The man lowered his voice, his expression grave. "The Li family's steward personally went to the prefectural office, demanding that your excellency burn the examination papers of Mrs. Shen's two sons."
"Your excellency initially refused, but the person behind the Li family is Consort Lan from the palace, and it's said to be her wish."
Li Yue Shu's eyes narrowed slightly.
Consort Lan?
If she remembered correctly, Consort Lan was the birth mother of the Second Prince, Qin Ye Cheng. Why would she target A Min and A Lian?
The man seemed to sense her confusion and answered proactively, "Your excellency said that Old Xu had helped Madam before. In some people's eyes, Madam is associated with the Crown Prince. The Second Prince and the Crown Prince have always been at odds, and Madam is likely suffering an undeserved calamity this time."
These words were rather treasonous, but the fact that the prefect still sent a message indicated his favoritism towards Li Yue Shu.
Shen Wei stood to the side, a flash of coldness in his eyes after hearing the man's report.
This matter was most likely the Li family acting as a tiger borrowing its strength.
The Li family used Consort Lan's name to make money, while Qin Ye Cheng used the Li family to help him buy and sell offices, win over people, and Consort Lan, unless she had lost her mind, would certainly not be bullying a village woman in her own name.
A murderous intent surfaced deep within Shen Wei's eyes.
Destroying the Li family would be equivalent to severing one of Qin Ye Cheng's arms.
If he thought about it, the matter he had instructed Chai Yang to handle should also be almost complete.
Li Yue Shu was unaware of this, believing it was truly the Li family using Consort Lan's influence to pressure the prefect.
She had spent so much effort building her own power, only to find that it was still no match for "power" in the end!
Li Yue Shu suppressed her emotions and bowed to the messenger. "Thank you, young sir, for making the trip. Please convey to Prefect Shen that as long as he treats every candidate fairly, I will handle this matter myself."
The young man cupped his fists and, without further ado, hurried away.
Watching his retreating back, a hint of determination appeared in Li Yue Shu's eyes.
It seemed she had to make a trip to the Li family herself.
No matter what, she absolutely could not let these people hinder A Min and A Lian's future!
Li Yue Shu had made up her mind. When she turned around, she saw everyone looking at her with worry.
She was momentarily stunned. "What are you all looking at me for?"
Shen Ting Yi was the first to run over, taking her hand and comforting her. "Mother, don't worry. Big Brother and the others are capable. No matter what Consort Lan is, she can't stop us!"
This was the truth.
As long as Father gave the order, even if the prefect really destroyed the exam papers, Big Brother and Brother Mo would still be able to enter officialdom!
But Li Yue Shu did not know this. She thought this girl was just trying to comfort her, and she couldn't help but reach out and gently pat her head. "Mother isn't worried. For such a small matter, Mother naturally has a way to solve it."
Shen Ting Yi frowned, clearly unconvinced.
Li Yue Shu didn't want to explain further and quickly changed the subject. "The pharmacy is opening today. Shen Tan and Shen Chi must be very busy. Go quickly and help them."
Shen Ting Yi, always intelligent, naturally understood that she didn't want to talk about it.
She hesitated for a moment, then ultimately did not press further. However, after turning around, she couldn't help but glare at Shen Wei.
What was wrong with Father? He seemed to have connections everywhere in Chong Zhou, as if there was nothing in the world he couldn't do, yet he seemed powerless in Tong Mu County!
Sensing her disdain, Shen Wei: "???"
What was going on? Wasn't this girl the one who admired him the most?
...
While Li Yue Shu was planning how to resolve the situation, Steward Li was interrogating the Zhang family of three.
After retrieving the painting from the Wei family last time, the Zhang family of three recognized two of them as the black-clothed men who had appeared at their home before.
Steward Li, naturally cautious, specially had someone take the Zhang family of three to Tong Mu County to see for themselves, and they confirmed it.
Looking at the portrait in front of him, Steward Li frowned, his expression serious.
It seemed that Hong Ning City had already pledged allegiance to the Crown Prince, which was not good news for the Second Prince.
He glanced at the steward and said in a low voice, "Send word back to Chong Zhou, saying..."
"Yes."
The steward dared not delay and quickly went to handle it.
After giving the orders, Steward Li then looked at the trembling Zhang family of three standing not far away.
He narrowed his eyes, his gaze as cold as if he were looking at the dead. "Dispose of them. Don't dirty the manor."
Upon hearing this, the Zhang family of three widened their eyes in shock, their faces full of disbelief.
The guards beside him stepped forward expressionlessly, ready to act.
Master Zhang panicked instantly and immediately knelt down. "Your Lordship, spare our lives! Your Lordship, we... we have already helped you find the black-clothed men, why do you still want to kill us?"
Steward Li sat on a chair, holding a cup of hot tea.
Hearing this, he glanced indifferently at the three people whose faces had turned pale with fear. "Since your only purpose has been fulfilled, why should I keep you?"
"You..." Master Zhang's face was filled with horror, and for a long time, he could not utter a word.
"No... that's not it, we are still useful!" Zhang Yang hurriedly ran out from his mother's embrace. "Your Lordship, spare our lives, Your Lordship, spare our lives! It was me... it was me who lied. I was afraid that if I couldn't find anyone, Your Lordship would be angry, so I lied. We are still useful, Your Lordship, spare our lives!"
Upon hearing this, Steward Li's previously leisurely expression instantly turned grim. "What did you say?!"
Zhang Yang trembled all over, so scared that he collapsed onto the ground, unable to say a word.
Madam Zhang quickly stepped forward and hugged him, trembling with fear. "Your Lordship is magnanimous, please do not associate with us lowly people. We will serve Your Lordship diligently, and we will surely be useful!"
All three knelt on the ground, kowtowing and begging for mercy.
Steward Li looked at them with icy eyes, his murderous intent even stronger than before. "Whose idea was it to deceive me?"
The Zhang family of three fell silent instantly, not daring to answer, and could only continue to kowtow and beg for mercy.
Steward Li's gaze grew colder.
He put down his teacup and suddenly sneered, "It's not impossible for me to spare you."
The Zhang family of three suddenly saw hope, their faces filled with surprise as they looked up at him.
Steward Li raised his hand, and several guards walked over with swords, also throwing three swords at them.
Under their confused gazes, Steward Li slowly said, "If you can escape from these guards alive, I will spare you."
Upon hearing this, the Zhang family of three felt as if they had been doused with a basin of cold water, the color draining from their faces.
Having lived in the Li manor for so long, the Zhang family of three naturally knew that the guards in the manor were all skilled practitioners. Not to mention so many of them, they couldn't even defeat one guard!
"Your Lordship, spare our lives! We know we were wrong! We truly know we were wrong!"
The three kowtowed with such force that they even bled, but they didn't care.
Facing their pleas, Steward Li showed no mercy. "The opportunity has been given to you, and you did not cherish it yourself."
As he spoke, he raised his hand, and the guards immediately drew their swords and walked over.
"No—"
Madam Zhang cried out in terror, instinctively shielding Zhang Yang in her arms.
Master Zhang seemed to know they had no way out, and he crawled forward on his hands and feet to pick up a sword, blocking in front of his wife and son.