Chapter 385 Zhou Yunyuan commits suicide out of fear of punishment!
Shen Lanxi told him about what she saw Zhou Cheng'an at the Prince Ji's residence.
Che Mingyuan: "He does know how to repay kindness."
Before the old Prince Ji's accident, Zhou Cheng'an received better treatment in the Prince Ji's mansion than ordinary illegitimate sons. Because he was protected by Zhou Yunxue, the two got along like siblings. The current Princess Ji must be taking care of Zhou Cheng'an.
"It hasn't been long since the old Prince Ji passed away, and now the current Prince Ji's residence has run into trouble. I've had people inquire about it, and it turns out that when the old Prince Ji was alive, he was very protective of this daughter-in-law. Now that he's dead, the current Princess Ji has no one to protect her, and she's ended up like this. I'm afraid it's more than just a coincidence."
Shen Lanxi had some guesses in her mind, but felt it was too coincidental, so after thinking it over, she told Che Mingyuan.
"I'm saying, what if the people from Prince Ji's mansion colluded with the eldest princess to cause Zhou Yunxue to fall into the water? This would both eliminate Zhou Yunxue and provoke Princess Ji. Do you think that's possible?"
Che Mingyuan glanced at her with a twitch of his lips. He had to admit, adults really do have a rich imagination.
"If that's the case, then the Ji Prince's Mansion is utterly corrupt."
Shen Lanxi: "I'm just guessing. It's true that the eldest princess harbored ill will towards Zhou Yunxue before. The eldest princess alone is enough to deal with Zhou Yunxue."
Seeing how much she cared about the case, Che Mingyuan was afraid she would get stuck on it, so he began to comfort her.
"Zhou Yunxue's accident has nothing to do with you, sir. Those powerful and influential people treat human lives like ants, controlling them at will to show how much power they hold. Even if it wasn't you, it would have been someone else." However, Shen Lanxi was indeed quite high-profile back then.
Each time he inquired, his understanding of Shen Lanxi's arrogance was refreshed.
All I can say is that the Empress Dowager dotes on Shen Lanxi far too much.
Fortunately, they didn't spoil the adults; in fact, they turned out to be outstanding.
“Zhou Rulin wants to recruit me? It won’t be that easy.” Shen Lanxi already had a plan in mind.
Che Mingyuan frowned: "Does Your Excellency really intend to serve the First Prince?"
Shen Lanxi sneered: "Does he deserve it?"
Che Mingyuan: "..." He knew it.
“If Zhou Rulin doesn’t show some sincerity, I definitely won’t act until I see results.”
Che Mingyuan's lips twitched. Say whatever you want.
...
The next day, Shen Yuanxu arrived early.
Today he was going to report to Bailu Academy, dressed in a scholar's robe, holding a folding fan, looking every bit the elegant young gentleman. If no one mentioned it, no one would know that he had once fought on the battlefield.
Shen Lanxi: "I have already informed His Majesty about your going to study at the academy, so don't worry!"
Shen Yuanxu breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this. Although he had been calling him "uncle" repeatedly at the banquet, he knew that this "uncle" was completely different from the one Shen Lanxi was referring to.
He felt no jealousy whatsoever in this regard.
Because Yuan Jing, Yuan Jun, and others who share the same mother as Shen Lanxi are the same as him.
Only Shen Lanxi is different.
"To show you're dedicated to your studies, you only need to come back every three days!" Shen Lanxi continued.
Shen Yuanxu had a question in his mind.
"Lanxi, why did Mr. Ruohua go to Bailu Academy?"
Shen Lanxi: "Naturally, it was my father's recommendation. Actually, it didn't have to be my father's recommendation. Mr. Ruohua is a good friend of the dean of Bailu Academy."
It turns out it was his uncle who recommended her. His uncle and Lanxi have never gotten along, so it seems he was overthinking things.
"I will definitely study hard."
Shen Lanxi said earnestly, "I have always wanted our Shen family to flourish everywhere, but unfortunately, there are few who have turned out well, and most of them are hopeless and useless."
Shen Yuanxu: There's no need for that.
"Back home?" Grandmother is so preoccupied with the preparations for marrying the princess that she's almost driven mad.
Shen Lanxi: "A man's ambition should lie in all directions, not in the inner quarters."
Shen Yuanxu suddenly felt as if their roles had been reversed, but he wondered what Lan Xi's state of mind was when she said that a man's ambition lies in all directions.
That's all I have to say. Once you're at the academy, just focus on your studies.
Shen Yuanxu understood. He had chosen this path himself, and no matter how thorny or muddy the road ahead was, he would continue on it.
Hu Jinyu came with Shen Yuanxu. At first, she wondered why Yuanxu didn't go to pay respects to his grandmother and parents, but instead came to see Shen Lanxi.
Now that she knows the reason, she feels even more awe and respect for Shen Lanxi. She will have to rein in her little schemes in the future.
After seeing Shen Yuanxu off, Shen Lanxi went to find the First Prince.
Unexpectedly, she ran into Zhou Rulin, who was rushing to find her, as soon as she stepped out of the mansion.
"Lanxi, Zhou Yunyuan left behind a confession and a letter of repentance, and then committed suicide."
I understand, they're reluctant to bring the eldest princess out.
Zhou Rulin's sincerity is lacking!
"Let's go take a look!" she said, walking ahead.
As Zhou Rulin walked, he said, "The people from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice have already gone there, and the people from the Prince Ping's Mansion should be there by now."
Zhou Yunyuan was a concubine's daughter in the Prince Ping's mansion, so even if she went to the Prince Ping's mansion, she would only be a minor figure.
When they arrived at the Zhu family's house, it was already packed with people; almost everyone who was supposed to be there had arrived.
While wiping away his fatigue, Zhou Yunyuan's husband, Zhu Ping, explained to the people from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.
“We were exhausted from our journey yesterday, so we went to bed early when we got back. But when I woke up, I found her lying on the ground, already lifeless.”
Shen Lanxi slowed down and followed Zhou Rulin inside.
"Your Highness!"
The crowd greeted each other.
Zhou Rulin: "Were the confession and repentance written by Zhou Yunyuan herself?"
The people from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review looked at Zhu Ping, who quickly said, "It is her own handwriting. There are many other things she wrote at home that can be compared."
Upon hearing the confirmation, the people from the Prince Ping's residence immediately rebuked Zhou Yunyuan.
“Zhou Yunyuan is morally corrupt; our Prince Ping’s mansion has no daughter like her.”
"When holding a funeral, please don't call us the Prince Ping's Mansion anymore. Our mansion can't afford to lose face like that."
“Zhou Yunyuan has no relation to our Prince Ping’s Mansion. She has been unruly since childhood, and our Mansion has long since expelled her from the register!”
Shen Lanxi felt it was ironic that no one in the Prince Ping's mansion spoke up for Zhou Yunyuan.
Zhu Ping also stepped forward at this moment: "I knew nothing about what Zhou Yunyuan did. She has always been domineering and arrogant in our Zhu family. My relationship with her has long been superficial, and I am only barely getting by with her!"
Zhou Rulin interrupted Zhu Ping's defense: "When Princess Yuxue fell into the water, Zhou Yunyuan had not yet married into the Zhu family, so what she did had nothing to do with the Zhu family."
Zhu Ping breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and quickly looked towards the Prince Ping's residence.
If it were an ordinary family, he would have already had Zhou Yunyuan's body taken away. But with the Prince Ping's mansion across the street and the Great Zhou royal family behind him, he dared not act rashly.
When the Prince of Ping heard Zhou Rulin say this, he was unwilling.
"Your Highness, are you saying that Zhou Yunyuan's actions before her marriage are all the fault of her family?"
Zhou Rulin gave the people from the Prince Ping's residence a cold look, and only then did they realize their slip of the tongue and hurriedly bowed to apologize.
“Your Highness, I did not mean to be disrespectful. It’s just that our royal family was completely unaware of what Zhou Yunyuan did. If we are to be blamed, it would be a great injustice to our royal family.”
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