Chapter 29

Chapter 29: Driven to This

The two men were already trembling in fear. As soon as they stepped into the Duke’s mansion and saw the crowd gathered in the hall, their legs turned to jelly.

Without even being interrogated, they began spilling the entire story like beans from a bamboo tube.

“Reporting to the Princess, Heir Apparent, and Lord—this, all of this was Young Master Qi Shu Lang’s idea! We truly didn’t know those items were bestowed by the Emperor, otherwise, we would never have dared!”

“Exactly! At first, I refused to take them, but Young Master Qi Shu Lang threatened that if I didn’t, he’d ensure I couldn’t survive in the Capital. I’m merely a merchant—how could I dare oppose him?”

Their faces were pale with terror.

Though they’d known the goods weren’t cleanly obtained, at most they assumed Qi Shu Lang had taken something from his own family to sell. Who could’ve imagined they were actually part of the Princess’s dowry?

“Impossible!” Madam Cui gasped, struggling to breathe.

“Insolent!” Qi Shu Xian slammed his palm onto the table.

Splinters flew everywhere, and the two merchants collapsed to the floor, trembling.

“Do you understand the consequences of slandering the Duke’s household? Speak now! Who instructed you to say such lies?” Qi Shu Xian’s eyes flashed like icy swords.

“Every word from us, Carved Figurines, is true! If the Heir doubts, you can confront Young Master Qi’s servant boy, Ah Zhong!”

“Slander! All slander! Guards! Beat these scoundrels to death for daring to slander my son!” Madam Cui clutched her chest.

Fang Hong Zhi’s face darkened instantly. His men quickly shielded the terrified merchants.

Qi Shu Xian’s expression was so stormy it could have dripped rain.

With things unfolding like this, the merchants’ words so detailed, he had no choice but to believe them.

Now, he finally understood.

Sheng Zhi Wan must have known all along—no wonder she confidently used her private assets to convince Mother to accept the investigation from the Dali Temple.

But Shu Lang was just a child!

Even if he was wrong, why push things to such an extreme?

By Sheng Kingdom’s law, nobles and commoners were judged equally for their crimes. If it hadn’t come to light, it might have ended quietly. But now, the case was exposed—and before this notoriously stubborn Assistant Minister of the Dali Temple, no less.

Sheng Zhi Wan had become ruthless.

To force him into submission, she even schemed against Shu Lang!

Qi Shu Xian cast a dark glance toward her before instructing coldly, “Shun Zi, bring Ah Zhong here.”

Though Qi Shu Lang was at the Academy, servants weren’t allowed there, so Ah Zhong remained at the mansion.

“Yes.”

Quick-witted Shun Zi turned immediately to go.

“Wait,” Sheng Zhi Wan called. “Lord Fang, perhaps your men should accompany him—to ensure no unwanted whispers occur.”

“Sheng Zhi Wan!” Qi Shu Xian’s temples throbbed angrily.

Sheng Zhi Wan met his gaze calmly.

[Finally, he shows his true colors. Acting so devoted before me—is he not tired of pretending?]

“Why is the Heir so agitated? Have my words pierced your heart?” she asked gently.

Qi Shu Xian fell silent.

Sheng Zhi Wan smiled and glanced at Madam Cui, who was clutching her chest, gasping.

She hadn’t brewed medicine for her using her special decoction method for several days. Counting the days, it was about time.

Just as she considered this, Ah Zhong was dragged in, his mouth gagged.

Seeing the two merchants sprawled on the floor, he turned pale, nearly collapsing.

His reaction told everyone everything they needed to know.

Qi Shu Xian closed his eyes, snapping sharply before Ah Zhong could speak: “Ah Zhong! You’ve served Shu Lang for four or five years, your family members are all born servants of the Duke’s mansion, and Shu Lang treated you well. Why then did you use his name to steal Zhi Wan’s dowry and sell it?”

His tone was frosty.

Ah Zhong froze, quickly understanding Qi Shu Xian’s intention. His face paled further, his lips trembling—today might be his end.

But better his end alone than his entire family’s downfall.

“Heir Apparent, forgive me! I—I’ve never seen such fine goods before and was blinded by greed. When Miss Huan Zhu wasn’t around, I secretly stole the items without the Young Master’s knowledge!”

“Oh?” Sheng Zhi Wan laughed softly, not angry at all. “Then tell me—where is my storehouse?”

Ah Zhong froze.

How could he know where the storehouse was?

Though he had indeed sold items for the Young Master, it was always Shu Lang who brought them to him. How could a servant freely enter the Heir Consort’s residence?

Sweating profusely, Ah Zhong instinctively looked at Qi Shu Xian.

Qi Shu Xian wanted to give him a hint.

But just as he opened his mouth, he caught Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes, filled with undisguised contempt.

Embarrassed, Qi Shu Xian turned away.

Madam Cui and Qi Fei Yan desperately wished to help Ah Zhong but honestly didn’t know where Sheng Zhi Wan stored her dowry.

[If only each courtyard had its own storehouse!]

“What? You stole so much, yet you don’t even know which room the storehouse is?” Sheng Zhi Wan mocked.

Ah Zhong’s gaze darted around, then he desperately pointed toward a room that looked vaguely like a storehouse. “There! That one!”

“Really?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s radiant eyes brimmed with mockery.

Ah Zhong immediately hesitated, nervously pointing elsewhere, “No, no! I—I was so nervous, I forgot. Maybe—maybe it was that room.”

“Oh?” Sheng Zhi Wan’s smile grew even more disdainful.