“General, the several large storehouses in the Prince's Mansion are completely empty.”
“General, the kitchen and the storehouse next to it are completely clean, there is nothing.”
“General, the small storehouses in each courtyard are also empty.”
“General…”
Several groups of soldiers who had been dispersed earlier returned one after another. Everyone's expression was not good. The extent to which those storehouses were empty was simply breathtaking. Besides the bare walls and ground, there was nothing; even a mouse would burst into tears upon entering.
“What?!”
Tian Yi roared reflexively. How could the storehouses be empty? Did the people of the Prince's Mansion guess something and transfer the wealth beforehand?
No, impossible!
The Emperor's actions to use the Prince's Mansion as a scapegoat were very secretive. Even he only received the Imperial Edict around Yin hour today. The Prince's Mansion was still happily celebrating the wedding of the Princess Consort yesterday. They shouldn't have been able to guess. Even if they guessed, with the Prince's Mansion's accumulation over generations, the wealth would inevitably be extremely vast. How could it be transferred silently?
Moreover, the strange method of the vast wealth disappearing out of thin air seems to have a striking resemblance to the theft in the Imperial Palace. Could it be that last night, not only the Imperial Palace, but also the Prince's Mansion was robbed?
Tian Yi didn't know that, besides the Imperial Palace and the Prince's Mansion, the Minister's Mansion also suffered the same thing. The officials who were confiscating property over there were also confused.
“Are you sure?”
No matter what he thought in his heart, Tian Yi stared at the several groups of soldiers with a gloomy face.
“Sure.”
Several groups of soldiers nodded in unison without the slightest hesitation.
“…”
Hearing this, Tian Yi's expression became even gloomier. So, their confiscation of property was all for nothing?
Hearing their conversation, everyone in the Prince's Mansion looked bewildered, and then they all looked at Wei Chengyi, who was lying unconscious in his wheelchair. Could it be that he, with his extraordinary foresight, had emptied the Prince's Mansion in advance and hidden all the wealth?
The more they thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and many people's eyes towards Wei Chengyi changed.
“No, we don’t know anything.”
Their gazes were too blatant, and even Tian Yi and the other Imperial Guards looked over. Zhao Yuping hurriedly denied it. Concealing wealth would undoubtedly add to the crime, and they absolutely couldn't let this be pinned on them.
Could these people be any more stupid?
No, perhaps they weren't stupid, but intentionally diverting Tian Yi and the others' attention to themselves to avoid suffering themselves?
Glancing at them one by one, Shen Xiangwan, holding a child in one arm, had a cold expression. Even a fool would know that if the soldiers couldn't find any wealth, they would definitely push someone out to take the blame. Whether intentional or unintentional, they were all trying to harm Wei Chengyi, and even the entire Main Branch.
As expected, Tian Yi strode towards them, stopped in front of the wheelchair, looked at Wei Chengyi for a while before raising his head and saying, “Concealing wealth during the confiscation of property, the light punishment is beheading, and the heavy punishment is extermination of the nine clans. This General advises you to think carefully.”
Regardless of whether the Prince's Mansion was robbed like the Imperial Palace, they failed to find anything during the confiscation, which was dereliction of duty. They had to take someone out as a scapegoat.
“I, we… General, we really don’t know anything.”
To say they weren't afraid was a lie. Zhao Yuping was about to cry, and Wei Chengyi and Wei Linger were also scared pale.
Before Tian Yi could continue, Shen Xiangwan moved to stand in front of her mother and the children, facing Tian Yi without dodging or avoiding, and said, “General, before today, we didn't know at all that we would be confiscated and exiled. How could we have hidden the wealth in advance? Also, General, perhaps you don't know yet, but the management of the Prince's Mansion has always been in the hands of Old Madam. The Second Aunt and Third Aunt usually assist her in managing the household. If anyone could silently transfer the wealth in advance, it should be them.”
Since she had reached a cooperation with Wei Chengyi, she would definitely protect his mother and them. As for the Second Branch and Third Branch, she couldn't care less. Moreover, what she said was the truth. The Main Branch was not born from Old Madam. Even if the titles fell on the Main Branch, she had never given up control of the household, always holding it firmly in her own hands.
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