"If the young lady has given any orders, this servant and Yin Mo will do our utmost, even at the cost of our lives!"
Yin Mo's grandfather had once saved his maternal uncle, so his maternal uncle bestowed upon them the surname of their master and freed them from slavery, thus enabling their descendants to qualify for the imperial examinations.
"Investigate the whereabouts of the Second Master's personal attendant and find out exactly what he is doing for the Second Master."
Second, investigate the recent movements of Zilan, who serves the First Madam.
We need to investigate who in our household has recently visited Huangmei Lane and who they have been in contact with there.
Fourthly, investigate why Xiao's eldest daughter hanged herself, and where she went before her death. Also, investigate why her eldest son-in-law caused trouble at their home. Finally, investigate where Xiao's family is currently located!
By the way, don't tell my mother about these things, lest she worry even more!
Just as Juanniang left the mansion, Zhou Mama arrived at Jiangse Valley's courtyard.
"The old lady only just learned that someone had died here with the sixth young lady, so she sent this old servant to visit her."
"Grandma still cares about me the most! It's just a pity that Zhou Mama had to make this trip in such hot weather!"
As he spoke, he asked Qiaolian to pour tea for Zhou's mother.
"Sixth Miss, what are you saying? This old servant is just a servant, and running errands and delivering messages is my duty."
The old lady was afraid that the sixth young lady would be too frightened to eat, so she sent this old servant to invite her to dine at Zhaotai Courtyard.
Jiang Segu naturally couldn't refuse, so he went to Zhaotai Courtyard with Zhou's mother.
When Madam Jiang saw her, she looked her up and down. Seeing that she was alright, she pulled her down to sit and asked, "What happened? I heard from the servants that last night, Madam Xiao actually dared to bring people to your courtyard to make a scene!"
"Grandmother, don't worry, Azi is fine! It's just that Mama Xiao bit her tongue and committed suicide last night! I haven't been able to find out who instructed Mama Xiao to cause trouble in my yard."
"What?! There's someone behind her?"
"Grandmother, think about it, if she wasn't acting under someone's orders, how could a servant like her dare to cause trouble in my courtyard! I'm not afraid of anything else, but I'm afraid that yesterday, Mama Xiao led a group of people and left things that shouldn't have been left in my courtyard, or that she just took my things!"
The surprise in Madam Jiang's eyes was hard to hide, but then she said with satisfaction, "My little Azi has really grown up, his mind is so meticulous!"
“If Azi were truly so shrewd, how could Mama Xiao have died in my courtyard!” Jiang Segu pouted. “Grandmother, I’m completely baffled! I interrogated those servants all morning, but I didn’t get any useful information out of them. I don’t know what to do now!”
Grandmother, what would you do if this happened to you?
After a moment of contemplation, Madam Jiang said in a calm voice, "How about this, you spread the word that a thief broke into the courtyard yesterday, and that Mama Xiao led people to catch the thief, but she died protecting her master."
In just one sentence, the problem that Jiangse Valley was facing was solved.
If anything goes missing from her yard, and someone uses it against her later, they'll say it was stolen; if something unexpected is added, they'll say she was framed by a thief!
Another one is the death of Xiao's mother.
Although she committed suicide by biting her tongue, who knows what kind of rumors would spread if they got out!
Saying that she died protecting her master spared Jiang Segu from future criticism and also gave Mama Xiao the dignity that an elder of the Marquis's mansion should have.
"Grandmother, you are still the best and the one who loves Azi the most!"
Jiang Segu spoke in a soft, sweet voice, coaxing Old Madam Jiang.
For a moment, the confrontation between the two yesterday was completely forgotten.
Old Madam Jiang poked her forehead. "Now you know your grandmother is better? Yesterday you were ready to fight your grandmother to the death!"
"Oh dear, Grandmother~ I was just worried about my mother! Please, for the sake of my mother giving birth to such a lovely and clever granddaughter like me, could you at least spare some love for her? Hmm?"
Jiang Segu can say these words, but no one else can say them!
Old Madam Jiang feigned displeasure, "Are you complaining that I mistreated your mother?" Then she changed the subject, "There was bloodshed in your courtyard after all, why don't you rest in Grandmother's courtyard for the next few days!"
"No, if I were to hide at my grandmother's place now, people would say I'm guilty!"
Old Madam Jiang glared at her, "You're so good to yourself, hiding in your own courtyard for peace and quiet, leaving people here for me to see, making me feel suffocated!"
Jiang Segu feigned surprise, "Really? Peony dares to get in your way? But Azi is innocent in this matter! If Grandfather hadn't brought her back without a word, Azi wouldn't have caused Grandmother all this trouble! If Grandmother wants to hold someone accountable, she should go to Grandfather!"
She completely shirked responsibility.
"You're getting more and more talkative! Alright, let's set the table, or you'll get so angry you won't be able to eat!"
Jiang Segu smiled and agreed a few more times.
Seeing that Madam Jiang showed no sign of worry, Jiang Segu felt a little suspicious.
Does Grandmother not know that my brother fell off his horse?
***
Jiang Segu was having lunch with Old Madam Jiang when Lingdang, who was tending to the peonies, hurriedly came in.
"Madam, Madam Peony is bleeding again!"
Jiang Segu immediately raised his lowered eyes.
Peony Maiden?
Old Madam Jiang patted her hand reassuringly, "It was your father's request last night!"
Then, quite impatiently, she said, "What's wrong now? Can't she stay still unless she causes some trouble? Go, go tell the Marquis that I can't take good care of the lucky star he brought back, and tell him to move her away!"
The tone became increasingly sharp towards the end, indicating that he was truly angry.
Based on Jiang Segu's understanding of Old Madam Jiang, Peony was the second person besides her mother who could make her so disgusted!
It was rare that Marquis Changping did not leave his residence today, so he quickly followed Lingdang to Zhaotai Courtyard.
Jiang Segu stood up and was about to bow to Marquis Changping when, unexpectedly, Marquis Changping slapped her across the face.
"What are you doing!" Old Madam Jiang stood up and shielded Jiang Segu behind her. "Why did you hit Azi for no reason!"
"What's wrong? I don't think this family will be any better with her around! I was wondering why my Marquis's mansion was so depleted and had no descendants. Turns out it's all because of you, you scourge!"
The master is indeed highly skilled; he predicted yesterday that you, a scourge, would bring misfortune to the men of my household! And now, it has come true!
First, Lin Ge'er broke his leg in a horse-riding accident in Youzhou, and now my unborn grandson is also suffering because of you..."
"What? You said something happened to Brother Lin?"
Marquis Changping ignored Madam Jiang and pointed at Jiang Segu, his voice shaking the roof tiles: "Yesterday you even dared to say that Shaoyao's birth chart was incompatible with my Marquis's mansion, and that the child in her womb was incompatible with my Marquis's mansion. I coldly watched and saw that you are the scourge that is incompatible with my Marquis's mansion!"
My Marquis's mansion can no longer keep such a scourge in the mansion!
"Guards! Take this scourge to Jingyue Nunnery and tell Master Yuanjue to immediately ordain her as a nun, so she may henceforth serve the Bodhisattva and atone for her sins!"
This means Jiang Segu is going to become a nun!
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