Chapter 467: Once words are spoken, they can be taken away. If it doesn’t work, you’ll be killed!
Liu Ailian smiled and said:
"My Lord, Your Highness, the servants and stewards in our Duke's Mansion were indeed transferred back from Linhai by the Duke."
"They are all from Kyoto, and all have family members who are either mobility-impaired, elderly, or bedridden and need care."
"The Duke felt sorry for them and sent them back to Kyoto. Fearing they wouldn't be able to find suitable work in Kyoto, he arranged for them to stay at the Duke's Mansion, where he would provide them with a monthly salary."
"Mother and everyone in the mansion don't know the true identities of these people. They just think that the Marquis has recruited them from somewhere else."
"They have all been released from the military and are now considered slaves. My Lord and the Prince can go to the Ministry of Revenue to check their true identities."
Shen Zhao and Pang Qingyun's expressions darkened at the same time. This Chen Dingtian had a very deep plan.
Shen Zhao looked at Liu Ailian with a scrutinizing look. This Madam Chen was not as gentle as she appeared to be.
From Pang Qingyun's inner thoughts, Shen Zhao learned that Liu Ailian was not the right person to marry in the eyes of Pang Qingyun and Madam Pang, and her life was not going smoothly.
In Mrs. Chen's opinion, this marriage was planned by Liu Ailian herself, and judging from Mrs. Chen's recollections.
Liu Ailian is not simple, she is even quite scheming, not to mention that she has fooled Chen Dingtian and Old Madam Chen around.
While Chen Dingtian still had Madam Pang in his heart, she gave birth to a son and a daughter with Chen Dingtian.
Or maybe she knew that Chen Dingtian had someone in his heart, and this kind of mentality is beyond the reach of ordinary people.
Shen Zhao had to take it seriously. Her intuition told her that Mrs. Pang’s disappearance must be related to Liu Ailian in front of her.
After Liu Ailian finished explaining everything, she still smiled and said:
"Now that all the misunderstandings have been explained, could you please, Your Majesty, release the steward and servants of my mansion?"
"But the prince and the adults must have believed some bad rumors, so they came to my Chen family with great fanfare to question me."
"This man can't be released!" Shen Zhao stood up directly.
"It's certainly good that Duke Chen is kind-hearted and doing good, but there are conditions for soldiers to leave the army, and they need the permission of the emperor."
Liu Ailian remained calm and said:
"Your Highness, you're joking. If the Duke has to report even such a small matter to His Majesty, then he's deliberately adding to His Majesty's official duties."
"As the commander-in-chief, don't you even have the right to ask a few people to leave the army? May I ask if the prince also has this right in the capital camp?"
Liu Ailian was not afraid of Shen Zhao. She had heard of him from Chen Dingtian more than once.
Although he is dull and doesn't understand the ways of the world, he is very upright and abides by his own rules.
Of course, when dealing with Prince Zhong, one must do what is best for him and follow the rules. Isn't that what he likes the most?
"The few people Madam Chen mentioned are actually hundreds of strong and elite soldiers in their prime. I don't have the power to secretly convert the best soldiers from the capital camp into guards for my palace. This is no different from snatching people from His Majesty."
"Madam Chen, I have always valued rules. I never judge people by their actions. No matter who makes a mistake, I treat them all equally."
"I will definitely take these people away, and I will also search the Duke of Chen's mansion."
Liu Ailian wanted to use rules to deal with her, so she would fight back with rules.
The Chen family, who had always asked Liu Ailian, a woman, to stand up and face her and Pang Qingyun, heard that Shen Zhao was going to search the Chen Guogong Mansion.
One by one they stood up and strongly opposed it.
"The prince has been taken into custody by you, so you can just take him away. Why are you searching the Duke Chen's mansion? My Chen family will not allow anyone to bully us."
"Your Highness, what kind of heinous crime did our Chen family commit that caused Your Highness and Lord Pang to come and confiscate our property?"
"If it is only because of my master's kindness that I allow you to take him away and do whatever you want with him, what excuse do you have to search the mansion?"
The palace must not allow Prince Zhong and Grand Tutor Pang to search the land.
Over the years, the Chen family has accepted a lot of bribes under the reputation of Dingtian. The masters of the mansion, no matter which courtyard they belong to, have many rare objects of unknown origin.
Once investigated, it will definitely be revealed that the Chen family secretly used backdoors for those people and covered up their dirty deeds.
The more intense the Chen family’s reaction is, the bigger the conspiracy, the more secretive it is, and the greater the guilt.
Listening to their respective thoughts, Shen Zhao sneered in his heart.
Without a legitimate reason to search the Duke Chen's Mansion, how could she have an excuse to go to Old Madam Chen's yard to find the entrance to the underground palace and rescue Madam Pang?
"It seems that you have misunderstood me. I came to Duke Chen's mansion today not to investigate Duke Chen's private military operations. I just happened to come across this incident."
"I have come here because I have received accurate information that the attack that occurred in the Jingzhong Camp this morning is related to the Duke of Chen's Mansion. All evidence points to the Duke of Chen's Mansion."
"I am here to search under the orders of His Majesty. You have all heard that my camp in the capital has suffered heavy casualties. As long as there is even the slightest clue, I will investigate thoroughly and avenge the tragic deaths of my soldiers."
"Anyone who dares to stop me will be regarded as a traitor and executed on the spot!"
As soon as Shen Zhao said this, the Chen family immediately exploded.
"How dare you, Chu! My eldest brother is the commander-in-chief of the Linhai Navy, personally appointed Duke by the Emperor. He has made great military achievements and defended his country, earning him the respect of the people. You are hurting us like this, aren't you afraid that the spit of the world will drown you!"
"Your Highness, I have heard from the people in the palace about what happened in the camp in the capital. I am deeply saddened because my son, like you, is also a commander and a soldier. But Your Highness, you cannot impose your pain on us innocent people."
"Forgive me for not allowing Your Highness to search the Duke's Mansion. If Your Highness wants to search, you can just step over my corpse!"
Old Madam Chen stood up suddenly, with a heroic look on her face, as if she would rather die than live in disgrace.
We must not let these people search the mansion. Not only will it be a matter of them accepting bribes, but it will also affect the reputation of the Chen Guogong Mansion and Dingtian.
If this gets out, how will Duke Chen's Mansion and Dingtian survive in Nanchu?
Doesn't that mean anyone can step on them?
Old Madam Chen was not worried that Madam Pang, who was hiding in the underground palace, would be discovered.
I'm not worried at all that these people can find the underground palace.
Even though Prince Zhong's words were harsh, she didn't believe that he would really dare to kill her.
I would like to take this opportunity to ease the mother-son relationship with Dingtian.
For more than twenty years, Dingtian has never forgiven her.
Chen Zhao's lips curled slightly, as if he wanted to use her to mend the mother-son relationship between them.
Don't even think about it.
"I never regret what I say. Once I say something, it's as good as spilled water. Since the old lady insists on defending those traitors, I have no choice but to kill the monkey to pay tribute to the chicken."
Pang Qingyun, who was standing by, said, "Shouldn't we kill the chicken to scare the monkey?"
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