roccoschili Chapter 183 Old Case
Chapter 183 Old Case
Although Sheng Mingwen was unhappy about this sudden situation, when he saw Fang Li looking so helpless under Sheng Mingyang's bullying, he still felt a little sympathy in his heart: "That's enough. If the fight continues, someone will die."
Sheng Mingyang then stopped reluctantly, but in his peripheral vision, which was not noticed by Sheng Mingwen, there was a hint of ruthlessness and warning.
Sheng Mingwen did not pay attention to these details, and instead asked the maid: "What kind of justice do you want me to uphold for you?"
Sheng Mingyang glared at Fang Li as a warning.
Under the oppression of that cold, snake-like gaze, Fang Li's body trembled, but she still mustered up her courage, and said in a weak but firm voice: "Master Four, I want to sue the butler. He abused his power and violated my innocence!"
When Sheng Mingwen heard this, his expression suddenly changed. He turned back and looked at Sheng Mingyang, his eyes full of suspicion and scrutiny.
Sheng Mingyang's face was full of shock and confusion. After a moment, he said with a bit of grievance: "Fourth Young Master, I really didn't! I would never dare to do such a thing!"
Turning to Fang Li again, Sheng Mingyang's eyes were like a sharp blade, piercing through the tension and anxiety in the air, shooting straight at her, his tone full of blame and sarcasm: "Fang Li, you tried to exchange money for convenience before but failed, so you grew resentful in your heart, and then fabricated a set of unfounded charges to maliciously slander me? Alas, it really proves the old saying that women's hearts are the most vicious!"
His voice was not loud, but it echoed in the courtyard, bringing with it waves of chill.
"What exactly is going on?"
Sheng Mingwen's keen ears caught the subtleties in the conversation, and his brows revealed confusion and inquiry.
His eyes moved back and forth between the two men, trying to find fragments of truth in their expressions and words.
Sheng Mingyang was not in a hurry, and with a casual sneer on his lips, he began to make up a story at will: "Fourth Young Master, you don't know that this girl is a hard-working helper in the kitchen. The chores in the kitchen are heavy and hard. Perhaps she is tired of the heavy burden, so she came to me, hoping that I can use my meager power to change her to a lighter job. However, the rules of our Sheng Mansion are set by the Madam herself. Each position must be matched with a suitable candidate. The rigor and consideration involved are extraordinary. I know that I cannot make the decision on my own, so I declined her kindness according to the rules of the mansion."
At this point, he sighed with pretended regret, his eyes flashing with cunning light: "She refused to give up and tried to give me some ill-gotten gains in private, so that I would turn a blind eye and make some concessions for her. But how could I accept such a bribe and let my conscience be tarnished? Therefore, I firmly rejected her again and gave her some earnest teachings, hoping that she could be down-to-earth and stay away from those crooked ways."
He smiled bitterly, with a hint of pride and sarcasm hidden in that smile, "I never expected that not only did she not listen to my advice, but she also turned a vengeance on me and slandered me."
Then, he deliberately put on an attitude of being greatly wronged, with a hint of pleading in his voice: "Fourth Young Master, you know me best. How could I have the courage to do such a rebellious thing? Please understand!"
Sheng Mingwen looked at his innocent expression and believed Sheng Mingyang's one-sided words without thinking. He swept a cold gaze over Fang Li, and his words were full of disgust and determination: "You are such a scheming slave. For your own selfish desires, you dare to do such a rebellious thing. We in Sheng Mansion will never allow people like you to exist."
Then, without hesitation, he gave the order, his voice as cold as iron: "Sell her."
Fang Li was terrified, her voice trembling with despair: "No! No! Fourth Young Master, I have never made a false accusation. Everything I said is true! I have evidence to prove it!"
However, her cries seemed to be blown away by the wind and could not touch Sheng Mingwen's heart at all.
Sheng Mingwen had no intention of listening at this time, so he turned around and prepared to leave.
Behind him, Sheng Mingyang's face twisted into a hideous smile. He leaned close to Fang Li and whispered in a voice that only the two of them could hear. That voice was like ice from hell: "You bastard, if you don't take the step I gave you, then I'll let you experience the real hell and serve those vulgar villains at the bottom until you regret it!"
These words were like a ruthless judgment, causing Fang Li's body to tremble violently. She was filled with fear for the future, as if she had already seen her dark fate.
Just when she was so desperate that she almost gave up everything and rushed towards the cold rockery, a group of strong men in constable uniforms suddenly broke into the courtyard gate. Their appearance was like a sudden ray of sunlight, tearing through the darkness.
The leader looked at Sheng Mingyang with sharp eyes and said in a steady voice: "Are you Sheng Mingyang?"
Although Sheng Mingwen had turned around, he couldn't help but pause when he heard the noise, and then turned back, his eyes full of vigilance: "Who are you? Wasn't the last matter resolved?"
The leader, known as Captain Cai, bowed politely, but his words were full of unquestionable authority: "Fourth Young Master, you have misunderstood. Our trip is not about the previous corruption incident, but about another old case that has been pending for many years."
He slowly recounted a story about the Sheng family's heinous act of abducting a woman in Linshan County several years ago, which led to the destruction of an entire family.
The past was like a heavy stone thrown into a calm lake, causing waves.
Sheng Mingwen's first reaction was shock and denial: "Absolutely impossible! If you dare to slander me again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
There was an unmistakable anger in his tone.
Captain Cai's expression was solemn, with a hint of complicated emotions flashing in his eyes.
He knew that the Sheng family had been so prominent in the past that they could not be touched, but times had changed and they were no longer untouchable.
"This is a fact confirmed by the current county magistrate himself after my Dali Temple re-examined the old Linshan case. It is definitely not fabricated."
His tone suddenly became sharp, "Fourth Young Master, please ask the eldest Young Master Sheng Mingfeng to come out to cooperate with our investigation."
Sheng Mingwen's eyes widened in disbelief: "You mean, it was my eldest brother who did that back then? How is that possible?"
Captain Cai said no more and directly showed the investigation order in his hand, blocking all room for rebuttal with the majesty of the law: "If the fourth young master continues to delay and obstruct, we will have to take tough measures."
When Sheng Mingwen saw the investigation order representing official authority, his heart was suddenly in a mess.
He knew very well that resisting the investigation would only put himself in a more disadvantageous situation.
In the end, he had no choice but to send his servants to invite Sheng Mingfeng who was in the mansion.