Chapter 81: Second Master's

Pei Siyan didn't know either.

Wang speculated, "Could it be because the Emperor named her Madam Xi?"

"But everyone knows that Jiang Zhaoyue is selfish, greedy, stupid and vicious. Even if she is Madam Xi, the ladies in the Shangshu Mansion and the Chengguo Mansion will not care, right?" Those ladies all have imperial edicts, and Pei Siyan felt that they looked down on the little fifth-rank Madam Xi.

Wang said, "What if Jiang Zhaoyue is not selfish, greedy, stupid and vicious now?"

Pei Siyan was puzzled: "What does mother mean?"

"Send someone to find out if anything has happened at banquets in Beijing recently." The noble ladies in Beijing have nothing better to do than to hold banquets.

First, to kill time, second, to find a husband, and third, to make connections.

Wang was in a good mood because her eldest son Pei Jingxiao's legs had recovered, and she wanted to walk around and have some fun at the banquet.

But her second son Pei Jingzhou will be moving out of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion next month, and the more she thinks about it, the more uncomfortable she feels.

That's why I haven't left the house these days and don't know what has happened recently.

"Yes." Pei Siyan immediately sent Xiaotao to take people to inquire.

Wang continued to look through the invitations on the table.

Pei Siyan stood beside him

After a long time, Xiaotao came back panting.

"How is it?" Pei Siyan asked hurriedly.

"Madam, Miss, we have found out." Xiao Tao said.

"Hurry up and tell me." Pei Siyan urged.

"Something happened in the Chengning Marquis' Mansion." Xiao Tao said.

Wang and Pei Siyan were shocked: "When did this happen?"

"About five days ago, Jiang Junyi, the son of the Chengning Marquisate, solicited a prostitute and refused to pay."

Wang frowned: "What bad luck."

Pei Siyan asked in confusion: "What does this have to do with Jiang Zhaoyue?"

Wang looked at Xiaotao and said, "Go on."

Xiao Tao continued, "At that time, Prince Jiang said that his banknotes were stolen, and the brothel madam thought he was trying to evade the debt and wanted to arrest him. He was with his friends at the brothel to eat and drink, so he couldn't bear such a loss of face.

"He suddenly became furious, and under the influence of alcohol, he revealed his identity in public.

“He said that the entire Chengning Marquis Mansion would belong to him alone from now on.

“It is said that although his mother was the second wife of the Chengning Marquis’s mansion and had no dowry, his mother was a capable person and had a stepdaughter, the second wife of the Zhenguo Duke’s mansion.

"He said his mother deliberately praised Second Grandma to death, raising her to have an empty brain, to be selfish and vicious, and to make everyone hate her.

"He also said that in the future, the Second Mistress would commit suicide in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

"His younger sister, Miss Jiang, married into the Zhenguo Mansion again, so he is the true brother-in-law of Pei Jingzhou, the second son of the Zhenguo Mansion.

"Not only can he take advantage of Second Lady's large dowry through his sister, but he can also reap the benefits of the Zhenguogong Mansion."

"How can this be!" Wang slammed the table in anger, causing the tea to spill out.

Xiaotao shivered with fear.

"Mother, please don't be angry." Pei Siyan quickly comforted Wang and turned to Xiao Tao, saying, "Go on."

Xiao Tao had no choice but to continue, "He said a lot, and his friends were afraid that something big would happen, so they quickly paid the money and took him back home.

“But the news still spread throughout the capital.

“Everyone cursed the Chengning Marquisate behind their backs and sympathized with the Second Mistress.

"Three days ago, when the eldest princess held a summer banquet, several noble ladies gathered together and talked about this matter. Most of them felt sorry for the second wife.

"Ms. Qian Liu, from the family of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, said that the Second Mistress was vicious and selfish.

"Princess Duojia happened to be there. When she heard this, she stepped forward and slapped Miss Qian Liu in the face without a word. In front of everyone, she said that Second Madam had saved many women and children who had been abducted and trafficked at Jingshui Manor, and her merits were immeasurable. Then she asked the other women present what they had done.

"She also said that Second Grandma was her savior. If she hears anyone dare to fabricate rumors about Second Grandma's words and deeds again, she will never forgive them."

Wang suddenly lost consciousness: "Princess Duojia knew to protect Jingzhou when she was not speaking clearly. I didn't expect that after so many years..."

"Mother, what did you say?" Pei Siyan didn't hear clearly.

"Nothing." Wang suddenly woke up and quickly regained her composure before asking, "Just because of Princess Duojia, will everyone's impression of the Jiang family change?"

"And the wife and daughter of Lord Qin, the Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion." Xiao Tao said.

"Wang and Qin You?" asked Wang.

Xiao Tao nodded: "Mrs. Wang and Miss Qin San took the opportunity to talk about the many good things Second Grandma did. They also said that Second Grandma's biological mother died young, and her grandparents also died young. Second Grandma did not receive a good education and her temperament is a bit natural.

“But my heart was good, and I talked about the many good things Second Grandma did.

"He also said that everyone in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion likes the Second Madam very much."

"Bah, who likes her!" Pei Siyan asked unhappily, "Wang and Qin You are so unfounded, aren't they afraid of offending the wife of the Marquis of Chengning?"

Wang continued, "The Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion, Qin Huaishan, is deeply concerned about the Great Jin Dynasty. He has always been known for his courage to speak out and act. The same is true for Wang, Qin Lu, and Qin You. They are not afraid of the Chengning Marquisate at all, and when they speak, most people will believe them."

Pei Siyan became unhappy when she heard this.

"And..." Xiaotao's voice became softer.

"Who else?" Pei Siyan asked unhappily.

"And our prince's wife." Xiao Tao said with her head down.

"Zhang Siyin? Why does she go to the Princess's Mansion instead of serving her eldest brother well?" Pei Siyan couldn't help but raise her voice.

"I asked her to go." Wang frowned and said, "The eldest princess invited me, so I couldn't refuse. I asked her to go on my behalf. I didn't expect that she would..."

"Why didn't she tell you what happened there after she came back? Mother, does she still regard you as her mother-in-law?" Pei Siyan was dissatisfied.

Wang was also a little unhappy when she heard this.

Xiao Tao whispered, "The Crown Prince's wife strongly confirmed what Madam Wang and Miss Qin San said, saying that Second Madam taught Fifth Master to recite poems, practiced archery with Fifth Miss, and learned housework with Fourth Miss... She also praised Second Madam for her kind nature, generous actions, and straightforwardness—"

"Enough! Zhang Siyin is the most hypocritical woman!" Pei Siyan said.

Xiaotao was frightened again and didn't dare to speak anymore.

"Jiang Junyi is courting death, Wu and Jiang Wanxue are incompetent, Princess Duojia is protecting them, Wang and Qin You are telling the truth, and Zhang Siyin is clearing her name... Oh, as long as Jiang doesn't do evil next, she will soon become a qualified Madam Xi." Wang said somewhat unwillingly, "Your second brother really has good intentions."

"Second brother?" Pei Siyan was surprised: "Did second brother make these?"

"How could there be such a coincidence?" Wang asked back.

Pei Siyan said angrily: "Why has Second Brother become like this now?"

"He really looks like..." Wang didn't say anything else, feeling angry.

Jiang Zhaoyue also found out some things and went to Qilinyuan to thank Zhang Siyin. However, Zhang Siyin said, "If you want to thank someone, you should thank my second brother."

"Did the Second Master do it?" Jiang Zhaoyue asked in shock.