Chapter 380 So you're giving up the search? Siblings, huh?
"Regarding the matter of Yunxue falling into the water back then, please tell me the details you know, Your Highness," Zhou Rulin asked humbly.
Zhou Zhuangyun glanced at Zhao Zheng again. It was probably inappropriate for an outsider like him to listen to matters concerning the private affairs of the women in the household.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Zheng not only refused to leave, but also shamelessly asked for advice.
"Please tell me the truth, Your Highness. If the matter from back then hadn't been settled, you should be calling me brother-in-law now."
Zhou Zhuangyun felt awkward for a moment, then looked at Zhou Rulin. Seeing Zhao Zheng's firm attitude, the latter could only look at Zhou Zhuangyun with helplessness.
Shen Lanxi: "Respect for the dead is paramount; everything else can be set aside. Your Highness must explain every single detail clearly, so that I can properly defend Prince Ji and Yunxue's innocence."
Zhou Zhuangyun frowned and looked at Shen Lanxi with displeasure.
Does she think all women are like her, indifferent to their reputation because she herself doesn't care about it?
"Sister Yunxue went boating on the lake that day at the invitation of others."
Shen Lanxi glanced at the person beside her and gestured, "Write it down."
Zhou Zhuangyun, who had been casually reminiscing, suddenly became cold-faced and unconsciously spoke clearly, deepening her recollection.
"That was shortly after the Shen family was sentenced to exile." Zhou Zhuangyun said this on purpose, still wanting to upset Shen Lanxi.
Unexpectedly, Shen Lanxi picked up on the conversation and asked without changing her expression, "Do you remember the exact date? Do you remember whether it was a cloudy or sunny day? Do you remember who the maids who were with Yunxue that day were, and whether they are still alive?"
Zhou Zhuangyun frowned deeply. How could he possibly remember something from so long ago?
Zhao Zheng coldly sarcastically said, "Are you questioning me or forcing a confession? If you don't know how to investigate a case, don't interrupt."
Shen Lanxi retorted, "Unfortunately, I solved the Wei family army case and brought the descendants of the Li King to justice. This case had remained unsolved for six years by the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice. It was only after I returned to the capital that I thoroughly investigated the matter, leaving no stone unturned, and finally solved it."
"Compared to the Wei family army case, Yunxue's case is not worth mentioning."
Zhao Zheng's face turned red, whether from anger or something else, it was hard to tell.
He was so angry with Shen Lanxi that he completely forgot about the important matter of the Wei family army.
But it's impossible to make him back down or give in.
"It seems that Marquis Yong'an has already recognized my ability to handle cases," Shen Lanxi said with a calm smile.
Zhou Rulin and Zhou Zhuangyun twitched their lips. "Chen Mou?" They had never seen such a bold and presumptuous woman who dared to speak in such an exaggerated tone.
"Since there are no objections, please continue with your answer, Your Highness."
Zhou Zhuangyun said reluctantly, "So much time has passed, I can't quite remember."
This wasn't meant to deliberately make things difficult for Shen Lanxi; it was just that there were some things he genuinely couldn't remember.
Shen Lanxi: "It's okay, just say as much as you can remember."
Zhou Zhuangyun initially thought Shen Lanxi had already compromised and intended to casually investigate the case, but unexpectedly...
"Such a major event happened in the Prince's mansion, and then Yunxue was hastily married off. Surely someone will remember it. And there will definitely be records."
Zhou Zhuangyun: "..."
How could she be so infuriating?
“That day I went out to meet a friend, and when I came back I heard from the people in the mansion that my sister had fallen into the water. I rushed to see my sister.”
Shen Lanxi: "Did you see her? What did Yunxue say?"
Zhou Zhuangyun pouted: "I didn't see it at the time, but I heard later that my sister was going to marry that guy surnamed Fang."
Shen Lanxi's eyes darkened: "At the banquet, I saw you give up your seat to Yunxue. It seems that you, as her younger brother, care about Yunxue very much."
Zhou Zhuangyun was taken aback, then silently gripped the chair tightly.
"Go on."
"After that, I secretly went to my sister and asked her if she was willing to marry someone surnamed Fang. She said that she had already lost her reputation and that if she did not marry him, she would be a burden to her family and bring shame upon them."
Shen Lanxi: "So, she's unwilling?"
Zhao Zheng clenched his fist tightly.
Zhou Zhuangyun was lost in memories: "When my sister talked about this, she was very sad and upset, so I didn't press her any further. When I saw my sister again later, she looked normal and started preparing for the wedding."
Shen Lanxi: "After that, she married and moved to Xishan, and didn't return for several years?"
Zhou Zhuangyun guessed that Shen Lanxi must know something, otherwise she wouldn't have said that.
When my sister was in the capital, she must have gone to see Shen Lanxi.
"After that, the Great Zhou Dynasty was in constant turmoil, and even if my sister wanted to come back, she was powerless to do so."
Shen Lanxi: "So, this is Zhou Yunxue's first trip back to the capital after getting married?"
These words made Zhou Zhuangyun feel somewhat embarrassed.
Even if one is unwilling to admit it, it is a fact that Zhou Yunxue was not brought back to the capital for a reunion after the Great Zhou was pacified.
Zhou Zhuangyun nodded with an unpleasant expression, as if he had swallowed a fly.
"right."
Shen Lanxi: "After she returned to the capital, did she say anything to the Prince's Mansion?"
Zhou Zhuangyun shook his head: "After my sister returned to the capital to receive guests, she went to stay at an inn. I went to look for her, but unfortunately, she wasn't at the inn at that time."
So you're giving up the search?
They're supposed to be siblings?
Shen Lanxi scoffed, not suppressing her contemptuous gaze.
Zhou Zhuangyun tried to reprimand him several times, but Zhou Rulin always managed to smooth things over with jokes.
Zhou Rulin: "You've been at the Prince's residence for so long, why haven't I seen the Princess?"
Zhou Zhuangyun's expression changed, and he said with difficulty, "My mother was greatly affected by my sister's situation, and she hasn't seen her for so long. She has fallen ill from missing her."
Shen Lanxi: "After Yunxue fell into the water, it was inconvenient for you to visit her. Your mother cares so much about your sister, she will definitely keep asking about it and find out the truth."
Zhao Zheng: "May I see the Princess?"
Zhou Zhuangyun's expression became even more troubled: "It's not that I don't want you to see her, it's just that my mother is very ill and no longer recognizes anyone."
Shen Lanxi frowned: "How could it be so serious?"
Zhou Zhuangyun: "The imperial physicians in the palace said that Mother couldn't bear the shock and developed a heart attack."
"Losing one's mind" is a polite way of saying it; in reality, it means going mad.
"I obtained something belonging to Yunxue at the Grand Princess's residence. I wonder if I could meet the Princess and give her the things that Yunxue used during her lifetime, as a memento for her."
Zhou Zhuangyun initially wanted to say no, as there were still many things Zhou Yunxue had used at home. But then she thought again and worried that being so secretive might give Shen Lanxi an excuse to make a fuss.
“Alright, Mother lives in the nunnery in the backyard. I’ll take you there.”
Several people got up and followed.
The nunnery in Prince Ji's mansion was located in the farthest corner of the backyard. As you walked further, it became more and more remote and desolate, with weeds growing rampant on the ground and no one taking care of it.
Zhou Zhuangyun felt uneasy and cursed the servants in his heart. He thought that he would teach those people a lesson after he sent Shen Lanxi and the others away.
“After my mother fell ill, she didn’t like people walking around her. My father had no choice but to fence off a secluded place so that no one would disturb her while she was recuperating.”
Passing by one of the courtyards with its door open, Shen Lanxi casually asked, "Who lives in this room?"
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