124Shen Yulou, you still dare to argue!
AI Model: gemini-2.5-flash
Chapter 124 Shen Yulou, you still dare to argue!
He Shun, however, did not notice the tension in Li Huai's expression. After all, they were colleagues, and it was natural to greet each other when meeting outside.
He Shun stopped his carriage. "Director Li, where are you off to?"
Since He Shun had already seen him, Li Huai had no choice but to pull open the curtain and poke his head out, saying,
"Eunuch Shun, what a coincidence! Are you heading back to the palace?"
"Yes, Lord Li, where are you going?"
"I..."
Li Huai originally didn't want to reveal his destination, but He Shun was someone close to the Emperor, and he would surely inform His Majesty about seeing Li Huai today.
So, he dared not lie in front of Eunuch Shun.
"Eunuch, today I took Princess Naxing out for a medical consultation. Princess Naxing's condition is special, and only my master can treat her, which is why we left the palace for treatment."
He Shun nodded. "So that's it..."
Li Huai looked at Shen Yulou's carriage, which was already far ahead, and felt extremely anxious.
"Eunuch Shun, I can't talk much longer. I'm in a hurry to treat the princess, so I'll be going first."
After speaking, Li Huai quickly urged the coachman to drive the carriage forward.
Just as the carriage had gone not far, He Shun suddenly heard a commotion behind him.
He turned his head and his expression immediately changed drastically.
More than a dozen masked men had intercepted the carriage. Each of the masked men was exceptionally skilled and strong, holding gleaming knives. The surrounding common people were so frightened that they retreated several steps.
A man in black rushed into the carriage, grabbed Li Huai, and threw him out.
Li Huai fell flat on the ground.
He Shun was startled and quickly hid to the side upon seeing this scene.
This was the Imperial City, yet someone was committing a crime in broad daylight!
Li Huai, lying on the ground, shouted, "Audacious Shen Yulou! It was Shen Yulou who kidnapped the princess! Hurry and inform the Emperor!"
Hearing this sound, He Shun immediately frowned.
He had just seen Shen Yulou, who was clearly preparing to return to the Princesss Residence with the Princess, so how could it be Shen Yulou who kidnapped the princess?
Just then, another carriage drove over, and a young man carried Li Huai onto the carriage.
He Shun had been in the palace for many years and had never seen this young man. He Shun couldn't be sure who he was, but this person was definitely not from the Imperial Medical Academy.
He Shun frowned, his mind racing. He always felt that there was something strange about this matter.
After the crowd dispersed, He Shun quickly ran towards the Princesss Residence.
"Eunuch Shun, why are you here?"
Shen Yulou was a little surprised, looking at He Shun. Hadn't they just met? Why was he back in such a hurry?
He Shun recounted what he had just witnessed. "Lord Shen, I always feel there's something fishy about this. Could it be that Li Huai wants to frame you?"
Shen Yulou's expression immediately changed.
"That dog! He's really looking for death!"
"Thank you, Eunuch Shun! I owe you a favor for this!"
Eunuch Shun said with a solemn expression, "These are small matters. Let's first think about how to deal with the current problem! I'll return to the palace first. I will report everything I saw truthfully!"
"Thank you, Eunuch!"
After He Shun left, Shen Yulou immediately returned to the room to discuss with the Princess.
The Princess's expression also wasn't very good.
"Princess Naxing has already escaped, so the person in the carriage is likely the Fake Princess, or perhaps there's no one in it at all."
"In that case, aren't we going to have to take the blame for this dirty water?"
Shen Yulou said, "There must be someone behind Li Huai. He has no reason to do something so dangerous.
When Princess Naxing escaped, he had already arranged for a Fake Princess. He could have found a reason to apply for retirement, so why go through all this trouble?
Besides, he knows that His Majesty trusts me and not him now. Wouldn't accusing me be seeking death?"
The Princess's expression was a little grim. "You mean someone is instigating him?"
"No one but Consort Shu!"
The only one with the power to command Li Huai was Consort Shu, and the Minister of Revenue inviting him to dinner today must also be related to Consort Shu.
"Consort Shu is the cousin of Minister of Revenue Feng Yusi. It seems Consort Shu is planning to frame you," the Princess said.
Shen Yulou said, "There's no time to lose. Song Hu, take your men to guard outside the city gate immediately. You must arrive before the Fake Princess leaves the city.
After you block them, surround the carriage and don't let anyone inside get off!"
Song Hu nodded. "Understood."
Song Hu rode his horse, leading a group of household soldiers, and galloped away quickly, while Shen Yulou prepared to return to the palace without stopping.
The Princess said to Qingqing, "Let's also set off for Minister Hu's house!"
This matter involved a dispute between two consorts, so Minister Hu definitely had to be brought into it; otherwise, their side's influence would be too weak... Shen Yulou was also considering his own situation along the way.
Actually, logically speaking, this matter had nothing to do with him; it was clearly a frame-up.
If one were to speak of reason, it would certainly be: whoever asserts, must prove.
You can't just casually frame someone and make them prove their innocence, can you?
But this time, the person targeting him was Consort Shu, coupled with Director of the Imperial Medical Academy Li Huai. These two people still held considerable weight.
So Shen Yulou was relatively passive.
But no matter what, he was no longer as helpless as he once was; now, there were quite a few people in the palace who spoke up for him.
If Consort Shu failed to take him down this time, what awaited her would be Shen Yulou's storm.
As soon as Shen Yulou entered the palace, Tao Hong rushed over to find him in a hurry.
"My Lord! Something has happened! Princess Naxing has run away, and Li Huai says she was rescued by your people! Now His Majesty wants to summon you for questioning!"
"I already know."
Shen Yulou nodded, his expression solemn, and walked quickly towards the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
At this moment, he also wanted to inform Consort Qing and the Empress, but there wasn't enough time. He wondered if these two women would be present.
Shen Yulou walked into the Hall of Mental Cultivation and heard Emperor Ren losing his temper from afar.
"Bastard! Simply a bastard!"
"No matter who did it, I will flay him alive!"
"Where is Shen Yulou! Hurry and make him come over!"
Emperor Ren had finally managed to handle Princess Naxing and was just waiting to negotiate with the Yan State next month.
This time, they could at least acquire three to five more cities from the Yan State, and their territory was about to expand significantly.
But at this critical moment, the princess was secretly kidnapped!
This was simply outrageous!
After Shen Yulou entered, he stood tall and proud, with no fear on his face.
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty!"
Before the Emperor could speak, Consort Shu shouted loudly.
"Shen Yulou, do you know your crime!"
Shen Yulou was expressionless. "This subject does not know."
Li Huai knelt on the ground, glanced at Shen Yulou, and said through gritted teeth,
"Your Majesty, the one who kidnapped the princess is precisely Shen Yulou!"
Emperor Ren said coldly, "Shen Yulou, is what Li Huai says true?"
Shen Yulou shook his head. "This subject has never done such a thing."
Consort Shu said, "Audacious Shen Yulou, you still won't admit it? The Minister of Revenue personally heard you say you wanted to rescue the princess and bring her back to your country. How dare you quibble