Chapter 671 The finger is now pointed at Jiang Jinyan
"Why should we back down? Did my wife say something wrong?" Just then, Jiang Jinyan suddenly appeared behind them. He had already questioned Zhang Yumo's maid and knew why Zhang Yumo had acted so strangely that day.
Not many people in the entire city of Shengjing knew Bai Yuhan's identity, and even fewer had seen her. Those who knew she was Consort Han could be identified. It would be clear who was deliberately causing trouble by investigating the few nobles who could freely enter and leave the palace.
Jiang Fenghua was also observing carefully, her face expressionless, pretending not to know anything. "So Minister Jiang didn't leave!" she said, implying that he had been standing not far away.
He stood tall and elegant, striding over to Zhang Yumo's side. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he stared at Shu Xue and said in a deep voice, "If Madam Li can read Mo'er's handwriting, I will also recite poetry for everyone. If Madam Li is illiterate, then don't come out here and embarrass yourself."
Humiliated by the man she once loved, Shu Xue blushed with shame. She muttered, "What's so great about him? Does he really think he's royalty, that he can act recklessly just because the Empress is backing him up? Hypocritical and shameless."
"What did you say?"
"I told you you're shameless, pretending to be a gentleman. You said that men in the Jiang family never take concubines, but they can keep mistresses. We all saw it, and Zhang Yumo saw it too. She's just putting on an act, pretending to be high and mighty." She must have been blind to like Jiang Jinyan back then.
Jiang Jinyan said coldly, "What nonsense are you spouting, Madam Li? Please watch your words, or I will not be polite."
Shu Xue suddenly ran behind the Fourth Princess and hid, afraid of being beaten: "I'm not lying. Many people saw it. They saw Marquis Wu'an keeping a mistress. Humph, I thought Jiang the Great Scholar was some kind of virtuous gentleman, but it turns out he's nothing special."
Jiang Jinyan's face turned ugly. He looked at Zhang Yumo and explained, "Mo'er, don't listen to her nonsense. I didn't." He pretended not to know anything, staring at Zhang Yumo, hoping she would trust him.
Zhang Yumo hadn't expected Shu Xue to bring up Jiang Jinyan and Bai Yuhan's affair in such a setting. Regardless of how well Jiang Jinyan and his family had treated her, she naturally couldn't let Jiang Jinyan lose face. She said, "I believe you didn't, and you won't listen to Shu Xue's nonsense."
At this moment, Zhang Yurou suddenly said, "Madam Li, what nonsense are you talking about? You said those fabricated things are affecting the relationship between Mo'er and Lord Jiang. Hurry up and apologize to Lord Jiang and Mo'er."
Shu Xue would definitely not apologize. She thought she was right and Jiang Jinyan was wrong. She said defiantly, "The Fourth Princess saw it that day, and so did the others. I'm not lying. Didn't you all see a young lady with Jiang Jinyan?"
She wouldn't suffer such a loss. Why should she apologize? Jiang Jinyan was the Minister of Revenue, while she was the daughter-in-law of the Minister of War.
She had also heard that her uncle, Vice Minister Shu, was originally promoted to Minister of Revenue, but Jiang Jinyan obtained the position by relying on the Empress's connections. She felt that she was not wrong to offend her uncle's superior.
The Fourth Princess Consort then deliberately said, "I know nothing about this, so don't drag me into this. If you offend someone, Shu Xue, you big mouth, why are you saying these things? Aren't you deliberately trying to sow discord between Lord Jiang and Mo'er?"
Shu Xue said, "I also feel sorry for the Fourth Princess's sister."
The commotion at Plum Garden was quite significant. In addition to the wives of various ministers, there were many young ladies from official families, and even officials from the court who passed by with their families gathered around to point and whisper.
The scales of human nature will not be tipped just because you are a good official. In the realm of interests, what is revealed more often is everyone's selfishness and how to benefit themselves.
Therefore, if something happens to the Jiang family, everyone will want to step on them and cause trouble.
If Shu Xue's words are proven true, Jiang Jinyan's keeping of a mistress is morally reprehensible and will affect his reputation and official standing. Furthermore, the Jiang family prides itself on being a family of upright officials. If it is confirmed that Jiang Jinyan and Bai Yuhan have an affair, or even that Bai Yuhan is Consort Han, the Jiang family will not only be despised, but Jiang Jinyan's actions will also affect the Empress.
Zhang Yurou thought to herself: This is a perfect two birds with one stone.
Jiang Fenghua frowned. She and Jiang Jinyan exchanged a glance. Could it be the Fourth Prince's Consort?
After learning that Zhang Yumo had misunderstood Jiang Jinyan and Bai Yuhan, they thought it might be related to Bai Yuhan, but they never thought it might be related to the Fourth Princess.
She stared at the Fourth Princess Consort. The Jiang family had no grudge against her, so was it all for Xie Shang again? But even if the Jiang family was stigmatized and the Empress was implicated, Zhang Yurou was already the Fourth Prince's consort. Could she still remarry Xie Shang?
Why does she have to cause trouble instead of living a perfectly good life?
The above are just her deductions. So far, she has only seen that the Fourth Princess wants Zhang Yumo to believe that Jiang Jinyan is keeping a mistress, but she has not revealed who the mistress is. She seems to be advising Zhang Yumo to be patient or let it go. However, in such a situation, the more she says this, the more people will think that Jiang Jinyan is really keeping a mistress.
Jiang Jinyan's denial became a cover-up.
No one dared to discuss Jiang Jinyan in front of the Empress.
Just when everyone thought this matter wouldn't cause any trouble, Lin Feng came to see them personally. "Your Majesty, this humble servant greets you. There is trouble outside the capital."
Jiang Fenghua said in a deep voice, "Who dares to cause trouble outside the imperial city?"
"Someone has accused Minister Jiang of deceiving and abducting innocent women and murdering them. His Majesty is already aware of this matter, and it is His Majesty who has sent me to invite Minister Jiang for questioning."
Upon hearing this, everyone present gaped and stared at Jiang Jinyan, whispering cautiously, "How did this lead to someone dying?"
"Could it be that Lord Jiang's mistress was discovered, and he killed her to cover it up?"
"Keeping a mistress isn't a crime, why would it warrant murder? That's impossible!"
"The Jiang family has always claimed that the eldest son of the Jiang family does not take concubines. Now that people know that he has entanglements with other women, he has no choice but to get rid of the women outside in order to protect his official reputation and fame. It must be that his family members have come to his door."
"By taking advantage of a day like the Lantern Festival, they caused a disturbance outside the capital, alarming the Emperor. Even if the Empress wanted to protect her elder brother, she could no longer cover it up."
Jiang Fenghua also heard the surrounding discussions. She saw that the Second Princess Zhao had a smile on her face, as if she was watching a joke. The Third Princess had a look of doubt in her eyes. The Fourth Princess had a calm look in her eyes, as if it had nothing to do with her. Everyone else was gossiping and trying to solve the case.
The Jiang family has been thrust into the eye of the storm.
Jiang Fenghua asked in a deep voice, "Where is the Emperor now?"
"His Majesty is in the Golden Palace, along with his ministers and several princes," Lin Feng said.
Jiang Jinyan said, "I'll go now."
Jiang Fenghua said, "I will also go and take a look with my elder brother."
Just as they were about to leave, Jiang Fenghua glanced around and walked up to Zhang Yumo. "Sister-in-law, do you trust my brother?"
Zhang Yumo was stunned and didn't speak. She believed that Jiang Jinyan was a person of good character and wouldn't do such a thing, but what had she witnessed that day? Bai Yuhan also liked him.
"I believe Jiang Jinyan would never do such a thing. I believe in my own brother." Jiang Fenghua said this to everyone, including Zhang Yumo.
Then she added, "Everyone is probably quite curious whether Minister Jiang really has a mistress. Since you're all curious, come and see for yourselves!"
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