At the Zhao Manor.
After two days of rest, Zhao Ying could already walk.
This was thanks to Ye Li not letting anyone strike too harshly.
Although the wound on his backside hurt with every step, Zhao Ying, who had been lying down for two days, couldn't bear it anymore, so he had a servant help him move around the courtyard to stretch his limbs a little.
Song Lianxin, despite the injury on her hand, helped Zhao Ying with the servant, talking to him, but a hint of worry was etched on her brows.
Zhao Ying noticed Song Lianxin's mood was off and frowned, saying, "That bastard Shen Jing is almost dead from illness, why aren't you happy?"
"Aren't I worried about money?"
Song Lianxin said with a troubled expression, "We've meticulously calculated over the past two days, and even if we sell all the valuable things in the manor, we're still short about eighty thousand taels of silver..."
"Eighty thousand taels?"
Zhao Ying's eyelids twitched, "How could it be that much?"
"Originally, the shortfall wouldn't have been this much."
Song Lianxin said indignantly, "Yesterday, I received a letter from my brother; when he was purchasing silk in the south, he was set up, and the fifty thousand taels of silver for the silk purchase were all swindled away..."
"What?"
Zhao Ying was furious, "How could he be so stupid?"
"My father now has a mind to beat him to death."
Song Lianxin sighed, "But what's done is done; nothing we say now will help..."
Song Lianxin lowered her gaze, the cloud of worry on her face refusing to dissipate.
The money being swindled was, of course, a lie.
But they now all wanted to find an opportunity to kick the Zhao Family aside; they couldn't be the only ones bleeding, the Zhao Family also had to contribute some money.
Hearing Song Lianxin's words, Zhao Ying also began to worry.
"Haha..."
Just then, a burst of immensely hearty laughter came from outside.
As the two wondered, Zhao Jianzhi walked in with a beaming face, "Shen Jing is dead from illness!"
"Really dead?"
Zhao Ying and Song Lianxin were a little stunned.
"He's as dead as can be!"
Zhao Jianzhi laughed, utterly relieved, saying, "Lord Feng has already taken people to offer condolences!"
"Good riddance!"
Zhao Ying exclaimed with satisfaction, "It's a pity I couldn't kill that bastard with my own hands!"
"It's fine! As long as he's dead!"
Zhao Jianzhi said with deep hatred, "This is retribution!"
"Yes, it's retribution! He deserved to die!"
Song Lianxin nodded in agreement, then suddenly asked, "Then should we also go to the Su Family to offer condolences?"
"What did you say?"
Zhao Ying suspected he had misheard, "Lianxin, have you gone mad with joy?"
Shen Jing had swindled them out of a hundred thousand taels of silver and caused her and her father, as well as her mother, to lose a finger. And she was still going to offer condolences?
Wasn't that just seeking disgust?
"No."
Song Lianxin shook her head, "Even Princess Qinghe went to offer condolences; even if we just put on a show, we should go! Even if the Su Family ignores us, we can at least let the Princess see our sincerity!"
There was one more thing she didn't say.
If she could find an opportunity to chat with Princess Qinghe and offer her benefits, perhaps they could climb this truly great tree!
By then, the Zhao Family would also have to act according to their whims!
Although she also knew that the hope for this matter was extremely slim.
But she was now desperately eager to break free from the constraints of the Zhao Family; even if there was only a glimmer of a chance, she wanted to try!
"Lianxin's words are reasonable!"
Zhao Jianzhi nodded, "Whether they accept our goodwill or not, that's the Su Family's business! But we must show our attitude!"
At the same time, Madam Su, who had gone to buy vegetables, also encountered Feng Min and his entourage.
Seeing Madam Su, Feng Min and the others couldn't help but be stunned.
Shen Jing was dead, why weren't they in mourning, still wandering around?
Was he truly a live-in son-in-law picked up from the streets, worse than even cats and dogs?
It couldn't be, could it?
When Madam Su had previously stood up for Shen Jing, she had almost treated him like a treasure!
After a brief moment of surprise, Feng Min bowed to Madam Su again and tentatively asked, "Madam Su, this humble official heard that Young Master Shen passed away, I wonder..."
"What nonsense?"
Madam Su's expression changed, and she angrily said, "Which bastard is cursing my son-in-law?"
"Ah?"
Feng Min was astonished, "Young Master Shen... is fine?"
"Nonsense! My son-in-law is perfectly fine!"
Madam Su looked at Feng Min with an unfriendly expression, "What, are you hoping my son-in-law dies?"
"No, no!"
Feng Min shook his head repeatedly, smiling apologetically, "This humble official just heard passersby spouting nonsense; I happened to meet Madam Su, so I just asked out of curiosity."
Madam Su narrowed her eyes, "Are passersby spouting nonsense, or are you spouting nonsense?"
"It really was passersby making it up!"
Feng Min answered guiltily, "Someone saw the Princess taking a large number of guards towards the Su Manor, so they made up that Young Master Shen had passed away..."
"The Princess went to retrieve an important item left at the Su Manor!"
Madam Su casually replied, then looked up and scanned the group of officials, asking with a half-smile, "What are you all doing? You're not rushing to offer condolences to my son-in-law, are you?"
"No, no..."
Feng Min quickly denied it, "Didn't the government just collect the autumn grain? This humble official is taking my colleagues to inspect the official granary in the south of the city!"
Damn it, the Princess was just going to pick something up?
What important item would require the Princess to be so hurried and go herself?
Could it be the imperial golden plaque?
"Yes, yes!"
"We are going to inspect the official granary in the south of the city."
"This granary is of utmost importance and must be strictly inspected..."
Everyone chimed in agreement.
"Is that so?"
Madam Su looked at them skeptically, "Then you all go about your business! I'm busy too!"
With that, Madam Su glanced at everyone again and got back into her carriage.
She was practically certain that these people were planning to go to the Su Family to offer condolences for Shen Jing.
After all, since the Princess had gone to "condole," how could they not go?
She was just too lazy to expose these people!
Watching the carriage drive away, Feng Min couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
It was a good thing he had been extra careful and hadn't immediately said anything like "my condolences."
"Lord, shall we go back?"
At this moment, an official asked.
"Go back for what!"
Feng Min glared at him, "Let's go! To the official granary in the south of the city!"
The official granary in the south of the city wasn't far anyway, and since they had already said so much, they might as well go and see it!
After all, it would have to be inspected sooner or later.
Thinking this, Feng Min led a group of officials directly to the official granary in the south of the city.
Meng Tong secretly cursed to himself and quickly called another attendant, "Go quickly to the Zhao Manor and tell Lord Zhao that Shen Jing is not dead, and the previous news was a misunderstanding!"
The attendant took the order and quickly left.
The attendant hurried all the way, finally arriving at the Zhao Manor, and led by a servant, met Zhao Ying, who was resting there, and told Zhao Ying the news that Shen Jing was not dead.
"What?"
Zhao Ying exclaimed, completely forgetting the wound on his backside, and suddenly flipped over to sit up.
"Ah..."
In immense pain, Zhao Ying let out a series of shrill screams.
"Young Master!"
The servant quickly stepped forward to help him.
"Don't touch me!"
Zhao Ying slapped away the servant's hand and, with a panicked face, ordered, "Quickly go after the Lord and the others! Go quickly! Ah..."