AUBTN -Chapter 383 Shen Jue Is Imprisoned

The young emperor’s expression darkened. He looked at Shen Jue, who stood in the middle of the hall with the same arrogant, untamed demeanor as ever, and slowly spoke.

“Shen Jue, you have behaved improperly before the Emperor today, and you even attempted to kill a court official. Do you have anything to say?”

Shen Jue let out a cold laugh and was just about to speak when he met Su Hewan’s worried and warning gaze.

【Shen Jue, as long as the green hills remain, there will never be a shortage of firewood. Admit your mistake for now. Once you’re in prison, we can figure out a way to deal with this. Don’t confront him head-on in the hall. That young emperor is starting to develop murderous intentions.】

Su Hewan’s inner voice rang out in Shen Jue’s mind, carrying an urgency that was rarely heard from her.

Shen Jue closed his eyes briefly, suppressing the violent rage surging within him.

He could disregard his own life, but he could not disregard Su Hewan.

“Your subject was overcome by anger for a moment and behaved improperly before Your Majesty. I ask Your Majesty to punish me.”

Shen Jue bowed slightly. His tone remained cold and indifferent, but in the end, he took a step back.

Seeing this, the young emperor secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Jue’s willingness to yield meant that he had given the imperial family a way out.

“Very well.”

The young emperor waved his hand and spoke in a deep voice.

“Regent Prince Shen Jue has behaved improperly before the Emperor and attempted to murder a court official. He is to be temporarily detained in the Ministry of Justice prison. No one is permitted to visit him without an imperial decree. As for the case involving the fake eunuch and the case of falsely conveying an imperial oral decree, they shall be jointly investigated by the Three Judicial Offices. The truth must be uncovered in its entirety!”

“Court is dismissed!”

The Imperial Guards stepped forward, intending to escort Shen Jue away.

Shen Jue merely glanced at them.

Not a single guard dared to step forward again!

As the saying went, even a starving camel was still bigger than a horse.

Shen Jue was still Shen Jue.

He was merely being detained for investigation, not being condemned.

With that in mind, who would dare approach him?

Shen Jue gave Su Hewan a deep look.

There were a thousand words in his eyes, but in the end, they all transformed into a gentle reassurance.

Su Hewan gave a slight nod, silently telling him not to worry.

Watching Shen Jue being taken away, Yu Qing panicked. Forgetting the pain in her foot, she struggled to get to her feet.

“Shen Jue has been falsely accused…”

Before she could finish, a hand suddenly clamped down on her shoulder, cutting her off.

“Don’t be rash!”

Lu Yan’s low voice, tinged with suppressed anger, sounded beside her ear.

It was only after the officials had gradually left and only the three of them remained in the great hall that Yu Qing finally exploded.

“Lu Yan, why did you stop me?”

Yu Qing angrily slapped his hand away, so anxious that she was breaking into a sweat.

“If Shen Jue goes into that prison, that old bastard Wen Xianzhong will definitely secretly make a move against him! What will happen to Wanwan?”

Beside them, Su Hewan slowly stood up and brushed the dust from her skirt. Her gaze was cold, clear, and rational.

“Given the circumstances, this outcome is already the best possible one.”

Lu Yan looked at Su Hewan with some surprise. Then, with an approving nod, he turned his attention to Yu Qing and said seriously,

“If you two hadn’t arrived in time today, and Shen Jue had killed Wen Xianzhong in the hall, even the gods themselves would have been unable to save him. Now, he is merely being imprisoned while awaiting trial. Wen Xianzhong will have to exercise restraint. He absolutely wouldn’t dare openly make a move against him inside the prison.”

Lu Yan paused, his expression complicated as he looked at Yu Qing.

“Besides, His Majesty has already ordered the Three Judicial Offices to jointly investigate the case. That means His Majesty has also begun to suspect Wen Xianzhong. As for what happens next, we’ll return to the residence first and slowly figure out a way to deal with it.”

Yu Qing looked at Lu Yan’s stern face, then at Su Hewan, who was astonishingly calm.

So, apparently, she was the only one who had been panicking this whole time!

“I was scared half to death… I don’t care. Lu Yan, I think I really broke my foot. You have to carry me back.”

Lu Yan helplessly sighed. He stretched out his long arm, scooped her up in a bridal carry, and then turned to Su Hewan.

“This prince will take you both back to the residence first. I’ll go see him!”

Su Hewan nodded slightly.

The carriage slowly came to a steady stop in front of Yuyuan.

All the way there, Su Hewan remained cold and composed.

“Princess Consort, we’ve arrived.”

The respectful voice of a guard came from outside the carriage.

Su Hewan lifted the curtain and, with the help of a maid, stepped steadily down from the carriage. Her movements were dignified. Even when entering the residence, she calmly and methodically instructed the steward to close the gates to visitors and strengthen the security around Yuyuan.

However, the moment the main gate closed behind her, Su Hewan’s body suddenly swayed.

“Wanwan!”

Yu Qing reacted quickly. Forgetting that she was still limping herself, she rushed forward and caught Su Hewan as her body began to slide downward.

Su Hewan went completely limp in Yu Qing’s arms, her face as pale as a sheet of paper.

Only then did Yu Qing realize that she was trembling slightly.

“He’ll be fine… right, Qingqing?”

Su Hewan murmured to herself, her eyes filled with helplessness and panic.

Looking at the trembling Su Hewan in her arms, Yu Qing suddenly felt a sharp ache in her nose.

In Yu Qing’s eyes, Su Hewan had always been rational, strong, and seemingly omniscient.

Ever since the two of them had transmigrated into this ancient world where human lives could be taken at the slightest provocation, Su Hewan had been like a towering mountain, always standing in front of her and shielding her.

Yu Qing knew very well that she was practically useless. She had absolutely no ability to survive in this world of power struggles and political schemes.

Without Su Hewan, she probably wouldn’t have survived even the first episode.

But now, the girl who had protected her countless times had revealed her most vulnerable side.

And Yu Qing was powerless to do anything about it!

“Yes! Of course he’ll be fine!”

Yu Qing hugged Su Hewan tightly and patted her back firmly, her voice choked with emotion yet full of determination.

“Just think about who he is! He’s the Shen Fox! He’s always the one scheming against other people. Who could possibly scheme against him? This time, he’s merely going to the prison to experience life for a while. Maybe he’s already calculated in advance exactly how many layers of straw they’ll put down in his cell!”

But her reassurance did little to make Su Hewan feel better.

Yu Qing sniffed, tears glistening in her eyes, yet she desperately forced herself to put on a huge smile.

“Wanwan, have you forgotten what I told you before? We’re transmigrated heroines! We were born with protagonist halos! That’s the kind of setup where even the King of Hell has to take a detour when he sees us! Shen Jue married you, so he’s benefiting from that protagonist halo too. The King of Hell wouldn’t dare take him!”

Su Hewan looked at Yu Qing’s comical yet utterly sincere expression, and the fear in her heart was finally dispelled little by little.

She buried her head against Yu Qing’s shoulder and answered softly:

“Mm.”

He would definitely be fine.

---

The Ministry of Justice Prison.

This place rarely saw daylight throughout the year, and the air was permeated with dampness.

Lu Yan stood at the entrance of the prison cell, staring at the gloomy and eerie place before him, his brows deeply furrowed.

“Prince Jing, it’s truly not that this lowly official doesn’t wish to give you face. It’s just that His Majesty has issued an edict. The Regent is not permitted to visit without an imperial decree. I’m also taking a risk that could cost me my head…”

The prison warden of the Ministry of Justice looked at Lu Yan with a flattering yet shrewd expression.

His hand, hidden inside his wide sleeve, was quietly weighing the heavy gold Lu Yan had just slipped him.

Lu Yan had now been stripped of his position as Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. He was merely a prince who appeared noble but no longer held any real power.

Everyone in officialdom was a shrewd character, and they were especially skilled at fawning over those in power while trampling on those who had fallen from grace.

In the past, Lu Yan could enter the Ministry of Justice prison as if there were no one around. Who would have dared to say a single word against him?

But now, he had to spend a substantial amount of money just to grease the wheels.

“This prince will only go in for a moment. I absolutely won’t make Lord Chang’s position difficult.”

Lu Yan’s voice was cold and firm, carrying an unquestionable authority.