Chapter 30

Chapter 30: What Would Make You Stop

A’Zhong wiped at the sweat on A’Zhong’s face and head. “Princess can punish me if Princess wants. I really don’t remember!”

A’Zhong was clever enough. A’Zhong clung to the story that it was all A’Zhong’s doing and that A’Zhong could not remember. Even if Sheng Zhi Wan knew it was not A’Zhong, what proof did Sheng Zhi Wan have?

Qi Shu Xian and Madam Cui felt their hearts loosen slightly.

Then, in the next instant, Sheng Zhi Wan let out a soft, mocking snort.

Not only Sheng Zhi Wan, but An Zhi and Ting Lan at Sheng Zhi Wan’s side also showed expressions of disgust and contempt. Even the old men looked strange.

Before Qi Shu Xian could understand why, Sheng Zhi Wan looked at the old men and said, “So no one can claim this princess is pointing fingers at random, I ask you to tell Lord Fang which storeroom holds my dowry.”

The old men nodded.

One old man stepped forward. “Lord, this old one is the shopkeeper of Wen Mo Studio. The Princess invited this old one to appraise calligraphy and paintings. Most of the paintings and ancient books in the Princess’s dowry are stored in that study and that storeroom.”

The old man pointed to two rooms.

Another old man stepped forward. “This old one is the second shopkeeper of Ding Zhen Tower. This old one understands jewelry and ornaments. All of the Princess’s jewelry is stored in that storeroom.”

The man pointed in the opposite direction.

A’Zhong’s face changed. Qi Shu Xian, Madam Cui, and Qi Fei Yan all froze.

Then more old men stepped forward, one after another. They were all shopkeepers or stewards from famous capital city stores, and each had come to appraise a different type of item.

When everyone finished, Sheng Zhi Wan’s dowry turned out to be so large that it was spread across four different storerooms. The items that had been swapped were found in all four storerooms.

Yet A’Zhong had only pointed to one. The second room A’Zhong hesitated over was wrong as well.

Fang Hong Zhi understood immediately. After asking Sheng Zhi Wan, the victim, Fang Hong Zhi prepared to take people back to the Da Li Court for interrogation.

“Stop! No one goes!” Madam Cui suddenly stood and pointed at Sheng Zhi Wan in fury. “They’re just objects. If they’re gone, then they’re gone! This child is only ten-something. His parents are house-born servants of the Duke manor, and they didn’t even have him until they were over forty. How could you be so cruel, insisting on sending him to prison for a trip?”

Madam Cui had realized the truth. It was very likely her youngest son had done it. The moment Madam Cui thought of A’Zhong failing under torture and confessing Shu Lang’s name, Madam Cui could not accept the outcome.

Sheng Zhi Wan frowned slightly.

“Mother’s words are strange,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “He stole imperial-bestowed items. If we speak seriously, it could implicate the whole family and lead to execution. I didn’t even throw his whole family into prison. That was already extremely merciful.”

Sheng Zhi Wan went on lightly, “But if he still refuses to confess who ordered him, and the true culprit can’t be found, then I can only implicate his relatives to vent my anger.”

Madam Cui trembled so hard Madam Cui’s lips shook.

A’Zhong wet A’Zhong’s pants on the spot.

“I-I’ll speak…” A’Zhong blurted out.

Madam Cui and Qi Shu Xian’s faces changed, but it was already too late.

A’Zhong made up A’Zhong’s mind. A’Zhong shut A’Zhong’s eyes, clenched A’Zhong’s teeth, and directly named Qi Shu Lang. A’Zhong said the young master handed the items to A’Zhong, and A’Zhong sold them. A’Zhong said all the money went to the young master, who spent it in gambling houses.

A’Zhong even listed everything clearly – what items were taken when, how much each was sold for, and which gambling house the young master spent the silver in.

Madam Cui listened to every sentence and looked as if Madam Cui wanted to tear A’Zhong apart with Madam Cui’s eyes.

“Bastard! Lies! It has to be lies!” Madam Cui forgot all dignity as a noble lady and clan matron. In rage, Madam Cui spat, “That silver was spent by a piece of trash like you using my son’s name!”

Qi Shu Xian was calmer. A’Zhong’s confession was far too detailed and too easy to verify. Since A’Zhong dared to say it, it had to be true.

At this point, Qi Shu Xian could not let the Da Li Court investigate further.

Qi Shu Xian took a deep breath and walked up to Sheng Zhi Wan. “What would make you stop?”

“It isn’t about what will make me stop,” Sheng Zhi Wan said with a half-smile. “It’s about what Heir Apparent and the Duke manor will do. I only wanted my things back.”

Qi Shu Xian ground Qi Shu Xian’s teeth. “Fine. I agree to the first two conditions. I’ll restore your dowry and return all the silver you subsidized to the Duke manor within half a month. But the last condition-”

“The Duke is here!” someone cried out.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s brows tightened. Duke Qi truly returned quickly. Wasn’t Duke Qi supposed to be accompanying Madam Tao today? Still, it did not matter. Everything had already been uncovered, and whether they continued investigating or not, everyone present knew the truth.

Sheng Zhi Wan gave a slight bow.

Qi Shu Xian and Qi Fei Yan said, “Father.”

Duke Qi glanced coldly at Sheng Zhi Wan.

When word of the manor’s chaos reached Duke Qi, Duke Qi had been about to eat dinner with Madam Tao. Duke Qi rushed back at once, yet still arrived late.

On the way, Duke Qi already learned the whole story. Compared to Duke Qi’s anger at the youngest son’s uselessness, Duke Qi was even more furious that Sheng Zhi Wan had dragged in the Da Li Court over such a small matter and aired the family’s shame to outsiders.