He wanted to reprimand Jiang Songyi harshly, but then he thought about how he had wronged and killed her in Jiang Songyi's memory. He couldn't help feeling guilty and ultimately couldn't bear to say anything harsh.
So, he could only suppress his anger and said, "Go back to Jinghong Garden! I will make proper arrangements."
Jiang Songyi replied softly, "Oh."
This scumbag father and that clueless grandmother are a perfect match. Even their words are exactly the same. What a shabby place that Jinghong Garden is. Snakes and insects are rampant, and it leaks every time it rains. Apart from being easy to climb over the wall, there's really nothing to praise about it.
Climbing over the wall? How many secrets does this daughter still have that they don't know about?
Xu's guilt towards her daughter became more and more serious. After her daughter returned, the Weiyang Garden that originally belonged to her was occupied by Jiang Yuyao, and she could only live in the dilapidated Jinghong Garden.
Jiang Dinglian also felt the need to compensate his daughter. He flicked his sleeves, threw the few taels of silver he had left on the dining table, and said to Jiang Songyi, "You can use this money."
Although the amount is not large, for Jiang Songyi, who had only used copper coins in Xinghua Village before, this silver might make her feel a little fresh and surprised.
However, Jiang Songyi only glanced at it lightly, then turned and left, leaving behind a sentence: "Dad, keep it for yourself."
Xu Shi agreed with this. She gestured for Shuyue to take out a thick stack of 100-liang silver notes from the treasure box of her dowry. Then she said gently to Jiang Songyi, "My dear, if you want to go to the city to buy something, go ahead and choose. If it's not enough, mother has plenty here."
Jiang Songyi's eyes curved into two crescent moons as she smiled: "Thank you, mother."
Jiang Dinglian gritted his teeth in his heart, but his thoughts drifted to his second son Jiang Baichuan.
He worked hard to scrape together military funds at the front, cherishing every penny like gold, while Jiang Baichuan's naughty son not only had more wealth than him, but also secretly gambled and squandered his family's money!
He secretly made up his mind that he must teach that bastard a lesson and make him understand the importance of inheriting the family business!
After everyone dispersed, Xu frowned and glared at Jiang Dinglian in dissatisfaction, asking in a harsh tone, "What are you still doing here? Don't think I don't know. You've imprisoned Yin Qianqian in your territory to prevent others from interfering and to protect her."
Jiang Dinglian pressed his temple lightly and said bitterly, "Madam, I just returned from a war-torn military camp. Do you have to speak to me like this?"
"It's all because of you..."
Xu's words were suddenly interrupted. She remembered that the tragedies of Songyi's previous life had not yet happened. Jiang Dinglian at the moment did not know that he would misunderstand Songyi in the future and kill her.
Jiang Dinglian sighed deeply and said sincerely, "At this point, I don't intend to hide this from my wife anymore. In truth, Yin Qianqian and I are not truly married. I took her as a concubine simply to provide her posthumous child, Yu Qian's bloodline, with a secure home."
In the past, he was unaware of the misunderstanding between him and Xu, and he had a grudge against her, so he never revealed Yin Xixi's true identity. But after hearing Jiang Songyi's true feelings, he was unwilling to let this misunderstanding continue until his death.
In the past, Xu would have scoffed and dismissed Jiang Dinglian's explanation. However, having just glimpsed her daughter's inner secret, she wasn't surprised.
"Madam, do you remember the battle a few months ago? I narrowly won the Battle of Beizhai, but I was seriously wounded and fighting alone, nearly losing my life. At that critical moment, a butcher named Yu Qian, who was similar in build to me and was wearing my battle robe, attracted the attention of the enemy cavalry, allowing me to escape back to the barracks and ultimately lead my troops to repel the Beizhai invasion.
Yu Qian had only one pregnant wife, Yin Qianqian. Before his death, he entrusted her to me, and I brought her back to Jindu. I had originally planned to place her away to avoid criticism and damage to the Yin family's reputation, but unexpectedly, the censors accused me of having a mistress. With no other choice, I brought her back to the Marquis's mansion, granted her the status of concubine, and allowed her to live a life of luxury.
As Xu listened, her expression was focused and solemn. Although she was a woman, she cared deeply about the country and its people. "So that's how it is... Every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the nation. Yu Qian is truly a loyal and brave man. The Marquis's favor towards him is well deserved."
Jiang Dinglian had never expected that Xu had such a broad mind and profound insights.
Xu questioned, "But why have you kept it a secret from me?"
Although her relationship with Jiang Dinglian was becoming increasingly distant, she was still his wife through thick and thin. If she had known these inside stories earlier, how could she have argued endlessly with Yin Qianqian?
"I misunderstood Madam. Madam and the wife of the Minister of War were close friends. However, when it came to the war, the Minister of War had always advocated reconciliation, while the Yongding Marquis's family firmly advocated war. The two sides held opposing views, and those in favor of reconciliation all wanted me killed on the battlefield to prevent further fighting... I mistakenly believed that Madam had inadvertently revealed the secrets of my study, which nearly cost me my life."
Jiang Dinglian had always been suspicious about this matter and had a grudge against Xu, but until now, he still had no conclusive evidence to prove Xu's innocence.
However, Jiang Songyi's voice has been confirmed by him many times.
Since she was so sure about it, it must be the truth.
Mrs. Xu was slightly stunned. So this was what her daughter said about Jiang Dinglian's misunderstanding of her?
She angrily pounded Jiang Dinglian's chest. "What are you suspecting? You and I are husband and wife, we've been through thick and thin together. How could I do anything to harm you? Although I've been in your study to sort things out and have interacted with the wife of the Minister of War, I've never opened a confidential envelope without permission, and I certainly wouldn't discuss military matters."
Jiang Dinglian lowered his eyes and held her hand tightly. "Yes, Madam, I have wronged you. Madam, what do you need me to do to get your forgiveness?"
Xu felt the palm of her hand getting slightly warm, and she quickly withdrew it as if it were an electric current.
Suddenly, she thought of something and looked up at the man in front of her with a determined gaze. "Jiang Dinglian, you have to promise me one thing. We owe Songyi too much. You must protect her at all times. Even if you die, you must not let her get hurt. Otherwise... Otherwise, even if I turn into a ghost, I will not let you go!"
Jiang Dinglian's ears seemed to echo Jiang Songyi's inner voice again. He replied blankly, "Okay. I'll do whatever you say."
Thinking of what Jiang Songyi had said about Xu's tragic past life, Jiang Dinglian felt a pang of pain in his heart. He choked up and said, "Madam, may you live a long and healthy life."
Xu sneered, her tone tinged with disdain. "Don't try to provoke me. I'm blessed with a long life! As for Yin Qianqian, whom you mentioned, her repeated frame-ups truly belie her status as a descendant of a loyal hero. The fact that she's pregnant is completely fabricated raises doubts about her true identity. Perhaps she's a hidden foreign spy. My Lord, please investigate thoroughly to prevent the Marquis's residence from being implicated."
Jiang Dinglian did not win Songyi's favor, so naturally he could not communicate with her in a telepathic way. Only she could give him timely warnings.
Jiang Dinglian nodded solemnly, "I will follow my wife's instructions."
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