In the study, a man in his fifties, dressed in brocade silk, sat at a desk.
The moment Butler Li, who had been swaggering outside, stepped through the door, he immediately bowed and walked in respectfully.
Hearing the movement, Master Li looked up and suddenly asked, "Have you seen the person?"
"I have," Butler Li nodded repeatedly. "From my experience, that Li Yue Shu is by no means an ordinary village woman from the wilderness."
Master Li frowned and put down the brush in his hand. "Is there any news from the Red Cloud Tower?"
"This..." Butler Li hesitated. "The news that the Red Cloud Tower found is not much different from ours."
"What?" Master Li's eyes widened in shock. "What's going on? Even the Red Cloud Tower can't find out her identity?"
Butler Li didn't know the truth of the matter and dared not speak casually.
Master Li stood up, his expression somewhat solemn.
After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Go and summon the Zhang family."
Butler Li did not dare to delay and went directly to the guest room to summon the Zhang family of three.
If Li Yue Shu were present, she would certainly recognize this family of three at a glance. They were the ones who had sold Shen Yi Min into the Qing Feng Pavilion back then, causing him to nearly blacken.
However, compared to their former spirit and pride, the Zhang family of three now looked obviously much more haggard, and their clothing had been changed into the attire of the Li Mansion's servants.
They were nominally guests of the Li Mansion, but in reality, they were servants without a written contract, doing all the dirty and tiring work.
At first, they were naturally unwilling, but now they did not dare to resist at all.
Therefore, when they were brought to the study, the three instinctively bowed, appearing very humble.
Master Li glanced at them sideways, his demeanor somewhat arrogant, but his words were polite. "Are the three of you accustomed to living in the mansion? If you have any needs, please feel free to instruct the servants of the mansion."
Madam Zhang had long lost the sense of superiority she had when facing Li Yue Shu. She nodded and kowtowed, saying, "We are accustomed, we are accustomed. We are living well in the Li Mansion, thank you, Master, for your concern."
Master Li was pleased with her address and nodded. "You have been living in the mansion for so long, how are the matters I entrusted to you going?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of the three members of the Zhang family changed. The youngest, Zhang Yang, was so frightened that his legs trembled.
Master Zhang, however, was more composed, but still very nervous. "Master, those two men in black had their faces covered when they came. We didn't even have time to get a good look before we were knocked unconscious. By the time we woke up, the Zhang family had already..."
Under Master Li's increasingly cold gaze, his voice grew smaller and smaller.
After being swindled out of three hundred taels by that village woman named Li Yue Shu, he had planned to settle the score with her once Yang'er was fully recovered.
But before he could make a move, two men in black broke into the Zhang residence in the middle of the night and stole all of the Zhang family's possessions.
Those two men in black had also appeared after Li Yue Shu barged into the Zhang residence to inquire about Shen Yi Min's whereabouts.
The next day, all of the Zhang family's businesses encountered problems, and they were almost ruined overnight.
Not only that, but those two men in black would also strip Yang'er naked every night and hang him on the couple's door. No matter how many guards they hired, it was useless.
They could only pack their remaining belongings and leave Tong Mu County. But even so, no matter what they tried to do, they were met with various obstacles.
Master Zhang was not stupid, and he instantly guessed that it was related to that Li Yue Shu.
Driven to desperation, the three of them could only live by begging. But not long ago, people from the Li Mansion found them, asking about their past grievances with Li Yue Shu.
Seizing this opportunity, they revealed the matter of the men in black, which gave them a chance to live in the Li Mansion instead of begging for a living.
But entering was easy, leaving was difficult.
Months of wandering had long worn away all their pride, and coupled with Master Li's methods, the three of them only felt fear towards the Li Mansion.
However, the condition for the Li Mansion to take them in was to find those two men in black.
They had never even seen the appearance of those two men in black, and had no idea where to look, so they could only brace themselves and stay.
Now that Master Li suddenly asked, they had no way to report back!
Seeing Master Li's expression grow increasingly grim, Zhang Yang, who had been shrinking behind his parents, suddenly had a flash of inspiration. "As long as we see those two people, even if it's just their backs, we will definitely recognize them. Master, keeping us here will truly be useful!"
Master Li did not speak, but looked at the three of them expressionlessly.
On such a cold day, the three of them were also sweating profusely from fear.
They had all witnessed Master Li's methods. If they were driven out of the Li Mansion, even if they didn't lose their lives, it wouldn't be as simple as returning to being beggars.
After an unknown period of silence, just as the three of them were almost unable to stand, Master Li finally spoke, "Then I will trouble you with this matter."
Master Zhang did not even bother to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "It's not trouble, it's not trouble. It's our honor to be able to help Master."
Master Li said nothing and let the three of them leave.
He had summoned the Zhang family only to find out what the relationship was between those two men in black and Li Yue Shu.
However, judging by their appearance, they probably didn't know anything.
The study door was closed again, and Butler Li cautiously approached Master Li. "Master, should we continue to investigate that Li Yue Shu?"
Master Li did not answer, seemingly hesitating.
Seeing this, Butler Li hesitated and said, "Master, yesterday the Prefect sent someone with a message saying that Elder Xu specifically sent someone to inquire about the outcome of the previous matter."
Master Li was surprised. "Besides sending a message, he also specifically sent someone?"
Butler Li nodded. "Elder Xu is a member of the Crown Prince's faction. For him to value a village woman from the wilderness so highly, Li Yue Shu must have a secret."
"If we can find a breakthrough from her to deal with the Crown Prince's faction, it will be a great achievement!"
Master Li's thoughts stirred. "Investigate! Send more people to Tong Mu County, and keep an eye on whether Elder Xu's people contact Li Yue Shu, and secretly investigate the whereabouts of those two men in black."
"Yes," Butler Li quickly agreed.
...
No one knew what had happened in the study of the Li Mansion. The Zhang family of three trembled back to their room before they felt as if they had come back to life.
Looking at her husband's pale face, Madam Zhang could no longer hold back her tears. "It's unbearable! What kind of life are we living! That fellow surnamed Li..."
Master Zhang quickly covered her mouth, his face full of panic. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
Madam Zhang was just venting her frustration. At this shout, she immediately came to her senses and obediently shut her mouth.
But Master Zhang's anger was ignited, and he couldn't help but glare resentfully at Zhang Yang. "It's all your fault, you unfilial son!"
Zhang Yang instinctively dodged behind Madam Zhang, and a bruised section of his arm was exposed.
These were the masterpieces of Master Zhang when he recalled his past resentments.
Although Madam Zhang also resented her son for implicating her, and occasionally complained a few words, she still loved this only son. She quickly stepped forward to shield him.
Zhang Yang dodged and begged for mercy, but his eyes were filled with gloom.
Why should he live worse than pigs and dogs, while Shen Yi Min could eat and drink well for his studies?
It was just a joke on his part back then. Shen Yi Min's revenge was too harsh!