Gu Qinlan raised an eyebrow, her gaze sharp as she looked at Butler Zheng, and asked in a cold tone, "Butler Zheng, why are you silent? Do you think you can easily cover up the crimes you have committed?"
Butler Zheng lowered his head, his body trembling, his lips pressed tightly together, unsure how to answer.
Gu Qinlan sneered and continued, "I know you have other things you're hiding from me. Today I'm going to make you understand that your every move is under my surveillance."
Steward Zheng raised his head, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes, and said in a trembling voice, "Princess Consort, I... I really don't know what you're talking about. I'm only serving the Prince Duan's mansion wholeheartedly, and I have absolutely no selfish motives."
Gu Qinlan smiled lightly, but her eyes grew colder: "Steward Zheng, do you think you can escape my notice for what you've done? You betrayed your master and deceived your superiors. Do you think I'll let you off so easily?"
Steward Zheng's face turned deathly pale, his legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "Princess Consort, I was wrong, I was really wrong. Please spare my family, they are all innocent."
Gu Qinlan's eyes were cold, and her tone was firm: "Butler Zheng, do you think your family is innocent? Do you know that the wealth and luxury they enjoy are built on betrayal?"
Steward Zheng's eyes were filled with terror, and he said in a trembling voice, "Princess Consort, I... I really didn't know. I was just greedy for a moment, which is why I betrayed my master. Please have mercy and spare my family."
Gu Qinlan smiled lightly, her eyes growing even colder: "Steward Zheng, do you think your repentance will soften my heart? Do you know that betraying your master is a crime deserving of death!"
Steward Zheng trembled, tears streaming down his face: "Princess Consort, I am willing to bear all the blame, I only beg you to spare my family. They really don't know the crimes I committed, they are also victims."
Gu Qinlan's eyes flickered, and her tone softened: "Butler Zheng, do you really think I will let them go so easily? But I see that you still have a trace of remorse. If you can confess, I may consider sparing your family's lives."
A glimmer of hope flashed in Steward Zheng's eyes, and he said in a trembling voice, "Princess Consort, I am willing to confess. I am willing to confess the crimes I have committed. I only beg you to spare my family."
Gu Qinlan nodded slightly, her gaze growing increasingly serious: "Fine, since you're willing to confess, I'll give you a chance. But you should know that if you dare utter even the slightest lie, I will make sure your entire family pays the price!"
Butler Zheng nodded solemnly, tears streaming down his face: "Princess Consort, I would never deceive you. I will now confess the crimes I have committed."
Under Gu Qinlan's watchful gaze, Steward Zheng then confessed in detail to the treacherous deeds he had committed over the years. He had betrayed the Duan Prince's Mansion, secretly colluded with outsiders, leaked the manor's secrets, and even attempted to frame the Crown Princess. His crimes were revealed one by one, shocking and appalling.
As Gu Qinlan listened to Butler Zheng's instructions, her eyes grew increasingly cold.
Butler Zheng's crimes went far beyond these, but he had already confessed to the crucial parts. She decided to spare Butler Zheng's family for now, but Butler Zheng himself must be severely punished.
After Steward Zheng finished speaking, Gu Qinlan said coldly, "Steward Zheng, your crimes are established. Considering that you still have remorse, I will spare your family for now. But you should behave yourself. If you dare to betray us again, I will make sure your whole family suffers a terrible death!"
Steward Zheng turned pale with fright and quickly kowtowed to express his gratitude.
Gu Qinlan looked at Zheng Fei and said slowly, "Steward Zheng, do you know what you are doing? How is your behavior any different from that of a thief?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fei's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sly smile: "Princess Consort, I am merely using the opportunity at my disposal to seek wealth and status for myself. In this world, who doesn't seek their own benefit? The Duan Prince's mansion's silver will ultimately end up in someone else's pocket; I'm just taking the first step."
Gu Qinlan frowned slightly, a sharp glint in her eyes: "Zheng Fei, you're playing with fire and getting burned. You think you're clever and can control everything, but you don't know that you've fallen into an abyss from which there's no turning back."
Zheng Fei was unconvinced and became even more smug: "Princess Consort, the abyss you speak of is, to me, a ray of light. Look, I already own half of the Zheng family's assets. Once I have complete control of the Zheng family, the Duan Prince's Mansion will also be mine."
Gu Qinlan sneered, her tone revealing a hint of disdain: "Zheng Fei, do you think that just because you control the Zheng family, you can control the Duan Prince's Mansion? You're wrong. The Duan Prince's Mansion is no small matter. The wealth and status you think you have will, in the end, be nothing but a mirage."
Zheng Fei's expression changed, and he glared angrily at Gu Qinlan: "Gu Qinlan, are you threatening me?"
Gu Qinlan gently shook her head, her tone calm: "Threat? Why would I threaten you? I just want you to understand that you will eventually reap what you sow. Zheng Fei, you think you are smart, but in reality, you are just blinded by money."
Zheng Fei gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and glared at Gu Qinlan: "Gu Qinlan, you wait, one day I will let you know who the master of the Duan Prince's Mansion is."
Gu Qinlan smiled, her eyes flashing with determination: "Zheng Fei, go ahead and try. But I must remind you, the Duan Prince's Mansion is not as simple as you think. There are countless eyes watching you here, and your every move is under surveillance."
Zheng Fei's face grew increasingly grim. He realized that his every move was indeed being watched. But he was already in a bind and had no choice but to grit his teeth and continue.
"Gu Qinlan, do you think you can stop me?" Zheng Fei asked angrily.
Gu Qinlan gently shook her head: "I can't stop you, but I can make you understand what price you will pay for your actions."
Zheng Fei's eyes widened as he glared at Gu Qinlan: "What...what exactly do you want?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said calmly, "What I want is very simple: peace and tranquility for the Duan Prince's Mansion. Zheng Fei, if you are truly capable, let us see if you can control the Duan Prince's Mansion, instead of secretly seeking personal gain like this."
Zheng Fei's expression shifted unpredictably.
"Steward Zheng, are you aware that your actions have violated the rules of the Prince's Mansion?"
Upon hearing this, Zheng Fei curled his lips into a cold smile and replied, "Princess Consort, although I, Zheng Fei, am merely a steward in this household, I am not a fish to be slaughtered. The money flowing out of the household is simply being taken back in a proper manner; what's wrong with that?"
Gu Qinlan frowned slightly, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, but her tone remained calm: "Steward Zheng, you are courting your own destruction. You think your actions are unknown to anyone, but in fact, they have already reached my ears."
Zheng Fei's expression changed, but he quickly regained his composure and said calmly, "Princess Consort, if you really want to investigate me, I, Zheng Fei, will have absolutely no complaints. However, I would like to ask, how did you learn about these things?"
Gu Qinlan smiled slightly and said, "Steward Zheng, you think you've done everything perfectly, but little do you know that everyone in the manor is already dissatisfied with your behavior. Today, I'm here to clean house and restore the Duan Prince's Mansion's reputation."
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