Born to Be Either Rich or Noble - Chapter 24

Governor Lan had always known that the Cui family’s downfall was inevitable—but he never imagined that the fire would spread to his own doorstep.

By regulation, a governor’s post rotated every three years, and his term was nearly over. He could have walked away clean—if not for his wife’s greed. Before leaving Yangzhou, she just had to make one last profit.

And now, trouble had come knocking.

The Cui family, cornered and desperate before their deaths, had decided to drag others down with them. They accused the Governor’s household of colluding in the brokers’ illegal business. Outrageous slander! Yet with all the “evidence” laid before him, even Governor Lan could not defend himself. Only the Qian family could prove his innocence—those deeds to shops, land, and silver notes were dowries from the Cui family to his son, not hush money.

Qian Tong knew this better than anyone. The Qian family had once promised the same when discussing marriage ties.

To Lan Mingquan, she seemed like his last hope. He tried to pull Qian Tong inside with him, intending to explain everything to Wang Zhao—that the Governor’s office was innocent.

But Qian Tong sidestepped gracefully, lowering her gaze. “Your Excellency flatters me. I’m but a merchant’s daughter. Why would a man of your station believe anything I say?”

Lan Mingquan froze, staring at the young woman before him. Her tone was calm, distant, neither mocking nor sympathetic—and certainly not offering help.

Once, the entire Qian household—from its master down to the lowest servants—had scrambled to curry favor with the Governor’s residence. Even this Seventh Young Lady had come to flatter his wife and son.

He couldn’t help regretting—if only they had chosen this Qian daughter as a match, none of this might have happened.

But it was too late for regrets. The Governor humbled himself. “Seventh Young Lady, for the sake of our good terms over the years, I beg you to speak a few words of truth to the magistrate on my behalf.”

“Your Excellency may not know,” Qian Tong said softly, glancing toward the hall. “I can hardly protect myself now. How could I clear your name?”

Her familiar voice drifted inward. Behind the screen, Song Yunzhi lifted his eyes from the case file in his hand. Passing the scroll to Wang Zhao, he gave a silent signal.

Wang Zhao accepted it, walked past the screen, and entered the main hall. “Invite the Seventh Young Lady.”

Qian Tong had visited the Governor’s mansion before, but this was her first time in the formal court hall. The chamber was vast, solemn, oppressive. The moment she stepped inside, she felt the weight of authority pressing down. She wasn’t a criminal—surely she didn’t need to kneel.

“Bang!”

The gavel struck the bench.

Fine. She knelt.

“This humble woman, Qian Tong, pays respects to Your Excellency,” she said, bowing.

Wang Zhao had heard plenty about her.

To poison the heir of the Song family, to abduct him and force him to become her family’s son-in-law—any one of those charges could have warranted death. But since the young heir himself had remained silent, Wang Zhao dared not act on his own.

He only wanted to scare her. “You may rise.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency.”

Wang Zhao had expected a brazen, cunning woman. Instead, when she lifted her face, he saw a countenance of startling innocence—pure, even naive.

Her eyes were wide and clear as she asked timidly, “May I ask, Lord Wang, what crime have I committed?”

He cleared his throat, forcing composure. “You’ve committed no crime—yet. There are only a few matters I must ask you in person.”

Behind the screen, Song Yunzhi’s brow tightened. He already knew Wang Zhao had fallen for her act. He braced himself—it would be hard to get through today.

Wang Zhao began his questioning. “Are you aware of the Cui family’s case?”

Qian Tong nodded. “I’ve heard about it.”

“Do you know what crime the Cui family committed?”

She blinked. “Wasn’t it the brokers’ guild harming the common people? Everyone in the city’s been praising Your Excellency’s wisdom—saying justice has finally been done for the people.”

Her innocent face showed only confusion. If she hadn’t introduced herself, Wang Zhao would’ve thought they’d summoned the wrong person. Suppressing his doubts, he continued, “It was you who first uncovered the Cui family’s crimes, wasn’t it?”

“Yes,” she nodded quickly. “My fiancé and I went to inspect the brokers’ office and happened to catch the Cui family’s second son committing atrocities. My fiancé, being a righteous man, risked his life to save the victims. Your Excellency should know him—he’s the gentleman who handed you those indenture papers…”

Of course Wang Zhao knew who she meant.

But hearing her call him “my fiancé” again and again made his eyelids twitch. He shifted the subject. “As I understand, before the brokers’ scandal broke out, you personally sought out the Cui family’s eldest son at the tavern, asking for those indenture papers. So you already knew of their crimes. Why didn’t you report it?”

Qian Tong looked stricken. “Surely Your Excellency knows—the Cui family’s eldest daughter-in-law is my elder sister. Without evidence, reporting it would only bring trouble to my own family.”

She added smoothly, “And besides, the Cui family’s crimes were no secret. A month ago, one of the brokers escaped the office covered in blood—half of Yangzhou saw it. Governor Lan even sent men to investigate. Did he not report this to you?”

Every word was reasonable, every excuse perfectly placed.

For the first time, Wang Zhao regarded her seriously. “Then why did you involve yourself later?”

“You’ll laugh, Your Excellency—it was because of my fiancé. The Cui family went too far—they struck him! Tell me, who could swallow such an insult? So I went to settle the score with the second son. I only wanted to ruin his business, but I discovered the vile things he’d been doing in secret…”

Her voice hardened. “Such cruelty—who could ignore it? The Qian family did what was right and rescued the victims. If Your Excellency summoned me today to reward us, that truly isn’t necessary. The Qian family has lived in Yangzhou for generations; it is our duty to protect our home.”

What a tongue on this girl, Wang Zhao thought bitterly. For a moment, he couldn’t find words.

“The rewards will come,” he finally said dryly. “But tell me—did you know the Cui family was smuggling goods?”

Her eyes widened in shock. “Smuggling? The Cui family was smuggling? I truly didn’t know…”

Even with his eyes closed, Song Yunzhi could picture her feigned expression.

Wang Zhao snorted. “This official encountered your Qian family’s fishing vessel at sea. Surely you remember that night. Do I really need to say more?”

Qian Tong fell silent.

“Cat got your tongue?”

“Since Your Excellency already knows,” she said after a pause, “then you must have heard of my elder sister’s tragedy. None of us will ever forget—she was ruined by the Cui family’s eldest son. If he hadn’t died, I would’ve slit his throat myself.”

Her eyes flashed with fury, her teeth clenched, the innocence gone. For a moment, Wang Zhao was stunned, losing his line of questioning. Regaining focus, he read from the notes Song Yunzhi had prepared. “Seven days ago, on the night the Cui family’s eldest son fled, where were you?”

“On the way to my sister’s.”

“At sea?”

“No.”

“And on the day your elder sister returned?”

“At the clinic.”

“Who was injured?”

“I was,” she said. “If Your Excellency doubts me, you can ask my fiancé—we spent that night together. He cared for me, wiped my sweat, fed me medicine, and stayed beside me until dawn.”

Before Wang Zhao could react, a sound came from behind the screen—someone had kicked the table leg.

Qian Tong blinked. So there was someone back there. Curiosity got the better of her, and she leaned forward to peek—only to hear a cough, followed by a low, slightly hoarse male voice:

“Each of the Four Great Families uses a secret code. The Park family’s is the sea lion. The Lu family’s, the shuttle. The Cui family’s, the tiger. The Qian family’s, the ingot. Yet you, Qian Seventh Young Lady, are symbolized by a copper coin. Now then—how do you explain the copper coin signal that appeared on the sea that night?”

His tone was gravelly, as if speaking pained him. But no one paid attention to his condition—only to the words.

Qian Tong craned her neck, desperate to see who was behind the screen, but dared not cross the line. “And this gentleman is…?”

“An official envoy from Jinling,” Wang Zhao said curtly. “Just answer what you’re asked. Don’t pry into what you shouldn’t.”

Qian Tong straightened and replied obediently. “The flare was mine. I gave it to my elder sister. Before the Cui family fell, I’d visited their manor to persuade her to return home. I gave her the signal flare as a precaution.”

Song Yunzhi knew she could weave endless excuses.

He wasn’t rushing. “I’ll ask again,” he said evenly. “Out on the vast sea, how did your people locate your sister? If you try to fool me again with talk of coincidence, I’ll have no choice but to detain you until you tell the truth. Think carefully before you answer.”

Compared to Wang Zhao’s questioning, this man’s tone was colder, sharper, more commanding.

The Governor’s mansion was no longer what it once was.

Once you were summoned here, leaving was not so easy.

Qian Tong glanced toward the doorway, where sunlight slanted across the floor. After a long silence, she finally said, “I left an informant aboard the Cui family’s ship.”

Wang Zhao startled. “Where is he? Alive?”

“Alive.”

That was a breakthrough—an actual living witness. The smuggling case could finally advance. “Can you bring this person to us?”

“Of course,” she said smoothly. “Allow me to fetch him. Whatever Your Excellency wishes to know, I guarantee he’ll answer truthfully.”

She turned to go—but the man behind the screen spoke again.

“Wait.”

Qian Tong stopped.

“One more question. The Cui family’s ship reached the Yellow Sea five days ago. The eldest son didn’t return until five days later. The strait alone requires at least a day and a half of sailing. After the Cui family’s vessel departed, no other ships followed. Tell me, Seventh Young Lady—if your informant was on that ship, how did he pass word to the Qian family?”

His voice was cool and steady, every syllable carrying weight. “Or should I say—the one who informed you of the Cui family’s movements wasn’t a spy at all… but someone from the Park family?”

The hall was vast, his low voice echoing against the walls, sending a shiver through the room.

The smile slowly faded from Qian Tong’s lips.

“The eldest son of the Park family left Yangzhou two years ago,” the man continued. “He moved to Haizhou, publicly severing ties with your family. But privately, he’s been in contact with you all along.”

“And the reason—because you and he share a past. With your connection, Seventh Young Lady, tell me—if you wanted someone dead, would the Park family’s heir ever let that person live till morning?”

At last, Song Yunzhi’s suspicions were confirmed. The reports from his informants had tied everything together.

“The one who blew up the Cui family’s ship,” he said slowly, “wasn’t Cui Wanzhong. It was you, Qian Seventh Young Lady—alongside the Park family’s heir.”

Then came the final blow:

“Tell me, Mistress Qian—am I wrong?”