After Transmigrating As The Scumbag Alpha In An Ancient Pregnant-And-Run Novel - Chapter 16

“An imperial daughter who breaks the law is punished the same as a commoner”—that saying had always been nothing more than talk.

When had an imperial daughter ever paid any real price for killing someone? Especially when the one killed was a maid in her own household.

Forget the imperial family. Even in ordinary noble households, the life and death of servants who had signed death contracts would at most provoke a little gossip. How could it count as anything major?

Anyuan had taken people to search the homes and residences of the stewards and older servants, and no one thought anything was wrong with it. This was the authority of the imperial family.

The evidence against Steward Qian was conclusive. Shen Liunian ignored Yun Chenghuai’s earnest gaze and instead asked, “What does Your Highness think would be the best way to handle this?”

Should the nine familial clans be executed, or should only the individual be punished without implicating others?

This was also Shen Liunian’s test. Punishing servants was a trivial matter. To the imperial clan, it was nothing at all.

But this time, there were several thousand people throughout the prince’s manor. How many of them could truly withstand investigation? Even if she did not punish them severely, there were too many servants involved, and this would definitely draw outside attention.

Yun Chenghuai was currently grounded in the prince’s manor and should be keeping a low profile. If she made a show of dealing with a large number of servants, it would certainly attract notice.

If punishing the servants in her household ended up drawing the attention of those imperial daughters, or even the Emperor herself, would that not be a loss greater than the gain?

Everything depended on her choice. Shen Liunian asked this in order to test her attitude once again.

Since Yun Chenghuai had already handed the authority over the prince’s manor completely to Shen Liunian, no matter what Shen Liunian decided, she would support her.

If this triggered a chain of consequences, she absolutely would not let Shen Liunian stand in front and take the blame.

“Madam may decide. Everyone in the prince’s manor is at Madam’s command. I will naturally cooperate.”

Yun Chenghuai filled the cup with water and ingratiatingly handed it to Shen Liunian. “Madam, have some tea.”

Shen Liunian gave a soft snort. “What if my handling of this matter makes your grounding period even longer?”

Wouldn’t that be exactly what she wanted? Yun Chenghuai’s eyes lit up.

A temporary grounding would let her make more preparations. In any case, her food, clothing, and daily necessities were all the best right now. It was not miserable.

After all, once her grounding ended, she would still be a Southern Qin prince and the biological younger sister of the Crown Princess. Who would dare neglect her?

The original owner’s ten years of confinement had been miserable because ten years was far too long. The Crown Princess had died, a new emperor had ascended the throne, and no matter what, the original owner’s days would not have been easy.

She calculated it. Her current grounding period was almost half over. Once she went out, she would have to directly face the dangers of the succession struggle.

If this could truly get her grounded for a few more days, that might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Yun Chenghuai smiled. “Madam may handle it however you like. Since I have already said that everyone in the prince’s manor will listen only to Madam, then no matter how Madam deals with it, I will support you.”

“So what if I’m grounded? Am I not already grounded right now?”

Shen Liunian studied her for a while, not knowing whether she believed her words. Then she turned to the stewards and older servants in the courtyard. “You all heard what the prince said.”

“Steward Qian embezzled items bestowed by His Majesty and the late Empress. Summon the people from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.”

The Ministry of Justice? The Court of Judicial Review?

Everyone panicked. Once the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review were involved, the sentence would definitely not be light. A servant who stole could be beaten to death with the rod. If the stolen items were official-made goods, that was a grave crime punishable by the extermination of three clans. Steward Qian had not only stolen official-made goods, but also imperial-bestowed items. She would absolutely be sentenced to the extermination of nine clans.

As a prince, why would Yun Chenghuai need to involve the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review to deal with her own household servants? If household matters were brought outside, it would likely become a laughingstock.

Once the noble families heard of it, who would not mock her a little?

The original owner had always cared about face. She definitely would not have agreed to hand the matter over to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review.

But Yun Chenghuai was not the original owner. Her generation was different from the old-fashioned ancients too. In her view, substance was far more important than face.

Moreover, her mind reacted at once. Her eyes brightened, and she leaned mysteriously toward Shen Liunian’s ear, not caring at all about the other woman’s disgusted gaze.

The fact that Shen Liunian did not dodge was already giving her plenty of face.

“Madam, what you mean is that if we hand this matter over to the Ministry of Justice or the Court of Judicial Review, although people will inevitably gossip about us a little, no rumors about us abusing servants will spread outside, and outsiders won’t be able to seize any leverage against us either?”

Yun Chenghuai kept saying “we.” Shen Liunian tilted her head away uncomfortably. Her ear felt itchy, and even her chest felt faintly itchy.

Still, since when had Yun the dog become this smart? Smart in a way that did not resemble her at all.

Once the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review came, the Emperor would at most blame Yun Chenghuai for failing to manage her household strictly. To be honest, she had only married recently and had moved into the prince’s manor less than a year ago.

Before this, Prince Chuxiang’s manor had been managed by the Dianwei. Other imperial daughters had their own birth mothers watching over them, often sending momos to inspect their manors, but the original owner had none. When she took over the prince’s manor, it had already been a mess.

The original owner did not understand household affairs to begin with. The prince’s manor had been managed jointly by the steward and the Dianwei. The steward was elderly, and the Dianwei embezzled from the household. The fact that the manor had not collapsed was all thanks to it being a prince’s manor.

If the operations of the prince’s manor truly collapsed, then aside from the prince herself, the several thousand people throughout the manor would probably all be wiped out together.

Yun Chenghuai called out loudly, “Anyuan, send someone to invite the people from the Court of Judicial Review.”

Her voice shook Shen Liunian’s ear, making Shen Liunian lean a little farther away.

“If you confess on your own, then when the people from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review arrive, the prince and this Princess Consort can plead for leniency on your behalf. If not, then you can stay in prison.”

Shen Liunian said this indifferently, then waved a hand. “Continue checking the accounts.”

As soon as these words were spoken, among the stewards and older servants who had still been hesitating, one person immediately stepped forward to confess.

Once there was a first, there was a second. Very quickly, more than half of them admitted to their crimes.

As for those who still refused to confess, they were weighing the pros and cons. Some felt that the masters behind them would not protect them and immediately admitted guilt. Others felt they held information their masters needed and gambled that their masters would protect them.

By the time the people from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review arrived, most of them had already confessed.

The personal guards cooperated with the Shen family’s servants and recorded all evidence of everyone’s crimes. As for those who refused to admit anything, the chance had already been given. Whatever ending awaited them was something they had brought upon themselves. Yun Chenghuai would not be a saint about it.

“Song An, Vice Minister of Justice, greets Your Highness Prince Chuxiang and the Princess Consort.”

“Xu Tuo, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, greets Your Highness Prince Chuxiang and the Princess Consort.”

The deputy heads of both the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review had come, which was enough to show how much the two offices valued her, Prince Chuxiang.

Yun Chenghuai’s gaze rested only on Xu Tuo, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Naturally, it was not because Song An was older while Xu Tuo was young, fresh-faced, and had a good bearing.

It was because she had recalled the information about Xu Tuo, this important female supporting character in the novel.

Xu Tuo, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, came from an aristocratic family in Qiantang. At seventeen, she had placed third in the first rank of the imperial examination. Six years had passed, and at only twenty-three, she now held the upper fourth-rank position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.

Among those who had passed the examination in the same year as her, the ones who had reached the upper fourth rank had all been sent out to the provinces and held no real power. How could they compare to her, who still remained in Shangdu and was even the second-in-command of the Court of Judicial Review?

Part of this was due to Xu Tuo’s family background, but it was also inseparable from her own ability.

The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was old. Barring any accidents, Xu Tuo would take over the position.

A third-rank official under thirty was rare across the entire court.

Since this matter concerned a prince’s manor, the Court of Judicial Review naturally would not send just anyone. The position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was more than sufficient.

Moreover, no matter how much Prince Chuxiang was disliked by His Majesty, she was still the current Crown Princess’s younger sister. How would the Court of Judicial Review dare not take the matter seriously?

Xu Tuo wore a crimson official robe. Standing there as she bowed, her posture was straight and refined. At a glance, one could understand what it meant to be an upright gentleman.

An aristocratic young noble, like jade and pine. She carried a pleasant fragrance, and Xu Tuo happened to be good-looking too. What a noble young lady she was.

For a moment, Yun Chenghuai’s mind was drawn in by that face, but she quickly came back to her senses.

So what if she was a noble young lady? She was nothing but a love rival!

Xu Tuo was Shen Liunian’s most loyal follower, carrying deep feelings that were difficult to put into words.

In the novel, Xu Tuo recognized Shen Liunian as her lord and followed her for the rest of her life. Later, she was captured by the enemy, stripped of her outer garments, and left under the blazing sun until she died of dehydration.

A dignified aristocratic young lady with a lifetime of spotless reputation—when had she ever suffered such hardship? The hardest thing in her entire life before that was probably having to rise early every day for court.

Having her outer garments stripped away was equal to having the pride from her own body flayed off. For someone who valued propriety for her entire life, it was torment of both body and mind.

Yun Chenghuai lifted her eyes and looked over. “Vice Minister Song. Vice Minister Xu.”

“This official is here.”

Song An and Xu Tuo answered together. The difference was that Xu Tuo’s voice was like a refreshing breeze brushing one’s face, much gentler.

“I’ll leave this matter to Vice Minister Song and you.”

“Yes. We officials will certainly devote ourselves fully to it.”

Xu Tuo added, “Reporting to Your Highness Prince Chuxiang, the Court of Judicial Review does not have interrogation duties. Official Song must conduct the interrogation first, and only then can the Court of Judicial Review receive the case.”

“No need.” Since Shen Liunian had summoned the Court of Judicial Review, she naturally had a plan. “The interrogation is already finished. Vice Minister Song may take people to verify the questioning, and Vice Minister Xu only needs to carry out the review and examination.”

In truth, the powers of the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review were difficult to divide clearly, and there were often cases where they pushed matters back and forth between them.

For what had happened in the prince’s manor today, summoning the Ministry of Justice was acceptable, and summoning the Court of Judicial Review was also acceptable. To put it simply, the Ministry of Justice investigated and executed the law, while the Court of Judicial Review judged the case.

There were further divisions by rank. Ordinary people and officials below the seventh rank belonged under the Ministry of Justice. Officials above the seventh rank belonged under the Court of Judicial Review. As for imperial relatives and nobles, the Censorate had to be added for a joint trial by the three offices.

So did the servants of a prince’s manor count as ordinary people’s matters, or as matters involving imperial relatives?

It was all a chaotic mess. Even the original owner had not fully understood it, let alone Yun Chenghuai, a modern person.

For now, whatever Shen Liunian said, she would do. She could study Southern Qin law later.

“Anyuan, hand the signed and fingerprinted confessions, as well as the witness testimony and material evidence, to Vice Minister Song and Vice Minister Xu.” Yun Chenghuai signaled Xiaobei to arrange seats. “Officials, please sit.”

“Thank you for the seats, Your Highness.” The officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review bowed and thanked her.

The guards presented the evidence, and everyone began to get busy.

Yun Chenghuai had people serve tea and pastries, and also ordered them to brew nourishing soup.

She lifted a cup of tea and handed it to Shen Liunian. “Madam, have some tea.”

Shen Liunian: “……”

In less than the time it took for one stick of incense to burn while the officials verified the evidence, Yun Chenghuai served tea, poured water, and peeled nuts. She did everything a maid could have done. She truly looked like a good wife-master.

Her behavior drew frequent sidelong glances from the officials. Had it not been said that Prince Chuxiang disliked her Princess Consort? The rumors did not match reality at all.

Xu Tuo, on the other hand, focused solely on the case and did not look over even once.

Her figure sat perfectly straight as she turned through the evidence page by page. Only after a long while did she set down the account book.

“Your Highness, Princess Consort, the evidence of embezzlement by the people of the prince’s manor is conclusive. According to the laws of our dynasty, a servant who steals from the master’s household is to be punished with eighty strokes of the rod. If they survive, they may be sold off or exiled.”

“A prince’s manor is different from an ordinary residence. Most items are imperial-bestowed or official-made. Those who steal official-made goods are to have three clans exterminated, while those who steal imperial-bestowed items are to have nine clans exterminated.”

Song An also set down the evidence signed and fingerprinted by everyone, her eyes smiling slightly. “Vice Minister Xu is correct.”

Song An had dragged things out for so long without speaking, yet as soon as Xu Tuo spoke, she agreed. Clearly, she did not want to get too involved in this matter.

Yun Chenghuai did not care at all what the officials were thinking. She was thinking about Xu Tuo’s words.

Just as Shen Liunian had said earlier, the law was strict.

Official-made items were all uniformly issued by the Imperial Household Department, and every single item was registered in the records. Whether one more or one less, there would be documentation.

In order to distinguish official-made from privately made items, the severity of the law directly showed the difference between the two.

Hearing the Court of Judicial Review confirm their crimes, the stewards and older servants who had committed offenses hurriedly knelt and begged for forgiveness.

Shen Liunian looked toward Yun Chenghuai, signaling that she could speak now.

Yun Chenghuai coughed softly and said, “Those who confessed on their own may be spared from death, but living punishment cannot be avoided. Inner officials and palace maids will be sent back to the Imperial Household Department. As for servants purchased by the prince’s manor, then…”

Sent to prison? She only paused for a moment, but Shen Liunian already knew what she wanted to say, so she took the initiative to continue. “Call the people from the servant brokerage and have them taken away.”

“Yes, we’ll do as the Princess Consort says.” Yun Chenghuai continued, “As for those who refuse to admit guilt, deal with them according to the law.”

Amid the pleas for mercy from the stewards and older servants, the courtyard became noisy and chaotic, making people’s heads ache. Anyuan had the manor soldiers take them away.

Song An and Xu Tuo bowed. “Yes.”

The officials did not stay long. The manor soldiers of Prince Chuxiang’s manor escorted those servants away, and Yun Chenghuai and Shen Liunian no longer needed to worry about the rest.

All at once, more than half the people in the prince’s manor were gone. The remaining minority were not necessarily without problems; they were merely more deeply hidden and still needed to be pulled out slowly.

The prince’s manor quieted down. With so many positions suddenly vacant, its operations also began to have problems. Fortunately, the Shen family’s people stepped in, so the manor’s functions did not collapse.

The sky gradually darkened. After dealing with so many matters today, they should have rested long ago.

“Madam, are you tired?” Yun Chenghuai asked in concern.

Shen Liunian had only just become pregnant a month ago, and this was precisely the time when she needed to take care of her body. Yet she already had to labor over the affairs of the prince’s manor. Yun Chenghuai was truly concerned for her.

Their gazes met in the air. The concern in Yun Chenghuai’s eyes was genuine and did not seem false.

Shen Liunian suddenly felt that Yun Chenghuai really had changed.

In this world, could someone truly change so much overnight? She had heard stories of wife-masters changing after their wives became pregnant.

But she remembered the scene before she fainted last night—the heartache in Yun Chenghuai’s eyes.

Could it be that at that time, Yun Chenghuai had already known she was pregnant? If she had known, then why had she punished her?

Shen Liunian could not understand no matter how she thought about it. Yun Chenghuai had changed too suddenly, and too realistically. A person could pretend, but not to this extent, especially not Yun the dog.

Seeing that Shen Liunian did not answer her and kept staring outside the courtyard, Yun Chenghuai wondered if she was thinking about Xu Tuo.

She thought of Shen Liunian’s appreciation for Xu Tuo in the novel.

The two had not said a single word to each other just now, had they? They probably would not fall for each other at first sight that quickly, right?

It was not that she minded Shen Liunian liking someone else. It was just that her current situation was precarious, so it would be better for Shen Liunian to stay in the prince’s manor for now. Once Yun Chenghuai’s situation improved, she would divorce her.

She would not obstruct Shen Liunian’s career or happiness. When they divorced, Yun Chenghuai could leave with nothing. She hoped the assets of Prince Chuxiang’s manor could help Shen Liunian somewhat.

But she still asked curiously, “Madam, are you thinking about Xu Tuo?”

Shen Liunian: “???”

What nonsense was this dog thing saying now?

Yun Chenghuai did not notice Shen Liunian’s strange gaze and continued on her own. “Well, Xu Tuo, Xu Ziyu. A gentleman like jade, an aristocratic young lady, gentle and refined…”

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Shen Liunian interrupted her directly.

Yun Chenghuai froze, then said foolishly, “I mean, Xu Tuo seems like a good person.”

“What does that have to do with me?”

Shen Liunian had always been merciless when speaking to her. After saying this, she turned and walked into the room.

It was late, and the temperature was gradually dropping. Even wearing a cloak, she still felt a slight chill.

Seeing Shen Liunian return inside, Yun Chenghuai hurriedly followed. Inwardly, she wished she could slap herself across the mouth. They had dealt with so many people in the prince’s manor, removed more than half the informants, and filled all the important positions with their own people. She had been so happy that she had lost her caution for a moment.

“Madam, you are pregnant. Please don’t be angry.” Yun Chenghuai smiled ingratiatingly.

Shen Liunian took a deep breath and turned her gaze elsewhere, deliberately refusing to give her even a glance.

Yun the dog had changed too much. She still had to be observed. Shen Liunian’s attitude would not improve. She wanted to see whether Yun the dog was pretending, or whether she had truly changed.

Whether true or false, it all depended on what Yun the dog did.