Shopkeeper Chang felt a twinge of unease under her stare. Fine beads of sweat oozed out on his forehead as he forced out a couple of dry laughs. "Lady Li San, we're all running honest businesses. We always abide by the law and keep our noses clean. How could we possibly have such things..."
Li Wanming arched her eyebrows. Her fair fingers gently tapped on the table as she said indifferently, "Yes, law - abiding and keeping one's nose clean. Hmm."
Shopkeeper Chang averted his gaze. His face paled visibly.
Li Wanming had just been to the backyard. She already had a clear understanding of what kind of business was going on here.
Not to mention anything else, the leopard was a first - class prohibited item.
Due to its sleek and shiny fur and majestic appearance, the royal family had issued a clear decree during the previous emperor's reign, banning the private slaughter and sale of leopards by the common people.
Although the decree had become a dead letter over the years, if one really wanted to pursue it... smuggling leopards was still a crime that could land one in prison.
"Since Shopkeeper Chang abides by the law and keeps his nose clean..."
Li Wanming rose gracefully, picked up the cloth bag on the table, and pretended to walk out. "Then I'll go and have a good talk at the Yamen of the Capital Prefecture. I'll get a commendation for Shopkeeper Chang as an honest and law - abiding citizen..."
"Don't, don't! Lady Li San, please wait!"
Shopkeeper Chang was so frightened that his soul almost left his body. He quickly blocked her way, sweating profusely. "Lady San, we can talk things over. Why do you always threaten to go to the Yamen? It'll only hurt our friendship..."
How could he ever dare to go to the Yamen of the Capital Prefecture?
Just the leopard alone was enough to give him a hard time. Moreover, there were even more shady things hidden in his cellar. How could he withstand a search by the officers and soldiers?
Li Wanming stopped and looked at him with a smile. "So, do you have the Western seven - step snake or not?"
"This..."
Shopkeeper Chang hesitated for a moment and finally gritted his teeth. "Yes! But now there's only a small one left, about two feet long. I'm afraid it's not suitable for medicine and won't be able to cure your grandmother."
"Only left...?" Li Wanming caught the key point in his words sharply. She raised her eyebrows and asked, "What about the previous one?"
Shopkeeper Chang wiped the sweat off his forehead and said sheepishly, "I sold a big one the day before yesterday. If I'd known earlier that Lady San needed it, I would've definitely saved it for you..."
Li Wanming waved her hand, interrupting his flattery. She opened the cloth bag in her hand. "Take a look. Is it this one?"
Shopkeeper Chang leaned forward and immediately widened his eyes. "Yes, yes, yes! This is the one! Well, not to brag, in the entire capital, only our Sifang Trading House can get such a big seven - step snake."
As he spoke, he picked up the long hair on the mole with his fingers, looking extremely proud.
"However, Lady San, how did this snake end up in your hands?" After being proud for a while, he finally realized something was wrong. "Since you already have the snake, why did you come to me?"
"Oh, this. Someone threw this snake into my yard, trying to bite me to death."
Li Wanming raised her eyebrows and said casually.
What?!
Shopkeeper Chang's legs went weak instantly. He was so scared that he almost lost his wits. He stammered, "N - no way..."
Li Wanming turned to look at him intently, a meaningful smile curving her lips.
"I suspect you were behind it."
...
The room fell into complete silence.
The sweat on Shopkeeper Chang's forehead dripped down his cheeks, hitting the gray bricks one by one.
"Don't... don't be joking..."
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he forced out a few dry laughs. His cuffs were soaked with cold sweat and clung stickily to his wrists.
Throwing a venomous snake into the Li family's yard in an attempt to kill the Crown Princess of the Ning Mansion?
What a serious crime!
If this accusation were to be pinned on him, it was likely that his whole family would be executed and his nine generations of relatives exiled tonight!
However, the smile on Li Wanming's face became even gentler. She sat down at the table, finally picked up the fragrant tea, and took a light sip. "Mmm, Western tea does taste better when it's cooled down..."
"Shopkeeper Chang," she gently put down the bowl. "Although we've never had any business dealings before, I often come to Changyi Lane, so we're quite familiar. I simply can't believe that you'd want to harm me..."
"Yes, yes... right!"
Shopkeeper Chang was so anxious that he stuttered. "I've always been kind - hearted... running my business honestly and never doing anything immoral.
"Even when I have to slaughter some animals occasionally, it's just to make a living. There's no other way!
"Even so, on the first and fifteenth days of every lunar month, I still bathe and fast, and invite a monk to chant scriptures for them. How could a honest person like me ever harm Lady Li San?"
"That's what I said too!"
Li Wanming sighed softly, slightly furrowing her eyebrows. She said in a dilemma, "But you just said that only your Sifang Trading House can get such a big Western seven - step snake. Today, this snake was thrown into my yard. If I don't come to you, who else should I go to?"
"Alas...!"
When Shopkeeper Chang heard her words, he suddenly felt relieved. He quickly said, "Lady San, you're confused. Someone bought this snake from me! The person who wants to harm you must be the buyer... He..."
He suddenly stopped here, his eyes widening. His eyes darted around, but he didn't dare to say any more.
He knew the identity of the person who bought the snake.
— The illegitimate son of the Earl of Loyalty and Righteousness, a person he couldn't afford to offend.
If what Li Wanming said was true, then this matter was really a big trouble!
The illegitimate son of the Earl of Loyalty and Righteousness wanted to harm the Crown Princess of the Ning Mansion... And he was the one who provided the weapon.
It was all over!
Shopkeeper Chang calculated nervously for a long time, but no matter how he calculated, the dark cloud of family extermination hanging over his head refused to disperse. It even seemed as if a thunderbolt was about to strike him down at any moment.
The sweat on his forehead was like soybeans. The inner clothes under his outer robe were already soaked.
"Lady... Lady San... It's not that I don't want to say, but our trading house is very busy. We buy and sell dozens of goods every day. I really... really can't remember who bought this snake..."
Li Wanming squinted her eyes and stared directly at him. A smile slowly appeared on her lips. "Shopkeeper Chang makes a good point. The Sifang Trading House has been in business in the capital for many years. It's really prosperous and has a wide - reaching business. It's understandable that the shopkeeper can't remember for a moment."
Hearing her say this, Shopkeeper Chang let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you for your understanding, Lady Li San."
But before he could fully relax, Li Wanming changed the subject. "Since we can't find the culprit, this evil venomous snake must have been released by Shopkeeper Chang. Let me go to the Yamen of the Capital Prefecture to clarify this and seek justice for myself!"
After saying that, she got up and walked out without looking back, as if she really intended to go to the Yamen to file a complaint.