Chapter 322 The Shen family is collapsing, and everyone is kicking them while they're down!
Old Madam Shen understood perfectly. Hearing the resentment in her granddaughter's tone, she immediately snapped, "If she hadn't joined the army and hadn't protected us, we would have been dead long ago."
That's what she said, but she's also having her own doubts now.
Is His Majesty really going to hold someone accountable?
If they had known this would happen, they would have been better off not coming back from Dongchuan.
"Grandmother, go and send someone to ask eldest sister. What we don't know, eldest sister will definitely know!"
Before Madam Shen could even speak, the butler rushed over in a panic.
"Madam, the manager who took us out to shop today was detained by the shopkeeper, who said we were abusing our power and wouldn't pay for the purchases!"
Madam Shen was dumbfounded.
Today, the Shen family's sons and daughters were all subjected to sarcastic and ostracizing behavior outside. Some were fuming, while others looked displeased, and they all returned home one after another.
"Where are they all? Where have they all gone?" Shen Conglian shouted angrily when he saw that there was no one to serve him in the house.
Shen Yuanhe emerged from the corner, looking preoccupied, and said, "They've all gone to the yamen."
Shen Conglian was startled by the sudden sound.
"You scared me to death! What were you doing hiding behind that pillar?" Shen Conglian exclaimed, patting his chest in anger.
Shen Yuanhe burst into tears, feeling wronged: "Second Uncle, they all say His Majesty is going to settle scores with our family later. Are we going to be exiled again?"
Shen Conglian froze, then hurriedly asked, "Who told you that?"
Shen Yuanhe sobbed, "That's what everyone outside is saying."
Shen Conglian: "You just said they went to the yamen, tell me what happened quickly."
Shen Yuanhe didn't know the specifics either: "When I came back, I only heard that they were going to the yamen, but I didn't hear what they were going to do there."
Seeing that Shen Yuanhe seemed unable to explain herself, Shen Conglian immediately turned and went to the yamen.
...
Shen Lanxi coldly looked at the shopkeeper: "You say the Shen family used their power to bully you and refused to settle your accounts? Do you have any evidence?"
The shopkeeper immediately took out the ledger, casually flipped it open, and pointed to each item on it one by one.
"Here is a list of the rice, flour and oil that the Shen family purchased from my shop. As agreed, the payment is made once a month, at eighty cash per dou of rice."
Shen Lanxi coldly observed the shopkeeper's seemingly prepared demeanor and sneered inwardly.
Che Mingyuan began to examine the account book from the very first entry.
"The first two months' payments are correct, the next two months' payments are forty coins, and the following six months' payments are for ten coins."
Shopkeeper: "At first, the Shen family settled the accounts as agreed, but later they reduced it by half, and then even less. We tried to get our money back, but the people who were supposed to buy from the Shen family turned their backs on us, refusing to acknowledge the agreed amount and threatening me. They said if I dared to tell anyone, they would have my shop smashed and my whole family thrown in jail. Sir, I'm just a businessman, how could I dare to fight with the officials? I could only swallow this insult."
Shen Lanxi coldly looked at the shopkeeper, who appeared distressed but secretly smug.
"Why can't you tolerate it now?"
The shopkeeper shuddered at the deep voice, then straightened his back as if remembering something.
"I simply can't take it anymore. At first, at least I could see some money, but now I can't see a single penny. I run a small business, how can I stand being eaten and taken for free? The Shen family is so wealthy and powerful, even if they bought me, they couldn't afford to support me in the long run!"
Che Mingyuan quickly flipped through the ledgers at the back, each page bearing the seal of the Shen family's purchasing department.
Shen Lanxi's eyes grew colder and colder: "Where is the purchasing manager?"
Liu: "I've already sent someone to get it."
In the blink of an eye, a servant came to report.
"My lord, something terrible has happened! The steward in charge of purchasing has left a letter and committed suicide by poisoning himself."
First, the maid in the family suffered a setback while attending a banquet, then the Shen family used their power to oppress others. This whole series of events left no time for anyone to catch their breath!
"What about the letters?"
Just as the servants were about to deliver it, they were intercepted by the constables.
"This is evidence; no one else is allowed to touch it!" After taking it, the constable handed it over to the prefect.
The prefect glanced at Shen Lanxi and said dismissively, "Where in the Shen family is anyone capable of taking charge?"
Madam Shen immediately stepped forward: "I am here."
The prefect immediately frowned and rebuked him: "I am referring to a man who can uphold the family's authority. How can you, a woman from the inner quarters, be in charge? If you speak carelessly again, I will charge you with disrupting the court."
Although Madam Shen was a noblewoman bestowed by the emperor, she had been terrified after being exiled. When she heard the prefect slam his gavel and reprimand her, she instinctively trembled.
Shen Lanxi immediately rebuked: "My grandmother was a noblewoman personally appointed by His Majesty, and her rank is above yours. Now that we're in court, you don't even bring a chair, and you still dare to rebuke me. This is utterly disrespectful to the imperial authority and a heinous act of treason."
The prefect had long disapproved of Shen Lanxi appearing in court as a woman. He hadn't said anything before, but now that she had been dismissed from office and confined to her quarters by His Majesty, she still dared to be so arrogant.
He wanted to let Shen Lanxi know that the courtroom was not a place for a woman like her to make a scene.
"The Shen family's crimes are undeniable. Even if the old lady is a noblewoman, she must abide by the laws of the country. Does your Shen family still think of using your power to oppress others?"
Shen Lanxi: "You haven't even interrogated all the people involved, yet you dare to say the evidence is conclusive and you dare to convict people. I'll ask you how you climbed up to the position of prefect."
The prefect's face turned red with anger: "Here is your steward's confession; this is irrefutable evidence. With me here, your Shen family will not escape punishment!"
Shen Lanxi sneered: "Is the irrefutable evidence you mentioned written in the steward's own handwriting? Where did he buy the poison he used to commit suicide? Why didn't he notify his family to escape after being exposed, but instead committed suicide by poison first?"
While the prefect was pondering, Shen Lanxi continued, "Our Shen family also keeps accounts of our daily and monthly expenses. Take the accounts to the prefect to see."
The accountant presented the prepared ledgers.
Shen Lanxi continued, "The ledger records all daily and monthly expenses. The ledger is cross-checked by the accountants every month, so there are absolutely no errors in the income and expenditure."
"Where are the grain and oil shop's account books for the past three years?"
"If the purchasing manager really embezzled this money, where is it? Have you checked all of these details one by one?"
"Your Excellency, do you think you can make the Shen family confess based solely on a confession written by someone whose identity we don't even know? How is your behavior any different from that of the traitor who pinned the Wei family army case on our Shen family?"
The prefect felt his head spin, unable to defend himself, and cold sweat instantly soaked his entire body.
He only wanted to teach Shen Lanxi a lesson, but he didn't expect Shen Lanxi to be so ruthless that she would accuse him of treason and want to confiscate his property and exterminate his clan.
"Shen Lanxi, stop talking nonsense! I have no such intention!"
Shen Lanxi chuckled: "Now you're in a hurry? Too late!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
