Chapter 346: She truly lives up to being our family's Afang!

"How true are Wang Lao Ba's words?"

These words, however, are not necessarily meant to make things difficult for Chen Weifang.

It's just that Du Shanü...

Indeed, I don't know the answer!

What should I do about not knowing?

Naturally, we need to get to the bottom of it!

Du Shanü propped her head with one hand and casually picked up the still-warm cup on the table:

"I've never handled such a thing, but seeing him dragging things left and right, still managing to dig up a few witnesses, I find it especially tricky."

If he's a bad person, then punish him severely.

If he's a good person, such a thing wouldn't happen.

But it's precisely someone who's neither good nor bad...

That makes it especially hard to say.

Especially, the other party not only mentioned Xuan Feixing, but also proactively pointed out that all the letters intercepted during this period are still kept...

Is this something a person with ill intent would do?

But if we say this person has no ill intent, the whole chain of causes is really too much of a coincidence, isn't it?

If he's lying, why tell such a lie, and what benefit could it bring him?

Most importantly, exactly which part of his lie makes the whole thing sound flawless?

Du Shanü didn't understand; she had been waiting here dry for over an hour, her mouth parched, about to sip her tea slowly, when out of the corner of her eye she saw a distinctively jointed hand reach out from the side and cover the cup's rim:

"This cup is mine; I'll go pour another for the Wise Lord."

Chen Weifang is good-looking and good-tempered.

The only thing is, she sometimes takes things too seriously.

Du Shanü cursed inwardly, "Taking off pants to fart," and drained the cup in one gulp:

"Instead of worrying whose tea this is, it's better to think about how to punish if what Wang Lao Ba said is true."

If it's really a coincidence, then the measure of punishment needs to be gauged well.

It must both deter subordinates and show the superior's leniency...

Not everyone can do that.

As for the tea, what's the big deal!

Chinu isn't by her side now, Afang's whole afternoon is busy running around, and no one brings her and the baby in her belly cow's milk!

Moreover, she even turned the cup's rim a certain way before drinking!

Du Shanü spoke confidently, while Chen Weifang shrank back, her movements slow, like a great python turning over beneath the rotting leaves in the forest shade:

"... In my opinion, this matter might still have some hidden circumstances."

"Putting Wang Lao Ba in jail early and giving him a harsh interrogation would be better than being indecisive here."

Hidden circumstances?

Could it be that Afang actually noticed something?

Du Shanü focused her gaze, while Chen Weifang's expression remained unchanged:

"Too many coincidences, and it becomes strange."

"Xuan Feixing was originally just a traveling listener; how much silver could he earn in a month? Others may mix public and private use when sending letters, but could a single letter really drain one's fortune?"

"He keeps saying he didn't report because he lost the money, but no matter how much money it was, where could it go? Could it possibly be more important than his own life?"

This matter is clearly going to be held accountable.

How could someone do such a foolish thing over a few coins?

Chen Weifang said leisurely, and only then added:

"Wise Lord, don't pity him now that he's tearful; if he were truly smart, he should have borrowed a few coins at the time to make up the shortfall and reported this— that would have been the right course... but now that things have come to this, saying anything is too late."

"Interrogate him thoroughly; don't just ask why he did this, maybe even his past life could be recalled."

Indeed, Chen Weifang's words make some sense.

Du Shanü also admits she previously had some doubts about Wang Lao Ba.

But after hearing Afang's words, Du Shanü's heart couldn't help but waver—

Today, whether Afang says this person is wholly evil, knowingly committing wrongdoing, or says someone stands behind him, she actually has some doubts.

But today, what Afang says is, "How could someone do such a foolish thing over a few coins?"

But yet, in her memory...

She has indeed suffered quite a bit.

Everyone outside says she is of heavenly noble birth, but she herself knows she's just a wild girl who climbed up from the countryside.

She is all too aware of the old saying, "A single coin cannot fell a hero."

In this world, those who strive desperately for a few copper coins...... are truly not few in number.

Du Shanü remained silent, merely pinching the lustrous cup, rubbing its rim a few times, only after a long while remembering to set it down.

Seeing this, Chen Weifang's brow twitched slightly, and she timely advised:

"There's another matter— although he claims the letters are still there, we also need to see whether he only detained the Wise Lord's letters or also others."

"If it's the latter, we could still reluctantly count it as his reckless ignorance of heaven's height and earth's depth, but if it's the former..."

If it's the former, that truly is a major incident.

Who could exert such control over Du Shanü, not even allowing her correspondence?

Who could, within Yongzhou city, possess such great authority?

Du Shanü's expression shifted slightly, and she immediately thought of someone:

"Recently, has Ruansizong's side been peaceful? We've held Ruan Jintian for a long time, not even releasing him for the New Year; I fear that old thing has noticed something, so he's come to rummage through my letters......"

Chen Weifang's expression also grew somewhat solemn.

"What the Wise Lord said makes perfect sense; I'll go now——"

Before Chen Weifang could rise, a shadow shifted in the corridor.

Du Shanü glanced over and saw two familiar constables approaching from left and right; from afar she could see each holding something in their hands.

Du Shanü naturally wouldn't personally inspect them; she merely ordered tea to be refilled while glancing sideways at Chen Weifang's actions.

Chen Weifang acted on her behalf, flipping through each letter on that tray that had almost piled into a mountain; the more she looked, the graver her expression became.

After the time it took to burn two incense sticks, he finally let out a deep sigh:

"...... This time, I actually misjudged."

"These letters not only contain the Wise Lord's, but also three households' intercepted letters; aside from these few, all the rest remain unopened."

Du Shanü had actually noticed the state of those letters earlier; among the mountain of stationery, most letters were intact.

Only the few pressed at the bottom were clearly water‑soaked, shredded into almost unrecognizable fragments.

Even, she could still see the trace of when she herself had sealed the first letter.

The inner letters and envelopes were gone, but the outermost wrapping of oil paper remained barely serviceable; clearly water had seeped through the gaps, taking the letters while leaving the oil paper not completely soaked.

Du Shanü remained silent for a long while before finally lifting her gaze to the person kneeling and presenting the letters.

That constable seemed to have held back for a long while; sensing the unavoidable gaze from above, he immediately spoke up in fearful reverence:

"Report to Your Highness, we have been to Wang Lao Ba's residence."

"That thief's household is bare as can be; his wife died of illness last year, leaving an elderly mother bedridden with paralysis, and three wailing infants waiting to be fed......"

"We found these letters under his bed; Wang Lao Ba immediately broke into tears, confessing his guilt, and now he waits outside the courtyard for Your Highness's reprimand."

?? Truly no wonder it's Afang—she always sees her misdeeds through from start to finish!