Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Jia Mansion

It took them nearly a month to finally reach the capital.

Upon entering the city, the guards checked the travel permits and allowed them to pass after confirming that everything was in order. Shang Yuji discovered that the guards were the same ones they had encountered when they left the capital, and they were still in the same place more than a year later.

I didn't see those people who used to mock Jiang Xi for the ugly burn marks on the face of the older sister she played. Maybe they weren't on duty today?

The east of the city is full of powerful and wealthy people, the west of the city is full of rich merchants, and there is a road leading directly to the emperor's court.

The carriage headed towards the east of the city. Yining owned a house, which, compared to the other residents in the east, was only a somewhat remote and cramped two-courtyard house, but fortunately, it was more than enough for them.

Most importantly, it is right next to General Tian's mansion, Tian Mu's residence.

Benefiting from his ancestors' legacy, Tian Mu inherited his title and is a staunch supporter of the Second Prince's faction, as well as someone the Eldest Princess's faction needs to pay attention to.

He had an excellent reputation in the court; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was magnanimous and of noble character. He seemed to have no flaws, making it difficult to find fault with him.

In reality, he has a penchant for married women, especially when other couples are loving and their families are happy. He forces his way in, steals another man's wife, and makes her watch her beloved suffer, until she submits to his demands to spare her husband.

He was dissatisfied with the separation of his wife and children, and insisted on making them suffer the loss of their families and lives.

Regardless of whether his wife held on by a thread or her spirit was crushed, he would find an opportunity to tell her that even if she submitted to him, he would still kill all her family members.

The moment his wife looked hopeless and almost desperate was the moment he was happiest.

It is so vicious that it is beyond human tolerance.

Therefore, they must become his new neighbors and put on a show of being a loving couple in front of him to attract his attention, which will be the moment he falls into the trap.

For Shang Yuji and Jiang Xiqu, playing the role of a loving couple was not difficult; they just needed to get along as usual. What was difficult was stopping Old Yi and Old Xiang, who knew the truth. When they learned that their neighbors were such wicked people, they wished they could climb over the wall and cut them into a thousand pieces.

After spending some time tidying up the house, Shang Yuji called everyone together for a small meeting, including Granny Cheng and Cheng Xiao. She fanned herself, gentle and refined, with a smile in her eyes, and said, "I have a plan. I wonder if you would be willing to give it a try?"

Those below responded readily, and after confirming that no one objected, she tapped the table with her fan: "In that case, let's call this house 'Jia Residence.' You all and I are from the same family, so let's settle our identities now."

Yi Sha took on the identity of Old Lady Jia, playing the role of Shang Yuji, the grandmother of Lord Jia; while Cheng Liu Po, who was also of similar age, was the grandmother of Jiang Xi Qu, the wife of Lady Zhen.

Xiang Fengyun took away his second grandfather, while Xiang Fei was his eldest son; Hui Gu was Jiangxi's aunt, while A Cuo was his cousin. Xuan Ming wanted Shang Yuji's uncle, while Qing Feng was her cousin.

The youngest, Mo Xin, and Cheng Xiao, were bundled together to become the children of Lord Jia and Lady Zhen.

Truth and falsehood are intertwined; who can distinguish between what is real and what is fake?

Shang Yuji sighed with delight, saying that she and Jiang Xi were both so young to have a son and a daughter, how wonderful!

Such a happy family, how could it not blind the twisted, dark, and vicious Lord Tian?

He was probably so envious that he wanted to tear apart this happy scene of the "Jia family" with his own hands.

The mansion was all ready. Shang Yuji spent a lot of money to make a grand show of it, with gongs and drums beating loudly, as if announcing to the world that they had moved into the east of the city.

In order to make a good impression on Lord Tian, ​​the elegant Lord Jia, accompanied by the flamboyant Lady Zhen, visited that day with gifts, saying that he hoped to establish friendly relations with his neighbors in the future and thus forge a good relationship.

They were squatting during the day Tian Mu was resting at home. Hearing that a loving couple had moved in next door, Tian Mu, who didn't have any good intentions to begin with, decided to meet them.

Upon entering the reception hall, sunlight streamed in, revealing an elegant and antique furnishing. At first glance, one might perceive a simple yet grand atmosphere, but closer inspection reveals the unique details of each object: the smooth, thick "golden bricks" on the floor, the cool breeze that caresses the steps, the exquisitely carved lattice windows, the valuable material and superb craftsmanship of the sandalwood incense burner, and the scrolls and paintings on the walls that may be genuine works by famous poets or painters…

Shang Yuji scanned the room one by one, and the amazement in her eyes was genuine. It was clear at a glance that his ancestors were wealthy. If he didn't have some ability, he really couldn't have created such an elegant reception hall.

This is the kind of wealth that can only be achieved by burning money.

Her shabby appearance, unaccustomed to the ways of the world, pleased Tian Mu, who stood up and said amiably, "Today is the day you move your residence. I should be the one sending people to congratulate you. It's my fault for letting you come first."

Shang Yuji quickly waved her hand, then felt it was inappropriate, straightened up, but twisted her hands under her sleeves, looking somewhat uneasy: "Not at all, it's because you are so busy, sir. It is our fault for bothering you with such a trivial matter. We hope you will not take offense."

"Oh, right, we gave gifts to all the neighbors, and we also prepared one for the adults... Qiushui, bring the gift up here."

Looking in the direction she was beckoning, his wife, who had been hiding halfway behind her husband, slowly walked out. She was graceful and beautiful, with eyes as clear and bright as the autumn water in her name, like the ripples of spring tide. She approached hesitantly, and her beautiful face magnified in Tian Mu's eyes. Even the red mole on her cheek was unforgettable.

His heart sank into emptiness for a moment. Tian Mu stared straight at him. As he drew closer, he seemed to smell the cool fragrance of snow, and his throat bobbed involuntarily.

Zhen Qiushui gave him a polite yet distant smile, then lowered her thick, long eyelashes to avoid eye contact.

Tian Mu felt his chest pounding, and the sound in his heart was piercingly loud.

The lady seemed to want to brush aside the long hair that fell to the left side of her neck, but then realized that the place was wrong and lowered her delicate hand that was halfway raised.

Tian Mu twitched his hand slightly, barely suppressing the urge to reach out and help him smooth it away, until he heard his wife's husband call him, and he came back to his senses.

As she took the gift from Jiang Xi, she noticed Tian Mu's absent-minded look and knew that the matter was mostly settled.

She was a top-tier beauty in both appearance and bone structure, and a married woman who fit his tastes. She had put in a lot of effort to make this honey trap work.

Not only did she enhance Jiang Xi's gentle, single-ponytail hairstyle, she also gave her a natural, innocent, and alluring light makeup look, making her appear like a lotus emerging from clear water.

While a charming and mature married woman is certainly appealing, the contrast between a married woman who retains the innocent and naive charm of a young deer and a mature yet naive innocence is incredibly alluring and makes one's heart itch with desire.

As for why she knows so much, it all comes down to the perverted friend who sent her the restricted text.

Seeing that his attention had finally returned, Shang Yuji pretended to look puzzled yet understanding, and said while presenting the gift, "My lord, this is our humble gift, and we hope you will not find it offensive... My wife is shy and quiet, and if there is anything she has done wrong, please forgive her."

She naturally offered a way out, but Tian Mu took the opportunity to climb up the social ladder, gesturing for the two to sit down: "Since you're here, my dear brother, distant relatives can't compare to close neighbors. It would be even better if our two families could get closer in the future."

...They took advantage of my kindness and seemed to genuinely want a friendly relationship between the two families. They even switched their address to "brother" and "sister-in-law" so quickly, and their attitude was so natural that it was hard to refute them.

Of course, there's no need to guess. He probably wanted to take this opportunity to learn more about her household. He said he wanted to get closer to her, but she probably just wanted to be closer to her Madam Zhen.

How can we let him have his way?

Shang Yuji moved her youngest child out of the house to wait for them to return home for a meal, so that the child wouldn't go hungry.

“Your children should be as beautiful and talented as you two. I have a few mischievous monkeys in my household, perhaps they can play together.”

"You're joking, sir. My child is the naughty one, giving our whole family a real headache."

“Since the children are waiting for you, I won’t keep you any longer, brother. I’ll see you and your wife off.”

"We won't trouble you, sir. We'll leave on our own."

"Brother, you're saying this because you don't like me, your neighbor!"

A hat was put on her head, and Shang Yuji quickly waved her hand: "No, no, no, we are too busy showing our respect to Your Excellency!"

Tian Muhua's serious expression turned into a smile: "Then let's go, we can chat with you a bit more on the way."

So it turns out that since leaving a message to communicate wasn't working, they switched to probing the person on the way to see them off. No wonder they changed their tone so easily.

Jiang Xi approached Shang Yuji gently and naturally, a soft smile on her lips. The aloofness she had shown towards Tian Mu earlier transformed into affectionate dependence when she got close to Shang Yuji.

Tian Mu clearly saw this contrast between coldness and warmth. His Adam's apple bobbed, and he naturally changed the subject: "Seeing the deep affection between my brother and sister-in-law, I'm curious about how you two met?"

"It's simple..." Shang Yuji smiled awkwardly. Because he mentioned Jiang Xi, she subconsciously turned her head to look at the person next to her. When their eyes met, his clear, rippling eyes rippled and lit up in an instant, giving the impression that he was filled with joy for the person in front of him.

Tian Mu's eyes darkened. They were truly a loving couple. His timid wife would easily be deceived by him. Threatening her husband's life and future would fill her eyes with tears, her lips tightly pressed together, letting out a few pitiful yet alluring moans as she lay beneath him, having an affair with the villain who had caused her to leave her beloved.

When she realized that her forbearance and concessions had failed to save her husband's life, when she learned that the man she had an affair with had harmed her entire family... the despair that followed was incredibly alluring.

This loving couple could never have imagined that the man who was talking to them was thinking about how to destroy their family.

A strange chill ran through her. Shang Yuji quietly rubbed her disgusting, peeling arm. After exchanging glances with him, she turned back shyly and explained with a smile, "Qiu Shui and I were actually married by our parents and a matchmaker. She married me, and as her husband, I naturally have to shoulder the storms for her and be with her... be with her."

That nausea I just felt, he's definitely plotting something bad!

Don't be fooled by the fact that he stood beside her seeing people off, maintained a normal distance from Jiang Xi, and communicated with her directly without avoiding her or speaking to Jiang Xi alone. He kept a proper distance and sense of propriety, but the malice he exuded was almost tangible. This wicked devil has countless evil deeds!

Finally leaving the Tian residence, Madam Zhen, who was still somewhat reserved inside, immediately snuggled up to her husband, unwilling to wait even a quarter of an hour. A few strands of hair fell from the side of her face. After the two leaned on each other, Jia Changtian said something, and they both laughed. Madam Zhen laughed so hard that she trembled with joy. When she saw Jia Changtian's hair sticking to her face, Madam Zhen gently brushed it away. The way the two interacted made everyone who saw them say that they were a loving couple.

Tian Mu lowered his eyes, turned the dark green thumb ring on his finger, and stood upright and dignified under the gate of the Tian residence.

I just hope that Mrs. Zhen won't disappoint him.

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Author's Note: I can't participate in the giveaway again within 30 days [crying emoji]. I have to wait 30 days, so the giveaway I planned for chapter 100 is canceled [crying emoji][crying emoji]