Сhарtеr 21: Тhе Тruth
How соuld his оwn sistеr bе so kind and sensiblе?
Jiаng Yanchuаn supprеssеd thе раin in his hеart, hоlding thе dеliсate girl in his аrms even tighter, his voiсе hoаrsе.
“Sillу girl, whаt if I hаdn’t arrivеd in timе? If уou had tаkеn that whiр yourself, whо knows hоw badly yоu would hаve bееn hurt.”
The girl didn’t sрeak, but she сlutсhеd hеr brother’s lареl, hеr eyеs growing rеdder.
For а moment, thе truth had beеn revealеd, аnd thе atmоsрhere in the rоom wаs unbеarablу awkward.
Jiаng Bingrоng wаs thе primе minister of thе nation in соurt аnd the head of the household аt hоme. He had аlwаys been ехtremely authoritative, his word final.
And today, the one who had hastily passed judgment without distinguishing right from wrong, even resorting to family discipline to punish someone, was also him.
Moreover, this had happened in front of Mo Chixiao.
It truly made Jiang Bingrong lose face.
Seeing this, Concubine Zhou quickly stepped forward to smooth things over.
With a flattering smile on her face, she said to Jiang Yanchuan, “Now that the hairpin has been found, Yanchuan, your father was mistaken about Chuer.” She paused, then continued, “But you can’t blame your father. After all, Chuer did indeed… You know this as well.”
The implication of her words was all too clear.
She insinuated that Jiang Chuji had previously stolen a bracelet, so when something went missing again, it was only natural to suspect her. This was perfectly reasonable.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Jiang Yanchuan’s eyes burned with even greater anger.
He questioned coldly, “What exactly did Chuer do before? Did she really steal Grandmother’s jade bracelet?”
His gaze was like a sharp blade, aimed directly at Concubine Zhou, carrying a trace of undisguised mockery.
“Whether that jade bracelet was really stolen by Chuer, doesn’t Concubine Zhou know the truth in her heart?”
It is said that family scandals should not be aired in public. Mo Chixiao was an outsider, and a man of high status and power.
Perhaps these words should have been spoken behind closed doors, within the family, after Mo Chixiao had left.
But now, seeing the girl endure so much unwarranted humiliation and mistreatment in this household, whether he was present or not, Jiang Yanchuan could no longer hold back.
At this very moment, he had to stand here and seek justice for his own sister.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bingrong’s eyes widened, his expression turning displeased. “Chuan’er, what do you mean by that? The jade bracelet was found in Chuer’s room. What does that have to do with your concubine?”
His tone carried a hint of accusation, as if he believed Jiang Yanchuan was making trouble without reason.
Concubine Zhou was also stunned, unsure why she had suddenly been dragged into this. Immediately, her eyes reddened. “Yanchuan, I know I’m just a concubine of your father, insignificant and without influence. But I don’t know what I’ve done wrong to make you target me.”
Seeing this, Jiang Yanchuan couldn’t help but sneer. How had he never noticed before that his concubine was such a skilled actress?
“Father, do you know where I’ve been these past two days?” he suddenly asked. “Bring her in.”
Bring her in?
Who?
Upon hearing this, Concubine Zhou’s expression froze, and a sudden sense of foreboding welled up in her heart.
The next moment, she was shocked to see Fang’er, the maid who had left the household three months ago, reappear before her.
Fang’er looked timid, not daring to raise her head. Her body trembled slightly, as if filled with fear of what was about to happen.Old Madam Jiang recognized the maid who had once served her at a glance, also quite astonished: “Fang’er? Didn’t you already leave the manor and return to Lincheng to get married?”
Jiang Yanchuan spoke directly: “Grandmother, three months ago, it was this Fang’er who told you that she saw Chuer leaving your bedroom looking unnatural, as if hiding something in her sleeve, right?”
“Not long after, your jade bracelet was found in Chuer’s room. With both witness and material evidence present, no one believed whatever Chuer said. Father even gave the order directly, locking her up in Plum Fragrance Courtyard for three full months.”
Old Madam Jiang had not yet reacted.
Jiang Yanchuan looked directly at Fang’er and said sternly: “Speak for yourself.”
Fang’er was already pale with fright.
She bit her lip, not daring to look at Concubine Zhou beside her. Her legs gave way, and she knelt directly on the ground, crying out: “Master, Old Madam, Second Young Miss, it was all my fault.”
“The jade bracelet Old Madam lost back then was never stolen by Second Young Miss!”
As soon as Fang’er uttered these words, it was like a heavy bomb exploding among the crowd.
Jiang Bingrong looked shocked, his eyes wide with disbelief: “What did you say?”
Fang’er did not dare to raise her head, only kowtowing repeatedly on the ground, sobbing: “Old Madam was kind, allowing me to leave the manor to marry when I came of age. But before I left, Concubine Zhou approached me, asking me to help her with one thing. She promised me fifty taels of silver afterward.”
“That was fifty taels of silver—my husband and I could work hard our whole lives and never earn that much money. And since I was about to leave the Chancellor’s Manor anyway, I thought there wouldn’t be any trouble, so I agreed.”
“That day, Old Madam was unwell with a cough, and Second Young Miss came to pay her respects. After she left, I hid Old Madam’s jade bracelet and later placed it in Second Young Miss’s room, then deliberately testified with those words. Afterward… Second Young Miss indeed couldn’t defend herself.”
Fang’er choked back sobs as she recounted the whole incident.
“You’re lying!” Concubine Zhou felt her vision darken, nearly losing her balance. “You’re slandering me! When did I ever approach you to frame Second Young Miss?”
Tears welling in her eyes, she threw herself against Jiang Bingrong, her voice trembling uncontrollably: “Master, you must believe me. I never did such a thing.”
“Young Madam may deny it, but these earrings—you personally shoved them into my hand when you approached me back then.”
As she spoke, Fang’er took out a pair of red coral earrings from her bosom.
Those with better memories present recalled that these earrings were indeed ones Concubine Zhou used to wear often. Only in recent months had she stopped wearing them.
Concubine Zhou’s face turned pale, and she blurted out without thinking: “I lost those earrings long ago! So you picked them up and are using them to frame me today.”
Jiang Yanchuan sneered: “Young Madam manages the household and has always questioned the servants thoroughly whenever anything goes missing. Yet when you lost a pair of earrings yourself, you didn’t even bother to look for them?”
Concubine Zhou’s lips trembled, sweat beading on her forehead: “I…”
Fang’er, her face covered in tears, looked pleadingly at Jiang Yanchuan: “Eldest Young Master, I’ve already returned to tell the truth. I will return the fifty taels of silver and these earrings. Please, I beg you, don’t send me to the authorities.”
Anyone with eyes could see that there was indeed more to the story of the bracelet.Thinking further, who benefited the most when the second young lady first returned to the manor, was falsely accused of stealing a jade bracelet, fell out of favor with Old Madam and the master, and was confined to Plum Fragrance Courtyard for three months?
Jiang Luowei witnessed everything, her nails digging deeply into her palms.
She immediately threw herself before Jiang Bingrong, weeping pitifully like pear blossoms in the rain, hoping to evoke his pity.
“Father, this maid is slandering my mother! You mustn’t believe her just like that!”
Jiang Bingrong’s face turned ashen.
He was no fool and had already understood what was happening.
But even if the truth was as such, what could be done? Chuer had already been punished and confined. On the other hand, these were his most beloved concubine and daughter.
Taking a deep breath, he began, “Enough…”
He was about to say that without concrete evidence, what had already passed should not be brought up again.
The next moment, a slow, leisurely sound of applause came from nearby.
The clapping seemed particularly abrupt in the tense and silent atmosphere. Everyone turned to look and saw that Mo Jiu had, at some point, brought over a chair.
Mo Chixiao leaned lazily against the chair as if watching a play.
Those beautiful peach blossom eyes glanced over, the corners slightly upturned, carrying a hint of careless languor.
“I never expected that my visit today would coincide with such a scene.”
“They say even an honest official finds it hard to settle family disputes, but Prime Minister Jiang must have already reached a decision. I’d like to see how Prime Minister Jiang plans to handle this matter.”