Chapter 62 He hanged himself.

When Jiang Jiarong heard Jiang Yu say that she had already interrogated Aunt Zhao, although his head was still lowered and no one could see his expression, Jiang Yu could feel the tension in his muscles.

His psychological defenses began to crumble.

“Your servant goes to Huichuntang to get medicine every month. The prescription is different each time, but there is always one ingredient in it—Aconitum carmichaelii.”

Jiang Jiarong's hands, gripping the ground, were bulging with veins.

Jiang Yu continued in a calm but confident voice, "Aunt Zhao and Lan Mudan also go to the pharmacy to buy medicine every month. Among the medicines they buy are aconite and rhinoceros horn. These three medicines together are a slow-acting poison. And Jiang Jiamu was poisoned by this kind of poison."

After listening, Jiang Jiarong remained silent for a while, staring intently at Jiang Yu, and said, "This doesn't prove anything; it's just a coincidence."

Jiang Yu looked down at him and said, "Yes, as long as you don't admit it, you can say it's a coincidence. But someone has already confessed."

"Impossible." Jiang Jiarong said confidently.

"You believe that Aunt Zhao and Lan Mudan won't confess or betray you, right?" Jiang Yu said with a hint of sarcasm, "But your servant Changfu will betray you!"

Seeing that Jiang Yu lied without even blinking, the Duke of Chu turned to look at her, then picked up his cup and drank his tea. Jiang Jiarong, meanwhile, slumped to the ground.

His psychological defenses have collapsed.

“Tell me when you found out you weren’t the legitimate son but an illegitimate one,” Jiang Yu said.

Jiang Jiarong stared at her with hatred in her eyes, remaining silent. Jiang Yu curled her lips slightly and said, "You're not thinking of giving up entirely, believing that if you don't say anything, I can't do anything to you, are you?"

Jiang Jiarong still glared at her resentfully without saying a word. Jiang Yu curled her lips again, "Anyway, we've already confirmed that you've been switched with Jiang Jiamu. If you don't cooperate, we can still do whatever we want. If you cooperate, things might be a little easier for you in the future."

This time, Jiang Jiarong looked at the Duke of Chu and said, "Grandfather, I was just born when I was switched, and I don't know anything about it."

The Duke of Chu's hand trembled slightly as he held the cup. To speculate was one thing, to confirm it from the person involved was quite another. The exchange of legitimate and illegitimate sons, the poisoning of the legitimate son, and the incompetence of the illegitimate son—this generation of the Duke of Chu's family had been utterly ruined.

As the head of the family, how could he not be heartbroken?

“Grandfather.” Jiang Yu reached out and grasped the Duke of Chu’s wrist, looking at him with a calm and firm gaze.

The Duke of Chu put down his teacup and asked, "How old were you when you learned you weren't the eldest son of the main heir?"

“Six...six years old,” Jiang Jiarong said.

"No wonder," said the Duke of Chu. "When I began teaching you, you were six years old. What did Aunt Zhao or someone else say to you then?"

Jiang Jiarong shook her head. "Aunt Zhao only told me that I was actually a son born out of wedlock, and that I should please you so that I could inherit the Duke of Chu's mansion in the future. I was very scared at the time, scared that you would find out, scared that I would become a son born out of wedlock again."

So, when you were teaching me, I couldn't concentrate, and I didn't dare appear in front of you, so I deliberately made you dislike me, so I wouldn't have to appear in front of you.

The Duke of Chu closed his eyes again and asked, "How much were you involved in Jiang Chengye's purchase of the ships?"

Jiang Jiarong knew he had no choice but to speak, so he said, "Lan Mudan asked me to bring my father to Qimeng Tower. At the time, I didn't know she was plotting against him; I only found out later when we were dividing the money. But I was already involved, so I had no choice but to continue and cooperate with them. And..."

Jiang Jiarong said with a disappointed and unwilling tone, "They all know I'm not the legitimate son. If I don't cooperate with them, they will expose this matter, and I... I will have nothing left."

"So, for this you went so far as to frame your own father, putting the lives of your entire clan in danger? Cough cough cough..."

The Duke of Chu coughed again, his body hunched over, his eyes filled with self-reproach and hatred. He hated himself, and he hated the person who had manipulated their entire Duke of Chu's mansion.

"What can I do? What can I do?" Jiang Jiarong knelt on the ground and cried. He looked at the Duke of Chu and cried, "I also want to be born as the legitimate son. I don't want to be switched. I don't want this kind of life."

"Cough cough cough..." The Duke of Chu coughed violently again. Jiang Yu walked behind him and gently patted his back, looking at Jiang Jiarong and saying:

“You’re right. The cause of this matter wasn’t you. You did nothing wrong in the matter of the exchange between the legitimate and illegitimate children. But has the Duke of Chu’s mansion ever mistreated you? When you plotted against your father, did you ever consider what would happen to him and the Duke of Chu’s mansion if things were exposed?”

Jiang Jiarong kept his head down and didn't say anything, but Jiang Yu could tell that he didn't think he had done anything wrong. On the contrary, he felt that he was the one who was most wronged.

This person is beyond saving, and Jiang Yu doesn't want to say anything more to him.

After a while, the Duke of Chu recovered somewhat and looked at Jiang Jiarong, asking, "Who is Lan Mudan's master?"

Jiang Jiarong shook her head. "I don't know. I only found out what she did after my father bought the boat."

At this moment, Jiang Yu suddenly asked, "What is the relationship between Blue Peony and the King of Lingnan?"

Jiang Jiarong looked confused, but it didn't seem like she was faking it. Jiang Yu was somewhat disappointed, but it was normal that Jiang Jiarong didn't know.

The Duke of Chu was also somewhat disappointed. He glanced at Jiang Jiarong again, his eyes filled with indescribable pain and complexity. He stood up and said to Jiang Yu, "Let's go."

Jiang Yu got up, walked to his side, took his arm, and the two walked out.

“Grandfather!” Jiang Jiarong’s voice came from behind. “Grandson knows he was wrong. Grandson will definitely listen to you from now on and stay at home. I won’t argue with my younger sister either. I will stay at home.”

The Duke of Chu paused for a moment, then continued walking out.

Jiang Jiarong was still crying behind him, "Grandfather, I really know I was wrong, please forgive me, I really know I was wrong. Please forgive me, sob sob sob..."

This time his voice was incredibly sincere, but the Duke of Chu did not falter for a moment. Once outside the dungeon, he told Jiang Yu, "He cannot be kept."

As he uttered these words, the Duke of Chu's back bent even more. Though his son was disappointing, he was still his own grandson. He had even personally tutored him for a period when he was young; it would be a lie to say he wasn't heartbroken.

"Am I a failure?" Duke of Chu asked Jiang Yu.

"Success or failure cannot be judged by a single event." Jiang Yu said this very sincerely.

The Duke of Chu had his flaws, but he was once a powerful figure in the court, ensuring the Chu state's survival to this day. He wasn't particularly successful, but he wasn't a failure either.

Of course, what constitutes success and what constitutes failure is a matter of opinion.

Supported by Jiang Yu, Duke Chu walked slowly forward. Jiang Yu wanted to say a few words of advice, but the Duke Chu's mansion was going through a turbulent time with almost nothing good happening, so she simply kept quiet.

At this moment, Steward Hu came running over. He bowed hurriedly and said, "Lord Duke, Concubine Zhao has hanged herself."

The Duke of Chu and Jiang Yu were both stunned, but only for a moment. The Duke of Chu said he understood and continued walking forward, with Jiang Yu supporting him all the way to the study.

"It was my carelessness," Jiang Yu said.

Aunt Zhao should have been interrogated immediately.

The Duke of Chu sat on the couch, catching his breath slightly, and said, "It's not your fault. There have been too many things happening these past two days. I didn't expect her to commit suicide, after all, her own son is still alive."

Jiang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps, she committed suicide to protect Jiang Jiarong."

“It’s possible,” said the Duke of Chu, “but even if she dies, she can’t save Jiang Jiarong.”

At this point, a fierce look appeared on his face. "Actually, if Jiang Chengye were dead, this matter would be resolved once and for all. But he is still useful, so he cannot die now."

The Duke of Chu was utterly disappointed and heartbroken with that son.

Jiang Yu couldn't think of any other use for Jiang Chengye. But she knew that when the Duke of Chu said those words, he must have been extremely distressed.

However, more concrete evidence is needed regarding the switch of children. Just as she was about to speak, the Duke of Chu said, "Interrogate all those around Consort Zhao; do not let a single one go."

Upon hearing this, Steward Hu quickly replied, "Yes, this servant will take care of it right away."

Steward Hu left quickly, and the Duke of Chu sighed again, "It is my incompetence that I failed to manage the household well."

Jiang Yu sighed inwardly. A large family like the Duke of Chu's mansion couldn't be supported by just one person; it required the cooperation of many. For example, a shrewd and strict matriarch, and outstanding talents and strategists within the family.

But now it seems that only the Duke of Chu is holding up the Chu State Mansion. No matter how capable he is, he cannot control the overall situation.

However, now is not the time to talk about this, she changed the subject and said, "I think Yun Kang is a smart and kind child."

The Duke of Chu's expression softened somewhat, but he said, "He's too young."

The current Chu State Duke's Mansion needs an heir who can shoulder heavy responsibilities. The Chu State Duke looked at Jiang Yu with relief and said, "It's good that you're back."

Jiang Yu smiled and said, "When do you plan to spread the word about the switch of identities between the eldest and second brothers?"

They want to use this incident to cover up the series of actions taken by the Duke of Chu's mansion in the past few days.