After hearing what Chen said, the old lady said, "Go ahead, I want to hear how you will defend yourself."
Although his tone was cold, he finally agreed to Chen's request.
After all, she was the eldest lady of the Shen family and the mother of several children. Whether it was killing or punishing her, there had to be solid evidence.
Chen took a deep breath and said, "I admit everything about the accounts, but I really didn't know those medicinal herbs were fake."
"At that time, those herbs were 20% cheaper than on the market, so I was tempted to get a bargain."
"It wasn't until my grandfather passed away that I realized the ginseng slices were fake. So from then on, I only bought the most expensive herbs."
"Old Madam, Master, please believe me. I am responsible for the old master's death, but I didn't do it on purpose."
Chen cried as she spoke. She was already dressed plainly due to her house arrest, and her tears made her look even more pitiful.
But no one present was soft-hearted. Even Shen Zhiheng looked at Chen with suspicion.
The old lady glanced at Shen Zhixiu, as if asking what he meant.
Shen Zhixiu snorted coldly, "Sister-in-law, are you trying to evade the main issue? Can you escape responsibility by saying it was an unintentional mistake?"
"I've already sent someone to investigate where my sister-in-law bought the fake herbs. I've also found out exactly where the real herbs were sold to."
In order to conceal her tracks, Chen first bought real medicinal herbs, then resold them, and then secretly brought fake herbs into the house.
Also because she had been cooperating with the largest medicinal material dealer in Beijing, the Shen family had no suspicions at all.
Shen Zhixiu gave a strict order to his subordinates last night, so after one night and half a day, these matters were thoroughly investigated.
Seeing that Chen wanted to say something, Shen Zhixiu spoke again in a cold voice.
"Think carefully before you speak, sister-in-law. I won't make any mistakes in these matters."
"You may have forgotten that I entered the Ministry of Justice at the age of eighteen and have never handled a single wrongful conviction."
"I've read the confessions of these people, and the evidence is irrefutable. If you want to confront me, I'll have someone come up here right now."
Chen listened to Shen Zhixiu's words in a daze. At this moment, Shen Zhixiu was like a demon crawling out of hell to her.
It seemed that no matter how she struggled, she could not escape his grip.
Shen Zhixiu stared at Chen with a stern gaze, and his words were full of oppression.
"Hmm? What else does sister-in-law have to say?"
Countless thoughts flashed through Chen's mind, and she knew she had to tell the truth.
She didn't dare to face Shen Zhixiu and turned to look at the old lady.
"Mother, I was confused. I didn't expect the old man to be so ill all of a sudden. By the time I realized what was happening, it was too late."
"Please forgive me, mother. I am willing to eat vegetarian food every day for the rest of my life and chant sutras and burn incense for the old man."
"If I had known that the old man would suddenly become seriously ill, I would never have thought of taking the medicinal herbs."
Chen spoke with tears in her eyes and a look of regret on her face.
No one doubted her words. They believed Chen's embezzlement, but they were not convinced that she had deliberately harmed the old man.
Even Shen Zhixiu thought that Chen had explained almost everything.
He glanced at the old lady and knew that it was up to her to decide how to deal with Chen.
Just as the old lady was about to speak, she heard Su Qingyu say in a cold voice, "Sister-in-law, did you really not do this on purpose?"
"Did the old man die accidentally because you enriched yourself, or did you just stand by and watch him die?"
Not only Chen, but everyone in the hall was shocked.
Shen Zhao said sternly, "What are you trying to do, Third Aunt? You can always find a pretext to accuse someone of something. When my grandfather died, Third Aunt hadn't even married into the family yet. Why are you talking as if you saw it with your own eyes?"
Shen Zhiheng also looked at Su Qingyu disapprovingly. He would rather believe that Chen had implicated the old man for money than that Chen had deliberately put the old man to death.
The difference between the two is worlds apart.
Su Qingyu looked at the old lady and said, "Mother, I want to ask someone I know to come up and answer my question."
The old lady nodded and looked outside the hall, not knowing who Su Qingyu was talking about.
Not to mention the old lady, even Shen Zhixiu didn't know that Su Qingyu had a backup plan.
Not long after, a woman in her forties walked in.
Shen Zhao blurted out: "Nanny, why are you here?"
Everyone in the Shen family recognized the woman who came in. She was Yuxiu, Chen's maidservant who came with her as a dowry. She later became Shen Zhao's wet nurse and Hongye's biological mother.
Three years ago, Yuxiu's son got married and had a child. She took back her indentures and left home to live out her retirement and take care of her grandchildren.
When Chen saw her come in, her heart skipped a beat. Yuxiu had served her since she was little, and had married into the Shen family with her. After Yuxiu married, she had stayed by her side, serving as the housekeeper. Yuxiu knew her affairs intimately.
When she saw Yuxiu come in without even looking at her, Chen knew that today's matter would probably not end well.
But why would Yuxiu come? After Hongye died, she sent someone to give Yuxiu a large sum of money, saying that Hongye had fallen ill and died suddenly in the mansion.
Logically speaking, Yuxiu shouldn't have any doubts.
At this time, Su Qingyu was explaining to the old lady, "Mother, I met Nanny Yu outside the mansion this afternoon. She was wandering outside for a while, so I went up to ask her."
"Madame Yu said she dreamed that she was unwilling to accept the old master's death. Thinking of what happened before, she felt guilty, so she wanted to tell the truth. But she was afraid that her sister-in-law would embarrass her, so she didn't dare come in."
In fact, when Hongye was beaten to death last time, Su Qingyu had a trick up her sleeve. She didn't let Hongye die, but instead secretly settled her down and interrogated her for several days.
When asked about this old story later, Hongye said she didn't know either, as she was still young at that time and she had to ask her mother.
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