Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 76.2
——
The sky gradually darkened and suddenly a gust of wind blew, rustling the green leaves and red flowers in the garden. It was obvious that the weather was going to change again.
Lu Yan rubbed his brows, coughed twice, stood up and walked towards the interrogation room, took out the key, opened the door and said softly: “You can go now.”
“Can I leave now?”
“Or else?” Lu Yan looked down at her, “Can I still put you in jail for the night?”
After leaving the interrogation room, the two of them had serious faces and walked one in front of the other, keeping a distance of at least six feet between them.
Shen Zhen walked out of the gate of Jingzhao Prefecture. Qingxi was waiting outside. She lifted her skirt and stepped down the stairs, ready to board the carriage.
Lu Yan suddenly saw Marquis Changping riding a horse not far away, holding the reins in his hand. His eyes darkened and he called out “Third Miss”.
Shen Zhen paused, turned around and looked at him, with a hint of panic in her eyes.
Jingzhao Prefecture is located on Guangde street. There were people all around and she didn’t know what he was going to do.
Lu Yan walked straight to her side and said in a deep voice, “I’ll take you back.”
Shen Zhen’s face suddenly changed color and she reminded him in a low voice: “My Lord, this is the gate of Jingzhao Prefecture…”
Lu Yan curled his lips and asked sinisterly, “Why? Am I so unseemly to be seen outside?”
Shen Zhen’s beautiful eyes widened, wondering what was wrong with this person.
The man sneered, raised his hand and called a few yamen officials and said sternly: “Come with me to the Shen residence to search again.”
After that, he carried her into the car without further ado.
After getting on the carriage and lowering the curtain, Shen Zhen said, “You and I are riding in the same carriage. If others see us…”
Lu Yan interrupted directly: “If they saw it, then they saw it. What’s wrong about it?”
Then, her mouth was blocked by Lu Yan. Now, she has no more lip balm left on her lips.
The carriage headed south, bypassed the Xining Temple and then turned left and right to enter Baoning Street. Lu Yan led the yamen officials into the Shen residence and followed behind him.
With so many people entering the house, An momo thought something big had happened. She took Shen Hong’s hand, walked quickly to Shen Zhen’s side and asked tremblingly, “Zhen’er, what’s going on?”
“It’s okay, momo.” Shen Zhen leaned over to An momo’s ear and said, “These are people from Jingzhao Prefecture. They will leave soon.”
Lu Yan searched Shen Zhen’s boudoir personally. He lifted the curtain, walked towards the pigeon and thought silently: So you are still alive?
After Lu Yan left, the news that Shen Zhen was released spread to the Sun Mansion like a gust of wind.
“What did you say? Jingzhao Prefecture just released her like that?” Sun Mi slammed the table and stood up.
The maid bowed and said, “The servant said that the young lady’s case does not seem to be handled by the second young master.”
“Second Brother, you don’t even have this little bit of sentiment now?” Sun Mi clenched her fists, “I’ll go find grandma right now.”
“Don’t go Miss!”
“What’s wrong?”
“The Second Young Master just sent someone to explain to the old lady, saying that it was to avoid suspicion…”
Avoid suspicion? It sounds like a good excuse, but in truth he just doesn’t want to get involved. Sun Xu has served in Jingzhao Prefecture for many years. If he wants to intervene in such a small matter, does he need to show up in person?
Even the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture would have to give the Sun family some face.
Sun Mi fell on the couch, her chest heaving with anger, “Who let her go?”
“It was Magistrate Lu.” The maid continued in a low voice: “But don’t worry, young lady. Although Magistrate Lu released Miss Shen, he also sent people to search the Shen residence. I think he released her according to the rules.”
“Miss? With her current status, do you still have the nerve to call her a Miss?” Sun Mi asked sternly.
“It was this servant who spoke out of turn.”
However, after hearing this, Sun Mi felt a little relieved. The Shen family had no dealings with the Lu family, and there was no reason for the Heir Apparent of the Duke of Zhenguo to help her.
——
Before the end of his shift, Sun Xu went to deliver a case file. He passed by the punishment room and just happened to brush past a young yamen official who was carrying an alder plate.
“Stop.” Sun Xu said.
The young official bowed and asked, “What is it, My Lord?”
Sun Xu’s eyes fell on the cups on the alder plate.
On the white porcelain teacup, there is a peach color lip balm print…
He took it, held it high and looked at it repeatedly in the direction of the silver lamp. The remaining lip balm became clearer and clearer, as if even the shape of the lips was outlined.
Sun Xu’s expression became complicated. He asked, “Besides Lord Lu, who else has gone to this interrogation chamber today?”
The young yamen official said, “No…no one.”
No one?
A smile appeared on Sun Xu’s lips.
When had Lu Yan been so good at interrogating that he would allow the prisoner to drink tea during interrogation?
Sun Xu put the cup back on the alder plate and whispered, “Leave the cup to me. You go ahead.”
The young yamen official presented it with both hands and slowly retreated.
After delivering the files, Sun Xu returned to the office, turned his wrist and placed the cup in front of Lord Lu without making any sound.
However, Lu Yan remained calm and pretended not to see anything.
Before leaving, Sun Xu murmured to Lu Yan’s back, ‘Strange, very strange.’.
Cao Gong, a military officer, asked, “Lord Sun, what’s so strange?”
“It’s nothing.”
