Seeing him get angry, Jiang Huaiyu couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
Perhaps because Ling Mo had maintained a gentle attitude for days, she almost forgot that he was, in essence, a man of strong emotions who was easily angered.
"Alright, then I will say no more and simply keep this gratitude in my heart. If Young Master Ling ever needs anything in the future, I will do my utmost to help."
Ling Mo simply nodded and then turned to leave.
Jiang Huaiyu was taken aback for a moment, then hurriedly instructed his servant, "Deng Shen, you go with Young Master Ling to find out about Miss Cao's situation."
Although she accepted Ling Mo's help, this was ultimately her own business, and she couldn't rely on others for everything.
After Deng Shen left, she summoned Yingxiang.
"Yingxiang, the climate in Jizhou is completely different from that in the north. Take some silver and go to a nearby clothing store to buy two sets of light clothes for each of us. Remember, Young Master Ling only wears white, so the fabric you choose must be of the highest quality. Don't make a mistake."
"The finest material in Jizhou is undoubtedly soft silk gauze. I understand!" Yingxiang replied.
Jiang Huaiyu smiled slightly and continued, "As for the guards, just buy them ordinary clothes. They don't need to be too luxurious, but they also can't be too shabby. As for you and Deng Shen, you can choose the styles you like. Now I only have the two of you by my side. Although the Soft Silk Silk is expensive, I absolutely do not want to see you suffer any grievances."
A rare deep affection was revealed in Yingxiang's eyes. "I'm not short of money right now, so how could I not help her achieve her goal?"
Yingxiang's heart was filled with warmth, and tears welled up in her eyes, but she forced them back.
“Madam, Yingxiang knows how kind you are to me, but I still cannot wear this soft, ethereal silk robe.”
Just as clothing varies in quality, so too do people.
Although my daughter treats me as an equal and has not even asked me to sign a contract of servitude, allowing me to retain my freedom, I am well aware of my place. Precisely because of her affection, I should be even more loyal and not become arrogant because of her favor.
The soft gauze is priceless; it would be far too ostentatious for me to wear it in public.
My daughter has always been low-key, how could I possibly cause her unnecessary trouble?
Seeing that I was determined, Jiang Huaiyu did not insist anymore, but said gently, "Alright, after this matter is resolved, I will choose other treasures for you."
"Thank you, Madam!"
Yingxiang thanked her with great joy and then hurriedly left to attend to her business.
As dusk fell, the two groups returned to the inn one after the other. Jiang Huaiyu had already instructed the waiter to prepare wine and dishes. After everyone had dinner, they gathered together to discuss important matters.
The four guards were filled with gratitude when they saw the clothes that Jiang Huaiyu had prepared for them. After exchanging pleasantries, they went back to their rooms to rest.
Ling Mo took the clothes without saying anything, only gesturing for Li Kui to put them away.
The two sat by the window on the second floor of the inn, sipping fragrant tea. Jiang Huaiyu asked, "Young Master Ling, have you found out anything about Miss Cao? How is she doing now?"
A hint of worry flashed in Ling Mo's eyes as he gently shook his head: "I'm afraid the situation is not optimistic."
"What do you mean?" Jiang Huaiyu asked eagerly.
Ling Mo's expression turned solemn, and he sighed, "Let Deng Shen explain in detail."
Miss Cao's situation was quite complicated, and he was afraid of disappointing Jiang Huaiyu, so he found it difficult to speak.
Jiang Huaiyu quickly turned his gaze to Deng Shen, his expression also becoming serious, "What exactly is the reason for Miss Cao's arrest?"
Deng Shen looked distressed: "Madam, we went to great lengths to find out that Miss Cao was arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently imprisoned on death row!"
"Suspected of murder?"
Jiang Huaiyu stood up in shock. "This is simply unbelievable!"
Deng Shen sighed deeply, his voice filled with unspeakable sorrow. "I found it hard to believe at first. How could Miss Cao, a frail woman, be suspected of murder? I was afraid it was a slip of the tongue by the jailer, so I asked in detail about the appearance of the female prisoner in the death row. The jailer described the woman as having a large, bright red birthmark on her face and being extremely ugly. She was undoubtedly Miss Cao."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Huaiyu's expression changed drastically, and he stood there stunned for a moment.
"It really is her..."
After a long while, she slowly shook her head. "Although I have never met Miss Cao in person, based on my understanding of her, she has a gentle personality and a high tolerance. Otherwise, she would not have refrained from fighting back after being bullied for so many years. She could never have committed murder. There must be some misunderstanding."
She turned to look at Ling Mo, "Young Master Ling, have you heard any other information?"
Ling Mo frowned slightly and pondered for a moment, "Speaking of this case, there are indeed many puzzling aspects."
"oh?"
"Although Miss Cao was accused of murder and imprisoned on death row, the government has not yet made a final judgment on her."
"No verdict?"
A thoughtful glint appeared in Jiang Huaiyu's eyes. "If the authorities didn't have solid evidence, they wouldn't have so easily imprisoned Miss Cao. Murder is a serious crime, punishable by death according to the law, to be carried out in the autumn. But the current situation... does it mean that this case itself is full of doubts?"
Perhaps that's why the authorities didn't immediately deliver a verdict on Miss Cao?
Ling Mo nodded in agreement, "That's exactly right."
Jiang Huaiyu pressed on, "So, have you investigated thoroughly regarding the person Miss Cao killed and the person who accused her of murder?"
Ling Mo replied, "Unless it involves a wrongful conviction, most cases are tried in public, so it is not difficult to find out. According to insiders, Miss Cao is accused of murdering one of her uncles, and the person who reported her to the authorities and arrested her was that uncle's son."
"They really are from the Cao family!"
Jiang Huaiyu was not surprised by this answer.
Once Miss Cao is imprisoned, the Cao family will immediately seize her workshop. It would be strange if this matter had nothing to do with them.
However, she still couldn't understand how they had pinned the murder charge on Miss Cao.
Ling Mo poured her a cup of tea and gently advised, "You are currently six months pregnant, so please don't get angry."
Then, he winked at Deng Shen.
Deng Shen immediately understood his meaning and clearly recounted the information he had gathered to Jiang Huaiyu in detail.
During those impoverished days, Uncle Cao learned that his distant relative, Miss Cao, ran a thriving workshop in town and had amassed considerable wealth. Hoping for help, he went to her door to ask for assistance, hoping this wealthy relative would lend a hand. However, Miss Cao was unmoved and repeatedly drove Uncle Cao away from her home.
On one occasion, when Cao's uncle saw how disrespectful Cao was to him, he could no longer contain his anger, and a fierce argument broke out between them. On the verge of losing control, Cao, in a fit of rage, accidentally caused a tragedy, fatally injuring her uncle.
After listening to these accounts, Jiang Huaiyu asked doubtfully, "Are you sure that the information you received indicates an accidental death, rather than a deliberate act of stabbing, murder, or poisoning?"
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