Chapter 446: The Seven Noble Families’ Nether Clan (1/2)

Chapter 446: The Seven Noble Families’ Nether Clan

Amidst the commotion, Han Yunxi raised her hand to call for silence. But someone couldn’t help asking in curiosity, “Esteemed wangfei, just who is this spy?”

Han Yunxi’s even tone turned icy as she ordered, “There were only a few people who went to the storehouse in the past few days. Someone come, bring them all to me!”

The estate guards brought over six servants, among them three who stocked the storeroom, two pageboys, and….Steward Luo! Everyone was shocked to see him among the suspected, but Steward Luo’s expression was placid as he stood tall and straight.

“These six were the only ones who used the storehouse in the past few days.”

Han Yunxi strode out of the pavilion and looked at the six servants with a severe, frosty expression. “His Highness and this wangfei will never allow the existence of traitors here. Just who was it that broke the roof tile? Either confess, or…” Before she finished, she shot a glance at Xu Donglin, who tossed out a plank covered in nails!

The plank was only about the size of a stool, but it was covered with needles that glittered with wicked points. All of the servants knew that this nail plank was an extremely horrific punishment tool. Anyone who sat on it would be pierced by the needles with unbearable pain. Though it wasn’t fatal, it left the sufferer in agony for days before they died from blood loss.

Here was a fate worse than death.

Steward Luo remained unmoved, but the two little pageboys and three servant girls went pale with fright as they trembled. If the real culprit couldn’t be found, then all of them would be ill-pressed to escape punishment. Very soon, the servant girls all fell to their knees to beg for mercy.

“Esteemed wangfei, it wasn’t me! Spare me!”

“Esteemed wangfei, I didn’t do a thing! I’ve been wronged, ah!”

Su Xiaoyu wasn’t as calm as before anymore. She creased her brows as she suddenly remembered something, but Han Yunxi spoke up to say, “There will be severe punishment for those who refuse to admit their crimes and leniency…for those who confess!”

Su Xiaoyu’s heart thumped at those very words. She had the faint sense that Han Yunxi was doing all this on purpose! Back at the study, she’d said those same words—not to truly offer her clemency, but to make sure she heard them. Han Yunxi had long planned out her way of uncovering the sabotager via these storehouse servants! As expected, Han Yunxi’s words stirred one of the pageboys into falling on his knees as he kowtowed repeatedly against the ground.

“Esteemed wangfei, have mercy! This one was threatened and had no other choice! Esteemed wangfei, have mercy, ah!”

So it was him! One of Steward Luo’s charges!

Seeing this, Su Xiaoyu’s face blanched, never expected the person she picked to be so weak in the face of threats. Steward Luo turned furious and slapped the boy. “Wang Laifu,1 you worthless wretch. I haven’t treated you poorly, yet you had the gall for something like this!”

Wang Laifu allowed Steward Luo to rain curses on him as he pleaded for mercy, but in the end, he still didn’t say who had threatened him.

“Who threatened you? And who was the one that sabotaged the charcoal?” Han Yunxi asked loudly.

When faced with death, Wang Laifu’s courage grew. He began to haggle for terms. “Esteemed wangfei, spare this one from death and torture first. Then this one will speak!”

With such daring, it’s no wonder he thought of betrayal!

Han Yunxi’s eyes flashed coldly before she accepted. “Fine, I’ll spare you from death and torture. Now speak!”

How could Wang Laifu knew there were worse things in life than death or torture? Without hesitation, he turned to look at Su Xiaoyu. Everyone else followed his gaze.

It’s her?

Everyone gave a start, never expecting such a young child—one saved by esteemed wangfei herself—to do something so horrific! What a pretender! What acting! Han Yunxi was still calm. She’d long knew in her heart, but she wanted everyone else to accept her verdict as well. Su Xiaoyu finally revealed her true face as she gave Han Yunxi a cold, wicked grin. She was about to speak when Zhao mama cut in sternly.

“Su Xiaoyu, you despicable girl! Was your conscience eaten by the dogs?”

Zhao mama had no sons or daughters of her own, so she’d treated Su Xiaoyu with the same affection as a granddaughter! She was even thinking of how to prepare a dowry for the little girl once she grew older so she could marry out in grand style. But instead, she’d turned out to be a spy who hurt esteemed wangfei. Zhao mama was so angry that she wanted to hit the child, but Su Xiaoyu grabbed at her first. Fortunately, Xu Donglin had been on guard and caught Su Xiaoyu’s hand just as two more guards appeared to restrain her.

The chaos in the courtyard quickly subsided. Wang Laifu remained kneeling on the ground, while Su Xiaoyu’s hands were held fast. Silence settled upon the scene. Han Yunxi walked to the girl who didn’t even reach up to her waist. She purposely bent down and asked coldly, “Have you any words to say?”