Zu An secretly replied, "You don't understand. In my hometown, there's a custom of borrowing books between men and women. Since borrowing always means returning, it gives them another reason to meet again. Gradually, their feelings for each other grow stronger. This time, refusing only saved face and didn't bring any real benefit. On the contrary, accepting her gift increased our mutual goodwill. Besides, this thing seems very important to her. If she needs it in the future, I can bring it back to her, which will win her favor again."
Mi Li was stunned. After a long while, she finally exhaled and said, "What kind of place is your hometown? The tricks are so deep."
Zuan replied with a nostalgic look, "It was a place full of experienced drivers, a place where the Akina Mountain racing legends were everywhere..."
At this moment, Rong Mo came out of the inner room, holding a brocade box in red cloth and came to Zu An.
Although there was a box between them, they could still feel the rich energy. Zuan thanked the Crown Princess again.
The Crown Princess's eyes softened slightly: "You should rest well these days. Leave the Shi family's affairs to me."
Zuan knew she was implying that she would take the opportunity to completely eliminate any future troubles caused by what happened last time, and he winked at her in return to indicate that he understood.
The Crown Princess blushed and quickly glanced around. Seeing that no one else had noticed, she breathed a sigh of relief. This guy was really bold, openly provoking her like that. Humph, she would let him off this time because he was injured.
After Zu An left the East Palace, the Crown Princess sent Pu Duandiao and Jiao Sigun to escort him to the Imperial Hospital.
On the way, the two exclaimed, "We've never seen the Crown Princess treat anyone so well in all these years."
"Yes, even I'm starting to suspect that Brother Zu and the Crown Princess are having an affair."
Zuan: "..."
"Are you looking for death? How dare you say such a thing?"
“We three brothers just joke around in private. Besides, the fact that the Crown Princess still treats Brother Zu the same way after that scandal shows that she has a clear conscience.”
"That's true. But if it weren't for the sensitive nature of the Crown Princess's identity, I would really prefer her to be with Brother Zu. The Crown Princess has had a hard time all these years, and the Crown Prince can't protect her from the storms of life. Instead, he needs her protection."
"Holy crap, you're still criticizing me? You're practically asking for it."
...
Finally, Zu'an got a headache from listening to them and sent them away. His injuries had basically healed, so going to the Imperial Hospital would expose him.
Too lazy to leave the palace, he returned to the Baisha Courtyard and rested for an hour.
News soon arrived that Shi Jun had been captured and brought back.
Zu An then changed into his Gold Medal Eleven outfit and went to the embroidery tower. He had many questions that Shi Jun needed to answer.
He now enjoys high prestige among the Embroidered-Robe Envoys. Although the case is no longer under his jurisdiction, no one will be so tactless as to stop him. In any case, Commander Zhu Xie is currently interrogating the more important Commander Shi about the siege crossbows and those military experts.
Shi Jun sat in his cell, his hair disheveled, looking utterly dejected, a far cry from his former spirited self.
Hearing someone enter, he said weakly, "Don't ask me anymore. We have a get-out-of-jail-free card in our family. I won't say anything."
Zuan chuckled: "But you don't have your get-out-of-jail-free card with you right now."
Hearing his voice, Shi Jun was startled. He turned around and saw the familiar figure. His pupils contracted instantly. He still had nightmares about the miserable experience he had suffered at his hands last time.
Zuan also stopped smiling: "I don't want to waste time either. I'll ask you questions and you answer them, or don't blame me for making you experience a fate worse than death again."
"Alright, alright, please ask, sir." Shi Jun immediately smiled obsequiously. A wise man doesn't fight a losing battle; let's deal with this big devil first. Father will surely have a way to save us.
How did you and Xinrui meet?
Shi Jun hesitated for a moment, but still answered, "Over the years, as a Yellow Gate Attendant, I have had easy access to the palace. Once, I accidentally bumped into a flustered palace maid at a corner. She kept apologizing to me, and seeing her weak and frightened eyes, I couldn't bring myself to punish her. Later, she was grateful to me and specially brought me some Hundred Flowers Tea. That's when I learned that she was Xinrui, a maid from the Hundred Flowers Palace..."
Recalling the past, a hint of tenderness flashed in Shi Jun's eyes, clearly indicating that he had spent a happy time with that charming palace maid.
Zuan hurriedly asked, "Did she bump into you, or did you bump into her?"
Shi Jun frowned: "I am responsible for supervising the demeanor of all officials, so how could I be so reckless? But what does it matter if she bumps into me?"
“It’s nothing,” Zuan smiled. “You guys got better later?”
Shi Jun nodded: "Originally, she was a palace maid. All the women in the palace belonged to the emperor, so I dared not touch her. However, she told me that she had been in the palace since she was very young, and now that her term of service was coming to an end, she would be qualified to leave the palace. I had a good impression of her and thought that I could marry her afterward, so our relationship grew better and better."
"Later I learned that she had a mother and a younger brother in her hometown, so I specially sent someone to bring them to the capital to settle them. But for some reason, she even had a fight with me about it," Shi Jun said with some confusion. "But we made up quickly and started looking forward to the future."
Zuan said sarcastically, "That sounds nice, describing yourself as a deeply affectionate man. But I'm afraid you had ulterior motives for getting close to her. You probably only wanted her because she was a maid in the Hundred Flowers Palace, thinking you'd need her someday. Sure enough, you later sent her to frame the Crown Princess and Zuan. As for bringing her mother and brother to the capital, I suppose you were using them as hostages."
Shi Jun's expression changed: "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Zu An smiled and said, "You don't need to deny it. It's all meaningless now. Anyway, your Shi family is doomed."
Shi Jun knew he was telling the truth. The assassination attempt had failed, and everyone had been captured. Their situation was indeed hopeless, and their only hope now was whether the "immunity card" could save them.
He said through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with resentment: "It's all her brother's fault. If he hadn't been a gambler and sneaked out, which was discovered by the Embroidered Robe Envoy, we wouldn't be in such a passive position, forced to take a risky step."
"In order to save Hua Bao, you had to sacrifice that gambling den owner. Actually, I should have realized that the gambling den was backed by your Shi family. You should know that you secretly supported Mei Chaofeng in opening the gambling den in Mingyue City." Zu An sighed.
Shi Jun's expression changed, and he was shocked at how powerful the Embroidered-Robed Envoy's intelligence was, even knowing about this matter.
Zuan said, "So you conspired with the King of Wu to lure Zuan to Xinrui's house, intending to kill him there and pin all the blame on him, so that there would be no way to prove it?"
"King Wu? What King Wu?" Shi Jun looked bewildered.
Seeing that his expression didn't seem to be feigning, Zu An's face changed.
----
The two chapters have been combined.
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