Chapter 265 The Marquis of Yongning's Mansion Recognizes the True Identity
Madam Min Qiao suddenly woke up, and before she could even sit up, she called out to the outside, "Someone come here! What's wrong?"
Ashuang hurried in, lifting the bed curtains and helping Madam Min Qiao to sit up, saying in a heavy tone, "Madam, Ayi is dead."
Madam Min felt a sudden tightness in her heart. "How could he suddenly die? Weren't there people watching over him?"
As A Shuang helped Min Qiao get up and dress, she replied, "The little maid who delivered the message said that the old woman in charge of taking A Yi to the estate got up early to call people, preparing to leave the mansion before dawn and get out of the city as soon as the city gates open."
"But after calling for a long time outside the door, there was no response. When we went into the woodshed, we found that Ayi had strangled herself with her belt."
"Where are the guards? Didn't they notice anything unusual?" Madam Min frowned slightly. She didn't believe Ayi would commit suicide.
Ah Shuang shook her head. "The guards said that she only went to the toilet in the middle of the journey and didn't leave for long. When she came back, she looked in through the window and didn't find anything unusual."
In other words, it appears that Ayi's death was entirely a suicide.
Min Qiao frowned slightly. This style of doing things reminded her of Ajiu from before. She always did things flawlessly, leaving no room for error.
However, Ah Jiu would never easily take someone's life.
This decisive and ruthless style of action seems more like the work of a real person.
A-Shuang hesitated before asking, "Madam, should we have someone investigate A-Yi's cause of death?"
It is clear that Ashuang also had some doubts about Ayi's death.
Madam Min sighed and shook her head, saying, "She couldn't think straight, so let her die. Give her a proper burial. You handle this personally."
"Yes," A Shuang replied respectfully.
Because of Madam Min's indifferent attitude, Ayi's death did not cause much of a stir in the mansion.
Wei Jia simply cried over Ayi's body and then never mentioned Ayi again.
Ah Jiu actually got into a fight.
Well, he really is no match for A-Jiu. However, given Zhen Huan's identity, A-Jiu doesn't dare to use her full strength.
Neither of them said anything; they just silently fought. To outsiders, it looked like they had just gotten into a fight for no reason.
Later, Madam Min Qiao spoke to Wei Jia alone and asked her if she hated Huan Zhen. Wei Jia said she didn't, because compared to Huan Zhen, A Yi was utterly worthless. Moreover, A Yi harbored resentment towards the Grand Madam and deserved to die.
Min Qiao didn't know if Wei Jia was being too rational or too concerned about her. In any case, Wei Jia's reaction to Ayi's death wasn't as intense as everyone had imagined. On the contrary, she was remarkably calm and indifferent.
Because of this incident, Wei Jia's standing in everyone's eyes dropped significantly once again.
Many people even whispered behind her back, saying that Wei Jia was too heartless. A Yi protected her so much and was so loyal to her, but Wei Jia didn't care about A Yi's death at all.
Some people even said that Wei Jia's crying in front of Ayi's body was all an act, calling her hypocritical.
Faced with these slanders, Wei Jia did not offer any explanation.
It was Min Qiao who stepped forward and ordered everyone to stop making unfounded criticisms, making it clear that Wei Jia was still valued by her. Only then did the voices defaming Wei Jia gradually subside.
Soon, the Crown Princess was buried, and it was indeed time to return to the Yongning Marquis's residence.
On the day he was indeed recognized and taken back, everyone from the Yongning Marquis's residence came.
The Marquis of Yongning, his wife, Madam Yu, and several of the Marquis of Yongning's sons and daughters-in-law... almost all the masters of the Marquis of Yongning's mansion came.
All this was to welcome Zhen Huan back to the mansion.
Of course, there were also a very few people who did not appear in the crowd.
That's Yu Yin'er.
Unfortunately, she was the one who took Zhen Huan's place, and now that Zhen Huan has returned, her position is quite awkward.
Until the matter was finally settled, she was ordered not to appear in public.
No one cared how unwilling or angry Yu Yin'er was.
Everyone's attention was focused on Zhen Huan.
The grand spectacle at the Yongning Marquis's residence attracted a huge crowd of onlookers.
Everyone was curious about who the long-lost third young lady of the Yongning Marquis's mansion was and what she looked like.
When everyone saw the scarred woman walking out of the Qiao residence in a magnificent dress, they all gasped in shock.
With such a hideous and terrifying face... why would I want to go back to it?
No one dares to marry into our family!
She's not as good as Miss Yu now!
At the very least, Miss Yu is currently quite beautiful, so a marriage alliance is not a problem.
This Miss Yu who was found again... tsk tsk, tsk tsk.
Soon, the news that the missing daughter of the Marquis of Yongning was an ugly woman with a hideous face spread throughout the capital.
Even Emperor Xiaozhao, who was far away in the palace, learned of this matter.
Thinking of the subsequent plans, he instructed the chief eunuch Liu Xin: "Go and tell the Empress in person to send some congratulatory gifts to the Yongning Marquis's residence on behalf of the royal family, and say that you are congratulating the Yongning Marquis's residence on finding your daughter."
"His Majesty is merciful. With the Empress's reward, Miss Yu will be spared some criticism," Liu Xin quickly flattered.
"Go."
He actually returned to the Yongning Marquisate and moved into the best courtyard closest to the main residence.
Good things were brought into her yard as if they were free.
Yu Yin'er, still under house arrest, was so angry that her eyes turned red. Behind her back, she was secretly making effigies of Zhen Huan while cursing him to die.
Three days later, the Yongning Marquis's ancestral hall was opened to the public, incense was burned and ancestral worship was performed, and Zhen Huan's name was re-entered into the family genealogy.
However, at Huanzhen's insistence, her original name, Yu Yingluo, was changed to Yu Huanzhen.
Yu Yin'er's identity was also preserved.
Originally, according to the wishes of Lady Yongning, Yu Yin'er was to be removed from the Yu family genealogy.
However, Madam Yu disagreed, and Marquis Yongning also sided with Madam Yu, disagreeing with removing Yu Yin'er from the list.
Everyone understood that Lady Yu disagreed. It was rather puzzling that Marquis Yongning also objected. But considering Marquis Yongning's blind filial piety, everyone understood.
But only Lady Yongning knew the truth. Marquis Yongning felt that his appearance was truly ruined, the marriage alliance was hopeless, and the Yu Marquis's mansion was of no help.
Yu Yin'er was raised and supported by the Marquis's mansion, so she should contribute to the prosperity of the mansion.
Besides, Yu Yin'er is already twelve years old. This trip back to the capital is to find a husband. There's no need to drive her out of the mansion because of resentment. That would be a losing proposition.
Lady Yongning thought this made sense, and besides, with Yu Yin'er going through the marriage alliance, her daughter could live a carefree life. For Zhen Huan, this was not necessarily a bad thing.
Therefore, Lady Yongning Marquis tacitly approved of the decision by the Marquis of Yongning and his son to keep Yu Yin'er.
Finally, in the Yu family genealogy, Yu Yin'er retained the title of the third young lady of the Yu family, while Zhen Huan became the fourth young lady of the Yu family.
Everyone was happy.
After completing the family genealogy, Lady Yongning planned to choose an auspicious day to hold a banquet and formally introduce Zhen Huan to various families in the capital.
However, he really did refuse without any expression.
The reasons were readily available: the Crown Princess had just been buried, and there was no banquet to celebrate. Moreover, the Yongning Marquis's residence had just held a banquet not long ago, and holding another one so soon would likely invite gossip. Thirdly, she was not used to such occasions and did not want people to judge her appearance.
Lady Yongning was persuaded and readily agreed not to hold the banquet.
But when she turned away, she cried bitterly in secret.
Then they began seeking medical help and trying every possible way to treat the scars on Zhen Huan's face.
Meanwhile, Doctor Mu finally emerged from the palace.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com