Chapter 121

Chapter 121: If Not Him, Then Who?

A violent fear rose in Qi Fei Yan’s chest, and her body trembled against her will.

Xie An looked at Assistant Minister Lian with pity. “If it wasn’t you, then it was someone else in your household. His Majesty cannot be wrong.”

Judging by how terrified Assistant Minister Lian looked, he probably did not dare to touch illegal salt.

But His Majesty’s intelligence could not be wrong either. That meant it had to be someone else in the Lian household.

Xie An had heard Assistant Minister Lian’s son was useless. On ordinary days, the man either played with women or gambled silver. It was probably him.

The moment that thought formed, Assistant Minister Lian was already rushing toward Lian Wen Hui, who had been dragged out of a brothel and still reeked of wine.

Without another word, Assistant Minister Lian swung his shackled hands, then raised his foot and kicked hard.

Assistant Minister Lian roared, “Beast! Was it you? Was it you?”

Xie An gestured for his men to shut the cell. “Enough. Go inside first, then you can beat him.”

Lian Manor had been the last household on the roster, and Xie An still had to return to the palace to report to His Majesty.

The whole Lian family was locked together. There had been far too many prisoners brought in that day, so the men and women could not even be separated. They could only be grouped by household first.

Assistant Minister Lian lunged at Lian Wen Hui and stomped him a few times.

Madam Lian hurried to shield her son. “Master, what are you doing?”

Assistant Minister Lian snapped, “What am I doing? That little bastard is going to kill us all, and you’re still asking me what I’m doing?”

Assistant Minister Lian’s eyes were red. “Illegal salt! Do you even know how huge that charge is? Didn’t you see the row of cells we just passed?”

Madam Lian was too frightened to speak, yet she still kept protecting her son.

Lian Wen Hui was her lifeline. Otherwise, she would never have spoiled him into this.

Assistant Minister Lian glared at her. “If it wasn’t for you, how would we be in this mess? If you hadn’t doted on him, how would Lian Manor have ended up like this?”

Assistant Minister Lian dropped to the ground, looking utterly defeated.

Old Madam Lian said, “Is… is there no other way? Besides, it might not have been Shao Hui.”

Assistant Minister Lian snapped, “If it wasn’t him, then who was it? You? Or me?”

Assistant Minister Lian’s gaze swept over the women and children.

Qi Fei Yan stood stiffly in place, her face pale.

Qi Fei Yan asked in a trembling voice, “Father… what punishment will we get?”

Assistant Minister Lian glanced at her, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

Assistant Minister Lian said, “Hui’er’s wife, can you beg the Duke? Can you have the Duke think of a way to mediate?”

Qi Fei Yan’s lips moved. “I… Father, I saw that besides us, many other families were brought in too. Were they all here for illegal salt?”

Assistant Minister Lian’s face remained ashen. “Most likely. His Majesty said at court some time ago that he would investigate thoroughly. I thought it had nothing to do with our household. Who would have thought…”

Assistant Minister Lian could not help turning back to kick Lian Wen Hui again.

Lian Wen Hui was so drunk that he only grunted twice and did not even wake up.

Assistant Minister Lian clenched his teeth. “Who would have thought this scum would drag our whole family down!”

Then Assistant Minister Lian looked at Qi Fei Yan again, full of hope. “Hui’er’s wife, can you send a message to the Duke Manor afterward?”

Qi Fei Yan said softly, “If Father and Mother learn about my situation, they won’t ignore it.”

Assistant Minister Lian said quickly, “Good, good. That’s good.”

Assistant Minister Lian did not notice anything strange about her. He only thought she was scared.

The Yu Lin Guard’s arrests caused a huge commotion. Whenever they went to a household, the streets and alleys around that residence were sealed off.

And these were all prominent families in the capital city.

From each estate, masters and servants were marched out together. Some households had over a hundred people, others had dozens. The sight alone was loud and shocking.

So any official household with even a bit of caution noticed something was wrong, and one gate after another shut tightly.

From time to time, a servant boy would peek out from a back door, carefully trying to learn what was happening.

At the Duke Manor, Duke Qi rarely stayed home without making excuses, but that night he did. He stayed with Qi Shu Xian, Madam Cui, Meng Yang, and the others in Wen Xi Courtyard as they waited for news.

Still, Duke Qi did not look too nervous.

Qi Shu Xian had already sent Shadow Guard to inquire, and learned those households were taken because of the crime of illegal salt.

Not long ago, Emperor Chong Sheng had mentioned it at court. Those people dared to act so boldly at a time like this and stir up His Majesty’s anger. That was courting death.

Then again, maybe some of them had wanted to withdraw and had not cleaned up their trails in time.

As father and son talked, the noise outside slowly quieted down, and Duke Qi began to feel restless again.

Ever since Lady Tao became pregnant, she had grown unusually clingy, and she carried an even richer charm…

Duke Qi stood up. He was about to tell everyone to disperse and rest, so he could find an excuse to leave again, when a sharp whistle suddenly sounded.

Qi Shu Xian’s brows drew together.

It was the signal between Qi Shu Xian and the Shadow Guard. It meant something had happened.

Qi Shu Xian went out. When Qi Shu Xian returned a moment later, the gloom on Qi Shu Xian’s face could not be hidden.

Qi Shu Xian said, “Father, something happened at Lian Manor!”

At Ping Lan Residence, Sheng Zhi Wan had not gone to sleep either.

Liu Shang’s lightness skill was excellent. Liu Shang landed from the sky without making a sound on the roof tiles.

Liu Shang said, “Princess, you’re incredible! How did you know Lian Manor would have trouble? I saw it with my own eyes-they were taken away by the Yu Lin Guard!”

Ting Lan hurriedly asked, “What about Qi Fei Yan? Was Qi Fei Yan taken too?”

Ting Lan did not care about anyone else in Lian Manor. As long as Qi Fei Yan was taken, that was enough.

Liu Shang said, “I don’t know which one is Qi Fei Yan, but the Lian Family was taken from master to servant. Everyone was dragged away.”

Ting Lan clapped happily. “Ha! Then Qi Fei Yan was definitely among them!”

The corners of Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips lifted as well.

It seemed Du Yi Zhi, even without the identity of Eastern Depot Chief, could still make something of himself with his own ability.

That made him even more worth using well.

After Sheng Zhi Wan got the news, Sheng Zhi Wan prepared to rest and sleep.

Back in Wen Xi Courtyard, after hearing Qi Shu Xian’s report, Duke Qi and Madam Cui nearly fainted.

Duke Qi feared the Duke Manor would be dragged down by Lian Manor.

Madam Cui thought of Qi Fei Yan first. Madam Cui asked urgently, “Yan’er? Was Qi Fei Yan taken too?”

Qi Shu Xian pressed his lips together. “Yes. Everyone in Lian Manor was taken.”

Madam Cui’s face went blank. “How could this happen?”

Madam Cui sank into a chair, then turned and grabbed Duke Qi. “Duke, you can’t ignore Yan’er. Whatever Lian Manor did, what does it have to do with Yan’er?”

Duke Qi shook Madam Cui off. “Ignore it? How would I handle it? Illegal salt! His Majesty is furious. Lian Jie Yu is only a Junior Fifth Rank, and he still dared to do this. He was asking to die!”

Madam Cui cried, “But what did Yan’er do wrong?”

Duke Qi snapped, “The wrong thing was that Qi Fei Yan insisted on marrying into the Lian Family!”

Duke Qi despised Lian Wen Hui, and Duke Qi despised the Lian Family. Now Duke Qi hated that Qi Fei Yan had been blind-and might even drag Duke Qi down with her.

Madam Cui staggered after being thrown off.

Qi Shu Xian hurried to steady Madam Cui, but before Qi Shu Xian could speak, Madam Cui grabbed Qi Shu Xian’s arm again.

Madam Cui gasped, “Right! Sheng Zhi Wan! There’s Sheng Zhi Wan too!”