Chapter 65 Do you know how to play dice?
Shen Qiushan was so angry at Wen Lanting's words that his vision blurred and his hand trembled as he pointed at her.
"You're still protecting her! Even now you're still protecting that wretched child! What kind of status does Prince Cheng have? How dare she draw her sword against the prince? This is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of her family!"
"Right now, the Cheng Prince's Mansion and the palace haven't made a move. They might be gathering evidence, waiting to uproot our Bo Gong Mansion! How can I save her? Are you suggesting I trade the lives of hundreds of people in the entire Bo Gong Mansion for her life?"
Shen Qiushan's chest heaved violently, as if he wanted to expel all the pent-up frustration he had accumulated over the past few days.
"Let me tell you, Wen Lanting, from the moment she injured Prince Cheng, she was no longer my daughter, Chenqiu Mountain's daughter, nor a member of the Bogong Mansion! Her life or death is none of our business!"
Wen Lanting was stung by his heartless words and staggered back a step.
Shen Qiushan's eyes were fierce, as if he wanted to devour someone.
"Let me tell you, there's no room for discussion! Shen Xiao must die. Only if she dies can our Bogong Mansion be spared from prosecution and can our Bogong Mansion be preserved."
"Stop worrying about that wretched girl! You have to think about Lian'er too! Xiao'er is your own daughter, but isn't Lian'er hers too? If you dare to mention saving her again, don't blame me for disregarding our marital bond!"
Shen Qiushan was so angry that his head was spinning. He threw down a sentence and stormed off.
Wen Lanting knelt on the ground and wept in despair.
Was she really going to just stand by and watch Shen Xiao die?
She looked up and called Zhao's mother over: "Could you deliver a letter to my family in Baizhou and ask my brother to do everything he can to save his niece?"
Since Shen Qiushan wouldn't help, she would find a way herself.
Zhao's mother was somewhat worried: "But... Madam, last time you asked your sister-in-law's maternal family, the Deputy Commissioner of the Imperial Observatory, Guo Yun, to frame the Second Miss, causing her to be exiled three thousand miles away. I heard that your sister-in-law already has grievances against you. If you ask them for help again now, I'm afraid it will be difficult to say."
"What is the Guo family anyway! They're just fortune tellers who swindle and cheat on the streets. If it weren't for their daughter seducing my brother and making him insist on marrying her, and then using the power of our Wen family to get a position as the deputy director of the Imperial Observatory, the Guo family would probably still be rotting in some hole!"
"They've enjoyed so much wealth and luxury for so many years, they've earned more than enough, yet they still dare to complain about me."
A fierce glint flashed across Wen Lanting's face, and his tone became sharp.
"We haven't asked the Guo family to do anything yet, we've just asked my brother to find a solution. If the Guo family tries to stop us, don't blame me for disregarding our past relationship and exposing all their dirty and shameful deeds to the Emperor!"
Seeing her resolute attitude, Zhao's mother dared not say anything more and could only agree in a low voice.
As Zhao Mama was about to leave after receiving the order, Wen Lanting suddenly called her back.
"Also, go and take out the five thousand taels of silver notes from the bottom of my makeup box. Go to Prince Cheng's mansion to smooth things over and find out about Xiao'er's recent situation. As long as we can send out the message, we'll pay any amount of silver."
...
Shen Xiao was currently in the dungeon of Prince Cheng's mansion.
I was in a daze and didn't know how much time had passed.
She struggled to open her heavy eyelids, only to see complete darkness. A faint ray of light shone through a tiny iron window high above her, barely illuminating the area up to her waist.
Just then, a rustling sound came from outside the door, and Li Mama, Cheng Wang's wet nurse, opened the prison door and came in.
"Your Highness, come out. The Prince summons you."
Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise appeared on Shen Xiao's disheveled face: "Has Shen Shu been captured? Has the Prince investigated the truth and is going to clear my name?"
A hint of disdain flashed in Li Mama's eyes, but she said nothing.
"Princess, please stop asking. Come with me quickly. If we delay any longer and the Prince gets angry, you won't be able to bear the consequences."
Shen Xiao's heart pounded wildly.
They must have caught Shen Shu!
She's alright!
Otherwise, how could King Cheng have released her?
She struggled to her feet from the cold ground and staggered after Li Mama.
But Granny Li did not immediately take her to see Prince Cheng.
Instead, they took her to a room, first letting her take a bath, and then brought her some food.
Shen Xiao spent countless days in the dark and gloomy prison. The servants of the Cheng Prince's Mansion didn't even give her a sip of water, let alone food.
Only Shen Xiao knows how she survived those days.
Thinking of this, Shen Xiao felt extremely humiliated.
Seeing the food these people were eating, they didn't hesitate to start eating it in big mouthfuls.
Granny Li couldn't help but cover her mouth and nose, her face full of disgust.
She really didn't expect that Shen Xiao could eat the leftovers from the servants so deliciously.
It seems he really is a despicable scoundrel.
After Shen Xiao finished eating, Granny Li immediately pushed her towards a side room.
Before even entering the door, Shen Xiao heard several men shouting "big or small," while others were making crude, loud conversations, interspersed with vulgar laughter.
Her heart sank, and she involuntarily stopped, a sense of foreboding creeping down her spine.
Granny Li shoved her impatiently from behind: "What are you dawdling for? The Prince is still waiting!"
Caught off guard, Shen Xiao staggered as she was pushed into the room.
Upon closer inspection, one could see a huge gambling table inside the room, surrounded by a group of men.
Each of them had a sleazy appearance, with fleshy faces and their eyes staring unabashedly at Shen Xiao at the door.
The bearded man at the head of the group even whistled, his blatant gaze sweeping over her as if he wanted to strip her clothes off.
Cheng Wang was sitting in the main seat at the gambling table.
Xie Hanyu, wearing a gold mask, was sitting in a wheelchair, having a great time playing with the gamblers.
Upon seeing Shen Xiao arrive, he immediately stopped playing the dice.
"Oh, the princess has arrived. Come, sit down next to me."
Xie Hanyu's voice carried a hint of mockery, and his gaze, though peering through the holes in his mask, was devoid of any warmth when it fell upon Shen Xiao.
The bearded man had already stood up, reached out to pull her arm, and made a lewd joke:
"Your Highness, you're from a wealthy and noble family, raised in seclusion all these years. You've probably never seen such a lively scene before, have you? Come, let your brother show you how to play a couple of rounds?"
Shen Xiao froze, jerking his arm back to avoid the filthy hand.
But she was a step too late, and her wrist was still firmly gripped by the other person, whose rough palms made her skin ache.
The men around him burst into laughter, their foul language like poisoned needles piercing Shen Xiao's ears.
The bearded man pulled Shen Xiao over and pushed her to Xie Hanyu's side.
Shen Xiao was terrified of King Cheng.
As things stand, she doesn't know whether Shen Shu has been brought back or whether her innocence has been cleared.
Everything is still unknown.
She didn't know if Cheng Wang would take his anger out on her and hit her again.
She could only grit her teeth, suppress her panic, and sit stiffly on the cold chair next to Xie Hanyu.
Xie Hanyu turned his wheelchair, his gaze from behind the mask coiling around her like a venomous snake.
He spoke slowly, "Your Highness, these are all my friends. I invited them to my residence for a gathering today. You've come at the perfect time; please entertain them well for me."
As he spoke, he pushed a stack of chips in front of Shen Xiao, "Do you know how to play dice?"
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