Chapter 42: Sell Someone Out In Hopes of Winning Favor
Once everyone had heard, they were shocked and horrified. Da Furen was the first person to react: “Suzi? This is clearly the red ginseng Lao Furen often uses! Chang Le, you are only a child, do not speak without thinking!”
Li Chang Le spoke decisively as if hammering a nail into a post: “Red ginseng is also readily available at my place. How could I not know? These things are obviously not red ginseng!”
Everyone’s gazes were fixated on her hand, but from the moment the red ginseng was added to water to when it had fallen onto the ground, how could anyone recognize what it was now? Yet, Li Chang Le firmly insisted that this was the case.
Li Wei Yang coldly looked at her, not saying a word.
Li Min Feng stood. His expression became as cold as ice: “Lu Xin, why have you not fallen to your knees!”
Stunned, servant Lu Xin instinctively dropped to her knees. Li Min Feng’s expressions were unsightly: “Yatou, Lao Furen trusts you the most, leaving tea and refreshments in your care. Yet, you dare to secretly replace Lao Furen’s red ginseng!”
Lu Xin did not know how to respond. Her face was ashen pale: “Da Shaoye, nubi did not do such a thing! How could nubi dare to steal Lao Furen’s possessions, even if nubi was given a greater liver, nubi would still not dare to do so!”*
Da Furen saw the situation and understood. The corner of her lips curved into a subtle smile that could not be easily discovered: “Feng er, Lu Xin has served Lao Furen for many years. I trust Lu Xin would not do this. It is best if this matter is investigated further to see who else had stepped foot into the tea room.”
Lu Xin was taken aback, then raised her head, but did not dare to look in Li Wei Yang’s direction.
Aside from San Xiaojie, no one else could have come in contact with Lao Furen’s tea! But the situation at hand ---
Li Wei Yang smiled softly: “There is no need for further investigation, Mother. Aside from Lu Xin, regarding tea and refreshments, there is no one who could have come in contact with Lao Furen’s tea other myself.”
Everyone’s expressions changed, and in a flash, they had become astute.
Da Furen spoke: “How can this be? Chang Le, you just said that this was not red ginseng but suzi?”
Li Chang Le asserted: “I can confirm that it is not the treasured red ginseng in this cup of tea but rather Suzi, which has a similar appearance.”
Li Chang Xi curiously asked: “What is suzi?”
Li Min Feng dismissively explained: “Suzi is clearly not something of great value and cannot compare to red ginseng!”
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Li Chang Xi revealed an expression of shock: “This does not need to be said! San jie jie secretly stole and replaced Lao Furen’s red ginseng?! Aiya, San Jiejie, how could you do something like this?”
Li Wei Yang coldly looked at her: “Wu mei, this has yet to be thoroughly investigated. Kindly refrain from slandering me!”
“San jie, since when did I speak ill of you? Don’t you see? Once this is spread out to the public, everyone will say we sisters are at odds with one another!” Li Chang Xi’s mouth jutted out due to the severe swelling. The scar on her face was covered by a thick layer of powder but a dull light still shone through. She turned her head to face everyone, raising her voice: “Lao Furen, Mother, I had good intentions and only said a couple words, yet San Jiejie has treated me this way! Faced with such a great injustice… I do not know who I can tell!”
“That can be discussed at a later time. San mei, explain the matter with red ginseng!” Li Min Feng’s gaze was cold.
Er Furen glanced at Li Wei Yang, who had yet to speak up. San Furen furrowed her brows: “The matter must still be thoroughly investigated before any conclusions are made. Do not wrongly accuse an innocent person.” She had also noticed a motive and scheme amongst them, and this scheme was directed at none other than Li Wei Yang.
Li Chang Xi was satisfied. Li Wei Yang, that lowly girl, today was the day we shall see how capable she was!
Li Wei Yang’s expressions did not change, slightly smiling as she told Li Min Feng: “Da ge, Da ge is certain that everything lies within your hand, yet there are deities three meters above your head. Da ge is willing to say that I stole Lao Furen’s red ginseng?”
Li Min Feng’s expressions steeled, “Whether or not that is true, you should clearly know! Red ginseng is invaluable, more so than gold, but suzi is rather cheap. Even if you were short on money, you should not resort to thievery! Lao Furen enjoys the delicacy of duck. Red ginseng needs to be used with duck soup in order to have medicinal benefits to improve vitality. When used with duck soup, Suzi will create toxins instead. You clearly intended to take Lao Furen’s life!” Having said this, he looked around him once and said: “Whoever is also involved in this matter cannot be forgiven and must be dealt with harshly!”
At that moment, Zi Yan dropped to her knees: “Lao Furen, spare my life! Lao Furen, spare my life! It was xiaojie who stole the red ginseng, but nubi was not aware of this at first!”
This was too --- Li Wei Yang coldly stared at the person seemingly reenacting a classical drama before her eyes, a cold sneer playing across her lips went unnoticed.
Li Min Feng feigned surprise: “Zi Yan, what did you discover?”
Zi Yan wiped away her tears, brimming with regret: “Xiaojie… Xiaojie had no choice! Going back and forth led expenses to a
dd up everywhere. Given the monthly allowance, xiaojie was truly in need of money. Xiaojie had to shoulder this burden. That is why she quietly stole Lao Furen’s red ginseng and replaced it with suzi. I ask that Lao Furen forgive Xiaojie!”
Lao Furen was stunned to hear this. In her mind, she recalled something Luo Mumu had said. When it came to San Xiaojie, she was only rewarded a single set of coins. Lao Furen momentarily became blinded with rage. That child did not respect her at all!
Li Wei Yang smiled slowly: “Zi Yan, you truly are a good servant of mine!”
Li Min Feng began to speak: “San mei, the suspect and evidence have been gathered in one place. What more does San mei wish to deny? Aside from San mei, who else would do such a shameless thing like this? If San mei does not have enough money, you could speak to Mother or speak to me, how could you touch Lao furen’s possessions!”
“It seems only a couple words from Da jie and a servant are enough to prove my crimes.” Li Wei Yang smiled softly, her expressions unwavering.
Li Min Feng furrowed his brows: “Chang Le is honest and well-intentioned. How could she possibly wrongly accuse you? And Zi Yan is also the yatou by your side!”
Li Wei Yang glanced over at Zi Yan, slightly smiling: “She is not the yatou by my side. She is one of your people Da ge, or have you forgotten, Da ge?”
Li Min Feng was momentarily taken aback. He suddenly understood why Li Wei Yang wanted to give Zi Yan to him.
His suspicions were confirmed as Li Wei Yang spoke without a trace of desperation: “Since she is Da ge’s yatou, she will do as Da ge says. I only fear that if Da ge says it is not the sun but the moon that is in the sky at the moment, she would go against her conscience and willingly agree!”
Li Min Feng coldly scoffed, saying: “San mei has just given her to me!”
A cold, jeering light appeared in Li Wei Yang’s eyes: “But she liked Da ge first! Da ge, by only glancing over a couple medicinal texts, Da jie can conclude that this is suzi, and not to mention, Zi Yan is Da ge’s yatou. Are their words truly credible then?”
San Furen who had been nonchalant and indifferent, suddenly spoke: “Indeed, that is true. The words of a yatou does not prove anything at all!”
Da Furen coldly scoffed, “Feng er, did you not see? You had good intentions to find the wrongdoer for Lao Furen, yet someone has thought unjustly for a good person!”
Li Min Feng was neither rushed nor provoked, staring intently at Li Wei Yang as he said: “I was only trying to save face for San mei, or what little that is left. Since mei mei insists on denying this, then there is no need to hold back anymore!” Having spoken, he turned around, and said to Lao Furen, “Lao Furen, please allow me to invite a physician to shed light on this matter!”