Chapter 62 Zhao Yi's Letter
Seeing everyone's attention focused on her, Shen Qingtan placed the cup on the coffee table with the cup holder: "Mother, although my eldest brother may not look as decent as my second brother, he never messes with decent women."
She asked puzzledly, "That woman's name was Fang Niang, wasn't it? I happened to be there when her family was making trouble at the gate of the Marquis' Mansion. I vaguely remember them saying, 'Luckily we discovered it in time and saved Fang Niang's life.' You also took care of it in time, so how did she die later?"
"I sent Mother Wei to deal with it, but when she came back she said the person was already dead and there was no way to save him." Madam Shen wiped her tears with a handkerchief: "A living person can't be gone just because I say so, right?"
Shen Qingtan lowered her eyes slightly. Madam Shen was laying the groundwork in advance. If things took a turn that was not in her favor, she could completely put the blame on Mother Wei.
Mother Wei is already dead, so there is no evidence.
Mrs. Shen got everything she wanted, at best she was incompetent in controlling her subordinates.
Before Shen Qingtan could speak, Shen Shaoheng took the lead and said, "Second Aunt, even if this woman is dead, it has nothing to do with me. I can only say that it was her fate."
The expressions of the clan elder and Madam Shen changed.
Shen Shaoheng recounted the whole story: "Last year during the Lantern Festival, I rented a boat to watch people release water lanterns. I accidentally saw a very beautiful woman fall into the water, and no one jumped in to save her."
"Everyone in the capital knows that I cherish beautiful women. How could I bear to see her drown? I immediately jumped into the water to rescue her. But she actually relied on me and asked me to give her a marriage."
He said with an annoyed look, "I saved her with good intentions, and you want me to support her for the rest of her life. Isn't that too much? Her life is her own. If she wants to despise herself and seek death to force me to submit, I won't tolerate her."
Having said that, Shen Shaoheng spread his hands and said, "If everyone follows her example and relies on me, then Second Aunt, you will have to build a few more houses to accommodate the women in my backyard."
Madam Shen calmed down and said in a tone that taught the ignorant youngster, "Women value their reputation as their life. You rescued her in public, which ruined her innocence. You should give her a proper status."
"Oh? Second Aunt, is that what you think?" Shen Shaoheng raised his eyebrows and said, "Second brother is having an affair with a woman outside. Shouldn't you pick a day to bring her into the house?"
Madam Shen’s expression changed slightly.
Shen Shaoheng sneered, "If you don't bring the girl into the mansion and give her a legitimate status, and she commits suicide, wouldn't you be accused of forcing a decent woman to death? How can you continue to be an official then?"
Mrs. Shen was so choked that she couldn't utter a word of rebuttal.
At this time, one of the elders spoke up, "If Shao Huai really has an affair with that woman, and her family background is clean, he should give her a legitimate status. If it's just a rumor, then he should quell the rumors as soon as possible and not damage her reputation."
After a pause, he continued, "As for Shao Heng...I heard that it was that woman named Fang Niang who discovered something she shouldn't have and was silenced."
As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent for a moment.
Old Madam Shen looked at the clan elder who was speaking. His name was Shen Jizong, and his attitude towards Shen Shaoheng was a little subtle.
Shen Qingtan's heart moved slightly, and he was almost certain that there was something wrong with Shen Jizong.
"You mean she caught me doing something ugly and I killed her?" Shen Shaoheng sneered, "Tell me, what ugly thing did she catch me doing? If you can't tell me anything, and you only use your mouth to tarnish my reputation, then with your character, you are not worthy of being a clan elder."
"Shao Heng!" Marquis Cheng'en growled, giving him a warning look. He then said to Shen Jizong, "Uncle, this matter could be serious or minor. Without words or evidence, it's hard to convince people."
He knew that Madam Shen would not allow Shen Shaoheng to be crowned as the crown prince smoothly, and would definitely take some action. Now it seems that she has bribed Shen Jizong.
Seeing that Shen Jizong was so confident, Marquis Cheng'en thought that he must have solid evidence, and this evidence would prevent Shen Shaoheng from becoming the crown prince.
He then felt relieved, picked up the teacup, tucked the tea into the teapot with the lid, took two sips calmly, and waited for further developments.
Mrs. Shen held up the handkerchief to press the tip of her nose, hiding the upturned corners of her lips.
Shen Jizong's face turned red after being told this by Shen Shaoheng, and he seemed to be irritated, so he stopped covering up for him.
"Last year during the Lantern Festival, you had a secret meeting with Aunt Mei on a flower boat. Fang Niang caught you there, and you killed her to silence her." Shen Jizong said sternly, "Chen Shaoheng, if you don't want others to know, then don't do it yourself. There is no wall that is impenetrable in this world."
These words were like rolling thunder hitting the head of Cheng Enhou. He looked at Shen Jizong in shock, his eyes sharp, as if trying to distinguish the truth from falsehood.
"Uncle, what did you say?" Madam Shen also pretended to be shocked and said in disbelief: "How could Shaoheng do such a foolish thing? No matter how bastard he is, he would never do such a treasonous thing!"
Shen Jizong snorted coldly: “If you don’t believe it, you can ask him.”
"No, impossible!" Madam Shen found it hard to accept. As if to prove Shen Shaoheng's innocence, she made a suggestion: "We brought Concubine Mei into the mansion to bring good luck to the Marquis. The Marquis has never stayed in Concubine Mei's courtyard until now..."
Mrs. Shen stopped there.
She didn't need to say the second half of the sentence, everyone knew what it meant, it was just a physical examination.
"The night Concubine Mei was brought into the mansion, I stayed in her room. What do you want to verify with Concubine Mei?" Marquis Cheng'en glared at Madam Shen, then looked at Shen Jizong and said coldly, "Last year during the Lantern Festival, Concubine Mei made a water lantern for me in my study and placed it in the lotus pond of Wanfeng Pavilion. She never left the mansion."
Marquis Cheng'en refused to admit that Shen Shaoheng had an affair with Aunt Mei.
If this scandal gets out, it will be a slap in his face. How will he face his colleagues in the future?
"I raised Heng'er under my care. He would never be that kind of person." Marquis Cheng'en suppressed his anger and warned in a deep voice, "Uncle, that's just a rumor. Don't mention it again."
Shen Jizong was stunned and subconsciously looked at Madam Shen.
Madam Shen thought that Marquis Cheng'en would not make such a shameful scandal public out of consideration for the overall situation.
He would definitely investigate the matter quickly and accurately, and then deal with Aunt Mei and Shen Shaoheng decisively and efficiently.
But she never expected that Marquis Cheng'en would turn against her in public for the sake of his face, and even lied that he had consummated his marriage with Concubine Mei.
At this time, Jiang Mu took out a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Shen Qingtan.
Shen Qingtan looked at Jiang Mu with some confusion.
Jiang Mu whispered, "Second Master prepared this for you."
Shen Qingtan raised her eyebrows. Why did Zhao Yi write a letter to her for no reason?
She suppressed her doubts, opened the envelope neatly, and pulled out a piece of paper from it. It was not a letter from him at all, but an official file.
The file recorded Fang Niang's cause of death in detail and even estimated the time of her death, which was probably after Madam Shen sent someone to deal with it.
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