Chapter 111

Chapter 111: Visiting Lian Residence

“Firstly, I did not disgrace your honor, heir apparent. Someone secretly entered my storeroom, borrowed without returning, and swapped my valuables with fakes. They are the ones who disregarded your reputation!”

“Secondly, what I lost isn’t merely a few pieces of jewelry or paintings.”

As Sheng Zhi Wan spoke, her presence suddenly grew fierce, eyes sharp as blades sweeping across Qi Shu Xian and Meng Yang. “The set of ruby jewelry gifted by Grandmother alone was a treasure sent to the late Emperor by Tedan, worth tens of thousands of silver ingots!”

“Who gave them the audacity to steal imperial gifts? Do they no longer want their heads?”

Meng Yang’s face turned from pale to ashen.

Qi Shu Xian’s thin lips pressed tightly together, veins throbbing at his temples.

Sheng Zhi Wan approached a chest, pulling out a painting scroll. She glanced at it, snorted coldly, and threw it forcefully at Qi Shu Xian’s feet.

Meng Yang gasped, “Princess, what are you doing?”

Sheng Zhi Wan ignored her, narrowing her eyes at Qi Shu Xian.

“This painting, ‘Spring Scene of Luocheng,’ was the final masterpiece by Master Fu Liu, the greatest painter of the Former Court. It once sold for five thousand ingots. Heir apparent, see for yourself—is this coarse brushwork truly Master Fu Liu’s?”

“And this one.”

Sheng Zhi Wan gently gestured, and An Zhi thoughtfully unrolled it, revealing the handwriting clearly to everyone. “In my storeroom was the ‘Autumn Sun Poem,’ personally penned by Master Xi He. Countless people offered fortunes but failed to obtain it.”

“Yet this crude scrawl dares to pose as Master Xi He’s writing?”

Everyone’s eyes turned to the scroll, and indeed the script was utterly ordinary, without a hint of elegance.

“And this pair of jade bracelets—such muddy, inferior quality pretending to be my flawless ‘White Jade Phoenix Bracelets’?”

Meng Yang grew more and more stunned; each item Sheng Zhi Wan pointed out felt like another strike to her heart.

She had thought gathering over twenty thousand silver ingots overnight would be impressive enough. [But how could an ordinary woman from this backward era possibly surpass someone like me from modern times in wealth and business sense?]

Yet now, her pride crumbled. She had to admit Sheng Zhi Wan’s wealth was beyond imagination.

If she truly had to compensate for all these valuables, how many silver ingots would that be?

“Should I continue itemizing everything for you both?” Sheng Zhi Wan mocked.

“No need,” Qi Shu Xian managed through clenched teeth, his face dark.

Meng Yang stood silently, like a mute. Twenty thousand ingots were already more than enough!

She had no desire to continue filling holes for Duke Qi’s household.

Seeing Meng Yang’s expression, Sheng Zhi Wan chuckled lightly and asked, “I will have these things listed out clearly. Will the heir apparent return them to me directly, or pay me their full market value in silver?”

Qi Shu Xian’s eyelids twitched.

Where would Duke Qi’s manor find that much silver?

Today’s sum was already almost all the profit from Meng Yang’s winery. Covering the remaining deficit might require selling the entire estate!

“I’ll have someone search immediately. Once found, they shall be returned to you,” Qi Shu Xian said, barely containing his fury.

“That would be ideal,” Sheng Zhi Wan nodded graciously. “That way, I don’t have to bother having someone appraise everything again. I look forward to your good news.”

…

That day, Duke Qi’s manor descended once more into chaos.

Qi Shu Lang, who had barely recovered, was thrown into the ancestral hall again. If Madam Cui hadn’t desperately intervened, Duke Qi might have given him another dozen lashes.

The pawnshops in Capital City, where Qi Shu Lang had pawned these valuables, suffered greatly. Furious upon discovering they had received imperial treasures, they had to grudgingly cooperate and hand the items back.

Naturally, they refused to bear the loss.

Qi Shu Xian couldn’t just take back the items without paying, so he reluctantly redeemed them at the original pawn prices.

As for the jewelry replaced by fakes, nearly all had Qi Fei Yan’s involvement…

Duke Qi immediately sent a message through Madam Cui’s servant, demanding Qi Fei Yan return to the estate.

But Qi Fei Yan, feeling guilty, refused to return, sending only a maidservant with a message claiming illness.

“Forget it. Let her rest well,” Madam Cui said bitterly, pressing her chest. “Is this not enough? How far will Sheng Zhi Wan push our family?”

“Take these items to her, and tell her if she insists on more, she might as well take my old life!” Madam Cui closed her eyes dramatically.

Qi Shu Xian sighed helplessly, “Mother, Dali Temple is already involved. If you don’t allow elder sister to return these items now, do you want Dali Temple to retrieve them themselves?”

Madam Cui’s expression soured further.

After all, it was she who initially agreed to involve Dali Temple.

Qi Shu Xian, with a darkened face, declared, “Since elder sister claims illness, I shall personally visit her!”

Immediately, Qi Shu Xian took medicinal herbs and departed for the Lian Residence.

Initially, the Lian family was ecstatic to hear of his arrival.

Though they’d become relatives by marriage, Duke Qi’s household always looked down upon them. Even Lian Wen Hui’s official position was granted only after repeated requests from Qi Fei Yan.

Now, with Qi Fei Yan sick, Qi Shu Xian personally visiting indicated he cared greatly for his elder sister.

“Where is the eldest young master?” Old Madam Lian asked her daughter-in-law urgently.

Madam Lian answered awkwardly, “Perhaps Hui’er stayed at a friend’s house last night.”

“Enough excuses! Quickly find him!” Old Madam Lian ordered, hastily dressing.

Servants promptly went searching.

Old Madam Lian hurried to the main hall, only to hear Qi Shu Xian had already gone to Lian Wen Hui’s courtyard.

As they rushed toward the courtyard, a loud cry erupted from inside. It was her granddaughter-in-law, Qi Fei Yan, sobbing, “No! Shu Xian, if you dare take it, I’ll bash my head right here!”

Old Madam Lian stopped abruptly.

Madam Lian was also shocked, “What’s going on?”

A maidservant ran up to report nervously, “Old Madam, Madam, Heir Apparent Qi says many items in Young Madam’s rooms belong to the Princess—jewelry, ornaments, even furnishings—and he’s taking them back now!”

“What?” Old Madam Lian’s eyelids twitched violently as she hurried inside.

Indeed, Lian Wen Hui and Qi Fei Yan’s room was filled not only with Qi Shu Xian and Qi Fei Yan, but also with several unfamiliar maidservants who looked like they belonged to Duke Qi’s manor. They were busily searching Qi Fei Yan’s dressing table.

“What is Heir Apparent Qi doing?” Old Madam Lian demanded, her voice sharp with anger despite Qi Shu Xian’s high rank.

Qi Shu Xian turned, about to greet her respectfully, but his gaze suddenly fell upon the white jade bracelet around her wrist. His lips twitched bitterly.