Chapter 128 I'll Feel Heartache
Prime Minister Liu's face was ashen, clearly extremely dissatisfied with Chu Jichen's arrangement. He stepped forward, his voice steady yet sharp: "Your Highness's actions are something this old minister cannot agree with!"
"The Ministry of Punishments is under the Prince's complete control. If the people of Jingren Palace are handed over to the Prince for interrogation, who can guarantee that the Prince won't take the opportunity to extract confessions through torture, frame them, or... protect the real poisoner?"
His words sent a chill down everyone's spine.
This is almost a blatant accusation that Chu Jichen is suspected of embezzlement.
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen smiled instead of getting angry, but there was no warmth in his smile. He maneuvered his wheelchair and slowly approached Prime Minister Liu. The powerful pressure made the latter unable to help but take a half step back.
"Oh? Then, in your wise opinion, Prime Minister, how should this matter be handled?"
Chu Jichen's voice was icy cold, "Does this mean I should hand over the entire power of interrogation to you, Prime Minister, for your decision?"
Seeing that Prime Minister Liu nodded without hesitation, Chu Jichen's sarcasm deepened: "Prime Minister, you have quite the nerve! I am not qualified to judge, but do you?"
"Don't forget!" His voice suddenly rose, "The mistress of Jingren Palace, the current Consort Shu, is your own daughter, Liu Wenyuan! You want to interrogate her? That's utterly ridiculous!"
Chu Jichen sneered, his gaze sweeping across Prime Minister Liu's face, which had turned a deep purplish-red: "Since you, Prime Minister, are so worried that I might do something underhanded, then it's easy to handle."
"Guards!" he shouted. "Bring all the palace servants and eunuchs of Jingren Palace to the square outside the Golden Hall! Also summon the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and the Minister of Justice to assist in the trial!"
"Today, I will have all the officials personally interrogate you in front of the entire court and all the noble ladies!"
"In that case, with everyone watching, Your Majesty the Prime Minister should be... at ease, right?"
Prime Minister Liu gritted his teeth and swallowed a mouthful of blood.
Given the current situation, this is indeed the best course of action.
Public interrogation would at least limit Chu Jichen's methods, which is better than letting him take the person back to the Censorate and do whatever he wants.
"Your Highness is wise." Prime Minister Liu squeezed out these words through gritted teeth, which was his way of agreeing.
Chu Jichen scoffed, then turned and left without giving him another glance, holding the still weak Shen Qingci in his arms.
Upon seeing this, Prime Minister Liu exclaimed in astonishment, "Your Highness, where are you going? The interrogation is imminent, how can Your Highness leave ahead of time?"
Chu Jichen stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around, his eyes looking at him as if he were an idiot.
“My queen is the biggest victim in this case. I only hope to find out the real mastermind as soon as possible. Since I only want to find out the real murderer, and because she is a family member of the victim, it is not appropriate for me to interfere with the proceedings of you gentlemen. There is no point in me staying here!”
"I trust all the officials present, and I trust you, Prime Minister," he said calmly, yet every word was piercing. "With so many eyes watching, surely no one would dare to tamper with anything. Besides..."
He lowered his head and looked at Shen Qingci in his arms with an almost treasuring gaze. His voice softened instantly, but it made Prime Minister Liu's heart skip a beat: "My queen has also been drugged. Although she has taken the antidote, the aphrodisiac has harmed her body. She is currently weak, so I will naturally take her back to the manor to recuperate."
"Once I have settled my queen and the officials have finished their interrogation," he raised his eyes, his gaze turning cold and sharp once more, "I will personally deal with the person who harmed my queen."
"At that time, I suppose the Prime Minister will no longer obstruct me?"
Prime Minister Liu was speechless after being silenced by his words, his old face turning pale and then red.
He then realized with a start that he had fallen into a low position! The more he dwelled on the interrogation, the more guilty he appeared, as if he were trying to cover up his guilt!
Chu Jichen gave him no chance to speak again, and carrying Shen Qingci, he left gracefully without looking back amidst the mixed gazes of the crowd.
...
The carriage slowly drove out of the palace gate, shutting out all the noise and scheming behind it.
Nestled in Chu Jichen's arms, Shen Qingci finally couldn't help but chuckle softly. She looked up and met Chu Jichen's eyes: "Prime Minister Liu is probably grinding his teeth to dust right now."
As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed that Chu Jichen's face was filled with a coldness and gloom she had never seen before.
Shen Qingci felt a sudden jolt of fear, a bad premonition rising within her.
Sure enough, as soon as they got into the carriage and the door closed, Chu Jichen released his grip on her.
The atmosphere inside the carriage instantly plummeted to freezing point.
He didn't look at her, but stared coldly at the car wall, his voice unusually stern and angry:
"Shen Qingci, do you know your crime?"
Shen Qingci was taken aback.
Chu Jichen suddenly turned his head, his deep phoenix eyes now burning with raging anger. He grabbed her wrist, veins bulging on his forehead, but as if he couldn't bear to hurt her, the force in his hand was extremely light.
"Do you know how harmful that aphrodisiac is to the body?" he almost roared, his eyes filled with lingering fear. "Why didn't you discuss it with me? Just how little do you trust me that you think I can't handle everything and have to go so far as to drug yourself?"
"In your heart, is your body, your life, so worthless that you can casually use them as a stake for revenge?"
Chu Jichen's voice trembled slightly with extreme anger, and his usually calm and deep phoenix eyes were now stained with a scarlet color.
Shen Qingci was completely stunned.
She had imagined countless possibilities: he would question her about why she hadn't informed him of the plan beforehand, he would blame her for making a scene and disrupting his plans, and he might even suspect that she had ulterior motives...
But what she never expected was that his overwhelming anger was simply because he felt sorry for her.
I feel sorry for her for drugging herself, and for risking her own body.
For a moment, she didn't know how to respond.
Yes, why is that?
Because she couldn't believe it.
Having experienced Huo Yunzhan's heart-wrenching betrayal, she no longer dared to place her safety and hope entirely on any man.
Even if that person is Chu Jichen, even if he has done so much for her.
Deep down, she only trusts herself.
She only felt at ease when she had everything firmly in her own hands, even if it meant paying a heavy price.
Seeing her remain silent, the pain in Chu Jichen's eyes intensified.
He tried to calm the turbulent emotions in his chest, but his voice was still terribly hoarse, carrying an uncontrollable murderous intent.
"I really want to... kill him right now."
Shen Qingci raised her eyes, a hint of confusion flashing in them.
Chu Jichen's eyes were bloodshot as he stared intently at her: "Kill Huo Yunzhan!"
"He got you, yet he deceived you, betrayed you, and hurt you so much! That's why my Qingqing... is now like a wounded hedgehog, preferring to prick herself rather than trust anyone again!"
Shen Qingci's heart was struck hard by those words.
So... he knew everything.
A bittersweet feeling, unlike anything I'd ever experienced before, instantly welled up in my eyes.
"I..." her voice trembled slightly, "I will try my best."
"I will try my best... to learn to trust you and rely on you."
Upon hearing this, Chu Jichen's body stiffened abruptly.
He slowly raised his head, his eyes filled with a hope she had never seen before, a hope that was almost humble.
But in the end, he slowly shook his head.
He guided her hand to his lips and placed a gentle, precious kiss on her lips, his voice so hoarse it seemed to break one's heart.
"Qingqing, you don't even need to believe me or rely on me."
"All you need to do is... make good use of me."
"Use my power, use everything I have, to do whatever you want."
"I only beg you," he raised his bloodshot eyes, deep within which was an intense, overwhelming pain and pleading, "don't gamble with your body and life anymore."
"Because... I will be sad and upset."
"I will...feel heartbroken."
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