Chapter 57 Who does he resemble?
As night fell, the Duke of Chu's mansion was shrouded in darkness, but several courtyards were dimly lit.
In the Duke of Chu's study, Jiang Yu listened as the Duke recounted his network of connections in the capital, including who had good relations with the Duke's mansion and who did not. He also discussed the personalities of each family head, outstanding members of their families, and their preferences and personalities.
Jiang Yu listened attentively, occasionally taking notes. Seeing her so focused, the Duke of Chu sighed inwardly again, lamenting why she wasn't a boy, and also regretting that she hadn't grown up by his side.
Jiang Jiamu's Leisurely Residence
Xiao Yun Kang was already asleep. Jiang Jia Mu and Wu Zheng Yan sat facing each other on the bed. Wu Zheng Yan whispered to Jiang Jia Mu:
"My lord, what do you think the Duke really meant? If he wasn't interested in Yun Kang, why did he meet with him? And why didn't he say anything afterward, since he seemed to really like Yun Kang?"
Jiang Jiamu lowered his head and remained silent. Wu Zhengyan continued, "And when you were poisoned, I saw that the Duke was shocked and angry at the time, but why didn't he say anything afterwards? And Aunt Zhao, why did the Duke seal off her courtyard? I really don't understand what's been happening in the manor these past few days."
Jiang Jiamu frowned and pondered for a while before saying, "Do you remember in the Duke's room, the Duke looked at Yun Kang and said he looked like him? Who did he look like?"
These words brought Wu Zhengyan back to her senses. She frowned and thought for a while before saying, "Yun Kang looks somewhat like me, but his eyes, mouth, and chin are not like mine. I can't tell who he looks like."
“When we were leaving,” Jiang Jiamu said, “my eldest sister told us to stay home and not to worry about or ask about anything, including Aunt Zhao’s affairs. In other words, my eldest sister knew then that Aunt Zhao’s courtyard would be sealed off.”
Wu Zhengyan couldn't follow his train of thought, but she nodded nonetheless. Jiang Jiamu looked at her and asked, "What do you think of the Crown Prince's wife?"
Wu Zhengyan thought for a moment and said, "When I go to pay my respects to her, she is always indifferent and ignores us. However, I don't think the Crown Prince's wife is a malicious person."
Jiang Jiamu nodded, "I think so too, but who poisoned me?"
"Jiang Jiarong or Zhang Xiangling?" Wu Zhengyan asked.
Jiang Jiamu narrowed his eyes. "I think so too. Let's not even talk about Jiang Jiarong. Hasn't he done enough outrageous things? And Zhang Xiangling has always been jealous that you had a son, hasn't she?"
Wu Zhengyan clenched her fists tightly and said through gritted teeth, "They'll all die a horrible death sooner or later."
Jiang Jiamu took her hand and said in a low voice, "We'll listen to our younger sister, close the door and live our own lives, and not worry about anything. I think there's still a lot of trouble in the Duke's mansion."
Wu Zhengyan nodded, then asked, "Husband, why does the Duke value my eldest sister so much? I heard that she goes to the Duke's courtyard every day and stays there for a long time."
Jiang Jiamu remained silent for a long time before saying, "My younger sister will probably take a different path in the future."
“What’s different about the road?” Wu Zhengyan asked.
Jiang Jiamu shook his head, pulled her down to lie down, and said, "This is not something we should worry about. Go to sleep."
Wu Zhengyan sighed, "When can we separate from the family and move out?"
Jiang Jiamu patted her back. "Go to sleep."
Jiang Jiamu was somewhat worried about Aunt Zhao. Although Aunt Zhao had never shown him the care and love she did when he was young, she was still his birth mother, and they were a community of shared interests, so he couldn't help but worry.
But no matter how much he worries, it's no use. He can't even take care of himself, so he can't help anyone else.
Wu Zhengyan, however, showed no concern for Aunt Zhao. In fact, she was relieved when Aunt Zhao's courtyard was sealed off. Over the years, she had had enough of Aunt Zhao. Although she seemed to care about their family, she made mistakes time and time again, harming and affecting their lives.
But she was Jiang Jiamu's biological mother, and she couldn't afford to confront her directly, so she could only endure it. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to endure it anymore from now on.
........
In Zhang Xiangling's Yongchun Residence, the light in the master bedroom was still on. Through the window, one could see blurry figures pacing back and forth, looking anxious and restless.
The maid, Bitao, stood outside the window, looking at the anxious figure, and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Young Mistress."
Hearing her voice, Zhang Xiangling, who was inside the house, immediately said, "Come in quickly."
Bitao walked to the bedroom door, pushed it open, and went in. She saw Zhang Xiangling looking at her intently and asking, "How's the investigation going?"
Bitao shook her head, and Zhang Xiangling's face showed disappointment. Bitao helped her sit down and said, "This servant went to the Duke's courtyard to inquire, but the people in the Duke's courtyard are all like gourds with their mouths sawed off, they won't say anything."
"What about Jiang Yu's courtyard?" Zhang Xiangling asked.
"The young lady's courtyard is a place where the maids and the old women who don't really manage things know nothing. As for the young lady's personal maid and Granny Liao, how dare I ask them anything?"
Bitao looked extremely cautious. In the past few days, one thing after another had happened at the Duke's mansion, and her mistress, the eldest young mistress, looked increasingly unwell. As servants, they dared not even breathe loudly now.
Sure enough, Zhang Xiangling glared at her fiercely when she heard her words and said, "What use are you? You can't get anything done."
Bitao lowered her head and remained silent, while Zhang Xiangling nearly crumpled the handkerchief in her hand. After a while, she said, "These days, the Duke has been treating Jiang Yu so differently. I thought the Duke was going to give her the position of heir to the Marquis's mansion."
"No way?" Biwu said in surprise.
Zhang Xiangling snorted, "Why not? Although no woman has inherited a title in the Great Gan Dynasty, there has been an empress and female officials in the court."
"Then what should we do?" Bitao asked.
Zhang Xiangling gritted her teeth and said, "I originally wanted to go back to the Jiangling Marquis's mansion and have my mother find a good marriage for Jiang Yu, so she could marry her off. I didn't expect I was wrong. The Duke met that little bastard today, and also met the second son and his wife. Is he going to give them the title?"
Bitao stood aside, not daring to speak. Zhang Xiangling continued, "Although they are born out of wedlock, and although Aunt Zhao came from a brothel, who made Wu Zhengyan give birth to a son?"
As she said this, she touched her lower abdomen, her face full of resentment. She added, "Those useless bunch can't even produce a single son."
Bitao lowered her head even further. Zhang Xiangling was referring to Jiang Jiarong's concubines, and she had long been Jiang Jiarong's maid. Zhang Xiangling had also stopped giving her the contraceptive soup and promised that if she gave birth to a son, she would be promoted to concubine. Of course, the child she bore would belong to Zhang Xiangling.
She had no objection to this, but her womb was uncooperative; she not only failed to give birth to a son, but also failed to give birth to a daughter.
Actually, it's not her fault. Jiang Jiarong had many concubines and often stayed overnight in brothels. She couldn't get close to Jiang Jiarong for months, so how could she possibly get pregnant?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
