Jiang Zhengming glared angrily, flicked his wide sleeves and said, "She's been hoping for my death, why would I call her back? I, Jiang Zhengming, will pretend I never had such a wretched daughter, out of sight, out of mind!"
Jiang Jiaojiao: "..."
Did they go too far in stirring things up?
Seeing Jiang Zhengming's intense reaction, Yang was very satisfied.
She sobbed weakly, "Husband, please calm down. This matter concerns our daughter's marriage. If she spreads rumors outside, Madam Wu is a reasonable person, but I'm afraid Old Madam Wu is biased and doesn't know how to judge people."
"This... I really didn't think that far ahead. I thought that wretched girl wanted to return to the Minister's mansion." Jiang Zhengming was taken aback.
He thought that since many years had passed and his anger had subsided, Jiang Shuyue would remember that she was once his pampered daughter and would definitely try to return to the manor.
“Father, Mother never told you this before, but my eldest sister is two-faced. She’s nice to me and Mother in front of you, but when you don’t see it, she looks down on me.”
"Father really thinks he has raised her very well. It's all Father's fault that our precious daughter has suffered."
Jiang Zhengming was heartbroken. He, a high-ranking official who had passed the imperial examination and served as the Minister of Revenue, had failed to even properly educate his own daughter. He was utterly a failure.
Madam Yang waved the handkerchief in her hand, appearing magnanimous. "Husband, please don't blame Yue'er anymore. You should go and call her back to the manor yourself. We can discuss the matter of reinstating her to the family register later. The most important thing right now is to prevent her from ruining the reputation of our Minister's Mansion."
Jiang Zhengming's face darkened; he didn't know what to do.
Asking him to call that wretched girl home? Does he even have any shame?
If they don't go, and the lady's words make sense, then if the Wu family finds out that their eldest daughter has come back to life, no matter how they explain it, it won't make a difference.
If left unattended, the Wu family is highly likely to find out and break off the engagement.
After weighing the pros and cons, Jiang Zhengming gritted his teeth and said, "I'll go and call that wretched girl back. Madam, you'll have to discipline her more. If she doesn't repent, we'll send her to the estate to be strictly watched over after our darling gets married."
Madam Yang looked at Jiang Zhengming with tender eyes, "I dare not disobey my husband's words. When Yue'er returns, I will ask the palace's discipline matron to teach her manners properly. I will certainly not let my husband down."
After Jiang Shuyue left, Madam Yang sent Granny Wang back to her parents' home.
In order to control Granny Wang and prevent her from gossiping outside, Yang even persuaded her sister-in-law to take Granny Wang's granddaughter, Dongmei, as her concubine.
Yang Mao's legs were already crippled, and taking a concubine would further hinder his marriage prospects. He only wanted Dongmei to be his concubine.
Jiang Zhengming was very satisfied. Although Yang was a concubine who was promoted to the position of wife, she was never spoiled and always put him first.
It is said that a woman's husband is her heaven, and she does that very well.
Seeing his most beloved daughter wipe away her tears, Jiang Zhengming asked, "Jiao'er, do you know which inn she's staying at? Father will take some people to call her back right away."
She lives in…
Where does she live?
Jiang Jiaojiao was dumbfounded. She didn't even know where Jiang Shuyue lived, so how could her father possibly call her back?
Seeing her daughter speechless, Madam Yang urged, "Jiao'er, don't be afraid. With your father backing you up, your older sister won't dare to bully you when she comes home. Quickly tell your father where she lives."
Yang never forgot to apply eye drops to Jiang Zhengming with every word she spoke; this was a habit she had maintained for many years.
Jiang Jiaojiao looked troubled. "Mother, I was scolded by my eldest sister today, and I forgot to ask her where she was staying."
"The Second Miss was scolded to tears by the Eldest Miss. I thought the Eldest Miss was about to come home and make a scene. The Eldest Miss is so fierce, I didn't dare to say anything!" Caiyan seized the opportunity to flatter her mistress and then trample on Jiang Shuyue.
Jiang Zhengming stood up and said, "I will send the steward out to investigate immediately."
“Father, if my eldest sister comes back on her own, please bear with it and don’t mention the time she scolded me at Qinglian Temple. I don’t want you to argue with her because of me.”
Jiang Zhengming looked at his well-behaved and sensible daughter, and his gaze softened.
"Don't worry, my dear, I know what I'm doing. I won't argue with that wretched girl at a time like this."
After Jiang Zhengming left, he summoned the steward and several capable servants to his study and gave them some instructions. The steward then left with the servants.
Following Jiang Zhengming's instructions, the steward began his investigation by checking the inns on the streets near the Minister's residence.
They searched from east to west, checking dozens of inns, but even as night fell, they couldn't find a single clue about Jiang Shuyue.
Jiang Jiaojiao and her daughter were extremely anxious at home, like ants on a hot pan.
Jiang Jiaojiao and her daughter were dumbfounded when the housekeeper returned empty-handed.
"Mother, I'm certain she'll find a way back to the Jiang family. She hasn't come yet, and I don't know where she's staying. What should I do?" Jiang Jiaojiao twisted the handkerchief in her hand into a rope.
"My dear, don't worry. I'll send Granny Qu to the Grand Commandant's residence."
After sending Granny Wang back to her parents' home, Madam Yang promoted Granny Qu to become her confidante.
Granny Qu had a close friend who worked at the Grand Commandant's office, so she was sent there to gather information.
Soon, Granny Qu returned with the information.
"How did it go? What did Old Madam Wu say when she got back?" Madam Yang asked impatiently.
Granny Qu bowed to Madam Yang, her face beaming with a fawning smile, "Congratulations, Madam, the good thing has come to pass."
"What do you mean?" Madam Yang was unsure and knew she wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully tonight without finding out.
"My old sister said that when Madam Wu returned to the mansion, she was all smiles and ate half a bowl more at dinner."
Upon hearing this, Yang felt a sense of relief.
She sent her maid to tell Jiang Jiaojiao the news, and also rewarded Granny Qu with a jade bracelet with excellent translucency.
Then she swayed her hips as she went to the study to find Jiang Zhengming.
The next day, just as the Yang mother and daughter were having a wonderful dream and happily preparing to welcome the Wu family to deliver the betrothal gifts, the matchmaker arrived.
When Yang saw that there were no people behind the matchmaker to deliver the betrothal gifts, her heart jumped into her throat again.
Before the matchmaker could even sit down, Madam Yang couldn't help but ask, "What brings you here today, Sister-in-law..."
The matchmaker chuckled twice and took out Jiang Jiaojiao's birth certificate from her bosom. "Madam, this is the second young lady's birth certificate. Please keep it safe. As for the third young master Wu's birth certificate, you don't need to return it. You'll have to bring it back eventually anyway."
Madam Yang was stunned, her face darkening. "What does Madam Wu mean? I don't understand."
"Ahem, Madam, please let me explain. Miss Jiang's birth chart is incompatible with that of Young Master Wu. Old Madam Wu is very happy to arrange a marriage between the two families. Please understand this matter."
No matter how tactfully the matchmaker spoke, Madam Yang understood that her beloved son's marriage was off the table.
Since the other party had already come to break off the engagement, there was no point in saying anything more, so Yang grabbed the betrothal letter.
He instructed Granny Qu behind him, "Since the horoscopes don't match, let's call off this marriage. Go and get the horoscope of Young Master Wu."
The matchmaker quickly stood up, "Madam, please wait..."
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