Chapter 33: Life Talisman
“That’s not all,” Zhang Ma said, pulling a paper folded into four squares from her sleeve and slowly unfolding it. “Listen, two distilleries in the South of the City, a manor in the West of the City, and a candle shop on Miaofa Street all belong to you, Chen Youde.
I recall you were once just a foreman on our mansion’s manor. With so much property, even a hundred of you, Chen Youde, couldn’t earn it.
It’s clear you’ve been lining your pockets quite a bit over the years.
I heard you shamelessly used a banknote to trick the Master today, claiming you sold off your family property to compensate the mansion’s losses. Heh, I wonder how many hundred taels it was?”
“This…” Chen Youde’s face instantly turned ashen, but he still stubbornly denied it, “You’re slandering me! When did I ever have so much wealth?”
“Let me tell you, there’s no way you can deny this today. Do you know who told us?” Zhang Ma flicked the paper in her hand.
Chen Youde looked at the paper as if it were a life talisman. He truly hadn’t expected Zhang Ma to know his background so clearly.
At this moment, the first thing in his mind wasn’t fear or regret, but curiosity: “You… how did you know?”
Zhang Ma snorted and said, “Your wife, Lu Shi, told me.”
“How is that possible?! She… she’s been dead for a long time!” Chen Youde looked as if he had seen a ghost.
“Yes, everyone knows she returned to her hometown three years ago and was robbed and pushed off a cliff by bandits on the way.” Zhang Ma sighed. “But her fate wasn’t sealed; she was caught by trees on the cliff face.
She wasn’t robbed at all; you found her a burden and had her silenced. Before pushing her down, the killer specifically explained the reason, fearing the vengeful spirit would pursue him for his life, telling her that every wrong has its source and every debt has its debtor!
A few days ago, Lu Shi found Madam and revealed the truth, also telling her about the wealth you had secretly accumulated.”
“So… it was her!” Chen Youde collapsed onto the ground, his eyes vacant.
Lu Shi knew his background too well; there was no way to deny it anymore.
“Chen Que De, Lu Shi was your wife for over thirty years, yet you, for your own selfish desires, murdered the wife who endured hardships with you and bore you children. How cruel your heart is!”
“I… I don’t feel guilty in my heart? But she was too nagging, too stingy… She held onto every single coin tightly, not allowing me any enjoyment. I suffered from childhood to old age. Now that I have money, why can’t I enjoy myself to my heart’s content?!” Chen Youde was initially guilty, but as he spoke, he gradually became indignant.
His face contorted, and he spat wildly, like a mad old dog.
Everyone present was greatly shocked upon hearing his words.
When Chen Youde’s wife died, he put on a show of being heartbroken, and everyone sympathized with him, thinking he was loyal and righteous.
Who would have thought he was so vicious.
“Master, as you can see. Chen Youde’s character is so base, how can his words be trusted?
He declared that items were lost from the storeroom and, based on a single statement, concluded that Zhu Dashun was responsible, driving the Zhu family of three out of the Capital City.
He even implicated me, making it a truly unjust accusation.
Although the item was lost while I was home, think about it, would I be that foolish? To openly steal and then fence the goods, was I afraid of staying in this mansion for long?
To put it bluntly, although Zhu Dashun was promoted by me, how many eyes are watching me in this mansion? A newly hired servant could successfully steal and fence the goods; was there a deity secretly assisting him?”
Wen Mingqian shifted the focus from Chen Youde to the storeroom incident, like a sudden U-turn.
This was because Gong Xu had already decided she was behind it and wouldn’t even listen to explanations.
If he were to confront her about this matter, he would either avoid her or stick to his guns.
This was like the story of ‘The Foolish Neighbor,’ where if he decided someone stole something, they would only look more like the thief. He would instinctively trust those close to him and reject those distant from him.
Let alone Gong Xu, an ordinary mortal; how many wise rulers and heroic figures throughout history have fallen prey to slander.
Moreover, Gong Xu was almost completely obedient to Consort Song, while he detested her.
Under such circumstances, extraordinary measures were needed to break the deadlock.
Zhang Ma beat Chen Youde, and Chen Youde, unwilling to suffer humiliation, naturally wanted Gong Xu to punish Zhang Ma.
With him bringing Zhang Ma to see Gong Xu, she could then naturally come along.
Furthermore, Consort Song and others wouldn’t be on guard, as they also wanted to use this opportunity to punish Wen Mingqian and her servants.
They never expected that her side was prepared.
She exposed Steward Chen’s true colors in public, shattering his facade of loyalty.
Wen Mingqian’s voice was not loud, but every word landed with force.
This time, Gong Xu did not glare at her angrily but remained silent.
“Chen Youde, is the storeroom theft related to you?” Zhang Ma coughed, her eyes sweeping over Granny Yang.
Granny Yang couldn’t help but feel a chill. She and the butler were originally in cahoots, but at this moment, she could only sacrifice a pawn to protect the king.
“Steward Chen, Little Madam treated you well; how could you do such a thing?” Granny Yang said, staring intently at Chen Youde.
It was best for Chen Youde to confess to everything and not implicate them.
Steward Chen looked up at her, then at Consort Song, and lowered his head without saying a word.
Consort Song began to feel uneasy. She had initially intended to observe the situation and fan the flames at the appropriate time.
She never expected Wen Mingqian to have a trump card, and one that she herself was unaware of.
“Steward Chen, I truly didn’t expect you to be this kind of person. I am truly deeply disappointed in you,” Consort Song said to Chen Youde, her voice filled with pain and disgust.
She genuinely didn’t know Chen Youde had become so greedy. She hadn’t been stingy with him in the past, but who would have thought he was so insatiably greedy!
“Little Madam, please save me! Although I’ve done wrong, I’ve truly worked hard for the mansion over the years!” Chen Youde knelt and kowtowed repeatedly.
Consort Song heard the hidden meaning in his words. If she pushed Steward Chen too hard, he would surely drag her down with him.
“Master, this is all my fault. I failed to recognize his true character. Please punish me!” Consort Song said to Gong Xu with a look of shame.
Steward Chen was promoted by her alone, and everyone knew he was her confidant. Now that such a thing had happened, it would be unreasonable for her not to express her stance.
“It’s not your fault,” Gong Xu instinctively defended Consort Song. “It’s hard to draw the bones of a dragon or tiger, let alone I was deceived by him too.”
“How does Master intend to deal with him?” Consort Song asked, probing. “Will he be handed over to the authorities or settled privately?”
After she finished speaking, the room fell into sudden silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
After a long while, Gong Xu finally spoke, “How do you intend to deal with him?”
He was asking Wen Mingqian.
