Chapter 32 We're all family
Let the officials search; the Song family has lost face big time, and my husband might even be impeached.
She shouldn't allow it; they said they searched the servants' quarters, so she has no reason to refuse.
Lady Zhang opened her mouth again and again, but couldn't utter a single word to refute Lord Wei.
Just as they were caught in a dilemma, Lord Wei sneered and slammed the gavel down heavily.
"Do you really think this Bianjing Prefecture government office is a playground for child's play? You think you can just say who's corrupt?"
"In my official duties, evidence is paramount. Do you understand?"
Lord Wei stood up, his handsome face flushed with anger, and pointed at Madam Qian kneeling below.
"Do you even know what evidence is? You think a confession alone is enough to close the case? Bullshit!"
We must find the stolen money. Qian, if we search the Song family's house and still can't find it, then your whole family has squandered the stolen money.
The imperial court decreed that anyone who embezzled more than two thousand taels of silver would be exiled, and those who embezzled five thousand taels would be beaten to death on the spot.
"You slaves have deceived your master, and the amount of silver involved is as high as ten thousand taels. Your entire family must be beaten to death today!"
Mrs. Qian turned ashen-faced and nearly fainted.
If no money is found, her children will all die, but the money has all been handed over to Madam Zhang.
Where can I find silver?
Mrs. Qian was trembling all over, and her teeth were chattering.
Either way, her whole family is going to die, so why should she be the one to take the blame and die?
He steeled himself, stood up, pointed at Zhang, and shouted, "It was her! She used my daughter to threaten me, and that's why I confessed!"
The money was given to her, and she kept it in the bottom shelf of her bedside table, in a box made of rosewood.
"If you don't believe me, sir, you can lead your troops to search."
Zhang's expression changed drastically.
Li Nanke's eyes sparkled.
Lord Wei gave a light snort, "In that case, let's send someone to search the Song family's residence..."
Just then, a slightly urgent voice sounded from outside.
"No need to search anymore, the money has been found."
Song Hui hurried in, carrying a small, delicate rosewood box.
"Hui'er".
When Madam Zhang saw the box, her expression changed slightly, and she stepped forward to take Song Hui's hand.
Song Huiwei shook her head at her, then curtsied to Lord Wei.
"Madam Zhao Song pays her respects to Lord Wei. My husband is Zhao Hong, a supervising censor of the Censorate, and this Madam Zhang is my mother."
Lord Wei leaned back slightly, his eyebrows raised, and a hint of interest flashed in his eyes.
Tsk.
"Madam Zhao has barged into the yamen and interrupted my investigation. I wonder why?"
Song Hui looked apologetic and bowed again.
"It was my fault for acting improperly. I was anxious when I heard that my elder sister and mother were involved, so I rushed in."
Earlier, while I was outside, I had already heard the general outline of the case and sent a servant to the Song family, where they found this wooden box.
She handed the box over.
Lord Wei opened it and took a look.
There were exactly ten thousand taels of silver notes inside.
Song Hui continued, "I have something else to say in defense of my mother. I have personally witnessed Qian Mama giving money to my mother."
Madam Qian only said that her older sister had sent her to deliver it, without mentioning what kind of shop's profits it was from.
Therefore, my mother always thought that the money was a gift from my elder sister, and she did not know that it was the profit from her dowry shop.
It must have been that Aunt Qian relayed the wrong message, causing a misunderstanding. Please, sir, understand the situation clearly.
Song Hui spoke calmly and confidently, without rushing.
After saying that, he glanced at Madam Zhang again.
"Mother, why did you get so scared as soon as you entered the government office that you forgot to mention the details?"
Once Zhang realized what was happening, she nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, yes, I was so scared I was confused. This old man never mentioned that the profits came from Song Yi's dowry shop."
I only accepted it because I said it was a gift from Song Yi. Just now, the master mentioned the shop was short of money, but I hadn't thought about it at the time.
As she spoke, she looked at Song Yi with a frustrated expression.
“Yiyi, trust your mother. If your mother knew that this money came from your shop, she would never accept a single penny.”
Song Yi pursed her lips and remained silent.
Zhang looked embarrassed and then scolded Qian Mama again.
"It's all that despicable old hag's fault. If she hadn't been so rude, this misunderstanding wouldn't have happened."
Look, now that we've gotten the money back, we're still family. Let's not hold a grudge anymore, okay?
She gritted her teeth and humbled herself to beg Song Yi.
Song Yi subconsciously looked at Li Nanke.
Although she had realized that Zhang was not sincere towards her, she was not good at dealing with this kind of situation and was at a loss for words.
Li Nanke looked up at her, blinking her eyes, but the words she uttered were enough to infuriate anyone.
"Mother, so Grandmother took so much money from you. We can't even come up with five thousand taels of silver to save Father."
We're all family, how come there's such a big difference?
"Oh, I see. Grandmother only likes to receive our money, not to give us money to help us."
Zhang was so angry that her vision blurred, and she wished she could go up and pinch Li Nanke hard a couple of times.
That brat, she's so young, but her little mouth can really chatter away.
But she couldn't lay a hand on Li Nanke in front of Lord Wei, so she could only curse him in her heart.
“You silly girl, your grandmother never said she wouldn’t help you.”
"That's right, my grandmother was even planning to lend us money, using our own money to lend to us."
Li Nanke drawled out the word "borrow" and emphasized it heavily.
Zhang was so embarrassed that she gritted her teeth in anger.
Song Hui's eyes flickered slightly as she stepped forward to support Zhang Shi and smiled as she pinched Li Nanke's cheek.
Li Nanke took a step back, looking crestfallen.
She didn't like her aunt pinching her cheeks.
Song Hui's hand froze in mid-air, then she casually withdrew it.
"You silly child, your grandmother is just joking with you. We're all family, how could she not care about you?"
"Well then, saving my brother-in-law is the priority. I'll send someone to get another two thousand taels of silver in a bit. Mother, where are you..."
She winked at Zhang.
Madam Zhang gritted her teeth and said, "We'll also send two thousand taels of silver from home."
Song Hui nodded, "Consider it a favor from the family. Sister, please don't dwell on this. We're all family."
You see, your family will help you if something happens. Sister, don't dwell on it; it only upsets the family.
Song Yi was so angry that her lips turned white.
Now they keep calling each other family, but when they conspired with Qian's mother to scheme against her and fool her, why didn't they think of each other as family?
She opened her mouth to refute, but tears started flowing as soon as she opened her mouth.
Li Nanke gripped her hand tightly and said with a grin, "Thank you, Grandmother and Aunt. Is this money a loan to us?"
Song Hui's face stiffened.
"It's not a loan, it's a help. It's only right for family members to help each other."
"Oh, then go get it. We need it urgently. We're all family, so please don't stand on ceremony with Grandmother and Aunt, Mother."
Li Nanke stretched out her small hand.
Madam Zhang...
Song Hye...
How can that brat speak so confidently?
Li Nanke turned around, and Grape looked at Lord Wei with pleading eyes.
"Sir, we are in a hurry to go to the Censorate to pay the fine. Could you please give us the silver notes first?"
Lord Wei was amused by her expectant look and nodded.
"nature."
Li Nanke immediately ran over, stood on tiptoe, and stretched out her two little hands, looking like she wanted the silver notes to come to her.
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