Chapter 56 Shen Chu is caught red-handed by Pei Yuan

When Shen Chu saw that Aunt Qiao seemed a little dazed for a moment, she couldn't help but clench her hands.

My aunt won't agree, will she?

Aunt Qiao looked at the gentle and refined Marquis Changning in front of her, slowly lowered her head, and withdrew her hand.

"I had already planned to give all these shops to A-Chu in the future. He's right, even if we lose money, it will still belong to the Qiao family."

Losing a few shops to learn some experience, I think it's worth it.

The smile on Marquis Changning's face cracked.

Worthless! The Hua family's money is being used to give this rebellious son, Shen Chu, experience?

Aunt Qiao bowed slightly, "I am not feeling well, so I will take my leave now."

"Auntie, let me see you off."

Chen Chu helped Aunt Qiao up and turned to look at Old Madam Shen.

"Grandmother, if you want to file a complaint, then go ahead. If I'm dismissed from my post today, I'll go stake out the shop tomorrow. If I lose everything, I'll have no choice but to come back and rely on the Marquis's mansion for support."

After saying that, he helped Aunt Qiao leave.

Madam Shen was so angry she nearly fell backward, "You wretched child!"

She glared fiercely at Marquis Changning, "Are you just going to let them go like that? The family accounts are almost empty. Are you really going to let this wretched child lose all the money in the shop?"

Marquis Changning was still reeling from the blow of Aunt Qiao's rebuttal and stared blankly at Old Madam Shen.

Enraged, Old Madam Shen smacked him with her cane, saying, "You can manage this household yourself; I can't manage it anymore."

After saying that, he angrily walked away, leaning on his cane.

He immediately sent the account book and the matching tokens to the Marquis of Changning.

Marquis Changning flipped through the account book, where little silver remained, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

The family's food, clothing, and daily necessities were noticeably worse than before, which he found very difficult to adjust to.

It must be that rebellious son, Shen Chu, who bewitched the Qiao family. In the past, if he coaxed her a little, the Qiao family would willingly give him a lot of money to spend.

The unfilial son had only been back for a short time, and Qiao was already unwilling to spend money on him.

They even said they would leave all the money and the shop to Chen Chu, how can that be?

Marquis Changning stroked the pair of cards, silently making plans in his mind.

When Chen Chu returned to the courtyard, she praised, "Auntie did a very good job today."

Aunt Qiao sighed, "In the past, the Marquis always said that it was not easy for the old lady to raise him, and asked me to do more filial piety on his behalf. I always tolerated it and tolerated it again and again."

I finally understand. All these years, my money has been wasted; it's only made them more greedy.

Sure enough, as long as Aunt Qiao stopped being so obsessed with the Marquis of Changning, her mind would become much more rational.

Shen Chu said, "I sold the estate and land, and the money has been temporarily deposited. In addition, the shops did not lose money. I had the eight managers make false accounts, so Auntie doesn't need to worry."

Aunt Qiao smiled and said, "I'm not worried. My Ah Chu is so smart, how could she let the shop lose money?"

I lost my composure for a moment because I was worried that the old lady might harm you.

My aunt only has you and the Marquis as her two relatives left in the world. The Marquis...

Sigh, let's not talk about this anymore. Anyway, Auntie's money will only be used to support A-Chu from now on.

When Shen Chu saw her mention Marquis Changning, her expression remained melancholy.

"You still can't let go of the Marquis?"

Aunt Qiao smiled bitterly, "How can I let go? We have so many beautiful and sweet memories together, and besides, he is your father."

Her eyes were a little red.

Shen Chu held her hand and said softly, "How about I take Auntie out for a walk to clear her head?"

Aunt Qiao shook her head, "We'll be able to confirm whether you're pregnant in another half month. If not, I'll go out for a walk to clear my head."

Shen Chu paused slightly, feeling that Aunt Qiao was being a bit of an overreaction.

She showed no signs of illness, so she definitely couldn't be pregnant.

Even so, upon returning from Aunt Qiao's courtyard, she still instructed Hongxiu, "Implement Plan Two as soon as possible and retrieve the purse."

Once she gets her purse back, there will be no more entanglement between her and Pei Yuan.

Hongxiu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I just went out for a walk and everything's been arranged. I should be able to get it back in three days at most."

Shen Chu smiled, "I'll leave this to you."

Two days later, as soon as Pei Yuan returned to the manor, Jin Bao came to report, "There is a maid named Xia in Your Highness's courtyard who has been acting strangely these past two days."

She seemed to be looking for an opportunity to try and enter His Highness's bedroom.

Pei Yuan frowned. "Was it someone planted by the Crown Prince or Prince Heng?"

After the maidservant attempted to assassinate Xie Qingqiu in her residence, he took the opportunity to clean up the entire residence, removing all the spies planted by the Crown Prince and Prince Heng.

Jinbao shook his head. "I'm not sure, Your Highness. Should we arrest her and have Sun Yan interrogate her?"

Pei Yuan closed his eyes and thought for a moment, "No need for now, go and investigate her background."

Jinbao found out Xia's background in less than half a day.

"She was only bought into the family last year. She has only an ailing mother and a younger brother who is seriously ill."

She used all her monthly allowance to buy medicine for her mother and younger brother, as the doctor said they wouldn't survive the winter.

Who knew that her mother was suddenly able to get out of bed again yesterday, and her brother's illness also seemed to be improving. Strangely, no one saw her go home to call a doctor.

The servant suspects that someone must have bribed her with drugs.

Pei Yuan instructed: "Leave her an opening, and see what she wants to do once she enters the bedroom."

The next day, Jinbao deliberately dismissed the servants in the courtyard.

The maid named Xia took the opportunity to sneak into Pei Yuan's bedroom.

She came out in a short while.

Sun Yan, who had been lying in ambush outside, pressed Xia's pressure point to put her to sleep. After searching her body, he only found a half-new, half-old purse.

"Your Highness."

Pei Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the purse that Sun Yan had found.

Isn't this the purse left by the person he spent that night at Jingguo Temple?

He couldn't help but recall that the people who broke in that night had also rummaged through a lot of things; their real purpose was to find this purse.

"Sun Yan, go and make the arrangements..."

Half an hour later, Xia woke up, rubbing her sore neck, wondering why she had suddenly fainted.

It must be because I've been too tired from taking care of my mother and younger brother these days.

Xia glanced at it and saw that the purse was still on her, so she breathed a long sigh of relief.

She looked around and, seeing no one, quickly got up and went out through the side gate.

She was unaware that someone was watching her from behind.

"Your Highness, Xia went into Yihuchun Tea House, left her purse in private room number two, and then came out again."

My subordinates have investigated and found that Xia Xia had visited Yihu Chun two days before her mother and younger brother suddenly recovered.

Coincidentally, Lord Shen's maid had also been here before.

Pei Yuan stroked his chin and smiled knowingly.

"Chen Chu? Interesting, let's go take a look."

The second floor of Tianranju, opposite Yihuchun Tea House.

Pei Yuan sat by the window, and from this angle, he could clearly see the person entering the Yihuchun tea shop across the street.

Time passed slowly, and Yihuchun Restaurant was always packed with customers, but the person they wanted to see was nowhere to be found.

Sun Yan slipped in and whispered his report:

"Your Highness, it's past noon. No one has entered private room number two, and the purse has remained there the whole time."

Pei Yuan frowned, suddenly sat up straight, and looked down.

Sun Yan followed his gaze and saw a young man wearing a bamboo hat and a blue robe appear at the entrance of Yihuchun.

"It is Lord Shen."

Pei Yuan revealed a playful smile. "Let's go down and meet Lord Shen."