Chapter 169 Death Warrant
Shen Shaohuai is the eldest son. Since he was born, Mrs. Shen has given him all his love. In particular, Shen Shaohuai is very talented, which brings honor to Mrs. Shen and makes her value him even more.
With Shen Mingzhu missing and Shen Shaobai's incompetence, she poured all her energy into Shen Shaohuai.
Even if she adopted Shen Qingtan, she only valued Shen Qingtan's value and wanted to use her to pave the way for Shen Shaohuai in the future, so she asked someone to cultivate Shen Qingtan.
As Shen Shaohuai passed the imperial examinations again and again, Mrs. Shen's desire to control him became stronger and stronger.
From small things like food, clothing, housing and transportation to big things like arranging a concubine.
After the Zhu Yu incident, Madam Shen not only replaced the servant beside Shen Shaohuai, but also replaced the coachman.
Marquis Cheng'en once thought that Madam Shen regarded him as her heaven and would use her brother and sister-in-law for the benefit of the Marquis's Mansion, and was always ready to push her brother and sister-in-law to take the blame.
Until she designed for Shen Shaohuai to successfully become the prince of the Marquisate, she even designed for him to take Concubine Mei into the house and deliberately arranged for Concubine Mei to have an affair with Shen Shaoheng.
When she did this, she must have been trampling on his dignity as a man, and she still did it secretly without telling him.
Only then did he understand. For Shen Shaohuai, Madam Shen could give up everything, even herself.
Marquis Cheng'en couldn't help but think that as long as no one in the Marquis' Mansion was implicated, let alone being dismissed and investigated, even if he lost his head, Madam Shen would not be too sad.
Just because they are the same kind of people, profit comes first.
“Huai’er, you will return to the Imperial College today.” Marquis Cheng’en naturally valued Shen Shaohuai and said in a gentle voice, “Don’t interfere in this matter, lest you be implicated.”
"Father, you're about to be held accountable. How can I, your son, feel at ease studying at the Imperial College?" Shen Shaohuai's handsome features revealed his worry for Marquis Cheng'en. "Shen Qingtan arranged for someone to break into your mentor's grave. You must bring back everything buried there. If they get desperate and keep accusing us, the Emperor will send someone to search the mansion. Even if Prince Yu has all-powerful abilities, he won't be able to protect you. It's best to destroy everything before anything happens."
Upon hearing this, Madam Shen glanced at Shen Shaohuai and took over the conversation: "Yes, the matter in Qingzhou has been settled. If you still keep those things, not only will it not save your life, but it will be a death warrant."
Marquis Cheng'en frowned, but had other plans in mind: "I'll take care of it."
Shen Shaohuai and Madam Shen breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this.
-
In the evening, Marquis Cheng'en, Madam Shen, and Shen Shaohuai had dinner in a side hall.
Madam Shen finished half a bowl of soup and rinsed her mouth with water: "Tomorrow is Shaobai's birthday. I originally planned to invite Shen Qingtan to the mansion to celebrate his birthday. Now it seems that it is not necessary."
She really didn't expect that the Gu family would find the capital.
"Mother, our ancestors valued bloodline inheritance, and there must be some reason for that. Merchants value profit over affection, and she is naturally of the same lineage. No matter how hard you try, it will be difficult to train her to be someone who values affection and loyalty." Shen Shaohuai said indifferently, "She has already left us, so how could she come to my third brother's birthday?"
Madam Shen snorted coldly: "If it weren't for the Gu family getting into trouble, I would have to go and settle the accounts with them. I want the Gu family to pay us back the money they spent on raising Shen Qingtan for the past ten years, including the principal and interest."
Marquis Cheng'en's eyebrows jumped, he put down his bowl and chopsticks, and was about to speak when he saw his confidant rushing over.
A confidant reported, "My Lord, I went to ask the chief about the situation. He said that the Gu family's ship sank, but he wasn't sure about the details. Gu Zongci scolded him for accepting the order privately and making him bear the responsibility alone."
Marquis Cheng'en asked, "Did Gu Zongci fire him?"
The confidant said, "He made a big mistake. Once the matter is resolved, Gu Zongci will probably fire him."
"Gu Zongci wants him to bear the blame alone. How can a mere official like him shoulder the responsibility for such a serious matter?" Marquis Cheng'en smiled, his smile tinged with sarcasm. Perhaps Gu Zongci hadn't yet realized the seriousness of the situation. "Arrange someone to secretly protect the official and make sure nothing happens to him. I still need him."
"Yes." The confidant took the order and left.
Shen Shaohuai watched his confidant disappear at the door before asking, "Father, when do you plan to report this to the Emperor?"
"As soon as the news reaches the emperor, I will immediately go to the palace to apologize." Marquis Cheng'en said cryptically, "Tomorrow at the latest."
-
Yuwangfu.
Prince Yu leaned lazily in his armchair, holding a secret letter in his hand, which reported the sinking of the Gu family's ship.
His expression was calm, his eyes expressionless, and he placed the secret letter in the brazier and set it on fire.
Regardless of whether Gu's ship sinks or not, as long as Qingzhou has "food" on board, this matter will no longer have anything to do with him.
Zhan Shi carefully observed Prince Yu's expression and saw that he looked calm with a faint smile on his lips, so he knew that the secret letter brought good news.
With a smile on his face, he bowed and said, "Your Highness, I have finally put an end to your worries."
Prince Yu did not respond to the Chancellor, but looked at the Buddhist shrine set up next to the desk, where a golden Buddha statue was enshrined.
He walked slowly to the wooden rack beside him, washed his hands with bath beans, changed the water three times, and then took out a clean towel to wipe the water off his hands.
Later, he went to the Buddhist shrine, replaced the offerings with his own hands, and lit a few incense sticks.
Zhan Shi watched what Prince Yu did and the smile on his face froze.
He was Prince Yu's confidant, so he naturally knew that although Prince Yu appeared gentle on the outside, he was actually insidious and vicious on the inside.
It was precisely such a person who specially enshrined a Buddha statue in the living room.
This Buddha statue can eliminate all sins and disasters.
On the first and fifteenth day of every month, Prince Yu would fast and bathe, change into the cassock worn by lay disciples, and then offer sacrifices to the Buddha.
Not only that, every day before going to bed, Prince Yu would personally change the offerings and light a few incense sticks.
Zhanshi stared at Prince Yu without blinking, and saw him holding incense in both hands and offering it with a pious expression.
The golden light and shadow reflected on his face, making him look very gentle and harmless.
Zhanshi's hair stood on end. He swallowed hard and called out, "Your Highness..."
There were hurried footsteps outside the door, and Zhan Shi shut his mouth.
Then, the guard's rough voice came in: "Your Highness, I have something important to report!"
Prince Yu straightened his sleeves, walked slowly to the couch and sat down: "Come in."
The guard pushed open the door and came in, looking at the ground below him, not daring to look directly at Prince Yu, and handed the letter to the Secretary of State with both hands.
Zhan Shi handed the letter to Prince Yu.
Prince Yu opened the letter and read it line by line. When he saw the word "good luck", his face suddenly darkened.
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