Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Concern Clouds Judgment

A look of understanding dawned on Cai Jie’s face. "So, does this mean Miss Qin will definitely face the full force of the law this time?"

Ming Lingyi nodded. "It’s all but certain."

’Based on the public spectacle Jiang Yuchuan created in the East Market today, with so many people watching,’ she thought, ’the news of Qin Lingzhi committing another public assault will probably spread throughout Shangjing City in less than a day.’

Qin Lingzhi had managed to get away with it the first and second time, but her past transgressions had certainly left an impression on the people of Shangjing City.

Perhaps at first, the impression wasn’t very strong, but as the incidents piled up one after another, it became impossible to ignore.

Even those who had been indulging in wishful thinking—people with a little money and power of their own who thought something like this could never happen to them—could no longer deceive themselves.

Shangjing City had no shortage of powerful and influential people. You might have money and power, but there was always someone more powerful above you. Were you supposed to just endure the humiliation after being bullied by someone like that?

No one wanted to be the victim, the disadvantaged party unable to seek justice from their abuser.

And so, just as Ming Lingyi had predicted, the matter quickly spread throughout the entire Capital City.

Huaihua General Mansion—

CRACK—

At the sharp sound of porcelain shattering, Hu Yuwan, who was in the main hall, couldn’t help but furrow her brow and take a discreet step back.

A shard from the flying ceramic fragments had shot toward her, heedless, and instantly scraped a faint, bloody line across the back of her otherwise flawless, well-maintained hand.

Though it didn’t immediately well up with blood, a sharp sting of pain followed.

"Didn’t I tell you to watch her? And you took her out? Taking her out is one thing, but now she’s been taken to the Ministry of Justice, and the whole city is buzzing with rumors! They’re saying that even if my, Qin Shiqi’s, daughter beats someone to death in Shangjing City, nothing will happen to her! Tell me, if words like that reach the ears of the one in the palace, what will become of our General Mansion?!"

It was only upon hearing the rumors from outside that Qin Shiqi realized Qin Lingzhi had caused trouble again.

And this time, all this trouble Qin Lingzhi had stirred up was apparently because of this supposedly clever daughter-in-law of his.

"You usually seem so sharp. What in the world was going through your head today?! You’re nothing but a foolish woman! I said it back then—a merchant’s daughter has no vision. How could she possibly manage the vast household of our General Mansion? Seeing you today, it’s clear I was right!"

Qin Shiqi couldn’t care less how devastatingly cruel his words were to Hu Yuwan.

He had also forgotten that for all these years, it was only because of Hu Yuwan’s tireless efforts that the entire General Mansion had a seemingly endless supply of Silver.

After all, a coarse man like Qin Shiqi had no talent for business.

Hu Yuwan, on the other hand, had grown up in the Hu family and learned by observation, making her quite skilled in this area.

Hu Yuwan’s face turned pale, and she looked as if she might collapse.

Qin Shiqi’s words completely erased all her years of sacrifice and hard work for the General Mansion.

And yet, she couldn’t talk back.

She knew Qin Shiqi’s temperament all too well. If she said even one word in her defense right now, the twin accusations of "unfilial" and "defiant" would be instantly slapped on her.

Her father-in-law had always been one to speak without thinking.

Even if he meant no real harm, a single sentence from him could cause immeasurable damage to her reputation.

Hu Yuwan didn’t dare take the risk, so she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

"Well? Tell me! Now that Lingzhi is in the Ministry of Justice, how are you going to get her out?!" Qin Shiqi demanded furiously.

In his eyes, Jiang Yuchuan had caught Qin Lingzhi red-handed today, and it was all—every last bit of it—Hu Yuwan’s fault.

It was all because Hu Yuwan hadn’t watched Qin Lingzhi properly and had taken her to the East Market, leading to the present trouble.

Hu Yuwan bit her lip. "Father, didn’t you have a familiar colleague at the Ministry of Justice? Perhaps this time, you could also..."

Hu Yuwan was referring to the last time Qin Lingzhi had injured an old woman on the street. An old scholar had appeared out of nowhere and not only forced Qin Lingzhi to apologize on the spot but had even written a formal complaint on the old woman’s behalf and submitted it to the Jingzhao Mansion.

However, that incident ultimately caused no ripples. Qin Shiqi had found some colleague at the Ministry of Justice and had him smooth things over with the Jingzhao Mansion. Qin Lingzhi was never even taken from her home.

"Do you think anyone is willing to clean up this mess now?!" Qin Shiqi seemed to age several years in an instant. "Last time, that meddling Doctor from the Imperial College didn’t cause much of a stir. Even though he filed a complaint with the Jingzhao Mansion, not many people knew about it. How can that compare to the current situation?"

The uproar at the Qin Family residence did not reach Huaided Fang.

After seeing Cai Jie off, Ming Lingyi returned to Ming’s Restaurant to find a very familiar "uninvited guest" waiting inside.

Li Yun had rushed over from the palace the moment he received the news.

He just hadn’t expected to arrive in such a hurry only to find she wasn’t there. He had sent someone to find out where she was but hadn’t received a reply yet.

Now, upon hearing Ming Lingyi’s approaching footsteps, he immediately stood up, strode over to her, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "What happened?"

Li Yun’s tone was anxious.

He only knew that Ming Lingyi had used his private seal outside the palace. After all, Guotai Silver Bank belonged to him. When such an important private seal of his suddenly appeared in the hands of a stranger, the Shopkeeper of Guotai Silver Bank naturally didn’t dare to take it lightly and immediately sent word.

When Li Yun first received the news, he was actually a little happy.

He had given his private seal to Ming Lingyi long ago, just like when they had first married and he had put all his private savings under her care. It was as if by doing so, they had truly become one family, the most inseparable people in the world, with no secrets between them.

Li Yun, of course, wanted Ming Lingyi to use his Silver. What was his was hers.

But after receiving his private seal, Ming Lingyi had done nothing with it. Forget spending his Silver—she hadn’t even touched a single copper coin.

So today, upon learning his private seal had been used, Li Yun’s first reaction was one of joy. But soon after, he grew worried.

According to the report from the Shopkeeper of Guotai Silver Bank, the person who went to the Silver Bank was a man.

How could Li Yun possibly sit still? He was afraid Ming Lingyi had been bullied, which was why he had rushed out of the palace in such a hurry.

Ming Lingyi took a moment to process this, then found herself unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"Li Yun, your men are getting sloppy with their intelligence gathering," Ming Lingyi said. "Didn’t the people at the Silver Bank tell you who withdrew the Silver and what it was for?"

Li Yun: "..."

How could he have had time to think about all that? In his panic, he had lost his head and charged straight out of the palace gates for the restaurant, needing to see with his own eyes that Ming Lingyi was safe before he could be at ease.

Now, with Ming Lingyi pointing this out, the expression on Li Yun’s face became a little strained.

Thinking back on it, he realized he had been rather foolish and impulsive.