Chapter 326 - 326 Roping In

326 Roping In

The next morning, an uninvited guest came to the Justice Department.

It was the Sixth Prince, Shen Rui.

He wanted to treat Xiao Juan to a meal and wine, but Xiao Juan refused.

Shen Rui refused to give up and threatened that if Xiao Juan did not agree, he would stay in Mirror House today.

Xiao Juan did not want to waste his breath on him and said candidly, “If you have anything to say, just say it. I’ll help if I can.”

Shen Rui chuckled. “You’re thinking too much. Why would I need your help? I just want to catch up with you. We’re cousins after all.”

Seeing that he refused to say it directly, Xiao Juan could not be bothered with him and went about his business.

Shen Rui was left alone.

He tried to find a topic to chat with Xiao Juan, but he did not receive a response.

At this moment, Yu Niaoniao arrived with freshly fried fries and Fat Otaku Joy Water.

She did not expect Shen Rui to be here. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, she was stopped by Xiao Juan.

“Don’t worry about him. Just come in.”

Shen Rui smiled and said, “Don’t be nervous, Cousin-in-law. I heard about you. I believe you were wronged.”

Yu Niaoniao placed the fries and Fat Otaku Joy Water on the table and asked, “Why is Sixth Prince here?”

Shen Rui said, “I want to treat Duke Lang to a meal, but he’s unwilling. Help me persuade him. It’s just a meal. I won’t do anything to him. Why is he so heartless?”

Yu Niaoniao was not stupid. Of course, she knew that there was no free lunch.

“Your Highness, you have a noble status. There will definitely be many people rushing to eat with you. Why do you have to drag Duke Lang along?”

Shen Rui said helplessly, “Do you think I have other intentions too? You’ve all misunderstood. I’m really not that kind of person!”

Yu Niaoniao smiled and picked up a fry. She dipped it in her homemade sweet and sour sauce and ate it slowly.

Soon, there was a knock on the door.

Meng Xizhou stood at the door and said respectfully.

“Your Highness, the emperor has sent someone to invite you to the palace.”

Xiao Juan put down the dossier in his hand and asked, “Did he say why?”

“I heard it’s about the case of Empress Wen and Imperial Concubine Yue.”

Xiao Juan had an idea. He stood up and spoke to Yu Niaoniao, “I’ll be back.”

Yu Niaoniao nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Xiao Juan was about to leave, Shen Rui was anxious and hurriedly stopped him.

“Wait a minute. I have a few words to say to you in private. Can you get the others to leave?”

Meng Xizhou took the initiative to retreat.

Yu Niaoniao was about to get up and leave when she was stopped by Xiao Juan.

“You don’t have to leave.”

However, Shen Rui hesitated. “What I am going to say is very important. It’s best that it is not overheard by a third person.”

Xiao Juan said calmly, “Niaoniao is my wife. She’s one of us. There’s nothing to hide.”

Shen Rui had no choice but to pinch his nose and endure it.

“Prince Lang, you probably don’t know yet. Before dawn today, the Seventh Prince knelt at the entrance of the Zhengde Hall with a group of civil and military officials and asked Father to investigate Imperial Concubine Yue’s case and give Empress Wen justice.”

Xiao Juan really did not know about this.

His expression didn’t change. “What does that have to do with me?”

Shen Rui said, “From what I know of Father, he will most likely agree to the Seventh Prince’s request. He must have summoned you to the palace for this matter.”

Xiao Juan asked, “So?”

Shen Rui first looked at Yu Niaoniao, who was sitting at the table and focused on drinking the Fat Otaku Joy Water, then at the thin-looking Xiao Juan. He gritted his teeth and said what was in his heart.

“Many people in the palace know the grudge between Empress Wen and Imperial Concubine Yue. They are sisters, but they are actually enemies. It was very likely that Empress Wen had poisoned Imperial Concubine Yue. Coupled with Wang Xue’s confession, this case could basically be concluded.”

“The Seventh Prince did this today because he was the son of Empress Wen. He could not let his mother’s crime be exposed. He deliberately made a big deal out of it to drag more people down.”

“He wants to confuse the public and cover up Empress Wen’s crimes. If I were you, I would close the case immediately and not give them a chance to fish in troubled waters.”

Xiao Juan looked at him quietly.

Shen Rui felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze.

“If you have something to say, just say it. You don’t have to look at me like that.”

Xiao Juan said calmly, “You said so much because you want me to pin the crime on Empress Wen. You want Empress Wen to die and the Seventh Prince to lose his reputation.”

Shen Rui was embarrassed. His face alternated between green and red, and he was very embarrassed.

He spoke with difficulty, “Empress Wen killed Imperial Concubine Yue. She deserved it.”

Xiao Juan said, “Of course, one would have to pay with his life for killing someone, but what if Empress Wen was wronged?”

Shen Rui said without hesitation, “That’s impossible!”

Xiao Juan said, “As long as we haven’t found direct evidence of Empress Wen’s murder, this case can’t be concluded. The emperor is still waiting for me in the palace. Please forgive me for not being able to stay here for long. Goodbye.”

With that, he walked out.

Shen Rui stopped him again.

“As long as you help me this time, you will definitely benefit when I reach a high position in the future!”

Yu Niaoniao stopped eating her fries.

Now that the emperor was still alive, it was treasonous for Shen Rui to say such a thing. No wonder he insisted on chasing everyone out.

Shen Rui stared fixedly at Xiao Juan, waiting for his answer.

He had offered Xiao Juan an olive branch in the past, but Xiao Juan had rejected him every time.

Actually, he was not the only one. The other princes also wanted to rope Xiao Juan in. But no one had succeeded.

Shen Rui originally did not want to be in such a hurry. He planned to take it slow and pull Xiao Juan to his side bit by bit.

Even if he could not pull him over, he could not let Xiao Juan stand opposite him.

He really had no choice today.

Seeing that Empress Wen was about to die, he could not give Empress Wen and the Seventh Prince a chance to make a comeback.

As long as he could pin the crime on Empress Wen, as her son, the Seventh Prince would not be qualified to fight for the throne in the future.

In this way, Shen Rui had one less powerful competitor. He would be one step closer to the throne.

Xiao Juan said slowly, “Sixth Prince, I’ll pretend not to hear what you said today. Please don’t look for me again.”

Shen Rui’s expression immediately turned extremely ugly.

“Are you really not giving me any respect?”

Xiao Juan said, “In the Justice Department, we only talk about the law and not favors.”

He reached out and pulled open the door, turning sideways in a gesture of invitation.

“Sixth Prince, please leave.”

Shen Rui flew into a rage out of humiliation and secretly harbored a grudge against Xiao Juan.

However, he understood that now was not the time to fall out with Xiao Juan.

He could only take a deep breath and suppress the anger in his heart.

“You can consider what I said just now. If you have any needs, you can tell me directly. I’ll definitely satisfy you.”

Although I’m still a prince now, my father is old and his health has been deteriorating in the past few years. You’re a smart person. You should know to plan for your future in advance.”