Chapter 63: Deciding on the Crown Prince and Physical Examination
Shen Qingtan clenched the file in his hand.
Zhao Yi secretly investigated Shen Shaoheng's affairs, and found out the injustice he had committed, and used some means to retrieve the official files for her.
What does this indicate?
Zhao Yi had already seen through her purpose and knew that she wanted to push Shen Shaoheng to confront Madam Shen and let Shen Shaoheng and Madam Shen compete for the position of the crown prince.
So he helped her?
It was not until this moment that Shen Qingtan understood why Zhao Yi insisted on letting her take Jiang Mu and Jiang Chao with her.
Not only was he worried that she would be bullied in the Marquis' Mansion, but he also wanted to provide her with the simplest and most effective solution when facing an unfavorable situation with Shen Shaoheng.
If Mrs. Shen had not mentioned Fang Niang, Jiang Mu would not have given her the letter, and she would not have known what Zhao Yi had done for her.
Shen Qingtan suppressed the turbulent thoughts in his heart and looked up at Shen Jizong: "Uncle, you can become the elder of the clan, which shows that you are a person of high moral character and high respect. Every word and sentence you say is very prestigious and weighty."
Shen Jizong took Mrs. Shen's money to do the job and revealed the affair between Shen Shaoheng and Aunt Mei.
Before this, Madam Shen was certain that this could be accomplished as long as it was proven that Aunt Mei was not virgin.
Finally, she also said that this was instructed by Marquis Cheng'en, and he would definitely benefit from it after the success.
He made sure that there would be no mistakes before he dared to accept the money and do the job.
Who knew that without Aunt Mei and Shen Shaoheng having to prove their innocence, Marquis Cheng'en, who was in the same boat with them, overturned their boat first and protected Shen Shaoheng and Aunt Mei.
At this moment, when he heard Shen Qingtan's words, his face, as old as tree bark, tightened tightly and he had a bad premonition.
But Shen Qingtan's next words surprised him.
"You accused my eldest brother of having an affair with Concubine Mei, and he was afraid the secret would be revealed, so he killed Fang Niang to silence her." Shen Qingtan asked, "Did Fang Niang die on the Lantern Festival?"
Shen Jizong was afraid that if he failed today, his reputation would be ruined and he would be removed from his position as clan elder.
Shen Qingtan's words gave him hope.
She is Madam Shen’s daughter, so she should be in Madam Shen’s camp?
Shen Jizong quickly scanned Madam Shen's face and saw that she was also very unwilling. He weighed it and said, "Grandniece, you should know very well that on the day Fang Niang died, her relatives came to the Marquis' Mansion to make trouble."
At this point, Shen Jizong sighed: "Forget it, forget it, the Marquis will not pursue it. I am just a clan uncle and I can't interfere in the family affairs of your Marquis' Mansion."
Shen Qingtan nodded and turned to look at Madam Shen: "Mother, did I mishear that day? When Fangniang's relatives came to make trouble, she was already dead?"
When Madam Shen saw that Marquis Cheng'en's face turned blue, she guessed his thoughts in her heart. No matter whether the matter between Shen Shaoheng and Aunt Mei was true or false, he would only examine it privately.
She didn't know what Shen Qingtan was up to, but she couldn't contradict herself.
"It's been over a year since the incident, and I don't remember exactly what was said. I only remember that Mother Wei came back and told me that when she and her relatives went to visit Fang Niang, Fang Niang had already died." Madam Shen still used the same old story, with a sad look on her face, "That family came to the Marquis' Mansion to cause trouble because they wanted money."
"I see." Shen Qingtan nodded in understanding, then raised the file in his hand and changed the subject: "The relatives came to make trouble this morning, and the official file records that Fang Niang died in the afternoon."
Madam Shen and Shen Jizong's expressions changed at the same time.
Shen Qingtan frowned and said, "Mother, you have been deceived by the cunning slave. It was not my elder brother who forced Fang Niang to death."
Mrs. Shen's face turned pale, her eyes fixed on the file in Shen Qingtan's hand, and cold sweat almost broke out on her back.
Shen Qingtan seemed not to notice that Mrs. Shen's face had turned ugly, and turned to look at Shen Jizong who was sweating profusely.
"Uncle, it seems you believed the rumors," Shen Qingtan said in a serious tone. "Without verifying the facts, you publicly accused my elder brother of moral flaws. If it weren't for my father's trust in my elder brother and the fact that there was no such thing as this file, my elder brother would never be able to hold his head up high, and Aunt Mei would have died unjustly. As an elder of the clan, you should respect your status and be cautious in your words and actions, so that you can deserve the respect of your clan members."
This long paragraph of words came down on his head, almost judging that he was deliberately framing Shen Shaoheng.
Shen Jizong knew that he had offended the Marquis' Mansion and could foresee his fate.
His palms were sweating, and he slumped in his chair, unable to utter a word.
Shen Qingtan deliberately asked again, one reason being to prevent them from changing their story about the cause of Fang Niang's death and making any further fuss.
The second is to deliberately remind Madam Shen and Shen Shaoheng that there is something fishy about Fangniang's death. They can start a thorough investigation, which may play a key role in bringing down Madam Shen in the future.
As for the third one...
Shen Qingtan handed the file to Marquis Cheng'en: "Father, please take a look."
Marquis Cheng'en took the file and confirmed that it was truly from the government.
He thought of what Shen Qingtan had extracted from Madam Shen. Anyone with a bit of common sense could guess that Fang Niang's death was most likely related to Madam Shen.
Mrs. Shen could put the blame on Mother Wei, but once things got out of hand, it would be beyond his control.
Besides, he didn't want his family's dirty laundry to be made public.
Marquis Cheng'en glanced at Shen Qingtan with a hidden look and returned the file to her.
"As previously agreed, tomorrow I will submit a petition requesting that Shaoheng be named Crown Prince." The coldness in Marquis Cheng'en's eyes faded, a touch of gentleness appearing on his serious face. "Shaoheng used to be quite playful. If he becomes Crown Prince, with the responsibilities he carries, he will surely reform."
Madam Shen suddenly looked up at Marquis Cheng'en. She never dreamed that he would agree so easily.
Another elder looked at the dejected Shen Jizong and shook his head slightly, unwilling to wade into the muddy water: "Since you have made up your mind, I will take my leave first."
After saying that, he stood up and left without waiting for anyone else to speak.
Shen Jizong hurriedly chased after him, hoping that the elder would plead for him.
Madam Shen got a satisfactory answer and said nothing more, but looked at Madam Shen with a cold look.
Before leaving, she specifically said to Shen Qingtan: "Tan'er, fresh green plums have been delivered from the farm. You can take a basket back later."
For the first time, Shen Qingtan saw a pleasant expression on Old Madam Shen's face, and she responded softly, "When I return home later, I'll bring someone to your place to move the plums."
Old Madam Shen smiled and nodded, then told Shen Shaoheng to leave, intending to interrogate him about the matter between him and Aunt Mei.
The frivolous smile on Shen Shaoheng's face had long since disappeared, and he left with the old lady with a gloomy look.
Marquis Cheng'en had long been accustomed to his mother's indifference towards him. As soon as the old lady left, he called a nanny with a gloomy face and went straight to Aunt Mei's yard.
He walked straight into the inner room and saw Aunt Mei lying on the bed. He said, "Examine her body."
Aunt Mei looked at the man who was coming at her aggressively, her face showing panic: "Marquis... Marquis... Ah..."
The nanny roughly dragged the person into the bathroom for examination.
When Mrs. Shen hurried over, she heard Aunt Mei crying from the bathroom.
Immediately afterwards, the examining nanny came out with a pale face.
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