Qiao Lian'er, this name popped into Consort Han's mind.
For some reason, the thought of that name sent chills down her spine.
It was as if her actions were being watched by an unseen eye.
Consort Han thought it was impossible. Since she had been preparing to implement this plan, not a word of it had leaked out. Her maid, Zhou, would not betray her, and the Loyalty Bureau would not do something that would ruin its own livelihood.
Moreover, she had never met Qiao Lian'er, so no matter how clever Qiao Lian'er was, she couldn't find a single clue.
So, what exactly happened?
So she asked, word by word, "That box was really stolen. Can you guarantee that it has nothing to do with your Loyalty Bureau?"
"I guarantee with my life, and with the reputation and future of the entire Loyalty Bureau, that if the Loyalty Bureau deceives its employer, it's only a matter of time before it closes down." Liu Shang's tone was calm, but it brooked no argument.
“I assure you, I did not steal the reward money. It’s not that I can’t afford it, but without those banknotes, you won’t do your job properly and won’t be able to achieve my goal. Why should I make things difficult for myself?”
From the moment the other party entered until now, Liu Shang has been observing their words and actions.
At that moment, he and the butler exchanged a quick glance.
The other party initially confronted them with accusations, but now they've made this assurance, suggesting they genuinely feel anger and confusion, rather than acting.
The housekeeper, in particular, is now even more convinced that the box was not stolen by the employer.
“If it was indeed done by someone else, there are very few people in the capital who can take something out of the sight of the Loyalty Bureau in such a short time and then disappear without a trace.” Liu Shang said, “We will investigate thoroughly. Please go back and wait for news.”
"The reward has already been given to you, and you accepted it in person, yet it's been lost here. Whether you can find out who stole it or not is irrelevant; I need you to carry out the mission immediately." Seeing that the other party had relented, Consort Han began to press on relentlessly.
Liu Shang seemed to have anticipated the other party's reaction, and said in a calm tone, "You've heard too quickly, sir. I was just saying 'if,' and I'm not ruling out other possibilities."
"Besides, with the bounty stolen, the brothers won't have the strength to work, so the outcome probably won't be satisfactory."
Consort Han choked, unsure whether the other party genuinely didn't believe her or was using this as an excuse to avoid carrying out the mission after losing the reward.
She said coldly, "If I pay so many silver notes and the person who stole the reward money is never found, does that mean it's worthless?"
"If you have money, you can work; if you don't have money, you can't do your work. This is an ancient principle. I'm sorry."
Consort Han was so angry she wanted to grind her teeth to dust, but she knew that continuing to argue would only lead her back into a vicious cycle.
"I don't want to wait any longer. Here's the same quantity for you. Get to work right away."
Qiao Lian'er was standing by the window, teasing a lark in a cage. The lark seemed to sense her presence and hopped around happily inside.
Upon hearing this, she paused in her movements.
Liu Shang was somewhat surprised: "Does Your Excellency not regret the stolen reward money at all?"
“I’ve said it before, it’s not that I can’t afford it.”
How could Consort Han not feel the pinch? Five million taels was no small sum. Even though her family was a prominent clan and one of the wealthiest in the country, she still had to think carefully before taking out such a large amount.
Originally, they intended to use the large bounty to kill Qiao Lian'er in one fell swoop, but unexpectedly, such a mess has arisen.
In order to resolve the issue with Qiao Lian'er as soon as possible, she had no choice but to reluctantly produce another copy.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
