Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Just a Child

As Sheng Zhi Wan spoke, Sheng Zhi Wan picked up the Wintergreen-Glazed Six-Hole Vase and smashed it in front of Qi Shu Xian.

Crack!

Shards flew everywhere.

It felt like the scene replayed. Qi Shu Xian had stormed in full of rage and knocked down the Talent Cup Token. Now the one doing the questioning was Sheng Zhi Wan.

What right did Qi Shu Xian have to question Sheng Zhi Wan?

Or did Qi Shu Xian truly believe that because Sheng Zhi Wan married Qi Shu Xian, Sheng Zhi Wan’s things could be used and controlled by Qi Shu Xian?

Men always liked to treat women as possessions. Not only the women themselves, but also the value they brought. They took what they wanted, whenever they wanted, and then tossed it away like trash.

But why?

Mockery filled Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes.

Only then did Qi Shu Xian look down at the items on the floor. There were paintings, ornaments, and jewelry. Every piece looked refined and luxurious, yet Sheng Zhi Wan said they were fake.

What did that mean?

Qi Shu Xian was a top scholar who had taken first place in all three exams. A large part of it was because Sheng Zhi Wan had handed Qi Shu Xian well-prepared arguments based on years of exam questions, but Qi Shu Xian’s mind was not foolish.

In just one breath, Qi Shu Xian understood what Sheng Zhi Wan was implying.

Qi Shu Xian said coldly, “Nonsense! Your dowry has been in the storeroom the whole time. Your people keep the key. How could it turn into fakes? Even if it did turn into fakes, it would mean your people had a problem!”

Qi Shu Xian now knew the estate was struggling, but Qi Shu Xian absolutely did not believe Qi Shu Xian’s parents or Eldest Sister had touched Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry.

Sheng Zhi Wan was just trying to spite Qi Shu Xian.

Before, Sheng Zhi Wan tried to chase away Meng Yang and even went to complain before the emperor, causing Qi Shu Xian to lose the reward Qi Shu Xian should have earned.

Now this scheme was even more vicious. Sheng Zhi Wan dared to fake the dowry and smear it onto the Duke Qi Manor.

Qi Shu Xian was extremely disappointed.

The pure girl who once stared at Qi Shu Xian with love had learned the dirty tricks used in inner households.

Sheng Zhi Wan did not care at all. Sheng Zhi Wan said, “Huan Zhu, say what you just said again.”

Huan Zhu knelt on the ground and sobbed. “Some time ago, the young master often came into the storeroom to look for paintings and study them. In the middle, he said he was thirsty or hot and sent this servant away a few times… Aside from that, I swear I never let anyone else in!”

Shu Lang?

Qi Shu Xian’s anger surged. “Enough!” Qi Shu Xian snapped. “How long are you going to keep making trouble? Do you have to make everyone in the Duke estate unable to live in peace!”

Qi Shu Xian continued, “Shu Lang is only a ten-year-old child. He’s obedient and filial. He respects you as his sister-in-law, and now you even want to ruin his reputation!”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s face was calm. “Whether it ruins him can be checked with one investigation.”

In Sheng Zhi Wan’s last life, it was this same “obedient and filial” Qi Shu Lang who, just to amuse himself, forced a three-year-old girl from the poor district to crawl on the ground like a dog.

Qi Shu Lang also forced that girl’s brother to lick Qi Shu Lang’s feet.

After being tortured for a full month, the little girl finally could not hold on and died.

The little girl’s brother waited outside the gates of Duke Qi Manor to “assassinate” Qi Shu Lang for revenge. Qi Shu Lang casually shoved An Zhi – who had been sent by Sheng Zhi Wan to deliver pastries – out in front.

An Zhi did not die, but An Zhi permanently lost an eye.

When Sheng Zhi Wan learned what happened, Sheng Zhi Wan was so furious that Sheng Zhi Wan slapped Qi Shu Lang in public. Sheng Zhi Wan also dragged Qi Shu Lang to kneel in the ancestral hall.

When Sheng Zhi Wan tried to make Qi Shu Lang personally apologize to the little girl’s brother, that teenage boy mysteriously fell into a river and drowned.

Later, Sheng Zhi Wan discovered that the dead little girl was not the first. Every half month, another little girl in the poor district was beaten to death by Qi Shu Lang.

Sheng Zhi Wan was horrified and told Duke Qi.

But Duke Qi only lightly punished Qi Shu Lang, confining Qi Shu Lang for a few days.

Instead, Madam Cui later pretended to be ill and made Sheng Zhi Wan sleep outside every night, copying Buddhist scriptures and serving medicine.

Qi Shu Lang hated Sheng Zhi Wan to the bone for meddling.

During the last period when Sheng Zhi Wan was locked up, if not for Qi Shu Xian discovering it in time, Sheng Zhi Wan would have almost been violated by Shu Lang’s so-called “friends.”

So Sheng Zhi Wan wanted revenge. How could Sheng Zhi Wan possibly leave Qi Shu Lang out of it? Exposing this was only the beginning.

“No!” Qi Shu Xian grew even angrier after hearing it. “This cannot possibly be Shu Lang’s doing! If you investigate him, what will outsiders think?”

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted her eyes to Qi Shu Xian. “Duke Qi Manor is short on silver now, isn’t it?”

Qi Shu Xian did not expect the sudden change in topic and froze. “What?”

Sheng Zhi Wan curled her lips and said each word clearly, “The Heir Apparent charged in just now to question me because I donated my dowry. The Heir Apparent thought money that should’ve been used on Duke Qi Manor was wasted.”

Qi Shu Xian’s face darkened. “I didn’t-”

Sheng Zhi Wan did not let Qi Shu Xian finish. Sheng Zhi Wan stepped forward. “Now I’ll give the Heir Apparent a proper, open chance to gain my private property. As long as it’s proven this wasn’t done by Second Brother, I will apologize to him, admit fault, and hand over all my private assets into the common coffers.”

“Ridiculous! When did Duke Qi Manor ever need your dowry!” Qi Shu Xian felt several probing gazes land on Qi Shu Xian and immediately snapped back.

Using Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry to subsidize the estate was fine as long as it did not spread. But if it got out, the Duke Qi Manor’s reputation would be finished.