Chapter 50 Chapter 50 Shu'er finally agreed to see me
It was as if a hand was strangling Jiang Shu's throat. Jiang Shu felt a little suffocated and even had difficulty breathing.
She knew that the most important thing she should do now was to step off Lu Changji immediately, keep a distance from him, and use the distance as her fig leaf.
But perhaps she was too nervous, her body was stretched like a string, her legs were stiff and hard, and she couldn't move at all.
Lu Changji held Jiang Shu's legs and pulled them down gently but forcefully, and Jiang Shu fell onto him.
One of them was lying flat, the other was sitting astride, facing each other. Jiang Shu had no choice but to look at Lu Changji's face. Lu Changji's eyes were like a mirror, reflecting Jiang Shu's helplessness, unbearableness, panic and embarrassment.
Jiang Shu didn't dare to look at him anymore and turned her face to the side. But in a moment, tears fell like beads that had fallen off the string.
Lu Changji sat up, put his arms around Jiang Shu's waist, and slowly lifted her off him. As his body lightened, he placed her at the head of the bed.
There was a pillow behind her, which was thick and solid, making Jiang Shu's body feel solid.
Jiang Shu breathed a sigh of relief, but before she could catch her breath, Lu Changji leaned over her again, and his warm breath, scented with green bamboo, sprayed on her cheek.
My heart immediately began to lift again.
"Sister-in-law, remember to put on your clothes properly before you run away next time so that no one can see you." As Lu Changji spoke, he untied Jiang Shu's messy belt and tied a knot carefully.
His fingers were long and thin, and even when he was tying a belt, he looked very gentle.
The chill rose from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. Jiang Shu remembered that when Lu Changji ordered Cheng Yong to assassinate Lu Zhun, he used the same calm tone.
Jiang Shu was extremely frightened, her teeth chattering and making a slight creaking sound. She didn't know what to say, and didn't dare to speak. She just stared at Lu Changji's slender fingers.
Lu Changji noticed her movements, curled his lips slightly, fixed his eyes on her, and asked in a low voice: "Sister-in-law, do my hands look good?"
He called his sister-in-law over and over again, making Jiang Shu feel so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into the ground.
Jiang Shu's head drooped lower and lower, and her mouth remained silent. The facts were before her, and no matter what reason she came up with, she could not defend herself.
After all, she was too careless. How could someone like Lu Changji fall twice in the same place?
Time seemed to stand still, and Jiang Shu's heart tightened. Lu Changji reached out and held her chin. He forced her to look up, his dark eyes staring at her like a hawk, and asked, "Tell me, why did you pretend to be pregnant?"
His eyes were as sharp as torches, and he could see through every move she made. Her psychological defenses had already been broken, so how could she dare to play tricks?
I had no choice but to tell the truth: "Before the prince died, he left a will, saying that if I am not pregnant, he wants my wife to kill me and bury me with him."
She spoke the most horrifying words in the calmest tone, and even someone as calm as Lu Changji couldn't help but change his expression.
He knew that Lu Changyi was violent and sinister, but he didn't expect that he would be so perverted that he would not even let his own wife go.
His hands trembled slightly. He resisted the urge to wipe Jiang Shu's tears and whispered, "So, you want to borrow one from me?"
This was indeed the fact. She was so disgusted that she couldn't even say it out loud. She could only lower her eyes and nodded slightly.
"Why me?" He had no intention of letting her go. He was determined to tear everything apart and reveal all the dust. "If you look for someone else, it will be much safer than looking for me."
"That night at Qingyang Temple, I didn't know that the prince wanted me to be buried with him. I felt pregnant, pregnant..." She hesitated.
He simply said what she couldn't say: "I think that having my child would be considered as expanding the Lu family and continuing the lineage, and it wouldn't be considered a disappointment to my mother."
That night, although he couldn't move, he clearly remembered how awkward she was, and how tight she was, as if to strangle him to death.
If Lu Changyi was not unable to do it, how could she dare to do such a shameful thing.
Lu Changyi and Lu Changfeng had been fighting overtly and covertly for years, and Lu Changji had been watching from the sidelines. He had never expected that Lu Changyi would even risk Jiang Shu's life in order to suppress Lu Changfeng and prevent him from inheriting the title of Marquis.
Thinking of Jiang Shu's answer, Lu Changji's eyes darkened again, with a hint of anger. If Lu Changfeng had not already married, if Lu Changfeng and Lu Changyi had not been at odds with each other, in Jiang Shu's heart, there would be no difference between seeking him and seeking Lu Changfeng for sex.
My heart was extremely cold, but I couldn't bear to blame her, and the words I said were as warm as spring.
Lu Changji put down the hand that was holding Jiang Shu's chin and whispered, "Tomorrow, tell your wife that you are not pregnant. Don't be afraid, I will protect you in the end."
Jiang Shu secretly glanced at Lu Changji. Although his expression was gloomy, she felt very relieved. She didn't know why he wanted to protect her, but she knew that since he had spoken, he would definitely keep his word.
She sat up straight and murmured "Hmm".
Lu Changji stopped talking, bent down, carried Jiang Shu to the bed, squatted on the ground, held her slender feet in his palms, and put the embroidered shoes on her feet.
After doing all this, he slowly stood up and whispered, "Go out, it's quiet outside."
Jiang Shu's face turned red again. No wonder there wasn't even a servant to sweep the side yard. It turned out that Lu Changji had sent everyone away, and Qing was waiting for her to fall into the trap.
It's all her fault for being too stupid, otherwise she wouldn't have fallen straight into the trap.
The center of her legs didn't hurt as much as last time, but her legs were weak and had no strength. Jiang Shu paused for a moment, then slowly stood up and walked out the door step by step.
When she reached the door, she couldn't hold back any longer and turned to look at Lu Changji. She stammered, "Just now, I, I lost my composure, you..."
Lu Changji raised the corner of his lips and smiled knowingly: "Half of the aphrodisiac went into the wine jug on the main table, and the other half went into your plum wine."
His speech speed became slower and slower, and his voice became thicker and thicker: "It's true that Shu'er's mind is distracted, and I'm not necessarily sober either."
It was better for both of them to be distracted and infatuated than for her to lose control alone. Jiang Shu's tense nerves relaxed a little, and she slowly walked out of the room.
After what happened, Jiang Shu really didn't want to see anyone, so she left the yard and took a carriage back to the Marquis' Mansion.
Jiang Shu was too tired during the day, so she slept particularly soundly that night. The next day, after breakfast, she went to Yanxitang.
The doorman saw her and said softly, "Second Madam, you've come at an unfortunate time. Madam went to the Huaxi Temple to worship Buddha yesterday. She probably won't be back for a while."
Zhao liked quietness and would stay in the mountains for a while every once in a while. Since Zhao was not at home, he would wait until she returned home to tell her that she was not pregnant.
Jiang Shu was not in a hurry either. With Lu Changji's promise, she always felt at ease.
Jiang Shu returned to Xinchun Garden and said to Zhu'er, "Let Old Li harness himself to the carriage. I'm going home to see my father."
Jiang Wenhuan's health was so poor, as a daughter, she couldn't just ignore him.
Although Jiang Shu had already prepared herself mentally, she did not expect Jiang Wenhuan to pass away so soon. As soon as she entered the door, she heard faint crying sounds.
Jiang Shu felt a chill in her heart and quickly rushed into the house. She saw that Jiang Wenhuan's face was pale, his eyes were closed, and he had already died.
Jiang Bin was standing beside Jiang Wenhuan and crying loudly. Lin was also crying with a handkerchief in her hand. Only Yang was silent. She sat quietly on the wooden bench, staring at Jiang Wenhuan's body with an expressionless face.
Hearing footsteps, she turned to look at Jiang Shu. Her eyes were gray, as if covered with a layer of dust, and no one could tell what she was thinking.
She glanced at Jiang Shu and left the dormitory in silence.
Jiang Shu helped Lin up and whispered, "Auntie, the dead cannot be resurrected, please don't be too sad."
Lin was waiting for this step. As soon as Jiang Shu opened her mouth, she stopped crying: "Master passed away so suddenly. I was so sad. I felt like half the sky had fallen."
After she finished speaking, her body tilted as if she was about to faint.
Jiang Shu looked at the maid beside her and said, "My aunt is so sad that she almost fainted. Please take her back to her room to rest."
The maid understood and helped Lin walk to the back room.
After Lin left, Jiang Shu walked to Jiang Bin. She took out a handkerchief and wiped the tears from Jiang Bin's face.
Holding Jiang Bin's hand, he said softly, "Bin'er, now that father is gone, you are the pillar of our family. There is no point in being sad. You have to find a way to stand up again."
Jiang Bin is the only male among the younger generation of the Jiang family. Jiang Wenhuan has always brought him up by his side. When he grew up, he studied away from home and only returned home once every two or three months. Although he vaguely knew that there were conflicts between Jiang Shu and Yang, he just thought it was a fight between the women in the inner house and did not take it to heart.
Furthermore, it was thanks to Jiang Shu's help that he was able to study at the Zhao family's private school, so he has always been close to Jiang Shu.
He choked with sobs, clenched his fists, and said to Jiang Shu, "Just wait and see, elder sister. I will study hard, get a good score in the exam, and become a support for you sisters."
Boys of twelve or thirteen are full of vigor and vitality, and have infinite courage and hope in their hearts.
Jiang Shu nodded and whispered to Jiang Bin, "Now, my eldest sister is going to set up the mourning hall for father. You are his only son, so you must wear mourning clothes and stand by his coffin, thanking and returning the gifts to the guests who come to pay their respects."
There were still tears on Jiang Bin's eyelashes, but he nodded sensibly and was led by Mrs. Wu to the back room to change clothes.
The Jiang family had only five servants, which was not enough to handle the situation. Jiang Shu asked Zhu'er to go back to the Xinyang Marquis' Mansion to mobilize more people. More than a dozen servants worked together and quickly set up the mourning hall and spread the news of the death.
The Ye family lived nearby, so Ye Qian was the first to go to the Jiang family to offer condolences. He knelt in front of the mourning hall and burned a few pieces of paper money. Then he bent down to help Jiang Bin, who was kneeling and returning the greeting. "Life and death are all predetermined. You must mourn with all your heart."
As Ye Qian spoke, his eyes swept across Jiang Wenhuan's body, and his originally gentle expression slightly restrained.
He briefly comforted Jiang Bin, slowly walked out of the mourning hall, and strode towards the flower hall.
As expected, Jiang Shu was distributing cards in the hall and assigning tasks to the servants. Ye Qian walked up to her and whispered, "I have something I want to talk to you alone."
They had been engaged before, and as they were sitting in the melon field and plum tree, it was not convenient for them to go to the inner bedroom, so they walked together to the locust tree in the yard and stood facing each other and talked.
Ye Qian went straight to the point: "I just went to the funeral hall to pay my respects. Uncle Jiang's face was dark blue. He didn't seem to have died of illness, but rather of poisoning."
Jiang Shu knew Ye Qian was intelligent, but she hadn't expected him to be so perceptive. Ye Qian was a trustworthy person, so she didn't hide anything. She whispered, "Father was indeed poisoned to death. His diet was always taken care of by Yang. I suspect it was Yang who poisoned my father, but I haven't found any evidence."
"Have you checked the residue of the medicine used to decoct the medicine for your uncle, or the medicine pot or soup bowl?" Ye Qian asked.
Zhao would make soup for Jiang Wenhuan every day. Although the amount of medicine she put in each time was very small, the poison would seep into the soup bowl over time. Jiang Shu first checked the soup bowl, but she couldn't find any signs of poison.
She shook her head and said, "Ever since I learned that my father was poisoned, I sent people to guard the Jiang residence. Not only could not a fly fly out, let alone tools.
I had all the kitchen utensils checked, but they found nothing."
Ye Qian worked in the Hanlin Academy. Although he did not sit in the court, he had sorted out many case files and was quite knowledgeable.
He said, "If it was really Yang who did it, you need to find evidence quickly. On the day of the funeral, people will be coming and going, and any evidence can be given out."
Jiang Shu nodded, her expression becoming more solemn. Suddenly, Ye Qian said, "Chopsticks, go check the chopsticks your uncle used when he was alive."
Jiang Shu suddenly realized what was going on and without even bothering to thank Ye Qian, she hurriedly went to check the ivory chopsticks used by Jiang Wenhuan.
At first glance, the chopsticks looked normal, but the silver needles that touched them slowly turned black. Jiang Shu didn't want to spread the news before the matter was concluded, so she quickly sent for Dr. Wen, whom she knew well.
Doctor Wen carefully examined the tip of the chopsticks and whispered, "The tip of these chopsticks looks like ivory, but it's made of gout powder. Gout powder is colorless and tasteless and dissolves in water. It's harmless at first, but it can be fatal over time."
This explanation makes sense...
Unfortunately, this medicine is colorless and tasteless and dissolves in water. Even if it was Yang who gave it, she would have probably destroyed all the evidence, so how could she find any clues?
Jiang Shu sighed heavily and frowned.
Ye Qian was very calm. He said, "It's not necessary to find physical evidence to draw a conclusion. Yang's purchase of medicine, preparation of medicine, and administration of medicine will all leave traces.
But she is on guard and will definitely erase these traces intentionally. Unless the Ministry of Justice or the Dali Temple intervenes, ordinary people will have few means to dig out this matter."
Ye Qian paused for a moment, then said to Jiang Shu, "After all, this is a family secret. If it gets out, it might damage the Jiang family's reputation."
"Why don't you entrust this matter to Minister Lu? Minister Lu is your uncle, and he oversees the Ministry of Justice. If he handles this, he will be able to find out the truth in no time."
Lu Changji, Lu Changji...
Jiang Shu felt uneasy at the mere mention of his name, and her ears felt hot. She had just gotten on his bed and couldn't even hide from him, so how could she have the nerve to ask him for help?
Jiang Shu was reluctant to tell Ye Qian about this, so she just nodded vaguely and hurried back to the flower hall. She whispered to Zhu'er, "Have someone keep an eye on Yang. Don't let her leave the Jiang family's main door, let alone the bedroom."
Zhu'er said that Yang was not an easy person to deal with. She didn't trust others, so she went to guard Yang's door herself.
More and more people came to pay their respects, and the female family members were reluctant to go to the mourning hall to pay their respects. Instead, they went to the flower hall to talk to Jiang Shu. When someone asked about Yang, Jiang Shu acted sadly and said, "Father passed away so suddenly. Mother couldn't bear the blow. Now she is bedridden and can't even get up."
Everyone couldn't help but sigh: "Ah, who could have thought that Lord Jiang would suddenly pass away due to illness when he was fine. Not to mention your wife, even we can't accept it."
Jiang Shu sighed softly, "That's right. Father has always loved Mother deeply. They have lived in harmony for so many years. Now that one of them is gone, the other must be heartbroken."
Jiang Shu had worked with Zhao to handle many household chores. She could even handle the grand banquets at the Xinyang Marquis' Mansion, and handling the Jiang family's funeral was no problem at all.
Unfortunately, the Jiang family currently has no mistress in charge, and all matters, big and small, have to go through her hands, which is undoubtedly stressful.
After finally seeing off the last wave of female relatives, Jiang Shu leaned back on the chaise longue and dozed off. After resting for about an incense stick of time, the door was opened and Fang Yu stepped in.
She bowed to Jiang Shu and said softly, "Second Madam, there's news from the mansion saying that the master is coming to pay his respects to Master Jiang."
Lu Changji is coming, what is Lu Changji doing here? The sleepiness was swept away, and Jiang Shu jumped up from the chaise longue.
After she stood still, she realized that her reaction was too intense. She coughed lightly and said awkwardly to cover it up: "Master, you have a lot of official duties, how can you spare the time to pay your respects to your father?
The Jiang family has never received such a distinguished guest as you, and I don’t know how to receive you.”
Fang Yu was also a little confused. Yu Gong Lu Changji was the prime minister of the dynasty, while Jiang Wenhuan was just a sixth-rank judge. The two had very different identities and they had never even met.
Personally, Jiang Wenhuan is Jiang Shu's maternal family member. Although he is Lu Changyi's father-in-law, he has no relationship with Lu Changji.
Both publicly and privately, Lu Changji shouldn't have appeared at the Jiang family, but he came anyway.
Fang Yu was not as reckless as Zhu'er. She carefully considered her words. She said, "Master is of noble status, and his every word and action is watched closely. His visit to the mansion shows that he treats the Jiang family differently from other families.
Even though the mansion has lost its master, no one dares to look down on the Jiang family. My visit here will be beneficial even for Master Jiang Bin's official career."
That's the truth, but when Jiang Shu thought about what happened that day, she didn't want to meet Lu Changji.
They were clearly uncle and sister-in-law, yet they had been very sincere to each other. It would have been better if Lu Changji was unconscious, but he was clearly awake at that time. How should she face him?
The scenes on the couch flooded into Jiang Shu's mind, and her ears became hot.
Jiang Shu didn't dare to think any further. She rubbed her brows and whispered to Fang Yu, "I have a headache. I need to go to the back room to take a nap. You are the most calm and composed person. Please treat me well later."
Even someone as calm and composed as Fang Yu was stunned. She said anxiously, "Second Madam, how can a servant of my status be qualified to receive the master? I know you are very tired, but..."
Before she could finish her words, she saw Jiang Shu straighten her dress and stride out of the room.
The Jiang family had only two courtyards in total, so Lu Changji walked along the corridor to the main courtyard without the need for a servant to lead the way.
From a distance, Jiang Shu was seen leaving the flower hall and flying towards the back room.
She ran very fast.
A smile appeared in his dark eyes, and Lu Changji slowly followed Jiang Shu's footsteps.
Jiang Shu ran all the way to the back room, intending to hide in the dormitory, but unexpectedly she saw Ye Qian standing under the eaves writing an obituary.
There was only a table in front of him, not even a stool. Jiang Shu hurried into the room and brought a stool for Ye Qian.
Jiang Shu assigned the task of writing the obituary to Jiang Bin's study partner, Zhang Xiaoge. Perhaps Zhang Xiaoge felt that his handwriting was not good enough, so he asked Ye Qian to write it.
She whispered, "Little Brother Zhang is becoming more and more unruly. Qing was waiting for you to help, but you didn't even bother to bring over a stool."
Ye Qian never fussed over trivial matters. As he wrote, he said, "It's not a big deal. Brother Zhang was so busy that it's understandable that he was careless for a moment."
He was such a good-natured person, always thinking of others first, no matter what. For example, the ink in the inkstone was clearly running out, but he remained silent, probably waiting to grind it when he had more time.
Jiang Wenhuan had been an official for many years, and he had to write at least hundreds of obituaries. It would be bad to keep wasting Ye Qian's time, so Jiang Shu spontaneously stood aside to grind ink for Ye Qian.
Lu Changji stood in the shadow of the corner, looking at the two people under the eaves with a serious face. They were about the same age, one was writing and the other was grinding ink. They looked at each other from time to time, and they had an indescribable tacit understanding and were a perfect match.
Lu Changji had a good memory; he clearly remembered Jiang Shu and Ye Qian taking shelter under the eaves on that rainy day. They clearly still had feelings for each other, but because Luofu was married, they restrained themselves and observed etiquette. Ye Qian was her fiancé, whom she had been forced to break off the engagement with.
Tsk, what a pair of ill-fated mandarin ducks!
Ye Qian put the brush aside, raised his arm and snatched the ink stick from Jiang Shu's hand, and said softly: "You are still pregnant, it is not suitable for you to be tired. Go back to the house and rest!"
Jiang Shu had to make things clear anyway. She originally wanted to tell Ye Qian that she was not pregnant, but then she thought about how many people were around the Jiang family and who could be listening. So she said nothing more and just said, "I'm in good health. It's okay for me to stand for a while."
Ye Qian refused to give in. He folded the obituaries neatly together and whispered, "I'll take these back home to write them. You hurry back to your room."
Without waiting for Jiang Shu to reply, he hurried to the front yard.
After lingering in the backyard for such a long time, even if Lu Changji came to the Jiang family to pay his respects, he would have probably already left.
There were still a lot of things that Jiang Shu needed to decide, so she didn't dare to delay and turned back along the path to the front yard.
When I reached the intersection, a deep voice rang beside my ears: "Shu'er is finally free."
Jiang Shu raised her head and saw Lu Changji standing in the corner.
The setting sun shone on him, as if giving him a thin golden edge. He turned his back to the light, staring at her straight, his eyes as thick as a ball of mist that could not be dissolved.
Jiang Shu shuddered, then unconsciously straightened her body, and said angrily: "Uncle is here, there are many things to do at home, I really can't get away, I hope you can forgive me for my negligence."
Lu Changji was particular about appearances, and Jiang Shu had thought he would at least give her some respect. Unexpectedly, he said, "Since you know you've been neglectful, why didn't you wait in front of the courtyard and greet me at the door?"
She was originally in the wrong, and since he was determined to slap her in the face, she didn't argue but just stood there and listened to his lecture.
"I originally thought my sister-in-law was intelligent, virtuous, and well-educated, but I never expected her to be so unwise. There should be certain rules for who to meet, who not to meet, and when to meet. If you ignore the important things and focus on the trivial, you will end up losing more than you gain."
Jiang Shu originally didn't want to meet Lu Changji, and now that he had scolded her, she didn't want to deal with him even more.
She just wanted to send Lu Changji away quickly, and with a sheepish look on her face, she agreed with him, "Uncle, I'm going to teach you a lesson. I'll definitely keep your words in mind. I'll be careful with my words and actions in the future, and I'll know when to do good things."
She stroked the bracelet on her wrist and changed the subject: "Uncle has been to the funeral home. If he has been there..."
"I haven't been there yet." He interrupted her in a low voice, his tone rather unfriendly.
Jiang Shu curled her lips in dismay, feeling helpless in her heart, but pretended to be humble and respectful on the surface: "I will take my uncle to the mourning hall to pay his respects."
She took a step forward, walked to the side of Lu Changji, and made a "please" gesture to Lu Changji. Lu Changji walked towards the front yard with a sullen face.
The officials were off duty at the hour of You. Although it was already dusk, there were still many people paying their respects. Jiang Wenhuan's colleagues gathered in the mourning hall, some were burning paper money, and some were talking to Jiang Bin.
The moment Lu Changji appeared, the mourning hall suddenly became quiet.
Censor Luo was the first to react. He quickly stepped forward to greet Lu Changji, bowed, and said earnestly, "Minister Lu is extremely busy with all sorts of affairs. I'm sure Lord Jiang would be very pleased to know that you have condescended to offer your condolences to him."
He started the conversation, and others came to Lu Changji, some offering him tea, some offering him water, and doing their best to flatter him.
Lu Changji frowned slightly, and Cheng Yong spoke at the right time: "It's getting late. Minister Lu wants to pay his respects to Lord Jiang."
Everyone looked at each other with embarrassment on their faces, feeling that they were too attentive and inappropriate, and quickly moved to both sides.
Lu Changji burned a few pieces of paper money and walked slowly to the lattice. Anyone who was educated knew Lu Changji's name.
He was the only cabinet minister of the dynasty who had won three top honors in the imperial examinations. The articles he wrote were read repeatedly by students as models. Although Jiang Bin had not yet passed the imperial examinations, he had great respect for Lu Changji in his heart.
He rubbed his hands nervously, looked up at Lu Changji, and said respectfully, "Sir, you took the time out of your busy schedule to express your condolences to my father. I am deeply grateful."
Lu Changji nodded, exchanged a few words with Jiang Bin, and then was surrounded by the crowd and left the mourning hall.
Although he left, he completely changed Jiang Bin's situation. Censor Luo originally thought that Jiang Wenhuan's death would lead to the decline of the Jiang family, but he did not expect that Lu Changji was still willing to support the Jiang family.
With Prime Minister Lu's support, even if Jiang Bin has made no achievements now, he will surely be successful in the future.
The court attached great importance to the reputation of officials. Censor Luo went to the Jiang family to pay his respects out of consideration for his colleagues. Although he entered the mourning hall, he was very cold to Jiang Bin. Now he changed his previous perfunctory attitude and approached Jiang Bin to talk warmly.
After the previous lesson, Jiang Shu didn't dare to neglect Lu Changji again. As soon as Lu Changji came out of the mourning hall, she followed him to his side and followed him to the gate.
Lu Changji paused at the door and turned to look at Jiang Shu. She folded her hands in front of her and looked straight at him with a very respectful attitude, which was completely different from her relaxed posture when she was with Ye Qian.
Lu Changji took a deep breath and whispered, "You don't have to be so cautious."
Jiang Shu felt helpless and didn't know how to get along with Lu Changji. If she was too casual, he would dislike her for not being respectful enough. Now that she was being polite to him, he would dislike her for being too cautious.
She really couldn't grasp this measure well. Adhering to the principle of saying less and making fewer mistakes, Jiang Shu refused to say anything more and just nodded repeatedly.
She was a delicate person, but when she faced him, she became a piece of rotten wood. She didn't even bother to give him a perfunctory response. With his jaw clenched, Lu Changji stopped talking and stepped into the carriage.
The air pressure inside the car was so low that it seemed to be freezing. Cheng Yong, who was standing by, didn't even dare to breathe.
The carriage drove steadily towards the Xinyang Marquis's Mansion. Halfway there, Lu Changji looked at Cheng Yong and said, "Find the evidence that Yang poisoned Jiang Wenhuan and send it to the Second Madam."
Cheng Yong was slightly stunned. The old man was as cold as ice in front of the Second Mistress, but when he turned his back on her, he was so attentive to her and started making plans for her. The old man was really...
Some things are hard to say out loud, so Cheng Yong replied with a "yes", jumped off the carriage neatly, and headed straight for the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice has its own rules for handling cases. Some evidence is difficult to trace, but for a woman like Yang who has no experience in committing crimes, clues can be easily found.
After Lu Changji left, Jiang Rong was accompanied home by Lin Yunzhi. Jiang Shu had been taken care of by Jiang Wenhuan when she was young, but Jiang Rong had never even eaten with Jiang Wenhuan. She did not have much affection for this father.
She rushed home in a hurry, partly to mourn, but more importantly, to help Jiang Shu share some of the chores.
There were so many chores to do that the two sisters stayed at Jiang's house. They divided the work between them. Jiang Rong prepared the banquet for the funeral while Jiang Shu watched the servants light the eternal lamp in the mourning hall. At this time, Cheng Yong came in.
Behind Cheng Yong followed a middle-aged man with a slightly dark complexion, a short beard, and a faint medicinal fragrance emanating from his body.
Jiang Shu was confused and looked at Cheng Yong. Cheng Yong said, "Second Madam, this Mr. Yu is the owner of Huichuntang.
Four months ago, a girl named Luzhu went to Huichuntang to buy a medicinal herb called Goutang. Because Goutang was highly poisonous, Mr. Yu specifically asked Luzhu what she wanted to do with the medicine.
Someone at the Green Bamboo Daoist Mansion had dysentery and needed a decoction made from Gou Tang and Qi Xing Lian. Because Gou Tang and Qi Xing Lian were a perfect match for dysentery, Mr. Yu gave Green Bamboo seven qian of Gou Tang.
Mr. Yu cupped his hands and said gently, "The imperial court has extremely strict control over Gou Tang. If anyone wants to purchase this medicine, they must take out their token, register their real name, and clearly state the purpose of use in the booklet.
Miss Luzhu couldn't read, so I wrote her name on her behalf and only gave her the medicine after she put her fingerprint on it."
Mr. Yu took out a booklet with an official seal on it and flipped through a few pages. Lu Zhu's name suddenly appeared in front of Jiang Shu.
Yang held Luzhu's indenture, and Luzhu's life and death were in her hands. She ordered Luzhu to buy poison, which was the safest option.
Cheng Yong revealed the truth. As long as Luzhu was willing to tell the truth, there would be no chance for Yang to turn things around.
Jiang Shu looked at Mrs. Wu and said, "Pass Green Bamboo over here."
Mrs. Wu hesitated for a moment and said vaguely, "After the Third Miss's wedding, Lu Zhu seemed to have disappeared. I haven't seen her since."
Cheng Yong seemed to have anticipated this. He looked at Jiang Shu and said gently, "Second Madam, don't worry. Give me one night and I will bring Lu Zhu to justice."
How could Jiang Shu find Shopkeeper Yu on her own, let alone arrest Lu Zhu? Jiang Shu knew that it was Lu Changji who was helping her, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.
She said to Cheng Yong, "Thank you for your help, sir. I would also like to trouble you to thank me for me."
Cheng Yong said yes, and just as he was about to leave, he saw the door was opened and Zhu'er strode in.
Zhu Er walked straight to Jiang Shu and whispered, "Miss, just now Yang saw Master Cheng coming in through the window, and she clamored to see you, saying she had something to tell you."
Jiang Shu didn't expect Yang to take the initiative to see her, so she replied, "Since she wants to see me, bring her here."
Since Jiang Rong's wedding, the Jiang family has been under the watch of the guards sent by Jiang Shu. Those guards did not restrict Yang's movements, but followed her wherever she went.
Yang was quite calm. Ever since she gave the token that she had obtained with great difficulty to Jiang Ran, she had been prepared to be captured alive.
She sat down in the main seat, glanced at everyone in the room, and finally fixed her gaze on Jiang Shu.
She raised the corners of her lips and smiled, saying, "It was indeed me who poisoned Jiang Wenhuan. He should have died long ago. I only blame myself for taking action too late, allowing him to live happily for a few more months."
Back then, he was just an unknown scholar, and his family was so poor that they couldn't even afford to eat. It was she who married into the Jiang family with a generous dowry. She used her dowry to support his studies, take care of the household chores for him, and take care of his parents. Only then did he have the opportunity to focus on his studies and passed the imperial examination in one fell swoop.
He was working in the officialdom, and it was not good to have no concubines at home, so she used her own money to find him a concubine. With a virtuous wife and beautiful concubines by his side, he felt that he was perfect.
Yang smiled and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She originally thought that she and Jiang Wenhuan had a very close friendship, but later she realized that it was just her wishful thinking.
Jiang Wenhuan had no affection for her as a couple. When she was no longer useful, when she had conflicts with Jiang Shu, who married into a wealthy family, he could abandon her without mercy in order to please Jiang Shu.
There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart!
Yang Huilan has been working hard all her life, so how could she do business that would lose money?
He had failed her, and she wanted to kill him.
She had already prepared a retreat, purchasing talismans, a carriage, and maids. She was supposed to escape on the day of Jiang Rong's wedding, but unfortunately, Jiang Ran came back...
She only has one token...
Compared with her daughter, her life was nothing. Jiang Ran still had a long way to go, and she was just a living corpse.
There was no point in her living, but she didn't want to risk her life by poisoning Jiang Wenhuan. Jiang Wenhuan didn't deserve her life in return.
She tried her best to eliminate all traces of Jiang Wenhuan's poisoning. She thought that even if Jiang Shu found the pair of chopsticks stained with poison, there would be nothing she could do. She never expected Cheng Yong to enter the house under the cover of night...
If Lu Changji intervened, he would have to bring Lu Zhu to justice, and Jiang Ran would be unable to escape. She could only confess before Cheng Yong took action.
She will eventually be implicated by Jiang Wenhuan.
Yang smiled helplessly, picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of tea, then turned to look at Mrs. Zhou: "Go and invite Bin'er over. He is not a child anymore. There are some things he should know."
Jiang Bin was still keeping vigil. His thin body, wrapped in a layer of linen, looked even more bony. There were quite a few people in the room. He stood in the middle of the room, looking at Yang in confusion.
Yang waved at him, straightened his messy hair, and then looked him in the eyes, saying softly, "Bin'er, your father didn't die of illness. I poisoned him to death."
Jiang Bin suspected that there was something wrong with his hearing. He looked at Yang in confusion, his eyes full of doubts.
Yang put her hand on his cheek and caressed it lovingly: "Your father failed me, I can't let him go. All the unfaithful men in this world should not be alive."
Her speech became slower and slower, dark red blood oozing from the corners of her mouth. She couldn't help coughing, and while coughing she said, "Bin'er, mother can't live any longer. You must listen to your eldest sister from now on. Your eldest sister is a few years older than you, and no matter what, she will always do what's best for you."
Yang turned to look at Jiang Shu and said intermittently: "Bin'er is your blood brother. He knows nothing and has done nothing."
Yang had been domineering and scheming all her life, but in the end, she bowed to Jiang Shu for the sake of her two children.
Jiang Shu originally hated Yang very much, but when she saw the blood at the corner of Yang's mouth, she finally softened her heart.
What Yang said was not wrong. Jiang Bin knew nothing and did nothing. He was just her younger brother.
Jiang Shu nodded and whispered, "Don't worry!"
Feeling relieved, Yang no longer had any regrets. She lowered her head to Jiang Bin's shoulder and closed her eyes quietly.
Because Lu Changji had paid tribute to Jiang Wenhuan, many officials spontaneously sent him off on the day of his funeral. The road was filled with sacrificial tents, which was very solemn and spectacular.
It was about three miles from the Jiang family to the cemetery. Jiang Shu was dressed in mourning and refused to slack off for a moment. She finally had some free time at nightfall.
Ye Qian carried the lunch box into the flower hall. He walked slowly to Jiang Shu, opened the lunch box, and handed the crucian carp soup inside to Jiang Shu. He said in a gentle voice, "My mother made a pot of crucian carp soup for you. It contains angelica root. It is very beneficial for pregnant women. Drink it quickly while it's hot."
The soup smelled fragrant, and it was obvious that it had been stewed for a long time. Jiang Shu didn't want to let Ye's mother down, so she picked up the porcelain bowl and drank it all.
She pondered for a moment, then whispered to Ye Qian, "Brother Ye Qian, I'm not pregnant."
Ye Qian paused slightly and frowned in confusion.
Jiang Shu then told Ye Qian the reason for her fake pregnancy. She concealed the fact that she had framed Lu Changji for sex and said, "Minister Lu is kind-hearted and is willing to speak well of me to my mother-in-law to save my life."
Jiang Shu's background was originally incompatible with Lu Changyi's, and now she is a widow. If she doesn't have a child, her future situation in the Xinyang Marquis' Mansion can be imagined.
Ye Qian pondered for a moment, then slowly squatted down, staring at Jiang Shu, and said solemnly: "I have always been attracted to you, and my mother also very much wants you to be her daughter-in-law. If I go to the Xinyang Marquis's Mansion to propose marriage, would it be presumptuous?"
Jiang Shu subconsciously clenched her hands, staring at Ye Qian in disbelief, and said in surprise: "Brother Ye Qian, I am a widow, how can I be a good match for you?"
There were precedents of widows remarrying in the current dynasty, but those widows either married butchers or actors, and no respectable family was willing to welcome a widow into their family.
Given Ye Qian's character, if he married her, he would definitely treat her well and her life would be safe and secure. However, marrying her would be of no benefit to Ye Qian.
Ye Qian was a scholar-official with a bright future. If he married a widow, he would be criticized by many people.
Ye Qian treats her well, but she can't just take care of herself.
Jiang Shu hesitated for a moment, then said to Ye Qian in a gentle voice, "We broke off our engagement a long time ago. Marriage is no longer relevant. I was the one who failed you in the beginning. Why would you put your future aside and put yourself in a difficult position for me?"
The light red halo shone on Jiang Shu, giving her a layer of soft light. Although she was standing face to face with Ye Qian, she did not look directly at Ye Qian. Her eyes flickered and slanted down on the green floor.
Ye Qian stretched out his arms, grasped Jiang Shu's shoulders, forced her to look straight at him, and said word by word, "Marrying you is my lifelong wish. It has never been a grievance."
His words were simple and plain, yet full of power. A warm current surged in her heart like waves, and Jiang Shu grabbed the most solid piece of driftwood in the ocean.
She had known Ye Qian was her future husband since she was fourteen. He was handsome, calm, gentle, and ambitious, and although his family was poor, she didn't mind.
Life is made by people. As long as the husband and wife are of one mind, they don’t have to worry about not having a good life.
Later they were forced to separate. They thought they would have to live like this for the rest of their lives. But at the darkest moment of their lives, he extended an olive branch to her.
If she had been more rational, Jiang Shu would have immediately agreed to Ye Qian's proposal. From then on, they lived in harmony and treated each other as equals. Although their life was ordinary, it was very happy.
But thinking about Ye Qian's future and Ye's mother's consideration for her, Jiang Shu hesitated again. Marrying a widow as his principal wife, and this widow was also the sister-in-law of the prime minister, would do Ye Qian a hundred harms and no benefit.
To marry or not to marry, Jiang Shu's heart was in turmoil, unable to make a decision. She hesitated for a moment and said to Ye Qian, "Brother Ye Qian, please let me think about it."
Ye Qian didn't want to push her too hard, so he nodded gently and said, "I know what you're thinking, but you must remember that from the day I got engaged to you, I've been looking forward to marrying you home."
Some things should be said only when they are said enough. If you say too much, it will seem like you are taking advantage of someone's misfortune. Ye Qian said no more and said goodbye.
The night sky is like a piece of azure velvet, with the stars twinkling on it, as if containing thousands of words.
Jiang Shu was not one to drag her feet, and she had no intention of delaying Ye Qian's future. She personally sent Ye Qian to the gate and said softly, "Brother Ye Qian, it's late at night and the roads are dark. Please walk slowly. I will give you an answer in five days."
The moonlight was as bright as a flower, casting the shadows of the two people on the ground. The two parallel shadows strangely overlapped at the corner, adding a bit of charm.
Lu Changji sat in the carriage, looking at the two of them coldly, his eyes gloomy, as if brewing a tremendous rage.
Cheng Yong looked at the two men standing opposite each other in the moonlight, sweat dripping from his face. He pulled the reins and whispered to Lu Changji, "Sir, we..."
Before he could finish his words, Lu Changji interrupted him: "Drive the carriage to the gate of the Jiang family."
Jiang Shuyou was talking to Ye Qian when they suddenly saw a carriage stop beside them. Cheng Yong lifted the curtain and Lu Changji's figure appeared in their sight.
The night was as cool as water, but his complexion was even colder than an autumn night.
"Shu'er!" His dark eyes fixed on Jiang Shu, and he spoke slowly in a low voice, "It's time for you to go home."
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