Chapter 382: Chapter 380: Gu Qing asks you, do you want to be Cui Ji’s wife?
Cui Ji unhurriedly produced another item.
"The Red Book Iron Certificate?!"
Zhang Keyuan, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, exclaimed in utter disbelief.
The other courtiers also fixed their eyes on the certificate, as if unable to trust their own vision.
This item was extraordinarily valuable. Unless someone had rendered great merit in safeguarding the dynasty, receiving such a reward was absolutely impossible!
Since the founding of the Great Zhou, the number of officials awarded the Red Book Iron Certificate could be counted on one hand. Without exception, they were preeminent figures among civil servants and military generals. While Cui Ji was indeed a brilliant and incorruptible talent, he was far from deserving such a distinction!
The courtiers could not fathom the situation, yet Shen Yinning and Lu Ying understood it all crystal clear.
Cui Ji was none other than the illegitimate son of Lu Yu, born out of a fleeting liaison in Gan State.
The debt to Cui Ji was already substantial. Moreover, after Cui Ji, brimming with talent, placed third in the Imperial Examinations, Lu Yu insisted it must be the bloodline inherited from him that endowed Cui Ji with such promise. Naturally, he held Cui Ji in high regard and deep admiration.
Yet Cui Ji had no desires or demands. Not only did he show no inclination to acknowledge his lineage, but he also willingly remained an obedient minister. Thus, he also chose not to expose the scandal of Lu Yu forcibly taking a village girl in Gan State years ago. To Lu Yu, this child was remarkably understanding and tactful.
Hence, that Cui Ji could acquire these two items was purely due to Lu Yu compensating him.
"This is impossible!" Shen Yunxi shrieked sharply. "A mere Third Rank official of humble origins—how could he possibly possess the Red Book Iron Certificate?! This must be fake; it has to be fake! Cui Ji, do you realize you’ve committed the crime of deceiving the emperor?!"
"Whether real or fake, several eunuchs can easily verify it." Cui Ji handed the certificate to Gui Quan and De Sun, his cold eyes then shifting to Lu Ying. "According to the founding laws of the Great Zhou, anyone bearing the Red Book Iron Certificate is exempt from the death penalty, save for treason. Today, I present this certificate to buy the safety of Princess Zhaoning. Your Highness, may I ask if this suffices?"
Gui Quan and De Sun examined the certificate thoroughly. Finding no issues, they submitted it to Lu Ying.
Lu Ying lowered his gaze, staring at the item before him.
The item was undoubtedly authentic.
And yet...
Why Cui Ji?
Why was it always Cui Ji standing by Shen Yinning’s side?
Shen Xinghan observed Lu Ying’s expression and immediately knew the certificate must be genuine.
His teeth clenched tightly, his heart beating violently from the fury and shock. The reverse flow of blood and energy seemed ready to burst from his chest!
He had forced Shen Yinning to this point...
He could have righteously executed her, eradicating any chance of her avenging the Shen Guogong Mansion.
But why...
Why did Cui Ji have to intervene?
Shen Xinghan bitterly regretted not simply putting an end to Shen Yinning back when the Shen Family fell, while she languished in the death cell.
It had grown into today’s calamity!
Suppressing the metallic taste rising in his throat, he spat each word through clenched teeth: "Assistant Minister Cui, have you forgotten? The Red Book Iron Certificate can only be used by one’s closest kin!"
"Closest kin..." Cui Ji savored the term, then suddenly took Shen Yinning’s hand in the open court. His gaze upon her was as tender and gentle as spring rain in March. "Lord Shen, have you forgotten? The Supreme Emperor has already decreed Princess Zhaoning to be my wife. As Cui Ji’s wife, she is naturally Cui Ji’s closest kin. Why can’t the certificate be used on her?"
He was elegantly handsome, exuding a serene and transcendent aura.
The dark cyan court robe he wore resembled spring mountains shrouded in mist, his tranquil and refined demeanor seemingly at odds with that of a destitute scholar from the harsh north of Gan State. Rather, he appeared more like a scion of high birth, an impassioned romantic forgotten by the imperial family.
Yet it was only Shen Yinning whom he saw.
Among countless beauties in the world, it was only Shen Yinning who caught Cui Ji’s eye.
Lu Ying’s palms were already bloodied from his relentless clenching.
That young heir of nobility, when uttering the word "wife," spoke as softly as the sound of lingering snow in the mountains or rain falling gently on a solitary tower.
Surrounded by wolves in this perilous court, he stood beside her with unwavering determination, openly holding her hand, expending all that he had, steadfast in protecting her life.
Openly and honorably...
Lu Ying looked at Shen Yinning.
Though so near in proximity, it was as if an uncrossable chasm of time stretched between them. Within that expanse lay tangled lives, disputes, and shattered memories of arguments and mistrust.
They could never return to the year they had been betrothed in their youth.
Even as an emperor, in the remainder of his life, it seemed he could no longer claim any honorable connection to her.
A bitter metallic taste rose in his throat.
A dull ache spread from the depths of his heart, as if he had only now realized what he had truly lost.
With some hidden, inscrutable thought, he rasped, "It wouldn’t be the first time Father has mismatched a pair. Zhaoning, let me ask you—do you wish to be Cui Ji’s wife?"
So long as she didn’t wish it...
So long as she uttered a single word of refusal, he could think of other ways to free her from the matter of Shen Yan’s death.
Fake her death and help her escape, give her a new identity, stage a prison break, find someone else to take the fall—or even hide her in his chambers forever...
Lu Ying, who had lived his whole life by the rules, seemed to save all his exceptions for Shen Yinning.
A prison break...
The absurd thought suddenly struck him, that such an audacious idea could somehow emerge in Lu Jingwei’s mind.
Resigned, he gazed at Shen Yinning, his narrow eyes fraught with an unease as though pleading for a kind answer.
Shen Yinning found it laughable.
Why was it that Lu Ying could establish a new empress, could have his harem filled with consorts and concubines, but she could not marry?
She should marry, if only to show Lu Ying that she, Shen Zhaozhao, was not waiting for him.
A smile curved her lips. "Why wouldn’t I? Cui Ji is young, with a brilliant future ahead of him, and he has brought out the Red Book Iron Certificate to save my life. A man as fine as this cannot be found even by the light of a lantern. I am more than willing to be his wife."
Dark undercurrents surged through the Imperial Study.
Eyes met, neither side willing to yield or lower their gaze first.
Lu Ying remained silent for a long time, then finally stood up and left without a word.
Shen Yunxi was bewildered. "Eldest Brother, what does His Highness mean by this? Will he punish Shen Yinning or just let her go?! And... and how could Shen Yinning end up betrothed to Cui Ji?! She’s already been married before, she’s just a broken shoe..."
She kept murmuring incessantly, but Shen Xinghan wasn’t listening anymore.
What did Lu Ying mean?
He brought Shen Yinning back from Gan State all the way to the Capital, quietly kept her like a caged canary for a year, and indulged and protected her in every way possible—what else could it be but that kind of attachment between man and woman?
Everyone said the Crown Prince was upright and self-restrained, yet he had gone to such lengths for Shen Yinning.
Today, Shen Xinghan had truly seen it for himself!
Taking a deep breath, he suppressed the resentment and rage roiling in his chest and coldly glanced at Shen Yinning. "Do you really think having Cui Ji to protect you means you’ll get away unscathed? The Red Book Iron Certificate may grant immunity from a death sentence, but it cannot shield you from punishment. You should understand, sometimes living is far more punishing than dying."
Shen Yinning smiled sweetly at him.
This cousin of hers had always been aloof, fond of imitating those pretentious poets and scholars.
Now that things had escalated to this point, it seemed he didn’t have the leisure to keep up his elegant façade.
"I—"
She was just about to deliver a sarcastic remark when Cui Ji suddenly stepped forward to shield her.
Cui Ji’s eyes darkened as he spoke, "Princess Zhaoning is now my betrothed. If Lord Shen has any grievances, direct them at me. Why target a delicate woman?"