RWNEFE -Chapter 384 Zhou Rulin Wants to Recruit Me!

Zhou Rulin said, “What Chen Suizhu has said is full of errors and omissions—she definitely hasn’t told the whole story.”

Shen Lanxi’s gaze was cold and heavy as she said to her, “I will truthfully report everything to His Majesty and let my uncle make the judgment.”

Hearing her bring up the Emperor, Zhou Rulin swallowed the rest of his words.

“Chen Suizhu, back then, where were the maids and guards who followed you?”

Chen Suizhu’s eyes flickered, her tone dripping with sarcasm: “I didn’t bring any. Did you think everyone’s life is like yours, surrounded by servants wherever you go, bossing maids and housekeepers around?”

Shen Lanxi: “And the others? You didn’t bring any maids at all, did you?”

Chen Suizhu: “That was so long ago, I hardly remember. Why don’t you ask the Ji Mansion? Zhou Yunxue is the legitimate daughter of the Ji Mansion, her upbringing is different from ours—she definitely had maids with her.”

Shen Lanxi: “Everything you’re saying now will eventually be reported to His Majesty. If you want heads to roll, continue being stubborn!”

Chen Suizhu’s eyes darkened, and she fell silent.

Zhou Rulin: “You said you were folding willows by the shore. Who can vouch for you?”

Chen Suizhu: “Anyone at the lake can. We were all gathered together at that time.”

Shen Lanxi: “So you mistreated Zhou Yunxue after I left, just because you hated me?”

Chen Suizhu’s face turned dark; she didn’t reply.

She didn’t kill Boren, yet Boren died because of her.

Shen Lanxi felt a chill run through her heart.

Slap!

Zhao Zheng slammed his palm onto Chen Suizhu’s face, the force knocking both her and her chair to the ground.

“Zhao Zheng! How dare you hit me!” Chen Suizhu covered her face, her eyes full of indignation.

Zhao Zheng’s expression was fierce as he shouted, “You poisonous woman! Even if Yunxue wasn’t pushed into the water by you, you’re still connected to it. Back then, as soon as the marriage between the Ji Mansion and our family was canceled, your Chen household immediately tried to make a match. I knew something was off—of course, you wanted to take the position of Lady of Yongning Marquis Mansion for yourself!”

Chen Suizhu, frenzied, scrambled to her feet and lunged at Zhao Zheng.

Zhou Rulin stood in the middle. Bound by protocol, he hastily dodged, shouting for help at the same time: “Someone, come stop her!”

Zhao Zheng shoved Chen Suizhu back to the ground again.

“You madwoman, poisonous woman…”

Zhou Rulin, staring at the chaotic scene, felt utterly exhausted.

All day, he had been mediating or trying to reconcile.

It was as if an entire year’s worth of words were being said in a single day. His throat was parched; he hadn’t even had a sip of tea.

“Lanxi, even if this wasn’t Chen Suizhu’s doing, she’s still involved. Are we still going to question Zhou Yunyan?” Zhou Rulin asked, exhausted.

Shen Lanxi: “We’ve already investigated. One more person won’t matter.”

That was true.

“I don’t think we’d get much more by questioning further. Let’s go ask Zhou Yunyan instead,” Zhou Rulin suggested.

Shen Lanxi: “Agreed.”

Inside the Yong’an Marquis Mansion, the Marquis and his wife were still bickering. Shen Lanxi and Zhou Rulin had already left.

“It’s getting late—shall we grab a meal first?” If they delayed, they’d miss lunch.

Shen Lanxi: “Do we return to our own residences or eat something nearby?”

Zhou Rulin: “I don’t mind either way. Even a street stall is fine for a proper meal.”

Shen Lanxi: “The Crown Prince is surprisingly down-to-earth, unlike what I imagined.”

“Unlike? In what way?” he asked curiously.

As Shen Lanxi led him to a food stall, she said, “A prince is usually pampered and indulged. Take Zhou Ruan for example—fine clothes, exquisite food, everything meticulous. Even Zhou Ruyuan, though he’s seen the battlefield, wouldn’t casually say to eat at a street stall like you do.”

Zhou Rulin suddenly understood and smiled.

“Perhaps my fief is poor, so I’m reluctant to spend money.”

Shen Lanxi shook her head, smiling: “Even if you’re frugal, your status is obvious. I think you’re… approachable.”

Zhou Rulin raised an eyebrow, then laughed: “Don’t say that too loudly. If the wrong person hears, who knows what stories they’d spin about me?”

Shen Lanxi: “No one else is here. Consider it just me speaking casually.”

Zhou Rulin watched her lead the way, a deeper smile in his eyes.

While eating wontons at the stall, Zhou Rulin had his guards discreetly check whether Zhou Yunyan was home.

When they were nearly finished, the guards returned:

“Zhou Yunyan isn’t here. She went to visit her husband’s family.”

Shen Lanxi praised him: “The Crown Prince really thinks things through. If we went directly, we’d have come back empty-handed.”

Zhou Rulin: “Do you know when she’ll return?”

Guard: “Tomorrow.”

Shen Lanxi: “Perfect. We can review the testimonies and then go to the palace to report our progress.”

Zhou Rulin nodded: “Lanxi, you’ve truly opened my eyes today. You’ve shown me that a woman can be just as capable as a man.”

Shen Lanxi: “Your Highness flatters me.”

Time was pressing. They reviewed the testimonies in the carriage and arrived at the palace before the gates closed.

“Uncle, the Crown Prince and I made progress in the case today, and I am here to report!”

Emperor Renxiao only cared about using Zhou Yunxue’s case to achieve his own goals, not the case itself.

Even so, he maintained appearances in front of Shen Lanxi.

“Speak.”

Shen Lanxi recounted the events and presented the organized testimonies. She continued: “I suspect the dowry list provided by the Ji Mansion may be inaccurate. Four of the maids listed may not have gone to Xishan.”

Emperor Renxiao: “State your reasoning.”

Shen Lanxi: “I request that the Zhen Nan Wang verify Princess Yunxue’s dowry in Xishan.”

Emperor Renxiao glanced at Zhou Rulin, then after a moment of thought said: “If it pertains to the case, it’s allowed.”

Shen Lanxi: “Based on Chen Suizhu’s testimony, it involves the Princess. I do not know how to judge this, so I request your guidance, Uncle.”

Hearing the Princess’s name, Emperor Renxiao’s expression darkened.

“Lanxi, you may leave the palace first. The matter of the Princess, I leave to your elder brother to handle.”

“Yes.”

…

Outside the palace, Shen Lanxi exhaled heavily.

Dealing with all those people today had truly tested her patience!

“Sir, did you gain anything today?” Che Mingyuan, waiting at the residence, asked.

Shen Lanxi’s eyes were sharp: “Zhou Rulin wants to recruit me.”

Che Mingyuan smiled: “He really doesn’t fuss over small matters.”

Shen Lanxi said coldly: “He’s surrounded by wolves—there’s no choice left.”

Che Mingyuan lowered his voice: “A letter arrived confirming Zhou Cheng’an’s words. After he was sent out of the capital, he was initially guarded, but when the Ji Mansion showed no concern, no one took responsibility.”

“On the surface, the Ji Mansion is managed by the heir’s wife, but in reality, it’s Zhou Qinian’s concubine who runs things. From the outside, it’s invisible, but internally, the struggles are intense.”