After clearing his throat lightly, the Old Marquis said, “The matter regarding Jiang Yizhen is almost settled. However, this means Jiang Hu won’t have a moment’s rest.”
Jiang Yucheng pondered briefly before suggesting, “There’s no need for Jiang Bo to personally handle this. He has several capable young subordinates under him. Let them take the lead this time, with Jiang Bo providing guidance from the rear. What do you think? Consider it a training opportunity for those youngsters.”
After all, when his younger daughter went through the account books, she had clearly documented all the witnesses and evidence of Wang Xingyun’s misdeeds, so there was no need to worry about major mistakes.
Only then did the Old Marquis show a hint of a satisfied smile: “Alright, I’ll discuss this with Jiang Hu.”
Although Jiang Hu was a subordinate, he shared a life-and-death bond with the Old Marquis, who didn’t want his son treating these old comrades like ordinary servants.
Seeing his eldest son being so considerate made the Old Marquis genuinely pleased.
Next, the Old Marquis inquired about the cause and sequence of today’s events. Although he had heard some details earlier, he wasn’t sure how much was true.
Jiang Yucheng then recounted the experiences described by Huimin Princess and Qiao Shi to the Old Marquis, presenting a largely accurate account.
After listening, the Old Marquis furrowed his brows deeply: “So it seems Wang Xingyun didn’t act on impulse after seeing beauty, but someone had previously told him about Qiao’er, which planted the idea in his mind?”
Jiang Yucheng said with lingering fear: “Such meticulous and thorough arrangements clearly show this was premeditated. If not for Ru’er and Qiao’er being vigilant, that scoundrel might have succeeded today.”
Jiang Xianian had initially intended to learn more about Wang Xingyun’s misdeeds, but upon hearing her father and grandfather’s conversation, she finally recalled some suspicious details: 【That’s right! Today Wang Xingyun clearly came prepared – he probably went to White Horse Temple specifically targeting my sister. How did the Duke’s household learn about my mother and sister’s whereabouts? They even knew exactly which courtyard we were assigned to rest in. Let me see what’s really going on.】
The Old Marquis and Jiang Yucheng immediately held their breath, waiting for Jiang Xianian’s investigation results.
After a short while, they heard Jiang Xianian say quite calmly: 【It’s her! I’m not surprised at all.】
Who is it?! Little ancestor, just say it already!
Jiang Yucheng’s heart immediately leaped to his throat – he desperately wanted to know what other villains were lurking in the shadows, watching his wife and daughter.
During these few moments of Jiang Xianian’s silence, both Jiang Yucheng and the Old Marquis grew extremely anxious. Jiang Yucheng even patted Jiang Xianian twice in his urgency, though she didn’t notice her father’s silent urging to hurry up.
【So that’s how it is!】 Jiang Xianian’s tone was filled with sudden realization, 【This matter actually has wider connections. It turns out the Old Madam’s elder brother is returning to Fuking soon to report on his official duties. However, during his local posting, he hasn’t achieved any merits but instead committed some errors – he’s lucky not to be demoted. So the Old Madam started scheming. Knowing Grandfather wouldn’t help pave the way for her brother, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She actually thought of using my elder sister to curry favor with the Duke’s household?! Why doesn’t she use her own daughter or granddaughter instead! Disgusting!】
The Old Marquis immediately clenched his fists. He never expected that his wife, Zhang Shi, would go behind his back to pull such a scheme! He had long warned her to stay out of the affairs of the eldest and second branches, yet she clearly hadn’t listened at all!
Jiang Yucheng’s expression was equally grim.
He knew that his stepmother had always coveted the title, eagerly hoping her own biological son would inherit it. She had never been warm or welcoming toward him or his second brother, frequently targeting the two brothers behind the scenes.
But with the weight of filial piety hanging over his head, he couldn’t deal with her as ruthlessly as he might with others. As a result, the old woman had grown increasingly arrogant and unrestrained—and now, she had even set her sights on scheming against his daughter!
This time, Jiang Yucheng would not swallow his anger as he had in the past!
Jiang Xianian fumed silently as she continued to piece things together: So the maid who tried to lure Mother and Sister to the back hills today, using Fifth Aunt’s name, was arranged by the Old Madam! That maid wasn’t Fifth Aunt’s person at all—she was planted under the guise of helping care for Fifth Aunt, who likely knew nothing about this.
That foul-mouthed old woman must be out of her mind! Even if my sister manages to gain favor with the Anguo Duke Residence, why would she put in a good word for her brother? What benefit would the old woman even get? Oh! She probably thinks that given my sister’s status as a born of a concubine and the damage Wang Xingyun’s schemes have done to her reputation and virtue, there’s no way the Duke’s family would formally marry her with eight bridal sedan chairs—at most, she’d be taken in as a concubine. In her mind, is my sister no different from those beauties passed around between families or those Yangzhou “slender horses”? This… Is her brain addled or what?
Jiang Xianian was so exasperated by the Old Madam’s absurd reasoning that she nearly laughed in disbelief. The old woman was not only biased against daughters in favor of sons but also obsessed with legitimacy versus illegitimacy. illegitimate birth)—truly rotten to the core!
Jiang Yucheng shot a reproachful look at the Old Marquis. This is all because Father indulged her!
Although the Marquis Manor had many rules, it had never placed much emphasis on the distinctions between legitimate and illegitimate children. Otherwise, Jiang Yucheng would not have formed such a seamless alliance in the inner household with his half-sister Jiang Yurong, nor would the Old Marquis have taken such care in arranging marriages and futures for his sons and daughters born of concubines.
Rarely showing embarrassment before his son, the Old Marquis felt a pang of shame. The Old Madam’s wrongdoing was, in truth, a failure on his part as her husband to guide her properly. After so many years of marriage, he had never realized how despicable and ruthless his wife could be.
After a deep sigh, the Old Marquis finally made up his mind.
Meanwhile, Jiang Xianian, who had been mentally “eating melons” (watching the drama), began to worry again. How could she convey all this to her father and grandfather? Her father already had a plan regarding Wang Xingyun and would likely uncover his crimes to deliver a fatal blow. But as for the Old Madam, who lurked in the shadows causing trouble, Jiang Xianian had no intention of letting her off the hook either.
Letting her go would mean abandoning her own mother and sister to further harm—something Jiang Xianian would never allow!
Noticing Jiang Xianian’s renewed anger, Jiang Yucheng struggled to keep a straight face. Composing himself, he said to the Old Marquis with feigned solemnity, “Today, Ru’er and the others caught a bribed maid. I will interrogate her tomorrow. Since she’s from our own household, it should be easier to follow the clues. Once I determine who was behind this, I ask that you, Father, do not go easy on the instigator!”
The Old Marquis understood: Jiang Yucheng was seizing the opportunity to secure his firm stance on the matter.
“Rest assured, I will never let those who scheme against our Jiang family’s descendants get away with it!” the Old Marquis replied earnestly. On one hand, any harm to the descendants would damage the future of the Marquis Manor. The prophecy of “the entire family being executed, exiled, or imprisoned in ten years” still hung over his heart like a sharp sword, filling him with unease. On the other hand, he did not want his little granddaughter to think he was a bad grandfather and curse him in her heart—especially since his eldest son’s family could hear her thoughts!
Hearing their conversation, Jiang Xianian finally breathed a sigh of relief: Indeed, with such a glaring flaw, Father wouldn’t overlook it. My dad is truly amazing! Ah… I’ve eaten so much “melon” today, I’m exhausted. I’ll take a nap now.
Before long, Jiang Xianian closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.
Hearing that his son had earned their little granddaughter’s praise, the Old Marquis remarked with a hint of jealousy, “You’ve gained quite an advantage.”
Jiang Yucheng once again wore an embarrassed expression. If it weren’t for Niannian today, Ru’er and Qiao’er might not have escaped unscathed. Even Huimin Princess, who had arrived just in time to save the situation, had shown the Marquis Manor special regard only because of Niannian!
Seeing his father’s displeasure, Jiang Yucheng proactively handed his little daughter over and said, “Father, please hold Niannian for me. I need to write down everything she mentioned.”
The Old Marquis feigned reluctance, but his hands moved swiftly as he took his little granddaughter into his arms. Holding her securely, his expression softened noticeably at the sight of her adorable sleeping face.
Watching his usually stern father become so tender, Jiang Yucheng thought that he should let his father hold his little granddaughter more often in the future, allowing him to enjoy the joys of family.
Soon, Jiang Yucheng began writing swiftly nearby, doing his best to record all the evidence of the crimes Jiang Xianian had mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Old Marquis carried his little granddaughter to the outer room and summoned Jiang Hu. He instructed him to assign tasks to a few trusted men he had personally trained, based on the information provided.
Elsewhere, the lamp in the study of the Princess Manor remained lit for a long time. It was not until late in the night that Huimin Princess finished writing and organized the stack of papers, which had grown quite thick.
After sealing the documents, Huimin Princess summoned her most trusted guard: “As soon as the palace gates open tomorrow, deliver this confidential letter to the Eastern Palace.”
The guard, eyeing the bulging envelope, couldn’t help but suspect that Huimin Princess had stuffed an entire book inside.