Chapter 216 Enraged, Aunt Qiao Wants to Be Honest

"I heard that the Crown Prince summoned you to the Eastern Palace yesterday and even bestowed upon you two beautiful maids to serve you."

How dare you be so ungrateful! Not only did you refuse the beautiful maidservants' service, but you also mocked them and played tricks on the Crown Prince!

Marquis Changning looked at Shen Chu with a displeased expression.

Shen Chu rubbed her fingers together, finally managing to resist the urge, and placed the scallion oil chicken on the table.

Then I opened the oil paper package, tore off a chicken leg, and sat down opposite them to enjoy it.

I must say, the chicken was smooth and tender, with a fresh and mellow aroma, and the fragrance of scallions filled the air.

I got drunk at Qinghe Imperial Palace last night and didn't eat much.

I rushed back early this morning, and my stomach was growling with hunger.

Marquis Changning was so angered by his attitude that he couldn't help but slam his fist on the table.

"Chen Chu, I'm talking to you."

Chen Chu finished a chicken leg in the blink of an eye, still wanting more.

He tore off another chicken leg before looking up and asking, "Hmm? What did Father just say?"

Marquis Changning's face turned ashen. "I'm talking to you about the Eastern Palace. That's the Crown Prince. For him to bestow a beautiful maid upon you is to give you face and show that he thinks highly of you."

So many people would love this opportunity but wouldn't have it. And you, you just watched as your chance to curry favor with the Crown Prince slipped away.

Shen Chu raised an eyebrow. "Father wants this kind of face? Why don't I go to the Crown Prince and ask him to reward you with two beautiful maids as well?"

"You scoundrel, stop with your nonsense. I heard you arrested Feng Guojiu in Changsha this time?"

Who is Feng Guojiu? He is the Empress's own brother and the Crown Prince's maternal uncle.

How dare you arrest Feng Guojiu?

Marquis Changning was furious and spoke in rapid succession:

"What good will offending the Crown Prince do for you, for our family, and for your career?"

Are you brain-dead? You can't even do such a simple calculation? With a brain like that, how are you going to survive in the government?

"You brought this on yourself, can you please not drag our whole family down with you?"

Shen Chu slowly swallowed the chicken in her mouth, then took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the grease off her hands before saying:

"We've already offended them, Father, what do you suggest we do?"

Marquis Changning narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly sat down opposite him, and changed his tone of voice.

"If you realize your mistake, it's not too late to apologize to the Crown Prince now."

"Father, please tell me how you intend to admit your mistake?"

Marquis Changning sat up straight and said, "I heard that this time the Changsha salt administration case has also implicated the case of Marquis Ning'an's mansion."

You even submitted a memorial requesting His Majesty to reinvestigate the case of the Marquis of Ning'an's residence?

Shen Chu was somewhat surprised, "I didn't expect my father to be so well-informed."

Marquis Changning's eyes flickered slightly.

"The case of the Marquis of Ning'an's residence is ten years old. Why are you investigating it for no reason?"

Listen to me, quietly hand over the relevant witnesses and physical evidence to the Feng family for disposal. In this way, we will have done the Feng family and the Crown Prince a great favor.

The Feng family and the Crown Prince will definitely not treat you unfairly in the future.

Shen Chu looked at Marquis Changning, seemingly lost in thought.

The memorial he wrote at the Qinghe Imperial Palace yesterday was already being reported by the Marquis of Changning today.

Marquis Changning has been idle at home for more than two months, so it's impossible for him to be so well-informed about news from the court.

"What benefits did the Feng family promise my father?"

Marquis Changning's face darkened. "What benefits or not? I'm doing all this for you, for your future."

It is also for the future of our Changning Marquis's mansion.

"If I insist on not handing over the witnesses, what about the physical evidence?"

Marquis Changning was furious. "You worthless wretch! I've been explaining things to you for so long, and you haven't listened to a thing?"

Shen Chu quietly looked at Marquis Changning and slowly sat up straight.

"Since Father heard about this matter, haven't you shown any concern for the case of the Marquis of Ning'an's residence? Haven't you considered that they might be innocent?"

Marquis Changning scoffed, somewhat dismissive.

"So what if I'm innocent? Ten years have passed, and everyone in the Ning'an Marquis's mansion is dead."

The grass on those people's graves is so thick it could bury them, who would care whether they were innocent or not?

Believe it or not, even if they are innocent, even if you can exonerate them, how many people will care?

"Hmph, not even the scandalous affairs of the top courtesan in the capital would attract as much attention."

Shen Chu stared intently at him.

"Whether others care or not is not important, but don't you care about your father either?"

The Changning Marquis's Mansion and the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion are from the same clan, they are related by blood.

I heard that my father used to visit the Ning'an Marquis's residence often when he was young, and that he was even personally taught by the Ning'an Marquis when he started his education.

Later, you studied at the Ning'an Marquis's residence for several years. They were strangers to others, but not to you.

"When Father wakes up in the middle of the night, aren't you afraid they'll come looking for you in your dreams?"

Startled by her barrage of questions, Marquis Changning jumped up and swung a small table at Chen Chu.

"You little bastard, how dare you talk to me like that? Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

Chen Chu tilted his head slightly, easily dodging the small table made of rosewood.

The small table landed on the ground behind him with a loud thud.

Marquis Changning pointed at Shen Chu and cursed, "The case of the Ning'an Marquis's Mansion's treason was jointly tried by the three judicial departments. The evidence is conclusive, and His Majesty personally issued an order to handle it."

So what if our family and the Ning'an Marquis's family are from the same clan? We haven't enjoyed many benefits; in fact, we were almost implicated by them.

Do you know how much fright your grandmother and I suffered back then, and how much effort we put in to prevent our family from being implicated?

Now you've gone so far as to have the audacity to think of helping the Marquis of Ning'an's mansion overturn the verdict?

Even if the Marquis of Ning'an's family is innocent, so what? Everyone's dead anyway; who cares whether they're traitors or not?

Shen Chu was so angry that her eyes turned red.

When she was a child, she met the Marquis of Changning several times when she accompanied her father back to the capital to report on his duties.

At that time, the Marquis of Changning did not have a proper job and often went to the Marquis of Ning'an's residence to pay his respects.

His grandfather gave him earnest advice, cared about his daily life and job arrangements, and even wanted to arrange for him to go to Liangzhou to work with his father.

She stared intently at Marquis Changning and said, word by word:

"But I care, and so do all those in the world who pursue fairness and justice."

"Stop talking to me about fairness and justice. There's no such thing as true fairness and justice in this world."

Marquis Changning slammed his fist on the table and roared, "You must hand over the witnesses and physical evidence to me today, and then I will personally take them to the Feng family to apologize."

Shen Chu gave him a cold glance, then turned and left.

Marquis Changning was so angry he nearly fell over, roaring, "Guards! Seize the eldest son and punish him according to family law!"

A group of guards surrounded Shen Chu in the courtyard.

Shen Chu clenched her fist. "Just the few of them?"

Marquis Changning stood under the corridor, coldly watching her.

"Don't expect that maid named Hongxiu to save you today."

Since I dared to summon you, I must have already led Hongxiu away.

"If you are willing to listen to me today, then so be it. If you are not, then don't blame me for being heartless as your father."

I'll hit you first, and then I'll personally take you to apologize to the Feng family.

Shen Chu raised an eyebrow.

Hongxiu has been lured away?

It seems I'll have to solve this myself.

At this moment, Aunt Qiao suddenly rushed in from outside the door, crying out, "My lord, no!"

Marquis Changning frowned. "Why are you here?"

Aunt Qiao reached out and stopped Shen Chu, looking at Marquis Changning with a pleading expression.

"Your Excellency cannot use family discipline on A-Chu; she cannot withstand it."

"Ha, if you have the guts to go against me, then you have the guts to bear all the consequences. What are you all standing there for? Grab the young master and beat him up."

The guards rushed over.

Aunt Qiao was so anxious that she kept stamping her feet.

Ah Chu was a girl, and she was pregnant. How could she bear being chased and beaten by the guards, and also being punished by family rules?

The family discipline of the Marquis of Changning was a long whip with barbs, which could tear the skin and flesh with a single lash.

How could Achu possibly endure it? Even if she could, she would be left with scars, and how would she ever get married in the future?

At this point, there's no time to worry about anything else.

Madam Qiao stepped forward and grabbed Marquis Changning's arm. "My lord, I have something important to tell you."