Chapter 197 I beg my aunt to do it for me, to avenge my brother!
As night deepened, the inner courtyard of the Qi family mansion was warmly lit.
Lady Qi, née Jiang, sat upright in front of her dressing table, while her personal maid removed her hairpins and ornaments.
The face reflected in the bronze mirror remained dignified, but a hint of contemplation lingered in her eyes.
The commotion at the Meng residence during the day, especially the merchant's daughter Lu Zhaoruo, whose calm and witty remarks kept replaying in her mind.
She sighed softly, as if talking to herself: "I never expected that such a person could emerge from a place like Jizhou..."
Upon hearing this, Granny Qian, who was standing to the side, whispered, "Is the lady you're referring to the lady Lu from today's banquet?"
Madam Jiang nodded slightly, her fingertips lightly tapping the dressing table: "With just a few words, she managed to throw someone like Geng Qionghua, who had cultivated her reputation for many years, into a state of utter disarray and loss of face. This woman's sharp insight and keen mind are extraordinary. In the future, I'm afraid we'll see her voice everywhere in the capital."
The old woman understood and tentatively asked, "Now that Madam Geng of the Meng family has lost face in public, will you, Madam, still have any dealings with her in the future?"
A cold smile flickered across Jiang's lips, her eyes clear: "After this incident, this person is no longer fit to be associated with. He need not set foot in the Meng family again."
At this moment, a maid quietly entered and whispered, "Madam, Miss Cousin has arrived. She is waiting in the flower hall right now, and she looks quite disheveled."
Upon hearing this, Granny Qian frowned: "Wasn't Miss Biao sent back to Jizhou just a few months ago? Why has she suddenly come back at this hour?"
Jiang's heart sank.
She immediately thought of her brother-in-law, who was far away in Jizhou, a few months ago. He had been dismissed from his post and demoted to a commoner by imperial decree for neglecting his duties, betraying his country, and allowing his son to do evil.
She managed to negotiate with the official in many ways, barely managing to protect her sister's family from being punished and preserve their property, but her brother-in-law's career in government was now over.
She had secretly inquired about the reasons for his demotion and learned that her brother-in-law had been a tyrant in Jizhou, acting almost like a local emperor, allowing his son to commit crimes and be completely lawless...
If she were to plead for leniency for such a crime, she might only bring trouble upon herself.
Now that her niece had come in such a disheveled state late at night, Madam Jiang already had a pretty good idea of what she wanted.
The child was raised by her since childhood, but his temperament has become increasingly spoiled.
The reason she was sent back to Jizhou the last time was because she disliked the illegitimate son of the Meng family and dared to try to curry favor with the legitimate son, Meng Xi, which made her a laughing stock. That's why she had to send her away, hoping that she would behave herself.
Thinking back to when Meng Xi went to Jizhou, she had swallowed her pride and begged him to take care of her along the way, secretly hoping that they could become a couple.
Unexpectedly, after Meng Xi returned to the capital, he spoke of Li Nian'er with utter contempt, even mentioning her arrogant behavior of riding a horse and bullying the local inspector after returning to her hometown.
Jiang rubbed her temples, feeling utterly weak.
This niece is incredibly stupid and foolish; keeping her around will only bring me harm.
But in the end... she owed her sister.
Back then, it was supposed to be my elder sister who married into the Qi family, while I was betrothed to Magistrate Li.
It was because her elder sister felt sorry for her that she insisted on giving up this better marriage to her, which allowed her to become a fifth-rank lady.
Before her sister passed away, she held her hand tightly, her only request being, "Take good care of Nian'er for me..."
This immense kindness and entrustment is a burden she can never repay or escape in her lifetime.
She straightened her nightgown, got up, and walked towards the flower hall.
As soon as they stepped inside, Li Nian'er knelt down with a "plop," tears streaming down her face.
Her hair was disheveled, her clothes were rumpled, and her face was streaked with tears, making her look utterly wretched.
"aunt!"
Li Nian'er raised her tearful eyes, her voice hoarse with fear and grievance, "Please, Aunt, do me justice... Nian'er... Nian'er can't go on living..."
Jiang felt a pang of sympathy and bent down to help her up: "Don't cry. How did you manage to come back to the capital alone and end up like this? Go wash up and change your clothes first, and we can talk slowly."
Li Nian'er broke free from her hand, knelt down heavily again, and cried so hard that she trembled all over and could barely breathe.
Madam Jiang sighed softly, her tone gentle yet knowing: "I know you returned to the capital this time because your father was demoted, and you went from being the daughter of a county magistrate to a commoner. You are resentful, aren't you? But your aunt is powerless to change this. It is already difficult enough to preserve some land and houses for your family. With these assets, you and your father can live a peaceful life."
Li Nian'er suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with grief and indignation: "Family property? That family property was already ordered by the prefect of Jizhou to be awarded entirely to Lu Zhaoruo, the owner of Lu's Embroidery Shop!"
"What?"
Jiang's pupils contracted sharply. "It's Lu Zhaoruo again?"
She steadied herself and pressed for an answer: "What exactly happened?"
"She not only seized the Li family's property..."
Li Nian'er's voice suddenly became sharp, filled with deep-seated hatred, "She...she also killed my brother!"
Did he kill his brother?
Li Xiu?
Jiang was struck as if by lightning, and her body swayed violently, but fortunately, Granny Qian helped her up.
Her voice trembled with disbelief: "What...what nonsense are you talking about?"
Li Nian'er shook her head: "Aunt, Nian'er is not talking nonsense. My brother is... is already dead."
She sobbed uncontrollably, the bloody scene seemingly replaying in her mind: "My brother... he died so tragically... his hands were chopped off, his neck... his neck was pierced with countless holes by hairpins... and finally, he was burned in a fire, leaving no trace of his body."
Jiang's face turned deathly pale, and she gasped for breath: "How could this be... Who could be so ruthless?!"
"It's Lu Zhaoruo!"
"It's her!"
Li Nian'er's eyes flashed with boundless hatred as she said, word by word, "She is currently in the capital. I beg you, Aunt... I beg you, Aunt, to avenge my brother!"
Having said that, she touched her forehead to the ground and remained kneeling.
Jiang was in a state of utter confusion, her mind buzzing, and she was unable to speak for a moment.
Seeing this, Granny Qian quickly stepped forward to support Li Nian'er and said in a deep voice, "Miss, please calm down. How can the Madam understand your complaints if you keep crying like this? Please calm down and tell us the whole story in detail."
After an incense stick has burned.
Jiang had already heard the whole story.
Li Nian'er sobbed, "After that, Wan Miaoniang confessed and was sentenced to be hanged."
Jiang's sharp gaze was fixed on Li Nian'er's face: "Nian'er, tell your aunt the truth, is there anything you're hiding? If you're determined to cover it up, how can your aunt stand up for you?"
Li Nian'er trembled and knelt down again, stammering, "It was...it was Nian'er who gave my brother the idea...it was also Nian'er who forced Wan Miaoniang to conspire with me to lure...Lu Zhaoruo to the villa in Sweetwater Lane..."
She suddenly looked up, eager to explain: "Aunt! What about Lu Zhaoruo...?"
Snap!
A slap interrupted her.
Li Nian'er covered her burning cheek, staring at Jiang Shi in disbelief: "Aunt... why... why did you hit me? It was clearly Lu Zhaoruo who was ruthless..."
"shut up!"
Jiang's voice was cold and stern, filled with suppressed anger, "It was clearly you who were as stupid as a pig who caused the death of your own brother! You've been by my side since childhood, how could you come up with such a vicious and foolish plan? If it weren't for your instigation and coercion, Xiu-ge'er wouldn't have ended up like this!"
Li Nian'er burst into tears: "Nian'er... Nian'er was only trying to avenge her brother..."
"help?"
Jiang was so angry that her fingertips trembled. "This is the method you used to help? Pushing your brother to his death!"
Seeing this, Granny Qian whispered, "Madam, please calm down. According to what Miss said, the death of Young Master Lu is indeed closely related to Lu Zhao. But the strange thing is that she was able to get away unscathed and insisted that she had never been to the Sweetwater Lane villa."
Jiang took a deep breath, suppressing her turbulent emotions, her eyes flashing coldly: "What's so hard to guess? Lu Zhaoruo must have killed Xiu-ge'er and then made Wan Miaoniang take the blame. As for why Wan Miaoniang agreed to confess..."
She snorted coldly, "Didn't Nian'er say that after her death, her younger sister Wan Ningniang was recognized as Lu Zhaoruo's sworn sister? How could there not have been a deal involved?"
Granny Qian tentatively asked, "So... what does Madam mean? Should we avenge this grudge or not? After all, it's about the death of Young Master..."
Her gaze swept over Li Nian'er, who was kneeling and sobbing.
Jiang closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, there was only a cold determination in her eyes: "Nian'er was foolish and killed her own family. Her crime is unforgivable. But if it weren't for Lu Zhaoruo, Xiu'er would not have died tragically. This debt should naturally be placed on her head."
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