“I remember.” Jiang Manyun’s eyes reddened as she leaned against Madam Qiao. “Back then, my mother said that daughters are all outgoing and always running to my aunt’s place. My mother even said angrily, ‘If you keep running there, I’ll live with my aunt and never go back.’”
Mrs. Qiao had heard this before, and it brought back fond memories. "How is your mother?"
“My mother was seriously ill, but she has just recovered.” Jiang Manyun’s eyes reddened as she spoke.
"Manyun, you're all grown up now, spend more time with your mother."
"I know." Her good-for-nothing brother's leg injury was faked; if she hadn't seen it with her own eyes that day, she would have been fooled too.
Seeing how much her good-for-nothing brother had changed, how could she, as the older sister, be any less capable?
Besides, Qiao Yuchen's reputation isn't very good, and with Chen Siyuan in front of him, if Princess Honglian's plan succeeds this time, she can also advance further.
With that in mind, how could she not try to please Madam Qiao?
I was so foolish to distance myself from my aunt during this time; it was so wrong of me.
"Your mother is so lucky to have you by her side. She must be smiling in her dreams."
"Auntie!" Perhaps she was overthinking it, and she lowered her head shyly.
"Your aunt had a terrible dream last night."
"It's alright, dreams are always the opposite of reality." Jiang Manyun had been by Madam Qiao's side for many years and knew her temperament well.
"Maybe so, I don't really believe in that dream either," Mrs. Qiao said, seemingly recalling that terrible dream.
Jiang Manyun was clearly trying to please Madam Qiao, and followed up by asking, "What did Aunt dream about?"
“I dreamt that your brother Zhen came to me and said that he was murdered. He begged me to catch the murderer and kill him at his grave.”
"Ah—" Upon hearing this, Jiang Manyun was clearly startled and didn't know how to react.
Mrs. Qiao looked at Jiang Manyun. This expression couldn't be fake. Could it be that she was just overthinking things?
Qiao Zhen was indeed poisoned to death. The people around him were all people she arranged, so there shouldn't be any problems. So where did the poison come from?
Long-term use of chronic poisons.
long?
Besides the people he arranged, Jiang Manyun was the only one by his side.
It's not her fault; it concerns her son, so she can't be careless.
Now that Qiao Yuchen is back, Chen Siyuan has fallen victim to several scams, and she feels that someone has already started to make a move. This time, they have set their sights on Chen Siyuan.
She knew in her heart that Qiao Yuchen cared a lot about Chen Siyuan, and if Chen Siyuan died at this time, Qiao Yuchen would be completely ruined.
Who would most like to see this scene?
She's not entirely sure right now.
Any uncertain factor around her becomes a target of her suspicion.
So many people have already died in the General's Mansion; we shouldn't add to the tragedy now.
With Aunt Guo dead and Qiao Yang dead, the General's Mansion is much quieter than before. If she were to let anyone else get involved now, she would be unworthy of being called Madam Qiao.
After a long while, Jiang Manyun calmed down and looked at Madam Qiao, "Aunt, is what you said true?"
"I don't know either, that's what Brother Zhen said in my dream."
"Who attacked Brother Zhen?" Jiang Manyun asked tentatively.
"I don't know either." Usually, whoever benefits the most in this matter has the greatest chance, but in the General's Mansion, that's not necessarily the case.
"Could it be?" Jiang Manyun said, deliberately opening her mouth wide as if she couldn't believe it.
What comes to mind?
"Could it be Brother Chen?"
"Brother Chen?" Madam Qiao asked, wondering when Qiao Yuchen had become Brother Chen.
Jiang Manyun felt a little embarrassed by the stares, lowered her head slightly, and said softly, "It's because Brother Zhen left that Brother Chen came to the General's Mansion. I just feel that...this..."
"No, that won't happen," Mrs. Qiao said with certainty.
"If it wasn't Brother Chen, then who could it be?" Jiang Manyun said, then spoke again, "Brother Chen hasn't been back long, and that woman Chen Siyuan came in. Could it be that Chen Siyuan did all this?"
Mrs. Qiao remained silent.
Jiang Manyun knew she couldn't say too much at this moment, lest she arouse suspicion.
She stayed quietly by Mrs. Qiao's side, keeping her company.
Zhang Ma stood by the side the whole time. Could it be that Qiao Zhen's death was really related to Chen Siyuan?
Thinking of this, and looking at Madam Qiao again, I felt a little worried.
Qiao Zhen's death was a huge blow to Madam Qiao. Did she want to reopen old wounds? She hoped Jiang Manyun was just overthinking it, but seeing Madam Qiao's condition, she was no longer sure.
After a long while, Steward Yu arrived and said that the general had sent word that he would not be returning at noon.
Mrs. Qiao then realized that it was already very late.
Seeing Jiang Manyun beside him, he asked her to stay and have dinner with him.
During the meal, Jiang Manyun took excellent care of Madam Qiao; anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was a devoted daughter.
After the meal, Jiang Manyun accompanied Madam Qiao for a walk in the garden. Seeing that Madam Qiao was not in good condition, she suggested that they go to Ping'an Temple to offer incense and pray for blessings.
This has become the norm for noble ladies in the capital.
When they are happy or unhappy, they go to Ping'an Temple to pray for blessings.
However, aside from members of the royal family, people usually deliberately avoid important days to avoid bumping into the empress in the palace.
There are too many coincidences in things.
Just as Madam Qiao was preparing to go to Ping'an Temple to pray for blessings in two days, news suddenly came from the palace that the Empress Dowager had decided to go to Ping'an Temple to pray for blessings for the people on the frontier in three days.
...
Beiyuan.
Chen Siyuan couldn't calm down for a long time when she thought that this expedition was not as simple as it seemed on the surface.
She had been putting on a brave face in front of Mrs. Qiao, but when the night was deep and quiet, her heart was pounding.
I've had this feeling in my past life, and I know what it means.
She didn't know when she had given her heart to another man, but she couldn't deny that she had lost her heart to Qiao Yuchen.
Is it worth it?
Isn't experiencing one painful experience enough?
Do I have to go through this again before I can finally give up completely?
Qiao Yuchen is no stranger. She doesn't deny that Qiao Yuchen likes her now. His liking is too domineering, and she knows in her heart that the opposite of love is ruthlessness.
Deep down, Chen Siyuan was conflicted. It was this departure that made her see her own heart clearly.
Even though she felt she shouldn't have done many things, after making those sacrifices, she was more worried about Qiao Yuchen's safety.
She felt she was being pathetic, and she tried hard to deny it, but she couldn't fool herself.
Lying on the bed in complete darkness, Qiao Yuchen's image appeared clearly before his eyes.
It seemed that Qiao Yuchen was in every corner. Seeing his busy figure, she couldn't help but get up and rush over.
She took one step, then another, until she reached him and realized it wasn't real. Just then, Qiao Yuchen's shadow reappeared elsewhere. She reached for it again, but missed.
Later, she saw it, but didn't approach; she just watched from a distance.
There is a need to maintain an appropriate distance between people.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
