noffsinger Chapter 2278 Good Advice Is Hard to Persuade a Damned Ghost
Chapter 2278 Good Advice Is Hard to Persuade a Damned Ghost
Yan Ruyu picked up a silver note with her fingertips, and gently shook it, the paper making a crisp sound.
"Qin Zhao, all of Mr. Mo's men are cunning. The benefits they offer are never free."
"They would definitely tamper with such large denomination banknotes."
Qin Zhao stood still, a thin layer of sweat seeping from his back. His fingertips twitched unconsciously for a moment, then quickly relaxed, his face still showing the same open and honest expression.
“Your Highness is too kind,” he said slowly, his voice steady and without the slightest hint of unease. “This humble subject has never had any dealings with any Mr. So-and-so.”
The silver notes in this box are of unknown origin; I have never seen them before!
Whatever markings or symbols are on them, they have absolutely nothing to do with ordinary people like me.
"Is that so?" Yan Ruyu sneered.
Huo Changhe then took out a small porcelain bottle from his waist. The bottle was dark black and the mouth of the bottle was plugged with a cork.
He uncorked the bottle, picked up a small white porcelain bowl from the table next to him, and poured a small amount of pale yellow powder from the bottle into it.
Huo Changhe picked up the teapot on the table and poured some warm tea into the bowl.
The tea quickly turned a pale amber color, emitting a very faint medicinal aroma.
Huo Changhe placed the bowl in front of Yan Ruyu. Yan Ruyu took the small bowl, folded the silver note in her hand twice, and then slowly put it into the bowl.
The tea soup just covered the banknotes, and the paper quickly absorbed the water, gradually becoming soaked.
Everyone held their breath, staring curiously at the small bowl, their eyes full of doubt.
After a moment, until the silver note was completely soaked, Yan Ruyu pinched one corner of the note, slowly lifted it out, shook off the water droplets, and slowly unfolded it.
"Gentlemen, take a look."
The light shone through the slightly translucent silver note, illuminating every corner of its surface.
The crowd gathered around, their eyes wide as they examined the area closely.
Someone whispered, "What's that?"
Looking in the direction the man pointed, two small red stamps were clearly visible in the blank space at the bottom right corner of the banknote!
The printing is extremely clear, with each stroke distinct and legible.
"The one on the left is Miaoqin's seal!"
The crowd erupted in uproar, their eyes all turning to the other seal.
The chamber of commerce's veteran managers saw this most clearly, and their expressions instantly turned serious.
"This...this is Manager Qin's personal seal!"
Manager Yu's voice trembled slightly. He had been in business for decades and was very familiar with the seals of the various managers in the Chamber of Commerce.
"The seal of Manager Qin is engraved with the character 'Zhao,' and there's a circle of fine cloud patterns around it. There's no mistake!"
"It really is Manager Qin's seal!"
"How could this be? The two seals are on the same banknote!"
"I thought it was a misunderstanding before, but now it seems... Manager Qin really is colluding with Miaoqin?"
Yan Ruyu tilted the silver note slightly so that everyone could see it more clearly.
She raised an eyebrow, her tone slightly mocking: "Is it clear enough, Manager Qin? You should recognize these two seals, shouldn't you?"
Huo Changhe took a step forward, his eyes sharp as knives, staring directly at Qin Zhao, and asked in a cold voice, "What else do you have to say?"
Qin Zhao's face turned deathly pale in an instant, his pupils contracted sharply, and he stared intently at the two seals on the silver note, his body swaying involuntarily.
His mind went blank, his ears were ringing, and those forgotten fragments of memories surged up like a tide.
He recalled that on several previous occasions, when Miaoqin delivered silver notes, she would always first send him an invitation, inviting him to her villa to listen to music.
The melody was melodious and lingering. Every time he listened to it, he would feel completely relaxed and intoxicated, as if he were drunk, and his consciousness would become somewhat blurred.
At first, he also felt strange and uneasy. Every time he came back from listening to music, he would carefully check his body and look through the banknotes, but he never found anything wrong and his body was normal.
After a while, he gradually lowered his guard and assumed that Miaoqin was trying to win him over by listening to music. He never expected that the problem would lie in those silver notes!
Those seemingly ordinary times of listening to music were actually orchestrated by Miaoqin in secret, causing him to unconsciously stamp his private seal on the music!
Qin Zhao cursed inwardly, hating both Miaoqin's cunning and his own carelessness, but now that things had come to this, he absolutely could not admit it.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shock and anger in his heart.
"My seal has always been kept in a drawer in my study; I don't carry it with me at all times."
If you're willing, you can get in touch with servants, men, and even accountants!
Someone must have secretly bribed my servant to steal my seal and stamp it on!
He spoke with conviction, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, seeking their approval: "Gentlemen, as you all know, I, Qin Zhao, have always been open and honest, trusting my subordinates. My study is not usually guarded, so my servants have the opportunity to come into contact with the seal."
This must be Miaoqin's scheme; she wants to frame me and ruin my reputation!
Song Ping snorted coldly from the side, his voice full of disdain: "Manager Qin is good at making excuses, he can push everything onto his servants."
That being said, it must be admitted that what Qin Zhao said was not entirely impossible.
With so many servants in the household, it's inevitable that some might be bribed; this is a point that cannot be directly refuted.
The surrounding merchants also hesitated, with some nodding in agreement: "Indeed, with so many servants in the mansion, oversights are inevitable."
Ignoring the crowd's chatter, Yan Ruyu took the silver note, walked to the window, and pushed it open halfway. Sunlight streamed in through the window frame, landing directly on the silver note.
She held the banknote up to the sunlight, which made the two stamps even clearer as the sunlight pierced through the paper.
She turned her head to look at Qin Zhao, a half-smile on her face: "Qin Zhao, you must believe that anything done in this world will leave a trace."
It can't be erased with a simple "I was framed."
Yan Ruyu put away the silver notes, a faint fragrance still lingering on her fingertips.
Qin Zhao cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness and Your Highness are wise. Governor Cao, I am willing to accept the investigation. I beg you to find out the truth, find the real traitor, and clear my name!"
Governor Cao chuckled, "What's the rush? Let's wait until the Princess Consort finishes speaking."
Qin Zhao took a deep breath: "Your Highness, if I were to collude with Miaoqin, why would I donate grain and money? I should just make things even more chaotic."
“Well said,” Yan Ruyu smiled faintly, “You know a lot.”
"But are you sure you went to donate medicine out of kindness?"
Qin Zhao straightened his back: "Of course!"
Yan Ruyu sighed softly, "Silver Ingot, what's that phrase the abbot often says?"
"Good advice is hard to persuade a damned ghost," Silver Ingot replied.
Yan Ruyu nodded: "Yes, that's the sentence."
"Now, I, the Queen, will give you this message, Qin Zhao."
"Do you know what else is on a banknote besides the seal?"