Jiang Shuwan cleared her throat, organized her thoughts, and then slowly began to speak.
“Grandma, I understand what you’re saying. After all, you told me last time when we were dealing with the Liu family’s affairs that the Marquis’s family is in a critical position and can only act as a loyal and isolated minister.”
"Our Marquis's mansion can do anything, except do anything that would arouse His Majesty's suspicion."
"You've all misunderstood me. I did say that my fourth sister should participate in the talent show, but I didn't say that she would definitely be selected!"
"It's a talent show! Some get selected, and some don't!"
"What's the meaning?
"You mean you deliberately let Fourth Sister fail the selection? Isn't that deceiving the Emperor?"
"This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
Everyone was taken aback by Jiang Shuwan's words.
The Wen family, in particular, were furious.
"presumptuous!"
"How can you act recklessly during the royal selection? All those who participate in the selection are descendants of officials appointed by the court. Who doesn't hope to be chosen by His Majesty? Even if His Majesty doesn't approve, it would be a great joy to be assigned to a prince. But you actually let Fourth Sister go to the selection with the intention of not being selected!"
"I'm telling you! This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
"At such a young age, you are not studious and even harbor thoughts of deceiving the emperor. Have you not considered what this will bring to the Jiang family and the Marquis's mansion?"
"You ungrateful wretch!"
"Guards! Drag the young mistress away and lock her up immediately!"
Wen's stern rebuke startled everyone in the room.
Wen had always presented himself as a Buddha, speaking and acting with a compassionate air.
Although he has become increasingly irritable due to the unpleasantness of life in the past six months, that is only in private with the maids and servants.
On the surface, especially in front of the other masters of the mansion, she had never said such harsh words before, and in her actions, she even ordered the old women to take Jiang Shuwan away directly.
"!"
"What's going on!"
Why aren't you moving!
Wen Shi roared for a long time, but apart from the head maid behind her, no one touched Jiang Shuwan. She was so angry that her lungs felt like they were going to explode.
Jiang Shuwan quickly came out to apologize.
"Please calm down, madam!"
"The family was just having a nice chat, when suddenly the wife got angry. It scared me to death."
She patted her chest, looking frightened, and gave Chang's mother a wink.
"What are you looking at? Master is joking. Hurry up and come out with me."
Chang Mama called out to all the servants to leave, including Wen's trusted head maid.
All the maids and servants were sent far away, and Granny Chang guarded the door, preventing anyone from getting close.
"Wan, tell me what you mean." Old Madam Pei was also frightened by Jiang Shuwan's words.
Having lived through the changes of two dynasties, she was quite bold.
But she had never seen anyone like Jiang Shuwan before.
Good heavens, she's so audacious! At such a young age, and spending all her time in the inner quarters, she's been married into the Marquis's mansion for half a year. Although she's taken over the management of the household, she hasn't even entered the circle of noble ladies yet.
During his time in charge, all he accomplished was getting revenge for Pei Jing.
Therefore, she should be even more cautious in everything she does so that she can entrust the Marquis's mansion to her with peace of mind.
Unexpectedly, she dared to even contemplate deceiving the emperor.
Fortunately, it was a misunderstanding.
Otherwise, I really wouldn't dare entrust the Marquis's mansion to her.
Seeing the old lady like this, Jiang Shuwan also had her own plans.
As expected, they wouldn't dare to openly and honestly deceive the emperor.
If that's the case, let's use a more tactful way of saying it.
It is said that the inner quarters are like the workplace, and the first lesson she learned when she entered the workplace was the art of language.
"Grandma, please don't panic. Even if your granddaughter-in-law had the greatest courage in the world, she wouldn't dare to deceive the emperor!"
"My granddaughter-in-law was just thinking that there are already so many talented and beautiful young ladies in the capital, not to mention that this talent show has gathered all the beautiful and talented women in the world."
"With so many stunning beauties gathered in the capital, what is Fourth Sister compared to them?"
"Of course, I'm not saying that Fourth Sister is bad. I just think that although Fourth Sister is bright and lively, compared with all the beauties in the world, she is really just average."
"Furthermore, she has spent all these years in Kyoto, but her learning is shallow and she has not earned a reputation as a talented woman. I think it is only natural that His Majesty does not think highly of her and the princes do not think highly of her either."
"Heaven have mercy! It's not that I deliberately deceived the emperor; it's just that the competition is too strong. If we can't be elected, we can't be elected. What can we do?"
"At worst, we can just say that our Marquis's family is poorly raised; we certainly won't be able to pin a charge of deceiving the emperor."
"After all, these days, there's no law that says noble families have to raise women who are both talented and accomplished, is there?"
"..."
"…………"
Quiet!
Everyone fell silent.
Madam Pei, the third wife, the fourth wife, and Madam Wen all stared at Jiang Shuwan in shock.
How should I put it?
Think about it carefully.
It seems, it appears, it actually makes some sense.
"No, no, that's not right."
"You clearly intended to not be elected..."
"You're just making excuses to cover things up..."
"Jiang, let me tell you, no matter how nicely you speak, it's useless, because you are rotten to the core, and you want to deceive the emperor from the very beginning!"
"The marriage certificate was written by the Fourth Master himself. The Marquis's Mansion has no reason to break off the engagement. You want to use His Majesty as a weapon to scare away the cripple and make him break off the engagement himself."
"Jiang Shi! You've gone too far!"
"You're incredibly audacious! You've got a very clever plan!"
Having been the mistress of the house for twenty years, Lady Wen was quick-witted and soon understood the deceitful intentions behind Jiang Shuwan's tactful words.
"Grandma! Don't be fooled by Jiang Shi, she's trying to deceive the emperor!"
Madam Wen looked at Old Madam Pei nervously, truly afraid that Jiang Shuwan would succeed in handling this matter.
Jiang Shuwan has just taken over the family, and it's the time when everyone is watching her abilities. If she helps her daughter Pei Jing first and then resolves Pei Shushu's matter, wouldn't her position as the head of the family be secure?
Why? Why?!
She is the rightful mistress of the Marquis's mansion!
She's still waiting for the confinement officer to come out and take over the management of the business!
I will never let that vile woman Jiang handle these matters.
Wen knelt down at Madam Pei's feet in a few steps, clinging to the old lady's legs, "Madam, you can't be confused!"
"Even though Jiang's words are flowery, she is not pure at heart. She doesn't really want Fourth Sister to participate in the selection."
"She has a good idea, to make Fourth Sister suffer, but Grandma, you forgot, whether she is selected or not is the result."
"The result is important, but the reality is that as soon as Fourth Miss's name was written on the selection list, our Marquis's mansion came into His Majesty's sights?"
"Even if they fail to be selected, will the Marquis's mansion be able to absolve themselves of all responsibility?"
"..."
"…………"
silence.
Silence fell over the room once more.
Because Wen's analysis was so accurate.
The Imperial Guards are the closest swords to His Majesty. If these swords harbor any designs on His Majesty, regardless of the outcome, the person wielding them will inevitably be replaced.
Otherwise, how can His Majesty sleep peacefully?
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