Chapter 69 Jiang Zhuo died. Xiangyue and Xiangxing immediately knelt on the ground, completely...
Xiangyue and Xiangxing immediately knelt down, trembling all over, and kept kowtowing.
The two of them had been instructed by Jiang Zhuoying long ago that they must not say anything at this time.
The atmosphere inside grew increasingly tense when suddenly a woman's cry rang out from outside the door—
"Is that Ah Zhuo back? Oh, my poor Ah Zhuo! Come quickly and let your aunt take a look!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the person appeared in Jiang Zhuoying's line of sight. This plump woman was Jiang Zhuoying's aunt, Jiang Lang's wife, Zhao.
Jiang Zhuoying had already figured it out.
Lady Zhao is the daughter of the Prime Minister's Chief Secretary, who is the Prime Minister's confidant. Therefore, the Imperial Concubine's desire for the Third Prince to marry Jiang Ying is likely to allow her to easily control the Prince's wife's family.
Upon seeing the girl before the bed, a ruthless glint flashed in Zhao's eyes, but it vanished in an instant.
She walked to the center of the room and greeted the old Duke, who was already awake on the couch, first.
Jiang Yun glanced at her, her tone displeased: "Get up. How did the people you sent to pick up A-Zhuo handle things? What exactly was the message they sent?"
Zhao lowered her head and said, "I don't know what's wrong with Granny Cui. She seems to be possessed. She's shouting and yelling in the courtyard, hitting and cursing anyone she sees. I've already ordered someone to tie her up. She's still unconscious."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun half-closed his eyes and glanced at her with an ambiguous expression, but suddenly and without warning, he erupted in anger: "I may be old, but I'm still alive!"
The people in the room fell silent instantly. Jiang Zhuoying mustered her courage and stepped forward to pat his shoulder and back: "Grandfather, don't be angry, your health is important."
Jiang Yun glanced at her, then turned her gaze back to Zhao Shi, her tone softening slightly: "Let bygones be bygones for now. Now that A Zhuo has returned to the manor, she is a pitiful child. You should treat her better."
Zhao's expression remained unchanged: "Yes, daughter-in-law understands."
Jiang Zhuoying's heart sank, and she couldn't help but feel a chill.
Even though she was prepared, she was still deeply moved when she heard these words.
She knew that her father and brother were missing and the future was uncertain, and her uncle was now the only support for the Duke's mansion.
Even my grandfather now has to leave himself a way out for the future.
The girl lowered her eyes, concealing the gloom within them.
"Ah Zhuo? Come with your aunt. It's been so many years since we last met. It's time for us to catch up!"
With a smile, Zhao took her wrists and helped her to her feet.
Jiang Zhuoying also wanted to know how she planned to explain the matter of Granny Cui.
The girl nodded timidly: "Okay."
After bidding farewell to her grandfather, Jiang Zhuoying followed Zhao Shi out of Ninghui Hall.
On the way to Jingya Hall, Zhao walked beside Jiang Zhuoying, the two of them shoulder to shoulder and arm to arm.
"What did you use on Granny Cui?"
The girl feigned ignorance and tilted her head: "What does Aunt mean by this?"
"I underestimated you, girl. Now that you're back in the manor, you should behave yourself and not covet what isn't yours."
Jiang Zhuoying stopped and slightly bent her knees: "Thank you for your teachings, Aunt. I will keep them in mind."
Zhao gave her a disdainful look, then turned and continued walking forward.
The girl behind her curtsied and said, "Since Auntie has important matters to attend to, then I won't see you off."
As soon as Zhao left with her large entourage of servants, Xiangyue and Xiangxing, who had been following in the distance, immediately caught up.
Once Xiangyue has something on her mind, it will almost always be written on her face.
Her face was now full of worry: "Miss, what did she say to you? Didn't we agree to go to Jingya Hall?"
It's probably for the best that she didn't go. Jingya Hall is Zhao's territory. If her young lady suffers any injustice there, no one can stand up for her.
Jiang Zhuoying patted the back of her hand lightly: "It's nothing, it's just that I'm not as insincere as before."
Xiangyue knew what Cui Huan had said to Jiang Zhuoying, and after connecting the dots, she immediately understood.
"Wouldn't that mean we'd be completely at odds with them from now on?"
When Xiangyue asked that question, she suddenly thought of Jiang Ying.
"That's not necessarily true."
Jiang Zhuoying shook her head gently and led her two maids back to her long-lost Osmanthus Courtyard.
This is the courtyard where she lived since childhood, filled with memories of the past.
Before returning to the courtyard, she thought she would be heartbroken, but when she actually stood in the courtyard, she felt more of a continuous stream of warm energy.
What she could see were warm memories that gave her strength.
The people she brought back from the estate were already cleaning and sweeping in an orderly manner. These servants had also followed her out of the Duke's mansion and were very familiar with the courtyard.
Xiangxing was making arrangements, having someone bring a chair to the courtyard so that Jiang Zhuoying could rest there until the house was cleaned and swept before going inside.
It was at this moment that Uncle Lin, the gatekeeper, sent a maid to deliver a message.
Jiang Zhuoying, who had just sat down, was slightly taken aback: "Looking for me?"
The maid nodded: "That's right, they said it's someone from the Second Prince's side who wants to see the Second Miss."
Xiangyue's eyes widened in surprise: "They actually tracked us all the way to the Duke's mansion?"
And they don't even try to avoid suspicion.
The maidservant looked troubled: "That person said that if we can't see the Second Miss, then we should come directly to see our Duke."
Jiang Zhuoying: "..."
She pinched the bridge of her nose, wondering why this person kept bothering her.
Jiang Zhuo's identity should have nothing to do with her anymore. Could it be that Qi Fan found out something?
After thinking for a moment, she beckoned to Xiangxing and gave her some instructions...
Upon hearing this, even the usually calm and composed Xiangxing couldn't help but widen his pupils slightly, asking her for confirmation: "Miss? Are we really going to do this?"
Jiang Zhuoying remained silent... After making her decision, the bittersweet throbbing in her heart became even more pronounced, as if constantly reminding her of something.
But at the moment, she didn't have the extra energy to think about it carefully.
To avoid any unforeseen complications, it's best to cut the Gordian knot quickly.
The young maid was still waiting anxiously to the side. The gatekeeper, Uncle Lin, was the one who had saved her mother's life. Before coming, Uncle Lin had specifically instructed her to hurry and not to let the master's people know.
She was timid, and after waiting for a short while, her back was already covered in a layer of cold sweat.
At this moment, she trembled as she reminded Jiang Zhuoying, who was clearly lost in thought, "Second Miss?"
Jiang Zhuoying immediately came to her senses, and the struggle and hesitation in her eyes vanished in an instant.
She nodded slightly and exchanged a glance with Xiangxing: "Go."
Xiangxing nodded solemnly, "This servant obeys."
...
Xiangxing followed the little maid and quickly returned to the main gate of the Duke's mansion.
Chu Yixin had already been invited inside by Lin Feng; this was the place where he usually worked.
Remembering her young mistress's instructions, Xiangxing entered the room and dismissed Lin Feng, then stood guard outside the door.
Chu Yixin recognized her long ago, but before she could question her, she was stunned by the news she brought.
Xiangxing entered the house and, without much small talk, simply curtsied and replied.
“This servant is the personal maid of the second young lady of the Jiang family. The young lady Jiang that His Highness the Second Prince is looking for has already passed away.”
"What?"
Chu Yixin suddenly jumped up from her chair, looking terrified.
The reason he rushed into the city overnight to the Duke's mansion was because Ah Liu had found out during the day that the wedding procession that morning came from the estate of the second young lady of the Duke's mansion.
The matter is now clear; it seems that Jiang Yatou was indeed sent by this young lady from a wealthy family.
Upon hearing this news, he originally thought that his master would fly into a rage on the spot.
Unexpectedly, the master remained silent for only a few moments before sending him to quickly bring Jiang back.
He even said that as long as Jiang Yatou could be brought back, he would grant her whatever the second young lady of the Duke's mansion wanted.
Chu Yixin had a feeling that Jiang Yatou would suffer when she returned.
Given the master's intolerant nature, and the fact that she's been completely fooled these past few days, no matter what tricks Jiang girl uses, she probably won't be able to save her life.
But after considering his master's reaction, he felt that Jiang would probably suffer some hardship if she came back, but her life should be spared.
But now they're telling him that Jiang Yatou is dead?
"It's gone? What does that mean?" Chu Yixin dared not miss even the slightest change in Xiangxing's expression.
He found it hard to believe and couldn't explain himself.
Xiangxing pursed his lips and raised his eyebrows slightly: "Since you have come here, Your Highness the Second Prince must also know about Jiang Zhuo's relationship with our household."
“Our eldest daughter is about to marry the Third Prince. Originally, she was sent by the young lady to get close to the Second Prince to see if she could find any dirt on the Third Prince.”
"Huh? Why do you want to find something to do with His Highness the Third Prince?" Chu Yixin interrupted Xiangxing, not without surprise.
“The eldest young lady and our young lady are very close friends.” She answered Chu Yixin’s question with just one sentence, and then continued.
"Jiang Zhuo has already found evidence of the Third Prince's debauchery, so he took this opportunity to return to the young lady's side, but..."
Xiangxing frowned: "Today, the Zhao family sent people to pick up our young lady and take her back to the Duke's mansion. On the way, they tried to kill her. She... to protect our young lady, fell off a cliff in the chaos."
Chu Yixin prided himself on being someone who had seen a lot in life, but even he was trembling at this moment, his eyes glazed over, unable to come to his senses for a long time.
He has already received answers to all the questions he needed to ask on this trip.
"So, Miss Jiang just allowed you to tell me this?"
Xiangxing was prepared for this. Her face was somewhat heavy: "The person is gone. Miss feels guilty. Moreover, if the father-in-law does not get a satisfactory answer this time, he may not let it go."
...
Xiangxing watched Chu Yixin's hurried departure and felt uneasy.
Although Miss's move has temporarily and swiftly resolved this mess, this Second Prince is not someone to be trifled with.
If in the future...
She shook her head again, and for now she could only hope that the second prince's interest in her young lady was just a passing fancy.
Once he returns to Luoyang and holds power, why would he be saddened by the plight of a mere maid?
Jiang Zhuoying herself also felt uneasy.
She was already lying in her room, the place she had lived in since childhood, and should have felt at ease, but at this moment she was extremely restless.
In her half-dreaming, half-awake state, not only was she feeling flustered, but her mind also kept replaying those cold and aloof eyes.
During her time at the Third Prince's villa, she could clearly feel Tuo's strong and powerful arms holding her.
Although the man remained silent, his deep eyes were filled with tenderness and heartache.
The scene before me was bizarre, surreal, and utterly absurd...
Suddenly, a violent glint appeared in his dark, narrow eyes.
The man's voice, always cold and indifferent, sounded sinister, sending chills down one's spine.
"Ah Zhuo? I've got you."
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Author's note: Did they really catch it?
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