Chapter 427: Chapter 426: Shen Hua, It Must Be Her Again!
When Manager Cheng left the study, half of his face was already covered with dried blood, looking quite terrifying.
He had taken twenty blows in the government office on behalf of Shen Qu, and after returning, he had knelt in the study for a long time. Now, feeling unwell all over, every organ in his body ached, and he walked with a limp.
Soon, someone supported him.
It was Housekeeper Wu of the Shen Residence.
Seeing him so distressed and noticing that there was no one around, Housekeeper Wu whispered, "The young master was angry, making you suffer."
He and Manager Cheng had been confidantes of Shen Wei in earlier years and were naturally familiar with each other. They had joined Shen Qu together by striking the same chord.
"Apologizing humbly in front of everyone, it’s more painful for the young master than killing him."
Manager Cheng truly felt awful inside, "Once we apologize, we concede the embroidery workshop’s mistakes, and the consequences are unimaginable. We are already on the edge of a cliff, and a slight misstep may mean there’s no turning back for the embroidery workshop. When the lord and lady were alive, I personally saw the embroidery workshop grow bigger and its reputation became more prominent. How long has it been since they left, I fear everything will be ruined."
Saying this, he heaved a deep sigh and looked towards a place.
That should be Shen Hua’s courtyard.
It seemed from the moment Shen Hua left the embroidery workshop with the old embroiderer, everything changed.
Suddenly, he gave a bitter smile, "Do you think we were wrong initially?"
Housekeeper Wu appeared momentarily dazed but soon regained his resolve.
"After all, Madam is a woman, and she will eventually have to marry out. Could she really manage the embroidery workshop? Even if she could, there was no reason for her to intervene."
"A young girl who hasn’t fully matured, what capability does she have? She left with a patron before the year and now she’s returned, she’s probably no longer pure. Even betrothing her would be difficult."
Fearing that Manager Cheng was still holding onto these thoughts, he spoke coldly again, "You should clearly understand that in the entire Shen Family, not a single person can tolerate the Madam. After all, we are just servants, how is striving for a good future wrong? Don’t be confused by this."
Housekeeper Wu didn’t invest much emotion in the embroidery workshop. Naturally, he couldn’t empathize.
He knew only that he would always be the steward of the Shen Residence, and had he followed Shen Hua back then, he would be nothing.
"Clan Elder Shen was infuriated by the lady last time, and suffered a stroke that very night."
"Second Master, having come back this time, knew he was at fault and didn’t dispute a word. The people from the second branch also moved out."
"Now in the Shen Residence, it’s the young master’s word, and that is final."
"Not to mention, the young master’s marriage with Lady Chi is almost settled too. Lord Chi is a proper seventh-rank patrol inspector."
Housekeeper Wu had a smile in his eyes: "The second house’s in-law, Mr. Zhu, is merely a subordinate seventh-rank Prefect, a senior and a junior ranking cannot be compared."
Even if the embroidery workshop really went under, the Shen Family still has immense wealth, and Shen Qu has a powerful father-in-law, making his future path smooth.
The conversation between the two did not reach Shen Qu’s ears.
He tossed all the brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk to the ground, unable to quench the rage in his heart.
This matter!
Shen Hua, Shen Hua, it must be her again!
Shen Qu gritted his teeth, wishing he could rip her apart alive. No longer the pretense of gentleness in front of others, his expression was ferocious.
Such a punishment, he was certainly not willing!
Magistrate Wang must also have developed a bias against him.
Clearly, it shouldn’t be like this. Since he was adopted into the main family, his path should be smooth.
Where did things go wrong?
Suddenly, there were footsteps in the study. Before Shen Qu could look coldly, he heard a ’clang’, and he was struck hard on the back of his head.
Yingwu knocked him out.
The layout of the study hadn’t changed much, and Shen Hua entered with an icy expression.
"Madam went to visit next door this morning, how could she have foreseen this case would be transferred from the County Magistrate to the Magistrate?" Xiaoqi followed her.
Upon learning that Shen Qu reported to the authorities, Shen Hua simply took advantage of the situation.
Shen Hua never mentioned it in the past. She just sent some Hengzhou snacks as a neighbor and only showed her face in front of the County Magistrate.
Yet that County Magistrate turned around and fell ill.
With the County Magistrate ill, the cases naturally piled up, and how could they handle it hastily upon review?
"He is a clever man."
Shen Hua approached maliciously and without hesitation raised her foot to kick Shen Qu’s face as if kicking a dead body, leaving several footprints.
"County Magistrate Liu has met Cui Yun; he was a pragmatic man from the start."
The Jade Pendant on her was rare indeed, County Magistrate Liu naturally recognized it as Cui Yun’s personal belonging. The rumors that Shen Hua was abandoned by nobles were self-refuting.
Even under the pressure of officials above him, he dared not act wildly in favor of Shen Qu, yet considering not to offend either side, he played it sly and handed over full authority to Magistrate Wang for handling.
Magistrate Wang, capable of handling this, must also have guessed the trickery involved. His punishment of Shen Qu made his stance clear and was also a blow to the corrupt officials of Fengzhou.
"Thinking about it, County Magistrate Liu escaped a disaster, and might even gain Magistrate Wang’s favor, he should be thanking me."
Shen Hua tilted her chin up again: "Do it."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yingwu pried open Shen Qu’s mouth.
The medicine powder mixed with soil was naturally hard to swallow; Xiaoqi was about to add some water to dilute it.
"Wait."
Shen Hua stopped him.
She hummed a little tune, went to the desk, and took some ink.
"Use this."
"Let’s not waste water."
If it weren’t for her fear of contamination, she should have made Xiaoqi collect some dog urine instead.
But ink would do just fine.
This was high-quality grinding ink, very expensive. It wouldn’t fade even when mixed with water.
A whole bowl of dark black poisonous water was fed down, not a drop spilled.
Shen Hua clasped her hands together: "Lady Chi of the Chi Family must have received the letter by now and be hurrying this way. She should arrive soon."
That letter was written to mimic Shen Qu’s handwriting.
"I wonder how awkward it will be when he is caught. This marriage, just with a snip of scissors, will be cut off."
Xiaoqi: "Servant... doesn’t know."
Anyway, she couldn’t solve it.
Shen Hua curved her lips, about to say something else when she saw Shen Qu on the ground, spitting black foam, his body starting to convulse.
Shen Hua: "Wow."
Her poison was fierce.
Soon, Shen Qu’s hair began falling out rapidly. Shen Hua was about to take a closer look when Yingwu carried her by the waist out of the room.
Here, Lady Chi hurried along.
She had just received the letter, Shen Qu inviting her over to talk, at 15:00 in the study.
Shen Qu was always courteous; his sudden invitation showed his affection.
And, what could he want to do in the study?
Could it be to declare his longing?
Lady Chi, about to meet her beloved, was bashfully delighted and gave the servant showing her the way some Silver Coin. She then eagerly pushed open the door.
A foul smell swept through, rushing into her nostrils.
Lady Chi’s face changed. Just as she was about to retreat, she saw the bald, foul-smelling Shen Qu suddenly jump up. With stiff fingers pointed, in front of her face, he grotesquely performed a beautiful backflip.
Having done this, he didn’t even have time to loosen his belt; he squatted down and made a toileting gesture.
Then he gave her a smile.
Exposing eight pitch-black teeth.
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