Chapter 36 Why was he worrying about Xue Rongyue because of the case? ...

The newly emerging plot of the original work contains a lot of information, not only about past and present lives, but also makes Xue Rong and Yue Ming realize that in the increasingly intense struggle between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, the Emperor's faction will ultimately win.

This undoubtedly points out a clear path for Xue Rongyue: if she wants to protect the entire Xue family, she must have the protection of the emperor's faction.

In the original story, the female lead eventually clears the Xue family's name and marries the Crown Prince, becoming the empress. However, by extracting comments from readers in the previous life, it can be seen that Qin Jin and the female lead belong to the same camp, while Qin Jin, as the villainous female supporting character in the original story, is definitely in the opposing camp.

Moreover, Princess Yu'an made it clear at the banquet that night that the Empress Dowager's faction had been trying to suppress Qin Jin and prevent him from being appointed as a general. The struggle between the two factions has now become an open secret.

What about the father?

Her slender, pale fingertips casually traced the dazzling array of hairpins and ornaments on the dressing table. Xue Rongyue lowered her eyes, lost in thought.

Was the Xue family's downfall due to the father siding with the Empress Dowager, which led to his subsequent retribution by the Emperor, or was it because he sided with the Emperor and was framed by the Empress Dowager's faction, resulting in his tragic end?

Xue Rongyue hoped it was the latter, but she knew very well that the former was more likely.

"My lady, it's done." Jingnu put down the comb and reminded her in a low voice, "...it's been more than three incense sticks' worth of time."

Xue Rongyue suddenly snapped out of her reverie.

She hurriedly stood up, stepped out the door and looked outside. Qin Jin was still waiting in the courtyard, idly wasting the two pots of orchids she was growing.

Xue Rongyue breathed a sigh of relief and slowed her pace. Considering that Qin Jin was willing to take her to the Guard Division to interrogate Liu Ruyu, she rolled her eyes and mercifully decided not to hold it against him: "Your Highness, I'm all ready. Let's go."

Qin Jin turned around to look at her.

Jingnu was very skillful. Her hair was styled in an exquisite and unique way, adorned with several elegant pearl and jade hairpins. With just a touch of makeup, her beautiful face was already dazzling. She wore a green cloud-patterned dress with hundreds of pearls, which was both elegant and noble, and complemented Xue Rongyue's complexion perfectly.

...Perhaps because she was wearing makeup, her complexion was alright, and she didn't seem to be dwelling on the past or unable to move on.

With a barely perceptible glance away, Qin Jin took the handkerchief offered by a servant and wiped the flower juice that had somehow gotten on her fingertips.

Xue Rongyue walked ahead and asked casually, "What has the young master been busy with? I heard he hasn't returned to the manor these past few days."

"......"

She herself was feeling unwell and fainted, yet she still remembered to keep track of his whereabouts?

With a slight pursing of his thin lips, Qin Jin glanced at Xue Rongyue a couple more times: "She just forgot the time when she was having fun."

With a soft snort, Xue Rongyue pouted, easily discerning the perfunctory tone in Qin Jin's words. If he didn't want to talk about it, so be it; she wasn't insisting on asking!

Without speaking again, Xue Rongyue couldn't help but start thinking again.

She quickly realized that the system's decision to have her win over Qin Jin might not solely be based on reader preference ratings—

If her father really sided with the Empress Dowager's faction, what could she, a young woman of marriageable age, do, unable to decide the fate of her family in court?

Can the family gradually align themselves with the emperor's faction through Qin Jin? But can this goal be achieved simply by winning over Qin Jin?

Xue Rongyue was completely baffled.

How could her mere reconciliation with Qin Jin possibly dispel the Emperor's suspicions and thus extricate the Xue family from danger?

Unless something more pressing happens that forces the Xue and Qin families to be on the same side.

But what kind of urgent matter can be accomplished?

Xue Rongyue racked her brains, and when she inadvertently caught a glimpse of red in the corner of the wall, she thought of something, and her eyelids twitched violently.

Qin Jin suddenly noticed that Xue Rongyue's pace was getting faster and faster, and he was puzzled: "The three incense sticks were just to scare you. The Guard Division has already made arrangements, so there is no need to rush."

Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Xue Rongyue trembled upon hearing his voice and immediately quickened her pace. She dashed to the carriage prepared in front of the mansion gate, almost causing even Jingnu to fall behind.

What's wrong?

Qin Jin was puzzled and looked back.

Could it be that she's worried that if the Princess sees the two of them side by side again, she won't be able to explain herself clearly?

Recalling Guang Sheng's words, "Girls are thin-skinned," Qin Jin quickened her pace slightly, but after only a few steps, she suddenly stopped.

Qin Jin frowned, silently questioning himself—

Why should he worry about Xue Rongyue?

Was Xue Rongyue shy, or worried about what he might do if he bumped into the Princess? He had already made up his mind that no matter what Xue Rongyue thought of him, once he found out the real culprit in the Wang Jinhu case, he would go his separate ways with Xue Rongyue and never have anything to do with her again.

For him, being estranged from Xue Rongyue was entirely beneficial.

Thinking this, Qin Jin deliberately slowed his pace and put on a calm expression.

The carriage stopped in front of the gate of the Guard Commandery.

Xue Rongyue originally thought that Qin Jin would let her disguise herself and go with him to sneak into the Guard Bureau. She even instructed her maid to find a suitable outfit while she was dressing up, but she didn't expect it to be used at all.

After getting off the carriage, Qin Jin led her straight into the Guard Division.

The guard who led the two inside was Bai Heming, whom they had met once before: "Lord Cao instructed his subordinates that Prince Qin and Lady Xue invited the prisoner Liu Ruyu to the main hall."

Xue Rongyue knew that she didn't have that much influence, and that Qin Jin must have been the one mediating between them.

I originally thought Qin Jin was just a spoiled brat who did whatever he wanted, but after he fell into the water and was bound to the system, I realized how good he was at pretending to be weak while actually being strong.

Having been at odds with Qin Jin for a long time, Xue Rongyue's competitive spirit wouldn't disappear because of the strategy. At this moment, she inexplicably felt that she was being outdone by Qin Jin.

She felt a pang of unease. Though she remained silent, her thoughts raced, pondering how she could turn the tide.

Bai Hemian led the two into the main hall. Liu Ruyu, covered in wounds, was shackled and chained to a chair. She raised her head in a daze.

A large expanse of sunlight shone down, bright and dazzling.

Liu Ruyu narrowed his eyes. Only after Bai Hemian left did he see who had come from. He roared, "Qin Jin! Why weren't you arrested by the Guards? How dare you come to see me?!"

Qin Jin crossed his arms, and upon hearing this, raised a slight eyebrow: "Why wouldn't I dare to come see you? I told you, I'll wait for you to come after me, but unfortunately, you're too useless."

These casual words instantly enraged Liu Ruyu. He felt as if he had returned to the day when Qin Jin had given him a good beating, and he was powerless to fight back.

He gritted his teeth and said, "Qin Jin, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!"

Upon hearing this, Xue Rongyue clicked her tongue and said, "Can't you see me standing right here? We both hit you, so don't just go after him, you won't let me off the hook either!"

Xue Rongyue was dissatisfied.

Why are you only focusing on Qin Jin and ignoring her when it comes to seeking revenge?

Doesn't her whip hurt?

Liu Ruyu was indeed completely captivated by Qin Jin, and only now did she realize that Xue Rongyue had also come in.

Her sinister gaze swept back and forth between the two. Now that death was imminent, Liu Ruyu had nothing to fear and immediately shouted angrily, "You adulterous couple!"

Xue Rongyue: "?"

Qin Jin: "......"

Whether or not they have received an education, and whether they are cultured.

Xue Rongyue was so angry she laughed: "No wonder you come from an official family, yet you still plagiarize poems from poor scholars. Is this how you use the phrase 'adulterous couple'?"

Liu Ruyu was once again stung, her face turning bright red. She stammered for a long time, finally gritting her teeth and angrily saying, "Isn't that right? You were clearly about to get engaged to me, yet you're always seen with Qin Jin. How dare you say that you two aren't having an affair!"

Liu Ruyu was about to launch into a tirade when a cup of scalding hot tea was splashed onto his face.

Qin Jin's expression was cold, and his casual words sent a chill down Liu Ruyu's spine: "If you don't want your tongue, then don't have it."

The scalding tea burned the scars on Liu Ruyu's face, jolting her awake instantly.

Yan Wei Bai Hemian, who was guarding him, was a ruthless man who hated him to the bone. He would torture him every few days. Although he was indeed doomed this time, if he continued to provoke Qin Jin, he would probably suffer even more before he died.

Seeing that Liu Ruyu had calmed down, Xue Rongyue stepped forward with a smile: "Do you know why you've ended up in this state today?"

"I imagine that after today, Young Master Liu will be famous throughout Chang'an."

When Liu Ruyu caught a glimpse of the smile on Xue Rongyue's lips, she couldn't help but recall Xue Rongyue's ambiguous words that day in the Pillow Gold Study.

There was nothing he didn't understand. His recently calmed emotions were once again filled with rage, and he struggled to lunge at Xue Rongyue: "You bitch, you're the one who ruined me, you poisonous woman!!"

Xue Rongyue was amused by Liu Ruyu's exasperation.

If you punish someone and no one knows, what's the fun in that?

After a few days of feeling down, she raised her hand and slapped Liu Ruyu hard across the face, then laughed sincerely: "I just exposed your crimes to the public, how can that be considered harming you? I didn't order you to do those evil things."

She blew on her palm and smiled slyly, her upturned eyebrows resembling those of a triumphant fox, inexplicably charming and adorable.

Qin Jin raised his hand, took a sip of cold tea, and casually looked away.

Despicable!

Absolutely repulsive!

How could there be such a vicious and cruel woman in the world?!

Seeing Xue Rongyue's smug smile, Liu Ruyu vomited blood, her eyes turning bloodshot: "We were about to be united in marriage, yet you have harmed me like this!"

With bloodstains on her palms, Xue Rongyue looked at her handkerchief with disgust, wanting to wipe the bloodstains away, no longer paying attention to him.

Liu Ruyu grew even more furious, his narrow eyes darting about with a sinister glint in them. Suddenly, his words turned to Qin Jin, and he grinned maliciously: "Young Master Qin, how dare you get close to such a vicious woman?! I'll wait and see if you end up like me one day!"

After saying that, he looked up at Qin Jin.

He didn't believe Qin Jin could sit still after hearing this!

It would have been better if she hadn't looked; when she did, blood gushed from her nose again, and Liu Ruyu's vision went black; she nearly fainted from shock.

Qin Jin didn't listen to what he was saying at all. He walked to the window and ordered the guards outside to bring water for washing hands and place it in front of Xue Rongyue.

Isn't this considered adultery? At this point, isn't the important thing whether Xue Rongyue's hands are clean?

Xue Rongyue slapped him, and before he could even cry out in pain, these two were already complaining about his dirty blood. Is there no justice in this world?!

Qin Jin sighed.

He was also helpless; all of this was just to expedite the case.

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Author's note: I really advise everyone not to walk out at noon. I still feel unwell! Henan has turned into a volcano! [melting emoji]