Cheng closed her eyes tightly.
"I don't know who the lady is...?" Jiang Shan pretended to be confused even though he knew the answer.
“Our young master is the chief secretary of the Yuzhou government, and this is our young master’s mother, the lady of the Ministry of Works!” Bizhu said defiantly, her neck stiff.
Jiang Shan exclaimed, "So it's Madam Fu. Doesn't Lord Fu know you've arrived in Yuzhou? Why didn't he send anyone to accommodate you? Oh dear, many merchants from other places have come to Yuzhou these days, and all the inns are full. I wonder where Madam Fu is staying now?"
Madam Cheng snorted coldly and said, "No need for Mr. Jiang to worry, Yuan'er will arrange accommodations for me!"
Jiang Shan smiled and picked up his teacup, saying, "That's good! I still have a few distinguished guests to entertain, so please excuse me for a moment. I will send someone to inform Lord Fu to come and pick you up."
Cheng's face immediately darkened.
Bizhu glanced at her mistress and shouted sternly, "Are you going to abandon our mistress to entertain others? Do you know who you are? Our mistress has come all the way from the capital to Yuzhou, and instead of serving her properly, you are being negligent in every way. What are you up to!"
Jiang Shan narrowed his cold eyes and turned to look at Bi Zhu. "What kind of status do I have that I need a maid like you to teach me? It seems you don't even know your own place! When Madam Fu comes to Yuzhou, she naturally has attendants and servants to serve her. At the very least, she has her son, Lord Fu, to take care of her. It's not my place to worry about her! As for that other person you mentioned, is the Prefect of Yuzhou qualified to compete with this lady?"
Bizhu's expression changed slightly, and she looked timidly at Madam Cheng.
Cheng's face turned pale and then red, her hands clenched into fists, a fire burning inside her that she couldn't extinguish.
"The Prefect of Yuzhou is here... Why is Yuan'er not here?"
Jiang Shan casually put down his teacup and said, "Lord Fu is the top official in charge of this trade fair, and he personally handles all matters, big and small. It's getting late, so I must excuse myself. Madam Fu, please make yourself at home!"
Cheng watched Jiang Shan leave, feeling utterly frustrated, but powerless to stop him.
Jiang Shan just made it very clear that she is an outsider!
She never considered herself Fu Qiyuan's concubine!
How can she exercise her rights as a future mother-in-law?
So annoying!
She came here to take her grandson away, but judging from this woman's attitude, it won't be that easy.
When Fu Qiyuan's carriage stopped in front of the shop, he glanced at another carriage not far away and walked in without making a sound.
"Go and tell Shan'er that my mother will stay at the Jiang residence tonight."
Fu Shu followed closely behind, his hands tucked into his sleeves, and asked, "What about tomorrow? What if Miss doesn't agree?"
Fu Qiyuan said without turning his head, "Shan'er is a reasonable person. Just say you're only staying one night, and don't ask any other questions."
Fu Shu quickly went upstairs and told Jiang Shan what Fu Qiyuan had said.
Jiang Shan glanced at him, and the deeper meaning of that glance was beyond Fu Shu's comprehension.
When Fu Qiyuan appeared in front of Cheng, Cheng almost rushed up to hug her son and burst into tears!
"Young Master, you're finally back! You have no idea, that Jiang woman actually dared to...!"
Fu Qiyuan cast a cold glance at her, and Bizhu swallowed all her words in fright, her face pale as she lowered her head deeply.
"Mother, why didn't you inform me in advance that you were coming to Yuzhou so I could pick you up?" Fu Qiyuan rubbed his temples, his eyes filled with deep weariness.
Cheng's pent-up grievances were suppressed by her son's words. She turned her head and said unhappily, "Are you blaming your mother for coming here without your permission?"
Fu Qiyuan sighed and said, "Mother, a trade fair is being held in Yuzhou these days. The governor has entrusted me with an important task, and I've been leaving early and returning late. I'm just worried that I won't have time to spend with you!"
Madam Cheng then softened her tone and said sincerely, "Mother knows you are filial. You just go and attend to your official duties. Mother has Granny Cheng and Bizhu with her, so you can rest assured."
Fu Qiyuan frowned and asked with concern, "The servants in the manor said you arrived a while ago. Where are you staying now?"
Madam Cheng pursed her lips and said, "I couldn't find an inn... No problem, Mother can stay at your residence."
Fu Qiyuan's expression changed slightly. "Mother, I am temporarily staying in the official residence prepared for me by the government office. I dare not make you feel uncomfortable!"
Cheng's face stiffened, and she asked with a puzzled expression, "You didn't buy a house in Yuzhou?"
Fu Qiyuan smiled wryly and said, "My salary is limited. When I left the capital, I told Father that I would never use Father's connections or the money in the mansion..."
"That's your father! Wasn't everything he had meant for you? You silly child, what am I supposed to say to you...!"
Mrs. Cheng was furious, both angry and heartbroken at her son's actions.
Granny Cheng, however, understood the implication in Fu Qiyuan's words. She hesitated and asked, "Young Master, where will Madam stay tonight?"
Cheng looked at her son with longing eyes, and a hint of hesitation appeared in her eyes as she watched him arrange the red silk.
"The day after tomorrow is the opening day of the trade fair. In the next two weeks, the number of outsiders in Yuzhou City will only increase, and there will definitely be no inns left! We'll have to find a place to stay for the night!"
Bizhu hesitated for a moment, then said weakly, "How about we ask Madam Jiang to arrange a place for you to stay..."
Cheng's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.
Fu Qiyuan glanced at Bizhu, his brows furrowed, and said, "Jiang's Private Kitchen only provides food and drinks, and never arranges accommodation for guests. There is no one on duty here at night, and it is not convenient for anyone to stay here."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Cheng became even more dejected.
Fu Qiyuan stood up and paced back and forth a few times, as if he had made up his mind, and said, "I'll go and talk to Shan'er. Mother can stay at Shan'er's house tonight! There are guards, servants and maids there, so Mother's safety should be assured!"
Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, and she pulled Fu Qiyuan aside and asked in a low voice, "Yuan'er, your mother is asking you about Jiang's child...."
Fu Qiyuan's expression changed drastically, his handsome face instantly turning cold. "Mother, who told you?"
Cheng released Fu Qiyuan's arm and said somewhat awkwardly, "Don't worry about how Mother found out. In short, this child is a member of the Fu family and should belong to the Fu family..."
"You're wrong!" Fu Qiyuan interrupted Cheng Shi, coldly saying, "The child's surname is Jiang. As long as Shan'er is not married to me, the child has nothing to do with the Fu family! I wasn't by her side when she gave birth, and she almost lost her life for that child. She may not have a husband in this life, but she will never abandon her child!"
"Your son has yet to win her favor, so why do you think she would even consider the Fu family?" Fu Qiyuan asked this question with extreme sarcasm.
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