Jiang Xianian, whom Xiao Bingxi had been thinking about, was soon taken by Huimin Gongzhu for a hug shortly after leaving the main hall.
Seeing Huimin Gongzhu, Jiang Xianian felt immensely grateful. If not for her timely appearance today, Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian might not have escaped unscathed. Although they were now ordered to be confined to their residence, Jiang Xianian felt this was actually a form of protection.
So, Jiang Xianian grinned her toothless mouth and smiled at Huimin Gongzhu.
Huimin Gongzhu was also very pleased. Such a clever and perceptive child, smiling upon seeing her—it meant the child liked her! So adorable, she really wanted to take her back to the Princess Manor and raise her herself. Unfortunately, the child had her own parents.
After leaving the palace, at the palace gate, Jiang Xianian clearly heard scolding and fighting sounds coming from the Duke Anguo’s carriage. Her curiosity was immediately piqued, and she eagerly indulged in gossip: [Haha… so it turns out Zheng Shi hit Duke Anguo, and Duke Anguo didn’t dare fight back because Zheng Shoufu, after retiring, hadn’t fully handed over his connections and resources from the previous court. No wonder Zheng Shi is so lawless. I used to think she relied on the Duke’s influence, but now I know it’s actually because of her former Chief Minister father.]
Everyone who heard her gossiping secretly chuckled inwardly. Who would have thought that the usually domineering Duke Anguo would be so submissive at home?
[Zheng Shi still wants Duke Anguo to target my mother, my sister, and the Marquis Manor? How shameless. If Duke Anguo refuses, she’ll definitely go ask her former Chief Minister father for help. What should we do? Zheng Shoufu’s connections are not to be underestimated—they cover more than half of the court. If he has people impeach my Father and Grandfather, we won’t be able to withstand it!]
Furious and anxious about Zheng Shi’s tyrannical and selfish actions, Jiang Xianian really wished Zheng Shi would get beaten by Wang Xingyun, so she could taste the suffering of those who had died.
Zheng Shi so skillfully resorted to using power to oppress others—she must have done such things many times before.
Because of Jiang Xianian’s words, the smiles on the faces of the Jiang family and Huimin Gongzhu instantly vanished.
Zheng Shoufu was much more troublesome than Duke Anguo. The officials in the court were either his disciples or had received his patronage, so he held exceptional prestige in the court.
Even though he had retired now, his influence hadn’t diminished in the slightest.
Old Marquis and Jiang Yucheng were already pondering separately, searching for countermeasures. Huimin Gongzhu also considered what she could do to help the Weiyuan Marquis Estate.
Previously, they had thought the Zheng Shoufu’s family could be considered upright and noble, but judging by how their daughter was so unreasonable and lawless, it seemed they weren’t as good as rumored.
Jiang Xianian was angry but helpless, so she simply started flipping through the other party’s account books: [Let me first see how to cause some trouble for Zheng Shi, so she has no mind to deal with my family. I’ll start with Wang Xingyun, the main culprit! He must have many vulnerabilities!]
Everyone immediately pricked up their ears. Even Jiang Qiaonian, who had just begun to recover from her fear, forgot her fright and focused all her attention on her younger sister.
Jiang Xianian was startled by the lengthy page displayed by the System: [Whoa! Wang Xingyun truly has a long list of crimes! This guy was born in the tenth year of Longzheng and started torturing small animals like cats and dogs at age five. By the second year of Xuanhe, when he was eight, he finally targeted humans! His first victim was actually the son of his wet nurse. To this day, the wet nurse remains unaware that her son was killed by the young master she devotedly cared for. Wang Xingyun still keeps the child’s silver lock as a memento of his first murder…]
The Old Marquis and Jiang Yucheng rode their horses, tacitly maneuvering them on either side of the carriage, clearly hearing every word of Jiang Xianian’s inner thoughts.
However, the Huimin Princess ahead found the voice intermittent and frustratingly unclear, so she ordered the coachman to maintain some distance from the Weiyuan Marquis Estate’s carriage behind. The coachman, with years of driving experience, had never heard such a strange request but dared not disobey. Consequently, the princess’s Phoenix Carriage ahead slowed down, and the Weiyuan Marquis Estate’s procession followed suit.
Yet everyone was too engrossed in the shocking revelations to notice these details.
[It’s not that no one noticed Wang Xingyun’s peculiar behavior. His second aunt, the sister of Duke Anguo, found bruises on her daughter after she played with Wang Xingyun. When she confronted Zheng Shi for an explanation, she was rebuked instead. Since then, his second aunt never returned to the Anguo Duke Residence. Tsk tsk… This beast didn’t even spare his own cousin. Thankfully, his aunt was vigilant, or that cousin would have been in grave danger. Later, Wang Xingyun indeed killed two of his half-brothers and one half-sister. Zheng Shi actually believed her son was being filial by helping her deal with her husband’s concubines. What twisted logic is that?!]
Everyone was stunned to learn that Zheng Shi viewed Wang Xingyun’s atrocities in such a light. It turned out not only was Wang Xingyun a monster, but Zheng Shi wasn’t normal either. What sane mother would consider her son’s murders a good thing?
After the shock, Jiang Xianian continued devouring the scandal.
Hearing the list of victims killed by Wang Xingyun over the years, along with the witnesses and evidence, the Old Marquis glanced at his son, silently asking: Did you remember everything?
Jiang Yucheng nodded slightly. The moment his daughter started flipping through the “ledger,” he had already resolved to protect his wife and daughters. To ensure their safe exit from this affair, they must take the offensive, striking first against the Anguo Duke Residence. Even if they couldn’t topple Duke Anguo or eliminate Zheng Shi, they must expose Wang Xingyun’s crimes and tarnish the duke’s reputation to safeguard his family’s safety and honor.
Jiang Qiaonian, seizing the moment while Jiang Xianian was absorbed in the scandal, whispered to Qiao Shi, “Mother, we need to take notes!”
Qiao Shi nodded imperceptibly. Once they obtained evidence of Wang Xingyun’s crimes, castrating him would no longer be a sin but a meritorious deed.
Ahead, the Huimin Princess had already ordered writing materials brought and was swiftly jotting down Jiang Xianian’s inner monologue, especially the identities of the victims and the details of witnesses and evidence.
But Wang Xingyun’s crimes were so numerous that even as they reached the gates of the Weiyuan Marquis Estate, Jiang Xianian hadn’t finished uncovering all the scandal.
Princess Huimin felt deeply regretful and even more determined to snatch Jiang Xianian back to the Princess Manor to raise her herself.
After Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian alighted from the carriage, they hurried to Princess Huimin’s carriage to express their gratitude. After the princess politely declined their thanks, she had no choice but to take her leave.
Although the Jiang family found it somewhat overly enthusiastic that Princess Huimin had specially escorted them back to the manor entrance, the day’s events had occupied too much of their mental energy, so no one gave it further thought.
As soon as they entered the manor gates, they saw a maidservant waiting at the main entrance.
Upon seeing the Old Marquis, the maidservant appeared visibly flustered but forced herself to remain calm as she stepped forward to pay her respects.
“Which courtyard do you serve? What are you doing guarding this place?” the Old Marquis asked with clear displeasure.
The maidservant could only brace herself and reply, “The Old Madam ordered this servant to wait here for the First Madam. She said that once the First Madam returns to the manor, she should be invited to Ruian Hall.”
Jiang Xianian casually browsed through her System: [So summoning my mother is about lecturing her. The news about my mother castrating Wang Xingyun has already spread. The Old Madam is terrified, afraid it might implicate her and her two sons. Tch… What a coward!]
The Old Marquis felt his anger surge. This old woman—when asked to properly manage the inner household on ordinary days, she never did it well. Yet at the first sign of trouble, she immediately thinks of targeting her own family members. Truly, she only knows how to bully those within her own home!
Enraged, he declared, “Go back and inform your Old Madam that the First Madam and the Eldest Young Miss have been placed under house arrest by His Majesty. They are confined to their own courtyard, forbidden to leave, and may receive no visitors! This matter is beyond her jurisdiction!”
The Old Marquis was so furious with his old wife that his head spun. After all these years and so many lessons, she remained stubbornly unchanged.
The maidservant trembled as she replied, “Y-yes, My Lord.”
After dismissing the maidservant, the Old Marquis spoke to Jiang Yucheng in a slightly gentler tone: “First, escort your wife and daughter back to get settled, then come to my study to find me!”
This matter was far from over. A fierce battle still lay ahead between the Marquis Manor and the Anguo Duke Residence, and they needed to prepare quickly.
“Yes.”
The members of the main branch watched as the Old Marquis entered the inner residence before supporting each other and returning to Zhaiyun Courtyard.
Only back in their own territory did Qiao Shi dare to truly relax. She said, “All who accompanied us to White Horse Temple today may go rest properly. There’s no need to attend to duties for now. When next month’s allowances are distributed, everyone will receive an extra month’s pay.”
“Thank you, Madam!” The servants’ weary faces immediately brightened with joy.
Today’s ordeal had been truly perilous, leaving everyone utterly exhausted.
Fortunately, the Madam was considerate and wouldn’t let them suffer in vain.
Jiang Yucheng sent for the manor physician. After examining Qiao Shi and Jiang Qiaonian, it was confirmed that the effects of the sedative had mostly worn off and would cause no lasting physical harm, putting his mind at ease.
While Qiao Shi took Jiang Qiaonian to eat and fill their stomachs, Jiang Yucheng carried the well-fed Jiang Xianian to the main study to find the Old Marquis.
The Old Marquis was somewhat surprised: “Why did you bring her along?”
Jiang Yucheng blinked and said, “Ru’er was too tired today. I wanted her to rest properly, but she grows uneasy with anyone else watching her, so I brought her along.”
The Old Marquis understood that his eldest son likely had other intentions but didn’t press further.
After they sat down, the Old Marquis asked, “Regarding what comes next, what are your thoughts?”
Jiang Yucheng said in a deep voice, “While serving in Xing Bu, I have gained some understanding of Wang Xingyun’s conduct. However, the Anguo Duke Residence holds considerable power, making it difficult to obtain evidence of Wang Xingyun’s crimes. Therefore, I would like to ask Father to assign Jiang Bo to assist me.”
The Old Marquis chuckled, “You want Jiang Hu to help you investigate evidence against that Wang Xingyun? Isn’t that overkill?”Jiang Yucheng replied, ‘It is my incompetence.'””
Jiang Xianian disagreed upon hearing this: [The Anguo Duke Residence has covered up so well, yet Father could still detect Wang Xingyun’s suspicious behavior—how is that incompetent? Father is clearly incredibly capable!]
The Old Marquis smiled even more meaningfully, and Jiang Yucheng couldn’t help but blush.