Back then, Jiang was able to take her mother's place and return to the Shen family. Besides having a face exactly like her mother's, she must have put in other efforts as well.
Pregnant women and unmarried girls are completely different.
If Jiang wanted to cover this up, she would have to find a suitable and thorough person.
According to her investigation, Butler Cheng had previously worked for the Jiang family for a period of time.
Sure enough, upon hearing Shen Yuan's words, Butler Cheng's eyes widened in horror, his face turning ashen, and his lips trembled uncontrollably: "You... how do you know... no, what nonsense are you talking about! There's absolutely no such thing, you can't tarnish Madam's reputation!"
Shen Yuan smiled, "Butler Cheng is so protective of her, he really cares deeply! No wonder she's kept you alive until now, after all, such an obedient dog is hard to find!"
"..." Butler Cheng glared at Shen Yuan resentfully; he had underestimated this little brat.
Night had fallen, and Shen Yuan yawned, too lazy to waste any more words with Steward Cheng, so he had the servants drag him into the courtyard.
When she returned to Changfeng Residence, she could still hear Steward Cheng's wails coming from the servants' quarters.
Shen Yuan lay on the bed, counting one hundred strokes of the cane. When she reached the ninety-eighth stroke, her wailing stopped abruptly.
Soon after, the sound of servants announcing something could be heard outside.
Bai Zhi lifted the curtain and came in, saying to Shen Yuan, "Miss, Cheng Yong has fainted, and I'm afraid he can't take it..."
Shen Yuan: "Can't stand it? Then spare him the rest of the beatings and expel him from the manor. The General's Mansion must not keep someone who covets the mistress of the house!"
"Yes, Miss!"
Bai Zhi received the order and immediately arranged for her servants to carry it out.
That very night, the dying Steward Cheng was expelled from the General's Mansion.
Incidentally, before he died, they released him from his contract and set him free.
In the end, no one was killed in the General's Mansion.
The next day, when Shen Yuan got up to wash and dress, a servant came to report, "Miss, Steward Cheng is dead."
"Since you've been expelled from the General's Mansion, you're no longer in charge of the mansion." Shen Yuan glanced indifferently at the little maid behind her through the bronze mirror.
His eyes, though calm and expressionless, exuded an invisible pressure.
The maidservant immediately lowered her head and changed her words, saying, "Reporting to Miss, I heard from the people who went out to shop today that a man died in the alley in the east of the city. His name seems to be Cheng Yong. When he was found, his body was already stiff, but he was tightly clutching a blue embroidered handkerchief in his hand."
Shen Yuan smiled faintly after hearing this: "That is indeed a novel thing."
After a pause, Shen Yuan continued, "The Dragon Boat Festival is just around the corner. Go and get some dried bamboo leaves, and buy some fresh mugwort, pork, and salted duck eggs. I want to make some zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) to eat with everyone."
"This servant will take care of it immediately."
The maid agreed and turned to leave.
Butler Cheng had secretly kept many of Jiang's personal clothing, handkerchiefs, and jewelry in his bedroom. These items were discovered during a search of the mansion's servants.
Therefore, the fact that Steward Cheng had been in love with Madam Jiang for many years and had an affair with her before she entered the mansion was widely circulated in the mansion.
Even though Madam Shen disliked gossip, she eventually learned about this matter.
When Madam Jiang was in charge of the household, she did indeed have close ties with Steward Cheng. However, Steward Cheng is now dead, and whether his feelings for Madam Jiang were unrequited or whether the two had been having an affair all along remains unknown.
The most torturous thing is when it's half true and half false.
After learning about this, Madam Shen summoned Shen Changshu and Shen Qingshu to her side and scrutinized them for a long time. Whether it was psychological or something else, she felt that Shen Changshu, Shen Qingshu and Steward Cheng looked somewhat alike.
Could it be that Madam Jiang really had an affair with Steward Cheng?
The child she gave birth to was most likely the offspring of Butler Cheng.
Madam Shen suddenly disliked her two grandsons. She nervously told Shen Wei about it, but was reprimanded by him.
“Mother, don’t listen to a few rumors and start doubting your own grandson. Doing so will hurt the two children! Changshu and Qingshu are my children. How could I not know my own children?”
Madam Shen snorted in dissatisfaction: "That's not necessarily true. What if Madam Jiang sleeps with you at night, and then goes off to have fun with Steward Cheng during the day after you go to court? How can you determine if her child is also your child?"
"..." Shen Wei was speechless after being rebuked by his mother's words.
Madam Shen continued, "In short, you must ask Jiang about this matter yourself! Even if you have to use all eighteen cruel tortures from the Dali Temple, you must get the truth out of Jiang's mouth!"
Shen Yuan had her own spies in the Crown Prince's residence, and Shen Yunjin naturally also had her own people in the General's residence.
Therefore, the news from the General's Mansion quickly reached Shen Yunjin's ears.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yunjin was so angry that she smashed the glass cup in her hand on the spot.
How could her mother possibly have a relationship with a lowly servant?
It was clearly that ignorant servant who dared to covet her mother!
It wasn't enough that Shen Yuan took away her status as the eldest daughter; she also wanted to take away her status as the legitimate daughter. When she failed, she started spreading rumors that she wasn't the daughter of the General's Mansion.
She's absolutely awful!
Does she want to fight her?
They don't even know their own limitations!
Shen Yunjin sneered, "An ant trying to shake a tree! You're overestimating yourself! Just wait until we get to the palace banquet, and see how I deal with you!"
Although he didn't believe Madam Shen's words, Shen Wei still dragged his injured body to the prison to visit Jiang Shi.
Upon seeing Shen Wei, Jiang excitedly climbed to the prison cell door: "Husband! Husband, you've finally come! Did you come to see me? I want to go home, please take me home!"
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