The old lady asked the elders to open a clan temple. From then on, the direct line of the Chu family was divided into two branches. The clan members did not quite understand why they split up, but most of them chose to rely on the eldest branch. After all, Prince Kang was very popular in the court.
The Duke of Chu took Prince Kang to the study for a secret talk.
Yang took Chu Xiangxiang into her bedroom. Unable to hold on any longer, she collapsed on the couch and looked at Chu Xiangxiang with a guilty look on her face.
"It's all because of my soft heart. I thought that after all, you were my child, a girl, and when you grow up, you can get married and be trapped in your husband's family for the rest of your life, and it won't have any impact on you.
But who would have thought that she would be found today? If she had been dealt with back then, she wouldn't have left you with this hidden danger today."
Looking at Yang's haggard and miserable appearance, and the sound of her throat damaged by crying too much today, which was almost like a broken bellows, Chu Xiangxiang was moved after feeling annoyed.
She was an orphan in modern times. Yang had doted on her for many years. While she had been trying to please her, she also truly regarded Yang as her mother. She only regretted that she was careless and underestimated these ancient people whom she looked down upon.
Chu Xiangxiang hugged Yang to comfort her.
"It's already happened. There's no point regretting my past mistakes. Fortunately, my daughter has given birth to a son. As long as you and my father support me, although it's more difficult than before, my position should still be stable."
Yang nodded eagerly:
"Don't worry, my son. As long as mother is here, I will definitely let your father support you."
Chu Xiangxiang still has confidence in the relationship between Yang and Duke Chu. In addition, since she can give advice to Prince Kang, she believes that Prince Kang will not give up on her easily.
Then Chu Xiangxiang told Yang that Wang Po had let Danruo go. Yang didn't want to believe it, but since these words came from the mouth of her most beloved daughter, she had no choice but to believe it.
But the wet nurse had died to take the blame for her. Yang thought that death was the greatest thing, and she had planned to take good care of Wang Po's son and grandson, so now she would just give him some money to send him off.
Chu Xiangxiang was dissatisfied with Yang's soft-hearted behavior and tried to persuade her earnestly:
"This might not be the first time that Mrs. Wang has disobeyed her mother's wishes, so these people need to be put under surveillance and investigated thoroughly.
Even if we can't find anything right away, it's best to leave no evidence. Otherwise, if Granny Wang reveals anything about you to your family over the years, you and your daughter will be in danger again."
Although Yang found it difficult to leave her wet nurse's family, Xiao Lang's two children were more important to her. She was worried that Xiao Danzhu was also frightened today, so she asked Chu Xiangxiang to comfort her.
Chu Xiangxiang agreed perfunctorily. This idiot who couldn't even poison her hadn't been able to win over a little girl like Danruo in all these years.
In addition, as far as she knew, Yang asked Wang Po to give Xiao Danzhu a certain amount of silver every year to ensure that she had a worry-free life. But Danruo said today that she had been supporting the family since she was a child and had a miserable life, which did not seem to be a lie.
It can be seen that part of the silver was embezzled by the old woman Wang Po, and the other part was used by Xiao Danzhu, who knows where. It seems that I have to investigate my cheap brother carefully to prevent him from holding me back again.
At the same time, he advised Yang not to think about Xiao Lang anymore and to please Duke Chu.
Although it was because Yang loved Xiao Lang so much that she followed her suggestion and replaced him with someone else to enjoy the good life in the Duke's Mansion, but now at this critical juncture, she had to remind Yang not to lose the Duke of Chu, this infatuated son, because she was thinking of a dead man.
--
When Eunuch Deng returned to the palace, he explained everything that had happened today in detail and gave the emperor the 60,000 taels of silver he had collected.
The previous emperor was extravagant, and the treasury was empty after Qi Mu took over. However, considering the suffering of the people, he reduced taxes for several years in succession. The wealthy families also intermarried and formed alliances, making the situation difficult to break.
So under the emperor's deliberate arrangement, Eunuch Deng led a group of his godsons and grandsons to become corrupt officials in the new dynasty. They took money to do things. Sometimes things could be done, but sometimes they would fail.
After all, what they did was not a good thing. Even if it failed, they did not dare to make a fuss in front of the emperor. They just regarded it as a silent loss.
In fact, the emperor knew everything and even controlled everything secretly.
Since the Duke of Chu spent 60,000 taels of silver, we can only guarantee that the news did not come from Eunuch Deng's mouth. There were many related people present at the scene, and it is hard to say what might happen one day.
But it is really chilling to see how Duke Chu, Danruo's biological father, treats the girl he likes.
"Keep this news secret for a few days. After a few days, ask the Duke of Chu for 50,000 taels of silver. Otherwise, tell him that someone is going to tell the Queen Mother."
Eunuch Deng nodded in agreement. He brought more than 20 imperial guards with him, so it was reasonable for him to ask for more money for tea.
Seeing that Eunuch Deng didn't continue speaking, Qi Mu rubbed his thumb ring and asked casually, "How is Danruo? Is he hurt by what happened today?"
Eunuch Deng was full of entanglements, but he still didn't dare to lie to Qi Mu. "Princess Danruo is eloquent and calm in her response. However, even if they are biological parents, they may still have expectations in their hearts. Seeing how much they defend Chu Xiangxiang, she may have a childish temper and deliberately said something to Prince Kang."
After saying that, he replayed the scene to Qi Mu, and seeing Qi Mu's stern face, he didn't dare to say a word.
Qi Mu was stunned for a moment and then lost in thought: "Go and check whether Dan Ruo has met Prince Kang before. If she thinks marrying Prince Kang will make her happy, then let Chu Xiangxiang, the imposter who stole Dan Ruo's identity, give up her position."
After Eunuch Deng left the imperial study, he kept hitting himself on the mouth for talking too much.
--
The Duke of Chu promised Prince Kang a lot of gold and silver as well as subsequent connections to support him, and only then did he persuade Prince Kang to keep the matter secret.
Originally, the two families split up, and the millions of wealth accumulated over the years was reduced by half. The shop and farm could only make an annual income of 50,000 to 60,000 taels of silver. After dividing half of it, it was feared that the subsequent income would be even less. So when Duke Chu received a request from Eunuch Deng for another 50,000 taels of silver, he glared at her and it took Yang's gentle persuasion to calm him down. The eunuch was cunning, and they had to give it to him when he had such a big handle in their hands.
Later, Yang and Duke Chu had two sons. The eldest son is twelve years old this year and is named Chu Jinlin. He has been slowly following Duke Chu to learn how to deal with people and things. In two years, he will be able to find a vacancy and be named the crown prince.
Chu Jinlin was very dissatisfied with this incident. With such a sister, he was afraid that there would not be much money left in the Duke Chu's Mansion when he took over.
But he knew clearly that his father listened to his mother, so he ran directly to Yang to question her: "I'm afraid that mother has forgotten us brothers because of my sister. Are we brothers just my sister's pawns, and we have to sacrifice everything for her?"
Upon hearing this, Yang secretly cursed Danruo for sowing discord, while analyzing the pros and cons to Chu Jinlin. She said that the gold and silver lost now were only temporary. Once your sister's son Chen Ge'er ascended the throne, as the king's uncle, you would have everything you wanted.
Dan Ruo heard Yang's plan through the hibiscus flowers outside their house and just wanted to say that you haven't lost enough now. Chu Jinlin will never be the emperor's uncle in this life.
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