Chapter 81 Trouble

When the backyard of Zhuying Mini Villa was of heavy atmosphere, in Jinxue House, the bed of Senior Master Sheng was also shrouded in tension!

“Although we can’t figure out the death of Second Sister-in-Law, we can now confirm that Second Brother is innocent.” After a long term of silence, Sheng Lanci, the beloved son of Senior Master Sheng, finally broke the ice. “We should have brought him back immediately, but currently, it has made a big scene already, and the entire county is keeping an eye on us. If we make Yamen release him at this point, I’m afraid that others will think that we’ve bribed the officials. In my humble opinion, we should keep Second Brother there for several days and wait for the truth to come out and prove his innocence so that he could come back rightfully…. What do you think, father?”

The whole Sheng Family used to think that it must be Sheng Lansi who had got bored with Madam Bai and killed her. Sheng Weirao and Old Madam Ming, the granddaughter, and grandmother, had even fallen apart. At last, Senior Master Sheng made the final decision to notify Yamen.

By now, even if Old Madam Ming was still unwilling to give up, with the tough restraint from Senior Master Sheng, she could only do the best she could with what she got..

However, unexpectedly, Sheng Lansi was innocent!

Old Madam Ming would feel sorry for her son and grumble against Senior Master Sheng and others, which were for sure. As for Sheng Weirao, who had been reasonable and sympathetic in the fight, it would be awkward for Senior Master Sheng to speak up for her!

What mentioned above was just disputes within Sheng Family, which could be figured out later.

Worst of all, the outside world already knew about it. When Madam Bai had been found drowned in the pond, Sheng Weide, the first one who had been informed of it, only asked for help from Jinxue House while forgot to hush it up.

After that, Sheng Weirao and Old Madam Ming fought like cat and dog, which made Senior Master Sheng not only decide to notify the police but also bind Sheng Lansi and send him to Yamen. Now everyone in Nanfeng County knew that Senior Master Sheng had placed righteousness above family loyalty!

What would people think when they heard the news that Sheng Lansi was innocent?

Most of them might think it was a trick between Sheng Family and Yamen to cover for the son and earn a good reputation!

And the family of Madam Bai was known for being greedy. Even if Sheng Family had them to prove the innocence of Sheng Lansi, people would think that they had paid the Bai Family to lie with disregard for the death of Madam Bai!

Although the head of Sheng Family was not shabby-genteel, this incident was totally different from what had happened on the birthday banquet of Senior Master Sheng. At that time, it was an internal dispute with only two underage grandchildren were to blame. What’s more, with servants taking the blame, the dispute was only something to laugh at for the outside world.

But the death of Madam Bai was way more serious. Once the image of Sheng Family was stained by the disregard for life, their reputation would be ruined in the county!

Certainly, some powerful families, who always victimized people, were bullying enough to kill an innocent person publicly. However, Sheng Family was nothing like that. It was unacceptable for Senior Master Sheng to be classed as a wealthy but cruel person. Sheng Lanci had a more flexible moral standard compared with his father, while he was worried about Sheng Shuihe.

Before Sheng Shuihe’s return to the family, Sheng Lanci had already retired. For the rest of his life, he would stay in Nanfeng County. Even if the reputation of Sheng Family were stained, Nanfeng County was so far from the capital that no one would make a fuss over the issue.

However, as Mrs. Feng had expected, with the return of Sheng Shuihe, Sheng Lanci hoped that his son would participate in the imperial examination and score high as he did before.

Therefore, he must pay attention to the reputation of Sheng Family!

Even if Sheng Family couldn’t become a well-known benevolent family, it must not have any bad reputation.

Otherwise, in the future, Sheng Shuihe’s political opponents would make a fuss on it sooner or later.

Therefore, even though Sheng Lanci treated Sheng Lansi well, he disapproved of taking Sheng Lansi home immediately. After all, his son was way more important than his brother.

“Just leave that evil creature there for some days! Or he will philander all day long and soil our family name.” Senior Master Sheng was furious at his second son and his wife, so naturally, he would not object to his elder son’s suggestion. What’s more, he said, “Tell officials in Yamen that it is unnecessary to give him any preferential treatment! He is still relevant to the case though he didn’t kill Madam Bai!”

Sheng Lanci said yes. However, it was doubtful whether he would do so or not. He knew that his stepmother, Old Madam Ming, had always spoiled Sheng Lansi, and she would be upset after knowing that her son was innocent, but she couldn’t take him home immediately.

If he followed what Senior Master Sheng had said, and left Sheng Lansi in jail for introspection, Old Madam Ming would definitely hold grudges against the eldest branch!

Although Sheng Lanci was not afraid of his stepmother, he preferred not to have issues with her. After all, Sheng Lansi was not his son but only his half-brother. No matter how incorrigible he was, only Old Madam Ming’s bloodline would be damaged. Since the day when Sheng Lianlian got into the family, and Old Madam Ming said “you still have the eldest branch anyhow, even if the second and third branches were beaten to death,” he knew that he didn’t have to make any nice gesture.

Therefore, after saying yes, he said, “Bai Family just came over, and they said Second Brother was innocent as soon as we met. They wanted to pay respect to you after knowing that you were ill, but I refused them with thanks for fear of disturbing you.”

“I don’t want to see anyone from that family anymore!” Senior Master Sheng said slowly. “Although I’ve always disliked Madam Bai, I have to say that her family dragged her down!”

The reason why Bai Family justified Sheng Lansi in such a hurry was not because they believed him, but they could gain no advantage from the judgment, no matter whether Sheng Lansi was innocent or not. After all, the two children of Madam Bai were still young. And Sheng Weide, the most valued child in the second branch, was the blood of Ao Family.

It was imaginable that if Sheng Lansi were executed now, it would do no good to the children of Madam Bai.

Then Bai Family would never benefit from it.

So, they claimed that they “believed” that Sheng Lansi was innocent. If he was, they could get at least a favorable impression. If he were not, that would be great because Sheng Family would give them money to hush it up.

Senior Master Sheng hated this kind of family.

Sheng Lanci felt the anger of his father and was worried about his health, so he tipped Madam Feng a wink.

Madam Feng got the point, walked up, and said, “Father, I just make your favorite soup. Do you have an appetite for it?”

Senior Master had always shown preference to his eldest daughter-in-law. Hearing that, he changed his manner and said with care, “It is tiresome enough for you to manage the family affairs, let alone what happened recently, which must be a problem for you. Instead of making time to cook for me, you should take care of yourself. Just ask the servants to cook. After all, when I was in Beijiang, I led a much harsher life there.”

“Hearing what father said, I am not tired at all now!” Madam Feng said with a smile. “I will fetch the soup for you!”

“Lanci will do it.” Senior Master Sheng waved his hand and scolded at his elder son, “Your wife is bustling around the house while you just sit here. What are you doing? Go and serve me the soup!”

Sheng Lanzi, who couldn’t get a word in edgeways before, finally got his head around, stood up in a hurry, and said, “Father, Eldest Brother is busy and tired enough. Let me do it.”

When Senior Master Sheng finished his soup, the three people then persuaded him to take a rest. After leaving Senior Master’s house, they went to Old Madam Ming’s house to inform her of the news.

As Sheng Lanci expected, when Old Madam Ming heard that her son was innocent, she nearly jumped off the bed, “What are you waiting for? Take Lanci back now!”

Then she turned to Madam Xiao, “Ask servants to clean up the second branch and get foods ready. We will have a family dinner for that kid to cleanse his aura!”

She was excited, while her sons and daughters-in-law, even her son Sheng Lanzi and his wife, felt awkward to speak, “Mother, though Second Brother is innocent, he is relevant to the case anyhow, and father bounded and sent him to jail in person. Now Yamen is unable to identify the murderer. If we take him home, it will be difficult for Yamen to explain.”

“What’s more, the body of Second Sister-in-Law has been sent to Yamen after notifying the police. However, she was the hostess of the second branch, so we need to set up a shrine there. Otherwise, people may gossip that the kids of Second Sister-in-Law have never been at a wake or shed a tear for their mother! It will ruin their reputation!”

“Therefore, is it also inappropriate for us to host a family dinner now?”

Hearing that, Old Madam Ming frowned immediately, “I’m supposed to set up a shrine for Madam Bai, but I forgot it. I will take the blame. As for the family dinner, if it is inappropriate, it can be delayed. However, why Lanci couldn’t come back home? Although his wife died, he didn’t kill her! And he is the husband of the victim, who should be consoled!”

She looked up, “You should go talk to Yamen! This is unreasonable!”

Sheng Lanci, worried about the future of Sheng Shuihe, felt extremely annoying over his stepmother’s importunate behavior. He looked at her indifferently and then said without emotion, “This is father’s decision. I dare not disobey him. If mother wants to take Second Brother home, you can discuss it with father.”

“Lanci, he is your brother!” Old Madam Ming felt the emotion of her stepson and was frozen for a while. She was upset but unwilling to give up, so she softened her tone and sobbed, “Even though he is disappointing, he is your blood brother, isn’t he?!”

Sheng Lanci raised his eyebrows and said, “Mother means that I am with no brotherhood, filial piety, or fraternal duty, right?”

Old Madam Ming said quickly, “No! No! I just….”

“Good then!” Sheng Lanci interrupted her unceremoniously, “Although Yamen has made it clear that Second Brother had never murdered his wife, we need to discuss how we can make the whole county believe it! I will go to Yamen in person later and visit the officials. If nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Then he stood up and motioned Madam Feng to come with him together.

But Madam Feng shook her head, and turned to Old Madam Ming, who was ashamed and angry, “If nothing else, I have one thing to tell mother in private!”

However, Old Madam Ming couldn’t come to herself yet. So, she could only walk up to her mother-in-law and said next to her ear, “It is about… Weirao.”