Shen Yunfeng and the steward had a special bond since childhood, and their friendship was extraordinary. It couldn't be shaken by just a few threats.
While the steward was hesitating, Shen Heqing stuffed a thick stack of silver notes on the table into his bosom.
"It's not asking you to betray Father. You just need to tell a little lie. For example, say that all the 50,000 taels were used for bribes. Since the evidence is conclusive, Bai Xinrou can't be bailed out, but you've bribed the yamen servants, so Bai Xinrou is doing well in prison and will be out in a few years..."
"I'm Father's own son. Blood relation matters. We're arguing now, but we'll make up in a few years. You're just a servant. It's obvious who's more important."
"Moreover, the dagger you used to stab Cui Liu last time was left at the scene. That dagger can land you in the yamen."
The Shen family valued their reputation. If the steward went to the yamen, he would surely be abandoned.
The steward took a deep breath and quickly made a decision: "What about Bai Xinrou?"
Seeing that the steward was sensible, Shen Heqing patted his shoulder: "Let the yamen judge as they should. Let her fate be decided by heaven."
With the silver notes in his bosom, Shen Heqing left the steward's courtyard and went straight to the main courtyard.
At this time, Shen Baozhu had been coaxed to sleep by the Princess Jingning. Hugging her little quilt, she was sleeping soundly.
Since she was sleeping on her side, one chubby cheek was squashed, which made Shen Heqing itch to pinch the other one.
Fortunately, the Princess Jingning noticed in time and slapped his hand away: "Baozhu just fell asleep. Don't wake her up."
Shen Heqing retracted his hand guiltily and then took out the thick stack of silver notes: "Mother, these are silver notes worth 50,000 taels. Let's divide them."
The silver notes had different denominations, with three values: 1,000 taels, 500 taels, and 100 taels. There were the fewest 1,000 - tael notes and the most 100 - tael notes.
50,000 taels was no small amount. The Princess Jingning frowned and asked, "Where did you get them?"
"They're Shen Yunfeng's private savings. He asked the steward to take the money to save Bai Xinrou. I guessed it. I threatened the steward with the dagger that stabbed Cui Liu to give me the money." Shen Heqing picked out the 1,000 - tael notes and put them beside Shen Baozhu.
Then he started to divide the silver notes, muttering to himself: "Mother and Baozhu get two each, I get one, Danqing gets one, Haiyan gets one. Mother and Baozhu get two more, I get one..."
Shen Heqing divided the silver notes very fairly. Except that Mother and his younger sister got two each round, he and his two brothers got one each.
Soon the stack of silver notes was divided. Shen Heqing thought for a while and then took out a 500 - tael note from his share and gave it to Shen Danqing.
"Danqing is running out of writing brushes and ink. Give him more money to buy them."
"Mother, these are yours, and that part and the 1,000 - tael notes are all for Baozhu. Shen Yunfeng made Baozhu suffer, so Baozhu should take more."
After dividing up Shen Yunfeng's 50,000 taels, Shen Heqing felt refreshed.
...
Early the next morning.
Shen Baozhu was woken up by Shen Heqing shaking her. She opened her eyes blankly: "Um, so sleepy..."
"Baozhu, wake up. Let's go to the workshop early. You can play with clay figurines all day." Shen Heqing helped Shen Baozhu sit up and let her choose a few more clothes.
Go to the workshop and play with clay figurines all day...
Shen Baozhu woke up instantly. She said happily: "Okay! Let's go now!"
After washing up, Shen Baozhu didn't even bother to have breakfast. She ran outside on her little legs. Shen Heqing almost couldn't hold her back.
Shen Heqing said helplessly: "Don't be in such a hurry. Have breakfast first."
After breakfast, sitting in the carriage, Shen Baozhu was full of energy: "Go play with clay figurines!"
Shen Heqing held down Shen Baozhu's flailing little hands and smiled: "Big brother never lies to Baozhu. If I said I'd take you to play with clay figurines, I will."
Thinking that he should have taken Baozhu there yesterday, Shen Heqing felt guilty and offered compensation: "Baozhu, Su Qian should be at home today. I'll ask him to play with clay figurines with you. Okay?"
This news really made Shen Baozhu even happier.
Su Qian was Shen Heqing's good friend. His family was somewhat wealthy, and they had a workshop in the suburbs. The place where Shen Baozhu wanted to play with clay figurines was exactly the Su family's workshop.
Shen Baozhu learned to play with clay figurines from Su Qian the first time she did it.
However, like Shen Heqing, Su Qian was diligent in his studies and rarely went to the workshop. They rarely ran into each other.
Actually, Shen Heqing wasn't sure if Su Qian was at home, but he wasn't worried at all. Since the academy where Su Qian studied was also in the suburbs, Shen Heqing had already thought that if Su Qian wasn't at home, he would go to the academy to call him back.
To amuse his younger sister, Shen Heqing didn't hesitate to sacrifice his friend.
The carriage left the city gate and soon arrived at the Su family's workshop.
Shen Heqing carried Shen Baozhu out of the carriage, and the servant Mingshu followed behind.
The usually bustling workshop seemed strange. There were no workers, and the gate was tightly closed.
Shen Heqing frowned slightly. Mingshu quickly stepped forward to knock on the door, but after knocking for a long time, no one answered.
This abnormal situation made Shen Heqing feel uneasy.
Shen Baozhu also noticed something was wrong and said obediently: "Big brother, is the workshop closed today? Then Baozhu will come and play next time."
Shen Heqing frowned and said: "Big brother will ride a horse to Su Qian's academy to check the situation. Baozhu, stay obediently beside Mingshu and wait for big brother to come back, okay?"
After instructing Shen Baozhu, Shen Heqing rode away on his horse.
Shen Baozhu looked at the carriage with only the carriage body left and sighed: "So the horse of the carriage can be ridden too!"
Mingshu and the coachman stood on both sides of Shen Baozhu, doing their best to protect her. Mingshu was very supportive: "Wow, little princess is so smart. This servant never noticed before."
The coachman on the left gave Mingshu a look as if he were looking at a fool.
Then, the coachman heard Shen Baozhu's delighted voice: "Really? Then Mingshu is just like Baozhu. Baozhu just found out today too!"
The coachman was stunned. He didn't expect Shen Baozhu to really believe Mingshu's words. His eyes twitched: "Little princess is really amazing. This servant has been a coachman for so many years and only just found out today."
Mingshu and the coachman started to outdo each other in praising Shen Baozhu.
The little girl was so flattered that she said: "So I'm so smart!"
"Click!"
Suddenly, the gate of the workshop behind them was pushed open. A disheveled man ran out, followed by several strong men with machetes.
The man quickly ran up to the three of them. Seeing Mingshu, he was stunned: "Mingshu? What are you doing here? Where's your young master?"
"Never mind. Run! Someone's trying to kill me!"
The disheveled man was Su Qian. Without bothering to explain, he grabbed Mingshu and wanted to run. Then he saw the young Shen Baozhu.
Since she was going to play with clay figurines in the workshop today, Shen Baozhu was wearing a dark - colored strong suit. Standing there, the little girl looked like a cute little clay figurine.
Su Qian recognized Shen Baozhu. He gritted his teeth, summoned his nearly exhausted strength, picked up Shen Baozhu, and ran.
The coachman reacted faster than Mingshu. He quickly grabbed the horsewhip at his waist and lashed out at the approaching strong men.
The knife - wielding strong men had no power to fight back against the horsewhip.
One of the strong men with some knowledge shouted in panic: "Run! He's from the general's mansion! We can't beat him!"
This sentence seemed like an order, and the strong men quickly fled.
The coachman didn't chase. His task was to protect the little princess, so he naturally put the little princess first.
"The moves have no pattern. They should be nearby bandits. It's good that the little princess is okay... Where's the little princess!"
Shen Baozhu, who was originally standing beside Mingshu, was gone. The coachman was so frightened that he exclaimed.
Mingshu looked down and his face turned pale: "I saw Young Master Su just now and got distracted for a moment. I didn't notice the little princess..."
"Finished, finished. Miss specifically transferred me here to protect the little miss. If something happens, how can I face the general!"
On the other side.
Su Qian carried Shen Baozhu and ran all the way, but soon he was exhausted and leaned against a big tree, gasping for breath.
Shen Baozhu looked at Su Qian curiously: "Brother Su Qian, are you playing the chasing game?"
"No, no. Someone's trying to kill me." Su Qian gasped three times in one sentence, obviously extremely tired.
Although he was very tired, Su Qian didn't dare to rest. He summoned his strength and took Shen Baozhu a few more steps forward.
"Those people are extremely vicious. We have to run faster. We can't stop..."
Unfortunately for Su Qian, after walking only a few steps, he and Shen Baozhu ran into several black - clothed men head - on.
Frightened, Su Qian found a bit more strength. He picked up Shen Baozhu again and turned around to run: "He - he - help!"
In mid - air, a line of golden subtitles appeared.
[Yo, the stupid runner is carrying a little girl? The stupid one is just so - so, but the little girl is quite cute.]
[Little girl, praise this king a few times, and I'll help you deal with the black - clothed men. How about it?]