After Jiang Xianian ate her fill, she fell asleep again. Qiao Shi remained seated there, waiting for Jiang Yucheng to return.
As soon as Jiang Yucheng returned, he dismissed the others. His expression seemed complicated as he said, “I found Granny Wang’s son and confirmed the matter regarding Jing Yiniang. It’s true that Granny Wang deceived both sides.”
“Then why are you still…” Qiao Shi was somewhat puzzled.
With the matter clarified, Jiang Yucheng should have been happy.
Jiang Yucheng sighed and said, “But Granny Wang’s son also claimed injustice. He said his mother might have had a drink or two, but she wouldn’t get drunk, let alone drunk enough to drown. He insists his mother’s death was wrongful.”
Qiao Shi’s mood immediately turned complex as well. Granny Wang was indeed wicked—for a mere broker’s fee, she had tricked Jing Yiniang, who was unwilling to become a concubine, into entering the Marquis Manor, planting this hidden disaster that nearly harmed her precious daughter. Jing Yiniang was likely not the only innocent girl she had deceived.
If Granny Wang’s death was retribution, it would be a good thing, but the situation didn’t seem that simple. Could she have died at the hands of someone else?
Seeing Qiao Shi furrow her brow, Jiang Yucheng comforted her instead, “Don’t overthink it. This is a case from two years ago, left unresolved at the Mayor of the Capital’s office for two years. There’s no way we can uncover anything now.”
Qiao Shi nodded. Even if Niannian could investigate, she couldn’t possibly let her one-month-old daughter do so.
“Additionally,” Jiang Yucheng continued, “I also sent someone to look into Jing Yiniang’s lover’s mistress.”
As he said this, Jiang Yucheng’s tone was quite unnatural, likely still harboring some resentment and discomfort.
“Strangely, that woman disappeared without a trace. It was only after questioning the man that we learned his mistress had taken all his belongings and fled the night before. He only discovered it yesterday and hurried to search for her, but found no trace at all.”
Qiao Shi’s heart grew heavy. She hadn’t expected that behind the theft of her youngest daughter lay so many tangled affairs. How far could a woman from the Flower House run on her own? Most likely, someone was assisting her from behind the scenes.
“Moreover, after revealing this woman, Jing Yiniang beat him again before admitting that the idea to steal Niannian came from that man. Jing Yiniang believed it was the Green House woman who incited him to deceive her.”
After hearing this, Qiao Shi sighed, “There are so many twists and turns behind this matter.”
Jiang Yucheng wrapped his arm around her waist and gently reassured her, “Our Marquis Manor stands out and attracts attention—many people are watching us from the outside. Ru’er, don’t be afraid. I will protect you and our children.”
Hearing this, Qiao Shi’s previously anxious and uncertain heart suddenly felt more grounded.
After sharing a tender moment, their emotions settled somewhat. Worried that Jiang Xianian might wake up suddenly and recalling what she had said about Jiang Yurong, Qiao Shi quickly pulled herself away from the intimacy and said seriously, “Yucheng, when I returned earlier, Elder Sister was waiting for me in the courtyard.”
Jiang Yucheng, still lingering in the warmth, replied casually, “If Elder Sister came, she must have wanted to see Niannian, right?”
Qiao Shi hummed in acknowledgment and lowered her voice as she recounted the entire incident. Jiang Yucheng’s expression grew increasingly grave, and by the end, he couldn’t help but clench his fists, gritting his teeth as he spat, “That Jiang Yizhen—how dare he!”
Qiao Shi, equally furious, added, “If I hadn’t overheard Niannian’s inner thoughts, I would never have imagined a father like him exists—turning a legitimate son into an illegitimate one, utterly degrading the child’s status! How could an illegitimate child, hidden away in shame, possibly be better than a legitimate heir? Who knows what sinister scheme he’s plotting!”
A flash of bloodlust gleamed in Jiang Yucheng’s eyes. While his kind-hearted wife might not grasp the depths of such malice, he could guess the truth: Jiang Yizhen sought to climb higher by stepping over the corpse of a daughter from the Weiyuan Marquis Estate. Over his dead body!
After calming his emotions, Jiang Yucheng reassured Qiao Shi, “Now that I know of this, I will not stand by idly. Do not worry. Once Father returns from his duties this evening, I will seek him out to discuss the matter.”
Qiao Shi nodded, her trust evident. “With you handling this, half my worries are eased. Also, regarding the attempted abduction—not only was Niannian frightened, but I too feel unsettled. In a couple of days, I plan to take Qiao’er and Niannian to White Horse Temple to pray, donate some incense money, and have the temple’s master perform a calming ritual for Niannian and divine Qiao’er’s marital prospects.”
Jiang Yucheng calculated the dates and replied, “By then, I’ll have returned to my duties. Take extra guards from the estate with you.”
“Understood,” Qiao Shi agreed.
The couple then reviewed the incident of their youngest daughter’s near-abduction and made further plans.
That evening, as soon as the Old Marquis returned to the estate, Jiang Yucheng immediately sought him out in the main study.
After straightforwardly relaying the events, the Old Marquis pondered for a long while before remarking, “So, Niannian’s inner thoughts were entirely accurate, without error or omission.”
Jiang Yucheng affirmed, “After this incident, I believe there is no doubt about it.”
A faint smile touched the Old Marquis’s lips. “In that case, is it true that our Jiang family faced execution, exile, and the annihilation of our clan? And Niannian—could she be a blessing sent by heaven, unable to bear to see our family suffer unjustly, here to warn us?”
Though Jiang Yucheng privately believed his sweet, soft little daughter was indeed a lucky star, he dared not boast before his father. “A blessing might be an overstatement. Perhaps it is heaven’s warning.”
The Old Marquis agreed; it was too soon to draw conclusions. Having long held a high position, he knew rash judgments were perilous.
“What do you plan to do next?”
“As for Jing Yiniang and her lover, along with Yao Zhaodi and her husband, send them directly to the Mayor of the Capital.”
Killing them would be satisfying, but with countless eyes watching the Marquis Manor, Jiang Yucheng preferred not to stain his hands with their blood and risk leaving evidence.
“As for Qing’er…” Speaking of the child, Jiang Yucheng felt a pang in his heart. He had genuinely rejoiced at her birth and cherished her as his own. Jing Yiniang’s actions were despicable, but the infant in swaddling clothes was innocent.
“I intend to have her taken south and placed with an ordinary family for adoption. She will have no further connection to the Marquis Manor.”
With that, the matter of Jiang Xianian’s near-swapping was brought to a close.
Noting Jiang Yucheng’s lingering presence, the Old Marquis asked, “Is there something else?”
Jiang Yucheng collected his thoughts and asked solemnly, “Father, has Jiang Yizhen been acting unusually lately?”
“Why are you asking this when everything has been as usual lately?”
Jiang Yucheng took a deep breath before recounting what Qiao Shi had overheard.
Just mentioning this matter filled Jiang Yucheng with indignation. When his birth mother was alive, she had treated Jiang Yurong very well, and Jiang Yurong had always remembered her kindness. After his mother passed away from illness, his father successively married two more wives and took numerous concubines. The siblings had always supported each other in the inner household, making their bond much deeper than with their other siblings.
Now, that brother-in-law Jiang Yizhen actually dared to act one way to their faces while scheming behind their backs—bullying his sister and plotting against the Marquis Manor. Jiang Yucheng gritted his teeth in fury.
The Old Marquis was also shocked. He had personally chosen Jiang Yizhen as his daughter’s husband. Not only had he never been promiscuous, but he was also quite capable. Apart from his family’s somewhat fallen status, he had seemed like a perfect son-in-law in every other aspect. How could this seemingly honest man possibly keep a mistress? And even swap his own legitimate grandson with one born to his mistress?!
“Father, I will investigate this matter thoroughly. Please consider carefully how to handle this situation.”
Though they had no concrete evidence yet, both father and son already believed about eighty percent of it—because Niannian’s inner thoughts had never been wrong before!
The two continued their secret discussions late into the night, while Ruian Hall dispatched people to make various inquiries.
When Jiang Xianian woke up, she learned about the subsequent developments through her melon-eating System: [Yao Zhaodi was executed, her husband, Jing Yiniang, and that lover of hers were all exiled over a thousand miles away. Jing Yiniang’s daughter was adopted by a decent family. This outcome is barely acceptable. I just wonder what will happen to Yao Zhaodi’s daughter now. Without becoming the Marquis Manor’s thousand gold, how will she meet the male lead who’s a prince?]
Hearing her words, Qiao Shi immediately took the hint and ordered her subordinates to keep an eye on Yao Zhaodi’s daughter.
After all, Niannian had said that infant possessed an adult’s soul!
Over the next couple of days, taking advantage of the warmer weather and clear skies, Qiao Shi planned to take her two daughters to offer prayers at the White Horse Temple outside the city.
However, on the evening before, Qiao Shi received an invitation from her close friend Madame Qu, stating that the prized peony “Yaohuang” cultivated in their family’s flower room was at its peak bloom, and she specially invited several close friends to admire it.
Thus, Qiao Shi postponed the trip to White Horse Temple and first went to meet her dear friend.
The next day, the three beautifully dressed mother and daughters happily went out and arrived at the Qu residence.
In the inner courtyard, many people greeted Qiao Shi and asked to hold Jiang Xianian, while also inquiring about what had happened during the full moon banquet.
Watching these bejeweled noblewomen staring at Qiao Shi with shining eyes, Jiang Xianian found it amusing: Indeed, no one can resist the charm of eating melons.Melon-eaters truly reign supreme!]
Hearing her voice, Qiao Shi couldn’t help but smile. Niannian’s new expressions were so numerous and amusing.
While Qiao Shi chatted with the officials’ wives, Miss Qu came to entertain Jiang Qiaonian.
Jiang Xianian looked over curiously: [Are these all my elder sister’s close friends? These young ladies are so beautiful! Let me get close to these pretty sisters!]
Jiang Qiaonian chuckled inwardly and complied with her sister’s wish, letting each friend take turns holding Jiang Xianian, which indeed made Jiang Xianian extremely happy.
Suddenly, Jiang Xianian’s laughter ceased: [“That girl in purple is really strange. Why is she secretly glaring at my sister?”]
Jiang Qiaonian froze, immediately turning her head to look, and happened to meet the eyes of her closest friend Xu Lin, catching the lingering jealousy and resentment in Xu Lin’s gaze.
Xu Lin quickly smiled: [“Qiaonian, why are you looking at me like that?”]
Jiang Qiaonian lowered her eyes and replied evasively: [“It’s nothing.”]
She had simply happened to overhear her younger sister’s thoughts: [So she’s jealous of my eldest sister, thinking that my eldest sister—merely a concubine-born daughter—always has better clothes and jewelry than her, the legitimate daughter?Author’s Note:
Tried some rituals yesterday, but all the little people ended up turning into little question marks by Ah Jin. I’m also full of question marks—is Ah Jin really this incompetent?
What approach should I use today to ask for favorites and comments? (Lost in thought)