Chapter 277 If it were you, I would do the same.
“Of course,” Shen Chu blurted out.
"We investigated the case together, fell into the Li family's secret room together, and discovered the secret of the treasure together."
When we followed the secret passage to the underground of the Ning'an Marquis's mansion, it had already been emptied out.
We didn't see any treasure at all.
Luo Heng sneered, "How do you know that the Sixth Prince didn't know about the treasure before? You've only known each other for a few months, and you trust him so much?"
Shen Chu's face turned cold, and she shook off Luo Heng.
"So, Brother Luo doesn't trust the Sixth Prince?"
Luo Heng pursed his lips slightly, a smirk appearing on his gentle, jade-like face.
"I just think that since it was the Imperial Guards who arrested the person, it must have been ordered by His Majesty himself. If there was no solid evidence, His Majesty would not have issued an order to arrest the person."
Ah Chu, I know you're anxious right now, but the more anxious you are, the less you should let your emotions get the better of you. What if this really was done by the Sixth Prince?
Shen Chu interrupted him with a cold face, "Brother Luo, stop talking. I believe in the Sixth Prince. I am his best witness."
"I have to go to the palace first, no matter what. Jinbao, let's go."
"Yes, Lord Shen."
Jinbao answered loudly, pouting and glaring fiercely at Luo Heng.
What kind of class do they have to wrong his prince?
He used to think Luo Heng was a gentleman, pshaw!
Shen Chu took a few steps, then stopped and turned around, quietly looking at Luo Heng.
"Brother Luo, the trust between people is not absolutely related to the length of time they have known each other."
I trust Your Highness, so I am willing to prove your innocence.
If you were the one wronged today, I would go to the palace immediately as well.
Her eyes were clear and earnest, filled with unwavering trust.
It felt as if a huge boulder had crashed into Luo Heng's heart.
Luo Heng's fists clenched suddenly, and the smile on his face stiffened.
He paused for a moment before saying softly, "It's because you're being narrow-minded, brother. Go ahead and let me know if you need any help."
"Thank you very much, Brother Luo."
Shen Chu bowed in thanks and turned to leave.
Luo Heng watched his receding figure, his expression complex.
A sigh came from behind.
Wanqiu, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, gently shook her head.
"Not only did the young master order his men to move the items to the neighboring estate, but he also intercepted the messenger sent by the Feng family to deliver a message to the Imperial Guards and replaced him with a letter that the young master had prepared."
Not only that, but at the last minute, he pretended to have a stomachache and left Shen Chu outside.
"Young Master, you ultimately can't bring yourself to be ruthless. Do you still dare say you didn't care about Shen Chu?"
Luo Heng's expression suddenly turned cold.
"You're overthinking it. I've said it before, I won't fall for any woman until I've avenged my great grudge."
Wanqiu gave him a deep look and chuckled.
"I hope you remember what you said."
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On the way, Shen Chu asked Jin Bao why Pei Yuan went to the manor in Wulihe.
Upon learning that her maid had told Jinbao the news, her face suddenly darkened.
Everyone in Aunt Qiao's courtyard knew that she went to the estate because of the locust infestation, but this maid lied and said that she was unwell and that Luo Heng had taken her to see a doctor.
This maid was clearly bribed and deliberately lured Pei Yuan there.
"Jinbao, go to the Grand Princess's residence in Chengyang and find the young master. Ask him to do me a favor, like this..."
She carefully gave Jinbao some instructions.
Jinbao nodded and noted it down. "Don't worry, Lord Shen, I will definitely relay the whole story to the young master."
"Okay, you should go now."
Jinbao ran off in a flash.
When Shen Chu arrived at the palace gate, before he could even hand over his invitation, he encountered a palace eunuch from Longquan Palace.
"Lord Shen, it's wonderful to see you here. His Majesty has summoned you to the Imperial Study."
Chen Chu felt a slight heaviness in his heart.
The Imperial Study not only housed the Longqing Emperor, but also several other officials.
They were the ministers of the Six Ministries.
Since Grand Secretary Feng was confined to his home, the Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet have been too busy to handle matters, and the Longqing Emperor often directly summoned the Ministers of the Six Ministries to discuss matters.
There were people in the room, but Pei Yuan was nowhere to be seen.
Shen Chu frowned slightly. Just as he knelt down, a memorial flew over and landed at his feet.
Emperor Longqing snorted coldly, "Chen Chu, if you want to plead for the Sixth Prince, then there's no need to say anything more."
"I summoned you here to ask you, when you went through the underground passage of the Li family to the secret underground chamber of the Ning'an Marquis's residence, did you really find nothing?"
Shen Chu took a deep breath and said, "Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince and I walked out through the underground passage from our home, and only when we reached the exit did we realize that the exit was built in the former Ning'an Marquis's residence."
Therefore, we had no time to search the underground chambers of the Ning'an Marquis's mansion, and we never found a treasure map or any treasure.
Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince is innocent, he…”
"Shut up." The Longqing Emperor snorted coldly. "Whether he is innocent or not, I know what I'm doing."
"But....."
"I said, there are no buts. If you dare to say another word in defense of the sixth prince, I will consider you an accomplice."
"Your Majesty, please calm down. Think about it. If the Sixth Prince had really hidden the treasure earlier, why did he have to move it at this critical moment?"
Furthermore, whose estate is that on the outskirts of the city? Who put the treasure inside? And who sent the message to the Imperial Guards?
I believe that as long as we follow these clues carefully, we will surely find some clues and find the real mastermind behind it all today.
"I implore Your Majesty to grant me a chance to uncover the truth and clear the Sixth Prince's name."
The Longqing Emperor looked at her coldly, "Ha, what a big mouth you have. You want to clear his name? I only believe what I see with my own eyes and what I hear with my own ears."
"Your Majesty!" Shen Chu's face turned pale with anxiety.
At this moment, the plump Minister of Rites suddenly stepped forward, looking troubled.
"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites received a case today that I find somewhat troublesome."
The Longqing Emperor asked impatiently, "Difficult? Humph, what difficult cases could your Ministry of Rites possibly have?"
The Minister of Rites said, "This matter involves officials in the court and, more importantly, the imperial examinations. I dare not make a decision rashly. Please, Your Majesty, listen to it in person."
The Longqing Emperor frowned. "Listen to it personally?"
The Minister of Rites nodded, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment."
He turned and left the imperial study, then returned a moment later with a man.
When Shen Chu saw Shen Qingshuang following behind the Minister of Rites, his heart skipped a beat.
Shen Qingshuang turned to Shen Chu with a strange smile before kneeling down and kowtowing to Emperor Longqing.
"Your Majesty, I am Shen Qingshuang, the daughter of the Marquis of Changning. I am here today to testify against someone."
The Longqing Emperor narrowed his eyes slightly. "Whom do you intend to accuse?"
Shen Qingshuang suddenly turned her head and pointed at Shen Chu fiercely.
"This humble woman must testify against him, Shen Chu, oh no, he is not Shen Chu at all."
Your Majesty, my elder brother, Shen Chu, was burned to death at Baiyun Temple in Huzhou five months ago.
This person's origins are unknown, yet he impersonated my eldest brother, participated in the imperial examinations, and became an official in the court.
He deceived His Majesty first, and then deceived the court officials; how can such a person serve as an official? I implore Your Majesty to punish him severely!
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