The elderly madam upon hearing the words, felt her whole being falter.
If this matter were to really escalate, even if her son and grandson didn’t deal with her, the clan wouldn’t spare her either.
Besides, if her son and grandson’s futures were destroyed, what would she amount to?
"Please, no, I’ll give it, I’ll give it!"
Though parting with two hundred thousand taels of silver was akin to carving flesh from her heart, compared to their reputation and her son and grandson’s prospects, she still chose the latter.
Immediately, she had the wet nurse, Tian, beg to retrieve the silver note.
"Elder Madam..." Tian hesitated.
"Aren’t you going to get it?!" the elderly madam snapped furiously.
Having no choice, Tian entered the back room, retrieved the silver note, and presented it before Zi’an. Zi’an, holding the silver note, counted out two hundred thousand taels and tossed the remainder into his chest before turning to leave.
The elderly madam’s legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the floor, "It’s always said these people from the pugilistic world can’t be trusted, yet you insist on finding such people. What are we to do now!"
Tian knew the elderly madam felt she had bungled the matter and quickly slapped her own face, "It’s all this servant’s fault, all my fault!"
Zi’an holding the silver note returned to Niannian Garden, handed over the note, and Han Tianci gave him an antidote.
"Thank you!" Zi’an took the antidote and left.
He rushed back to the woodshed, fed the antidote to Xiu Xinfeng, and then started to untie him, "Do you feel any better? Let’s get out of here fast!"
Xiu Xinfeng nodded, "Let’s go!!"
But just as they exited the woodshed, a dark figure streaked over, hurling a bundle at Xiu Xinfeng and Zi’an, "Brothers, grab your things and run!" Notably, there were pursuers not far behind.
Xiu Xinfeng and Zi’an were dumbfounded.
Then they were surrounded by a group.
"Catch them!" roared the leader, and Xiu Xinfeng and Zi’an were apprehended.
The martial skills of those who caught them were almost supernaturally good; they couldn’t even manage a counterattack before they were seized.
Yun Chen, upon receiving the news, also quickly rushed to the scene.
General Weiyuan faced Yun Chen, "I am so sorry, Lord Yun. These thieves stole a Guanyin statue granted by His Majesty from the residence, and I personally led men in pursuit. It seems they had accomplices!"
When Yun Chen heard this, he turned his head to look, and saw that one of the men was the same man caught in Niannian Garden; a chill ran down his spine.
"Great General, may I have a word with you in private?" Yun Qi asked cautiously.
He was afraid of angering General Weiyuan and implicating the Yun Family as part of the thieves’ gang.
"Fine," General Weiyuan responded gravely.
The two stepped aside, and Yun Chen recounted the events. General Weiyuan was silent for a moment, "So you mean to say, this man was caught by Lord Yun, but just not promptly sent to the Jingzhao Prefecture?"
"That’s right, initially I thought it was just a petty thief, who could have imagined..."
Yun Chen was sweating profusely with anxiety.
Compared to a first-rank Great General, he was nothing.
And with General Weiyuan holding the emperor’s trust and immense power, he was certainly not someone a minor official like Yun Chen, the Imperial Censor, could afford to offend.
"I see. Whatever the case, let’s first take the men back for interrogation and decide then!"
Having said this, General Weiyuan gestured grandly and departed with his men from the main gate of the Yun Residence.
Yun Chen had a feeling that something wasn’t right, as if he’d been schemed against, fearing political enemies were aiming to doom him, he hurriedly sought out Yun Qi for advice.
After learning Yun Qi was in the front yard, he dashed anxiously to Yun Qi’s courtyard.
In his haste, Yun Chen didn’t notice any noise and pushed open the door to Yun Qi’s room, "Second brother..."