Zhezhiyuan (Broken Branch Courtyard).
As soon as Jiang Shuman returned, she told her mother the whole story.
"His Majesty has sent people to investigate, and we should be able to find Qin's son soon. As for Shen Ji..." She glanced at her grandmother, then changed her words, "My uncle and cousin were not implicated and have already returned to the Shen residence. However, my uncle said that the matter has not yet been clarified, and my uncle is temporarily confined to the residence."
[Qin's son was hidden by her wicked aunt at a manor west of the city. In the original story, the entire Jiang family was destroyed, and the wicked aunt used this son to force Qin to give birth to her unborn child. Alas, she was indeed just a tool being used.]
The offspring of Han Chinese and other ethnic groups, who were beautiful but not favored, could only be taken as mistresses. Without anyone to protect them, they could not even preserve their chastity and were forced to give birth to illegitimate children.
He was a pitiful person too.
The old lady was still somewhat dazed.
"How did Sixian become like this? Why did she do this?"
Because she hates every single person in our family equally.
Jiang Shumiao waved her hands, attracting the attention of the old lady. She couldn't help but lower her head and say, "When Manman and the others were born, they were either dark-skinned or wrinkled, but Miaomiao was fair-skinned and clean, like a jade doll."
Her fingers were held by Jiang Shumiao, and then she heard—
Wow, Grandma is surrounded by so much golden light, it's so warm and comforting.
The old lady's eyes widened.
Seeing her expression, Xiao Yitang knew that she could also hear her youngest daughter's thoughts, so she said gently, "Yes, Miaomiao is our family's little lucky star. As soon as she was born, she attracted a thunderbolt as a warning, otherwise our family would really be in big trouble."
The old lady was still amazed by the little baby voice she had just heard. She couldn't resist taking her granddaughter out of the cradle to examine her closely.
Was that the child who was speaking just now?
"He does indeed have a very auspicious appearance."
Jiang Shumiao blinked.
My poor grandmother was tormented by my wicked aunt until she became deaf and mute, paralyzed on one side, and died a gruesome death in the latrine... Thankfully, her evil schemes were exposed, and she could no longer do evil.
The old lady's mind went blank for a moment.
She stared blankly at her little granddaughter, who was baring her teeth and claws in her arms.
Jiang Shuman suddenly remembered something.
“Mother, just now at Guanju Palace, my uncle the emperor said that back then, Princess Baoxian was instigated by Princess Qingping to push my aunt into Taiye Pond.”
The old lady suddenly looked up.
"What did you say?"
Jiang Shuman took her younger sister from her arms without saying a word.
The old lady was too shocked to accept this painful truth today. "No, how could this be? My Zhixian..."
Xiao Yitang sighed.
"Actually, there are clues to follow."
The old lady looked at her blankly.
Xiao Yitang said softly, "Aunt Yuanyi brought this daughter to the capital for the position of Crown Princess, but she missed it, so naturally she hates it. Although she is spoiled, she is still young and cannot be called malicious. If she was instigated by someone and acted impulsively, it is understandable."
The old lady's lips turned white.
"But Sixian, she..."
Xiao Yitang sighed, "I've seen Sixian's feelings for my brother since she was little. I don't believe she doesn't have the slightest resentment."
The old lady swayed, her whole body almost shattering.
Xiao Yitang couldn't bear it after all. "But these are all just guesses. Princess Baoxian died in the nunnery more than 20 years ago. It can be considered that she has repaid Zhixian's life."
But if the culprit is Jiang Sixian, then she is far too cunning.
That's far too vicious.
"I think it's most likely that she did it."
Jiang Shuman had no goodwill towards Jiang Sixian at all. "Grandmother should still remember how she was exiled from the capital, right? Five years after Aunt died, the late emperor chose the daughter of the Duke of E as Uncle's principal wife. She harbored evil intentions and wanted to harm her, but failed."
The old lady remembered.
She went to the palace to plead for mercy. The Empress, who is now the Empress Dowager, was her sister-in-law.
The Empress Dowager intervened and pleaded with the Duke of E to save Jiang Sixian's life. However, the Duke of E made a condition: Jiang Sixian could no longer stay in the capital.
So the Empress Dowager married her off to Shen Jiming, who came from a poor family, and transferred her away from the capital. She did not return until twelve years later.
"She told me that she was indignant because she felt sorry for Zhixian..."
The old lady couldn't continue speaking.
How could she have believed such a lame excuse?
Xiao Yitang comforted her, saying, "Her parents and brothers are all gone. You are compassionate and pity her for being alone and helpless, which is why you were deceived by her."
Yes, yes, Grandma was just too kind; she didn't want to assume bad things about others.
The old lady listened to her granddaughter's heartfelt words and gave a bitter laugh.
Being too kind is just being foolish.
She treated her enemies as her own children, while her own daughter was buried deep in the earth, with nowhere to seek justice.
**
Night, the lights are on.
Shen Jiming sat down on the ground. "Princess Qingping has been defeated. Judging from the Grand Preceptor's reaction, it seems he had expected it."
Across the table, the young man in white casually took a sip of tea. He was handsome, with a cool and aloof expression, and exuded an otherworldly aura.
"When lightning struck the princess's residence today, I suspected something unusual was about to happen."
The Imperial Advisor smiled faintly, "Speaking of which, I must congratulate Lord Shen; you are finally free."
Shen Jiming remained silent.
The Imperial Advisor glanced at him. "What's wrong? Could it be that Lord Shen and his wife are deeply in love and can't bear to part?"
A faint sneer appeared in Shen Jiming's eyes.
The Jiang family was full of heroes, and the late emperor had shown them great favor. Jiang Zhixu entered the palace at a young age to be the Crown Prince's companion, and his two daughters were also granted the title of county princesses and raised by the Empress Dowager.
Jiang Sixian's true goal was to become the mother of the nation, but unfortunately, neither of the two crown princesses chosen by the late emperor for the crown prince were her. She married him only to save her life and avoid disaster. Already filled with resentment, she kicked him out of the room on their wedding night, causing him to lose face completely.
He was already thoroughly fed up with this woman, so why was he reluctant to part with her?
"I'm just worried that she might implicate the Imperial Preceptor and Zhi Xian. Although she didn't directly get involved, she was aware of it after all."
The Imperial Advisor remained calm.
“I have no grudge against the Jiang family, so why would they frame me like this? The Emperor and Empress Dowager have reached their limit of tolerance for her. Accusations without evidence are just fabricated slanders, and no one will believe them.”
Hearing this, Shen Jiming felt somewhat relieved.
"The Imperial Advisor is still the most skilled; with that, there will be no more worries."
The two exchanged a glance, each harboring wicked thoughts, yet their faces wore elegant smiles.
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