Chapter 64: Strike first to gain the upper hand
The next day, Jiang Cheng rested in his house. After breakfast, he went to the study, where he studied the chess manual and played chess at the same time, feeling very contented.
Then the housekeeper came hurriedly to report that Marquis Jin'an had arrived. Jiang Cheng was startled and the chess record in his hand shook. He wondered what the Marquis Jin'an was doing this time.
"Where is the person?" Jiang Cheng stood up, tidied his clothes and prepared to go over to greet him. The housekeeper replied that the person had already arrived and was in the yard.
Jiang Cheng was shocked again when he heard this. When he hurried out with the housekeeper, he saw that Qi Wuhan was really outside. He came over and said a few polite words that seemed to be a lack of welcoming gesture.
Qi Wuhan responded politely, and his address changed from "Lord Jiang" to "Uncle".
"I heard that uncle likes calligraphy and painting. I have a piece of calligraphy here. Please help me appreciate it."
Such an attentive attitude made Jiang Cheng feel even more uneasy. He always wondered if the other party had other intentions.
Qi Wuhan gestured, and Ling Feng opened the brocade box in his hand. He took out the calligraphy from it and slowly opened it.
Jiang Cheng couldn't help but exclaimed "What great calligraphy!" after just one glance, and walked closer to take a closer look. Suddenly his expression changed, and his excitement was beyond words. He was so excited that he could hardly speak, "This... this... is real?" As he said that, he looked at Qi Wuhan with an expression of disbelief, and he couldn't believe that he could actually see the original work in his lifetime!
"If uncle likes it, I will give this calligraphy to him." Qi Wuhan closed the calligraphy and put it back into the brocade box. Ling Feng stepped forward and handed the brocade box to him. Jiang Cheng was still in shock and did not react for a while. Ling Feng handed the brocade box to the butler. The butler did not dare to take it. When Qi Wuhan's smiling peach blossom eyes looked at him, the butler hurriedly took it.
"It's getting late, I won't disturb my uncle anymore." Qi Wuhan said goodbye and left with Ling Feng.
He gave the gift and left without saying a word. What a down-to-earth person.
"My Lord, please stay." Jiang Cheng also reacted at this time and hurriedly chased after him to stop the man. Just as he was about to politely refuse this generous gift, Qi Wuhan turned around and said, "Uncle, there is no need to see me off. There are a lot of court affairs lately, and you should take care of your health." After saying goodbye again, he strode away with Ling Feng.
Jiang Cheng couldn't find the opportunity to speak at all. When he chased after them, he found that he could not catch up with the pace of the two people. He shouted "My Lord, please stay" twice, but the people in front acted as if they didn't hear him.
People who practice martial arts have light steps. If they don't want to be caught up, a civil official like Jiang Cheng, who is nearly forty years old, will naturally not be able to catch up.
After careful consideration, Jiang Cheng asked the housekeeper to invite Jiang Lan over.
After the housekeeper left, he took out the calligraphy and admired it again. It was truly a masterpiece that made people forget worldly things. The more he looked at it, the more he couldn't let it go. If Qi Wuhan sent someone to take it back at this time, he would really be reluctant to part with it...
There was a knock on the door and the housekeeper came over with Jiang Lan.
Jiang Cheng first put away the calligraphy, then called for someone to come in.
Jiang Lan came in, bowed, and called him "Daddy." Jiang Cheng nodded, then pondered for a moment before asking, "Have you run into Marquis Jin'an recently when you were out?"
Jiang Lan replied, "I went to the temple to pray for my father and mother when a drunk suddenly appeared on the roadside and stopped the carriage from moving. He rolled on the ground and insisted on paying compensation because he had been hit by the carriage. The Marquis's carriage happened to pass by and he had the drunk driven away. I wanted Qing'er to go over and thank him, but the Marquis left. I guess it was just a small favor for him, so there was no need to express my gratitude. I didn't want to worry my father and mother, so I didn't say anything."
Jiang Cheng was shocked at first, then thought for a while, and then let Jiang Lan go down first.
In the evening, Jiang Cheng casually mentioned to Zhang that Marquis Jin'an might be interested in Jiang Lan.
Zhang also knew that Qi Wuhan came to visit her today, but she didn't know that he also gave her a valuable gift. If she knew, she would be even more anxious.
She was already afraid that Jiang Lan would one day climb up the social ladder. She had previously suspected that the relationship between the two was not simple and was afraid that Jiang Lan would become the Marquis's wife. After the banquet, she was even more afraid that Jiang Lan would become the Princess of An. Now, after hearing Jiang Cheng mention it, she had the idea of striking first.
The next day, Qing'er was secretly brought by Tanxiang to see Zhang.
After Qing'er returned, she repeated to Jiang Lan in an orderly manner what Zhang had asked her. Jiang Lan knew that her stepmother wanted to take action against her.
The next day, after Jiang Cheng went out to court, Qing'er came over quietly and told Zhang that after dinner yesterday, Jiang Lan suddenly asked about Bi'er.
"The Second Miss asked me if I knew where Bi'er went after leaving the mansion?"
Zhang's heart skipped a beat when she heard this. "What did you say?"
Qing'er replied, "I said her father and mother were ill, and Madam had mercy on her and allowed her to go back to serve them." She paused, "But I think the Second Miss doesn't seem to believe it..."
Zhang narrowed her eyes coldly and said, "Does she still want to find the person back?"
Qing'er hesitated and said, "If the Second Miss asks the Marquis for help..."
Zhang thought about it carefully and felt a chill on her back. She must not let Marquis Jin'an interfere. She had to act as soon as possible. As long as the person was gone, who would pursue those trivial matters? Besides, Marquis Jin'an was a playboy by nature. He would get tired of the old and love the new in a few days. He would not pursue anything for a dead person.
After thinking about it, she made up her mind to take action.
After dinner, Tan Xiang quietly went out.
Little did he know that he was being followed.
When it was already dark and Tan Xiang still hadn't returned, Zhang began to feel anxious. As the sky got darker, Zhang became more and more anxious.
When Jiang Cheng came to rest, he saw Zhang looking uneasy and asked what happened. Zhang evaded the question by saying that she was worried about whether Jiang Yao was living well in the Duke's Mansion.
Jiang Cheng asked her to worry less, but suddenly he noticed something and found that Tan Xiang was not there, so he asked casually. As a result, Zhang was frightened. Jiang Cheng was also frightened and asked her what was wrong. Zhang said guiltyly that it was nothing, and forced a smile, saying that Tan Xiang was feeling a little unwell today, so she asked someone to rest first.
Jiang Cheng noticed that she was behaving a little weird tonight and asked her if she was hiding something from him. Zhang denied it. Jiang Cheng was a little unhappy and went to the study to sleep.
A night passed and Tan Xiang didn't come back.
Zhang was so worried that she couldn't sleep all night and had no appetite for breakfast. She was like a frightened bird, startled by the slightest noise.
Jiang Cheng didn't come back the whole morning, and Zhang became even more worried. She comforted herself by saying that there were probably many things to discuss at the morning court, so he left late.
When a little maid guarding the door hurried back to tell Zhang the news, she thought it was Tanxiang who had returned. Just as she was about to let go of her worries, she heard the little maid report that the master had returned, and her heart was in her throat again.
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