Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!-Chapter 124: Where’s That Stench Coming From?
Once Su Juan finished speaking, her gaze fixed steadily on Shen Ruhui, without avoiding Xie Xun. Being the Princely Heir of Duke Ping, she would ultimately have to bring him onto her side, so it was necessary to let him know what she intended to do now.
However, she noticed that only Shen Ruhui seemed a bit surprised, while Xie Xun showed no significant reaction, as if he had known her plans all along.
[?]
[What’s with Xie Xun’s reaction? Is he not surprised at all by what I said?]
Xie Xun looked at her with amusement, thinking that if it had been last year when they first met, he might indeed have been surprised. But now, no matter what she thought, even if she said she wanted to vie for the Emperor’s throne, there was nothing surprising about it.
However...
Xie Xun raised an eyebrow, surprised that Su Juan trusted him so much.
She spoke to Shen Ruhui to win him over as an ally, and if she needed a strategist, Shen Ruhui was undoubtedly the most suitable person.
Yet she didn’t guard against him at all, just letting him listen like that, not worrying that he might divulge her plans the next day?
Shen Ruhui still had a trace of doubt in his heart, recalling the words of Liu Xuan, whose judgment had always been excellent, never having misjudged a person.
For years, he had been trapped in difficulties, believing he would end up like his melancholy and unfulfilled father. But now, someone was extending him an olive branch.
He wanted to try, whether out of his ambition to join the officialdom or his agreement with Su Juan’s words moments ago. The world should belong to the people, not be a plaything of power for the nobility.
In such chaos, no one could truly remain uninvolved. If his skills could benefit resolving the crisis, he, Shen Ruhui, was naturally willing to contribute.
Thinking of this, Shen Ruhui’s gaze was steady and firm, "Miss Su has great ambition, Shen is impressed. Although I am just a humble person, I am willing to contribute my efforts for the people and relieve Miss Su’s worries."
Su Juan breathed a sigh of relief, [Thankfully, he agreed. I was worried that my grand vision might be too much, and if Shen Ruhui didn’t buy it, I’d be in trouble.]
[Luckily, he was eager.]
Xie Xun: "..." Just now, seeing Su Juan’s confident demeanor and tone, he’d thought she was fully confident in winning over Shen Ruhui.
Now it seemed she was merely bluffing her way through, speaking sweet words to dazzle people so they’d do her bidding.
Su Juan opened her task panel and saw that Shen Ruhui’s progress bar was more than half completed, she beamed and raised her cup, "Mr. Shen is righteous, I toast you a cup with tea instead of wine."
[Who would’ve thought Shen Ruhui would be the easiest to handle, today is indeed a good day!]
As Shen Ruhui lifted his cup, he looked at Xie Xun, "Brother Xie, won’t you join us?"
Xie Xun, somewhat clueless, raised his cup too. Seeing Shen Ruhui’s attitude towards him, it was evident that Shen regarded him as being on Su Juan’s side, making him feel as if he’d been dragged onto a pirate ship.
Su Juan looked at Xie Xun, a mischievous glint in her eyes, [Once everyone’s on board, how far can this little scoundrel Xie Xun be from coming around?]
No matter what Xie Xun thought, getting people on board first, the votes can be tallied later; after all, there’s plenty of time.
Xie Xun remained silent: He really had boarded a pirate ship.
That night, Su Juan returned to her courtyard, while Xie Xun and Shen Ruhui drank in the courtyard, the two drunkards find great camaraderie.
"The first time I met Miss Su, I thought she was just a young girl who liked romance novels, never expected her to have such lofty ambitions, writing about her in those books was indeed an insult to her,"
Shen Ruhui sighed, "I underestimated women."
Xie Xun waved his hand, slightly drunk, "Your writing in those novels isn’t exactly wrong, and as for that Young Master Hang you mentioned, there’s no mistake there either!"
Shen Ruhui was surprised, "Really?"
Xie Xun squinted and chuckled, "I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false?"
Shen Ruhui looked at Xie Xun in front of him, also recalling Duke Ping’s recent attitude towards Su Juan. The Xie family’s kindness to Miss Su was so great, it led Shen to suspect there might be some unknown connection between the Xie Family and Su Juan.
Shen Ruhui’s eyes sparkled as he put down the wine jar, "I noticed you and the Lord are quite attentive to Miss Su. Is she by any chance related to the Xie Family?"
His probing snapped Xie Xun out of his tipsiness.
"Haha, it’s just the old man wishing for a daughter, and treats Su Juan as one."
Xie Xun continued drinking as he spoke, eyeing Shen Ruhui with laughter but keeping his wits about him.
He wasn’t sure where he slipped, but the fact that Shen Ruhui was suspicious and probing him meant a lapse on his part.
Seeing Xie Xun’s reaction did not dispel Shen Ruhui’s suspicions about Su Juan and the Xie Family; it deepened them instead.
A dignified lord, no matter how much he wished for a daughter, wouldn’t go to such lengths. Building the manor alone cost a considerable amount of resources.
And Xie Xun’s explanation was rife with inconsistencies.
At this point, Su Juan had no idea that Shen Ruhui was already suspecting her identity. She was contemplating who would succeed after Minister Lou of the Ministry of Justice’s downfall. Logically, the current Vice Minister should act as Chief, and if he handled the Lu Family extermination case well, he could naturally be promoted.
But the key issue was that Song Qianfan would not miss the opportunity and would surely push Personnel Ministry to strongly recommend his own people.
Su Juan recalled that Li Quan, who was a Chief officer in the Ministry of Justice at the time, was his man.
In her impression, this Li Quan was not a good person.
While Su Juan was contemplating the Ministry’s situation, Duke Ping was preparing backup plans. After Lou’s conviction, Marquis Ping would strongly recommend the Vice Minister, who was rooted in the Ministry for years, making him the most suitable candidate.
This person had a fiery temperament, detesting great villains, and was a loyal official who followed only the Emperor’s commands, making it impossible for either Prince Han or Prince Jing to win him over.
...
The next day at court, Su Juan was exceptionally spirited, greeting colleagues proactively, yet quickening her pace to distance herself from the Minister of War with an air of disdain.
The Minister of War wore a smiling face but inwardly cursed Su Juan.
A breeze passed carrying an indescribable odor, causing officials to raise their sleeves to cover their noses, "What’s that smell?"
"Where did this stench come from..."
The Minister of War’s face shifted, stepping aside to avoid the wind-blown direction.
Su Juan, equally disgusted, thought, [So smelly, how long has it been since the Minister of War took a bath?]
[To reek this much, there’s no one like him.]
Suddenly, everyone’s eyes turned towards the Minister of War in the corner, who until now had gone unnoticed for the faint stench that occasionally wafted through the court, initially thought to be imaginary by some.
Many distanced themselves from him, reflecting contempt, questioning how many days it had been since Minister Nie bathed!
How could someone let themselves be so unkempt?!
