Bang—!!!
The main gate of the residence was blasted open with a tremendous force.
“Search! Search every room! Leave no valuable behind!”
The arrogant command, accompanied by chaotic footsteps, drew closer. Soon, the heavy carved wooden doors of Jinxiujü were kicked open.
A Jinyiwei Captain, dressed in the Flying Fish uniform with a brocade sword at his waist, strode in. He was about thirty, with a scar running from his brow to his mouth, twisting with his sneering expression, making him look particularly savage.
This was Wang Jie, known for his cruelty and greed.
His gaze swept the room like a hawk. When he saw the pale, plainly dressed “female household members,” a flicker of disappointment and disgust crossed his eyes. The beautiful wives, concubines, and piles of gold he had imagined were nowhere to be seen.
“Is this everyone from the Shen family?” Wang Jie asked roughly, arrogantly.
His gaze finally landed on the one in front, Shen Qingzhu—the calmest, the only one resembling a young male.
“Your Excellency, the Shen family, all are here,” Shen Qingzhu replied calmly, without flinching.
Wang Jie’s brow furrowed. The boy’s composure irritated him.
One of the officers behind him whispered, “Boss, something’s wrong. From the front courtyard all the way here, the Shen residence was completely empty. Not a single servant was seen—not even a maid sweeping!”
Wang Jie’s face darkened instantly. The richest loot in a household raid, apart from gold and valuables, was the servants who could be sold into slavery. The Shen family, a century-old noble house, had hundreds of servants. This was a major fortune!
“Where are they?” Wang Jie’s eyes fixed on Shen Qingzhu, his tone murderous. “Where did you hide them?!”
The Old Madam trembled, about to beg, but Shen Qingzhu subtly stepped in front of her.
“Your Excellency,” Shen Qingzhu met his fierce gaze calmly, “though the Shen family is implicated, the imperial decree only orders confiscation and exile. No treason is declared. Until a verdict is rendered, we remain citizens of Da Sheng. The household servants are lawful workers; they chose to leave and were given severance pay to make their own way. What crime is there in that?”
She paused. “Or do you mean that the Jinyiwei, in handling cases, may ignore the laws of Da Sheng, enslaving lawful citizens for personal gain?”
Her words silenced the room.
The Jinyiwei behind Wang Jie shifted uneasily.
They could act as they pleased, but no one could call it out in front of them. This boy was blocking their mouths and striking fear into their hearts!
Wang Jie’s face turned red with rage.
“You’re looking for death!”
He drew half of his brocade sword with a clang, the cold blade glinting and making his features even more grotesque.
Shen Qingzhu remained still, her right hand quietly slipping into the wide sleeve—revealing a fully loaded Glock 17.
If he took another step forward, she would not hesitate to leave another hole in his ugly face.
At this tense moment, another officer rushed in, panicked: “Boss! Bad news! The storage rooms… they’re empty!”
“What?!” Wang Jie turned sharply.
“Not just the storage! We searched every room. No gold, no jewelry, not even proper furnishings! The pharmacy had some herbs, but the rarest ones… seem to have been taken beforehand! The entire Shen residence is as empty as if washed away!”
Wang Jie was stunned.
He spun back to glare at Shen Qingzhu, eyes as if trying to devour her alive. “Where’s the money?! The century-long savings of the Shen family?! Don’t tell me you gave it all to the servants as severance!”
“You joke, Your Excellency.” Shen Qingzhu slowly removed her fingers from the cold gun handle.
“My father was an honest official—you must have heard of it. The Shen family is known for charity, distributing porridge during Laba and medicines during midsummer, a tradition in the capital. The little wealth left at home over the years has mostly gone to these causes,” she said calmly. “If you doubt me, ask the citizens of the capital. See whether the Shen family is an arrogant house abusing power, or a benevolent healer.”
Wang Jie was speechless.
He knew of the Shen family’s reputation. That had made him believe this was an easy target—but who could have imagined? The treasure was empty!
“Fine! A sharp-tongued little brat!” Wang Jie growled, sheathing his sword. “Since there’s no money, let’s move!”
He waved his hand viciously. “Bring the chains!”
Several Jinyiwei officers carried heavy wooden shackles forward. These were the devices for exiled prisoners, weighing from six to several dozen jin.
A young officer named Wu Tao was tasked with shackling the Shen family.
His eyes lingered on Shen Qingzhu’s slightly swollen belly, a flicker of hesitation passing, yet he still placed the six-jin shackle on her.
As he approached Shen Qingdai, he tripped slightly, stumbling into her.
“Ouch!” he exclaimed, flustered.
In that brief contact, a heavy cloth bundle and a rigid object were swiftly slipped into Shen Qingdai’s wide sleeve.
All of this happened in a flash.
Once steady, he picked up the lightest shackle and clumsily secured it on Shen Qingdai, whispering words only she could hear: “Madam Doctor Shen, Manager Jiang asked me to convey this. He said that if not for your help years ago, he would have died of high fever at the Laundry Bureau. He hasn’t forgotten that favor.”
Shen Qingdai stiffened.
Manager Jiang… the little eunuch who had nearly died from a high fever at the Laundry Bureau years ago? Jiang Chen?
“He said he’s now in the Imperial Household with some standing and will try to help the Shen family find a chance for justice. Inside are some silver and a dagger for self-defense. Take them. He said… you must survive.”
A warmth surged into Shen Qingdai’s eyes.
She hadn’t expected, in this time of total family collapse and universal avoidance, that someone she once helped with a small gesture would extend a hand.
“Please… thank him for me,” Shen Qingdai said, voice choking. She blinked forcefully, holding back tears. “Also, tell him to be careful and not risk himself for us.”
Wu Tao nodded subtly, fastening the shackle and moving to the next person.
Shen Qingzhu observed everything silently.
Soon, all six family members were secured in cold shackles.
“Move!”
Wang Jie shouted impatiently.
As the harsh sunlight hit their faces, everyone instinctively squinted.
Outside, the streets were lined with curious onlookers.
Their gazes ranged from curious, sympathetic, gloating, to indifferent.
Lady Lin and Shen Qingyao instinctively bowed their heads, wishing to disappear into the ground.
“Is that the Shen family? Just these few?”
“Don’t you know? Last night, the Shen family sent all their servants away and even gave them settlement money!”
“Really? That’s awfully kind!”
“Ah, Master Shen is such a good man. My father was saved by him years ago… how did it come to this?”
Among the murmurs, sympathy outweighed ridicule. The Shen family had long built a good reputation in the capital. Seeing this family of elders, women, and children shackled and pale, many onlookers could not help but tear up.
Shen Qingzhu lifted her head to meet their gazes, back straight.
Wang Jie, growing increasingly irritated, whipped the air with his horsewhip, making a loud crack.
“What are you staring at! Move!”
The whip’s sharp sound startled Qian Miaomiao into crying.
Shen Qingzhu gently reached out, patted her niece’s back, and held her cold little hand.
Her palm was warm and strong.