Chapter 5 Clean it up

Li Nanke puffed out his cheeks.

The prince's words are truly infuriating.

But now was not the time to be angry, so she quickly tugged at Song Yi's hand.

"Mother, didn't you say you had a way to prove Father was innocent?"

Song Yi snapped out of her daze.

This is a brief opportunity that my daughter risked her life for; she can't just be afraid, she has to seize it.

She hastily wiped away her tears with her sleeve, and although her voice was still trembling, she managed to make herself clear.

"The handwriting, Your Highness can verify the handwriting."

Shen Cong raised an eyebrow slightly.

"That's it? Foolish! Before His Majesty issued the order to confiscate the property, he had already ordered the Censorate to check that the records of the warehouse department's inflows and outflows were signed by Li Mu himself."

The handwriting matches that of Li Muping on the Ministry of Revenue's daily attendance sheet.

"I have given you a chance to finish speaking. If you have no other evidence, get out."

A cold glint flashed in Shen Cong's eyes, his expression impatient, indicating that his patience had run out.

It was as if if they said another word, someone would be sent to chop them up.

Song Yi was both nervous and terrified; her legs went weak, and tears streamed down her face even more profusely.

She's been like this since she was little; she cries incessantly when she's scared, and right now she can't utter a single word.

"Mother, don't be afraid."

Li Nanke straightened up, wrapped his arms tightly around Song Yi's neck, and whispered a few words in her ear.

Her daughter's voice was like a stabilizing force, instantly clearing her confused mind from her crying.

Song Yi quickly took off the purse hanging on her body and pulled something out of it with trembling hands.

It's a heart-shaped object; when you unfold it, you find a piece of paper.

"This is a love poem that my husband wrote for me eight years ago. My husband is fond of romance and poetry. His calligraphy and paintings were even found when his house was searched."

Your Highness can verify... verify whether the handwriting of the love poems and calligraphy matches, which will prove that my husband's handwriting has not changed in the past eight years.

By comparing the calligraphy and paintings with the handwriting from the Ministry of Revenue, we should be able to find the problem.

Song Yi choked up, but still managed to finish her sentence, albeit haltingly.

There was a moment of silence inside the sedan chair.

Li Nanke had been observing Shen Cong's expression, noticing that although he seemed impatient, he glanced at the paper in his mother's hand.

She quickly took the love poem, stepped forward, and handed it to Shen Cong.

Shen Cong extended two slender fingers and pinched the paper between them.

His handsome eyebrows arched slightly as he called out.

"Second Wind".

The bearded man bent over and came in.

"Have you finished copying?"

"It's all copied, and we're organizing it now, ready to load it onto the truck."

"No need to pretend anymore, just send someone to guard it."

The bearded man had no doubts whatsoever, clearly having grown accustomed to orders being obeyed without question.

He went out and made a shout.

Shen Cong glanced sideways at Li Nanke.

"Aren't you going to get lost?"

Li Nanke's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly went to pull Song Yi.

"Mother, I'm leaving."

Song Yi wiped away her tears, both surprised and delighted.

"Your Highness... Your Highness has agreed to our request?"

Li Nanke responded and pulled his mother outside.

As soon as he stepped out of the sedan chair, a deep, cold voice sounded behind him.

"Wait a minute."

She paused, then turned around.

Inside the sedan chair, Chen Cong reclined back, his gaze fixed on her.

Song Yi gasped in surprise and instinctively hugged her daughter.

Your Highness can't go back on your word, can you?

Shen Cong quietly observed Li Nanke, his dark eyes devoid of any warmth.

"Two days from now, I will send someone to pick you up. Remember to wash yourself clean, as my snow eagle prefers to eat clean meat."

Song Yi's legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground.

Li Nanke grinned, revealing her dimples.

"Okay."

After saying that, he turned around, took Song Yi's hand, and left.

Shen Cong's gaze swept over her quick little legs, then returned to his own after a moment.

He instructed Erfeng, "Let's go."

Li Nanke and Song Yi returned to the side hall.

When Marquis Anping saw the two return unharmed in the side hall, he almost jumped up from his chair.

"The prince didn't kill you? How is that possible?"

The next moment, remembering an even more important question, he pressed on, "What did the prince say? Did he promise to save our whole family?"

The second young mistress, who was crying, also turned her head to look over, her face full of expectation.

Li Nanke pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

Song Yi nodded while wiping away her tears.

"He...he must have agreed."

"What do you mean you should agree? Couldn't you have asked clearly? Go ask again when you're going to release us?"

Marquis Anping roared in dissatisfaction.

Song Yi's face turned pale, and she dared not refute her father-in-law.

But remembering what King Xuan looked like, she didn't dare to ask again.

In fact, her mind is still a mess, and she keeps wanting to cry.

Li Nanke looked up and pointed to the sedan chair outside.

"The prince hasn't left yet, grandfather, why don't you go and ask him yourself?"

Marquis Anping's expression changed.

The next moment, the people in the courtyard suddenly stirred.

Twelve imperial guards carried the sedan chair and left.

The accompanying imperial guards carried away one of the boxes, while a squad of guards remained in the courtyard to watch over the confiscated items.

Li Nanke, with his sharp eyes, recognized the box that had been taken away as his father's calligraphy and paintings.

He couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

Since King Xuan took away his father's calligraphy and paintings, he would definitely compare them.

All they can do now is wait.

On the other side, the Imperial Guards carried the crimson sedan chair in neat rows down the street, their steps steady and the chair not swaying at all.

A cold, indifferent voice came from inside the sedan chair.

"Go to the Censorate."

Erfeng, who was following closely beside the sedan chair, paused for a moment, then quickly made a hand gesture and gave the order.

"Turn to the Censorate."

He then asked in a low voice, "Your Highness, won't you ask Madam Song what was written in that letter after all...?"

A cold sneer came from inside the sedan chair.

"stupid!"

"You really think that letter was written by the Song family? After serving me for so long, you're still as stupid as a pig."

Erfeng scratched his head. He had his back to the side hall and hadn't actually seen Song write the letter.

But since the prince said no, then it must not be.

"Who wrote that letter? I'll have her arrested and question her; we're sure to get the information we need."

There was a moment of silence inside the sedan chair, then a voice came again.

"Investigate Li Mu's daughter. I need to know everything about her from birth to the present."

Erfeng's expression hardened, and he silently lit a candle for Li Nanke in his heart.

The little girl is a bit silly, but she's strangely cute.

"That little girl is so stupid and clumsy. Xueying probably only got close to her because he thought her stupidity was funny."

He subtly pleaded for Li Nanke's behalf.

Shen Cong snorted coldly.

"You're the stupid one! If you dare utter another word, you'll be whipped ten times."

Erfeng immediately fell silent, making a gesture to seal his mouth.

The little girl is cute, but he also values ​​his life!

The Marquis of Anping's residence.

The people in the Marquis's mansion spent the whole day in unease.

Lady Anping woke up, looking listless. After hearing Song Yi's account of the situation, she only said "wait" before falling back asleep.

Song Yi sat there blankly, wiping away tears from time to time.

The second young mistress sat in a corner with her two daughters in her arms, secretly taking out two pastries from her bosom and giving them to her children.

He then blocked everyone's view with his body and whispered to his children, "Eat quickly."

Li Nanke saw it, pouted, and rubbed her tummy.

She was hungry too.

The sun was already setting, and they hadn't eaten all day.

Just then, a hearty laugh came from outside.

Immediately afterwards, a woman dressed in silver-red embroidered with peonies walked in and greeted the imperial guards with a smile.

"Gentlemen, you've worked hard. I'm a family member of Zhao Hong from the Censorate. I've brought some food to visit my elder sister."

Upon hearing this voice, Li Nanke clenched her little fists.

It was her aunt, Song Hui, the reborn female protagonist in the book.

Now that they haven't been exiled as described in the book, Auntie is getting restless!