Chapter 5 The Best Husband Candidate

Wang Yuru was also taken aback.

This is just a simple marriage, how did it get involved in a struggle for the throne?

Jiang Zhi gently advised, "Father, please don't blame Aunt Ru. She doesn't come from a prominent family and doesn't know the intricate connections and intricacies among the powerful and wealthy. It's normal that she couldn't imagine such a profound connection."

"When Mother was alive, she managed the entire Jiang family estate perfectly for Father without ever making a mistake. How could she be so focused on immediate gains and so eager for quick success? Aunt Ru should really learn more about the art of managing a household, otherwise it might even jeopardize Father's career."

Jiang Zhengting nodded.

Jiang Zhi was right about that.

His first wife, Madam Feng, was the legitimate daughter of a prominent family. The Feng family had a deep-rooted background and enjoyed extremely high prestige in the capital. From a young age, Madam Feng learned various etiquette and household management skills, which Wang Yuru, who was a latecomer to the profession, could not match.

Wang Yuru was so angry that she couldn't catch her breath and almost shredded the handkerchief in her hand.

Her father was just a minor official in the government office. She met Feng Lanzhen by chance and used her as a stepping stone to climb up the social ladder and get into the Jiang family.

The two things she hated most in her life were people bringing up her background and comparing her to that despicable woman.

Even though she's been dead for so long, her ghost is still haunting her; it's enough to make her faint with anger.

But then Jiang Zhi sighed, "By the way, why didn't Aunt Ru accompany Grandmother when she went up the mountain yesterday? Grandmother suffers from heart palpitations. Fortunately, she wasn't disturbed by the Imperial Guards. Otherwise, if word got out, outsiders would think that Grandmother and Aunt Ru didn't get along, and who knows what they would say about Father."

Wang Yuru had cursed Jiang Zhi a thousand times in her heart, and repeatedly explained, "Master, it's because my mother-in-law prefers quiet and doesn't want anyone to accompany her. It's not that I intentionally neglected her."

"Alright," Jiang Zhengting was already quite dissatisfied with Wang Yuru at this point. "If Mother really preferred quiet, why would she have agreed to let Zhi'er accompany her later?"

"These next two days, you should visit your mother more often to pay your respects and serve her. You should also take the opportunity to ask her for advice on managing the household."

Jiang Zhi felt relieved to see Wang Yuru's expression, which looked like she had swallowed a fly.

She knows her father too well.

He valued his official career and reputation above all else.

As long as Wang Yuru manages the household well and raises his children properly, Jiang Zhengting is happy to give her some affection.

However, if she doesn't know when to advance and retreat, and affects the Jiang family or even his own official career, then Jiang Zhengting will certainly not let her off easily.

Wang Yuru understood the reasoning behind it. She dug her nails into her palms and forced a smile, saying, "Yes, this is my duty as a daughter-in-law. I would have done it even if my father-in-law hadn't said anything."

Jiang Yunqian had originally just been drinking tea and watching Jiang Zhi make a fool of herself, but she didn't expect the fire to spread to her own mother. She couldn't help but say sarcastically, "Then, sister, could you tell me how you got that injury on your neck? Being broken into and searched in the middle of the night, and then getting injured... could it be that you were already... well, you know... by the Imperial Guards last night?"

Before Jiang Yunqian could finish speaking, Jiang Zhi stood up and stepped forward, slapping her across the face before anyone could react. The action was swift and decisive.

"Yun'er!" Wang Yuru exclaimed in surprise.

Jiang Yunqian covered her face, stunned. "You, you dare to hit me in front of Father?"

Jiang Zhi ignored her and turned to Jiang Zhengting, saying, "Father, don't be angry. I have already fulfilled my duty as the eldest sister and disciplined my younger sister on your behalf."

"Teach her a lesson on my behalf?" Jiang Zhengting had felt from the beginning that his daughter seemed different from before.

“That’s right. The wound on my daughter’s neck was from a tree branch when she went up the mountain yesterday. But my sister is so outspoken. She dared to make fun of the Imperial Guards. If the Imperial Guards’ spies hear this, wouldn’t it bring trouble to the Jiang family?”

Jiang Zhi then looked at Jiang Yunqian and said, "Moreover, the one who personally led the search last night was Lu Yuan, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Do you think he abused his power for personal gain and did something to me because he was lustful?"

Jiang Yunqian was speechless and dared not answer when she was asked that question.

How could she not know who the Embroidered Uniform Guards were?

I'd rather see the King of Hell than see someone in fine clothes.

As the commander, Lu Yuan wielded immense power, able to easily decide the fate of an individual or even an entire family with a single word.

If he finds out I'm saying these things behind his back...

Jiang Yunqian was immediately flustered.

Wang Yuru quickly retorted, "Your sister is young and speaks without thinking. It's just a joke between sisters, don't take it seriously."

Jiang Zhengting sneered, "Look how much you've spoiled Yun'er! It's one thing at home, but if she goes out and talks so recklessly, wouldn't she be bringing trouble to the Jiang family? Make her stay in her room and reflect on her mistakes for the next few days!"

"Yes, sir, I will definitely teach her a good lesson and she will never be like this again." Wang Yuru's attempt to steal a chicken backfired, and she twisted the handkerchief into a tight knot, wanting nothing more than to tear Jiang Zhi's mouth apart.

*

As Jiang Zhi stepped out of the front yard, her once gentle gaze instantly turned cold.

Although I managed to buy some time by using the matter of the Crown Prince as an excuse, it is ultimately not a long-term solution.

The prince will wake up soon, and the assassins will be brought to justice. Then she will have no excuse to shirk her responsibility and will have to find a way to solve the problem once and for all.

She already had a plan in mind, and said to Qingxing, "Let's go see how ill that person at Zhizhixuan is."

"Is Miss going to deliver silver again?" Qingxing asked.

The man at Zhizhixuan was Shen Ci'an, the son of a distant cousin of the master. He was a poor scholar who had fallen on hard times and was living under the roof of others.

The silver that the young lady had sent him out of pity was all returned untouched by him.

“No, I have something to discuss with him this time.” Jiang Zhi smiled slightly.

In his previous life, he had little interaction with this distant cousin.

After sending the items twice and having them returned, Jiang Zhi was so angry that she scolded him for being a hypocrite and ignored him completely.

Not long after, I heard that he had fallen seriously ill and had been banished to a country estate in the suburbs by his father, who considered him unlucky.

It wasn't until Jiang Zhi entered the Earl Zhongqin's mansion and overheard people talking that she learned that Shen Ci'an had passed the imperial examination with top honors, entered the Hanlin Academy, and become a favorite of the emperor. Many families had already asked matchmakers to arrange marriages for him.

Upon learning that she was imprisoned, Shen Ci'an even sent her money through someone as a way of repaying her for the help she had given him at the Jiang family mansion.

Unfortunately, she was in the backyard, so Shen Ci'an couldn't get involved and couldn't help at all.

Now that she has been given a second chance at life, she naturally wants to seize this opportunity.

The Earl of Zhongqin's mansion was a den of dragons and tigers, and the Marquis of Wuyi's mansion, where Xie Qi lived, was no paradise either.

She didn't want to marry into a wealthy or powerful family, nor did she expect a good husband; she just wanted a way out and a place to stay.

Shen Ci'an is an orphan with a clean and simple background. He is also diligent and ambitious. Although he is a bit aloof, he is also proud. If you marry him in the future, he will not do anything despicable.

Even without feelings, as the legitimate daughter of the Minister's family, Shen Ci'an dared not neglect her.

He could be considered the best husband candidate.