Win Him Back (BL)

11. Thief

The guards don't dare to move. They are afraid of the Shadow Guard.

Qiu Li, the butler has arrived.

He asks, "What's going on here?"

Diao Chan complaints immediately, "He bullied me, Mr. Qiu. Please give me justice."

"I bullied you? You started the whole mess. Mr. Qiu, she threw out our belongings. She accused us of being thief without any proof at all."

Diao Chan cusps her hands as a polite gesture.

She explains, "The head chef could be my witness. This little thief has been stealing from the kitchen for two months."

The butler orders to call the head chef.

He asks the chef, "Is it true? Ling Wen has been stealing from the kitchen?"

The head chef has a quick glance to Diao Chan. They have organized this plan for two days.

He bows his body and reports, "Yes, Sir. It is true. I've been wanting to report him. Miss Diao Chan acted sooner than I."

Qiu Li sighs.

He scolds, "I know you are a friend to our Master. This..."

Ling Wen pleads, "I have been framed. Please let me prove myself."

"Okay. Prove it."

"I need the book ledger for the kitchen expenses and a scale."

Qiu Li provides it to him.

Ling Wen reads the ledger and closes it. He walks few steps in circle before he makes up his mind.

He says, "The last payment is last week. A large sack of fluor. A pot of honey. Few catties of pork and lards. Veggies."

Wen asks, "What is missing?"

"Some fluor and a pot of honey," reports a kitchen helper.

Wen knows this young man. He looks like an honest fellow. Probably not connected to this problem.

Ling Wen asks, "Could Mr. Qiu come with me to the kitchen? We must solve this mystery."

Qiu Li, Diao Chan and two guards enter the kitchen.

Ling Wen examines the fluor sack. He points to the bottom.

He says, "There is a large hole on the sack, probably bitten by a rat. You can't blame me for the loss."

Ling Wen doubles check the kitchen. No sign of the missing pot of honey.

They leave the kitchen.

Diao Chan scolds, "You stole the honey!"

"Why me? There are a lot of people worked in the kitchen. Anyone could do it."

"You make bun fillings using the stolen honey."

Ling Wen stares her as if she's an idiot.

He asks, "How much is honey cost? You think selling buns are very profitable?"

"That's why you stole it!"

Ling Wen shakes his head.

He asks, "If I ran out of honey? You think I could steal another pot?"

"Of course!"

Qiu Li is very quiet. The young ger is very smart. Not everyone could understand bookkeeping. The butler had some training in the past.

Ling Wen has seen the cost of honey in the ledger. It's impossible to make buns using honey.

He walks to backyard and breaks a sugar cane.

He says, "I use sugar cane for my buns. Not honey."

He bites on it and comments, "Sweet."

Qiu Li asks, "Who stole the honey?"

Ling Wen walks toward several kitchen helpers. All of them are staring him with innocent eyes.

He knows it isn't any of them.

He walks and points to the chest of head chef.

Ling Wen comments, "He did it. I could smell honey from him."

"Nonsense! The pot isn't open yet!"

Ling Wen snorts.

He says, "You hear him. He knows where the stolen honey."

Qiu Li and two guards searches the bedroom. The stolen pot of honey is found under his bed.

The butler sighs.

The head chef lowers down his head. Diao Chan promised him a lot of money for him.

She isn't ready to give up yet.

She scolds,"Don't let him fool you! He must have hidden the honey in the bedroom!"

Ling Wen asks, "Have you said enough? Today she framed me for stealing. Tomorrow she might frame others."

All the kitchen helpers look at each others. They are afraid of being wrongfully accused. They could be sent to prison for something they never done.

Ling Wen says, "I think we should ask her leave. This mansion shall be in total chaos with her hobby of framing people."

"You! How dare you? The dowager Queen sent me! Who dare to toss me out?" taunts her.

"I dare," says a man who is sitting up on a tree.

All the servants kneel when Yu Fei jumps down from a tree.

Yu Fei glares at the maid. She usually looks very pretty and seductive. Today her hair is messy. Her left cheek is swollen. Reddened eyes. She looks like a crazy woman.

He commands, "Drag her out and shave her head clean. Let her repent on her mistake."

"You can't do this! The dowager Queen sent me!"

"Cut her tongue if she yelled again."

The coldness in his eyes silence her completely. This man is afraid of no one. Even the Emperor can't command him easily.

Yu Fei warns, "If I saw you made troubles again, say goodbye to your head."

Diao Chan only sobs when two male servants shave her head clean. As if she's ready to join the monastery at her young age.

The head chef is taken to Yamen (court) for stealing from nobles. He might be sent to do hard work in mines. Probably he would never left that place alive again.

Yu Fei's heart aches when he sees Wen's swollen cheek. He wipes it clean using his handkerchief.

He orders, "Bring me some ointments."

A servant immediately brings a medicine box.

Yu Fei personally applies the ointment to his swollen cheek.

"Ling Wen, stand still."

Wen blushes and decides to close his eyes. They are too close. His heart is thumping too fast.

The servants are shocked to see the delicate treatment.

Their Master is well known for his bad temper. White Tiger is his nickname. Kill first, explain later.

Ling Wen and the others are dismissed.

Yu Fei and Thirteen are the only one left in backyard. The Shadow Guard explains the whole situation.

Yu Fei commands, "Protect them at all cost. Kill if it's unavoidable."

"Yes, Master."

Everyone in the mansion could see how much Yu Fei cherishes Ling Wen. No one dares to bully the ger and his son again.

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Go, bunny! Show them your cute teeth! A timid bunny could bite when provocated.