At month‑end, the household sent over Shen Xian’s monthly allowance.
The steward arrived with a smiling face, handing over a money‑pouch.
Shen Xian hefted it, poured the silver onto the table and counted: five taels total, as expected.
But all were fragmented pieces of silver, of inconsistent quality.
Several chunks were visibly lead‑filled counterfeits.
“Is this the standard quality silver from the manor vault?” Shen Xian picked up one piece and bit it, leaving a black mark on the metal.
The steward smiled apologetically.
“Young Master, all silver from the vault is like this.
Madam says it counts at market rate; you lose not a single cent.”
“Very well.” Shen Xian put the silver back in the pouch.
“Carry a message back for me.”
“Please speak.”
“Tell her I know everything.”
The steward frowned.
“Know what?”
“What I know matters little.” Shen Xian pressed the pouch back into his hands.
Deliver those exact words.
She will understand.”
The steward departed thoroughly confused.
Next day a new stipend arrived: five taels of pure high‑grade silver, plus two strings of copper coins labelled “compensation for last month”.
Wangcai stared in awe.
“Young Master!
What did those words mean?
I could not follow.”
“It was a threat,” Shen Xian stored the silver away.
“But an unspoken threat.
To state it openly would be extortion.
To leave it unspoken is a silent understanding.
Liu‑shi carries guilt.
Giving her the impression I can blow everything open at any moment is more powerful than actually blowing it open.”
“Do you truly possess evidence?”
“Naturally.” Shen Xian ticked points off on his fingers.
“I have four copies of witness statements for the ginseng‑theft case; I keep copies of Duanzhi‑Liu’s signed confession; I have dated records of Shen Zhong acting on Liu‑shi’s orders. This story is hosted at novelping dot com.
All of this together would be more than enough to give Liu‑shi serious trouble at the clan elders’ assembly.”
Lai Fu scratched his head.
“Why not simply report her?”
“The gains from blowing everything open are less than the gains of keeping the evidence hidden.” Shen Xian stretched lazily.
“As long as this leverage exists, I reliably draw five taels every month.
If I expose everything, I get one day of satisfaction — and then what?
I am openly at war with the entire Shen clan, forever watching my back for hidden knives.
What would I gain?
Just excitement?”
Wangcai pondered.
“So… holding leverage is worth more than using it?”
“Sharp‑minded!” Shen Xian looked at him in surprise.
“Wangcai, with this insight you would make an excellent book‑keeper.”
“I cannot count numbers.”
“…Forget I said that.”