Chapter 41 Bang Bang Bang Kowtowing
Songtao Courtyard is the courtyard where Shen Linhui lived since childhood. The name "Songtao Courtyard" was chosen by Shen Yao in the hope that he would be like a pine tree, standing tall and proud, unafraid of waves.
However, at this moment, Shen Linhui was acting with no decorum whatsoever, sniffling and crying.
He dared not tell Shen Yao that he was a gambler in debt, nor that he had broken into his own house to steal, nor that Wang Meng at the flower-viewing banquet was no different from him.
He fabricated a lie, saying that although he had sent a letter home before, he had actually planned to return to the capital from Yuzhou long ago. However, he was robbed on the way and lost all his money. He had been hungry for a long time and survived on begging and the help of kind people until the day he was to return home.
Chen Qiurong sat in the armchair, listening while wiping away tears with a handkerchief, heartbroken.
Shen Yao paused for a moment. Although he felt it was a bit strange that the man had sent a letter home saying he wouldn't be coming back, but then appeared in Lin'an City, he didn't dwell on it.
The people around them have returned safely and will rest and recuperate at home for the next few days.
"Tell the kitchen to gather some good medicinal herbs these next few days and prepare medicinal cuisine to nourish the young master."
Chen Qiurong wiped away her tears and echoed, "It's good that you're back safe and sound, it's good that you're back safe and sound..."
However, this scene of loving father and mother was soon shattered.
"Brother, are you sure you just arrived in Lin'an City today?"
Shen You, standing to the side, asked in a deep voice, her clear almond-shaped eyes flashing with a hint of coldness as she swept her gaze directly at him.
Shen Linhui paused, then glared at her, his neck stiff. "Of course! Would I lie to Father and Mother?"
"Is that so?" Shen You's voice remained cold as he reached out his hand to Zhao Mama, who was standing beside him.
Zhao Mama understood and immediately took out the drawing paper that she had been carrying in her bosom.
"Then you'd better take a good look and see if you recognize the person in the painting."
As soon as she finished speaking, Shen You lightly flicked her slender wrist, and the drawing paper unfolded.
The painting clearly depicts Shen Linhui wearing a bamboo hat as he went to the Liuli Pavilion to sell stolen goods.
However, it differs from the portrait she drew in the Criminal Investigation Department.
In this painting, Shen You added facial features, making the portrait incredibly lifelike, almost exactly like Shen Linhui.
Shen Linhui froze on the spot, mouth agape, unable to react.
My heart was already in a state of utter panic.
How is that possible?
That day at the Glazed Pavilion, he was bundled up tightly and never made eye contact with Shen You. How did she know it was his?!
Shen Linhui pursed his lips and gripped the hem of his clothes tightly.
impossible.
Absolutely impossible!
"Shen You, what do you mean by this?"
"Although the person in this portrait bears some resemblance to me, I have never worn such clothes. Don't try anything funny!"
Shen Yao and Chen Qiurong, who were standing to the side, were quite surprised.
Shen Yao asked in a deep voice, "Youyou, what do you mean by this?"
Shen You looked at Shen Yao and said, "Father, do you remember the theft that happened in my and Ning'er's courtyard before?"
"I remember, so what?" Shen Yao's gaze darted back and forth between the portrait and Shen Linhui.
Now that things have come to this, he's starting to understand the situation.
Could it be that Shen Linhui has a connection with that thief?
Shen You put away the portrait and said, "That day I went out to Liuli Pavilion and happened to see that thief. After I came back, I drew this portrait."
"Younger brother, why don't you explain why the thief in this portrait looks so much like you?"
She glanced coldly at Shen Linhui, her eyes devoid of any sibling affection.
"You're talking nonsense!"
"How is this possible!"
Two voices rang out almost simultaneously.
Chen Qiurong frowned, her tone firm yet tinged with grievance, "Young lady, even if Hui'er was a little immature when she was young, you can't wrong her like this."
"You're spouting nonsense!"
Unable to contain himself, Shen Linhui rushed over, huffing and puffing, in front of everyone, intending to tear up the portrait.
"Kneel back down!"
With a loud "bang."
Shen Yao slammed his fist on the wooden table and shouted angrily.
Shen Linhui shrugged, unwilling but with no choice but to obediently kneel back down.
"Father, please don't listen to her nonsense!"
“My son has never done anything like this.”
"She...she didn't even see the man's face, didn't even make eye contact, how could she know that man was her son!"
"I......"
“Brother,” Shen You’s voice was firm and resolute, his gaze leaving no room for argument, “I never said I didn’t see that person’s face, so how did you know?”
"Unless you are the thief in the portrait, you wouldn't know so much, would you?"
She spoke the second half of her sentence very lightly, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
Everyone in the room, including Shen Yao and Chen Qiurong, as well as the close attendants standing by, looked at Shen Linhui in disbelief.
Shen Linhui sat on the ground in a daze, only then realizing that he had actually fallen into Shen You's trap.
"Father, Father..."
He snapped out of his daze and immediately crawled to his knees at Shen Yao's feet, pleading, "Father, you must believe me!"
"I just misspoke in a moment of panic. I never did such a thing, really I didn't."
Shen Linhui was completely panicked, his face contorted with grief, fearing that Shen Yao would condemn him the moment he opened his mouth.
Chen Qiurong's face was extremely pale. "My lord... although Hui'er is a bit restless and mischievous, he is not a bad person. How could he do such a thing?"
"Besides, our Shen family is a noble and prestigious family, why would he stoop to such petty theft, especially stealing from our own family..."
"Among these things," she glanced at Chen Yao's expression and said, "could there be some misunderstanding?"
“Yes,” Shen Linhui cried, grabbing Shen Yao’s sleeve. “Father, it must be Shen You…”
He angrily pointed at Shen You, "Shen You must be trying to frame me, Father, you must stand up for me!"
After saying that, he knelt down and kowtowed.
Chen Qiurong felt a pang of heartache watching this, "My lord..."
However, before she could finish speaking, the servant guarding the gate suddenly rushed in recklessly.
"My lord, my lord, something terrible has happened!"
"There are so many people outside..."
Shen Yao's face was frighteningly dark, and Steward Liu immediately scolded the servant, "What are you doing, acting so recklessly!"
What exactly is happening outside?
The servant's shoulders trembled from the drinking, and he stammered, "A lot of people have come outside... they say they're here to collect debts..."
"Debt collection? What's going on?"
The servant's head was almost buried in his chest. "They said that the young master of the Shen family owes money at the gambling den... a lot of money, and he hasn't paid it back, so they came knocking on our door..."
"What?!"
With a loud bang, Chen Yao smashed the cups and saucers on the table to the ground. "You unfilial son!"
"What have you done!"
But Shen Linhui didn't dare to speak at this point and could only cower like a turtle.
He never expected that the creditors who had promised to give him a few more days would come knocking on his door so eagerly today.
Shen Yao was so angry that he was panting heavily. Butler Liu was a perceptive man and immediately led the guards out of the main hall. "My lord, this old servant will go out and take a look first."
Now that things had come to this, Shen Yao understood that what Shen You said was true.
He glared angrily at Shen Linhui, who was kneeling on the ground, and said, "I sent you to school to learn to read and write, and let you wear gold and silver, so that you would know manners and etiquette, so that you could focus on your studies without any worries, and bring glory to my Shen family in the future!"
"You wretched child! You have utterly disgraced my Marquis's mansion!"
Enraged, he kicked Shen Linhui in the shoulder, sending Shen Linhui sprawling to the ground.
"Lord!"
Chen Qiurong immediately knelt down on the ground, blocking Shen Linhui, and begged for mercy while crying, "Hui'er is only fifteen years old, he is still young, please forgive him this time, he must have been deceived, he will definitely not dare to do it again."
After saying that, she turned around and pulled Chen Linhui, "You brat, how could you do such a thing?!"
"Quickly apologize to your father!"
"kowtow!"
Shen Linhui had already kowtowed earlier, and his forehead was still throbbing. Chen Qiurong pressed him down and made him kowtow several more times.
Shen Yao was so angry that his chest heaved as he leaned back in his armchair.
Suddenly, no one spoke in the room except for the sound of Shen Linhui kowtowing.
Shen You stood aside, watching all of this indifferently.
Before long, Butler Liu strode in and whispered, "My lord, everything has been taken care of."
The creditors outside just wanted money. After confirming the IOU, Butler Liu repaid them the full amount of the loan according to the amount stated on the IOU.
The people at the entrance have all left.
Fortunately, it was nearing evening, and there weren't many people on the streets outside.
Otherwise, it would be a real disgrace to others.
Butler Liu presented the IOUs with both hands.
It was written clearly in black and white, and the signature was indeed Shen Linhui's name.
How could a father not recognize his own son's handwriting?
Even after being in Yuzhou for so long, Shen Linhui's name is still written like a dog crawling on paper.
Shen Yao glanced at it only once before flicking his sleeve and telling Steward Liu to take the IOU away and destroy it.
The kowtowing stopped.
With tears streaming down her face, Chen Qiurong looked at Shen Yao and said, "My lord, Hui'er really knows he was wrong."
“I assure you that I will discipline him strictly from now on, and he will never do such a thing again.”
"Please spare him this time."
Paying back debts is a matter of course.
Money can avert disaster.
However, the theft at the Marquis's residence had already been reported to the Jingzhao Prefecture. If this matter were to escalate to the Jingzhao Prefecture, then Shen Linhui's life would truly be over.
Shen Yao looked at Shen Linhui with a gloomy expression.
Perhaps because Chen Qiurong forced him to kowtow so hard, Shen Linhui's forehead was already bleeding and there was a footprint on his shoulder.
“Father, I know I was wrong,” he said, wiping away his tears. His attitude in admitting his mistake was very good. “I will definitely be strict with myself in the future and never do it again.”
Seeing him in such a disheveled state, Shen Yao's expression softened somewhat.
Ultimately, he was the only male heir in the Hou family of this generation, and he had always doted on this son.
The matter has been resolved. As long as the mistake is acknowledged and corrected, there is no need to make a big fuss.
The eldest son of the Marquis's family was gambling away his debts outside, and when he turned around, he broke into his own sisters' courtyard to steal jewelry.
If people found out about this, he would be utterly humiliated.
Shen Yao sat back down in the armchair, picked up the cup beside him, lowered his eyes and sipped the tea, swallowing down the anger in his heart.
Chen Qiurong waited anxiously for Shen Yao to speak, while Shen Linhui, kneeling to the side, was somewhat dazed. He felt as if he had forgotten something, but in the current situation, he couldn't remember anything at all.
"Guards, take the young master back..."
"Father."
A clear, cold female voice interrupted Shen Yao's words.
Shen You looked at Shen Yao, the distance in his eyes particularly obvious, "There's one more thing, my brother hasn't told you yet."
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