Have You Written Your Will Today?
Chapter 71: If You’re Going to Be a Thief, Look Like One!

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: If You’re Going to Be a Thief, Look Like One!

Wei Yingying’s disappearance only spread within the official circle, and Shen Hua hadn’t caught even a whisper of it.

The Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Punishment, and even Emperor He’s Imperial Guard were all mobilized. They merely announced that envoys from the Turkic were coming to pay their respects to the court, hence the heightened security.

No one was suspicious. After all, there had already been rumors of the Turkic Envoy’s arrival.

In the alley, Sister-in-law Yan had been arranged for burial, and Shen Hua was feeling too lazy to leave the house.

Yicui stormed in from outside: "Young lady! The thief in the kitchen has been caught!"

In these past days, food had always gone missing from the kitchen, even from the pot itself the moment she turned her back.

It wasn’t easy to notice once or twice, but after it happened repeatedly, how could it not arouse suspicion?

This time! She had finally caught her!

Upon hearing the commotion, Shen Hua looked up to see the brawny Nanny Cheng escorting someone inside.

It was a girl in thin clothing. Her hair was pinned up. And in her hands, she clutched a pork hock.

During the mourning period, one must not eat meat, which Yicui had specially prepared to give to the neighbors as a token of gratitude and care.

Nanny Cheng’s grip on Yingwu was firm, yet Yingwu seemed not to feel the pain at all, consuming the hock with big bites in a strange posture.

Shen Hua’s eyes widened.

Her eyes shone as she looked up at Yicui and focused on the important point: "Eating a pork hock?"

Yicui: ???

"Young lady!"

Shen Hua had no choice but to put on her embroidered shoes and get up, clack-clacking her way over. After sizing Yingwu up and down, her gaze fell on the soft, glutinous, fatty yet not greasy hock.

She inhaled deeply, feeling ashamed.

In her previous life, she had observed mourning and hadn’t eaten meat for three years. After the mourning period, she could have eaten meat, but her body could no longer tolerate even a hint of greasiness; she’d vomit as soon as she ate it.

After calculating carefully, it had been a long time since she had tasted meat. Seeing how deliciously the other party was eating, how could she not be envious?

Shen Hua yearningly: "Is it tasty?"

Yingwu seriously thought for a while: "It’s a bit lacking compared to First-tier Sky Restaurant."

But Nanny Cheng’s face remained cold: "With such a decent appearance, why choose to be a thief?"

Shen Hua also dropped her smile, pacing back and forth in front of Yingwu. Her tone became more subdued.

"These past days, Nanny Cheng and Yicui both guarded the kitchen, yet you still managed to effortlessly take the food without leaving any trace. This suggests you’re either a seasoned thief or you were ordered to do this."

Shen Hua frowned, feeling that someone was out to harm her: "Speak! Are you sent by Shen Qu, trying to meddle with my food?"

Shen Qu? Doesn’t ring a bell.

Yingwu hadn’t eaten a grain of rice from yesterday till now, starving to the point of desperation. She sadly negotiated: "Allow me to finish eating, and I will tell you everything."

Seeing her cooperative attitude, Shen Hua thought that Shen Qu wouldn’t send someone so gluttonous to make trouble, so she kindly said: "Eat then, after you’re done, I’ll send you to the government office."

But Nanny Cheng dared not relax even slightly, continuing to hold her firmly. She was afraid the little thief would seize an opportunity to escape.

Shen Hua watched her for a long time, nodded her head, and whispered to Yicui: "Looking from left to right, I always feel there is something wrong with her."

She had seen thieves before.

Years ago, a street thief stole her purse. A servant boy caught and subdued the thief on the spot.

Shen Hua was irate, berating him in a girlish voice.

"Even if I throw away my purse, it’s not for someone with dirt under their fingernails to touch!"

The frightened thief knelt down, begging for mercy in great pain.

"Young lady, it was my folly!"

Seeing that she was young and likely easy to deceive, the thief played the sympathetic card, crying a river of woes.

"My mama is critically ill, the doctor said she has only three days left, and before she dies, she longs to taste Tong’s plum blossom cakes once more, but I am penniless, so I..."

The Shen Zhui trailing behind, tugged at her sister’s hem cautiously: "He’s so pitiful."

Shen Hua, upon hearing this, responded crossly to Shen Zhui: "That’s his mama, not mine. If he’s pitiable, should he come and steal from me? What kind of reasoning is that?"

"There are more than just one pitiful person in the world; should they all come and steal from my purse?"

Scared by these words, Shen Zhui quickly bowed her head, retracting her hand.

Shen Hua had no respect for such behavior.

Even though Shen Zhui was a concubine daughter, she was still a recognized Second Lady of the Shen Family; how could she be so cowardly?

All she could say with annoyance was: "What are you afraid of? Am I fierce? Or do you think I’m heartless and unfair?"

"Shen Zhui, his pitiable state is due to his own ineptitude. He’s about the same age as Daddy; stealing my money is utterly contemptible."

"As for filial piety, I have yet to see it!"

Young Shen Hua snorted: "For Mama’s birthday, my brother used the money he earned from copying books to buy a birthday gift. That is true filial piety. He has arms and hands; even if he went to the docks to carry cargo, he could earn a few coins. Look at him, just for a cake, he insists on doing such deeds."

This left little Shen Zhui at a loss for words.

Even the thief on the floor was dumbfounded. When the servant was taking him to the government office, he struggled and pleaded.

"Young lady, I was wrong, I won’t lie anymore. I won’t dare again. You have the heart of a Bodhisattva; please let me go this once!"

Then, looking at Yingwu who was caught red-handed. All he knew was to eat and eat!

To be a thief, one must act the part!

Unprofessional!

Shen Hua paid her no further mind and recalled something else, lazily yawning.

"The Green Glazed Meiping in the inner chamber has shattered, I’ll have to buy another; I still want to pick a few plum blossoms to put in as decoration."

Ningzhu puzzled: "Madame forgotten? Some days ago, you complained that the neck of the Green Glazed Meiping was too long and its shoulders not full enough, so you had the servant move it out."

Shen Hua paused, her sleepiness dissipating with it.

Ningzhu’s words brought it back to her memory.

But in her half-asleep state that night, she did hear footsteps back and forth, along with the light sound of porcelain hitting the ground.

Because only the Meiping was missing from the inner room, she subconsciously thought it was the servants who had carelessly broken it.

Shen Hua furrowed her brows, feeling an unexplained chill down her spine.

As Ningzhu spoke, she handed over a candied chestnut, perfectly peeled.

Shen Hua bit into it.

Ningzhu smiled: "It’s said that Jianshan has the most beautiful plum blossoms. If Madame wishes, I’ll pick some next time. But these days, there are too many soldiers on the roads. Even when Nanny Cheng went out to buy vegetables today, there were far fewer vendors."

Shen Hua: "People say the Turkic people have broad faces and green eyes; I wonder if it’s true or not."

"The servant heard that in addition to the envoys, even the Turkic Princess has come. They say her dance captivates the entire city and always draws butterflies. Truly a rare beauty. Madame, shall we go to see her when the time comes?"

All of a sudden, Shen Hua cupped Ningzhu’s face.

"Look at me."

Ningzhu: ? Ah?

Shen Hua spoke softly: "Are you tired of seeing me?"

Ningzhu shivered.

Shen Hua snorted: "Am I not enough? Parading before you every day, yet you still pine for another girl?"

Ningzhu softly replied: "But she can attract butterflies."

"Zheng Qianyu’s rice storage attracts mice if not properly guarded."

You never showed such enthusiasm for her!

How is it, mice aren’t worthy?