Xu Xi strode back and pointed at the several men being restrained by the officials, declaring: “This is Wang Wu, this is Luo Hei… they’re all servants from the Marquis Estate. I know every one of them!”

The estate steward’s face changed drastically. “Young Master, how can you do this!”

This shameless wastrel—how could he commit such an act of self-destruction against his own family?

Xu Xi sneered coldly. “Grand Steward, I’m now the ‘Young Master Xu’ you mentioned, not any Young Master of the estate.”

The resentment from being expelled from the family erupted suddenly at this moment, giving rise to an impulse to drag the Marquis Estate down with him.

Seeing his stepmother readily produce five thousand taels in silver notes to pay off his gambling debts, he had actually been moved.

How foolish he was!

His stepmother had paid off the debt with one hand, then snatched it back with the other. If these servants hadn’t been caught by the officials, would those thugs have spared someone who’d been expelled from the family?

He was slow-witted, but not so stupid that he couldn’t understand something this simple.

The more Xu Xi thought about it, the colder his heart became, trembling all over with rage.

He was angry at his father and stepmother’s cruelty, but even more furious at his own stupidity.

The steward broke out in cold sweat. “Young Master, you mustn’t speak carelessly—these men aren’t from the Marquis Estate at all!”

At this point, he could only adamantly deny it, otherwise the Marquis Estate’s reputation would be completely ruined.

Facing the stubborn steward who refused to admit defeat, Xu Xi had never been so sharp before: “You say they’re not from the Marquis Estate—so you’re saying I’m lying?”

The young man looked toward the gathered crowd and raised his voice: “So many neighbors are watching. Surely someone can recognize them?”

The crowd loved a good spectacle, and soon someone hidden among them shouted: “I know that Luo Hei! His wife used to grind tofu on the street—quite a beauty she was.”

“I know Wang Wu…”

The steward’s face grew increasingly ugly. He hurriedly signaled for someone to report to the Marquis of Changchun.

The lead official smiled. “Since these men who committed robbery in broad daylight are servants of the Marquis Estate, we’ll need to ask the Marquis to clarify the situation. If this involves condoning servants’ violence—”

The steward was furious beyond measure, thinking that even the Five Districts Military Commissioner’s men dared to act arrogantly before the Marquis Estate’s gates—truly possessed!

However, no matter how angry he felt inside, he could only plaster on a smile outwardly.

“Officers, please come inside to talk. It’s uncomfortable standing out here with snow falling.”

The lead official naturally wanted to go inside.

Once inside, he could drink steaming hot tea, and surely receive some silver as well.

But he couldn’t! Miss Luo was watching!

If he didn’t perform well, and Miss Luo slapped him later, who could he complain to?

The lead official’s heart was bitter, but he couldn’t say so explicitly. He could only maintain a stern face and pretend to be righteous: “Better to speak clearly out here.”

The Marquis of Changchun, who had received the news, hurried out.

“What’s going on here?”

The lead official cupped his hands. “Lord Marquis, it’s like this—we brothers were on patrol when we suddenly heard someone shouting about robbery. We rushed over and saw these men cornering people in an alley to rob them. We apprehended the robbers, and upon questioning, we learned the culprits were actually servants from your estate, claiming they wanted to recover five thousand taels in silver notes taken by these thugs.”

The Marquis of Changchun knew nothing of Madam Yang’s arrangements. At this moment, both shocked and enraged, he looked toward those servants.

The servants wanted to kneel and explain to the Marquis of Changchun, but feared that doing so would confirm their identities. Each one’s face flushed red with suppressed frustration.

They hadn’t confessed anything—these officials were just spouting nonsense!

It was also strange—how did these officials know they were from the Marquis of Changchun’s estate, and even know they were blocking those thugs to recover the five thousand taels in silver notes that had been taken?

Even stranger was that although these officials’ martial skills weren’t particularly impressive, during the confrontation they kept slipping underfoot, and before long they were subdued by the opponents.

Facing the iron-faced Marquis of Changchun, the servants felt both terrified and wronged, feeling as though there was no way out.

The Marquis Estate had numerous servants, and the Marquis of Changchun naturally couldn’t recognize them all. Unfortunately, these men were among the more capable ones, so naturally he found them familiar.

The Marquis of Changchun immediately glanced at the steward.

The steward discreetly sent him a signal.

The Marquis of Changchun’s heart suddenly sank.

So what the Five Districts Military Commissioner’s men said was true!

He had just dealt with his eldest son’s matter, originally thinking he could have some peace, never expecting such a mess to arise again.

The lead official coughed. “Lord Marquis, we’ve already received confirmation from the neighbors—these robbers are indeed servants from your estate. May I ask if you were aware of this matter? If this involves condoning servants’ violence—”

The Marquis of Changchun shuddered, his fury immediately suppressed by terror.

This matter had already been exposed publicly—he absolutely could not bear the charge of condoning servants’ violence!

The Changchun Marquis Estate was already dispensable in the Emperor’s eyes. If someone seized upon this and brought it before the Emperor, His Majesty certainly wouldn’t show favoritism.

Noble families were as numerous as oxen in the capital—the Emperor was probably looking for ways to reduce state treasury expenditures.

The Marquis of Changchun stared coldly at the steward and demanded sternly: “What exactly happened? Did you arrange for these men?”

When the steward heard the Marquis of Changchun’s words, it was like being struck by five thunderbolts, his vision going dark.

It was over—the Marquis was making him take the fall!

“I’m asking you a question.” The Marquis of Changchun’s icy voice came through, each word like a heavy hammer striking the steward’s heart.

The steward’s face went white as he bent at the waist, saying in a trembling voice: “It was all this lowly one’s momentary confusion. I felt it was a shame for so much silver to benefit those thugs, so I sent them to recover the silver notes…”

Before finishing his words, the steward collapsed limply to the ground, sitting in the snow trembling all over.

Could he refuse to take this blame?

Obviously not.

His entire family of over ten people were all held in the palms of the Marquis and Madam. If he didn’t step forward to shoulder this blame, more than just he alone would die.

Thinking this, the steward’s turbid tears streamed down from the corners of his eyes.

The tears were hot, creating small pits where they fell in the snow, quickly covered again by falling flakes.

Xu Xi watched all this with cold eyes, his mood both gratified and complicated.

The steward who had been speaking sarcastically to him just moments ago had turned into a drowning dog in an instant—life truly was unpredictable.

He couldn’t help but look at the Marquis of Changchun.

The Marquis of Changchun didn’t glance once in the young man’s direction. With a forced smile, he said to the lead official: “This is truly shameful. It’s my fault for not properly controlling my servants, allowing him to commit such an absurd act. Officer, please take this confused fool away. The Marquis Estate will absolutely not shield him.”

The lead official nodded. “Thank you for your understanding, Lord Marquis. We indeed must take him back to the yamen to report.”

Mainly to report to Miss Luo!

Arresting the grand steward of the Changchun Marquis Estate—surely that young mistress would be satisfied?

The Marquis of Changchun secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Sacrificing one steward to resolve this matter was still acceptable.

Of course, failing to properly discipline servants wasn’t a good reputation either, but compared to condoning servants’ violence, it was much better.

“Then we won’t disturb the Marquis further. Take them away!”

Seeing the officials about to leave, Triangle-Eyes couldn’t hold back: “Wait a moment—”

Countless gazes fell upon him.

Triangle-Eyes instinctively straightened his back and called out: “What about our five thousand taels in silver?”

The Marquis of Changchun was startled. “What five thousand taels in silver?”

Hadn’t those good-for-nothings been caught by the Five Districts Military Commissioner’s men? What did silver have to do with it?

“It’s like this—when your estate’s servants were robbing us, a little beggar took advantage of the chaos to snatch away the box containing the silver notes. That little beggar ran incredibly fast and definitely can’t be found now. Shouldn’t the Marquis Estate compensate us for our losses?”