Chapter 128: Don’t you really know?
After being imprisoned for three days, Jiang Cheng finally met the emperor.
"I've asked you to reflect on yourself these past few days. Have you done so?"
Jiang Cheng admitted his mistake with great fear and trepidation. The emperor asked him where he had gone wrong. Jiang Cheng didn't know about the account book yet, but he had thought a lot about it in the past three days. He was either framed by someone, or someone in the mansion was pretending to obey his orders but actually doing something shady behind his back.
"It was my humble servant's negligence that caused me to fail to properly manage the people in the mansion..."
The emperor smiled. Jiang Cheng was so nervous that sweat broke out on his forehead. The emperor raised his hand and signaled. Eunuch Liu brought the account book to Jiang Cheng and asked him to take a look. Jiang Cheng's hands were shaking slightly when he picked up the account book. After he opened it, he became more and more frightened and his face became paler and paler.
"Did you see it clearly?" asked the emperor.
Jiang Cheng hadn't yet realized that this account book was Zhang's private possession, but every single loan and interest payment recorded in it was enough to prove the charges. "Your Majesty, I have never seen this before, nor have I ever instructed anyone in the palace to lend money and harm anyone. I beg your Majesty to understand."
"Your eldest son is more open and honest than you." The emperor said with a smile.
Jiang Cheng was surprised and couldn't believe that the evidence was handed over by Jiang Shen. He felt chilled.
"Your eldest son said that your wife hid it, and even pleaded for mercy, saying that you really didn't know anything about it." Hearing this, Jiang Cheng was surprised again, and his hatred for Zhang became even stronger. The emperor continued, "But your wife is your bedmate. If you say you knew nothing about it, I'm afraid it will be difficult to convince others."
"It was my negligence. If I had discovered it earlier, I would have handled it impartially and would not have been partial." Jiang Cheng was regretting it at this time. He did not see through Zhang's true face earlier. If he had noticed it earlier, there would not be this disaster today.
"If you can't even manage this little household, how can I trust you with state affairs? If you make another mistake, I won't be able to protect you." The emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Since you have been diligent and loyal to me over the years, and have made no contributions, I will arrange an assignment for you. You will take up the post in two days."
Jiang Cheng's heart sank, and he kowtowed in thanks with a pale face.
"Your Dalang is good and is more capable of shouldering the responsibility than you." The emperor praised Jiang Shen again.
Jiang Cheng's heart, which had sank, suddenly felt better again. Although he was now assigned to a remote post, as long as Jiang Shen was valued, the Jiang family would not decline. It was a blessing that Jiang Shen was not implicated in this disaster. As long as Jiang Shen did a good job, he would be transferred back in a year or two.
Jiang Cheng was sent back home that day, and Jiang Lan came over after hearing the news.
Jiang Cheng gave Jiang Shen some instructions alone, and his face looked a little bad when he saw Jiang Lan. He told her to behave herself in the future and not to cause trouble for her elder brother.
"Father, don't you have anything else to say to your daughter?"
"If you don't listen, what's the point of me telling you more?"
Jiang Lan felt a little bitter, but she actually knew in her heart that there would always be a gap between her and her father.
"Don't worry, father. I will never cause any more trouble to the family. I wish you a safe journey and good health." She bowed and took her leave.
"Lan'er," Jiang Lan stopped and turned to bow, "Do you have any other instructions?" Jiang Cheng sighed and asked, "Do you have any complaints against me?" Jiang Lan replied, "I dare not."
"I've been thinking a lot these past few days," Jiang Cheng glanced at Jiang Lan and said slowly, "I've been wondering if you were just acting when you acted well-behaved and sensible in front of me. Now I understand. You've always been like this, but I just didn't see it clearly."
"It's the daughter who disappoints her father." Jiang Lan said calmly.
Jiang Cheng was puzzled and asked, "Your elder brother is loyal and upright, and your mother is gentle and virtuous. I wonder who you inherited your surly temper from?"
"Father, do you really not know?" Jiang Lan asked back, with a hint of sharp sarcasm in her tone.
Jiang Cheng's expression darkened. He said, "Then explain everything to me today, in front of me, and let me know how I have wronged you."
Jiang Lan asked slowly, "Father, do you still remember how mother died?"
"Your mother died of illness. It has nothing to do with anyone." Jiang Cheng's face was full of anger, as if his reverse scale had been touched.
Jiang Lan smiled and said, "My third sister and I are the same age. When did my father remarry? And when was my third sister's birthday?" Before she finished speaking, a crisp sound rang out in the study. Jiang Cheng's face turned very ugly. Jiang Lan covered her face with her hands and smiled, "It seems I was right."
"You don't deserve to mention your mother!" Jiang Cheng's lips trembled with anger. "Your mother didn't want me to tell you, but I'm telling you today. If it weren't for the difficult birth, your mother wouldn't have passed away so early."
"Then does father know why mother had a difficult delivery?" Jiang Lan asked.
Jiang Cheng was stunned for a moment.
Jiang Lan sneered, "Back then, Tan Xiang not only confessed to poisoning me, but also confessed another thing. Does father know what it is?"
Jiang Cheng felt a little frightened by Jiang Lan's cold gaze and said guiltily, "I don't know. Why do you keep bringing up those old things?"
"She said that on the day my mother gave birth, Zhang asked her to send the midwife away and confess her pregnancy to my mother. This caused my mother to have a difficult labor and risk her life to give birth to me," Jiang Lan said with a wry smile. "Could it be that my father really didn't know anything, or was he just deceiving himself?"
"Your mother died of illness. It has nothing to do with others." Jiang Cheng repeated it again, this time more like talking to himself, as if only by deceiving himself in this way could he feel better.
"Then father, just continue to deceive yourself, if you can live with your conscience." Jiang Lan said coldly and turned away.
When she left the study, Jiang Cheng slowly walked to the chair behind the desk, his body swayed, and he fell into the chair, no longer having the strength to support himself.
When Jiang Shen saw Jiang Lan, she had already calmed down.
"Brother, I'll go back first."
Jiang Shen walked her to the door and told her to take care of herself and not to worry about her father. Jiang Lan nodded.
After getting on the carriage, she could no longer suppress the suppressed emotions in her heart, and tears welled up in her eyes. After the tears flowed out, she felt better and was no longer so anxious. Then she wiped her tears with a handkerchief, telling herself that this was the last time she would cry for such a thing, and nothing would make her feel wronged in the future.
"Don't worry, mother. I'm living a good life now. I have a husband who loves and protects me. My eldest brother treats me very well. I also have my cousin Yun, my eldest aunt, my second aunt, and my third aunt. They all treat me well. Lan'er won't cry anymore in the future."
She raised her hand to wipe away the last tears from the corners of her eyes, a happy smile on her face. She had a husband, an elder brother, and relatives who cared about her. These were enough.
On the day Jiang Cheng was leaving, Jiang Lan did not come, so Jiang Shen sent her to the city gate. Jiang Cheng looked out on the street again, but did not see any carriage coming. He looked gloomy, unable to hide his disappointment.
"Your marriage..." Jiang Cheng paused, knowing that the marriage with the Wu family would probably be difficult to succeed.
Jiang Shen bowed and said, "Father, don't worry. My marriage will take its course. Please take good care of yourself. I will take good care of the mansion."
"You have always been steady, so your father is naturally relieved. It's just that Rui'er has a hot temper, and I don't know how he is doing in the palace. Go see him when you have time." Jiang Shen agreed. Jiang Cheng paused and said Jiang Lan, "Your second sister is stubborn. If you can persuade her in the future, please do so. Don't let her do anything stupid." He looked at the street again and saw that Jiang Lan really didn't intend to come to see him off. He sighed, turned around and got on the carriage.
The carriage stopped again after leaving the city. When Jiang Cheng pulled aside the curtain and looked out, he saw a carriage parked in front. It was the carriage of the Marquis' Mansion. He was delighted and was about to get off the carriage when a black-armored guard brought him a bundle filled with food for Jiang Cheng to eat on the way.
Seeing that Jiang Lan was unwilling to get off the carriage to meet him, Jiang Cheng asked the black-armored guard to tell her to take care of herself, and then told the coachman to leave.
After the sound of the wheels faded away, Jiang Lan pulled open the curtain and looked forward, then lowered the curtain and told the driver to leave.
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