Fei Cai glared, kicking the old servant in front of him. "You filthy scoundrel! This young master is going to see the Young Clan Leader. Get out of my way!"
The old servants were both humiliated and furious, their eyes glinting with vicious cunning, but they did not dare to approach.
They already noticed the bulge at Fei Cai's chest. Many sneered contemptuously in their hearts: "This fool actually dared to steal! If he'd only stolen shoes, it might be fine, but he had to steal the Young Clan Leader's shoes, hahaha, what bad luck. We were planning to bring him down and make him clean the latrines. But now he'll probably lose his life. Serves him right! Do you think it's so easy to be the Young Clan Leader's personal servant?"
Surrounded by the old servants, Fei Cai headed toward the Young Clan Leader's tent.
The two Gu Masters guarding the tent looked at Fei Cai as if they were sizing up a dead man.
Ma Yingjie stood at the entrance of the tent, his face dark as water. He was tired from handling official business and wanted to go for a walk, only to find that his shoes had disappeared.
He called for his personal old servant, who told him that it had most likely been stolen by the new young servant, probably to sell for money. The old servant also said that this was not Fei Cai's first theft.
Ma Yingjie was furious. He hadn't expected that his moment of mercy would bring him a thief.
Fei Cai's heart was uneasy, fear had already filled it, but he kept in mind the words that Zhao Lianyun had told him. He walked to Ma Yingjie with his chest out and head held high, putting on a brave and spirited appearance.
Ma Yingjie looked at him, secretly surprised.
The old servants who had escorted Fei Cai were now following behind him, making it look like they were accompanying him. More importantly, Fei Cai showed no sign of panic. Could it be that he hadn't stolen?
Unconsciously, part of Ma Yingjie's anger was replaced by curiosity and doubt.
"Your servant greets the Young Clan Leader," Fei Cai knelt down and said loudly.
Ma Yingjie looked down at Fei Cai at his feet and said unhappily, "Did you steal my shoes?"
"Your servant has never stolen anything from you, my lord. Even if I had a hundred times the courage, I wouldn't dare," Fei Cai categorically denied.
"He's lying! Look at that bulge in his clothes, it's obvious!" Immediately an old servant called out from behind.
Fei Cai snorted and opened his shirt, revealing a bundle of pure white high-class silk.
He carefully took out the silk and slowly unfolded it, revealing the shoes inside.
Ma Yingjie saw that these were indeed his shoes, and sneered: "Very good, very good. The evidence is here. For a thief to act so brazenly, that's quite something."
"Please, Young Clan Leader, investigate," Fei Cai did not argue, but instead, holding the shoes in both hands, set them on the ground with a respectful expression, then pressed his forehead to the ground, as if submitting to any verdict.
"Young Clan Leader, the evidence is solid! Please punish this despicable dog severely!"
"Yes, he even dared to steal the Young Clan Leader's shoes. In the future, he'll steal even more."
"His hands are too light-fingered. This old servant says you should just cut off his hands!"
The old servants spoke in turn, their words venomous and ruthless. Fei Cai's heart trembled violently, but remembering Zhao Lianyun's words, he didn't offer any rebuttal.
This scene sparked some interest in Ma Yingjie.
Executing a slave was nothing. But Ma Yingjie had always styled himself as "wise and benevolent," restraining himself, hoping to one day take over the family and become a wise ruler.
Especially now, with the Ma family as the leading clan of the army, every move was watched. If he rashly executed a slave over such a trivial matter as stealing shoes, wouldn't he be seen as cruel?
Ma Yingjie also harbored this concern.
A good reputation is easy to build, but hard to maintain.
So he asked: "I always act fairly. Fei Cai, I'm giving you a chance to defend yourself."
Fei Cai breathed a huge sigh of relief. He had followed Zhao Lianyun's instructions and indeed waited for these words from Ma Yingjie. This gave him great confidence, and he immediately decided to answer exactly as Zhao Lianyun had instructed.
So he replied: "My father died in the clan's internal strife. The Young Clan Leader destroyed the Fei clan, avenging my father's death. You are so wise and benevolent, how could I repay kindness with enmity?"
Hearing the words "wise and benevolent," Ma Yingjie's mood noticeably improved, and he asked gently: "Oh? Then do you have some other explanation?"
But Fei Cai shook his head: "There is no other explanation. I just wanted to repay you, Young Clan Leader. But what can I do? I am just an ordinary man; I cannot charge into battle for you. I am too stupid to offer you advice. I am just your personal servant, only fit to wash shoes and put them away. I put myself in your place: the shoes were left out for so long, wouldn't your feet be cold when you put them on? So I used all my savings to buy this genuine silk, wrapped your shoes in it, and kept it close to my chest. That way, when you wear them, your feet won't feel cold."
"Oh? Is that so!" Ma Yingjie was greatly astonished.