Chapter 192 I'm begging the Duke of Chu
Jiang Yu stood up to take her leave, her gaze meeting Xie Ning'an's. Jiang Yu's eyes were filled with murderous intent, and Xie Ning'an looked away the moment she met her gaze.
Jiang Yu bowed to Ning Qi and said, "Lord Ning, farewell."
Ning Qi also stood up, gestured for them to enter, and then escorted Jiang Yu, Marquis Anyuan, and Duke Wei to the gate of the mansion. At this moment, Lu Yifang and Wu Zhengyan, accompanied by Madam Ning, also arrived at the gate.
Lu Yifang looked at Jiang Yu with concern. Jiang Yu smiled and walked over, taking her arm and saying, "I'm fine."
Lu Yifang nodded with concern; this was not the time to talk. He walked over and bowed to Marquis Anyuan. The father and daughter exchanged a few words before getting into their respective carriages and leaving.
Ning Qi watched their carriage drive away before turning back to his residence. Normally, he wouldn't need to see guests off like this, but now, to show his sincerity and to let Jiang Yu know that today's events were solely the work of Madam Ning and that he knew nothing about them, he had no choice but to personally see them off.
After Jiang Yu had been in the carriage for a while, a servant from the Duke of Wei's mansion ran over and said that the Duke of Wei wanted to invite her for tea. Jiang Yu agreed, and the carriage stopped at a teahouse. She went inside with Marquis Anyuan and the Duke of Wei.
Jiang Yu, being the younger generation, served tea to the two after they sat down. Watching Jiang Yu prepare the tea, the Duke of Wei asked, "Is there a problem, Earl of Changping?"
If it weren't for Jiang Yu's intervention today, he might have already finalized the marriage agreement with the Earl of Changping.
Jiang Yu poured tea for the two of them, then said, "Actually, before I discovered the problems with the Ministry of Revenue's military supplies accounts, I also discovered problems with the tax accounts. After much deliberation, I investigated the embezzlement in military supplies first. Now I'm investigating the embezzlement in tax."
Upon hearing her words, both Marquis Anyuan and Duke of Wei were shocked. Duke of Wei asked, "Was Marquis Changping involved in tax embezzlement?"
“I’m not sure right now,” Jiang Yu said. “The problems with the tax accounts are in Lingnan, Linwu County, and Jiangzhou. What we’ve found out is that someone has been privately minting official silver. In this case, the transport commissioners of these three counties are definitely involved.”
Shi Shun'an, the transport commissioner of Linwu County, married a daughter from a collateral branch of the Earl of Changping. However, the Earl of Changping had played a significant role in Shi Shun'an's appointment as transport commissioner of Linwu County.
"Why would the Earl of Changping support a son-in-law from a collateral branch of the family so much?" Marquis Anyuan asked.
“I think so too,” Jiang Yu said. “I’m investigating.”
"Hmph, I'll investigate this matter." Duke Wei snorted heavily. If the Earl of Changping was involved in tax embezzlement, marrying him wouldn't necessarily implicate him, but it would be as bad as stepping in dog poop.
"Okay, thank you for your help," Jiang Yu said.
The Duke of Wei waved his hand, his gaze towards Jiang Yu filled with even greater satisfaction. He turned to Marquis Anyuan with a smile and said, "This child is steady and resourceful in his actions; he truly brings us honor."
Marquis Anyuan wanted to roll his eyes. What does my granddaughter's excellence have to do with you? How does it make you proud? But since they've been friends for many years, he didn't want him to lose face in front of the younger generation, so he held back his words.
"How is your grandfather's health lately?" Marquis Anyuan asked Jiang Yu.
Jiang Yu looked worried. "It's still the same as always."
Marquis Anyuan and Duke of Wei both sighed deeply, knowing full well the old Duke of Chu's health condition. After chatting for a few more minutes, the three got up and left, with Jiang Yu taking a carriage home.
Halfway there, the carriage stopped. Xia He stood outside the window and said, "Princess Ya Lin would like to invite you to have tea together."
Jiang Yu paused for a moment, then lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out. Princess Yalin, who was in the other carriage, also got out and walked towards Jiang Yu.
"Princess Yalin." Jiang Yu bowed to her, and Princess Yalin quickly returned the bow. "I apologize for disturbing the Duke of Chu. May I invite the Duke of Chu for a cup of tea?"
Jiang Yu could roughly guess what this love-struck princess wanted to say to her—it was nothing more than to speak well of the Xie family. But as a member of the royal family, it wouldn't be good to refuse, so she nodded in agreement, and the two walked towards a nearby teahouse.
Upon entering the tea room, Princess Yalin dismissed the servants, leaving only the two of them. Princess Yalin picked up the teapot and poured tea for Jiang Yu, who politely accepted it.
She sighed inwardly, thinking that Princess Yalin must be deeply in love with Xie Ning'an, otherwise, why would a royal princess lower herself like this?
“I’ve heard about what happened today,” Princess Yalin said, looking at Jiang Yu. “I’m sorry that the Duke of Chu was wronged.”
Jiang Yu lowered her head and drank her tea without responding. Princess Yalin was a little embarrassed. She pursed her lips and said again, "Whatever compensation the Duke of Chu wants, please just say it."
Jiang Yu frowned upon hearing this, and Princess Yalin immediately added, "I know this is very abrupt, but... but..."
Princess Yalin was at a loss for words, her eyes red with anxiety. Seeing her like this, Jiang Yu felt a pang of pity and asked, "Who sent the princess to find me? Xie Ning'an?"
"No, no, Ning'an didn't come looking for me," Princess Yalin quickly denied, looking earnestly at Jiang Yu, "If the Duke of Chu can forgive the Xie family this time, I can grant you one request."
The pity Jiang Yu had felt just moments before vanished almost instantly; such a foolish and self-righteous person wasn't worth it.
She leaned back and looked at Princess Yalin, asking, "Does Your Highness know why Madam Xie wanted to harm me?"
Princess Yalin shook her head in confusion. Jiang Yu then asked, "Does the princess know what kind of feud exists between my Chu State Duke's Mansion and the Xie family?"
"You...you two families have no enmity, right?" Princess Yalin asked, her eyes wide with innocence.
Jiang Yu: "If there were no enmity between us, would Madam Xie plot against me?"
Princess Yalin: "......."
"What conditions do you think you can agree to for me, Princess?" Jiang Yu asked again.
Princess Yalin: "......."
Jiang Yu is a Duke of the highest rank and a current official. His career has been smooth sailing since he made a great contribution... Jiang Yu has much more than she does. She seems to have no right to ask Jiang Yu for a favor.
Jiang Yu didn't want to say anything more to her, so she stood up and walked out. Princess Yalin also stood up, "I'll have to beg the Duke of Chu."
She bowed deeply to Jiang Yu, who looked at her calmly and said, "Princess Yalin, think more about yourself and your family."
That's all I have to say; whether she understands or not is up to her.
Jiang Yu strode out of the tea room, leaving Princess Yalin standing there in a daze for a long time. Her maid came over, helped her sit down, and said:
“Princess, you are merely a bride-to-be of the Xie family. The Xie family’s affairs are none of your concern. Moreover, it was Second Madam Xie who caused the trouble, not the eldest young master’s close relative. There is no need for you to act this way.”
"Seeing Ning'an so sad, I... felt sorry for her, so I..." Princess Yalin looked at the seat Jiang Yu had just sat in and said, "But I don't have any influence with the Duke of Chu, so I can't help him."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
