However, when the Western barbarians invaded Liaozhou, a group of mountain bandits in Liaozhou were alarmed and fled westward in panic.
The bandits fled to a mountain at the border of Dingzhou and Liaozhou, where they encountered a group of treasures being escorted to the capital in dozens of cartloads.
Even though the Jiang family's valuables were escorted by Dingzhou soldiers, when have these bandits ever been afraid of government troops? They simply robbed them and then hid in the deep mountains to become kings of the mountain.
When the news reached the Marquis's residence, Lady Yong'an, overwhelmed by the recent multiple blows, did not vomit blood but instead fainted completely.
This fainting spell was serious. The doctors who came to examine the patient all shook their heads, saying it was a stroke, resulting in hemiplegia.
Overnight, two hemiplegic patients appeared in the Earl's mansion. One was elderly, needless to say, and the other was Jiang Mingyi, who was not even thirty years old.
Adding to this, the rumors spread by Madam Yun among the noblewomen of Kyoto led many in Kyoto to lament that the Earl's family had committed a grave sin and was now being punished.
The eldest son was imprisoned and failed the imperial examination; the second son was embroiled in scandal and became paralyzed. I wonder what misfortune has befallen the third son, who is far away in Dingzhou.
On this day, Jiang Mingyi struggled to get up, asked his servants to bring him paper and pen, and wrote a letter inviting Madam Su to a gathering at Qingfeng Restaurant.
The next day, Jiang Mingyi had his servants quietly carry him to Qingfeng Restaurant, where he requested a private room and waited quietly for Madam Su's arrival.
Madam Su originally did not want to come, but when Old Madam Yun learned of this, she personally accompanied her.
Therefore, when Jiang Mingyi saw the two figures that appeared when the door was pushed open, he couldn't help but feel flustered.
It wasn't the Su family and Xiao Youran he had imagined, but rather Old Madam Yun and the Su family.
Those were the most harmonious years for him and Madam Su, and he felt a chill in his heart when he saw Old Madam Yun.
Why?
Madam Yun is quite formidable, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
In fact, Madam Yun later lived in the capital for a long time and rarely returned to Dingzhou, so they actually didn't meet many times.
But every time he met this elder of the Su family, he felt as if everything about him was seen through.
If this was the case before, how much more so now that he has done so many wrong things.
Therefore, as soon as Madam Yun entered the room, her powerful aura immediately filled the entire private room.
Even though she was already a commoner, neither a titled lady nor the old lady of the Marquis's mansion, Jiang Mingyi instinctively felt a pressure that made it hard for him to breathe.
Madam Su helped Old Madam Yun sit down at the table, without touching the cups on the table.
Madam Yun spoke up, her words hitting the nail on the head: "Young man of the Jiang family, how did you agree to marry my precious daughter back then? And what are you doing now? How can you face Ya Rong?"
Sweat beaded on Jiang Mingyi's forehead. He dared not answer and, as before, looked to Su for help.
Madam Yun continued, "Why are you looking at Ya Rong? It's inappropriate for you to invite your ex-wife to meet in private. She wasn't planning to come anyway, but I insisted on coming with her because I found out. I just want to ask you in person, what is the reason?"
Seeing this, the servant serving Jiang Mingyi quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, "Madam, let's talk this out. Please have some tea to soothe your throat."
After saying that, he stepped forward, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to the old lady.
Old Madam Yun snorted coldly, showing no respect whatsoever. "I dare not drink your Jiang family's tea. If I were poisoned to death, I would be the one who got the short end of the stick. I barely survived the calamity of having my family's property confiscated, only to lose my life to this small cup of tea. Even the King of Hell would laugh at me for misjudging people and being caught off guard!"
These sarcastic remarks made Jiang Mingyi's face turn red and white in turns. He waved his hand at the servant and said, "You can go out now."
The servant had no choice but to leave.
Jiang Mingyi, who had been leaning against the chaise longue, slowly sat up, moved his immobile thigh to the ground, and then knelt down with a thud. "Madam, Ya Rong, I'm so sorry! It was all my fault for being so foolish and making such a terrible mistake! Please forgive me!"
Madam Su smiled faintly, "I already said last time that we are now sworn enemies. I forgive you, but will you let Xiao Youran go? Will you let Chen-ge go?"
Jiang Mingyi nodded frantically, his usual refined and scholarly demeanor completely vanished. "Of course I will! I know I was wrong. I will never provoke Xiao Youran again, nor dare I! Please forgive me, forgive the Earl's Mansion! And please, Xiao Youran, spare the Earl's Mansion!"
Old Madam Yun understood the implied meaning and her brows furrowed sharply. "What do you mean?!"
Jiang Mingyi smiled bitterly, "Why pretend to be confused, Madam? My Jiang family is in such bad luck now, all because of Xiao Youran, right? I've figured out the details now. Please forgive me. You can make any requests, and we'll try our best to fulfill them. But please, Xiao Youran, lift the curse on my family."
Madam Yun was furious. "Your family's misfortune is your own doing! What does it have to do with our little Youran?! Our little Youran is a little lucky charm, who would want to cast any curses on you?! Humph!"
She angrily grabbed Su Shi and headed for the door.
Jiang Mingyi was stunned, but unable to stand up, he could only lie on the ground and call out in a sorry state, "Aunt... Madam! Ya Rong!"
"Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!" Old Madam Yun continued her stern rebuke even after leaving the room. "It's clearly the Yong'an Marquis's family that committed evil deeds and is being punished, yet you insist on blaming us! She's, after all, your own daughter! Do you dislike her that much? We've only just returned to the capital from Taizhou, and you're already eager to throw mud at us? Even tigers don't eat their cubs! Aren't you afraid of divine retribution for slandering your own daughter like this?!"
Su understood her aunt's meaning and stood aside, wiping away her tears in grievance.
This matter must not be allowed to spread among the Jiang family, otherwise, their daughter's reputation will be associated with a witch who can curse people.
Jiang Mingyi swallowed the blood that welled up inside him.
As Madam Su helped Old Madam Yun walk towards the stairs, they passed a private room and heard a familiar voice coming from inside.
Su stopped in her tracks.
As Madam Yun was about to ask questions, she clearly heard a familiar voice coming from inside, "Second Madam Qin, you really have to believe me. I only returned to the capital in Taizhou after being persuaded by Madam Yun to divorce. It wasn't because I couldn't bear the hardship of being demoted to a commoner that I asked for a divorce. Madam Yun couldn't bear to see my two children suffer, and she was afraid that the few taels of silver we had painstakingly saved would leave the whole family hungry and cold. That's why she persuaded me to divorce and return home. Madam Qin, you've watched me grow up since I was a child. Don't you know my character?"
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