Song Zhicheng had written to him before, saying that he would return to Beijing by early summer next year at the latest. By then, Ling Chuchu would officially enter the Grand Palace.
If her reputation as a thief spread, the royal family would definitely not accept her.
Originally, Ling Chuchu was unwilling to be suppressed by Xu Yuanyuan by 10% and could only be a concubine. Now it is very likely that she can't even be a concubine, so how could she be willing
"Since it's the Ling family's business, if you report it to the police now, aren't you afraid that the news will get out and you will lose face?" Ling Chuchu glared at Ling Qingwan fiercely.
"The punishment for theft is written into the laws of Dai Viet. I should report it to the police. Besides, the thief is from your Meiyuan. What does it have to do with me? Even if it's embarrassing, it's you who's embarrassing."
With just a few words, Ling Qingwan cleared herself of any relationship with Ling Chuchu.
Ling Chuchu was about to say something when the guard at the gate came to report that Lord Sun was already outside the door. Ling Qingwan was not polite and immediately arranged for someone to welcome Lord Sun in.
"Lord Sun." Ling Qingwan personally walked down the steps and greeted Lord Sun.
"Second Miss Ling." Lord Sun nodded.
After all, the woman in front of him will become the princess next year, and Lord Sun already has some respect for Ling Qingwan.
"I heard from the servant who reported the case in your mansion that there was a thief in your mansion?"
"Yes." Ling Qingwan smiled. "Don't worry about your ridicule, the one who stole the things was the eldest daughter of the mansion, my elder sister who shares the same father as me."
After saying this, Ling Qingwan did not forget to look back at Ling Chuchu.
Lord Sun was shocked.
He only knew that there was a thief in the Ling Mansion, but he didn't expect that the thief was actually Ling Chuchu.
"Thank you for your help, Lord Sun." Ling Qingwan nodded slightly to Lord Sun.
"I am responsible for this matter. It is not a big deal. Miss Ling, you don't need to be polite to me." Lord Sun smiled back.
Afterwards, he ordered his servants to restrain Ling Chuchu and the others and take them out of the Ling Mansion.
When passing by Ling Qingwan, Ling Chuchu was unwilling to give in, and the fierceness in her eyes seemed to tear Ling Qingwan into pieces.
"Just wait for me."
Ling Chuchu gritted her teeth.
After saying this, she was dragged away by the servants.
After the matter was resolved, Ling Qingwan asked Madam Pu and others to call the servants back to rest, and personally sent Ling Shen back to her room.
After a long time of trouble, it was already late at night when Ling Qingwan returned to Lanyuan.
Qiao'er, Hongshang and the others did not delay and quickly helped Ling Qingwan wash up and then saw her off to bed.
Thinking of what had just happened, Ling Qingwan tossed and turned.
Even she didn't expect that things would go so smoothly.
At first, Ling Qingwan didn't think that Ling Chuchu would steal Ling Shen's dowry because she coveted it. It wasn't until she interrogated Zhuang Pozi that Zhuang Pozi told her that Ling Chuchu sent her to get information, and the first question she asked was where Ling Shen's dowry was. The second question was how the dowry was divided.
Thus, Ling Qingwan confirmed that Ling Chuchu was deeply obsessed with Ling Shen's dowry.
After that, she deliberately let Ling Shenshi agree to share Ling Chuchu's dowry, giving her hope, but finally disappointing her. In addition, Ling Chuchu's uncle and aunt asked her for money, and Ling Chuchu was under great pressure, so she would probably think of stealing Ling Shenshi's dowry.
The reason why Ling Qingwan knew that Ling Chuchu would take action tonight was because she had arranged in advance for Hongshang and Luluo to keep an eye on Hua Mei and Hua Yu. The two of them were highly skilled in martial arts, and Ling Chuchu would definitely use them.
However, Ling Qingwan did not expect that Ling Chuchu would take action personally.
This actually helped Ling Qingwan.
Now that Ling Chuchu has been arrested and taken to the government office, within a day or two, the news of her theft will spread throughout Tokyo City. By then, not only will Ling Chuchu's reputation be ruined, but the palace will also be furious.
How could they accept a thief into the royal family.
only…
Ling Qingwan's mind flashed back to what had happened during this period regarding Ling Chuchu's uncle and aunt.
First, she kept giving money to her uncle and aunt, and then she went to meet them several times. Now, Ling Chuchu herself didn't have much money, but she still agreed to give money to her uncle and aunt.
Moreover, her uncle and aunt seemed to know some of her secrets, and this secret even concerned the General's Mansion and Ling Qingwan.
Ling Qingwan was puzzled.
What kind of secret would make Ling Chuchu so concerned
That's all.
The more Ling Qingwan thought about it, the more sleepy she became, and she fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, the old lady learned that Ling Chuchu was taken to the government office for stealing. She was surprised and worried. She got up without thinking and planned to go to Lanyuan to find Ling Qingwan.
Qiao Er was a smart person, she knew she couldn't stop him. If she talked too much, the old lady would get annoyed. So she didn't stop him and let him go.
At that time, there were still two or three days left before Ling Xiao and the Bachelor's Mansion were to propose marriage, and Ling Shen was discussing the matter with Ling Qingwan.
When they heard Qiao'er report that the old lady had arrived, the two of them went to the gate of the courtyard to greet her.
"My granddaughter didn't know that grandma was coming, so I'm sorry for not coming to greet you. Please forgive me." Ling Qingwan said respectfully.
Seeing this, the old lady straightened her back instantly and was supported by Ling Qingwan and Ling Shenshi into the room.
"I go to bed early at night, so I don't know many things that happen at night. I heard that Chuchu stole things from the mansion?" The old lady started talking about Ling Chuchu as soon as she sat down.
"Yes, what she wanted to steal was my mother's dowry." Ling Qingwan added.
Ling Chuchu was arrested last night, and the old lady came today. Ling Qingwan knew the purpose of this at a glance.
"I know Chuchu's character. I've watched her grow up. Although she has a bit of a bad temper, she is definitely not a dishonest person. There must be some misunderstanding here." The old lady spoke tactfully.
"Mother, Chuchu was not captured by Wanwan and I. It was the servants in the mansion who saw her and her companions being captured with their own eyes. How could there be any misunderstanding? Besides, even if there is a misunderstanding, Lord Sun will find out everything. You don't have to worry about it."
The implication was that Ling Chuchu had been caught anyway, and there was nothing they could do about it.
“But…” the old lady choked.
After all, she truly loved Ling Chuchu before, and the old lady couldn't believe that Ling Chuchu was really a thief.
"Grandma, if I'm not mistaken, after the family saved on food and clothing, my eldest sister has come to you to borrow money many times, right?" Ling Qingwan asked.
The old lady said nothing, which was considered as her consent.
"Then do you know where she used the money she borrowed?" Ling Qingwan asked again.
"Then what else can it be used for? Isn't it just to buy rouge and powder, go out for fun, etc." The old lady was puzzled as to why Ling Qingwan asked her this.
Ling Qingwan shook her head.
"In fact, the money that my elder sister borrowed from you was given to her uncle and aunt."
"What did you say?" the old lady was surprised.
"Grandmother, you should remember that there is a brother and sister-in-law in the family of your biological mother. A few days ago, the son of her uncle and aunt fell ill, so he came to you for help. Most of the money you gave to your sister went to her uncle and aunt."