Chapter 59 Confiscating Property 3
Xie Rubao squatted in the corner, her hair disheveled from being dragged, her face covered in dust and tear stains, her knees and palms scraped and bleeding, yet she still clung tightly to the moon-white cloak.
The girl's tearful eyes, filled with fear and helplessness, stared blankly at her, as if she had seen the only light in her desperate situation.
Xie Sangning's heart felt as if it had been squeezed hard by an invisible hand, and a strange, stinging pain instantly spread through her.
That cloak was a gift from her.
She was told not to waste her money, and she actually listened and risked her life to protect the cloak.
What an idiot pickle jar.
Money is nothing compared to life.
Xie Sangning closed her eyes, suppressing the bitterness in her heart, and a surge of overwhelming anger erupted!
The anger burned towards the jackals in the yard, towards the mastermind behind it all, and towards herself—why did she show mercy back then?
I had been waiting for my brother to return so he could take revenge himself, but now I don't have to wait anymore.
In the past decade, no one has ever offended me like this and still managed to live a good life.
She took a step, step by step, over the mess and broken porcelain on the ground, and walked towards Xie Rubao, who was huddled in the corner.
She walked up to Xie Rubao and looked down at her.
Under the breathless gaze of everyone, Xie Sangning slowly squatted down, her snow-white fox fur trailing on the cold, dirty ground.
She didn't help her up, nor did she speak gently; she simply reached out her finger and gently wiped away the tears on Xie Rubao's face.
"You remember me telling you not to waste my money, but you've forgotten that I hate filth the most."
Xie Rubao was taken aback and quickly wiped her face with her hands!
“The pickle jar,” her gaze fell on the cloak in Xie Rubao’s arms, “It’s my fault, I’ve dragged you all down with me, and I haven’t even protected you properly.”
The men in black behind Xie Sangning widened their eyes upon hearing this!
The young lady has admitted her mistake?
The young lady admitted her mistake?!
Over the years, the young lady has never bowed her head. Even if she made a mistake, she would never admit it. If you really want to say that she is wrong, it's just a matter of losing her head.
What kind of magic does this little girl possess!
Is it because it's round and plump?
Xie Rubao sobbed and threw herself into her arms: "Sister Sang Ning! They're going to ransack my house! I'm so scared! Waaah..."
Xie Sangning suppressed her disgust, gently patted her back, and released her.
She raised her eyes and stared sharply at the soldier who had just committed the violence, and the pale-faced eunuch behind him!
"Anyone who lays a hand on you and hurts you, chop off their claws."
As for that 'conclusive' evidence...
Xie Sangning curled her lips into a cold smile. Behind her, a guard in black stepped forward and slammed a thick ledger down hard at the eunuch's feet with a "thud"!
"Open your dog eyes and look! This is the real ledger of the Ministry of Revenue's salt tax from last year!"
The account books fell to the ground with a thunderous roar!
Hiding behind the door, Qian Yong stared at the familiar account book that he was supposed to have disposed of. He looked as if he had seen a ghost, his face turned deathly pale, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud!
The eunuch was stunned, but quickly recovered and shrieked, "You...you forged the account books!!"
"Forgery?"
"Whether this is a forgery or not, I believe Lord Qian knows best, don't you think?"
"Lord Qian—" she drawled, her gaze piercing like a knife as she looked at Qian Yong, the Minister of Revenue, who was slumped behind the door, "Tell me, is this account book genuine or fake?"
Qian Yong's obese body could no longer stand, and large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
"It seems Lord Qian has a bad memory." Xie Sangning chuckled, but the laughter sent chills down Qian Yong's spine.
She raised her hand and waved it gently: "Someone, help Lord Qian recall."
Two men in black immediately stepped forward and dragged Qian Yong into the courtyard like a chick.
"On the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month last year, Lord Qian secretly met with salt merchants at the Zuixianlou Restaurant."
Xie Sangning spoke slowly and deliberately, his fingertip lightly touching a silver needle, "I received five thousand taels of silver."
Qian Yong's pupils constricted sharply: "You...how could you..."
"Slap!" The man in black interrupted him with a slap.
"On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Lord Qian ordered his men to falsify the salt tax accounts, embezzling 20,000 taels of silver."
With each word she spoke, Qian Yong's face paled further, and his lips trembled, unable to utter a single word.
"Should I continue?" Xie Sangning leaned down, meeting Qian Yong's gaze as he slumped to the ground. "Or has Lord Qian suddenly remembered something?"
Qian Yong finally broke down, his forehead slamming heavily onto the ground: "Miss Xie, spare my life! This official...this official was confused for a moment..."
The courtyard was deathly silent.
The eunuch's face turned ashen, and he quietly moved towards the door.
"Trying to leave?" Xie Sangning didn't even turn her head. "Stop him."
A dark shadow flashed by, and before the eunuch could react, he was kicked back into the courtyard, rolling several times in a sorry state before finally stopping.
"Do you want to go see the Emperor? Or the Second Princess? Do you want to accuse me of using violence, or of rebelling?"
"Today you only have one way to survive: to walk out with your back straight."
The eunuch knelt down with a thud, tears welling in his eyes.
"Please, Miss Xie, have mercy! Please, Miss Xie, give me your guidance!"
Xie Sangning chuckled: "Being spineless is the most boring thing, but the good thing is that even if you're spineless, you still have a weakness."
"Your family in the capital are currently guests at my general's residence. Do you know how to report this to the Emperor?"
The eunuch kowtowed repeatedly, his head hitting the ground loudly!
"Replying to Miss Xie! This servant just arrived at the Vice Minister's residence today and received the real account book! So, without confiscating the property, I rushed to report to His Majesty to clear Vice Minister Xie's name!"
"This servant has not seen Miss Xie today either!"
Xie Sangning nodded in satisfaction before looking at the men in black.
"Aren't you going to make a move? Have you all become bodhisattvas by the time you get to the capital?"
Before the words were even out of their mouths, the soldiers who had just been violent had all their hands on the ground!
"ah!!"
"My hand!!"
This scene startled the Xie family, yet they also felt a surge of satisfaction.
Xie Rubao covered her eyes in fright, but couldn't help peeking through her fingers.
Xie Sangning noticed her movement and smiled slightly: "If you're scared, then don't look."
"I...I'm not afraid!" Xie Rubao forced herself to lower her hand, her face pale but stubborn. "Sister Sang Ning stood up for me, I want to watch!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Xie Sangning's eyes, then she chuckled softly, "I underestimated you."
Xie Sangning handed the account book to Xie Ji. Xie Ji was quite old and had almost ruined his reputation in his later years, so he held onto the account book tightly and dared not let go!
"Take this ledger and clear your name. I don't want to see your whole family exiled or beheaded."
Xie Ji looked at Xie Sangning, so moved that snot bubbles came out of his nose.
Xie Sangning turned her head away in disgust.
"Why aren't you all getting out of here?"
The soldiers, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, helped each other and scrambled away to escape.
Xie Sangning then looked at Qian Yong, whose face was ashen: "As for you..."
"Miss Xie!"
Qian Yong suddenly lunged forward and grabbed her leg, pleading, "This humble official is willing to hand over all his wealth! He only begs to spare his life!"
Xie Sangning kicked him away in disgust: "You think I care about your little bit of money?"
She crouched down, her voice so soft that only Qian Yong could hear it.
"What I want is for you to attend the morning court session tomorrow, and in front of all the officials, expose how the Second Princess forced you to falsify accounts to frame Xie Ji. I can guarantee you'll keep your official position."
Qian Yong trembled all over: "This...this..."
"What?" Xie Sangning sneered, "You think the Second Princess is more terrifying than me?"
"No! That's definitely not true! No... that's not what I meant..." Qian Yong shook his head repeatedly, "It's just... the evidence..."
Xie Sangning stood up, took a letter from her sleeve, and threw it in his face: "A secret letter written by the Second Princess herself, ordering you to tamper with the salt tax accounts. Is that enough?"
After reading the letter, Qian Yong was completely dumbfounded.
He couldn't understand it at all. The Second Princess had given him the orders orally, so where did the letter come from? But the letter did indeed bear the Second Princess's seal, her handwriting, and even her tone!
"Tomorrow morning court." Xie Sangning gave him one last look.
"Either you step forward voluntarily, or... I'll step forward for you."
She glanced meaningfully at the severed hand on the ground.
Qian Yong jolted awake and kowtowed repeatedly, saying, "This humble official understands! This humble official understands!"
Qian Yong fled in a panic, followed by several men in black. He was temporarily deprived of his freedom.
Xie Sangning walked up to Xie Ji: "Minister Xie, shall we go to the study to have a chat?"
Xie Ji clung tightly to the account book: "I shall obey your command!"
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