Chapter 21 Shen Qingtan Tricking Madam Shen

"Heng'er, the emperor broke the law for the common people, let alone we are just the wives of court officials?" Madam Shen's teeth were about to break. She never expected that someone would suddenly appear.

"Second Auntie has a point." Shen Shaoheng narrowed his eyes and changed the subject: "It's impossible for her to drown herself and then find another unlucky guy to take her life, right? That's impossible, right? Second Auntie has a kind heart, but she can't do such a wicked thing."

Mrs. Shen's face changed: "Heng'er, you..."

"Second Aunt, you don't have to check." Shen Shaoheng pointed to the rockery on the other side of the pond: "There's a cave there. I saw her hiding in it drinking. I guess she felt guilty and heard someone coming. She slipped and fell into the pond while running for her life." He raised his chin and instructed the housekeeper: "Go and take a look. There might be a wine jar in there."

The housekeeper didn’t move, but looked at Madam Shen.

Mrs. Shen was almost certain that it was Shen Shaoheng who killed Mother Wei, but unfortunately she couldn't expose it. If she did, not only would there be no evidence, but the fire would also burn her.

At the beginning, she accidentally discovered that Shen Shaoheng was interested in Concubine Mei, so she used means to help Marquis Cheng'en take Concubine Mei into the mansion, and then designed the two to have an affair.

Once it is revealed that Shen Shaoheng has an affair with his second uncle's concubine, even the old lady will not be able to protect him, and the title of Cheng'en Marquis Mansion will naturally have nothing to do with him.

Moreover, this ambush will allow her to kill someone with a borrowed knife one day.

Aunt Mei claimed to be ill and did not show up. Later, someone reported that Shen Shaoheng was secretly meeting with Aunt Mei. She then arranged for Mother Wei to lure Liu Yue to discover the affair.

Shen Shaoheng and Aunt Mei would definitely kill Liu Yue, while Mother Wei would wait in the dark. After Shen Shaoheng succeeded, she would "accidentally" catch him killing someone and expose their affair.

Kill two birds with one stone.

Unexpectedly, it was Mother Wei who died.

Mrs. Shen was so angry that her liver hurt, but she had to nod and agree to let the housekeeper go over.

The housekeeper hurried to the fake cave on the other side of the river and soon returned with a wine jar and a purse. "Madam, there's a red letter embroidered on the purse."

Wei's mother's name is Wei Hong.

Madam Shen stared at the purse intently and didn't say anything for a long time.

"Mother, how about we ask the official to come over and have the coroner investigate to see if Mother Wei died of drunkenness or drowning? She is an elder by your side and behaves in a very orderly manner. I don't believe she would be lazy and steal wine behind your back." Shen Qingtan glanced at Shen Mingzhu and said softly, "Mother Wei was murdered. My second sister is very sad. If the real culprit is not found, I am afraid it will affect our relationship."

"Tan'er, there's no need to report this to the authorities. Mother believes your eldest brother's words. It was Mother Wei who fell into the water while drunk and drowned. She stole some wine behind my back, perhaps because she was upset." Madam Shen's face was pale and haggard, as if she didn't want to dwell on this matter any further. "If we report this to the authorities, not only will it make our mansion a laughingstock for outsiders, but it will also tarnish your reputation. No matter how important Mother Wei is to me, she can't compare to you."

"Mother……"

"You don't have to say anything more, Mother Wei...it's all her own fault." Mrs. Shen was filled with resentment, but she had to endure it. She ordered the housekeeper, "Buy a thin coffin and bury Mother Wei."

"Yes," the butler agreed, then asked, "Everyone who came to Wanfeng Pavilion today is waiting outside the pavilion. Do you want to interrogate them further?"

Madam Shen followed the housekeeper's gaze and saw seven or eight servants standing there sweeping the floor. None of them were familiar faces. "The truth has been revealed. Let them all go."

"Yes." The butler accepted the order.

Madam Shen looked around at everyone and said sternly, "Not a single word of what happened today can be spread. If anyone is heard gossiping about it, they will be severely punished!"

Everyone fell silent.

The steward dismissed everyone.

Mrs. Shen asked Lu Yin, who was beside her, to see Mother Wei off.

But after a while, the people in Wanfeng Pavilion dispersed, leaving only Madam Shen, Shen Qingtan, Shen Mingzhu, Aunt Liu, Aunt Hu, Shen Shaoheng and others.

Shen Shaoheng looked at the place where Wei's mother had been lying, his eyes filled with gloom.

Today, he was tempted by Shen Qingtan, so he sent a message to Aunt Mei and asked her to meet him secretly in the cave in Wanfengting.

Unexpectedly, when they were halfway through the matter, they heard someone coming over, as if they had discovered their affair, and ran away in a loud voice.

He saw a piece of green cloth skirt through the gap, hurriedly chased out, picked up the purse, and then saw Mother Wei's sneaky figure sticking to the rockery, wearing the green cloth skirt.

He immediately ordered his servant to capture the person, poured a pot of strong liquor into her mouth, and pushed her into the pond to silence her.

He didn't think much about it at the time, but the frightened Aunt Mei reminded him: "Master, you and I are not present today, I'm afraid the lady is targeting us.

The eldest master died early, and the title fell on the current Marquis. I heard that when you grow up, you will be appointed as the Crown Prince.

Now you are twenty-two years old, and the Marquis has not yet asked for a title for you. I am afraid he has changed his mind.

If they find out what happened between us, the old lady will not be able to protect you, and I will be dead."

Shen Shaoheng didn't believe it, and retorted at the time: "I rarely go to these banquets once in ten times, so how could Second Aunt suspect that we have an affair?"

"What if my marriage to the mansion was arranged by Madam?" Mei's eyes were filled with tears. "I was just a prostitute in a brothel. The Marquis only met me once and took me in. If he said he loved me, I haven't seen him come to my courtyard many times. I've seen too many men to know at first sight that the Marquis is not a man who values women." She said fearfully, "Master, if you want to take me in as a concubine, you only need to ask around and you'll know who you care about."

Shen Shaoheng was no fool. After hearing what Mei Yi Niang said, she guessed most of the situation. Mrs. Shen knew that he was obsessed with Mei Yi Niang, so she took him into the house to lure him into making mistakes and then get rid of him.

Mother Wei is stalking at Wanfengting, probably to find something to hold against us.

Shen Shaoheng was not interested in the title, but since Madam Shen had harmed him like this, he wanted to fulfill her wish and fight for it.

"Second Aunt, you have to control the people around you, otherwise who knows who will die inexplicably next time."

Shen Shaoheng threw down these words, put his hands behind his back, and walked away swaggeringly.

Madam Shen was so angry that her face turned blue. She took a deep breath and suppressed the strong hatred in her heart.

"Mother, blame me for teaching Mother Wei a lesson..." Before Shen Qingtan finished speaking, she was interrupted by Madam Shen: "Tan'er, you don't have to blame yourself. The fault is not yours. Today, mother and Zhu'er misunderstood you and hurt your heart."

"Mother, I don't blame you." Shen Qingtan's eyes flashed with tears, and he said sadly: "It's just... you don't trust me, and I feel very sad."

"Mother apologizes to you. This matter is my fault. It was really the incident with Mother Wei that hit me so hard that I lost my mind and judgment." Mrs. Shen personally picked up the box that Lu Yin had placed on the ground. "You remember that Mother loves to eat Emerald Bean Cake, but she has suffered great injustice at your hands. Whatever you want, Mother will make it up to you."

She knew that Shen Qingtan was soft-hearted and attached great importance to filial piety, so she would not ask for any compensation.

"I dare not let my mother down." Shen Qingtan pursed her lips, looking as if she was being forced but couldn't refuse. "I want the pawnshop on Shunan Street."