Chapter 31

Chapter 31: A Pain Like Having Her Heart Carved Out

“Duke.” Fang Hong Zhi stepped forward to salute.

Duke Qi nodded. “Today’s matter troubled Lord Fang. But in the end, this is the Duke manor’s family affair. Leave the rest to me. Lord Fang may return.”

Fang Hong Zhi hesitated and looked at Sheng Zhi Wan. “This… what does the Princess think? After all, the Princess is the victim.”

Duke Qi’s face darkened for a moment.

Sheng Zhi Wan found it almost amusing. “Lord Fang has indeed been troubled today, but there is still one more matter.”

At Sheng Zhi Wan’s words, Ting Lan brought something forward and offered it to Fang Hong Zhi. “Lord, this is our Princess’s dowry inventory. We don’t know how much was stolen. We ask Lord to arrange people to check it again later.”

Fang Hong Zhi’s eyelid twitched when Fang Hong Zhi saw the long dowry inventory.

Madam Cui nearly could not catch Madam Cui’s breath. With the Da Li Court involved, it meant that no matter who took the items, as long as an item appeared on the dowry inventory, the Duke manor would have to return it one by one.

Over the years, Madam Cui had taken so many things from Sheng Zhi Wan. Now that Madam Cui had to give them back, it felt like something that belonged to Madam Cui was being ripped away. Madam Cui felt a pain like having Madam Cui’s heart carved out.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan was only asking the authorities to verify Sheng Zhi Wan’s own property. What could Madam Cui say? Madam Cui could only force the breath down and endure it.

“When the Princess needs it, send someone to find me,” Fang Hong Zhi said, and then Fang Hong Zhi turned to leave.

Sun Feng, at Duke Qi’s side, hurried after Fang Hong Zhi.

Sheng Zhi Wan knew Sun Feng was going to silence people, but paper could not wrap up fire. Even if they covered it for now, the day the paper burned through, the backlash would be even worse.

Once the Da Li Court’s men left, Duke Qi cared even less about the shopkeepers. Duke Qi said a few perfunctory words and sent them out.

Then Duke Qi fixed Duke Qi’s gaze on Sheng Zhi Wan. Duke Qi’s face was full of pressure as Duke Qi barked, “Kneel!”

Qi Fei Yan looked delighted.

Qi Shu Xian’s lips moved, but Qi Shu Xian did not speak.

Madam Cui sat high up, cold and silent.

Sheng Zhi Wan stared straight back at Duke Qi’s oppressive gaze. In the past, Sheng Zhi Wan had always been respectful to this father-in-law. Duke Qi could speak casually, and Sheng Zhi Wan would treat it as an elder’s lesson, never talking back and never disobeying.

But now, Sheng Zhi Wan only smiled lightly. Sheng Zhi Wan’s clear eyes lifted a little, and Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice stayed soft without a trace of retreat. “Forgive Qing Ning’s dullness. Qing Ning truly doesn’t know what Qing Ning did wrong to deserve kneeling. Please, Duke, enlighten Qing Ning.”

Duke Qi choked. After a moment, Duke Qi finally said, “A woman’s proper virtue is obedience – tolerance, forbearance, gentleness, and kindness. First, as Shu Lang’s elder sister-in-law, you should have been tolerant and forgiving when Shu Lang made a mistake, yet you caused such an uproar over a few dowry items.”

Duke Qi continued, “Second, you casually spoke of implicating servants and their families. That chills the heart and goes against gentleness and kindness.”

Duke Qi finished, “Third, as the Duke manor’s clan matron, you should know that the family rises and falls together. Yet for your personal matter, you disregarded the Duke manor’s reputation, invited outsiders, and spread our shame. These three points – do you admit your fault?”

“Qing Ning admitted fault,” Sheng Zhi Wan said.

“Since you admit fault, then kneel!” Duke Qi snapped.

“But Qing Ning did not accept fault,” Sheng Zhi Wan said, finishing the sentence.

Duke Qi froze. Madam Cui, Qi Fei Yan, and Qi Shu Xian all froze as well.

Then Sheng Zhi Wan said, “A household has household law, and a nation has national law. Before Qing Ning was the Duke manor’s daughter-in-law, Qing Ning was first Imperial Father’s daughter. What Second Brother stole and swapped was not only Qing Ning’s dowry, but also imperial-bestowed items.”

Sheng Zhi Wan lifted Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes and met Duke Qi’s stare. “By law, stealing imperial-bestowed items can implicate three clans. If this daughter-in-law truly pursued it, it would not be as simple as inviting the Da Li Court.”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “Or Duke can go to the palace and ask Imperial Father to judge. Who was more wrong – Qing Ning, or Second Brother?”

Duke Qi choked again. Everyone else in the room went still.

“Sheng Zhi Wan! Do you know who you’re talking to? You actually dared to threaten Father!” Qi Fei Yan screamed.

Sheng Zhi Wan flicked a glance at Qi Fei Yan. Qi Fei Yan truly was foolish. Duke Qi had not said a word yet, but Qi Fei Yan jumped out first. If Duke Qi did not dare ask Imperial Father, wouldn’t that prove Duke Qi really had been threatened?

Duke Qi needed dignity.

“Shut up!” Duke Qi’s face sank as Duke Qi snapped.

Qi Fei Yan immediately fell silent. Qi Fei Yan looked wronged, but the moment Qi Fei Yan met Duke Qi’s eyes, Qi Fei Yan lowered Qi Fei Yan’s head in fear.

Sheng Zhi Wan’s eyes were full of mockery.

Duke Qi’s expression stayed ugly for a long while. Finally, Duke Qi said, “Zhi Wan was right. Father truly failed to consider this properly.”

“It’s fine,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “Once the dowry is recovered, Lord Fang already agreed to verify it for this daughter-in-law. Father only needs to teach Second Brother well, so Second Brother won’t make an even greater mistake again.”

“Shu Lang is still young…” Duke Qi began.

“If someone is not careful with small conduct, it will eventually ruin great virtue,” Sheng Zhi Wan said with a half-smile. “Father, what Second Brother did was not small conduct.”

Duke Qi stiffened, then said, “…In that case, by family law, thirty cane strokes and ten days of repentance in the ancestral hall!”

“No!” Madam Cui’s face went pale. Madam Cui grabbed Duke Qi’s sleeve in horror. “Shu Lang is still a child. How could Shu Lang endure that?”