tallest building

Chapter 33 The Death Talisman

“That’s not all,” Zhang Ma said, pulling a neatly folded piece of paper from her sleeve and slowly unfolding it. “Listen to this: two distilleries in the south of the city, a manor in the west of the city, and an incense and candle shop on Miaofa Street—they all belong to you, Chen Youde.”

I remember you were just a village head in our manor before. You have so much property, even a hundred Chen Youdes couldn't earn that much.

It's clear that you've certainly done a lot to benefit yourself over the years.

I heard that today you even pretended to have a silver note to deceive the master, saying you sold off family property to compensate for the manor's losses. Hah, I wonder how many taels it was?

"This..." The Chen family member's face turned ashen instantly, but he still stubbornly denied it: "You're making false accusations! How could I have so much wealth?"

“Let me tell you, there’s no way to deny it today. Do you know who told us this?” Aunt Zhang waved the paper in her hand.

Chen Youde looked at the paper as if it were a death warrant; he truly hadn't expected that Zhang Ma would know so much about his background.

At that moment, his primary concern wasn't panic or regret, but curiosity: "How...how did you know?"

Zhang Ma snorted and said, "Your wife, Madam Lu, told me."

"How is that possible?! She...she's been dead for ages!" Chen Youde looked like he'd seen a ghost.

"Yes, everyone knows that three years ago she went back to her hometown, but she was robbed on the way, her travel money was taken, and she was pushed off a cliff." Zhang Ma sighed, "But she was destined to live, and she was stopped by the trees on the cliff."

She wasn't robbed at all; you thought she was a burden, so you had her silenced. Before pushing her down, the murderer made sure to explain the situation clearly, to prevent vengeful spirits from haunting him and to tell her that every wrong has its perpetrator!
A few days ago, Madam Lu approached the lady and told her the truth, including what she knew about the money you had secretly amassed.

"It's actually... her!" Chen Youde collapsed to the ground, his eyes glazed over.

Lu knew his own situation all too well; there was no point in denying it anymore.

"Chen Quede, Lu Shi was your wife for over thirty years, yet you murdered your wife who had shared your hardships and borne your children, all for your own selfish desires. How cruel you are!"

“I… how could I not feel guilty? But she’s so nagging and so stingy… she holds onto every single penny tightly, not allowing me to enjoy myself even a little bit. I’ve suffered since I was a child, and now that I have money, why can’t I enjoy myself to the fullest?!” Chen Youde was initially guilty, but gradually became indignant as he spoke.

His face was contorted with rage, and he spat as he spoke, like a mad old dog.

Everyone present was shocked by his words.

When Chen Youde's wife died, he acted as if he was heartbroken, and everyone felt sorry for him, thinking he was a kind and righteous person.

Who would have thought he would be so ruthless?

"Sir, you've seen it for yourself. Chen Youde's character is so despicable, how can you trust what he says?"

Something went missing from the warehouse, and based solely on one person's account, they concluded that Zhu Dashun was responsible and drove the Zhu family of three out of the capital.

I was even implicated because of this, it was truly an injustice.

Although the item was only lost while I was at home, thinking about it the other way around, would I be that stupid? It's blatant embezzlement; was it because they were afraid I wouldn't stay in this mansion for long?

To put it bluntly, although Zhu Dashun was transferred here by me, how many eyes in this mansion are watching me? How could a new servant manage to steal and then sell the stolen goods so easily? Is there some divine intervention at work?

Wen Mingqian shifted his focus from Chen Youde to the warehouse error, as if launching a surprise attack.

Because Gong Xu was already convinced that she was the one who orchestrated this, and he wouldn't even listen to any explanations.

If you come to him about this, he will either avoid you or stubbornly stick to his own opinion.

This is similar to the story of the wise man who suspected his neighbor. Once he determined who had stolen something, the more he looked, the more likely it seemed. He instinctively trusted those close to him and rejected those distant from him. Let alone a mere mortal like Gong Xu, countless wise rulers and courageous heroes throughout history have fallen prey to slander.

Moreover, Gong Xu was almost completely obedient to Song Shi, while he loathed her.

In such a situation, we must use extraordinary methods to break the deadlock.

Zhang Ma beat Chen Youde severely. Chen Youde, unwilling to be humiliated, naturally wanted Gong Xu to punish Zhang Ma.

With him bringing Zhang Ma to see Gong Xu, it would be natural for him to come as well.

Furthermore, the Song family and others would not be on guard, because they also wanted to take this opportunity to punish Wen Mingqian and his servant.

Little did they expect that their side had come prepared.

They exposed Steward Chen's true colors in public, shattering his facade of honesty.

Wen Mingqian's voice was not loud, but every word was firm and resounding.

This time, Gong Xu did not glare at her angrily, but remained silent.

"Chen Youde, is the theft from the warehouse related to you?" Zhang Ma coughed, her eyes glancing over Yang Pozi.

Granny Yang felt a chill run down her spine. She and the steward were originally on the same side, but at this moment they had no choice but to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.

"Steward Chen, the young mistress has treated you very well, how could you do such a thing?" Granny Yang said while staring intently at Chen Youde.

Chen Youde had better take full responsibility for this matter and not implicate them.

Butler Chen looked up at her, then at Madam Song, and without saying a word, lowered his head.

Song was getting restless. She had originally intended to observe the situation and then stir things up when the time was right.

Unexpectedly, Wen Mingqian possessed a trump card, and it was an inside story that even he himself was unaware of.

"Steward Chen, I never expected you to be this kind of person. I am truly disappointed in you." Madam Song looked at Chen Youde with heartache and disgust.

She truly had no idea that Chen Youde had become so greedy. She had given him plenty of benefits before, but who would have thought he would be so insatiable!
"Young Madam, please save me! Although I have done wrong, I have really done my part for the household over the years!" Chen Youde knelt down and kept kowtowing.

Song realized that there was a hidden meaning in his words. If she really pushed Steward Chen too far, he would definitely drag her down with him.

"Master, it's all my fault. I misjudged people. Please punish me!" Madam Song apologized to Gong Xu with a face full of shame.

She had personally promoted Butler Chen, and everyone knew he was her confidant. Now that something like this had happened, it would be unreasonable for her not to express her opinion.

“It’s not your fault,” Gong Xu instinctively defended Song Shi. “It’s easy to draw a dragon or a tiger, but difficult to draw their bones. Besides, even I was fooled by him.”

"I wonder what Master intends to do with him?" Madam Song probed, "Should he be sent to the authorities or settled privately?"

After he finished speaking, the room fell into a sudden, hushed silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long while, Gong Xu finally spoke: "What do you plan to do?"

He was asking Wen Mingqian.

(End of this chapter)