Chapter 224 Standoff in the Heavenly Prison
Deep within the cold, damp prison, the stench of mildew and blood lingered for years.
"I want to see Shen Qingci! I want to see her!"
Huo Yunzhan's hair was disheveled, and his former fine clothes had long been replaced by prison uniforms.
He gripped the cell door like a madman, screaming hoarsely at the outside, his eyes filled with resentment and malice, "I'm innocent! I have a secret about the Shen family's old case to tell her! Tell her to come see me!"
He couldn't understand it. He had planned everything perfectly, so why... why had things turned out this way?!
His only hope was Shen Qingci!
He was certain that she still... couldn't forget her old feelings for him!
As long as he can see her, as long as he can convince her that he is also a victim and get her to help him clear his name, he still has a chance to turn things around!
The news quickly reached the Regent's Palace.
The eunuch sent by Emperor Yongming stood cautiously outside the study, bowing and reporting: "Your Highness, the disgraced official Huo Yunzhan is making a ruckus in the imperial prison, insisting that he has important matters concerning the Shen family's wrongful conviction that he must tell you in person. Your Majesty... Your Majesty has sent this servant to inquire about your opinion."
Upon hearing this in the study, Chu Jichen's expression instantly turned cold!
“Ignore him,” he said coldly. “A dying man is just trying to cling to you as a lifeline before he dies.”
“Qingqing,” he turned to look at Shen Qingci, his voice full of unwavering protection, “you don’t need to go. That filthy place will only taint your eyes.”
Shen Qingci slowly shook her head.
She looked at Chu Jichen, her clear phoenix eyes flashing with determination: "No, Your Highness, I must go."
"The fact that he dared to make a fuss about the Shen family's affairs is enough to show that he may indeed be holding some secrets that we don't know about."
"Moreover," a cold glint flashed in her eyes, "some grudges should... be settled."
Seeing her resolute expression, Chu Jichen knew further persuasion was futile. He remained silent for a long time before finally giving in and sighing helplessly, "Fine."
“But,” his voice suddenly turned sharp, “I…want to go with you.”
...
The interrogation room was dimly lit, with only a single lamp casting a dim, yellowish glow in the damp air.
Shen Qingci, dressed in a plain-colored dress, sat quietly in the main seat.
Beside her, Chu Jichen sat calmly in his wheelchair, his expression indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger.
Huo Yunzhan was escorted in by the jailers. As soon as he saw her, he could no longer restrain himself! He suddenly broke free of his restraints and knelt down heavily in front of her!
"Aci!" His voice was filled with endless regret and pain. "Aci, I know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!"
He raised his head, his once spirited eyes now brimming with tears. He looked at her and said in a hoarse voice, "All of this... all of this was Chu Jichen and Liu Wenyuan's scheme! I... I really didn't know anything!"
"The reason I treated you that way back then, the reason I impersonated my elder brother, was all because I was threatened by that old scoundrel Liu Wenyuan!"
"It's because of my elder brother! Because my elder brother didn't want to collude with him and almost broke ties with him, that's why he came after me! He said if I didn't agree, he would kill me and everyone in the Yongning Marquis's mansion. I had no choice! I really had no other option!"
"The thing I regret most in my life is that I was foolish enough to agree to his proposal, and as a result, I lost you."
“But his death really had nothing to do with me! It was all arranged by Liu Wenyuan. I just took his place and escorted the coffin back to the capital.”
He crawled forward on his knees, trying to grab the hem of her clothes, his voice filled with a humble plea: "Aci, please forgive me, okay?"
"I...I don't want anything anymore! I don't care about power or status! I'm willing...I'm willing to resign from my official post and live a secluded life. From now on, we...we can be like an ordinary couple, okay?"
Shen Qingci watched him quietly, observing his tearful and remorseful appearance, but a cold smile slowly crept onto her lips.
She sneered, a laugh that sounded particularly jarring in the deathly silent interrogation room.
"Huo Yunzhan," her voice was calm and without a trace of emotion, "Don't... disgust me."
"And don't come near me again."
Huo Yunzhan's expression froze instantly!
He stared at her in disbelief as she slowly stood up and walked step by step to him.
She looked down at him, her clear phoenix eyes devoid of any former warmth, only filled with a chilling coldness and an all-knowing mockery.
“You really think,” her voice, like a poisoned icicle, struck his heart with each word, “that I…know nothing?”
Huo Yunzhan's heart skipped a beat!
Shen Qingci slowly took out a stack of yellowed letters from his sleeve.
She threw one of the letters directly in his face!
"The real Marquis of Yongning, Huo Yunting, died in battle at Luofeng Slope on the western frontier. He was ambushed by the enemy and fought to the death." Her voice was icy cold. "But why is it that in your letter to the border garrison commander, Deputy General Wang, you clearly wrote—'Luofeng Slope is a strategically important location, easy to defend and difficult to attack, making it an excellent place for an ambush. At that time, all we need to do is lure you into the trap'?"
"Huo Yunzhan," her eyes were filled with murderous intent, "tell me, who exactly is the 'Lord' you're trying to lure?!"
"I...I don't know!" Huo Yunzhan's face turned deathly pale in an instant! He vehemently denied it, "This...this wasn't written by me! It was...it was written by Liu Wenyuan!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he seemed to have found a way to exonerate himself, and hurriedly nodded: "Yes, that's right, it was Liu Wenyuan who forged it!"
Anyway, Liu Wenyuan has not been found yet.
He reasoned that, given the current situation, it was highly unlikely that Liu Wenyuan would voluntarily show himself and confess.
All he had to do was pin the blame on Liu Wenyuan!
"Forged?" Shen Qingci laughed upon hearing this.
She then took out a letter from her sleeve and slowly unfolded it.
"Then take a look at this." Her voice was full of endless sarcasm. "It clearly states here that you are to use your marriage agreement with me to sneak into my father's study, steal books or letters with his handwriting, imitate his handwriting, forge his letters to enemy generals, and then send them to His Majesty!"
“Huo Yunzhan,” she looked at him, her gaze as if he were a disgusting bug, “are you still going to try to deny it?”
"You murdered your brother, seized the title, impersonated someone else, and framed my entire Shen family! Every single one of these acts was committed by your own hands!"
"What else do you have to say?!"
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