Chapter 45: A Person Lying by the Wall

“Thank you, Brother Yue,” Steward Ning said with a cupped fist gesture.”I understand I was summoned because the previous steward made a grave mistake.”

“Indeed. The former steward, Zhou, gravely erred by assisting the madam, the second young master, and the young lady in bullying Young Master Shen. When the general discovered this, he severely punished all the servants and expelled Zhou from the mansion.”

Steward Ning’s expression turned solemn. “I see.”

As they arrived at the Wei residence, they noticed Shen Shilang driving his own carriage.

Manager Yue quickly inquired, “Young Master Shen, where’s the original driver? Why are you driving yourself?”

“You’d have to ask Wei Jianming about that,” Shen Shilang replied, unaware of where Wei Jianming had taken the unconscious driver.

Manager Yue’s expression grew tense. “Did something happen at the Lu Ming Banquet?”

“Young Master Shen, what happened?” Manager Yue asked urgently.

“Let’s discuss it inside. Too many prying eyes out here,” Shen Shilang said. “Also, Manager Yue, please have someone throw the people in the carriage into Wei Jianming’s courtyard.”

Manager Yue was startled – Wei Jianming had indeed arranged an attack on Shen Shilang!

“Understood,” Manager Yue promptly summoned help and personally drove the carriage to the Wei mansion’s back gate to avoid attracting attention.

Steward Ning, new to the residence, hurriedly followed Manager Yue to observe his approach.

At the back gate, they watched as Manager Yue directed the unloading of five bound men from the carriage.

Following Shen Shilang’s instructions, these unconscious men were tossed directly over the wall into Wei Jianming’s courtyard.

Steward Ning was astonished to realize that Manager Yue truly prioritized Shen Shilang above the Wei family members.

Shen Shilang clearly intended to confront Wei Jianming, and Manager Yue followed his orders without hesitation.

This action elevated Shen Shilang’s status above the Wei family masters!

Meanwhile, Wei Jianming was lounging in his courtyard, sipping tea while one maid fanned him and another fed him grapes. He was thoroughly enjoying his leisure.

Suddenly, a loud “thud” startled Wei Jianming. “What was that?”

Everyone looked over, and a maid exclaimed, “There’s someone lying by the wall!”

Before they could react, another figure was hurled over the wall.

“Thud!”

It happened so quickly that they only caught a glimpse of a shadow.

Before they could comprehend, a third “thud” followed, then a fourth, and a fifth.

“What the hell?” Wei Jianming was terrified, wondering if it could be ghosts again.

Since the ghost incident in the mansion, Wei Jianming had become easily frightened.

“Quickly, go check!” Wei Jianming, pale-faced, ordered the maid who had been fanning him.

The maid, trembling with fear, inched forward cautiously.

“Hurry up!” Wei Jianming urged impatiently. “It’s broad daylight; what are you afraid of?”

The maid shuddered but forced herself to approach the wall. She then ran back, reporting, “Young Master, they’re people, all bound and thrown in. I don’t know who they are!”

“They look fierce and frightening. There are five of them!”

Wei Jianming froze. “Five?”

Suddenly remembering the men he had hired, he sprang from his chair and rushed to the wall.

There, he saw the five men he had hired, bound and piled atop one another.

Wei Jianming’s heart sank.

What did their presence here signify?

It meant Shen Shilang was unharmed!

Instead, these five had been subdued and bound by Shen Shilang!

Wei Jianming felt utterly lost, unsure of how to proceed.

He had never considered the consequences of his scheme failing.

“Keep a close watch on these five!” Wei Jianming instructed, his face ashen.

The servants exchanged uncertain glances, unsure how to proceed.

Wei Jianming dashed to Madam Wei’s courtyard.

Ignoring the servants’ greetings, he rushed into the hall.

“Mother! Mother!” Wei Jianming called out in panic.

“What is it?” Madam Wei frowned. “Why are you so flustered? Didn’t you say everything went well at the Lu Ming Banquet when you returned?”

“Mother, I… I’m in trouble,” Wei Jianming said, his face pale with fear.

“What happened?” Madam Wei asked urgently.

Wei Jianming hesitantly explained how he had hired men to incapacitate Shen Shilang.

“But now, those men have been bound and thrown into my courtyard,” Wei Jianming added, clinging to a shred of hope. “Mother, this… this might not be Shen Shilang’s doing, right?”

“Perhaps… perhaps they succeeded, and Shen Shilang threw them in out of anger?”

Madam Wei scoffed at his naivety. “If Shen Shilang could capture and bind them, how could he possibly have been harmed by them?”

“Instead of speculating, have you questioned those five men?” Madam Wei asked coldly.

“No… not yet…” Wei Jianming realized his oversight.

“They’re in your courtyard, and you didn’t think to question them first? Why come to me instead?” Madam Wei stood up angrily and walked out. “What are you waiting for? Come with me to your courtyard!”

Wei Jianming hurried to follow.

Madam Wei, with Wei Jianming in tow, quickly arrived at his courtyard.

The five bound men remained where they had been thrown.

The servants were watching them closely.

“Madam,” everyone greeted as Madam Wei entered.

Madam Wei approached the five men and looked down at them. “Still unconscious? Splash water on them to wake them up!”

Soon, a servant returned with a bucket of water and doused the men’s faces.

As they slowly regained consciousness, Madam Wei dismissed the servants, leaving only Chang Jie, Wei Jianming’s close aide.

“Did you succeed?” Madam Wei asked coldly.

“We… we didn’t…” one man stammered, his eyes darting nervously. He then turned to blame Wei Jianming, “Young Master Wei, you didn’t tell us his martial arts were so formidable. If we had known, we wouldn’t have taken this job. We nearly lost our lives!”

“You didn’t manage to harm him at all?” Wei Jianming demanded angrily.

“No,” the man replied. “He was too difficult to handle. We were no match for him and barely escaped with our lives.”

Though they had been subdued after just one exchange, the man exaggerated their efforts to save face.

“Did you reveal who hired you?” Madam Wei asked coldly.

“No! Of course not!” they insisted. “We value our business integrity. How could we betray our client’s identity!”