“Madam Xu, these are all people who have been in contact with the purchasing department…”
Madam Xu threw the sachet on the ground. "You lot, take a look. Do you recognize your young lady's sachet?"
Several maids quickly shook their heads, but one old woman's expression changed, though she quickly returned to normal.
"Reporting to Madam, we servants do not know..." several maids hurriedly replied.
Madam Xu snorted coldly, "Now that everyone's here, Miss Shen and Madam Shen, why don't you tell me who got this sachet to Miss Shen? As the matriarch of the Shen family, you can't possibly be unaware of your own family's affairs..."
Madam Shen composed herself and said, "Madam Xu, perhaps there is some misunderstanding. Let me ask you first. The distribution of sachets in Xu's household has always been handled by you. Tell me, where did these sachets come from?"
Xu Mama kowtowed several times and said, "Madam, the sachets in the manor are all purchased from shops or pharmacies according to the masters' preferences. Once they reach me, they are directly distributed to the masters. Is there something wrong with these sachets?"
Hearing their excuses, Murong Xuan sneered, "Madam Xu, these people won't tell the truth unless they suffer a bit. Just hand them over to us..."
This means they're going to use torture. Madam Shen quickly said, "Madam, you mustn't! Our Shen family has always been loyal to the Prince of Yan's mansion. Does the Second Young Master Murong mean to torture us into confessing? This matter of the sachet was a misunderstanding. Xuanxuan is still young and has no idea what's inside. How could the person who made the sachet have thought of all that..."
"So, Madam Shen, you mean to let this matter drop? It's fortunate that Xiao'er didn't stay with you for long this time, but she trusted Miss Shen so much that she wasn't on guard. If Miss Shen came to talk to you like that every day, you know what the consequences would be..." Old Madam Murong said sternly.
Shen Xuanxuan looked somewhat dejected, and kept her head down without refuting anything...
Murong Xuan suddenly said coldly, "I do believe that Miss Shen would not harm Xiao-mei, but Miss Shen must know who taught you how to make this sachet, right? If Miss Shen is willing to tell us, we won't have to go through all this trouble, and these people can be spared physical pain. Miss Shen has remained silent, protecting the murderer. Does this do justice to Xiao-mei's trust in you?"
Shen Xuanxuan's eyes held a complex expression, as if she were deep in thought. After a long while, she finally said in a dejected voice, "It's my fault. It has nothing to do with the rest of the Shen family. I almost hurt Baozi. I'm sorry, Princess. Madam Xu and the Second Young Master should do what they need to do. Please don't hurt the rest of the Shen family..."
"Sister Chen, what are you saying..." Song Le'er said with a furrowed brow.
"Xuanxuan! Don't talk nonsense." Madam Shen also shouted.
Murong Xuan gave Madam Shen a somewhat gloomy look before slowly speaking, "Miss Shen, are you determined to offend certain people?"
“I haven’t defended anyone. I admit that I hurt the Princess. Second Young Master, please release the others. I will leave my fate to the Prince of Yan’s family…”
"Xuanxuan wants to confess on behalf of someone, but I'm afraid some people won't appreciate it. Cui Hao, Xia Fan, take this Granny Xu and Madam Shen away and interrogate them as you see fit."
Bai Chuxiao, supported by Lanxiang, walked in, exuding an icy aura, and coldly gave her orders.
"yes!"
Upon hearing the order, Cui Hao and Xia Fan did not hesitate at all. It was obvious to everyone that this was not something Shen Xuanxuan had done intentionally. Who else in the Shen family, besides Madam Shen, would have such audacity? Shen Tao's face could not be given to him forever.
"Please, Your Highness, have mercy! This is all Xuanxuan's fault..." Shen Xuanxuan hurriedly pleaded.
"Is Your Highness going to abuse the law? My husband is still fighting for the Yan Prince's Mansion outside. Is this how the Yan Prince's Mansion treats us? Without any evidence, why are you imprisoning me..." Madam Shen, who was being held captive, said angrily.
“Madam Shen, there’s no need for you to complain to me. Shen Tao is not irreplaceable. I have already made concessions for his sake. If you keep making a fuss, I will immediately recall Shen Tao, and from now on, we will have no need of the Shen family!”
Bai Chuxiao sneered. Shen Xuanxuan had stayed by her side every day in Yunzhou without any problems. But now that she's back, she's carrying a sachet. Who else could make Shen Xuanxuan carry it without any suspicion, except for her mother, Madam Shen? They've always been wary of Madam Shen, so this woman is trying to get close to her through her second daughter. No one would suspect anything...
“You’re just a princess consort. Do you think you can be the master of the Yan Prince’s mansion? You can’t just recall generals whenever you want. My husband has been by the Yan Prince’s side for so long. Even if he hasn’t made any great contributions, he has certainly put in a lot of hard work. Are you going to disregard meritorious officials for your own selfish desires?” Madam Shen said with a hint of madness in her eyes.
"Mother, please stop talking! What are you saying? Are you really going to kill Father and the Shen family...?" Shen Xuanxuan quickly grabbed her and pleaded, then added, "Please, Your Highness, have mercy! Mother was just talking nonsense. It has nothing to do with Father. Father has no ill intentions towards the Prince of Yan's Mansion..."
She knew that the Prince of Yan's mansion had many capable generals under its command, and they didn't need her father. Apart from her father, the Shen family had no one else who was worth mentioning. Her father's current status was all thanks to the Prince of Yan's promotion. Once they left the Prince of Yan's mansion, who in the Shen family would care?
She also knew the princess's personality. It was already a great honor for the Shen family to have her and her elder brother under her wing and be taught by them. If her mother continued to talk nonsense like this, the princess was absolutely capable of doing it, such as recalling her father and not re-employing him. Not to mention anything else, everyone in the Murong family was good at fighting. Even if her father was gone, there would naturally be someone who could take his place.
"Well, it seems that Madam Shen has harbored resentment towards the Prince of Yan's mansion for a long time. Such a Shen family is quite troublesome to deal with..." Bai Chuxiao sneered. She was not joking today. Anyone who dared to hurt her Baozi, even if they failed, she would never let them go.
It seems that only Madam Shen harbors resentment at present, but people's hearts are unpredictable. If Madam Shen is dealt with, another person with grievances may jump out.
"Your Highness, no! Xuanxuan guarantees that Father truly has no ulterior motives, and neither does anyone else in the Shen family..."
"Xuanxuan, what's the use of begging her? Don't think that just because she took you and your older brother to the army, she's a good person, selfless and altruistic. Ha, because of your older sister, she's long been dissatisfied with the Shen family and is only thinking about finding fault with the Shen family to make room for the Murong family..." Madam Shen said with a cold laugh.
"Nonsense! When has the Murong family ever needed your Shen family to make way for us? The Murong family has been fighting alongside the old Duke of Dingguo for decades. Most of the land in this Great Xia owes its existence to the Murong family. In recent years, the Murong family has only been quiet, not dead. Even in its quiet years, it has always been guarding the Northwest for the Great Xia. Who are you, a wicked woman, to have the audacity to interfere!"
Madam Shen's words infuriated Old Madam Murong. This wicked woman not only tried to harm Xiao'er, but also wanted to frame Xiao'er for favoritism towards the Murong family.
"Grandmother, don't be angry..." Bai Chuxiao quickly comforted the old lady.
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