Chapter 22: Ministry of Justice.

With the symphony of gears and iron chains, the massive “city gate” slowly opened.
Under the guidance of a Ministry of Justice langzhong, they entered the Ministry of Justice compound as if walking through a mountain tunnel.

Although the road outside had been somewhat frightening, once they reached the top floor they could finally see sunlight again, and the place was bustling!

People from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review were extremely busy, and Censorate personnel were running back and forth.

The moment Qian Junyou walked in, everyone’s gazes were instantly drawn over.
However, they weren’t looking at him—they were looking at Bai Shuxi beside him.

She was already naturally beautiful, and today she had dressed up with extra care. She was like a butterfly flying across a battlefield, drawing every pair of eyes.

“Hey~ Look over there! Do you guys know who she is? The daughter of the Vice Minister of Works—Bai Shuxi!”

“Damn! So this is the legendary number one beauty of the capital? No wonder! The brothers who got sent out on duty today are really missing out!”

“Those legs… my god, are they really grown on a human? Not carved? They completely break the limits of my imagination…”

“If any common girl looked like this, our penal code would have stopped working long ago.”

The people from the Court of Judicial Review and Ministry of Justice nearby began whispering and murmuring about Bai Shuxi. A whole group of them looked like they had never seen a woman before.

…………

In the inner hall, the Vice Minister of Justice and the Chief of the Court of Judicial Review were both extremely anxious.
This case was truly bizarre. The three major judicial departments, with thousands of people working day and night, had racked their brains but still couldn’t figure out how the fire had burned so fiercely.

The only explanation was that some expert had used a technique… but that was impossible to report to the Emperor.

A guard entered to report that Prince Rui’s heir had arrived. Only then did the two sigh, set aside their work, and go out to receive him.

“Oh! Young Prince has arrived! We were busy with official duties and failed to welcome you from afar! Please forgive us… Miss Bai… is also here…?”

The Vice Minister of Justice stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting. But the moment he saw Bai Shuxi, his smile gradually froze. His face went blank as he turned to look at the equally stunned Chief of the Court of Judicial Review.

Just yesterday they had been at each other’s throats in Taiqing Palace, and today they were standing together again?

Still, neither of them was stupid. After thinking for a moment, they seemed to understand something. The Bai family had originally been facing three-clan implication, yet Prince Rui had suddenly submitted a memorial to exempt them. Now Miss Bai was standing beside Qian Junyou…

“Uh… the Young Prince is truly handsome and outstanding! Miss Bai is also talented and beautiful. If the two of you were to be together… it would definitely be a match made in heaven!”

The group of officials nearby felt a wave of nausea, but could only whisper quietly.

“He’s that notorious Prince Rui’s heir? Truly a fresh flower stuck in cow dung!”

“Sigh… can’t be helped. The Bai family submitted an imperial petition against Prince Rui’s mansion and faced three-clan implication! This is the only way…”

“Where is heavenly justice? What kind of bullshit plot is this!”

Facing the Vice Minister of Justice’s wild imagination, Bai Shuxi didn’t know what was wrong with herself—she actually smiled with her lips pursed without realizing it. But she quickly let her face fall again, as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her heart.

Because that guy Qian Junyou didn’t play along at all. He returned the greeting with cupped hands and deliberately said:

“What the lord said is biased. Miss Bai and I cannot be considered a match made in heaven. If I must say something… at most we are… incompatible in all eight characters of our horoscopes.”

The two ministers were stunned again. The Chief of the Court of Judicial Review gave up thinking and quickly changed the subject.

“What brings the Young Prince here today?”

“The Young Prince intends to intervene in the investigation of this case! Moreover, he has already made some discoveries regarding the cause of the fire!”

Bai Shuxi stepped forward and spoke first. Qian Junyou shot her a puzzled glance, still somewhat confused even now.

What was this girl thinking? Did she really believe they would just let them investigate because she asked? No matter how big their face was, they couldn’t break the rules, right? Was her brain not working?

The two ministers looked at each other, somewhat embarrassed. Bai Shuxi continued:

“Do the two lords still remember His Majesty’s oral decree from five years ago?”

“Miss Bai, His Majesty’s golden words are naturally unforgettable to us. However… that was five years ago, and this is such a major case… it is truly difficult!”

“The two lords also know His Majesty’s words are golden. What difficulty is there? His Majesty issued the decree in front of the entire court and all civil and military officials. Everyone can bear witness, so naturally it will not trouble the two lords! Moreover, if the Young Prince’s intervention leads to…”

Bai Shuxi seemed to have another meaning and deliberately left her sentence half-finished. Yet the two ministers gradually revealed smiles they could no longer hide.

Such a major case—if it could not be solved thoroughly, the Emperor would definitely blame them. At this point, they either had to find someone to take the fall, or find someone who could shoulder the responsibility.

The current primary person in charge of the case was precisely the two ministers before them. But if Prince Rui’s heir intervened and the case ultimately failed, the two ministers would have a reason to escape blame. Bai Shuxi had seen exactly this point.

Qian Junyou had no idea what the Emperor’s oral decree was. He only felt like someone had sold him out… He grabbed a handful of Bai Shuxi’s hair.

“Dead girl! Are you trying to sell me out?”

“It hurts, it hurts! How would Shuxi dare? Young Master, please let go! Besides, didn’t you say you already found clues about the fire?”

Bai Shuxi squealed in pain like a little rabbit as Qian Junyou pulled her hair.

At that moment, a young, dashing, handsome and imposing man walked over from behind and loudly rebuked:

“Let go of Shuxi!”

Someone beside him shouted:

“The boss is back!”

Qian Junyou heard the Censorate people call out and, looking at the man’s age and equipment, immediately recognized who he was!

This person was none other than the head of the Censorate, the Left Chief Censor—Xiao Kun!

He was all too familiar with this guy. A mere cannon fodder whose talent was second only to the original male protagonist. Later he would be slapped in the face by the protagonist and counted as a half-villain.

But the awkward part was that he was Bai Shuxi’s childhood sweetheart and had always liked her very much. Unfortunately, Bai Shuxi did not like him.

As a great talent famous throughout the capital, a young hero who had become the head of the Censorate at eighteen and was also a seventh-grade alchemist at Foundation Establishment fifth layer.

Although his appearance was slightly inferior to Qian Junyou’s, he was still elegant and jade-like, becoming the idol in the hearts of countless young ladies.

In everyone’s eyes, Xiao Kun and Bai Shuxi were the true perfect match—talented man and beautiful woman!

“I told you to let her go! Did you hear me—!”

“What if I don’t?”

Qian Junyou, full of disdain, tightened his grip even more, ready to go head-to-head with him. He was afraid of the protagonist, but why would he fear a mere cannon fodder?

“Stop it… I’m going to go bald…”

Bai Shuxi kept patting Qian Junyou’s hand with her small palms. Xiao Kun watched with gritted teeth, circulating his cultivation energy, preparing to fight!

“Lord Xiao, calm down! That is Prince Rui’s heir!”

“Yes! The Young Prince is just playing around with Miss Bai!”

The two ministers panicked and hurriedly tried to mediate. The surrounding officials, however, were happy to watch the drama and quietly discussed whether Xiao Kun actually dared to hit Qian Junyou.

Qian Junyou released Bai Shuxi’s hair, then reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close. He sneered mockingly:

“Xiao, if you have the guts today, try touching me!”

The usually cold and aloof capital goddess Bai Shuxi was being held around the waist with ill intentions for the first time. Her entire body trembled from head to toe, and her face instantly flushed red.

Xiao Kun, burning with rage, saw this scene and was so angry he nearly ground his teeth to pieces.

He drew the sword at his waist, circulated his spiritual energy, and in an instant flowing light shimmered, immortal qi swirled, his clothes and sleeves danced without wind. A powerful aura swept out as he spat two words through gritted teeth:

“Courting death—!”

With that, Xiao Kun charged at Qian Junyou with his sword raised!

A flash of sword light swept over. The sword Xiao Kun swung toward Qian Junyou was caught between two fingers by Bai Shuxi, who stood in the middle. Although both were at Foundation Establishment and only three layers apart, Bai Shuxi’s talent and strength completely crushed the cannon fodder Xiao Kun!

“Shuxi! Why are you protecting him?”

“I asked the Young Prince to help me! This matter does not require Young Master Xiao’s interference!”

Xiao Kun’s angry and puzzled gaze lingered on Qian Junyou for a moment, then shifted to Bai Shuxi, who kept her head lowered. He sheathed his sword, clenched his fists tightly, pointed at Qian Junyou and asked:

“Shuxi, did he threaten you?”

Who threatened whom… Qian Junyou rolled his eyes. Knowing full well that Bai Shuxi didn’t like Xiao Kun, he deliberately turned his head and spoke sarcastically:

“Miss Bai, explain clearly to your old sweetheart! I don’t want to be misunderstood again!”