"Young Master Han, the other day Madam Xie visited the Xie Family to visit relatives and brought back some items. Each young master and miss in the mansion received something.
This is for you, Young Master Han."
Shen Han frowned slightly, already feeling a sense of vigilance rise within him.
"Are you sure these are from the Second Madam for me?"
"Of course, every young master and miss in the mansion received one.
The Second Madam said this is a Mid-Autumn gift for all the young masters and misses. Please accept it, Young Master Han."
The Shen Mansion indeed had a tradition of giving gifts during Mid-Autumn.
But over the years, only Madam Yun had given him gifts.
Why would the Second Madam give him a gift?
"Now that the gifts have been delivered, I won't disturb your rest, Young Master Han. Take care."
After saying this, the servant walked away with short steps.
Everything seemed fine, yet there was a sense of something being off everywhere.
Shen Han looked at the gifts in front of him and opened the box. Inside were some bracelets and jade artifacts. Judging by their craftsmanship, they were no ordinary items.
Each item's value was likely to exceed a hundred taels of patterned silver.
How could the Second Madam possibly give him such high-value items?
Was this a trap set for him by the second household?
Placing the gifts in his room, Shen Han vaguely suspected what this plot against him might be.
He pondered his response for a moment in his mind.
If they wanted to use such vile methods against him, they couldn't blame him for retaliating.
At night, the Shen Mansion became lively.
It seemed like they were searching for something, even calling in the government office's arresting officers.
The Shen Mansion, being a Family of Generals and Marquis in Yun'an City, naturally received thorough attention from the arresting officers for any cases.
Shen Han lived on the east side of the Shen Mansion, some distance from the center.
Hearing the commotion that night, Shen Han guessed that the matter had finally come.
At the break of dawn.
Shen Han had just risen when a team of arresting officers arrived at his secluded courtyard.
"We are arresting officers from the government office, ordered to conduct a search. Please cooperate, Fifth Young Master of the Shen Family."
"Has something serious happened? To the point where they need to search the Shen Family Mansion?"
Shen Han feigned some surprise, but he had already guessed.
It seemed the despicable tactics were aiming to falsely accuse him.
Not long after entering the house, the arresting officers came out holding the box of gifts.
Just as he thought, the so-called gifts from the Second Madam had become stolen goods.
"Fifth Young Master of the Shen Family, would you trouble yourself to accompany us?"
Several arresting officers still spoke politely to Shen Han.
In their view, Shen Han took things from his own family, and it was up to the Shen Family to use family rules for punishment.
Ultimately, the case would not move to the government office.
Shen Han followed several arresting officers to the Shen Family ancestral hall, which was already crowded with people.
Sitting high above were Madam He from the first household and Madam Xie from the second household.
The Old Dowager of the Shen Family seemed to still be resting and had not arrived.
"Madam, this is your missing jewelry and jade. Please take it back."
An arresting officer handed the box of gifts to Madam He of the first household, who seemed uninterested in the lost items.
She only looked at Shen Han and coldly asked.
"Who stole my jewelry? Where was it found?"
Madam He glanced at the arresting officers in front, but her peripheral vision was always on Shen Han at the back.
"Madam...this... might be difficult to say..."
The arresting officer did not want to get involved in a family matter and stammered.
"What's difficult to say? The crime of theft, are you, as an arresting officer, trying to cover it up?"
The accusation was too significant.
"The items were found in the fifth young master's courtyard..."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's eyes focused on Shen Han.
"They searched all night, going through the rooms of all the servants and attendants, and found nothing.
No wonder, no wonder they couldn't find it; it was stolen by a young master of the mansion!"
Madam He of the first household glared at Shen Han with a stern expression.
"Ladies, this is a Shen Family matter. We arresting officers won't get involved.
The Shen Family, being a Family of Generals and Marquis, naturally has family rules for handling this."
With that, the arresting officers were about to slip away.
But it wasn't that easy. Madam He had called them here to make a big deal out of this.
"Hold on, since this matter has been taken in by the government office, it naturally should be tried by Lord Prefect.
Our Shen Family, being a Family of Generals and Marquis, will not tolerate such thievery.
If not handled strictly this time, our Shen Family's traditions might deteriorate!"
The arresting officers understood Madam He's implication: she wanted the government office to handle the case.
To make it public and not resolve it within the Shen Family!
"Madam, this..."
"Public duties must be performed!"
Under Madam He's strong demand, the case was moved to the government office for trial.
Many people heard of this and came to the government office to watch.
The fifth young master of the Shen Family stealing his own family's items and being sent to the government office seemed worth watching.
Soon, the entrance of the government office was packed with people.
In the court, Prefect Xu sat beneath the mirror of justice.
A theft within the family escalating to the government office for resolution surely had unspeakable reasons behind it.
When Prefect Xu learned that it was about the Shen Family, he had a vague insight into the reason.
"Madam, since you are the first to report this matter, I need to explain some things to you.
If I were to try this case, the theft would be severely punished according to the laws of the Great Wei.
That would damage the prestige of the Shen Family."
Before Prefect Xu finished speaking, Madam He replied.
"I earnestly request Prefect Xu to try this case strictly and handle it severely.
Our Shen Family, being a Family of Generals and Marquis, the younger generation should set an example in conduct.
For committing such a disgraceful act as theft, it must be strictly punished to uphold our family traditions!"
Prefect Xu nodded, thinking to himself that the Shen Family was indeed ruthless.
To annul a marriage, they directly framed a junior member for theft; it was indeed harsh.
For theft, according to the laws of the Great Wei, the Ink Punishment was to be inflicted.
That is to tattoo the character 'thief' on the face.
If subjected to the Ink Punishment, what suspense would remain with Su Jinyu's marriage agreement?
"Madam, Chief Liu has already informed me that the box of jewelry was found in the room of the fifth young master, Shen Han, of the Shen Family.
The physical evidence exists, but are there any witnesses?"
Prefect Xu routinely inquired, and Madam He was already prepared.
Madam Xie from the second household stepped forward and stood in the court.
"To be honest with Prefect Xu, I personally witnessed this theft, but thought it was a family matter, so I could not bear to speak out.
Now it seems necessary for the sake of the Shen Family's traditions."
Madam Xie from the second household spoke eloquently, vividly describing what she claimed to have seen.
This setup for false accusation was well-prepared.
Before Prefect Xu could proceed with the trial, Madam Yun rushed in, panting.
"Lord Prefect, Madam, Second Madam, there must be a misunderstanding in this matter.
How could this child Shen Han have committed theft? He's lived miserably for years. If he were truly a thief, would he live in such poverty?"
Madam Yun spoke in defense of Shen Han, but she was immediately retorted.
"Precisely because he lives miserably, he wanted a better life, so he stole. What's the issue?"
Only those who falsely accuse you know how wronged you are.
Madam Yun, besides defending Shen Han, truly didn't know what else to say.
After contemplating for a moment, she thought of the Old Dowager.
If Shen Han were convicted of theft, the entire Shen Family would lose face.
She immediately found a young attendant and sent him to deliver a message to the Shen Mansion.