Chapter 87 Outer Room
"This woman purchased jewelry at the gold shop using the Earl's family's silver notes."
"Because the quantity is quite large, I sent someone to check all the silver notes this woman has used in the past, and they all bear the seal of the Earl's Mansion."
“Shen Zhao, if you have nothing better to do, why don’t you investigate the backlog of old cases at the Dali Temple? What’s the point of investigating a woman?”
Marquis Rong An practically roared, "What? Are you saving my manor's silver notes to have a baby? So you're not going to spend them?"
“This woman has my Earl’s manor’s silver notes, so she must have come from somewhere else. So she must have come from my Earl’s manor?”
Silver notes were produced in large quantities and were rarely used by ordinary people. Only nobles and high-ranking officials used them. To prevent counterfeiting, each family would stamp their own seal on the back.
However, once the banknotes are circulated, they will naturally not remain in the hands of only one person.
It's not surprising that the woman had one or two banknotes, but it was rather strange that almost all of them were from the Rong'an Marquis's mansion.
“My lord, in this world, whoever shouts the loudest isn’t necessarily right.”
Shen Zhao glanced at Rong Anbo and replied indifferently.
“You!” Rong Anbo’s finger trembled as he pointed at Shen Zhao.
"Since someone has reported this, I should take action. After questioning her, I learned that this woman claims to be your mistress, the Marquis of Rong'an."
"Even His Majesty knows of your esteemed reputation, Lord Earl, but I do not believe it. Therefore, I have brought this woman here for you to see."
“Indeed, Your Excellency does not recognize her.” Shen Zhao said, “Since Your Excellency does not recognize her, then I will take this woman into prison.”
"As for her two children," Shen Zhao softened his voice, "the girl is old enough to enter the pleasure boat, and the boy will be taught by Ye Ting, and when he is old enough, he will enter the palace as a eunuch."
Upon hearing this, the kneeling woman immediately hugged the baby in her arms and the girl beside her tightly, saying, "Lord, it's us, Lord!"
“They are your children, Your Excellency,” the woman cried, her shoulders trembling.
Suddenly, he pushed the girl in his arms forward, "Go, go and beg your father."
The little girl crawled on her knees to Rong Anbo's legs, hugged his feet, and cried out, "Father, save us!"
"Father, Yingying doesn't want to go on the pleasure boat..."
"Brother-in-law, what's going on?" The Duke of Rong's voice turned cold.
He looked over at Wang and saw that she seemed quite calm, which put him at ease.
Suddenly, a sense of unease arose in my heart.
There are only two possibilities for why the older sister can be so calm: either she doesn't believe it, or she already knew.
Rong Anbo kicked the little girl kneeling at his feet aside and rushed to Wang Shi, "Yue'er, listen to me."
"It's not what you see."
"I forgot to mention, the mother and son live in Chunxi Lane."
"The land deed for that house also belongs to the Earl's family."
"This appears to be plagiarism as well. Guards, take this woman away!"
"Shen Zhao!" Duke Rongguo scoffed coldly, "Why do you handle cases so arbitrarily?"
Even he had already sensed something was wrong, and he didn't believe that Shen Zhao had come just to ask a simple question.
"Madam, Madam, please save us!" Seeing this, the woman kneeling on the ground could only place her hopes on the old lady in the head seat.
She lifted the baby boy in her arms forward, saying, "It doesn't matter if I die, but this child is the one that the Earl has been longing for!"
"Shut up!" Marquis Rong An shouted.
I used to think she was just obedient and gentle, but I never knew she was stupid.
This was clearly a setup, and she was stupid enough to just admit it!
"If you keep talking nonsense, I'll have you beaten to death with sticks!"
The woman kneeling on the ground was so frightened that she fell silent, tightly hugging her child and burying her head in her hands, sobbing.
The old lady felt a pang in her heart and reached out to take the baby from the woman's arms.
The old woman behind Wang, Granny Qiao, gently shook her head.
The old lady then reluctantly withdrew her hand.
But since he was her own grandson, the old lady still said, "Such a young child is so pitiful."
"Why don't we just let the Earl's family adopt them?"
“Lord, you don’t have any children anyway, and what they did wasn’t a serious offense.”
If you spend money with the Earl's seal, the Earl's family won't pursue the matter, so naturally they won't say much.
Rong Anbo paused.
Wang looked at Rong Anbo, "But this woman keeps saying that she is the Earl's mistress."
"Moon, why are you joining in this nonsense today? This woman is just making false accusations to save her own life, and you actually believe that?" the old lady said.
Shen Zhao bowed to the old lady and said, "If you wish to adopt a child, there are many refugee relief centers not far to the left after you go out."
"Flat, round, fat, thin, you can choose whatever you like. Not just one, but ten are available."
"But this baby is the son of a criminal, and according to the law, he must be brought to the night court."
"You!" The old lady suppressed her impatience. "He's just a child. I'm a Buddhist and I think I have a connection with this child."
"Besides, what did his mother do wrong when he was still an infant?"
"If the old lady disagrees with the law, she can go and report it to His Majesty."
Everyone says that Shen Zhao is impervious to reason, and today she has seen it for herself.
Helpless, they could only place their hopes on Marquis Rong'an, "Marquis, please say something."
Under no circumstances could he allow his own grandson to enter the Night Court.
Upon hearing this, the woman kneeling on the ground pleaded, "My lord, the child is still young."
"It doesn't matter if I die, but the child... please save him."
Duke Rong had already sensed something was wrong, but not wanting to displease his sister, Lady Wang, he said sternly, "Lord Shen, this criminal is incredibly audacious! Why haven't you taken her away yet!"
"Wait!"
The old lady, leaning on her cane, rose shakily. "Lord Shen, if this mother and daughter were from my household, would they be innocent?"
“Of course,” Shen Zhao replied.
"Mother!" Rong Anbo understood what the old lady was about to do and hurriedly stopped her.
The old lady ignored her and walked straight to the woman, taking the baby from her arms.
“This is the grandson of my Earl’s family!”
"So, she's the master's mistress?"
The old lady sat back down and said in a deep voice, "Lord, since that's the case, why not just be frank?"
"The moon is sensible and will naturally understand your good intentions."
Wang smiled bitterly to herself. Even now, they're still flattering her.
"Lord Rong'an, what's going on?!" Duke Rong's voice turned cold.
Marquis Rong An lowered his head and hesitated without saying a word.
Wang gave a wry smile, "Little brother, still don't understand?"
"This is the Earl's mistress."
“Moon…I…” Rong Anbo neither argued nor explained, he only called out once.
"Lord Shen, since she is a mistress, it is a family matter. Does that mean it is none of your business?" the old lady said, holding the child.
"Of course," Shen Zhao replied calmly.
"Then please leave, Lord Shen. Since this is a family matter, our Earl's Mansion will handle it behind closed doors."
The old lady gave them the order to leave.
But Shen Zhao remained unmoved. "No rush. After you finish dealing with your family matters, I have other things to attend to."
"Oh, it just so happens that Lord Rong is here as well, so I don't need to make an extra trip."
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