AUBTN -Chapter 368 Before the Scheme Begins

Su Hewan shot him a reproachful glare and pushed him away. “Be serious!”

Shen Jue only smiled without replying.

“Fine. Since Lord He enjoys putting on a performance so much, if this Governor doesn’t set up a stage for him, wouldn’t that waste all his effort?”

“Zhao Zhou!” Shen Jue barked coldly.

Zhao Zhou immediately pushed the door open and entered, dropping to one knee.

“Spread the word. Say that the East Bureau, following the trail of southern border poison, thoroughly investigated the Ministry of Internal Affairs and has already discovered a crucial procurement record! This record points directly to a newly promoted noble official in court!”

He let out a cold laugh. “I’d like to see, before the Praying Ceremony, what kind of fox tail this guilty Lord He will end up showing.”

Inside the He residence, in the study.

He Wenyuan paced back and forth inside the room, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

News that the East Bureau was investigating the Ministry of Internal Affairs felt like a blade hanging over his neck.

“How could they trace it back to the procurement ledger? Wasn’t it already tampered with?”

He gritted his teeth and growled, his eyes flashing with ruthlessness.

Suddenly, as if remembering something.

He quickly walked to the desk, turned the hidden mechanism in the antique shelf, and pulled out a stack of letters.

The charcoal in the brazier was burning fiercely. Without hesitation, he threw the letters into the fire.

Just as the flames licked the paper—

A faint sound of breaking air suddenly echoed in the darkness.

Before He Wenyuan could react, a specially forged steel grappling hook shot down from the gaps in the roof tiles above!

Like it had eyes, it precisely snatched a letter that had not yet fully burned, and with lightning speed, yanked it upward!

“Who’s there?” He Wenyuan shouted in panic, stumbling toward the brazier.

But only a faint cat’s meow came from the roof tiles above. The letter—and the hidden expert behind it—had already vanished without a trace.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his inner robe.

Half an hour later, in the imperial prison.

Dim candlelight flickered across damp stone walls.

Shen Jue casually tossed a charred, blackened piece of paper onto the small redwood table.

“Take a look.”

His smile was cold and mocking.

“This Lord He really can’t wait. The remaining Northern Barbarian script on this, along with words like ‘Praying Ceremony’ and ‘assassination of the emperor,’ is enough to get his entire clan executed ten times over.”

Lu Yan leaned back in the armchair, picked up the scrap of paper, and scanned it. His sharp jaw tightened.

“Ironclad evidence. The emperor’s newly favored cabinet official… turns out to be a treasonous traitor who invited wolves into the house.”

“The young emperor has been brainwashed by those so-called clean officials, truly believing that a few pens can govern the nation.” Shen Jue’s gaze darkened slightly, his tone icy. “This time, I will make him open his eyes and see just how fragile his court really is.”

“Count me in!”

From outside the cell door, Yu Qing poked her head in eagerly, followed by the helpless Su Hewan.

Yu Qing, just recovered from illness, still looked slightly pale. “I heard everything! You’re going to do something big tomorrow! How can a situation this dramatic be without me?”

Lu Yan looked at her and sighed helplessly, though his gaze softened.

Shen Jue glanced at Yu Qing, then shifted his eyes to Su Hewan beside her, tapping his fingers lightly on the table.

“You want to help? Fine. At tomorrow’s Praying Ceremony, the women’s seating is arranged at the side altar. Yu Qing, take Hewan with you and try to get as close as possible to Lord He’s wife.”

“Madam He?” Yu Qing was startled.

“If He Wenyuan dares to make his move tomorrow, he must have a backup plan. But capturing his wife might also be a breakthrough point!”

Yu Qing dragged out a disgusted “Eh—” sound.

“So he really is an old fox—despicable and shameless, even resorting to targeting women!”

Lu Yan and Su Hewan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Shen Jue snapped angrily, “Fine, I’m despicable, I’m shameless, I’m an old fox, right? Then let your husband rot in prison and die! I won’t bother saving him anymore. And here you are pretending to be the good one!”

Yu Qing immediately turned clingy and flattering, “No, no, no! My lord, Lord Shen, Brother Shen, I was wrong, I was wrong! I’m the despicable one, I’m the shameless one, alright?”

The atmosphere eased for a while.

It was the most relaxed moment they had had in days.

Lu Yan’s gentle gaze fell on the playful Yu Qing. He had to admit that with her around, they could still have moments of happiness.

“Alright, everything is ready—only the final wind remains,” Su Hewan concluded softly.

On the eve of the grand ceremony, undercurrents surged through the capital.

Rumors spread across the streets and alleys like wings had grown on them—saying that the Jinyiwei commander Lu Yan had already been tortured into a half-dead state by Shen Jue in the imperial prison.

The next day at court, Chancellor Lu Zhixing broke down in tears before all civil and military officials.

“Your Majesty! My son may have committed many wrongs, but he has also rendered great service to Great Wei! Please show mercy and spare his life!”

The young emperor sat on the dragon throne, his expression complicated as he looked at the weeping Chancellor Lu below, then at He Wenyuan and the others who remained silent.

In the end, he only gave a formal response:

“Chancellor Lu’s love for his son is understandable. However, the law is impartial. After the grand ceremony, the Ministry of Justice and the Eastern Depot will jointly make a final decision.”

Everyone understood what this meant.

It was a rejection.

In an instant, the court was filled with shifting thoughts.

Everyone believed that the Lu family was truly going to fall this time.

The calm before the storm always carried a strange, lingering tension.

Inside the Yu Residence:

Su Hewan was preparing to leave.

From behind, Shen Jue wrapped his arms around her and carefully draped a plain windproof cloak over her thin shoulders.

His movements were extremely gentle, his slender fingers meticulously tying the knot.

“Be careful,” Shen Jue said softly, lowering his head slightly. His warm breath brushed against Su Hewan’s ear.

“Remember, don’t be reckless. I am here for everything. If anything happens, hide immediately behind Zhao Zhou—he will protect you.”

Su Hewan looked up into his deep, unwavering eyes filled with tenderness that could not be concealed. Her heart trembled slightly, and she nodded solemnly.

Meanwhile, in the imperial prison:

Lu Yan gently placed his large hand on Yu Qing’s cheek, his rough fingertips carrying a reassuring warmth.

“Don’t be afraid,” he said, looking at her deeply, more firmly than ever before. “Once everything today is over, I’ll take you home.”

Yu Qing’s eyes reddened. She sniffed hard.

“You too! If you lose even a single hair after you come out, I… I’ll never talk to you again!”

At noon, Heaven’s Altar.

The sky was dark and oppressive, heavy clouds pressing down as if they would crush the world—like a storm was about to break.

The young emperor slowly ascended the altar to perform the sacrifice, surrounded by civil and military officials and foreign envoys.

He Wenyuan stood at the front of the officials, his back straight, a hint of pride and satisfaction in his eyes.

Everything… was under his control.