Chapter 677 Things Aren't That Simple

Zhang Yumo didn't know how to explain to Jiang Jinyan, so she said, "I'm going back first."

Jiang Jinyan pulled her back and softened his voice: "Can you tell me what happened? Or if there's something I did wrong, you can just say it. We're husband and wife, Xiao Chu's closest person, and I'm your closest person too. I know the Fourth Princess is your cousin, and you might be unhappy, which is why you went to her to confide in her."

Zhang Yumo was also restraining herself, "I didn't go to her to confide in her. I didn't know she instigated Shu Xue to harm you. I'm sorry, I apologize to you on behalf of my cousin."

Jiang Jinyan felt extremely uncomfortable; she was so unfamiliar with him.

She added, "I know I am Xiao Chu's mother, and I also hope you remember that you are Xiao Chu's father."

Jiang Jinyan paused for a moment before realizing what he meant. "You're bothered by Bai Yuhan, but you've misunderstood my relationship with her. There's nothing between us."

Zhang Yumo said directly, "Bai Yuhan likes you, doesn't she?"

Jiang Jinyan was stunned again, and wanted to explain that it wasn't true.

“I don’t mind whether she likes you or you like her,” Zhang Yumo said. “I’m going back now. Xiao Chu has been taken away by the Empress. When you and Mother come back, please bring her back!”

After Zhang Yumo finished speaking, she left the palace without lingering. The Fourth Princess Consort was using her to harm Jiang Jinyan, but Jiang Jinyan already knew but didn't tell her. Madam Jiang was originally going to enter the palace with her, but she found an excuse to appear in front of everyone with Bai Yuhan.

This means they already knew someone wanted to use Bai Yuhan against the Jiang family, and Jiang Jinyan was wary of her, which is why he didn't tell her!

Jiang Jinyan now realized that Zhang Yumo hadn't lost her memory, but rather that she had changed. She no longer liked him. She had once said that she would never change, and that even if he didn't like her, she would always like him.

Xiao Yu walked to Jiang Jinyan's side, "What's wrong, sister-in-law?"

Jiang Jinyan shook his head. "I don't know."

"What are you standing here for? Go after them!" Xiao Yu said. "Lord Jiang is busy outside every day. You must have neglected your wife. And what about Miss Bai? Did you tell your wife beforehand?"

"No." He caught up with her, not knowing what to say. "You know that Bai Yuhan's past identity was special. When it's uncertain who is manipulating things behind the scenes, the fewer people who know, the better."

"When she saw me with Bai Yuhan, she didn't choose to believe me at first, but instead thought that I liked Bai Yuhan." Jiang Jinyan was even a little disappointed that she didn't trust him.

Xiao Yu said in a deep voice, "Miss Bai may have feelings for you. Your sister-in-law sensed it, which is why she doesn't believe you. There's a misunderstanding between you. Go and explain it to her properly!"

"You don't understand. No matter what Bai Yuhan or anyone else has feelings for me, I don't have those feelings. Why did she become like this?" Jiang Jinyan couldn't understand why she wanted to break up.

“Perhaps she feels insecure. Think about it, with your current status and position, how many women would flock to you to marry into the Jiang family? Matchmakers in Shengjing City would practically break down your gates to find you a concubine. But what about your sister-in-law? She has no parents, and she doesn’t even get along with the Zhang family. Seeing you with Miss Bai, it’s normal for her to have her own thoughts. I guess your sister-in-law is jealous.” Xiao Yu analyzed according to common sense.

Jiang Jinyan frowned and shook his head. "I don't think that's the reason." Zhang Yumo wanted to sleep in a separate room from him and even wanted to leave the Jiang family. She thought they shouldn't have gotten married in the first place. Something must have happened to her.

Jiang Jinyan then realized what was happening and said, "Go tell the Empress that I'm going back now."

Before Xiao Yu could say anything more, Jiang Jinyan left the palace.

At this moment, Xiao Yu also fell into deep thought. The people who helped the Su family wanted to deal with the Jiang family, but in fact, they wanted to bring down the Empress! He firmly believed that the person behind it must be plotting for greater benefits, not just to ruin the Jiang family's reputation.

He had a feeling that things weren't that simple.

Xiao Yu went to the palace and met Jiang Fenghua, where he told her about Jiang Jinyan and Zhang Yumo leaving the palace.

Jiang Fenghua had also forgotten about Xiao Yu. She politely said, "Thank you, Lord Xiao."

Xiao Yu was stunned, and quickly said, "This humble official did nothing."

"It was Jiang Jinyan who asked you to go to Jiangzhou to find the Bai family, wasn't it?" Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice.

"Yes, Lord Jiang believes that since the matter originated from the Bai family, he has asked me to explain it clearly. Miss Bai's troubles have been resolved, and she is now free. Her life has returned to normal, so Your Majesty need not worry."

Jiang Fenghua smiled and said, "Actually, Bai Yuhan could have gone back to Jiangzhou directly, but she came back to Shengjing with us instead, saying that she came to Shengjing to find her family. I should have realized that she actually had her heart set on Jiang Jinyan."

Xiao Yu paused, "Your Majesty also noticed that Miss Bai likes Brother Jin Yan?"

“Even Zhang Yumo noticed it, how could I not?” Jiang Fenghua also fell into deep thought. “I have something I would like to ask Lord Xiao.”

"Your Majesty, please speak."

Jiang Fenghua's eyes flashed with doubt. "You've been to Jiangzhou and met the Bai family. Based on your intuition, the Bai family is just a merchant family. The Bai family knew that their daughter had entered the palace as a concubine, and they built a temple for her out of joy. Is that strange?"

Xiao Yu said, "It's not strange, but it is strange nonetheless. Building temples is more common after death."

Merchants were not of high status, and it was not uncommon for a family to build a temple to worship a concubine. However, not just anyone could build a temple. If the concubine had done something great and the emperor ordered the temple to be built, it would be more convincing. If the emperor ordered the temple to be built, then there was nothing to say.

I also asked the Bai family, and they only said that it was modeled after historical figures. There was a precedent of concubines erecting steles and building temples. They didn't think too much about it and assumed that as long as they paid money, they could build it.

The Bai family caused quite a stir in Jiangzhou this time. I went to see the prefect of Jiangzhou to explain the situation, and only then did the prefect step in to refute the rumors, saying that no daughter of the Bai family had entered the palace to become a concubine. He explained that the Bai family built the temple to attract people to buy their products, simply for business purposes, and that's how the matter was resolved.

“If the Bai family really has a daughter who has entered the palace and become a concubine, how could they dare to build a temple without fear of implicating their daughter? Even if the Bai family likes to curry favor with the powerful, the Bai clan has been able to build such a large business in Jiangzhou. I think the Bai family is not an ordinary family!” Jiang Fenghua always felt that the Bai family was too high-profile.

Xiao Yu had actually considered that the Bai family might be held accountable for their actions. "This time, it was the Emperor's order to downplay the matter and resolve it by demolishing the temple. This matter was considered resolved, and only the Jiangzhou Prefect could handle it. In other words, the Jiangzhou Prefect was doing the Bai family a favor in private."

"When I arrived in Jiangzhou, I didn't dare reveal my identity. The Bai family is considered wealthy in Jiangzhou; at most, I was ridiculed by my peers, but otherwise, I wasn't affected."

After listening to his explanation, Jiang Fenghua said, "Perhaps I'm overthinking it. When Bai Yuhan entered the palace, she was brought in by the Empress Dowager, so we couldn't find any flaws in the Bai family's record."