Reborn Nine Times, the Tyrant Always Wants to Imprison Me - Chapter 15

“Miss Shen,” his voice grew colder, carrying an official indifference tinged with a barely perceptible mockery, “Where did you hear such baseless rumors? The ‘Shadowless One’ is a notorious criminal with a longstanding bounty, his movements elusive, and the details of his case files are classified secrets of the Ministry of Justice. How could you possibly know of them, and how dare you make such reckless accusations here?”

“In the hidden compartment of your study lies a broken blade—a memento from your first independent case. On your right shoulder, there’s an old wound, inflicted six years ago by a hidden weapon while rescuing someone during the pursuit of a serial assailant—a detail you never reported!”

Fangru interrupted him, rapidly firing off two intensely private matters.

These secrets—one pertaining to his hidden pride, the other to his deeply buried failure and compassion—were absolutely impossible for outsiders to know! Especially the wound on his right shoulder and the rescue incident, details even his most trusted aides might not be aware of!

And these specifics were all things she had learned in her previous life, overheard in fragmented murmurs by Zheng Yu’s sickbed when he lay severely injured and delirious. Now, they became her most powerful weapons to gain his trust.

The coldness and mockery on Zheng Yu’s face instantly froze, shattering like a mask, replaced by stunned disbelief and the horror of having his privacy utterly exposed!

He took half a step back abruptly, his dark eyes—always sharply scrutinizing criminals—now contracting violently, fixed intently on Fangru as if truly seeing her for the first time, or as if gazing upon a demon capable of reading minds!

“You… who exactly are you?! How did you come to know these things?!”

His voice unconsciously rose before he forcefully suppressed it, filled with shock and wariness, his right hand even instinctively moving toward where his sword would have been at his waist.

Had they not been at the banquet, he would have seized and interrogated her on the spot!

Fangru met his almost predatory gaze without flinching, instead stepping closer.

The blazing light in her eyes flickered as if capable of burning away all pretense and hesitation, her tone carrying an irresistible persuasion:

“Why must you question who I am, Lord Zheng? You need only know that the White Sun Society, after years of dormancy, plots far more than ordinary rebellion! Sending the ‘Shadowless One’ to infiltrate the Xuanji Banquet this time is hardly just for reconnaissance!”

Her voice dropped lower, each word striking like a blade, hammering against Zheng Yu’s most sensitive nerves: “The Emperor, key ministers, imperial relatives… all are present at this banquet! If the White Sun Society seizes this moment to cause chaos, or even attempt assassination, leading to a bloodbath that shocks the court, can you, Zheng Yu, bear that responsibility?! Can your Ministry of Justice?!”

Her words were heavy, painting unknown risks as an imminent, colossal conspiracy.

Fangru knew full well that in previous lifetimes, the White Sun Society had not acted at this moment, but they indeed had such intentions and later caused great calamity.

She was merely advancing and amplifying a future crisis to force Zheng Yu into taking preventive measures!

“Capturing the ‘Shadowless One’ would cut off their most crucial link now! Not only could we extract the White Sun Society’s schemes, but we could also avert a catastrophic disaster! This is a monumental achievement handed to you, a duty you, as an officer of justice, cannot afford to miss!”

Her gaze locked firmly on Zheng Yu’s shifting expression, her tone imbued with a near-frantic certainty, “Trust me! Begin a covert investigation immediately! Otherwise, it will be too late for regrets!”

She had fashioned herself into the sole messenger who saw the danger clearly, pushing Zheng Yu to the forefront where immediate action was imperative. As for how much of it was exaggerated warnings meticulously woven to achieve her ends… Those who accomplish great deeds do not fuss over minor details.

In this lifetime, she was willing to be a black lotus that stopped at nothing to achieve her goals.

Zheng Yu’s heart was in turmoil.

Reason told him that this woman’s words and actions were bizarre and not to be trusted lightly, yet those two top-secret matters shattered his preconceptions like a hammer.

Her gaze was too sharp and bright, carrying an undeniable madness and… a kind of foresight he couldn’t comprehend.

Was it a trap? Or… a true heaven-sent opportunity?

The pros and cons rapidly weighed in his mind.

In the end, his desire to capture the key criminal and his wariness of unknown risks led him to a compromise.

He stared fixedly at Fangru and finally gritted out through clenched teeth, “…Fine! Wait here. Do not move, and do not mention this to anyone! I will go verify the situation immediately!”

The tightly wound string in Fangru’s heart loosened slightly, and she nodded at once. “Hurry back! There’s little time left!”

Watching Zheng Yu’s hurried retreating figure, she struggled to calm her racing heart, hoping he would bring back elite personnel to set up a covert surveillance.

However, the waiting time became excruciatingly agonizing.

Fangru’s gaze closely followed Zheng Yu’s retreating figure. She saw him walking briskly, but instead of heading toward any area where plainclothes colleagues might be stationed, he went straight toward the head of security patrolling the outskirts of the banquet!

What chilled her even more was that, as Zheng Yu whispered quickly to the security chief, he cast an extremely subtle glance in her direction. His expression was no longer one of shock or doubt but filled with icy resolve and a hint of… predatory ruthlessness!

Not good! He wasn’t going to verify anything—he was mobilizing forces to arrest her!

Fangru felt as if she had been plunged into an ice cellar, cursing herself inwardly for her foolishness!

She had forgotten that, in this lifetime, Zheng Yu didn’t know her yet and was a thoroughgoing “iron-faced judge” who trusted only evidence and logic!

In his eyes, her seemingly clairvoyant accusations were likely not a lifeline but the greatest source of suspicion and threat! He must have thought she was either involved with the criminals or mentally unstable. Either way, restraining her first was the most “reasonable” choice!

She absolutely could not fall into their hands! Otherwise, all her plans would be ruined!

In that split second, Fangru turned without hesitation, lifted her intricate skirt, and like a nimble fish, swiftly vanished into the dimly lit, shadow-filled depths of the courtyard before Zheng Yu could surround her with his men.

Thump-thump!

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, not solely from running but more from lingering fear and regret.

She had been too impatient!

Gu Zhou had just been imprisoned, and countless eyes were fixed on the Shen family. If she, the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments, were convicted of “bewitching an imperial official and spreading rumors,” not only would she face punishment, but it would also immediately implicate her father, worsening Gu Zhou’s already precarious situation!

After running a long distance, Fangru leaned against the cold rockery, forcing her racing heart to calm down.

The path through Zheng Yu was now cut off, and his suspicions had even turned him into a new threat.

Without the merit of capturing the Shadowless One as a bargaining chip, how could she make Zhou Ling relent and spare Gu Zhou?

She closed her eyes, straining to recall every detail about the “Shadowless One” from Zheng Yu’s feverish murmurs in her past life and the fragmented case files—the hooked nose, the inch-long shallow scar on the left brow bone, and the habitual use of the left hand.

These features were clearly imprinted in her mind.

Though she couldn’t directly identify him, perhaps she could find a way to bring these traits into the view of certain key figures in a “plausible” manner.

A plan quickly took shape in her thoughts.

First, create chaos to observe up close.

She could deliberately cause a minor incident at the banquet—such as “accidentally” spilling a drink or bumping into someone—targeting those lower-ranking officials, attendants, or servants who matched some of the features, especially the hooked nose.

In the brief moments of apologizing, assisting, or wiping away the spilled liquid, she could observe their brow bones and subconscious hand usage at close range.

If she could pinpoint the target, she could then find a way to anonymously leak the clues to an imperial censor at odds with the Ministry of Justice and eager to claim credit, thus eliminating the threat by proxy.

Second, sow seeds of doubt through others.

Perhaps she could also seek out another official who might have glimpsed the Shadowless One’s portrait.

She could casually strike up a conversation, letting her gaze “accidentally” sweep in the direction of the target, and murmur in a slightly puzzled and uncertain tone, “Sir, with your extensive experience, don’t you think that servant serving wine over there… looks somewhat familiar from the side? Almost as if I’ve glimpsed him in some circulated wanted notice—especially the shape of his nose and that shallow mark on his brow bone…”

Just planting a seed of doubt would be enough to prompt others to investigate further.

This was far safer than stepping into the fray herself.

As her thoughts grew clearer, Fangru took a deep breath.

Yes, there were many feasible methods. Though they would require more effort and feel like groping in the dark, any risk was worth taking to save Gu Zhou.

And now, there was a perfect opportunity—those noblewomen who were always looking for ways to trouble her.

Their provocations could serve as the perfect cover for creating an “accident.”

At this thought, the confusion in Fangru’s eyes faded, replaced by sharp determination.

She straightened her slightly disheveled dress and hair, lifting her head high once more like an arrow freshly drawn, and resolutely strode toward the glittering yet treacherous cluster of noblewomen.

This time, she was no longer the prey but the one leading the hunters into her trap.

Just as Fangru was intently searching for someone with a “hooked nose,” she rounded a bush of peonies in full bloom and nearly collided with a solid chest.

A crisp, distinctive scent of ambergrass assailed her senses first, carrying an undeniable presence and authority.

Her heart sank abruptly, and she hastily took two steps back, looking up to meet a pair of bottomless dark eyes that were now studying her with keen interest.

Zhou Ling had quietly appeared on the garden path at some point, standing with his hands behind his back, his black casual robes nearly blending into the night.

He looked down at her, his gaze roaming over her slightly tense and distracted face, a playful curve lifting the corner of his lips.

“Miss Shen appears to be in quite a hurry, with your gaze darting about,” he began, his voice low and melodious yet like an invisible net slowly tightening. “Just moments ago, I saw you part ways with Miss Lin on seemingly unpleasant terms, then shortly after you were engaged in a hushed dispute with Miss Su… And now you seem to be searching for something. I am rather curious—what person or matter could leave Miss Shen so… unsettled?”

He leaned in slightly, closing the distance between them. His warm breath nearly brushed against her forehead, his profound eyes locked intently on her, missing not a single subtle shift in her expression. “Or perhaps,” he continued, “Miss Shen is avoiding me?”

Fangru found herself trapped between the fragrant blossoms and his tall, imposing figure, acutely aware of the overwhelming aura of authority and masculine vigor he exuded—an almost suffocating presence.

Suppressing her agitation over failing to locate the Shadowless One and her annoyance at his sudden appearance, she lowered her lashes. “Your Majesty jests. How would I dare?”

“Oh? You wouldn’t dare?” Zhou Ling chuckled softly, his fingers idly brushing a nearby petal while his gaze remained fixed on her face. “It seemed to me just a moment ago that you were whispering at length with Zheng Yu, the official from the Ministry of Justice. Tell me, when did Miss Shen develop such a close rapport with my Minister of Justice?”

His tone was light and casual, as if merely making conversation, yet Fangru keenly detected a trace of scrutiny and inquiry hidden beneath the surface.

Was he testing the nature of her relationship with Zheng Yu?

Preoccupied with the urgency of finding the Shadowless One and saving Gu Zhou, Fangru had neither the time nor patience for his seemingly flirtatious yet controlling advances.

The memory of her futile struggles in three previous lifetimes—never escaping his control, even dragging down those around her—ignited a surge of fury within her.

She abruptly lifted her head, her eyes burning with repressed irritation and impatience, her tone turning sharp and thorny. “Your Majesty attends to countless affairs of state. Why trouble yourself with such trivial matters as whom I speak to or quarrel with? Minister Zheng is an appointed official of the court. If I have questions and seek his clarification, what is improper about that? Must I first seek Your Majesty’s permission for such interactions?”