan’s wrists, producing a harsh metallic sound in the cold morning wind.

Lu Yan never looked back again. He followed the Eastern Depot men step by step out of the guesthouse gates, walking into the unknown abyss.

Just as his figure was about to disappear around the corner—

Yu Qing completely broke down. Tears burst from her eyes.

The next second, she suddenly broke free from Su Hewan’s grip and rushed toward Shen Jue standing on the steps.

“Shen Jue!” Yu Qing screamed hysterically.

She grabbed the front of his robes, ignoring the fact that Eastern Depot agents immediately drew their blades, and shouted wildly:

“You bastard! Why are you arresting him?! What did he ever do to you for you to destroy him like this?! You’re not human! Give Lu Yan back to me! Give him back!”

Shen Jue lowered his head and looked at the woman clinging to his chest, crying and struggling like a madwoman.

He coldly ordered the surrounding agents:

“Put the blades away.”

Yu Qing’s fists wildly struck his chest and shoulders without any structure or control.

She cried out in anguish.

“Give Lu Yan back to me! You lunatic! Why are you taking him away?!”

Yet Shen Jue did not dodge at all.

He simply allowed her feeble strength to vent on him.

“Yu Qing!” Su Hewan snapped back to her senses from shock and rushed forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Yu Qing from behind and dragging her back with all her strength.

“Yu Qing, calm down!”

Her voice was thick with tears and panic as she locked Yu Qing’s waist tightly.

“Let go of me! Su Hewan, let me go! They took Lu Yan away! Can anyone survive after entering the imperial prison?! I’m going to kill him!”

Yu Qing struggled desperately, her face completely soaked in tears.

“Don’t get so worked up. That’s not what you think at all!”

Su Hewan leaned close to her ear and urgently reminded her:

“The Eastern Island envoy died at the Ministry of Rites guesthouse, and a broadsword of the Imperial Guard was left at the scene. This is clearly a dead-end trap aimed at Great Wei! If Shen Jue hadn’t intervened just now and let the Ministry of Justice take Lu Yan away, he would have been in even greater danger there—the Ministry of Justice isn’t under Shen Jue’s control!”

But Yu Qing, in her emotional state, couldn’t hear a word.

“Have you had enough trouble?”

Shen Jue finally spoke.

He slowly raised his hand, his long, pale fingers calmly smoothing out the wrinkled front of his robe.

Looking down at the exhausted Yu Qing, he said expressionlessly to Su Hewan for the first time:

“Keep an eye on her.”

Su Hewan nodded.

Shen Jue turned around, his sharp gaze landing on the kneeling Minister of the Ministry of Justice, and said in a cold, ruthless voice:

“Seal the body of the Eastern Island envoy on the spot and transport it to the Imperial Prison mortuary. The Eastern Depot will take over this case. Without my orders, no one is allowed to approach the corpse—no one.”