Chapter 21 Shared Crime

The palace walls are deep and the roads are long.

Chen He leaned against the carriage that was slowly driving towards the mansion. He felt as if all the energy in his body had been drained away, and only fatigue and confusion followed him.

The wheels rolled lightly over the bluestone road, making a low "gurgling" sound. That was the sound of time passing, simple and repetitive.

However, the lake in her heart was far from calm. It was as if countless stones had been thrown into it, stirring up endless ripples.

She slowly closed her eyes, but her thoughts were tangled like a tangled mess.

The miserable ending of the previous life lingered like a nightmare; the journey to the Cining Palace in this life was like walking on thin ice at every step; and then to the thrilling events in the imperial study, every scene was vivid in my mind.

All this happened so fast that it caught people off guard!

Before she could completely shake off the shock and trance brought about by her rebirth, she was already swept up in the turbulent situation in the court.

Jade bracelet case!

This is clearly an extremely hot potato!

The Queen, the Crown Prince, the Third Prince... maybe even more are involved!

Did the emperor really trust her by handing this case over to her?

No, this is more like a test, a layout!

He gave her the "Canglanghao" brush and the power to investigate cases. It seemed like a favor, but in fact it pushed her to the forefront!

Chen He clenched the pen in his sleeve.

The cool touch calmed her down a bit.

Chu Yue...Zhou Yan'an...

These two names are the few warm memories she has from her dark past life.

Also, Yan Qingxiu, Mr. Yan...

Before I had the chance to meet him, in my previous life, that wise gentleman in blue, Mr. Yan, who had great ambitions in his heart, risked his life for me.

In this life, she must protect them!

We must also use their power to get a different ending for ourselves and the Shen family!

The carriage slowly stopped.

"Miss, we're here." The coachman's voice came from outside.

Chen He took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, tidied his appearance, and then lifted the curtain of the car.

The familiar gate of the Shen Mansion came into view.

At the door, a tall figure was pacing anxiously. It was her father, the prime minister, Shen Qingyuan.

Seeing his father's familiar face, no longer the cold and blurry outline on the mass grave in his memory, Shen He's eyes instantly turned red.

All the strength and disguise almost collapsed at this moment.

"Father!"

She lifted her skirt and almost stumbled over, hugging her father's waist tightly.

Warm body temperature, familiar breath...

It's true! My father is still alive! Living well!

Chen He buried her face in her father's court robes, absorbing the warmth that had been lost and regained, tears silently sliding down her face.

However--

The expected worried inquiries and gentle comfort from his father did not come.

From above, came Shen Qingyuan's voice, which was extremely suppressed but could not hide his anger:

“Nonsense!”

Chen He froze suddenly, raised his head, and looked at his father with tearful eyes.

Shen Qingyuan's face turned ashen, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes were filled with disappointment and... deep anger!

He pushed Shen He away from his arms with such force that Shen He staggered back two steps and almost fell.

"Do you know you're wrong?!"

Shen Qingyuan questioned harshly, his voice was not loud, but it was like a heavy hammer, hitting Shen He's heart hard!

Chen He was completely stunned. He stood there blankly, looking at his angry father in front of him, not knowing how to react for a moment.

"Father……"

Shen Qingyuan looked at his daughter's confused and hurt eyes, and his heart felt like it was being tugged at by something.

But then, the overwhelming anger and deeper fear once again swallowed up that trace of reluctance.

He swung his sleeves violently, with such force that the strong wind even blew the strands of hair on Shen He's forehead.

"What did you do wrong?"

Shen Qingyuan's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, with a kind of suppressed anger.

"You still have the nerve to ask me?"

Chen He was in a daze for a moment and couldn't remember it.

Shen Qingyuan said coldly: "Follow me to the ancestral temple and kneel down!"

Shen He followed behind Shen Qingyuan, looking at his father's tall figure, and couldn't help but step forward and hold his father's arm.

Shen Qingyuan was furious and almost wanted to shake off Chen He's hand, but Chen He's hand was like a plaster and he couldn't shake it off. When he turned around, he saw Chen He with a playful smile on his face.

Shen Qingyuan had no choice but to let her hold his arm.

When they arrived at the Shen Family Ancestral Hall, it was already dark. Shen's father asked someone to watch over it and not allow anyone to approach. He also closed the door tightly and the room fell silent for a while.

“Kneel down!”

Only then did Chen He let go of Shen Qingyuan's arm, walked to the ancestral hall tablet, knelt down gracefully, and looked at his mother's tablet, with a thousand thoughts in his mind.

Shen Qingyuan stared at Shen He with red eyes: "Tell me!"

"Who was it that cried and begged me to use all my connections to pave the way for him in the imperial court, even risking... risking the Shen family's century-old reputation to clear the way for him?!"

"It's you! Chen He!"

Chen He's heart sank.

It turned out to be because of this incident.

In her previous life, she was blinded by greed and devoted herself to Xiao Jingren. She did ask her father for help secretly.

But she didn't expect her father to be so deeply involved!

"Father, no! It's not what you think! I..."

She was eager to explain, to tell her father Xiao Jingren's true face, and to make amends for everything.

“That’s enough!”

Shen Qingyuan interrupted harshly, not giving her a chance to explain!

His eyes were full of disappointment, and even a hint of... despair!

"Do you know?"

"For your 'I will not marry anyone but you' Xiao Jingren!"

"What price has my Shen family paid?!"

He lowered his voice, and although only the two of them could hear it, every word was heartbreaking!

"Three years ago! Military rations in the northern border were tainted with sand! Tens of thousands of soldiers nearly starved to death or froze to death at the border! The very foundation of the nation was nearly shaken!"

"Last year, the Ministry of Works was corrupt in the Yellow River embankment! They cut corners and enriched themselves! This caused the embankment to burst, leaving tens of thousands of people downstream displaced and their families destroyed!"

Chen He only felt a chill rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!

In her previous life, she had only vaguely heard of these cases. The court investigated them strictly, but in the end, they were all left unresolved.

She never expected... that it was all related to her father! And Xiao Jingren!

Her lips began to tremble and her face turned as pale as paper.

"Everything!"

Shen Qingyuan's voice was almost broken.

"Which one? Isn't it a capital crime punishable by the extermination of all nine generations of your clan?!"

"Chen He! Tell me! Which one?!"

Chen He felt cold all over, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

She looked at her father's face, which was twisted with anger and fear, and her heart ached.

"Father……"

She wanted to say something, but her throat seemed to be blocked and she couldn't make any sound.

Shen Qingyuan seemed to think it was not enough. He suddenly took out a neatly folded piece of paper with yellowed edges from his arms!

With trembling hands, he unfolded the paper and held it in front of Chen He!

"Look carefully!"

That's a contract!

The handwriting is clear and the terms are clear!

The most striking thing was the two glaring, bright red blood fingerprints side by side at the signature!

One is Xiao Jingren's private seal, and the other is surprisingly his father Shen Qingyuan's!

"The secret agreement is here!"

Shen Qingyuan's voice was hoarse, as if he had used up all his strength.

"It's written in black and white! The blood seal is proof!"

"Do you think this is the end?!"