Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 309 He's already stepped forward.

Yan Liang gritted his teeth: "He wrecked my Yan residence like this, he has to compensate me no matter what, right?"

Shen Qingzhou shifted her gaze and looked straight ahead: "Okay."

His straightforwardness surprised Yan Liang, who paused in surprise.

Before I could even process what he was saying, I heard him say, "A life for a life, a debt for a debt, that's only right and proper. If you damage something, of course you have to pay for it. Go make a list, I'll wait for you here."

These words sounded incredibly harsh, leaving Yan Liang speechless. After a moment's thought, he cupped his hands and said, "Our families' fathers served in the same court, and this situation is not what I wanted. I hope the eldest son will forgive me."

"Why be so sticky?" Shen Qingzhou's voice was as cold as ice. "My younger brother smashed so many things in your house, the Shen family should compensate him."

“Your family has damaged the reputation of my Shen family. You should compensate us with your own reputation and that will settle the matter.”

Yan Liang was startled, and before he could reply, Shen Qingzhou had already looked at the guard beside him:

“He Qu, go and tie up Madam Yan. Tell her how she instigated Xie San to offend the young mistress in the Taoist temple, and have Xie San do it to Madam Yan in front of everyone.”

"Yes."

He Qu obeyed the order, beckoned to gather a few guards, and prepared to storm into the backyard of the Yan residence.

Shen Zhui, looking utterly dejected, gazed at his brother with sparkling eyes!

Yan Liang stepped in front of He Qu and the others, his voice cracking: "You dare!"

Shen Qingzhou turned around slightly: "Isn't this your logic? I agreed to pay compensation, so of course you have to agree to compensate for the loss of your person."

"Go ahead.

"Catch them and get out of here quickly. I can't stand here for long. Otherwise, it will trigger my old ailment, and the Yan family will have to pay another bill."

He waved to He Qu again.

"Who dares to move?!"

Yan Liang and his servants blocked the doorway tightly, then gritted his teeth and stared at the pale-faced young man in front of him, who looked as if a gust of wind could knock him down!
He had seen Shen Yu more than ten years ago. On that snowy night, the eight-year-old boy ran to the Yan residence and knelt down to beg Yan Shu to release him. Yan Liang, who was only a little over ten years old at the time, saw the boy through the crack in the door. The boy was thin and frail, but he knelt down stubbornly and refused to leave, which left a deep impression on people.

After many years, he had grown into a handsome man whose face amazed everyone who saw him, but he was still sickly. Unexpectedly, his temperament had become unpredictable compared to more than ten years ago!

He casually gave the order to let the guards in to snatch the person!

Does he know what he's doing?

No matter how hateful Jin is, she is still the young mistress of the Yan family, and Yan Liang's lawfully wedded wife!

The emperor trusted the Yan family the most, yet he dared to act so presumptuously within their household?!

Is he crazy?!
But Shen Qingzhou didn't seem crazy at all; in fact, he was quite calm: "My guards have practiced martial arts since they were young, and one of them can do the work of four or five others."

“Young Master Yan is a scholar, I’m afraid he can’t withstand it. I advise you to step aside.”

Yan Liang gritted his teeth, pointing his finger at the street: "Get out! Get out of here!"

Shen Qingzhou frowned: "Didn't you say you were going to pay compensation?"

"roll!"

Yan Liang roared in anger again.

Shen Qingzhou nodded: "Then you still need to keep a close eye on your wife. Who knows, she might send the money to replace her someday when she has enough."

After saying this, he stepped down the stone steps and got into the sedan chair.

The sedan chair moved at a leisurely pace, just like the man himself, as if any haste would cost him his life. Yan Liangqing turned around with a cold expression: "Send a letter to the master! Go quickly!"

……

Yan Shu was busy with military pay matters at the Ministry of Revenue, so Lu Jie was naturally by his side.

Lu Jia delivered the message to Lu Jie after Shen Zhui left, so Yan Shu was completely unaware when Lu Jie received the letter.

Lu Jie initially sent people to keep an eye on the Yan family's movements, thinking that Grand Commandant Shen wouldn't have any thoughts about this forced marriage at this critical juncture. However, when Lu Rong came to report that Grand Commandant Shen had entered the palace, he dared not be careless. He quickly found an excuse to leave and hurriedly went to the palace as well.

Although Shen Bo was preoccupied with his own business, he didn't miss a single word of what was happening outside.

After seeing Yi Zhe from the Yi family, he sat in the carriage for quite a while.

He only ordered to go to the palace after the guards told him that Shen Zhui had broken into the Yan residence.

Today, the emperor was unusually reviewing memorials in the main hall. On his desk was a large stack of account books, stamped with the seals of various local government offices.

Shen Bo bowed and said, "I have a complaint to file today."

Lu Jie arrived at the palace gate just in time to hear this. He immediately disregarded etiquette and stood outside the threshold, loudly proclaiming, "Your Majesty, I have important matters to report!"

The emperor and Shen Bo looked over at the same time.

Lu Jie met the emperor's gaze, then stepped through the door and, after glancing at Shen Bo beside him, handed over the document in his hand: "I present to Your Majesty the rice market account books from Tanzhou Prefecture that I recently received."

The emperor took it from the eunuch, flipped through a few pages, then turned to Shen Bo and asked, "What were you about to say?"

Lu Jie stared at the back of Shen Bo's head.

Shen Bo said, "Your Majesty, I wish to accuse Yan Song of condoning his family members' evil deeds and tarnishing the reputation of the women of my Shen family! This is the petition I have prepared, which is entirely based on the testimony of my daughter-in-law. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly!"

The memorial was handed over again. Lu Jie was quite stunned when he saw it, then lowered his head and looked down, seemingly lost in thought.

"Isn't your daughter-in-law Lan Chu's daughter?"

The emperor raised his head, his gaze shifting between the two of them: "Lu Jie, as your father, you must already know about what is said in this memorial. Tell me, is it true?"

Lu Jie bent down to receive the memorial, and found that the matter in the memorial was exactly the same as that described in the letter that Lu Jia had previously handed to him.

This is strange. This Grand Commandant, who has never been willing to have a direct conflict with the Yan family, would actually stand up for Lu Jia.
And they even came directly to petition the emperor on her behalf?

He glanced at Shen Bo with surprise and suspicion, only to find the latter's face as still as water, revealing no sign of his true feelings.

He lowered his head and said, "As far as I know, what happened to my daughter is indeed true."

The emperor then turned his face to Shen Bo, his gaze carrying a hint of meaning: "Grand Commandant, you have never been one to contend with others, yet today you are willing to stand up for your daughter-in-law. This is truly rare."

Shen Bo knelt down, lifting his robe: "Your Majesty, the Yan family condones their family members' evil deeds, disregarding the dignity of officials in the same court, and even more so the fact that my daughter-in-law was betrothed by Your Majesty yourself. They are truly lawless, and I have no choice but to file a complaint!"

The emperor glanced at the memorial again and frowned.

Looking at Shen Bo again, he said, "Even if we're going to sue, it should be Shen Yu who steps in, not you."

Shen Bo paused briefly, then said, "Your Majesty, you are unaware of the true story behind this. The person who harmed my daughter-in-law did so to seek revenge against me!"

The emperor stared intently: "What do you mean by that?"

"The woman from the Yan family who murdered my daughter-in-law is surnamed Jin. Her grandfather was Jin Huai, who was a grain transport officer who escorted military supplies to the Northwest for the court many years ago."

Upon hearing the name "Jin Huai," the emperor stopped serving tea, and a sharp glint flashed in Lu Jie's eyes...