Chapter 43 - Identifying

When Magistrate JI, who served in Shun Tianfu, experienced difficulties, he was taken in by Duke Ding'an, Lin Boyan, and taught academic knowledge in the duke's mansion. Magistrate JI developed a special bond with the main branch of the duke's mansion. Additionally, Xiao Qian had already informed him about the situation beforehand, so Magistrate JI naturally needed to mediate for Lin Yannan and Lin Yanni. Please note that the @ matches have been kept in the translation.

等林家人指认完赃物后，纪大人便毫不客气道：“侯爷去世后，墨渊阁不是大整顿过了吗？里里外外的人全换了一遍，怎么还会发生这种事？”

林仲坤老脸一红：“这……东西是找到了，但事情还未查清楚，也不知哪里出了问题。”

“要查清楚很简单，这种案子一般都是监守自盗，关胜，你带当铺伙计和那造假师父去一趟侯府，让他们指认。”

Guan Sheng followed the order and went on his way.

Lin Zhongkun said, "This... doesn't seem appropriate, right?"

"Master Lin, handling cases is my expertise. You just wait here for the results."

With a single sentence, Master Ji silenced Lin Zhongkun, who had no choice but to anxiously await the outcome.

As Guan Sheng was about to take his brothers out, Xiao Qian approached him and pulled him aside, saying, "If the lady of the Hou Mansion tries to stop you, tell her that if the Hou Mansion does not cooperate, it will be suspected of shielding criminals and obstructing official duties. In that case, Mr. Ji will truthfully report to the court. If they are willing to cooperate, we can discuss whether or not to make the results public."

Guan Sheng nodded and said, "I understand."

Xiao Qian then said to the pawnshop owner, "If you can identify the people who came to pawn their items, I will find a way to minimize the losses for your pawnshop. Otherwise... all the stolen goods will be confiscated."

The shop assistant nodded vigorously, saying, "Rest assured, sir. Although I am not skilled in much else, I have a keen eye. I can always recognize customers who have visited our pawnshop."

萧潜转看造假的师父：“你也一样，指认有功，本官酌情量刑。”

In the Cien Hall, after listening to Zhou's report, the elderly lady remained speechless for a long time.

心里已然有了怀疑对象，墨渊阁的人除了余安，锦心和檀云三人，其他人都是姚氏安排的，姚氏能贪墨沈静姝留下的珠宝，偷换墨渊阁的古玩字画不是不可能。

Oh no, this is really troublesome!

The government has already intervened, it can't be resolved easily.

"Go and fetch your sister-in-law."

Zhou said, "I think my sister-in-law seems to be feeling unwell."

“就算她躺在床上起不来了，抬也给我抬来。”老夫人愠怒道。

"Yes."

周氏出了慈恩堂到别处转了一大圈，这才去茗香苑。

Yao paced anxiously in the room, like an ant on a hot pan. The situation was completely out of her control, and she had racked her brains but couldn't come up with a solution. Even if she ultimately wasn't implicated, she was responsible for the personnel at the Ink Abyss Pavilion. She couldn't shirk the blame, what should she do? What should she do...?

"Madam, Madam San is here," Yin Hong reported as she entered.

Yao Shi's gaze turned cold. "What does she want?"

"This servant doesn't know."

"Don't see her," Yao Shi said irritably. She knew exactly why Zhou Shi had come. Wasn't it just to mock her?

Zhou Shi waited outside for a while, and Yin Hong came out and replied, "Madam, my wife is not feeling well and cannot meet you."

"Is that so? Then I won't disturb her. Let your wife rest well and don't worry too much. Even if the sky falls, it won't only crush her." Zhou Shi smiled slightly.

In the room, Yao felt a surge of anger when she heard those words.

This despicable person, Zhou, who had been humble and submissive in front of her for so many years, now dared to mock and ridicule her.

Zhou went to the old lady and said, "Mother, it is true that my second sister-in-law is unwell. She refuses to even see me."

The old lady's face turned so dark that it could drip water: "If she doesn't come, I will go."

Having reached this point, she still dares to hide. Can she really escape?

Before the old lady could come out of the house, another servant came to report that someone from the yamen had arrived.

Guan Sheng left and returned, bringing people to identify.

老夫人黑着脸：“家务事就不劳官府操心了。”

关胜赔笑：“卑职是奉命而来，此案关系重大，已经不是侯府的家务事了，纪大人和两位林大人还在顺天府等卑职的消息呢！”

The old lady curses her two sons in her heart, are their brains squeezed by the door? Why do they insist on exposing the family shame to everyone's knowledge? Especially Zhongkun, he already feels embarrassed about Zhenzhen's matter, if it is revealed about Yao's family, will Zhongkun be able to show his face in public anymore?

"You go back and tell Mr. Ji that whoever reports the case will handle their own family affairs, and he doesn't need to worry about the matters of the Ding An Marquis Mansion. Also, pass on a message to the two Mr. Lin, telling them to hurry back if they have nothing else going on."

关胜笑脸依旧：“老夫人，我们大人说了，若是侯府不配合，顺天府有理由怀疑侯府在包庇人犯，届时将如实上报朝廷，老夫人，卑职以为，查还是要查的，至于查出的结果如何……凭纪大人与侯府的交情，还是可以商量着办的嘛，是不是？”

The old lady is extremely troubled.

Zhou, taking advantage of the situation, said: "Mother, if Mr. Ji really reports to the court that our Marquis's residence is sheltering criminals, it may attract even more gossip!"

The old lady's eyes flickered as she pondered for a while before saying, "You can investigate, but the results will be decided by the Hou Mansion itself."

Guan Sheng replied, "The culprit must be brought back first. I will convey the old lady's intentions to Mr. Ji and the two Mr. Lin."

So, Zhou gathered all the servants of the Hou Mansion, especially those who had previously worked in the Moyuan Pavilion, standing at the forefront.

"Madam San, almost everyone has arrived, we are only missing Liu Ma from Mingxiang Garden and Qian Manager from the financial department," the household manager said in response.

Zhou said, "Take people to Mingxiang Garden. If they don't come, force them to come."

"Alright," the steward immediately led the people straight to Mingxiang Garden.

If it were half a month ago, they wouldn't dare to kidnap people at Mingxiang Garden. But now, the situation has changed. Madam Er was deprived of her financial power by the Old Madam. This is a very clear signal, indicating that the Old Madam no longer trusts Madam Er. So, there is nothing they wouldn't dare to do?

After a while, the steward's mother returned empty-handed: "Madam San, Mrs. Liu and Steward Qian are not in the mansion. They said they went out to handle some matters."

A cold smile formed in Zhou's heart. They went out to handle some matters? They must be hiding because of guilt.

"Find out what they went to do, send someone to search for them, no, catch them, bring them back to me."

In the spacious courtyard of the Hou Mansion, over a hundred people stood in a disorderly manner while Guan Sheng made the pawnshop clerk and the counterfeit master identify them one by one.

None of them are.

"Madam San, have all the servants of the Marquis's Manor arrived?" Guan Sheng asked.

"Two people are still missing, but they should be here soon."

While saying that, Qian, the steward, and Mama Liu were brought in, tied up.

“放开我，你们这些不开眼的奴才，连我也敢绑，反了天了。”刘妈气哼哼地骂骂咧咧。

“哟！刘妈好大的威风，绑了你，便是反了天？请问这是谁的天？”周氏似笑非笑地问。

刘妈怒视着三夫人。

“就是她……就是她来我当铺典当的，那些东西是她的。”当铺伙计一眼就认出了刘妈。

“我也认得他，他是我那的老客户了。”造假师父指着钱管事。

Guan Sheng waved his hand and said, "Take him away."