Chapter 323 Do you know how to write the words "ungrateful"?
Shen Lanxi looked at the pale-faced prefect and coldly rebuked him: "Speak, who instructed you to frame loyal ministers and generals?"
If it weren't for the last bit of backbone holding him up, the prefect would have already collapsed to his knees by now.
"Stop talking nonsense! I am only handling this case according to the testimony and evidence, following the normal trial process. How could a woman like you understand our trial process? If you continue to cause trouble, don't blame me for punishing you for obstructing the investigation!" The prefect shouted hastily, thinking quickly.
Shen Lanxi scoffed, "Whether you're incapable of investigating or I'm deliberately obstructing, everyone can see and hear it."
"If the Shuntian Prefecture cannot accept this case, I will immediately petition His Majesty to hold a public trial!"
The prefect was anxious. Such a small case had alarmed His Majesty. If His Majesty blamed him, wouldn't that make him look incompetent?
"Shen Lanxi, are you the prefect or am I? Do you know how to investigate cases, or do I? If you don't understand, then stand aside and watch me solve the case." The prefect knew that this matter could only be resolved by turning a big problem into a small one, and a small problem into nothing.
Shen Lanxi sneered: "If I couldn't investigate cases, how did I uncover the Wei family army case? That case had been sealed for six years, yet I managed to solve it completely. How could a small case of embezzlement be difficult for me?"
The prefect's eyes darted around, and he said urgently, "Those who are not in a position should not meddle in its affairs. Shen Lanxi, don't even think about overstepping your bounds."
Shen Lanxi coldly looked at the murmuring crowd and said in a deep voice, "If I cannot investigate this matter thoroughly today and restore justice for the Shen family, I don't know what the people will think of our Shen family."
"Our Shen family finally cleared our name in the Wei family army case, and we cannot suffer injustice again today!"
The members of the Shen family watched as Shen Lanxi righteously defended the Shen family, their eyes flickering.
"My Shen family is going to file a complaint with the Emperor today, we will beat the drum of petition, and we will let everyone know that someone is trying to frame our Shen family again!"
The prefect was drenched in cold sweat, and tried several times to interrupt, but was silenced by the imposing aura displayed by Shen Lanxi.
"Lord Shen, I was just too eager to find out the truth of the case, so I spoke rashly. Please forgive my rudeness!" The prefect hurriedly ran to Shen Lanxi and bowed, afraid that she would really go to the emperor to file a complaint.
Shen Lanxi looked at the prefect, who seemed like two different people, with a half-smile: "As a woman who knows nothing, I naturally have to ask my family for help when I encounter problems."
The prefect felt like crying. He hadn't expected Shen Lanxi to be so difficult to deal with. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn't have listened to those people's urging.
"Lord Shen, I was blind to your abilities! Please, Lord Shen, show mercy!"
The prefect, with his sharp eyes, spotted Shen Congwen and quickly turned to him for help.
"Lord Shen, please spare him for the sake of our shared service in the same court."
Before Shen Congwen could figure out what was going on, he was bombarded with flattery and compliments from the prefect.
The prefect was, after all, a fifth-rank official, and Shen Congwen greatly appreciated the servility and deference shown to him.
"These are all minor matters. There's no need to worry about letting them go or not. Just investigate them thoroughly."
The prefect hurriedly thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your understanding, Lord Shen. Please help me persuade Lord Shen. I was indeed confused this time. I will definitely come to your door to apologize another day."
Shen Congwen glanced at Shen Lanxi, then walked straight towards Old Madam Shen.
"Mother, are you alright?"
As if she had finally found her pillar of support, Madam Shen gripped her eldest son's hand tightly.
"I'm fine. As for this matter, you should ask Lanxi what to do!"
Madam Shen also realized that everyone was trying to kick them while they were down after Shen Lanxi was dismissed.
Her eldest son was the Minister of Revenue, yet he couldn't even protect the family?
When Shen Congwen looked at Shen Lanxi, his eyes immediately turned cold.
"I am still in charge of the Shen family. Since I promised the prefect, I will definitely keep my word."
The prefect's eyes swept over Shen Congwen and Shen Lanxi, and he immediately shouted, "Guards, bring all the people involved in the procurement here."
"Go check the records of the purchasing manager's purchases of poison."
"Show seats to the Shen family!"
Che Mingyuan glanced at Shen Lanxi and saw that she was calm and composed and did not intend to stop him, which made him slightly disappointed.
When faced with problems within their own families, adults ultimately soften their hearts.
An hour later, the constables returned one after another.
"Sir, the people in charge of purchasing and the people from the grain and oil shops have been brought here!"
"We've checked every pharmacy in the capital, and we haven't found any record of the poison's origin."
The shopkeeper of the grain and oil store collapsed to the ground with a thud.
"My lord, I am guilty. Because of the Wei family's military incident, I harbored resentment towards the Shen family, which is why I plotted to frame them!"
The prefect froze, then flew into a rage.
"Guards, give this man twenty lashes first!"
This scoundrel almost got him taken to see His Majesty today, and also offended the Shen family, causing him to lose face. He must not be let off lightly!
Shen Lanxi: "Now that the case has been solved, the follow-up work will be handed over to the Prefect."
The prefect quickly stood up and smiled apologetically. He hadn't expected a woman to be so eloquent and knowledgeable in investigating cases; he had been judging her too much through a crack in the door.
Shen Lanxi left with the women of the Shen family, while Shen Congwen and others handled the aftermath.
"Big sister, were you dismissed from your post by the court?" On the way back, Shen Yuantang couldn't help but ask.
Shen Lanxi's voice was slightly cold: "Who told you that?"
Shen Yuantang was a little scared and whispered, "That's what they all say."
Shen Lanxi: "What does it matter to you whether I resign from my post or not?"
Shen Yuantang blushed with embarrassment at first, then retorted defiantly, "After you were dismissed from your post, people outside started talking about the Shen family!"
Shen Lanxi could no longer suppress the mockery on her face.
"So, you're blaming me?"
Startled, Shen Yuantang quickly said, "That's not what I meant. I just hope that you will be more careful with your words and actions in the future."
Shen Lanxi's gaze turned cold the moment she looked at Shen Yuantang.
"When I joined the army, you enjoyed the benefits; now that I've lost power, you start blaming me. Shen Yuantang, do you even know how to write the words 'ungrateful'?"
Shen Yuantang's face instantly turned bright red with embarrassment, and tears streamed down her face.
"Big sister, that's not what I meant. I just wanted to remind you that I'm only concerned about your safety."
Madam Shen quickly spoke up to smooth things over.
"You are sisters born of the same mother. Go back and talk things out. Don't make a scene in the street!"
Shen Yuantang buried her face in Old Madam Shen's arms, choking back tears, "Grandmother, that's not what I meant. I was just concerned about my eldest sister and wanted to remind her of something."
How could Madam Shen not understand what Shen Yuantang was thinking? It was just that before anything had even happened, she was already putting him down, which was indeed a bit unsightly.
Having just experienced the Shuntian Prefecture incident, Shen Lanxi managed to subdue the prefect with just a few words. Yuan Tang is indeed obedient, but why is she so clueless about how to read the situation?
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