Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants—though His Majesty issued an Imperial Edict after ascending the throne, permitting merchants' descendants to enter officialdom through imperial examinations, the deeply ingrained low status of merchants persisted. Li-shi's elder brother had always aspired to engage in trade, yet he had to abandon this ambition due to the Li family's reputation.
Li-shi also smiled and said, "Brother often laments his inability to fulfill his aspirations, having to content himself with managing the family's ancestral properties."
Not long after, Li-shi's elder brother Li Jing arrived. He was not her eldest brother but her second elder brother. Tall, slender, and exceptionally handsome, he brought along servants, each carrying several boxes. Tao Le led him in, and upon hearing the news, Uncle Tao Yuan followed to personally assist Shen Xihe in examining the items.
Li Jing appeared smooth and composed in front of Shen Xihe, but when Tao Yuan mentioned he would personally oversee the inspection for Shen Xihe, Li Jing's smile noticeably stiffened.
Having immersed himself in trade for years and traveled extensively, Tao Yuan possessed a sharp eye. At first, he noticed nothing amiss, but upon closer inspection of multiple antiques, he frowned. Without delving deeper, he advised Li Jing, "Nephew, in the future, do not merely seek old items when acquiring objects. There are not so many unfilial descendants forced to sell their family heirlooms due to fallen circumstances."
This was a subtle reminder from Tao Yuan, who believed Li Jing had been deceived into acquiring so many potentially illicit items.
In reality, among the thirty-four items Li Jing brought, Shen Xihe roughly estimated only four or five might be questionable—and this was mere speculation, as their legitimacy had yet to be verified. Tao Yuan's warning stemmed from his extensive experience.
"Third Cousin, please invite Uncle Cheng here," Shen Xihe said to Tao Le.
She could not stand idly by in this matter. The court was currently investigating this case thoroughly, and in the future, no one involved would escape scrutiny. As Li Jing was now related by marriage to the Tao family, if he were not confronted now and allowed to sink deeper, the Tao family would suffer greatly.
The only solution was for Tao Cheng to uncover the irregularities, persuade Li Jing to turn informant, and allow Li Jing to atone for his crimes by rendering meritorious service. Only then could both the Tao and Li families emerge unscathed.
Though Shen Xihe's expression remained calm, Li-shi, being perceptive, sensed something amiss. Noting her unease, Shen Xihe reassured her, "Sister-in-law, this matter does not concern you. You have only just met your parents-in-law today, and it would be inappropriate for me to summon Elder Li. Outsiders would only spread gossip about you."
On the first day of a bride's arrival, having her parents summoned by the husband's family—what would outsiders think of Li-shi and the Tao family?
Shen Xihe cared little for reputation, but only when it concerned herself. This era did not permit everyone to act as freely as she did.
"Princess," Li-shi expressed gratitude for Shen Xihe's consideration but worried about her brother, especially when she turned to see his tense expression, her heart sinking further. "Has my brother offended in some way?"
"Your brother has indeed offended, but not against me, nor against the living," Shen Xihe replied coolly, casting a brief glance at Li Jing.
Not the living—that meant the dead. At the mention of the dead, everyone understood it referred to burial objects. Li-shi paled upon looking at the items on the table, her legs weakening so much she nearly collapsed. Fortunately, Tao Le swiftly supported her, gripping her hand firmly to steady her.
The door knocked, and Shen Xihe instructed Zhenzhu to open it. Hongyu brought Tao Cheng in, then closed the door, standing guard outside with Zhenzhu."Uncle, half a month ago in the capital..." Shen Xihe briefly recounted the incident's origin. "At this moment, Worldly Son Bu has already received imperial orders to thoroughly investigate in Henan Prefecture. His Majesty takes this matter extremely seriously. Most of Brother Li's possessions come from improper sources. When His Majesty's investigation reaches this point, the Li family's century-old reputation will be utterly destroyed."
Digging up people's graves—what kind of heaven-defying act is this?
"Brother!" Madam Li screamed shrilly, staring incredulously at her elder brother. "How could you be so foolish!"
If Father were to learn of this, he would strike him from the family registry. Their branch would be disgraced, never able to hold their heads high among relatives again. She would lose face before her husband and in-laws, and her younger siblings' future marriages would be affected.
When Li Jing heard Shen Xihe's provocation, his mind raced with thoughts of denying involvement, claiming he had merely been deceived into receiving some antique items. Even Tao Cheng's sharp gaze hadn't shaken him.
But his sister's tear-filled eyes made him hang his head in shame. Seeing this, Madam Li, who had held some hope until then, couldn't bear it and fainted into her husband's arms.
"Third Son, take your wife away," Tao Cheng commanded gravely.
Only Shen Xihe, the Tao brothers Tao Yuan and Tao Cheng, and Li Jing remained in the room.
"Second Young Master, speak truthfully about this matter. Rein in at the brink of the precipice—it's never too late to mend," Tao Cheng advised.
Officially, as Provincial Governor, such matters occurring in Linchuan fell under Tao Cheng's jurisdiction.
Privately, with the Li and Tao families now related by marriage, he had to handle this cautiously.
"Uncle, I alone am responsible for this matter. No one in my family knows," Li Jing thudded to his knees. "I beg you not to inform my parents. I will return home tomorrow and take my own life to atone for my crimes."
He wished he could die here and now, but that would only create enmity between the Li and Tao families, ruining his sister's promising marriage.
"If you truly committed such heinous acts against natural law, your crimes would indeed be unforgivable. But a man should stand firm between heaven and earth, unafraid of having made mistakes. What's fearful isn't making errors, but failing to correct them after recognizing them." Tao Cheng spoke with profound sincerity. "Taking your life to escape punishment is avoiding responsibility. Since you know you're wrong, the priority is how to make amends, not persisting in error."
Li Jing understood Tao Cheng's meaning. A glimmer of light appeared in his eyes before fading again. "Uncle, these people are utterly vicious. If I hadn't been coerced, how could I have fallen so low?"
After all, Li Jing came from a scholarly family, raised reading the classics of sages. How could he not know that grave-robbing for profit violated all moral principles?
But he had mistakenly trusted friends, taken that first step into darkness, and found no way back. "I witnessed with my own eyes how they slaughtered the families of those who tried to escape..."
Li Jing spoke through torrents of tears, choking with sobs.
"Do you think your death will make them spare the Li family?" Shen Xihe chuckled lightly. "They'll suspect whether you revealed their secrets to your family. People who commit such acts cannot afford any mercy. To prevent any risks, after your death, they'll find ways to eliminate your parents, brothers, and sisters."
Li Jing trembled.
Tao Cheng added, "The Junzhu speaks rightly. Only by making amends through meritorious service can you preserve the Li family's reputation and save your parents from disaster."
Li Jing remained dazed for a moment before wiping his tear-streaked face with his sleeve. With the determination of one marching to execution, he looked firmly at Tao Cheng. "Uncle, please guide me!"
Tao Cheng helped Li Jing to his feet. He proceeded to question him right there in Shen Xihe's presence, not avoiding her—after all, she knew more about this matter than they did.It turned out that Li Jing had been set up by them, but he insisted on only helping to dispose of the stolen goods, refusing to participate in either sharing the money or excavating the tombs.
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