A Girl Traveling Through Troubled Times

Chapter 830: Manager Zhao suffers torture

Sha Yanxiao thought it made sense and said nothing more.

The group walked into the dungeon of the Marshal's Mansion. Gui'er had been there several times, but she still couldn't stand the gloomy and dirty environment of the dungeon. When people stood there, they could feel a deep chill, and the smell of a stinking ditch faintly rushed into their noses.

The group slowly walked forward. Sha Yanxiao frowned, glared at Shopkeeper He, and said, "You're too cruel. Why did you lock him up in a cell so far back? There's so much water there, and he has rheumatism. Are you trying to kill him?"

Butler He stammered, "This, this is all Madam's wish. I dare not disobey."

"Bullshit! How could Madam and Big Brother possibly specify which room you should put him in? This is just one of you subordinates trying to do something bad. Manager Zhao hasn't handed over the account books yet. If he's tortured to death first, I'll hold you accountable."

"Xiao, Xiao will ask someone to change his position when he gets back."

Finally, I saw Manager Zhao in a cell that was half filled with water and half with mud. He was still wearing his usual long gown, but it was dirty, wrinkled, and torn in several places. His usually slicked-back hair now looked like a chicken coop, and there were scars on his face. He was sitting on the ground that was barely dry, looking very anxious.

As soon as Chief Steward Zhao saw Sha Yanxiao, he hurried over and said, "Second Young Master, since you're here, please let me see our Yingwu. There's absolutely no evidence. How can you accuse him of adultery with the Eighth Concubine? He's highly regarded by the Marshal and has always been very honest and respectable."

Gui'er sighed in her heart. She didn't know whether Manager Zhao really didn't know or was pretending not to know that Zhao Yingwu was having an affair with the Eighth Concubine, but he really loved Zhao Yingwu very much and treated him like his own son.

Sha Yanxiao smiled slightly and said, "Butler Zhao, don't worry. I just came back from the military camp today and I don't know anything yet." Then he turned around and asked, "Butler He, where is Zhao Yingwu? Call him over so that Butler Zhao can see him."

Gui'er was stunned for a moment, and immediately realized that Sha Yanxiao actually wanted to win over Manager Zhao. In this case, he must show that he knew nothing about the matter in order to get himself out of it.

Steward He hesitated and evaded the question, "Second Young Master, you'd better quickly persuade him to hand over the account books and keys. He's too stubborn. I see his body can't handle another beating. We're all colleagues, I wouldn't be able to bear it then."

Steward Zhao glared at Steward He and said to Sha Yanxiao, "Second Young Master, it's not that I'm unwilling to hand it over. This was entrusted to me by the Marshal. Even if I have to hand it over, I have to do it in front of the Marshal, with a written receipt and handprints. Only with these instructions can I dare to hand it over. Otherwise, if the Marshal gets sick one day and pursues the matter, won't my life and property be in danger? I have worked for the Sha Mansion for decades. Young Master, please consider my loyalty to the Sha Mansion and spare my son and me."

Manager Zhao is indeed a smart man, and what he did is actually right. However, the situation has come to this point probably because his wife and Sha Yanyao want to keep it all for themselves.

"Second Young Master, I beg you, when I went to the main courtyard, they beat Yingwu badly. Can you send him to the hospital for treatment first? Everything can be discussed."

Sha Yanxiao opened his mouth and was about to say something when Butler He interrupted and said, "Then hurry up and hand over the things. That way, it will be easier for everyone."

"I just went to the courtyard of the main house, but why didn't I see Zhao Yingwu? Where is he?" Sha Yanxiao suddenly asked Butler He.

"Master, you'd better quickly persuade Manager Zhao, otherwise I won't be able to explain myself when I return."

"Bullshit! How dare you, a servant, order your master around?" Ah Cheng shouted from the side.

Only then did He Zongguan react and quickly slapped himself twice, saying, "I deserve to die, I'm such a bastard. Second Young Master, please forgive me."

Sha Yanxiao said in a deep voice: "Where is Zhao Yingwu?"

"This, that." Butler He was still unwilling to say.

Gui'er thought for a moment and said to Sha Yanxiao, "Mr. Zhao is injured. Why don't you let me go in and take a look at him? I'll get some medicine and come back to help him apply it."

Sha Yanxiao nodded, and Acheng asked the soldier in charge of guarding to open the prison door.

Butler He quickly said, "That won't do."

Ah Cheng said, "Butler He, what's wrong with you? This is not allowed, that is not allowed."

Only then did Butler He stop talking.

Everyone walked into the cell. Steward Zhao struggled forward and bowed slightly. Gui'er suddenly felt uncomfortable. Steward Zhao was still adhering to etiquette at this time. She hurried forward to help him check. Most of the injuries were superficial, but seeing that he was hunched over, she felt that he might have some injuries as well. However, when she asked Steward Zhao to lift his clothes so that she could examine him, he refused and kept saying, "No, no."

Steward Zhao looked at Sha Yanxiao again and pleaded, "Second Young Master, where is Yingwu? If he really did something wrong, please forgive him. I've also thought it through. As long as the two young masters are here, I can hand over the account books and keys to you two. After that, I will take my wife and children back to my hometown to retire. I don't want any wages anymore."

Sha Yanxiao nodded, then turned to Butler He and asked, "It's settled. Hurry and bring Zhao Yingwu out to see Butler Zhao."

Steward He mumbled hesitantly, "Second Young Master, if it weren't for me not taking him, he would have been taken to the mass grave and buried long ago."

One day, Manager Zhao's eyes suddenly widened, and he yelled "Ah!" and rushed forward to grab Manager He's neck. Manager He was caught off guard and struggled desperately, but he couldn't get away. In a few seconds, his face turned red.

"Pull them apart." Sha Yanxiao said.

Ah Cheng stepped forward and separated the two with force.

Manager Zhao's eyes were still wide open as he stared forward, as if he was looking at some empty place. His face was very dirty, and it was hard to tell whether it was a mixture of tears or blood.

Sha Yanxiao sighed, turned around and said to Gui'er, "Go get some medicine for Chief Steward Zhao to apply. The guards guarding the water dungeon should have it."

Gui Er nodded and turned to Butler He and said, "Go find the guards in charge of the water dungeon and bring some medicine. I'll treat Director Zhao."

Butler He was reluctant: "This, me?"

Ah Cheng said, "Do you think we should let Miss get it?"

Butler He opened his mouth and finally walked out reluctantly.

Sha Yanxiao patted Chief Steward Zhao on the shoulder and said, "Old Zhao, you've been in the mansion for many years, and Father trusts you very much. If he had done something different, this would never have happened. I just found out about this. I know you treat Zhao Yingwu like your own son, but the situation is more powerful than the person. You also have a wife and daughter. Don't you consider them at all?"