Chapter 24: Use Your Brain
“Ahem…Brother Yutang, don’t worry.
And don't make my aunt and sister unhappy because of my affairs.
My aunt promised me that if I confessed my guilt, she would plead with the prefect for a lighter sentence... At least, my life wouldn't be in danger. It would just be a little more hardship and fatigue, but I'm not afraid."
While saying these defiant words, Murong Yan'er tried hard to force a smile towards Shen Yutang, wanting to reassure him.
However, due to lack of strength, she swayed and fell into his arms.
"Yan'er..."
Shen Yutang immediately hugged her, and only then realized that her body was burning hot and her cheeks were abnormally flushed.
"Why is your body so hot? If this continues, you won't be able to bear it... No, I must get you out!"
Murong Yan'er buried her face and lay tightly on his chest.
But after a moment, he seemed to fall into a coma and lost consciousness.
Just murmured his name.
"Brother Yutang...don't go. It's so cold and dark in the cell...I'm so scared..."
…
The next morning.
Jiang Wanning had just woken up when he received the news that the government office had been flooded overnight.
Nanny Lin was afraid that she would be unhappy, so she spoke very carefully.
"I heard that there was a fire in the office, burning some documents, among which happened to be... the confession that you, Madam, asked Miss Murong to sign yesterday.
In prison, Liu again protested her innocence, changing her confession to Miss Murong, refusing to admit to theft and insisting she knew nothing. The prefect, citing insufficient evidence, released the two of them from prison with Princess Ruyang as a guarantor.
Jiang Wanning sneered when he heard this.
"This fire is quite clever, choosing the right time and place. Why does this sound so familiar to me? Could it be that the Liu family would set fire through the prison door?"
Nanny Lin hesitated and her voice became smaller and smaller.
"The prince seemed to have visited Miss Murong in the government jail last night."
Jiang Wanning was speechless: "..."
Can she give up this rebellious son?
She is just a traitor. He might as well just let Liu marry into his family so that she won't have to sabotage him every day.
"Where is the prince now? Bring him here! I won't feel comfortable if I don't beat him up."
"Madam, the prince is kneeling outside... He's been kneeling for over half an hour, shirtless, with a whip tied to his back."
"Really? He knows he's done something wrong, and he even knows how to apologize."
When Jiang Wanning heard this, he became interested.
"Let's go... go out and take a look!"
Open the door.
As expected, Shen Yutang knelt upright in the yard.
He knelt on the ground with a long thorn tied on his back. The morning light shone on his wheat-colored skin, clearly highlighting the texture of his chest and abdominal muscles.
Jiang Wanning couldn't help but click his tongue twice when he saw this.
As for her son, his only redeeming qualities are his figure and face.
My daughter-in-law eats well, so she doesn’t suffer too much.
"Mother……"
Seeing Jiang Wanning coming out of the house, although Shen Yutang did not agree with his mother's behavior, he also knew that the matter of "stealing treasure" could only be truly resolved if his mother stopped pursuing the matter.
"Yan'er is innocent of what happened that day. If you're still not satisfied, just come at me! I'm willing to take the punishment for Yan'er. I only ask mother to spare her life and not let her die in vain in prison..."
"Okay, it's not impossible for me to let her go."
Hearing Shen Yutang pleading for Murong Yan'er, Jiang Wanning rarely showed any anger.
He even agreed to it readily.
"As long as you run around the mansion bare-chested ten times, I will not pursue the matter of stealing the treasure. How about that?"
“…”
Shen Yutang racked his brains but could not imagine that his mother would make such a request. His face suddenly turned three shades redder.
Obviously, he felt that this move was too shameful.
He would rather have his mother whip him dozens of times.
"Why, are you feeling ashamed?"
Seeing that he remained silent, Jiang Wanning did not hide the sarcasm in his tone.
"Don't you like to be a hero? In order to prevent Yan'er from being wronged, you even dared to set fire to the government office. Now I ask you to run a few laps with your bare chest. Is that difficult?"
Shen Yutang felt that his mother was deliberately making things difficult for him, and he couldn't help but retort.
"Mother, could you please not be so excessive..."
"I went too far? What about you... When you set fire to the government office and risked your life to save others, did you ever think about your parents, your wife and children? Do you know what will happen to you if this matter is exposed? How many times will your father be impeached in the court?! Grow your brain, Shen Yutang, and don't let others use you without knowing it!"
Hearing Jiang Wanning scolding him like this, Shen Yutang blushed again.
He admitted that he had acted impulsively last night.
But he did not regret being able to rescue Yan'er.
"Mother, rest assured. I will take full responsibility for my actions. If the arson is really investigated, I will never bring trouble to the Marquis' Mansion!"
"Okay, okay, you are noble and righteous..."
Jiang Wanning felt that she had said everything she needed to say and had fulfilled her responsibilities as a mother, so she was too lazy to talk nonsense with him and just asked.
"So are you going to run away or not? If you don't want to run outside, you can run around the house."
At least it would benefit the maids and servants in the mansion and let them feast their eyes. After all, if he really ran away, she would be embarrassed.
Shen Yutang hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth.
“…I’ll run.”
…
After a cup of tea.
Jiang Wanning sat in the pavilion in the garden, eating melon seeds and watching the maids chattering. It was as lively as New Year's Day.
My mood isn't that bad anymore.
Nanny Lin asked tentatively.
"Madam, are you really not going to pursue the matter of the stolen treasure?"
Jiang Wanning said.
"With the Ruyang Palace intervening and putting pressure on the prefect behind the scenes, this matter won't get too serious. If we investigate further, we'll just drag a servant out to take the blame, and it won't hurt the Liu mother and daughter at all. For now, being able to lock them up for a night or two in jail will already ruin their reputation, so we won't lose out."
Nanny Lin nodded: "That's true... Then why do you let the prince run around the mansion shirtless..."
Jiang Wanning sneered, "If you don't like him, take him for a walk."
Nanny Lin: “.”
Jiang Wanning seemed to have thought of something and couldn't help but give a reminder.
"By the way, remember to bring back everything Liu took from the Marquis' Mansion. Don't leave anything behind! I don't want her to take advantage of me."
Nanny Lin immediately agreed, "I understand! I doubt the prefect would dare to help Liu and embezzle your property."
"And Qingqing's, count them all carefully."
"Yes, I will definitely see to it."
…
It was evening.
Nanny Lin happily brought her people and carried several large boxes back to the Marquis' Mansion from the government office, as if they had a great harvest.
When he saw Jiang Wanning, he couldn't help but take credit.
"Madam, the prefect is quite discerning. He's stuck between our Marquisate and the Prince of Ruyang's Mansion, so I'm sure no one dares to offend him. Although they released the Liu mother and daughter, they didn't let them take the confiscated luggage. I had my servants bring it all back!"
By this calculation, we have actually taken more of Liu's personal belongings... Madam, do you think we should return these things?"
Jiang Wanning waved his hand without thinking.
"No need to return it. They have been eating and drinking for free in the Marquis' Mansion for so long. This little money is not even enough to pay the rent. Why should we return it to her?"
"But if the Liu family starts making trouble again..."
"She doesn't dare to make a fuss. We are the victims of this lawsuit, and she has no right. It's good enough that they can be released from prison. She still wants to get her private money back. Humph... She's dreaming."
After a pause, Jiang Wanning gave another order.
"Clear out all the things and put them back where they belong. As for Liu and Murong Yan'er's things, sell what can be sold, and burn what can't. You and Baojuan will each get 30% of the money from the sales, and divide the rest among the servants of the Marquis' Mansion so that everyone can be happy!"
"Hey! Thank you, Madam, for the reward!"
Nanny Lin was delighted to hear this and immediately divided the spoils up.
This free money is sweet.
…
Over there.
When Liu heard that all her luggage had been carried to the Marquis's Mansion and she couldn't get anything back, she was so angry that she smashed a cup in the room.
"You are such a good Jiang! You even want to take my things for yourself... Your greedy face is really disgusting!"
Murong Yan'er lay on the bed, her face pale and she coughed twice.
I don't take it to heart.
She even felt that Liu was a little short-sighted and held her back. Otherwise... Jiang wouldn't have caught hold of her and sent her to jail for nothing. It was only by catching a cold that she forced Shen Yutang to take risks for her.
"Mother, I really don't know what you're so anxious about. When I marry into the Marquis's Mansion and become the Crown Prince's Consort, you'll have all the treasures you want. Why bother stealing Jiang's things and end up being branded as dishonest?"
Liu obviously didn't think she was wrong and spoke with confidence.
"I can wait, but your brother can't! Do you think I'm greedy? I'm just thinking about your brother..."
Murong Yan'er was puzzled: "What does this have to do with my brother?"
Liu lowered her voice, her eyes full of calculation.
"Didn't your brother save Princess Rong'an a few days ago? I think the princess is also interested in your brother.
But your father's official position in the imperial capital is only a small one. How could the Prince of Ruyang look favorably upon a relative like us? Then I have to get more money and bribe people everywhere to see if I can get your father a promotion.
Also, Princess Rong'an's birthday is coming soon.
You can't be so rude as to not present the gift your brother gave you, right?
The more expensive the birthday gift is, the more likely Prince Ruyang and his wife will see your brother's sincerity towards Princess Rong'an, and they will have a good impression of your brother and not object too strongly.
But that damn Jiang actually took all the money away. She deliberately didn't want your father and your brother to have a good life..."
Hearing this.
Murong Yan'er frowned slightly, also a little stumped.
She thought about it and there was only one way.
"How about... Mother, you pick out the gift and I'll ask Brother Yutang to buy it for me?"
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