"They're all as cunning as monkeys. They took the bribes from your maid, so why would they come here to gossip? It was my maid who went out of the manor and bumped into me a few times."
They didn't want to tell me directly, so they spoke to Zhou's mother privately a few times.
Mother Zhou went to investigate herself and found out that the man was on duty at the North City Military Command, and was even a deputy commander, before she dared to come back and tell me!
As she spoke, Madam Jiang pinched Jiang Segu's cheeks and tugged them left and right.
“Just talking about these things makes me angry! You, without a word, got to know another man, and not only did you not tell Grandmother when you came back, but you even did those things that damaged your reputation right under Grandmother’s nose. Do you want to be talked about behind your back?”
"Grandma, it hurts!"
Jiang Segu groaned in pain, but his heart felt as light as if the sun had shone after a rainstorm, and he felt completely relieved!
She said she wasn't her grandmother!
Thank goodness it wasn't my grandmother!
Otherwise, she really wouldn't know how to avenge her mother and maternal grandparents!
"It's good that it hurts. Let's see if you dare to be so reckless next time!"
Despite her harsh words, Old Madam Jiang eventually relented.
Jiang Segu rubbed her cheeks and pouted, muttering, "Grandmother didn't say it was forbidden!"
Madam Jiang knew that when Jiang Segu was referring to "back then," she meant when she was pursuing Liang Shaojie.
"They're all family. If you two get together in the future, people will just say you were childhood sweethearts. If you don't, Grandmother can simply say that I asked you to look after them, and you just took extra care of Shaojie on my behalf!"
But right now, that person surnamed Gu is an outsider. Your ambiguous actions will only make you look bad in other people's eyes! How can your grandmother speak up for you in the future?!
It turned out that her grandmother had already planned an escape route for her. Jiang Segu smiled and hugged the old lady's waist. She raised her head and said in a sweet and coquettish voice, "Grandmother, think carefully. Do you have a brother-in-law or sister's husband with the surname Gu? My uncle's surname is also fine!"
Grandma Jiang was so angry that she slapped her arm twice. "She's getting more and more unruly as she gets older!"
Jiang Segu cried out in pain as she was beaten, "Grandmother, you really have the heart to hit me so hard!"
"Stop talking nonsense! Is that guy surnamed Gu really that good?"
The thought of Gu Songhan caused Jiang Segu, who was wincing in pain, to relax her brows and eyes, which held an emotion she herself was unaware of, while she said things that she didn't care.
"How would I know if he's alright! I just owe him a favor and was thinking of sending him some food to repay it!"
Madam Jiang joked, "What a huge favor it must be to get Azi, who never lifts a finger in the kitchen, to personally cook for you?"
Jiang Segu stubbornly replied, "Doesn't this show that I'm sincere?"
"Oh, I see! It was my old woman who had the wrong idea and misunderstood Azi!"
However, speaking of which, Azi will be of marriageable age in a few months, and it's time to arrange a marriage. Since Azi doesn't like the men next door, Grandma will find some families for you. We'll have their portraits sent to the manor so Azi can choose freely. Grandma will be there to advise you and make sure we find a handsome and talented husband for our Azi!"
There was a teasing look in Madam Jiang's eyes.
"Grandmother! You're being disrespectful to your elders, I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Jiang Segu, looking shy and bashful, stood up and ran out of Zhaotaiyuan as if fleeing...
After leaving Zhaotai Courtyard, Jiang Segu arrived at Madam Jiang's Jiyue Courtyard in a very good mood.
Madam Jiang was somewhat surprised by her sudden arrival, assuming that she had come because of the incident involving Third Grandma Jiang falling into the water and Mama Xiao searching the courtyard.
"Azi, whether you believe it or not, neither your mother falling into the water nor Aunt Xiao was instigated by your aunt! Even if you come a few more times, your aunt will still say the same thing!"
"Why are you bringing up this old matter again, Aunt? I had completely forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it!"
Seeing her beaming face, her watery eyes sparkling and curving into crescents, and her extremely gentle and clear tone, filled with a sense of joy, completely different from her questioning demeanor when she came before, Madam Jiang couldn't understand for a moment what Jiang Segu wanted to do this time!
"Ah Zi never visits without a reason. May I ask what brings you to your aunt's courtyard today?"
At Jiang Segu's signal, Qiaolian and Qingying carried the trays to Madam Jiang.
Madam Jiang then noticed the contents of the trays in the two people's hands.
One glance was enough to make her eyes widen.
Jiang Segu was somewhat worried that her eyeballs might fall into the tray.
"Zijin, quickly light the lamps!"
Madam Jiang was in charge of the household's finances, and her purse was tight. Coincidentally, the Yin family had run into trouble, and since October of last year, Madam Yin had not contributed to the household expenses. Therefore, adhering to the principle of saving as much as possible, she did not light any lamps today.
Zijin quickly summoned a maid to light all the lamps in the room.
Because of the bright candlelight, both sets of headdresses emitted their own dazzling halos.
Madam Jiang's eyes widened even more.
She knew about those two sets of headdresses; she was envious of them for a whole year back then!
Now that Jiang Segu has brought these two sets of jewelry, could it be that he wants to bribe her and get information from her?
Madam Jiang was momentarily torn, and a greedy glint appeared in her eyes.
After a moment, she gritted her teeth and said, "Azi, if you have something to say, just say it. Your aunt will definitely tell you everything she knows!"
Jiang Segu never expected to have such an unexpected gain when he came to Jiyue Courtyard.
"Auntie is a sensible person; she naturally knows what Azi wants to ask!"
Madam Jiang reluctantly withdrew her gaze from the head and face, afraid that she might say something indiscriminately while looking at them!
"Those two rough-looking old women were definitely not sent by me, and Madam Xiao is not one of my people!" Madam Jiang said with absolute certainty and sincerity.
"What about Peony? How much effort did the eldest son's family put into getting her into the household?"
Madam Jiang said solemnly, "This matter really has nothing to do with our eldest branch. Your uncle and I didn't even know there was such a person as her before."
"What matter has anything to do with your first wife's family?"
“Azi, believe your aunt. Your aunt has no intention of harming your third branch! Over the years, the only person I have ever had designs on the third branch is your brother!”
As you know, your aunt is useless and can't have a son, which is why she's always wanted to have your brother adopted by me!
Although I have had many wicked thoughts, I have never seriously tried to harm any of you from the third branch of the family!
Think about it, if I were to harm your mother, would your brother still be my son?!
Besides, Shaoyao is pregnant. If I bring her in and she gives birth to a son for your father, will I still be able to hold my position in this Marquis's mansion?
"Are your sons that important to you? And your daughters, so cheap that you can just give them away and ruin them?"
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