"Granny Li, what's wrong?" Chu Youran was startled by the nanny's reaction and asked urgently.
Shen Lixue's cold gaze was fixed firmly on Granny Li: "You know my mother?"
"No...no...I don't know her!" The old woman's eyes were filled with terror as she waved her hands and backed away, accidentally stepping on her skirt and falling heavily backward.
"Granny Li!" Chu Youran exclaimed in surprise, her eyes widening as her heart leaped into her throat. Granny Li was old; if she fell to the ground, she would surely get hurt.
Shen Lixue's slender figure instantly appeared in front of Granny Li and reached out to grab her: "Do you know my mother?" Otherwise, why would Granny Li call out Lin Qingzhu's name and act as if she had seen a ghost when she saw her?
“I don’t know anyone… I don’t know anything… I know nothing!” Granny Li covered her eyes, slowly squatted down on the ground, her voice choked with fear.
Shen Lixue released her hand, her gaze deep as she looked down at Granny Li on the ground.
"Granny, what happened?" Chu Youran hurried to the nanny. Because she was walking too fast, she coughed repeatedly, and her lips gradually turned pale.
"I really don't know anything... Please, Princess, spare me!" Granny Li curled up into a ball, burying her head tightly in her arms, refusing to look at anyone!
"Princess, I'm sorry, Granny Li has an old ailment that was acting up just now and frightened you!" Chu Youran sincerely apologized. Granny Li had offended Shen Lixue, so she needed to find a suitable reason, and an old ailment was a very good excuse.
"It's alright!" Shen Lixue looked at Chu Youran: "I have urgent business at the Prime Minister's residence and I'm afraid I won't be able to attend to Miss Chu!"
"Princess, you have something to attend to. I'll visit you another day!" Chu Youran smiled apologetically. Her servant had bumped into Shen Lixue, so she felt embarrassed to continue her visit.
"Farewell!" Shen Lixue glanced at Granny Li again, then slowly stepped into the luxurious carriage and headed to the Prime Minister's residence. She thought to herself that she needed to send someone to investigate the background and origins of this nanny.
"Zimo!" Dongfang Heng had witnessed the scene in front of the Zhanwang Mansion. His sharp eyes darkened slightly as he called out softly.
"Yes!" Having followed Dongfang Heng for many years, Zi Mo understood his meaning and respectfully agreed. A slight whooshing sound rang out as he went to chase after Shen Lixue. He also arranged for others to follow Chu Youran and the others to find out the truth.
A surge of blood welled up in his chest, and Dongfang Heng's expression changed. He covered his mouth with his hand and quickly circulated his internal energy to suppress the pain. A quarter of an hour later, the pain in his eyes gradually subsided. He let out a long sigh, released his hand, and a trickle of blood escaped from the corner of his mouth. His dark eyes were unfathomable. The Ghost Doctor from Southern Xinjiang was about to arrive in the capital, and his time was truly running out.
With her deep gaze fixed on the gates of the Prince's mansion, Chu Youran knelt down and gently stroked Granny Li's hair: "Granny, the Princess has already left!"
Granny Li slowly raised her head, cautiously looking around to make sure Shen Lixue was really gone. Only then did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief and kneel down: "This servant has been impolite. Please punish me, Miss!"
"Granny, there's no need for that, please get up!" Chu Youran helped Granny Li up and sighed softly, "Princess Lixue is a woman with a tragic fate. She was separated from her father in a fire when she was young and grew up in the countryside for fifteen years. After her mother passed away, she came to the capital to find her father. The Prime Minister's mansion already has a stepmother, and her life is outwardly glamorous but inwardly miserable. She is often bullied by her younger sister and brother. Her father is also heartless and feels ashamed of her status as a country girl, so he has severed his father-daughter relationship with her. The Prince of War took pity on her and took her in as his goddaughter. If Granny can help, please do so."
“Miss, this servant…” The old woman looked at Chu Youran, her eyes glistening with tears. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to help, but…
Chu Youran patted the back of the old woman's hand with a gentle smile: "Princess Lixue is my savior, and I have always wanted to repay her. You raised me single-handedly, so you are like a second mother to me. If you have any difficulties, I will not force you!"
"Miss!" Large tears streamed down Li Mama's cheeks. Through her blurred vision, she saw a clever, beautiful, and exceptionally talented young woman. She had once said to her, "Mama, you are only ten years older than me, but you are like half a mother to me..."
Li Mama raised her wrist and forcefully wiped away the tears in her eyes, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes: "Miss, where is the Prime Minister's residence?"
Shen Minghui and Shen Lixue switched places, choosing a location in front of the warehouse. They took the items directly from the warehouse and handed them to Shen Lixue, saving a lot of trouble.
Shen Minghui's face was a little pale, but his complexion was not bad. He sat leisurely in a recliner, sipping ginseng tea. When he saw Shen Lixue walk in, he glanced at her indifferently and pointed to the sixty gold chests on the ground: "This is half of your mother's dowry. Take a look!"
Shen Lixue lifted the lids of one box after another, revealing boxes filled with gold and silver jewelry and rare treasures. The jewelry was engraved with the mark of the Duke of Wu's mansion. After searching carefully, she did not see the dragon pearl, the azure jewelry, or the string of five elemental beads. Her polite smile was exceptionally radiant. Those three sets of jewelry should have disappeared in the fire, and Shen Minghui certainly would not take them out for her: "Is the dowry really complete? Thank you for your hard work, Prime Minister!"
"I have retrieved all the jewelry as you requested. You should also keep your promise and return the Shen family jade pendant!" Shen Minghui put down his teacup and looked coldly at Shen Lixue.
Shen Lixue smiled slightly, her small hand slowly slipping into her sleeve: "Prime Minister Shen is a man of his word, and I will not break my promise either. The Shen family jade pendant is here!"
The emerald green jade pendant, strung with red silk thread, reflected a warm glow in the sunlight, bringing a sense of comfort. A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Shen Minghui's steady eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and said casually, "You can take the jewelry now!"
He secretly gave Aunt Zhao a wink.
Aunt Zhao understood immediately and quickly stepped forward to take the jade pendant: "Princess, please give me the Shen family jade pendant!"
Shen Lixue smiled and quickly removed the jade pendant. Aunt Zhao's hand awkwardly hung in mid-air, unsure whether to retract it or not.
Shen Minghui's expression changed instantly. He had sent Aunt Zhao, and Shen Lixue's actions against her were a form of making things difficult for him: "Shen Lixue, what do you mean?"
"I have a question that I would like to ask Prime Minister Shen for clarification!" Shen Lixue said casually, looking at the jade pendant in her hand.
"What is it?" Shen Minghui glared at Shen Lixue, his brows furrowed, and asked impatiently. If it weren't for the family heirloom jade pendant, he wouldn't have bothered wasting time with Shen Lixue.
Shen Lixue clapped her hands, and more than twenty guards from the War Prince's Mansion instantly appeared in the courtyard. Ignoring Shen Minghui and Aunt Zhao in the courtyard, they rushed straight into the warehouse.
Aunt Zhao, who had lived in the inner quarters for a long time, had never seen such a scene before. She was so frightened that her face turned pale, her body trembled, and she could no longer take a step.
"Shen Lixue, what are you doing? This is the Prime Minister's residence, you can't act recklessly here!" Shen Minghui's face was ashen as he glared at Shen Lixue with hatred, roaring angrily. He stood up with all his might, staggering as he prepared to walk towards the warehouse.
Shen Lixue smiled slightly, looking fresh and natural, and stood steadily without stopping Shen Minghui.
Zi Mo's tall figure suddenly appeared in the courtyard, a dagger gleaming with a sharp light pressed against his neck: "Prime Minister Shen, please do not act rashly!"
"Shen Lixue, are you planning to murder your father and seize his treasure?" A chilling glint flashed across Shen Minghui's neck. The sharp blade was pressed against his neck, and if he dared to take another step forward, the blade would cut his skin. He had no choice but to stop and turn back to look at Shen Lixue, questioning her through gritted teeth, his eyes blazing with anger.
Shen Lixue scoffed: "The Zhanwang Mansion is overflowing with gold and silver. I don't even care about Prime Minister Shen's meager wealth. As for my purpose, Prime Minister Shen will soon find out. If you are upright and have a clear conscience, then sit down and wait for the outcome."
"Fine, I'll see what kind of tricks you're up to!" Shen Minghui roared, sat back in his chair, and glared angrily at Shen Lixue. She was truly a rebellious daughter who deserved to be struck by lightning. The Shen family's reputation for generations had been ruined by her.
"Bang!" The slightly closed warehouse door was kicked open violently, and guards carried out one golden box after another. The boxes were exactly the same as those piled in the yard, and they gleamed brightly in the sunlight. These were not ordinary golden boxes, but real golden boxes made of gold.
Aunt Zhao was full of surprise. How could there be so many golden boxes? Could it be that the master had secretly kept Lin Qingzhu's dowry?
Shen Minghui's face turned deathly pale instantly, his eyes wide with shock, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word, and his tall frame shaking slightly. How could they have discovered that secret room?
"Clap clap clap!" Sixty boxes were placed on the ground and opened one by one, revealing various precious jewelry and rare antiques. Shen Lixue walked slowly among the boxes, seemingly casually examining the items inside.
Twenty well-trained guards stood with their heads bowed to one side, their eyes cold and their faces grim. Aunt Jin, the maids, and the nannies had never seen such a scene before, and they were so frightened that they didn't dare to breathe. Shen Minghui also sat there blankly, without saying a word. The entire courtyard was so quiet that it was suffocating.
Shen Lixue suddenly looked up, her gaze like sharp blades, coldly shooting at Shen Minghui: "Prime Minister Shen, how did these dowry items, which should have disappeared in the fire fifteen years ago, end up here?"
The old house in Qingzhou wasn't big. Lin Qingzhu's dowry had always been kept in a side room next to her bedroom. The fire started in the main house, meaning that the bedroom in the north and the side room caught fire together. Lin Qingzhu was a living person and could escape the fire with her child, but these jewelry pieces were inanimate and couldn't run away on their own.