Chapter 216

Chapter 216: Let the Dogs Bite Each Other

“You already owed this princess a debt. Don’t forget it was my people who brought you back.”

“Shut up!” Ming Jia snapped. “The one who was taken was this Commandery Princess’s maidservant.”

“Oh?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice turned icy. “Then why are you putting on this kind of show now?”

Some people, after being saved, wanted to repay the favor. Others, after being saved, wanted to silence mouths.

Sheng Zhi Wan reached out and caught Ming Jia’s chin. Under Ming Jia’s terrified stare, Sheng Zhi Wan said harshly: “You brought so many manor soldiers. Instead of surrounding the mountain to hunt bandits, you’re wasting time here. Don’t forget, it isn’t only the people who saved you who know you were taken. Those bandits know it even better. What a pig-headed idiot!”

“Y-you…” Ming Jia shook from head to toe.

Sheng Zhi Wan flung her aside. “Besides, you’re too late to silence anyone. When you were first taken, plenty of pilgrims saw it with their own eyes. Are you going to drag every person from back then here too?”

“And there’s this princess, and the Abbot of Chao Ming Temple.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s gaze sharpened. “If you have the ability, why don’t you silence us all as well?”

Ming Jia’s eyes turned red, but she could not force out a single word.

Sheng Zhi Wan looked at Ming Jia again. In the end, Ming Jia clenched her teeth and spat out, “Keep your people under control. Don’t let them run their mouths. Otherwise, even if this Commandery Princess dies, I’ll drag you down with me!… Go!”

Watching Ming Jia’s retreating back, Sheng Zhi Wan’s brows slowly knitted together.

Only after Ming Jia left did Sheng Zhi Wan call Lin Yue over to question him alone.

“When you went to rescue Ming Jia, did you see anything?”

The moment Sheng Zhi Wan asked, Sheng Zhi Wan felt something was wrong.

Lin Yue’s expression looked strange. He stiffened for a moment before saying, “This lowly one… this lowly one saw several men pressing down on two women. Their clothes… were torn open a bit.”

Lin Yue stammered, but Sheng Zhi Wan did not look the least bit embarrassed.

“By rights, the bandits had just fled and you chased them immediately. Even if they wanted to do anything, they would wait until they were safe.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes stayed cold. “Yet you only chased halfway before you ran into that scene.”

“Yes…” Lin Yue said. At the time, Lin Yue had even thought those bandits were far too impatient.

“Then they did it on purpose, so you would see.” Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice dropped. “Go back and tell the brothers. No one is allowed to speak of this.”

In truth, those bandits had not had time to do anything to the two of them. Yet they still insisted on showing people that scene.

It seemed they never meant to take Ming Jia’s life. From the very beginning, they wanted to ruin Ming Jia’s reputation.

A few thoughts formed in Sheng Zhi Wan’s mind. Sheng Zhi Wan had originally planned to warn Ming Jia a little, but now…

Sheng Zhi Wan would let the dogs bite each other.

Lin Yue stepped out and was stopped by An Zhi.

Lin Yue was not familiar with An Zhi. Lin Yue only knew An Zhi was one of the most capable senior maids beside the princess.

Then An Zhi placed ten taels of silver into Lin Yue’s hand.

“This is…?”

“Guard Lin, Princess said you worked hard just now. Those who labored more earned more. This is the reward you deserved.”

Lin Yue froze.

The other brothers beside him snickered. “Take it, Brother Lin. We all got some too.” One of them patted the bulging pouch at his waist.

Lin Yue accepted the silver, then turned back and bowed deeply toward the room.

But that was not the end.

When everyone returned to the outer courtyard, Shang Xing Yu also rewarded each person with another twenty taels.

What happened at Chao Ming Temple would not end here. Still, it had nothing to do with Sheng Zhi Wan.

After finally getting two easy days, Sheng Zhi Wan ate vegetarian meals when it was time to eat and enjoyed the sights when it was time to enjoy them.

That night, the group stayed one more night at Chao Ming Temple. Only at dawn the next day did they set out back to the capital city.

After Shang Xing Yu returned to the capital city, Shang Xing Yu ran to the Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s residence every day.

On this day, Shang Xing Yu finally received the na cai and na ji dates that His Majesty had approved.

Only then did Shang Xing Yu return to the Shang Residence.

First, Shang Xing Yu wanted to see how Grand General Shang had prepared Mother’s dowry. Second, the residence needed repairs.

Although after the wedding Shang Xing Yu would live at the princess’s residence, still… what if?

What if the princess had a whim and wanted to come see the place where Shang Xing Yu had grown up?

Shang Xing Yu had planned to tear down the courtyard and rebuild it according to his childhood memories.

Yet when Shang Xing Yu arrived, everything inside and outside the Shang Residence remained the same.

Not only was there no trace of wedding preparations, Grand General Shang also showed no sign of moving out.

When Shang Xing Yu came back, a servant boy hurried inside to report it. Shang Xing Yu raised an eyebrow.

Not long after, an old madam in plain clothes and with brisk steps walked out.

Shang Xing Yu sighed to himself. “Grandmother, why are you here?”

“You child, you still knew how to come home?!” Old Madam Shang smiled in surprise. The way Old Madam Shang looked at Shang Xing Yu was full of love. “Grandmother has been back for several days. Your father said he couldn’t find you anywhere. Grandmother heard you’re going to marry a princess. Marrying a princess is fine, but how could you pick a divorced-”

“Grandmother!” Shang Xing Yu cut her off. “Was it General Shang who asked you to come back?”

Back when Mother died, Shang Tian Hao had insisted on elevating Liang Rao to be the main wife.

Grandmother had been so furious she moved back to the estate. Every festival, Shang Xing Yu went to visit her a few times.

This year during the Spring Festival, Shang Xing Yu had gone as well. Grandmother had shown no desire to move back.

Now Grandmother had returned without a word, and there was no need to guess whose idea it was.

Shang Xing Yu knew Shang Tian Hao must have thought that with Grandmother here, Shang Xing Yu would soften and stop fighting him.

“What General Shang?” Old Madam Shang tapped Shang Xing Yu’s arm. “That’s your father.”

Shang Xing Yu only smiled and said nothing.

Old Madam Shang knew this grandson was stubborn, but no matter how stubborn, Shang Xing Yu would not go begging to marry a princess just to make his father look bad.

Thinking of this, Old Madam Shang’s heart ached.

Her precious grandson had always been obedient and sensible. How could Shang Xing Yu marry a woman who had married twice?

“Grandmother.” Shang Xing Yu saw what Old Madam Shang wanted to say and directly helped her into the room.

Shang Xing Yu sat Old Madam Shang in a chair and sent everyone else away.

“Grandson doesn’t know what General Shang told Grandmother, but marrying the princess was Grandson’s own choice.” Shang Xing Yu’s voice stayed steady. “Grandson liked Princess Qing Ning. If anyone dares say one bad word about Princess Qing Ning, Grandson will cut ties from then on.”

Cut ties?

Old Madam Shang’s mouth fell open. Old Madam Shang stared at Shang Xing Yu in shock.

Old Madam Shang had never imagined such words would come from the grandson who had always been filial and sweet to her.

Over the years, even when Shang Tian Hao forgot to visit her, Shang Xing Yu never forgot.

Every time Shang Xing Yu came, Shang Xing Yu even stayed by her side to plant vegetables and water them, caring in every possible way.

“Young Master Yu! Y-you are threatening Grandmother?” Old Madam Shang grabbed Shang Xing Yu’s hand. “That Princess Qing Ning, what kind of ability does she have-”

“Grandmother!” Shang Xing Yu abruptly stood. Shang Xing Yu’s gaze turned cold.

The words Old Madam Shang wanted to say were forced back down by that look.

Old Madam Shang stayed frozen for a long time before she finally forced out, “Fine… fine… Grandmother won’t say it. But you still plan to take all of your mother’s dowry to the princess’s residence?”

“Yes!” Shang Xing Yu answered without hesitation. “That was His Majesty’s command.”

With one sentence, Shang Xing Yu blocked Old Madam Shang completely.

“But your father’s silver these past years all went to supporting the household.” Old Madam Shang’s voice trembled. “He’s a man. He doesn’t know how to manage the inner accounts. If you take all the family wealth away now, what will Young Master Yuan and your sisters do?”

“Did Grandmother hear wrong?” Shang Xing Yu’s tone turned even colder. “I am only taking Mother’s dowry. I want not a single coin from the General’s household. When I married, I didn’t even make General Shang spend one coin.”

“Besides, doesn’t the current Madam Shang manage the household?” Shang Xing Yu looked straight at her. “There is no reason to use the first wife’s dowry silver to raise the second wife’s children.”