Chapter 273 Planting the Seeds of Doubt
Hong Jin thought that there should be no secrets between her and the lady, and the words almost came out of her mouth.
"The master went out late at night and asked this servant to stay and look after you."
After careful consideration, reason prevailed.
If she told the master's secret to others, she would face who knows what kind of revenge. If the master married her off in anger, Hongjin, as a servant, would have nowhere to cry.
She chose to keep the secret. As long as she served the lady well, the master would not do anything to her.
After figuring it out, Hong Jin let out a breath and felt a little relieved.
The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day when married women return to their parents' home.
Early in the morning, the Mo family took Chen Zhilan to Princess Yutan's residence to recuperate after giving birth, and the house suddenly became much quieter.
Jiang Yuzhu had nothing to do, so she spread out some letter paper and wrote a letter home.
Hong Xiu came in through the curtain, her footsteps very light. Seeing that her wife was busy, she was hesitating whether to speak.
Jiang Yuzhu raised her eyes slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Madam, my cousin has bought a carriage and is determined to leave the border town."
Hong Xiu persuaded him for a few words, but Chen Tao had made up his mind. He only took his servant with him and had already packed his bags.
Now, Chen Tao came to the study just to say goodbye to his cousin Jiang Yuzhu.
Jiang Yuzhu put down her writing brush and gestured. When Chen Tao came in, she asked, "Cousin, it's the New Year now, and there are only a few caravans on the road. Why don't you wait until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to set off?"
Chen Tao sat on one side, looking down in thought.
Seeing that her cousins had something to say, Hong Xiu served them some tea and snacks and then left quietly.
The room was cleared, and Chen Tao thought for a moment before saying, "Cousin, I think it would be safer to return to the clan as soon as possible."
As a descendant of the Chen family, Chen Tao had no interest in imperial examinations, nor in vying for power. He traveled around to avoid the future arranged by his clan elders.
In the past, Chen Tao firmly believed that his choice was not wrong.
Ever since he was captured in the City Lord's Mansion, he escaped and entered the tribe. He finally returned to the territory of Da Qi. He stayed in the General's Mansion for tea and was burned to death. Then he suddenly woke up.
"The night is long and dreams are many. I can't afford to gamble, and neither can the Chen family."
Chen Tao raised his head, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. After his eyes wandered for a while, they fixed.
Jiang Yuzhu heard the meaning behind Chen Tao's words and couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Cousin, do you believe me?"
Ever since Chen Tao was rescued, Jiang Yuzhu would speak ill of Da Chen and Lu Yunxi whenever the brother and sister had a chance to be alone.
Jiang Yuzhu suspected that Lu Yunxi was planning a rebellion, but she had no evidence.
Jiang Yuzhu had to change her approach and showed Chen Tao everything that had happened in the past, hoping that Chen Tao would be more alert. However, her cousin completely ignored her.
After all, although the Lu family is a big family, they are far away in Jiangnan, and most of their members are engaged in business. If it is said that they have the intention of rebellion, it sounds more like slander.
The room fell into silence.
After a long while, Chen Tao said sadly: "We are cousins, and we both hate imperial examinations. I have always thought that Lu Yunxi and I are the same kind of people..."
Once upon a time, the two had a very good relationship, and Chen Tao didn't know when it changed.
Lu Yunxi said that he went to travel in the outer sea and disappeared for several years. After he came back, he appeared in the capital. He worked as a teacher in Qingzhu Academy, a place full of controversy. Either he was indifferent to fame and fortune, or he wanted more.
"No matter what, Lu Yunxi married the young lady of the Xuan family and became part of the Xuan family, while the Chen family has nothing to do with the in-laws."
Chen Tao made an accurate analysis and concluded that severing ties with Lu Yunxi and the Da Chen family would be a good way out.
Jiang Yuzhu listened quietly and asked, "Has my cousin made up his mind?"
"yes."
After thinking it through, Chen Tao decided to strike first.
If we set out on the journey on the second day of the Lunar New Year, we can return to our tribe in early February.
"But……"
Jiang Yuzhu had dealt with the elder Chen family before. Although her family had verbally severed the relationship with the elder Chen family, if the Chen family had not severed the relationship, her mother Chen and the elder Chen family would still be sisters in the eyes of outsiders, and they would still be connected even if their bones were broken.
Seeing Jiang Yuzhu's embarrassment, Chen Tao asked with a smile: "Cousin, are you worried that the clan will not kick your aunt out of the house?"
Jiang Yuzhu nodded sadly: "My mother wrote a letter to my grandmother before, but my grandmother didn't care at all."
Chen and the elder Chen had been competing with each other since childhood, so when Chen mentioned breaking off the relationship, the Chen family thought the two sisters were having a quarrel.
There have been so many quarrels over the years that the Chen family has become accustomed to it. This matter has become a thorn in Jiang Yuzhu's side.
Chen Tao took a sip of tea and waved his hand, "What's the difficulty?"
"Cousin, please don't keep me in suspense. I want to hear your solution."
Jiang Yuzhu felt anxious and worried, but she didn't quite believe it.
Chen Tao calmly drank a cup of tea and ate a piece of dessert. At the moment when Jiang Yuzhu could no longer bear it and wanted to smash his head, he said accurately: "It's simple, slander."
"slander?"
Jiang Yuzhu raised her eyebrows, seeming to understand a little.
Chen Tao didn't blush at all, and continued: "Cousin, you know the Chen family's rules. As long as you slander the Chen family and violate the rules, it will be difficult to be expelled from the family, right?"
"The simplest and most brutal method is to accuse Da Chen of having an affair."
Look carefully for clues, where can slander come faster?
Anyway, the clan cares about its reputation, and Chen Tao just uses this to fight back.
Not only did Chen Tao arrange for Da Chen to have an affair, he also made clear arrangements for the offspring born from the affair.
Jiang Yuzhu looked very strange. She tried to hold back her laughter for a while but couldn't hold it back any longer. She said in a trembling voice, "Will this work?"
"It will work. If grandparents find out that Da Chen is having an affair, they will be furious and kick her out."
The Chen family also has a chastity arch, which shows how strict the requirements are on women's words and deeds.
After Chen Tao finished speaking, he closed his eyes and sighed, "My eldest sister was married to a sickly man, but he died a few days after the marriage. She was finally taken back to the clan because of the chastity arch and could not be remarried openly."
Chen Tao was referring to her elder sister Chen Fang, who married into the family for good fortune, but before she could consummate her marriage, her husband died.
The Chen family took the person back, kept him in the backyard, and took good care of him, providing him with good food and drink.
"My eldest sister is only in her twenties. She has a lover who wants to remarry, but my parents use clan rules to refuse and break up the couple."
Chen Tao said this and smiled bitterly.
This time he returned to the clan, ready to take advantage of the Da Chen family.
First, she slandered Da Chen for being unfaithful to her husband and expelled her from the clan. Then, she mediated and arranged a marriage for Chen Fang.
The rest of my life is still long. Do I have to live a simple and pure life for the next few decades?
Jiang Yuzhu gave a thumbs up and said sincerely: "Cousin, you still have ideas."
Jiang Yuzhu never took this rule of the Chen family to heart, as her mother, Chen, only mentioned it once.
Thinking about what the original owner had done in the past and how her parents had never despised her, Jiang Yuzhu felt inexplicably moved.
It was as if they knew that this was wrong and would bring about bad consequences, but the Jiang family didn’t think about the long term, as long as she was happy.
As for the rest of the rumors and gossips, her parents and brothers can help her deal with them.
"Cousin, just wait for good news from your brother."
If we leave this matter to Chen Tao, he will definitely get it done.
Chen Tao finished his cup of tea and then stood up.
Before leaving, he thought of what happened with Xie Zhao in the tribe, and his eyes flickered.
The job of selling his body is his, and Chen Tao can't even like women now.
On the other hand, Xie Zhao, wearing a pockmarked mask, hindered all the beautiful women.
"My cousin."
Chen Tao decided to slander Xie Zhao in the old way. He said with a straight face, "Do you know what Yuan He likes?"
"ah?"
Jiang Yuzhu was distracted by the things in the capital and didn't take it to heart. She subconsciously asked, "What do you like?"
"chrysanthemum."
After Chen Tao finished speaking, a meaningful smile appeared in his eyes.
Chrysanthemum represents homosexuality, which is well known to people in the northwest.
His cousin is so smart, she should be able to think of it, right?
Chen Tao didn't care whether it was nonsense or not. He just wanted to trip up the calculating Xie Zhao and plant a seed of doubt in his cousin's heart.
Of course, after Xie Zhao has suffered, Chen Tao will explain clearly that he is a kind-hearted person.
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