Chapter 124 This is something only a biological father would do.
Two wooden crates were placed on the ground, and one of the crates contained two wooden boxes.
The wooden box has been opened, and inside, two fine wolf-hair brushes can be vaguely seen. The brushes are placed somewhat haphazardly, with one even lying across the other.
In another box was a Duan inkstone, and in the box next to it was a thick stack of paper, but the edges of the oiled paper used to wrap the paper had been torn open, revealing the plain paper of sincerity inside.
The rosin ink placed next to the paper was haphazardly piled up in the box.
Shen Chu's expression darkened slightly.
Princess Qinghe was grateful to her for rescuing Zhou Jun, and specifically stated that she would not send things in a messy manner.
Hongxiu said angrily, "The contents of the box were clearly searched before being delivered. It's hateful that these people who delivered the items said they didn't know anything no matter how I asked them."
Isn't this blatant bullying of you, young master?
Shen Chu glanced at the four servants who were shrinking back beside her and snorted coldly, "Don't know?"
The four servants knelt down with a thud.
"Young Master, we really don't know what's going on. The Marquis ordered us to bring the things over."
We haven't dared to touch this box since the Marquis handed it to us.
We can swear that we were very careful the whole way and we didn't bump into anything.
Who knew that when the girl in red sleeves opened the box, it would turn out like this?
Shen Chu's expression darkened slightly, and she roughly guessed what had happened.
"Alright, you can all leave now."
The servants breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly ran off.
Hongxiu became anxious, "Young master, you're just letting them go so easily? Won't that mean any servant can bully us like this from now on?"
Shen Chu stepped into the house. "Don't worry, they wouldn't dare."
With Madam Chen no longer in charge of the household, Marquis Changning is under house arrest, and Shen Yan is bedridden, any servant with a brain would not dare to offend her, the eldest son.
Hongxiu grumbled, "They dare to send you things that've been rummaged through? Is that what you call not daring to bully them?"
Chen Chu tapped her on the head, "If you put the same effort into other things instead of food, you wouldn't be so stupid."
"What do you mean? Young master, you believe what these servants say?"
"They had no reason to deceive me; they didn't touch the box precisely because they didn't dare offend me."
The contents of the box are so messy because it was already searched when it was handed over to them.
Hongxiu's eyes widened. "Young master, are you saying that the box was inspected by the Marquis before it was sent over?"
"Otherwise what?" Shen Chu scoffed.
Hongxiu held back for a long time before blurting out a curse in disbelief, "Damn it, is this something a father would do? A dignified marquis actually rummaging through his son's gifts? Even an old man from the countryside wouldn't do something like this!"
Shen Chu never expected that the Marquis of Changning would do something so degrading.
She changed into casual clothes before meeting Marquis Changning and asked directly, "Did Father inspect the items sent from Princess Qinghe's residence first?"
Marquis Changning's face darkened, and he slammed the teacup he was holding onto the table.
"How dare you! What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think I'm such a casual person?"
"yes."
Marquis Changning choked, his short beard twitching slightly with anger. "I don't know what you're talking about. The steward of Princess Qinghe's mansion sent some things, and I had the servants carry them to your courtyard."
If you find that the items have been rummaged through, you should investigate the servants who delivered them. Perhaps they were tempted by the fact that the items were from the Princess's residence.
This kind of servant should be severely beaten and sold off.
Shen Chu looked at him quietly, "Father really didn't search it?"
Marquis Changning slammed his hand on the table. "You insolent son, how dare you question your father time and time again?"
"If Father didn't touch the box, why didn't you ask me what was missing when I told you the box had been searched?"
Marquis Changning's eyes flickered slightly. "I was just about to ask that. Is something missing from inside?"
"Yes, ten thousand taels of silver are missing."
Marquis Changning blurted out, "Nonsense, where are the silver notes inside?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he realized what he had said, and his expression immediately changed.
Chen Chu sneered, "Didn't Father say he didn't search the chest? How would he know there were no silver notes inside?"
Marquis Changning stroked his mustache and scoffed dismissively, "Yes, so what if I turned it over?"
Chen Chu frowned. "Doesn't Father know that those things were a gift for me?"
"What's wrong with giving it to you? Can't I, as your father, even look through it? Let alone look through it, even if I wanted it all, you still have to give it to me."
"I am your father, you should be filial to me."
Chen Chu took a deep breath. "So what did Father take out of there?"
Marquis Changning's eyes flickered slightly, and he slammed his hand on the table again. "You unfilial son, what are you doubting?"
What could I possibly take? The Princess of Qinghe only sent some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones; they're nothing rare. How could I possibly keep them?
If you don't believe me, you can go back and check the gift list. Doesn't it all say what was given on the list?
Shen Chu stared at him intently, without mentioning that she hadn't had time to check the gift list yet.
"It's best if Father didn't take anything. From now on, please don't touch anything that is given to me. Just send someone to deliver it to my courtyard."
A dark glint flashed in Marquis Changning's eyes, but he did not lash out. Instead, he sighed, "Achu, I'm doing this for your own good. You are now His Majesty's special envoy, and countless eyes are watching you."
Putting aside everything else, just the other day, so many people came to our house to give gifts, and that wicked woman Chen almost got you into trouble.
Princess Qinghe said it was a gift of thanks, but who knows what kind of weird stuff they might have put in the box?
What if you rashly accept something unsuitable? Wouldn't you be harmed by someone?
You're still young and unaware of the treacherous nature of officialdom; it's up to me to oversee and protect you."
Shen Chu was truly disgusted; it was the first time she had ever seen someone go through other people's things and then talk about it so righteously.
She smiled enigmatically, “Although the officialdom is treacherous, my father has struggled for so many years and is still only a fourth-rank official.”
Oh no, I forgot that my father has been temporarily suspended from his post and is no longer a fourth-rank official.
My father himself stumbled and fell on his path to becoming an official, so where does he get the confidence to oversee and worry about me?
"You! You are utterly unreasonable!" Marquis Changning was furious.
Shen Chu smiled wryly, "I don't like others touching my things. If it happens again, don't blame my son for being impolite."
"You unfilial son!" Marquis Changning was so angry that he picked up a teacup and threw it at him.
Shen Chu raised her hand and caught the teacup precisely, then twirled it in her hand and placed it on the table.
"Tsk, such fine blue and white porcelain. The family's accounts are tight right now, Father, you should cherish it. Otherwise, you might have to use coarse porcelain bowls for tea in the future."
Having said that, he turned and left, which made Marquis Changning so angry that he almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
When Chen Chu returned to the courtyard, she had Hong Xiu check the gift list and found that nothing was missing from the box, so she didn't think much of it.
But an unexpected thing happened the next day.
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