Jiang Zhiyu: “???”

This sentence sounds a bit weird.

Tan Shujing also knew that she had said something wrong, so she let go of her hand guiltily, picked up the teacup on the table, and took a sip.

Xu Yanli sighed softly, but before he could say anything, a servant hurried over, knelt down, and said, "Master, this is bad. The rumors are getting more and more intense. They're all saying that the young lady is a vicious woman. Some people even spread a little joke about her!"

"What?!" Xu Yanli frowned.

The attendant said stubbornly, "Not only that, some people even said that with such a vicious mother, Miss Jiang must be a vicious person. How can such a person be the Imperial Censor and supervise the officials? It is really hard to convince the public..."

Xu Yanli tried his best to suppress the rage in his chest and looked at Jiang Zhiyu.

The young fish is still young, and has had a smooth journey so far. Now that it has been criticized, I am afraid...

"That's it?"

Jiang Zhiyu combined what he had heard from Tan Shujing earlier with what the servant said now, and roughly figured out the whole story.

My mother's life, which was simple and plain, was made to flourish by rumors.

Xu Yanli was slightly startled, then saw Jiang Zhiyu suddenly stand up.

"Young, young fish."

"Grandfather, don't worry about me. I'll go to the Prime Minister's residence to inquire about the situation. I can't let them accuse me of poisoning my mother when she's not there."

Xu Yanli looked hesitant.

He knew Zhiyu's ability, so of course he was not worried that Zhiyu would be bullied. What he was worried about was that if Zhiyu went over and killed the whole family, he would be impeached by the ministers.

By then, even if the emperor favored Zhiyu, he would definitely punish her.

That won’t do!

Zhiyu's current official position was earned by her hard work. No one can take it back unless she asks for it herself!

He looked at Jiang Zhiyu, feeling a mixture of emotions.

He missed Zhiyu's childhood and failed to protect her well, but now he finally has the chance to protect her.

"Grandfather will go with you."

Jiang Zhiyu was stunned and subconsciously wanted to refuse, but Xu Yanli did not give her the chance to refuse: "With Grandfather here, they dare not act rashly. Do whatever you want, Grandfather will take care of it for you."

Jiang Zhiyu stared at him blankly, not knowing what to say for a moment. After a long while, she coughed lightly and replied in a very low voice, "Hmm."

…

In the prime minister's residence, Jiang Zhaorong was rarely furious. All the maids and servants knelt in the yard, and Du Yuelan and Taohong stood beside Jiang Zhaorong.

Jiang Zhaorong's face was expressionless as he swept his gaze over them, his eyes as indifferent as if he were looking at a pile of dead objects. "I'll only give you one chance. Who spread this?"

The maids and servants were silent as a mouse, and no one said a word.

"If no one speaks up, come one by one," Jiang Zhaorong pointed at the servant who was kneeling in the front. Before the servant could say anything, a board hit him hard on the back. He vomited blood and fell to the ground. He didn't get up for a long time.

The others trembled slightly upon seeing this. Du Yuelan and Taohong were also startled. Jiang Zhaorong's brows were filled with gloom. "Everyone saw it. If no one admits it, he will be your fate."

Bai Zhi's hands began to tremble, but because she was supporting Du Yuelan, it was not noticeable for a moment. Du Yuelan suppressed her fear, placed her hand on Bai Zhi's, and looked at Jiang Zhaorong: "Prime Minister, in my opinion, the most urgent thing is not to find out who this person is, but to find a way to suppress the rumors."

Jiang Zhaorong turned a deaf ear and his face was as dark as ink.

It's easy to say that it was suppressed, but now no one knows who has taken notice of this matter. The spearhead has shifted from Xu Youran, who poisoned her, to Jiang Zhiyu.

The purpose was to get the emperor to remove Jiang Zhiyu from his position as Imperial Censor.

Rumors spread quickly, and there were people instigating them everywhere. The people behind the scenes were really working hard.

The emperor even came to see me when he left court. If I couldn't handle it properly...

Jiang Zhaorong took a deep breath, and his eyes turned even colder as he looked at the maids and servants.

Du Yuelan didn't get a response from Jiang Zhaorong, and stood aside feeling a little awkward. Taohong looked at her with her eyes slightly narrowed.

"Continue," Jiang Zhaorong had just said two words when the messenger came hurriedly to report: "Prime Minister, Grand Tutor..."

Before he finished speaking, Xu Yanli and Jiang Zhiyu appeared in front of everyone.

Du Yuelan was shocked and took a step back imperceptibly.

No one noticed her actions except Taohong.

Jiang Zhaorong's face turned grim as he took a few steps forward: "Master Xu..."

Xu Yanli raised his hand to interrupt him: "Don't say anything else, what are these rumors outside?"

Jiang Zhaorong gritted his teeth secretly, "I repeatedly warned them not to let the news leak out, but somehow it still got out! Grand Tutor Xu, please rest assured, I will find this person and deal with this matter as soon as possible."

These words directly convicted Xu Youran and also hinted at his own innocence.

Jiang Zhiyu stepped forward and said, "So, the Prime Minister also believes that it was my mother who poisoned the old lady?"

Jiang Zhaorong frowned: "It's not what I think, it's what the doctor said."

Jiang Zhaorong sighed softly and said, "Go and ask the doctor to come over and get the bracelet from my study."

The servant got up to fetch it. Jiang Zhaorong looked at Xu Yanli and recounted what had happened in the old lady's room. After the banquet, he frowned slightly and said, "Ever since Madam Du entered the mansion, there's been a rift between Youran and Mother. I know Youran would never do such a thing, but I just can't explain the bracelet."

Jiang Zhaorong said helplessly: "Now the old lady is lying in bed and can't even speak clearly. It's really..."

He continued talking for several breaths, portraying the mentality of a worried and helpless son to the extreme.

[You acted really well. If you hadn't called me an old lady, I would have believed you were a filial son.]

[Calling your own mother "old lady" is a sign of filial piety to your family.]

Xu Yanli raised the corners of his lips and looked at Jiang Zhaorong with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

There was silence for a while. After a while, the doctor and the servant came hurriedly.

The servant handed the jade bracelet to Jiang Zhaorong, and Mrs. Qian whispered, "The old lady said it herself that this bracelet was given to her by someone sent by Xu."

"How can we prove it? Who sent it? When was it sent to her? Was there anyone else with her when it was sent to her?"

The series of questions left Jiang Zhaorong and Qian Pozi confused.

Jiang Zhiyu scoffed, "You know nothing, and you can convict my mother based on just one sentence from the old lady herself?"

"Besides, isn't the old lady ill now and can't even speak clearly? But this bracelet was given by my mother, so she can speak clearly."

"No," Mrs. Qian retorted subconsciously, "The old lady didn't say that clearly either. It's just that Mrs. Du said it, and the old lady nodded."