Zhuxing was satisfied and leaped into the driver's seat.
The carriage rumbled forward. Xu Yanchi walked numbly. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, having lived a life of luxury since childhood. He had never led a horse or driven a carriage for anyone before. This was his first time, and it was in such a situation.
This stretch of road was not long, but to Xu Yanchi, it seemed like he had walked for a lifetime.
There were few people on the road. He knew that his dignity would be trampled to nothing tonight.
Shen Qing sat inside the carriage, shaking her head with a smile. It was really something for Zhuxing to come up with the idea of having Xu Yanchi lead the carriage for her.
A person like Ji Junye should be above embarrassing Xu Yanchi here. He would surely do it later. So this must be Zhuxing's idea.
They really went to great lengths to avenge her.
She didn't think she didn't deserve it. Not only having Xu Yanchi lead the carriage for her, but even if he knelt and kowtowed to her three times and nine times on the spot, she would deserve it.
But she was wrong. This was actually what Ji Junye specifically told Zhuxing to do.
As for embarrassing him?
Impossible. It was his good fortune.
It was a long time later when Shen Qing found out about this. She was speechless for a long time.
Ji Junye was really... shameless enough.
Xu Yanchi felt that this road was longer than his whole life. Although the summer heat had not completely subsided, he was covered in a cold sweat.
He walked from dusk until it was completely dark. Just when his legs were about to go numb, they finally arrived at their destination.
The door of the small courtyard opened from the inside. Ji Junye was dressed in a solemn black robe and wore a jade crown. He was sitting on a chair facing the door, propping his head up with one hand and holding a book in the other. He looked lazy, yet like a king in the night, exuding an air of nobility.
Hearing the commotion, he shifted his gaze. With just a casual glance, it made people instinctively want to submit.
Xu Yanchi rarely had the chance to see the emperor up close. He felt his legs go weak under that glance. He couldn't help but think of the saying: Those who achieve high positions at a young age are no ordinary people.
Moreover, they had witnessed the emperor's iron - fisted methods more than once.
But experiencing it so closely alone, Xu Yanchi managed to hold himself together so as not to make a fool of himself at this moment. "Your subject, Xu Yanchi, the Marquis of Guangping, pays respects to Your Majesty."
Shen Qing was also stunned. The corner of her mouth twitched. Just as she was thinking about whether she should also pay her respects, Ji Junye's voice came, unexpectedly gentle.
"What are you standing there for? Come here."
Shen Qing blinked at him and walked over gracefully. She whispered in his ear casually, "Your Majesty, why are you dressed like this today?"
A look of unease flashed across Ji Junye's face. He coughed lightly. "Li Quan picked it."
Shen Qing held back her laughter. "I see."
He was dressed more grandly than her. If she didn't know the style of clothes Li Quan usually picked for him, she might have believed it.
Ji Junye's face flushed slightly. Actually, he had spent a long time carefully choosing this outfit before coming. The smile on Shen Qing's lips always made him feel like she knew something.
He threw the book aside and pulled Shen Qing over, making her sit on his lap. As if he had just noticed Xu Yanchi, he said, "The Marquis of Guangping has escorted her well. If it weren't for you, I might not have seen Qingqing so easily today."
Qingqing...
Xu Yanchi's body trembled slightly. "Your Majesty, you're overestimating me. Your subject... doesn't dare."
Ji Junye gently stroked Shen Qing's waist through her clothes with one hand. His expression and posture were just like those of a decadent emperor.
Shen Qing's face was burning. She struggled to get off, but Ji Junye tightened his hold on her and wouldn't let her go.
"Don't move around."
With his other hand, he lightly slapped her on the butt where no one else could see.
Shen Qing immediately felt a rush of heat rising from below and flushing her face. She had to turn her face away and didn't dare to move anymore.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of the book Ji Junye had thrown. Her body stiffened.
Why did Ji Junye also have that storybook in his hand?
The scene in front of him deeply hurt Xu Yanchi's eyes. Whether it was their intimate behavior as if no one else was around or Shen Qing's shy and coquettish demeanor, it was something he had never seen before.
"Did you come today to plead for the guilty man Xu Wei?"
"…Yes."
"Xu Wei colluded with the Jin family to traffic in people and force good - willed women into prostitution. According to the law, he deserves the death penalty. I remember that you served in the Supreme Court for many years. You shouldn't have forgotten the law, right?"
The Supreme Court was also a sore spot for Xu Yanchi. He had worked hard for a long time. Before he could get a promotion, just because of a single word from the emperor, all his efforts of the previous few years were in vain.
Xu Yanchi took a deep breath and bowed deeply. "The Jin family and the mastermind behind them deserve to be punished. But my second uncle is just a good - for - nothing. I believe he doesn't have the ability to be the mastermind. The Marquis of Guangping's Mansion has always been diligent and has never had the slightest intention of disloyalty. Please Your Majesty investigate clearly!"
He not only wanted to save his second uncle but also wanted to clear the entire Marquis of Guangping's Mansion.
"Oh? Then how come I heard that you just took a daughter of the Jin family as a concubine not long ago? And the Jin family gave you quite a lot of tributes?"
"That's a rumor!" Xu Yanchi shouted in grievance. "Jin Bao is my second uncle's concubine. I don't know how it spread that she was my concubine. I have quite a few concubines in my backyard, and I don't have the intention of taking another one in the short term. As for the silver, it's all the dowry the Jin family gave to their daughter. It's all recorded in the books. I haven't embezzled a single cent!"
Since Xu Yanchi could say this, he must be unafraid of investigation.
"So that's how it is."
"Yes." Xu Yanchi let out a slight sigh of relief.
Ji Junye then said, "Considering the merit you've made today, I'll reluctantly give you a chance. But someone has to atone for Xu Wei's crime. Since you're pleading for him, then kneel here for a whole night to atone for his crime."
Xu Yanchi couldn't believe it. "Your Majesty, this..."
"What, you're not willing?"
Ji Junye narrowed his eyes slightly. Even though his actions remained unchanged, his aura had changed completely.
"Your subject... thanks Your Majesty for your great kindness."
Shen Qing sneered. Kneeling for a whole night in exchange for Xu Wei's life and the emperor's dispelling of suspicion towards the Xu family. It was a pity that Xu Yanchi didn't become a businessman.
But he forgot that if the emperor really wanted to target the Xu family, even a small matter could destroy them. Xu Wei's little matter might not even be on Ji Junye's mind.
From Shen Qing's angle, she could just see Ji Junye's perfect jawline. She couldn't help but be in a daze.
So this was what he looked like when he casually held the power of life and death over others.
"What, seeing him kneel in front of you, are you feeling sorry for him?"
As soon as Shen Qing came to her senses, she met Ji Junye's teasing gaze. He whispered in her ear in a voice that only they could hear. Although it sounded like a joke, Shen Qing felt the hand on her waist tightening, as if as long as she dared to say yes, he would break her waist.
Shen Qing: "…"
"Of course not. I'm feeling pleased." Shen Qing rolled her eyes at him speechlessly.
It had been more than half a month since Ji Junye last saw her. That roll of the eyes made his heart melt. Immediately, he picked Shen Qing up horizontally.