Chapter 65: Unpredictable
Xie Rongying smiled and seemed to be in a good mood: "Mother Yuan, mother hasn't rested yet, has she?"
It was almost three quarters past midnight, and Jiang would usually take a short nap at this time.
"No, the young lady came at the perfect time." Mother Yuan walked beside Xie Rongying. "We just had dinner with the Earl's wife and she's digesting the food. If the young lady had come a quarter of an hour later, the lady would have gone to bed."
"Then it seems that I came at the right time." Xie Rongying said.
Mother Yuan's gaze lingered for a moment on the brocade box in Dongxue's hand. It seemed that the young lady had something to ask Madam. Thinking of this, Mother Yuan walked forward, lifted the door curtain, and said to Jiang in the main hall, "Madam, the young lady is here."
Jiang, who was just about to take a nap, suddenly opened his eyes and his heart tightened when he heard this.
By the time Jiang realized what was happening, Xie Rongying had already walked in: "Daughter-in-law pays her respects to mother."
Jiang leaned against the table and said with a forced smile, "Hurry and sit down."
After Xie Rongying sat down, she said, "Mother, last time my father learned the reason why you took back the betrothal gift, he asked me to give this to you again today."
Jiang had already started to feel uncomfortable when she heard the words "take back the betrothal gift", and when she saw Xie Rongying taking the brocade box from Dongxue's hands, she felt even more uncomfortable. Was she here to mock her?
Just as Jiang was lost in thought, Xie Rongying stood up and walked towards her, then sat down on the couch and placed the brocade box on the table above the couch.
Xie Rongying opened the brocade box and said, "These are the deeds to the land, fields, and houses of Wanmiao Village. Although this place is some distance from Bianjing, it's not too far. If you leave from Bianjing City at the hour of Mao, you'll arrive at the beginning of the hour of You."
When Jiang saw the thick bundle of deeds in the brocade box, she sat up straight and looked at Xie Rongying in confusion: "What does this mean?"
"My father said that although the mother-in-law was a little too concerned about her daughter-in-law's dowry before, it was understandable. The mother-in-law has worked hard to manage the Yongyi Marquis Mansion. From now on, the Yongyi Marquis Mansion will fall into the hands of the young marquis. I will also be worried about the hole in the Yongyi Marquis Mansion. Why don't we work together to find a way to solve that hole."
Every word Xie Rongying said surprised Mrs. Jiang and Mother Yuan.
She continued, "Although I can't give real money to my mother-in-law to fill that hole, I can slowly solve it. Now my father-in-law is guarding the border for Dayin. There's no way the emperor would ask the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion for help at this time."
"So my father said he would hand over all the land deeds to Wanmiao Village to Mother, and from now on, all the village's annual income would belong to the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion." Xie Rongying spoke calmly, inexplicably reassuring. "Although we can't fill the hole in a year or two, the annual grain harvest in Wanmiao Village and the rent from the shops are quite a bit. If Mother manages it well, and with the help of my second and third uncles, we should be able to fill the hole in five or six years."
Jiang had never expected Xie Rongying to say such a thing. Because of what Jiang Wang had just said, she looked at Xie Rongying warily: "Do you know what you are saying?"
Xie Rongying raised her eyebrows: "Is mother suspicious of something?"
Jiang was stunned. Her reaction seemed to be too skeptical. Could it be that Xie Rongying would fool her with some fake land deeds and house deeds?
"It's not suspicion." Jiang glanced at the deeds in the brocade box and said, "When Mother came to you for help before, your attitude really disappointed her. Now that you've taken out these deeds again, Mother feels a little..."
"It's a bit unreal?" Xie Rongying took over Jiang's words and smiled. "Actually, mother, you can also think about it. If you had just married into the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion and someone asked you to take out your dowry, would you have the same reaction as your daughter-in-law?"
"Then why do you want to help the Yongyi Marquis' Mansion now?" Jiang's tone also softened a lot.
Xie Rongying said, "Since my daughter-in-law is a member of the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion, she naturally has to make plans for it. As my father said, the future of the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion will always be carried by my daughter-in-law and the young marquis, so it's better for the family to think of a way to solve the problem."
Although Jiang knew that Xie Rongying must have some purpose behind what she said, she still felt a little uneasy when she saw the pile of land deeds in front of her. She was sure that Xie Rongying would not dare to tamper with these deeds. As long as they fell into her hands, they would be hers.
Jiang then held Xie Rongying's hand and said gratefully, "Rongying, I knew I wasn't wrong about you. I did go too far back then, and taking back the betrothal gifts was a last resort. I'm truly sorry for you. Don't worry, once the hole in the Marquis' Mansion is cleared, I'll double it for you."
Xie Rongying smiled gently: "My daughter-in-law can understand my mother's approach."
"I'm glad you understand. I'm glad you understand." Jiang said with a relieved smile.
Xie Rongying slowly withdrew her hand, closed the brocade box, and pushed it to Jiang's side. She said, "The head of Wanmiao Village passed away last year, so my father didn't get any of last year's profits or grain. Under the land deed is the account book of Wanmiao Village's income over the years. Father was originally going to visit Wanmiao Village this month, but thinking about the affairs of the Marquisate, he handed it all over to you, mother. Last year's harvest now belongs to the Yongyi Marquisate."
Jiang placed one hand on the brocade box and wiped her eyes with a handkerchief in the other. Her voice was choked with sobs: "Rongying, there are many who add icing on the cake, but few who help in times of need. You and your father are better than the second and third wives."
Xie Rongying covered her mouth and smiled, saying, "Mother, it's getting late. I won't disturb your rest for now."
After wiping the corners of her eyes, Jiang suddenly asked, "Rongying, have you heard the news that Mrs. Xue has died?" As she spoke, she stared at Xie Rongying intently.
Xie Rongying nodded, her tone filled with regret: "I just found out. Although I had some grudges with Madam Xue, I was still deeply saddened when I heard the news of her death."
"Yes, life is so unpredictable." Jiang didn't see any other emotions on Xie Rongying's face: "You should go back first."
Xie Rongying stood up and saluted: "Then your daughter-in-law will take her leave first."
After Xie Rongying left, Jiang reopened the brocade box. She took out a bundle of land deeds and found the account book at the bottom.
"Madam, be careful, there might be a trap." Mother Yuan still didn't believe that Xie Rongying could be so kind.
Jiang placed the deed back into the brocade box and said in a deep voice, "I will naturally investigate the situation of Wanmiao Village."
"But I also heard a few years ago that the Xie family has countless farms and fields. It seems to be true." Mother Yuan said with some excitement.
Jiang snorted and laughed: "Let someone close to Junyi tell the Crown Prince that Madam Xue's death was caused by Xie Rongying."
Since he is a scourge, we can only kill him with a borrowed knife. After all, there are many people who want to kill Xie Rongying.
[Hermit: To deal with Jiang, you must use 'greed']
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