Chapter 121

Chapter 121: If Not Him, Then Who?

A sharp, chilling fear suddenly gripped Qi Fei Yan, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

“If it wasn’t you, then someone else in your household must have done it. His Majesty would not be mistaken,” Xie An said gently, giving Lian Shao Qing a sympathetic look.

Judging from Lian Shao Qing’s frightened appearance, he probably wouldn’t dare deal in illegal salt himself. But His Majesty’s intelligence wouldn’t be wrong either. [It must be someone else in his family.] He had heard Lian Shao Qing’s son was a useless fellow who spent his days either gambling silver or chasing after women. Surely, it had to be him.

Just as this thought crossed Xie An’s mind, Lian Shao Qing suddenly lunged toward Lian Wen Hui, who was still drunk and barely awake after being dragged from a brothel. Without saying a word, he raised his hand…

Lian Shao Qing glanced down at the iron chains on his wrists, then kicked Lian Wen Hui hard.

“You animal! Was it you? Was it?”

“Enough. You can beat him inside,” Xie An calmly gestured to his men to shut the cell door. Lian Residence was the last on his list tonight, and he still needed to return to the palace to report to His Majesty.

The entire Lian family was locked together. With so many people arrested today, the jail couldn’t even separate men and women, and had to group everyone by household.

As soon as they entered, Lian Shao Qing rushed forward and kicked Lian Wen Hui again.

Madam Lian immediately shielded her son, heart aching. “Master, what are you doing?”

“What am I doing? This worthless brat nearly got us all killed! And you still ask what I’m doing?”

“Smuggling salt! Do you realize how serious this crime is? Didn’t you see all those other prison cells?” Lian Shao Qing shouted, his eyes red with rage.

Madam Lian was too frightened to speak, yet she kept guarding her son. Lian Wen Hui was her heart and soul, after all. That was exactly why he had become so spoiled.

“If not for your indulgence, would we have ended up here?” Lian Shao Qing sank down in despair.

“Is there…really no other way? Besides, we aren’t even certain Wen Hui is guilty,” Old Madam Lian cautiously spoke.

“If it’s not him, then who? Could it be you? Or me?” Lian Shao Qing’s gaze swept across the women and children.

Qi Fei Yan stood frozen, her face ghostly white.

“Father… What will happen to us?” Qi Fei Yan finally asked, her voice trembling.

Lian Shao Qing glanced at her, his eyes suddenly brightening.

“Hui’er’s wife, could you plead with Duke Qi? Perhaps he can find a way to help us?”

“I…” Qi Fei Yan’s lips moved nervously. “Father, when we came in, I saw many others arrested too. Could they all have been smuggling salt?”

“It seems so,” Lian Shao Qing’s face turned pale. “His Majesty declared a thorough investigation recently at court. I never imagined our house would be involved…”

Unable to restrain himself, Lian Shao Qing turned back and kicked Lian Wen Hui again. Wen Hui groaned drunkenly but did not wake.

“Who could’ve imagined this worthless brat would drag our entire family down with him!”

He looked back at Qi Fei Yan, full of hope again. “Hui’er’s wife, can you at least send a message to Duke Qi?”

“My parents… If they learn of this, they’ll surely help,” Qi Fei Yan murmured softly.

“Good, very good,” Lian Shao Qing missed her hesitation entirely, assuming she was merely frightened.

Outside, Imperial Guards had caused such a stir that anyone living near the arrested officials had shut their doors tightly. Servant boys peeked cautiously from back gates, carefully gathering news.

In the Duke’s Estate, Duke Qi had surprisingly stayed home, sitting anxiously in Evening Tide Courtyard with Qi Shu Xian, Madam Cui, and Meng Yang, awaiting news.

Still, he didn’t seem too worried. Qi Shu Xian’s Shadow Guards had reported that the arrests were due to illegal salt trading. Emperor Chong Sheng had openly warned against such actions at court. Anyone caught now was surely seeking death.

But perhaps some had merely tried quitting and hadn’t cleaned up quickly enough…

As Duke Qi pondered, the noise outside finally died down. Restless, he prepared to make an excuse to leave, thinking about Madam Tao, who had grown clingier and more charming since her pregnancy.

But just then, a whistle sounded outside.

Qi Shu Xian instantly frowned.

This was his private signal from the Shadow Guards, meaning trouble had arisen.

He went out briefly, returning moments later with a grave expression.

“Father, something happened at Lian Residence!”

Meanwhile, at Pinglan Residence, Sheng Zhi Wan had not yet slept.

Liu Shang’s movements were silent, his feet gently touching the tiles as he dropped from above. “Princess, you truly foresaw this! How did you know something would happen to the Lian family? Maidservant personally saw the Imperial Guards arresting everyone there!”

“What about Qi Fei Yan? Was she taken as well?” Ting Lan asked quickly. She cared little for anyone else in the Lian family. Qi Fei Yan’s capture was enough.

“Maidservant didn’t recognize Qi Fei Yan, but all of the Lian family, masters and servants alike, were arrested.”

“Ha! Then Qi Fei Yan must surely be among them!” Ting Lan clapped her hands happily.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled softly.

[It seems Du Yi Zhi, even without his future status as chief of the Eastern Bureau, is still capable on his own. Such talent should indeed be carefully nurtured.]

Having heard this pleasing news, Sheng Zhi Wan prepared to retire to bed.

Back in Evening Tide Courtyard, upon hearing Qi Shu Xian’s words, Duke Qi and Madam Cui nearly fainted from shock!

Duke Qi feared their family would be dragged into trouble by association, while Madam Cui immediately thought of Qi Fei Yan. “Yan’er! Was she also arrested?”

“Yes…” Qi Shu Xian’s lips tightened grimly. “Everyone from Lian Residence was taken.”

“How could this be?”

“How dare Lian Shao Qing involve himself in smuggling salt? He can seek death if he wishes, but how dare he drag my Yan’er down with him!” Madam Cui collapsed into a chair, panicked.

Seeing Duke Qi, she quickly grabbed his sleeve, pleading, “Lord Duke, you must help Yan’er! What does the Lian family’s wrongdoing have to do with her?”

Duke Qi shook her off impatiently. “Help her? How? This crime has angered His Majesty himself. A mere junior fifth-rank official dares commit such a serious crime—he’s simply courting death!”

“But what crime did our Yan’er commit?”

“Her only crime is stubbornly insisting on marrying into the Lian family!” Duke Qi scorned both Lian Wen Hui and the entire Lian household. He blamed Qi Fei Yan’s poor choice, worried now it might implicate himself.

Madam Cui, thrown aside by Duke Qi, was quickly supported by Qi Shu Xian. Before he could offer comfort, she gripped his arm tightly again.

“Right! Sheng Zhi Wan! We still have Sheng Zhi Wan!”