"What did you say? The Jiang family has a son?" Pei Tianyou, the patriarch of the Pei family, stared at his second son in shock, his eyes swirling with unreadable emotions.
“That’s right! I’ve sent people to investigate, and it took quite a bit of effort to find out the exact information. Fu Qiyuan and Jiang’s son is already a year and a half old!” Magistrate Pei said, stroking his goatee.
"One and a half years old... A year and a half ago, that was the time when Wang'er had the accident. You must immediately send someone to Guyang County to find out the exact time of Jiang's childbirth. Go now!"
Magistrate Pei acknowledged the order and went to make the arrangements. Pei Cheng asked with a stern face, "Father, do you suspect that Wang'er's death is related to that woman giving birth?"
Pei Tianyou slowly turned around and looked at Si'er. "None of the people Wang'er took away have returned. All the collateral branches of the clan, along with the family's guards, have been exiled to a place three thousand miles away. With the Pei family's power, they could have easily saved Wang'er's life, but Fu Qiyuan acted first and reported later. There's something wrong with that!"
Pei Cheng shouted excitedly, "Father, I'm going to find Fu Qiyuan right now. I want him to give me an explanation!"
"Explain what?" Pei Tianyou coldly demanded. "Regardless of whether you are a commoner or he is an official, this case is closed. Does he need to explain anything to you?"
Pei Cheng was filled with hatred. "So we're just going to let him go? Aren't we going to avenge Wang'er? Didn't he say he had a son? I'll use his son's life to pay for Wang'er's life!"
Pei Tianyou walked to a chair and sat down without saying a word. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Wang'er's revenge is not something we won't take, it's just that the time hasn't come yet! Fu Qiyuan's son is now our biggest turning point, so don't act rashly!"
Pei Cheng retorted indignantly, "What hope is there? He doesn't even give his aunt any face, and he doesn't listen to his own mother. What can we do?"
Pei Tianyou let out a deep sigh of frustration and said, "Your aunt's situation in the capital is becoming increasingly difficult. She has endured for so many years, but it was all ruined because of your cousin. Your cousin is a good-for-nothing. As long as your aunt keeps a firm grip on your cousin, the Cheng family can rise again! As long as the Cheng family doesn't fall, your aunt can still be of one mind with us, and our Pei family can continue to be rooted in the capital!"
"What does Father mean?" Pei Cheng was still puzzled.
“We already know Fu Qiyuan’s weakness. You don’t need to ask any more questions. Leave it to your aunt to handle!”
Li Yang has been in a good mood these past few days. This morning, she went to the bamboo hut early to watch a group of children practice their skills. After watching for a while, she went to find Mr. Xunmei to play chess, because her beloved adopted son was not there.
While playing chess, I inadvertently saw the painting hanging on the wall, and my heart ached, instantly destroying my good mood.
"Still no news about Sister Mei?"
Mr. Xunmei paused for a moment, then said casually, "Perhaps he has found a quiet place to be a wife and mother. A simple life is not necessarily bad."
Li Yang tightened his grip on the chess piece and nodded heavily: "Sister Mei is so kind, God will bless her, you will definitely meet again!"
"Yes, Sanlang and Shan'er are already gathering information for me. In two or three years, Sanlang will take the imperial examination, and by then it will be about time for me to return to the capital!"
Li Yang asked with delight, "Sir, are you preparing to leave the mountain?"
Mr. Xunmei stroked his beard and smiled, "The capital has the best resources. Even for the sake of Sanlang, this old man should return. If I cannot find Mei'er, I will never return to the court in this lifetime!"
Li Yang sighed regretfully and said, "I dare not disobey your words, sir, but I'm afraid your peaceful and leisurely days in seclusion are numbered!"
Mr. Xunmei said dismissively, "Although I live in the countryside, my heart is with the nation. What does it matter whether I live in seclusion or not? Just wait and see how my disciple will make contributions to the country!"
Li Yang covered her mouth and laughed, "I certainly believe it... I never expected that Jiang Shan and his family would be so fortunate. Not only have they won the favor of the master, but they also get along very well with me. The brother and sister seem to be very lucky!"
At this point, she suddenly changed her tone, "That idiot Cheng Lan even wants to pair Fu Qiyuan and Yi An together! Let me make this clear: no matter how lowly Jiang Shan's status is, she is still the birth mother of my adopted son and can be considered my adopted sister. If Cheng Lan dares to look down on people, I don't care whether she has the surname Cheng or not!"
Mr. Xunmei looked at Liyang with a complicated expression. After thinking for a while, he decided to tell her about the grudge between Fu Qiyuan and Jiang Shan, so that she would not do something bad with good intentions.
After a moment of stunned silence, Li Yang jumped up and down, exclaiming, "How could this be! What exactly did that brat from the Fu family do to Jiangshan?"
Mr. Xunmei didn't want to say any more; as an old man, it wasn't convenient for him to interfere in the love affairs of young people.
"Oh dear! With that girl's vindictive nature, the Fu family boy will definitely suffer in the future, unless he can keep it a secret forever! But that's impossible, the Fu family boy is as loyal and righteous as his father... but I'm afraid he'll be just as clueless as his father...!"
Li Yang is filled with sorrow.
...
When Lü Tan brought the news she had heard at Hongxiufang to Jiang Shan, Jiang Shan was not angry.
She calmly looked at the account book in her hand and said to Lü Tan, "You did a good job. From now on, send someone to tell me any news related to the Pei family as soon as possible. You can go back now. I'll send you a fun entertainment device in a few days."
Green Sandalwood happily went back.
Looking at Jiang Shan's restrained expression, An Jing said, "Let me give you a heads-up: the wife of the fourth-rank official from the eldest branch of the Cheng family in the capital who was recently dismissed is from Jiangling."
Jiang Shan looked up at him, his dark eyes flashing with a cold light.
An Jing sighed, "Ask your Lord Fu, he should know what's going on!"
When Fu Qiyuan pushed open the door to Jiang Shan's office, he felt an unusually low pressure.
The room was dark, with no lights on, and the tea on the table had long since gone cold.
Before Fu Qiyuan could ask, Jiang Shan cut to the chase: "I've received some information that Rong Yue traveled all the way from Jiangling to Yuzhou specifically for Jiang's Private Kitchen. It's all connected to the Pei family and the Cheng family in the capital!"
Fu Qiyuan lit a lamp, stepped forward, and took Jiang Shan's slightly cool hand in his. He said in a low voice, "An San sent word that the Cheng family, in order to take revenge on me, intends to destroy you through Rong Yue. It was instructed by the Cheng family's matriarch, my maternal grandmother. What do you plan to do?"
There was no concealment, no apology, and the shadow in Jiang Shan's heart vanished instantly.
"First, within three months, I want to shut down Tong's Private Kitchen forever! Second, I want to make the Pei family hand over the position of vice president of the Chongqing Chamber of Commerce! I already have a plan for the first step; can you help me find a suitable opportunity for the second step?"
Fu Qiyuan smiled, held Jiang Shan's hand, and kissed it, saying, "Three months later, the imperial court will send an inspector to Yuzhou to investigate the local economy and taxes. The Yuzhou Chamber of Commerce will also be included in the investigation. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and Pei Guangnian, in order to prove himself, will definitely ask to take on the most important role!"
Jiang Shan's eyes lit up as he asked, "Tell me the details quickly!"
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