Chapter 298 It seems I've been meddling in other people's business.
Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at Lu Yuan's broad back, which gave her a sense of security.
Zhao Nianzhen was startled when she saw it was Lu Yuan. "Lord Lu, we were just joking around with Madam Shen."
Lu Yuan's hand holding her riding whip remained motionless, his face cold and stern. His hawk-like eyes swept over the four people in front of him like sharp blades, as well as the Wang family's young lady who had just gotten up from the ground, her face pale.
"So, in Miss Zhao's eyes, whipping people is just a game." His voice was devoid of emotion, his tone flat and unchanging, like a stiff iron hook.
The person behind him tugged at his sleeve, sounding aggrieved, "Please, Lord Lu, do justice for me! Miss Zhao and her accomplices not only verbally humiliated me, but also tried to physically assault me."
“I see,” Lu Yuan said calmly. “I will report this matter to His Majesty.”
Zhao Nianzhen immediately became anxious, "Wait, Lord Lu, you must not believe her one-sided story!"
“We were just playing around at first. It was she who insulted and slandered our elders and ruined their reputation. We couldn’t stand it, so we did this.”
The others, except for Zhao Nianchun, immediately nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Yes, Lord Lu, we can all testify that Madam Shen's words were really too much."
Lu Yuan remained silent for a long time.
Zhao Nianzhen thought he was thinking about how to punish Madam Shen, and couldn't help but feel smug.
No one saw that Jiang Zhi, standing behind Lu Yuan and taking advantage of being hidden by his tall figure, was letting her fingertips wander improperly over his lower back.
Lu Yuan's cold expression almost crumbled. He subtly grabbed her misbehaving wrist and gave it a warning squeeze.
"What does the Princess of Qinghe have to say?" His voice was laced with gritted teeth.
To outsiders, it seemed as if they had many grievances against her.
Jiang Zhi bit her lower lip, still looking aggrieved. "Lord Lu, please investigate. I am telling the truth. If you don't believe me, you can check it out and you'll see that what I said is true."
"What a joke," Zhao Nianzhen scoffed. "Who would investigate so many officials for your baseless accusations? Do you think Lord Lu has nothing better to do?"
“Since it’s hard to explain, then you’ll all come with me to the Imperial Prison,” Lu Yuan nodded. “It just so happens that Lord Shen took away a large number of my prisoners, so the Imperial Prison is quite empty. It’s enough to entertain a few young ladies and ladies.”
Is there anything Zhao Nianzhen doesn't understand now?
Shen Ci'an had brazenly taken away the Ministry of Works' personnel involved in the case from the imperial prison. Lord Lu had never suffered such a loss before, and he must be holding a grudge.
Today, they are not here to uphold justice, but to use this as an excuse to target Jiang Zhi!
They were implicated because of Jiang Zhi.
But Jiang Zhi seemed completely oblivious to the situation, and with a reckless attitude, she said, "Fine, Lord Lu, just arrest us all and interrogate us. No matter how severely you torture us, I won't change my testimony!"
Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow. "If the Princess of Qinghe requests it, then this humble official will respectfully comply."
Zhao Nianzhen's mouth dropped open.
No, is Jiang Zhi sick?
She thought the imperial prison was a place where she could get justice.
She herself is not afraid of her bad reputation, but the others are not yet married and she is also in the process of getting married. If she goes to prison, where will her reputation be?
"Lord Lu, please wait. We were just joking around between young ladies. It's not serious enough to warrant being imprisoned, is it?"
“You have all said that Princess Qinghe has slandered court officials. I will definitely investigate this case thoroughly. Since you are all involved in the case, you will naturally have to go to the imperial prison together.”
The thought that if he had arrived even half a step later, the whip in her hand would have struck Jiang Zhi, filled Lu Yuan with an unquenchable rage.
"No, no, no, no," Zhao Nianzhen denied vehemently. "We were just joking, Lord Lu, please don't take it to heart."
"Is that so?" Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze landing dangerously on her. "What misconception did I give you that you can joke with me at will?"
Zhao Nianzhen felt as if she were being stared at by a cold, venomous snake; the hairs on her back stood on end, and she was drenched in cold sweat.
She almost burst into tears, staring at Jiang Zhi through teary eyes, "Madam Shen, you don't want to be arrested and thrown into prison by Lord Lu either, do you? Please plead for us!"
Jiang Zhi forced a smile. "You all say I'm slandering you? How am I supposed to plead for me?"
"We misunderstood just now. In fact, we didn't hear what Madam Chen said at all."
"Really? Then what if you whip me?" Jiang Zhi asked again.
Zhao Nianzhen took a deep breath. "It was my fault. I will never dare to do it again. Please forgive us this time, Madam Shen."
She threw away the riding whip in her hand.
She was genuinely scared.
Jiang Zhi is incredibly cunning; she knows so much about them, and who knows how many secrets she holds in her hands?
I regret it now that I acted impulsively and hit her.
Those nearby realized something was wrong and apologized and begged for leniency.
Jiang Zhi didn't want to make a big deal out of it.
While it was satisfying to have Lu Yuan imprison them in the Imperial Prison, it would only lead to more trouble later on.
Shen Ci'an is now walking on thin ice around Xiao Yunheng. Since they have already apologized, she should not cause him any unnecessary trouble.
So he waved his hand and said, "Forget it, it was just a quarrel between people in the inner quarters. We've made a fool of ourselves in front of Lord Lu."
Lu Yuan frowned. "What if I insist on taking you all with me?"
How can someone who bullies him get away unscathed?
Jiang Zhi didn't dare to look him in the eye, and said with a lack of confidence, "Lord Lu was just impeached by my husband for abusing his power, don't you want to be impeached again?"
As expected, Lu Yuan's expression immediately turned extremely ugly.
If I hadn't intervened, how could she have escaped unscathed?
But now they want to downplay the seriousness of the matter because of Shen Ci'an?
He let out a cold laugh from his chest, "It seems I've been meddling in other people's business."
"No, no, no, it was our ignorance that caused you trouble, Lord Lu. We'll leave now and never dare to do it again."
Zhao Nianzhen was almost scared to death by Lu Yuan's gloomy face. She recalled how he had calmly and effortlessly shot down the arrows of the Prince of Xiang during the archery competition.
I felt a chill rising from the soles of my feet.
She dared not linger any longer, helped up the fallen Miss Wang, and turned the reins to leave.
He turned around and looked at Jiang Zhi again.
But she saw that Lord Lu was holding the reins firmly in his hand.
"Madam Shen, why don't you stay and have a good chat with me about how your husband plans to impeach me?"
Jiang Zhi's horse wasn't very tall, but Lu Yuan's black steed was exceptionally magnificent. Combined with his own height, the combined presence created an incredibly imposing aura, as if it wanted to devour the person in front of it.
Zhao Nianzhen couldn't help but silently mourn for Jiang Zhi.
Lu Yuan is a vengeful person.
Madam Shen is in big trouble.
"Aren't you going to leave yet?" She glared at the stunned Zhao Nianchun, and before Lu Yuan could change his mind, she spurred her horse and galloped away.
So everyone left in an instant without looking back.
Only Zhao Nianchun looked worried.
No, this Lord Lu is far too terrifying.
I wonder how they will make things difficult for Madam Shen. What if she is really arrested and tortured in the imperial prison?
She had to find Lord Shen to come and rescue the person.
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