Chapter 123

Chapter 123: See It With Your Own Eyes

Qi Shu Xian stepped forward. “Commander Xie, may I ask-has the roster of those involved in buying and selling illegal salt been confirmed?”

The moment Xie An saw him, Xie An stopped short.

Qi Shu Xian asked, “Which person in the Lian Family was involved?”

Qi Shu Xian watched Xie An’s expression and felt something was off.

Xie An’s mouth twitched. “Did Heir Apparent Qi truly not know?”

Qi Shu Xian froze. “What?”

Qi Shu Xian was stunned. How could Qi Shu Xian know anything about the Lian Family?

Xie An hesitated, then said, “Qi Fei Yan was the only woman involved in this illegal salt case.”

Qi Shu Xian went rigid, almost thinking he had heard wrong.

But when Qi Shu Xian saw Xie An’s expression, Qi Shu Xian knew he had not misheard.

Qi Fei Yan…

Qi Shu Xian’s Eldest Sister…

Qi Fei Yan had actually dared to get involved with illegal salt?!

Where did Qi Fei Yan get that kind of nerve?

No wonder Qi Fei Yan had fainted just now. It turned out the person who did it was Qi Fei Yan herself!

Qi Shu Xian shut his eyes and forced his heart to steady.

Qi Shu Xian cupped his hands toward Xie An in a stiff salute.

At the Duke Manor, Madam Cui had only just put her heart down for a moment when Eldest Son rushed back in a hurry.

Qi Shu Xian’s face was darker than ever. The moment Qi Shu Xian stepped inside, Qi Shu Xian asked, “Mother, has Father returned?”

Madam Cui said, “Not yet. Right, have someone ask around later. When will your Eldest Sister be released? Who in the Lian Family was involved?”

Madam Cui kept talking. “If it really was Lian Wen Hui, can we use connections and work things out? Even exile is better than beheading. We can’t let your Eldest Sister become a widow at such a young age…”

Madam Cui had thought about having Qi Fei Yan separate by mutual consent, but although women could do that in this dynasty, a woman who separated still faced gossip even with her natal family backing her.

Even Eldest Princess Sheng Zhi Yue, who had a husband who did not love her, still had to endure it.

So the best option was to keep Lian Wen Hui alive. If that did not work, then after Lian Wen Hui died, they could adopt a child from a collateral branch…

Qi Shu Xian drew a deep breath. “Mother, let’s talk about this later.”

Madam Cui said anxiously, “How can we talk about it later?”

Qi Shu Xian worried about Madam Cui’s health and did not want to tell Madam Cui the truth about Qi Fei Yan. Qi Shu Xian turned and went out to find Duke Qi.

Sheng Zhi Wan also learned how Emperor Chong Sheng planned to deal with the illegal salt offenders.

Just as in her past life, it was the same.

Qi Shu Xian cared about Madam Cui’s health, but Sheng Zhi Wan did not.

Sheng Zhi Wan thought for a moment, then had Liu Shang go out to do something.

Soon, news spread through the streets and alleys that the Duke Manor’s eldest daughter, Qi Fei Yan, was involved in illegal salt.

It was not only Qi Fei Yan at first, but since Qi Fei Yan was the only woman among them, Qi Fei Yan stood out the most.

Sheng Zhi Wan even kindly arranged for people to gossip outside the Duke Manor. In only a short while, it spread through the maids and servant boys.

One servant whispered, “Is it true?”

Another whispered, “How could the eldest miss do something like that?”

A third asked, “Smuggling illegal salt? Where did you hear that?”

Someone replied, “It’s absolutely true. This came out of Da Li Court. They say everyone from Lian Manor was released, but only our eldest miss and her personal maid Chun Chan are still locked up…”

Madam Cui took her medicine, but she still did not see Qi Shu Xian and Duke Qi return.

Madam Cui’s health was poor now, and she had heard that walking after meals could lengthen one’s life. So every day after eating, she went to stroll in the back garden.

As Madam Cui walked, Madam Cui heard two maids talking nearby.

At first, Madam Cui could not hear clearly. When Madam Cui drew closer and finally understood, her breath almost caught in her throat.

Luckily, Concubine Lian supported her.

Madam Cui’s hands shook. “Go! Bring those two girls to me!”

Soon, the two maids were dragged over.

Madam Cui stared at them. “What did you say just now? Everyone from Lian Manor was released? What about Yan’er? Was Yan’er released?”

The two maids trembled. “Madam…”

Madam Cui kicked one maid to the ground. “Speak!”

The maid hurriedly said, “Yes, Madam. Everyone else from Lian Manor was released. Only the eldest miss and the eldest miss’s maid Chun Chan were not released. And…”

Madam Cui clenched her fists. “And what?”

The maid said, “And the eldest miss’s shops were sealed too. They say the eldest miss ordered a shopkeeper under her to smuggle illegal salt.”

Madam Cui gasped. Her body jerked, her breath would not come, and she collapsed on the spot.

Everyone panicked.

“Madam! Madam!”

“Quick, call the physician!”

“Quick, go find the Duke and the Heir Apparent!”

When Sheng Zhi Wan heard Madam Cui had fainted, Sheng Zhi Wan felt delighted. Sheng Zhi Wan immediately changed into bright, vivid clothes and went to pay respects.

An Zhi frowned. “Princess, if you go now, Madam will definitely make you plead for Qi Fei Yan. You might as well not go.”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “If I don’t go, will Madam stop trying to make me plead?”

An Zhi paused. “That’s true… Then, Princess, you…”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Of course I won’t.”

Qi Fei Yan’s situation was something Sheng Zhi Wan had designed. Sheng Zhi Wan wanted Qi Fei Yan to die.

How could Sheng Zhi Wan possibly plead for Qi Fei Yan?

Sheng Zhi Wan was going only to see Madam Cui’s face when Madam Cui lost the daughter Madam Cui cherished most.

When Sheng Zhi Wan arrived at Wen Xi Courtyard, the courtyard was already in chaos.

Several physicians came out of the room.

Sheng Zhi Wan asked with concern, “Has Madam woken up?”

The physicians all froze for a moment.

Just earlier, they had heard Madam Cui cursing Princess Qing Ning as unfilial and heartless. Yet now Princess Qing Ning had rushed here, looking worried. She did not look unfilial at all.

One physician answered, “Princess, Madam is awake.”

The physician had barely finished speaking when smashing sounds came from inside the room.

Sheng Zhi Wan frowned worriedly, then told the nanny beside Madam Cui, “Escort the physicians out properly. Thank them for their trouble today.”

The physicians bowed again. “Princess, you’re too kind.”

They had not expected the rumored Princess Qing Ning to have such a gentle temper. If that was the case, then perhaps it was the Duchess…

In the end, they stopped themselves. It was the Duke Manor’s private affair.

After the physicians left, Sheng Zhi Wan finally walked into the room at an unhurried pace.

Madam Cui had already heard Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice. The moment Madam Cui saw Sheng Zhi Wan, Madam Cui struggled to sit up.

Madam Cui shrieked, “Sheng Zhi Wan! If you hadn’t insisted on taking back your dowry, how would my Yan’er ever have touched illegal salt? Now that Yan’er is like this, are you satisfied?!”

Madam Cui’s eyes were red. The hatred in Madam Cui’s stare looked like it could tear Sheng Zhi Wan apart.

Sheng Zhi Wan pressed her lips together. “Mother, how can you say that? Taking back my dowry was only right. If Eldest Sister chose to touch illegal salt, did I tell Eldest Sister to do it?”

Madam Cui shouted, “It was you! If it wasn’t for you, Yan’er wouldn’t have ended up like this!”

Madam Cui gritted her teeth. “Go into the palace right now. Go beg the Empress Dowager to release Yan’er!”

Sheng Zhi Wan snorted, looked around, and casually sat down on a soft couch.

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Mother, are you still dreaming? Qi Fei Yan committed a crime that calls for beheading. Even imperial relatives will be beheaded. Why would I plead for Qi Fei Yan?”

Madam Cui roared, “Because Qi Fei Yan is your husband’s Eldest Sister!”

Sheng Zhi Wan said, “So what? Isn’t the Heir Apparent capable of earning military merit? Then use military merit to trade for Qi Fei Yan’s life. Oh, I almost forgot-the Heir Apparent already used his military merit to save Meng Yang, and even took a court beating for Meng Yang.”

Madam Cui said desperately, “Then there’s still the Duke Manor. Let the Duke trade the Duke Manor’s noble title for Yan’er’s life!”

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled. “That seems impossible too. The Duke Manor’s title only passes down as far as Duke Qi.”