As for what happened ten years later…
Before long, the manor guards escorted Jing Yiniang over.
Despite being roughly handled by the guards along the way, Jing Yiniang remained composed. Smoothing a stray lock of hair by her ear, she properly performed the ritual greeting: “This humble concubine pays respects to the Old Marquis, to the Master, to the Madam, to the Second Young Master, to the Third Young Master, and to the Eldest Young Miss.”
Jiang Xianian let out a babble. [And me! Am I so insignificant?]
Qiao Shi suppressed a laugh while Jiang Yucheng sighed helplessly and coldly reminded, “The Young Miss is also here.”
Jing Yiniang visibly paused for a moment before adding, “My respects to the Young Miss.”
Jiang Xianian couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly. [Father is quite mischievous.]
Jiang Yucheng: …
Wasn’t this what his daughter wanted? This little rascal!
The three children secretly laughed while Qiao Shi covered the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. The Old Marquis also revealed a slight smile.
Jing Yiniang, skilled at reading expressions, had initially thought the Jiang family was furious after seeing Yao Zhaodi’s wretched state. But now that the Jiang family members were clearly holding back laughter, she grew confused—could it be that the masters actually disliked this young miss?
Jiang Yucheng cleared his throat and said, “Jing Yiniang, Yao Zhaodi has accused you of instructing her to smuggle the Young Miss out of the manor. Do you admit to this?”
Jing Yiniang immediately collected her thoughts and calmly replied, “Reporting to the Master, this humble concubine wouldn’t dare!”
The Jiang family wasn’t surprised by this response. Their young daughter’s inner voice had mentioned that Jing Yiniang was a deep schemer who wouldn’t confess easily.
Yao Zhaodi didn’t dare speak either. Her mind was occupied not only with over a hundred taels of gambling debt but also her brother’s life! As the only male heir who hadn’t yet continued the family line, her brother must be protected at all costs.
Jiang Xianian’s attention shifted to Jing Yiniang. Seeing how composed the concubine appeared, she couldn’t help but admire her mental fortitude. [Jing Yiniang is rock-solid! I wish I had such strong nerves. This kind of person wouldn’t shed tears even at their own funeral.]
Just as Jiang Yucheng was considering torture, he heard his daughter’s thoughts and had to abandon the idea.
[Let me see if Jing Yiniang has any weaknesses… Hmm…]
The Jiang family held their breath in anticipation, and the courtyard fell into an eerie silence.
Jing Yiniang remained as steady as a mountain: She had left no traces or evidence behind. Even with Yao Zhaodi’s accusation, she only needed to flatly deny everything. Given her usual conduct and the trust the Master and Madam placed in her, she would surely pass this trial safely.
Thus Jing Yiniang appeared even more composed.
The Jiang family secretly marveled—Jing Yiniang was indeed as adept at concealment as their young daughter/younger sister had described.
[Aha! So that’s how it is!] Jiang Xianian’s voice rang out, and the Jiang family immediately pricked up their ears.
[So Jing Yiniang didn’t tell Yao Zhaodi to swap me with the fake thousand gold—she told her to smuggle me out of the manor! The swapping was Yao Zhaodi’s own idea. Yao Zhaodi coveted the Marquis Manor’s wealth, thinking this would secure a wealthy meal ticket for her whole family. Then her husband wouldn’t beat her so often, and she could continuously support her brother.]
The Jiang family suddenly understood. No wonder Jing Yiniang refused to confess—she truly hadn’t instructed Yao Zhaodi to perform the swap, though her intentions were even more malicious.
Jiang Yucheng immediately straightened his expression and demanded, “Did you truly not bribe Yao Zhaodi to swap the Young Miss with her own daughter?”
Jing Yiniang indeed widened her eyes in shock, then sharply turned her gaze to Yao Zhaodi. She never expected Yao Zhaodi would dare act on her own authority!
Yao Zhaodi met Jing Yiniang’s murderous glare and immediately panicked. She hadn’t anticipated the Marquis Manor would uncover even this detail. In her terror, she clung to Jing Yiniang’s leg, pleading, “Yiniang, save me! Please save me! We’ll find a way to repay you the silver!”
After a flicker of shifting expressions, Jing Yiniang shook Yao Zhaodi off and knelt to defend herself, “Your Honor, please see reason! What benefit would I gain from having her swap the young lady? Why would I trouble myself with such a futile scheme?”
Seeing Jing Yiniang turn her back so ruthlessly, Yao Zhaodi felt a surge of vicious resentment. Driven by the thought, “If I’m doomed, you won’t escape either,” she burst into tears and cried, “You didn’t tell me to swap the babies—you told me to take the young lady out and hand her to your brother to strangle, so she could never return! I even considered raising her myself, but you’re far more wicked than I am!”
Enraged, Jing Yiniang slapped Yao Zhaodi across the face. “Stop making wild accusations! I don’t even know you!”
“How can you claim not to know me? You even had your brother tell me how to leave the Marquis Manor! Your brother lives in Zao’er Lane—I know all this! If you don’t believe me, Your Honor, you can investigate!”
Fearing what else Yao Zhaodi might reveal, Jing Yiniang hurriedly reached to cover her mouth. Yao Zhaodi, thinking she was about to be struck again, fought back with hands and feet, and soon the two were tangled in a fierce brawl.
Jiang Yucheng summoned the manor guards and ordered them to arrest Jing Yiniang’s brother.
Jiang Xianian’s attention was wholly fixed on the two scuffling women. [Yes, yes! Hair-pulling! Though Jing Yiniang is cunning, she’s no match for Yao Zhaodi’s strength from years of manual labor. She’s about to be pinned down and beaten!]
Qiao Shi frowned and commanded, “Separate them!”
The guards stepped forward and pulled the two apart. Yao Zhaodi, still defiant, kicked and spat wildly—clearly no stranger to fights.
Jing Yiniang, now disheveled with her hair undone and robes in disarray, had lost all semblance of her usual composure.
Gasping for breath, she shot a hateful glare at Yao Zhaodi before quickly kneeling before Qiao Shi. In a mournful tone, she confessed, “As things stand, I must admit it: I did bribe Yao Zhaodi to sneak the young lady out of the manor. I am willing to atone with my death! I only beg you, Madame, to spare my young daughter’s life for her innocence—raise her like a stray cat or dog, if you must…”
Tears streamed down Jing Yiniang’s face as she spoke, portraying deep regret and heartbreak.
Recalling the soul-shattering agony when her own daughter was nearly stolen, Qiao Shi felt that despite Jing Yiniang’s wickedness, her maternal love was genuine and precious, and she was about to agree.
Jiang Xianian let out a sound of disgust. [If you truly loved your daughter, you wouldn’t have done such a thing! And this “raise her like a cat or dog” act—you’ve perfectly targeted Mother’s soft heart to play the victim. If Mother really raised her like an animal, wouldn’t Father start doubting Mother’s character? You’re utterly vile, trying to drive a wedge between my parents even in death! Mother, don’t you dare fall for it!]
Jiang Yucheng: The little rascal talks nonsense! How could I ever doubt Ru’er’s character?!
So Jiang Yucheng quickly wrapped an arm around Qiao Shi’s waist to affirm his loyalty.
Qiao Shi was momentarily stunned. She hadn’t considered things that far ahead. Having just given birth, she could deeply empathize with the pain of mother-child separation due to today’s events. She never expected Jing Yiniang’s seemingly pleading words to conceal such malicious intentions.
To spare his wife further distress, Jiang Yucheng immediately rebuked: “What do you mean by that? Qing’er is also my daughter! Even without you, our Marquis Manor will take good care of her! What you should be considering is how Qing’er will face the truth about her birth mother’s wickedness when she grows up and understands things!”
Jing Yiniang collapsed to the ground, unable to even cry.
Jiang Xianian was somewhat surprised. [I never thought Father could be so cutting. Though Jing Yiniang is scheming herself, she genuinely loves her daughter and wants her to grow up happy and fortunate. She bribed Yao Zhaodi to target me to eliminate competition for her daughter, even hoping that Mother might transfer her affection to her daughter after losing me, perhaps even registering her daughter under Mother’s name as a legitimate daughter!]
Qiao Shi’s eyes reddened with anger. Not only was Yao Zhaodi’s daughter trying to steal her own daughter’s good fortune, but even her husband’s concubine-born daughter wanted to do the same!
Today she truly witnessed how malicious people could be!
[Actually, Jing Yiniang overthought this. My eldest sister isn’t Mother’s biological daughter either, but Mother treats her very well, and eldest sister deeply respects Mother. It’s not necessary to get rid of me for her daughter to receive Mother’s love!]
Jiang Yucheng, Qiao Shi, and their three children all nodded. Qiao Shi was kind and virtuous, and had even mentioned that if Jing Yiniang weren’t so attached to her daughter, she would have considered raising Qing’er herself to keep her own little daughter company.
[Oh! So Jing Yiniang had a guilty conscience! She feared her daughter not being Father’s biological child would be exposed, so she tried to secure a future and status for her daughter. If the truth ever came out, she hoped soft-hearted Mother would protect her daughter out of years of maternal bond.]
The Jiang family: !!!
The Old Marquis’s eyes widened in shock. Qiao Shi covered her mouth with her hand. The three children also stared wide-eyed and open-mouthed: So this was what Niannian meant by “a little green” above his head?!
This was more than just a little green! This was raising another man’s child, being a living cuckold!
Jiang Yucheng’s mind went blank for a moment. He nearly confronted Jing Yiniang, wanting to demand how he had wronged her that she would cheat on him and secretly make him raise another man’s bastard!
Qiao Shi quickly pulled Jiang Yucheng back. Though equally shocked and furious, for their daughter’s sake, they had to restrain themselves for now!
Jiang Yucheng took several deep breaths before barely suppressing his rage. He tightly grasped Qiao Shi’s hand, finding comfort in the thought: Ru’er is better, Ru’er would never do such things.
After collecting themselves, everyone wondered: If Jing Yiniang’s daughter wasn’t his biological child, then whose was she?
They listened intently, but Jiang Xianian fell silent, and the courtyard once again descended into an eerie stillness.
Jiang Yucheng and the Old Marquis resolved to investigate thoroughly after dealing with the immediate matter—the Jiang bloodline must not be contaminated.
Jiang Xianian yawned. A baby’s stamina was truly lacking—just listening to gossip for a while made her feel sleepy.
Just then, the estate guards reported: “Sir, our men went to Zaor Lane but found the person had already packed up and fled. We’ve dispatched two search parties to pursue them.”
Upon hearing this news, Jing Yiniang almost imperceptibly sighed in relief.
Jiang Yucheng was seething with anger. Thinking about Jing Yiniang’s lover and the need to investigate starting from her brother, he gritted his teeth and said: “That man must have fled in haste just today. Search thoroughly! I want him found even if you have to dig three feet underground!”
“Yes, Sir!”
After having Yao Zhaodi and Jing Yiniang separately detained, the Jiang family members gradually filed out.
The children were still excited, eager to tell their parents about hearing their younger sister’s inner thoughts. But Jiang Yucheng and the Old Marquis shooed them away: “It’s getting late, return to your quarters and rest early. Your grandfather and I have important matters to discuss.”
The children then remembered their sister’s words about the Marquis Manor being executed, their properties confiscated, and the family exiled ten years later. Their hearts sank instantly, and not daring to disturb their father and grandfather discussing such crucial matters concerning the entire Marquis Manor, they obediently bowed and took their leave.
Qiao Shi, holding the drowsy Jiang Xianian, thoughtfully said: “Yucheng, you go ahead. I’ll take Niannian back and put her to sleep first.”
Jiang Yucheng escorted his wife and daughter to the courtyard entrance before hurriedly heading to the main study to find the Old Marquis.
After clearing the main study courtyard and ensuring no one could approach within twenty meters, father and son finally sat facing each other.
“It seems you can also hear Niannian’s inner thoughts?” the Old Marquis began.
Jiang Yucheng respectfully poured tea for his father and replied: “Yes. Besides me, Ru’er can also hear them. Ru’er and I specifically observed – the servants cannot hear Niannian’s inner thoughts, nor can the estate guards.”
A flicker passed through the Old Marquis’s eyes, a weight lifting from his heart.
This little granddaughter’s mind contained far too many shocking matters that must not be easily overheard by outsiders.
He had specifically observed his son and daughter-in-law interrogating that wet nurse to verify the accuracy of her words and determine who could hear them.
Fortunately, his eldest son was equally meticulous and had noticed this matter, paying close attention thereafter.
“Your children seem to hear them too. Do you think only those connected by blood can hear Niannian’s inner thoughts?” the Old Marquis speculated.
Jiang Yucheng nodded: “That was my initial assumption as well, though it’s not yet fully confirmed. I plan to test tomorrow with some mute individuals to see if they can hear Niannian’s inner thoughts.”
“Good, handle this matter accordingly.”
“Father, regarding Niannian mentioning that our Marquis Manor would be executed, confiscated, and exiled ten years later – how likely do you think this is?” Jiang Yucheng urgently asked, this matter hanging over his heart like a sharp sword, leaving him no peace.
The Old Marquis’s expression darkened immediately.
After a long silence, the Old Marquis slowly said: “Although our Weiyuan Marquis Estate has achieved unparalleled military merits, each emperor prefers his own courtiers. These merits are our protective talisman, but they could also become our death warrant.”
Jiang Yucheng drew a sharp breath, his heart growing heavy. The Old Marquis meant that overwhelming achievements threatening the sovereign’s authority were no blessing.
“Yucheng, every matter Niannian revealed today has proven true. Regarding such crucial matters concerning the Marquis Manor’s survival, she likely wouldn’t fabricate nonsense. We cannot wait ten years to verify this – we must begin planning immediately.”
Jiang Yucheng slowly nodded.