Chapter 216 Your marriage is a great benefit to the Meng family.
Meng Shilan's face was deathly pale. When she returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, the fear in her eyes had not yet dissipated.
"Mother!"
Fu'er hugged her mother and finally burst into tears; she was terrified.
She would wake up screaming as soon as she fell asleep.
Shuang'er could only stay by her side every step of the way.
Zhou Congxian touched his daughter's face. "Fu'er, don't be afraid. Father has brought Mother back."
As he spoke, he looked at Meng Shilan again, "I didn't realize that you were able to escape from the Ministry of Justice's prison; someone must have helped you."
“Once he leaves the capital, he can easily flee far away before we can react.”
"But he insisted on going to Dongshan Manor to kidnap you."
Meng Shilan then moved, turning her somewhat stiff neck.
"The people in Dongshan Manor are all servants of the Zhou family."
"There are only six servants from the Meng family who came to the manor with me, and they have never left."
She paused here, then added, "There's still one variable."
Song Jiyun, who visited Zhuangzi yesterday.
Zhou Congxian's expression turned slightly cold. "If it's related to Song Jiyun, no one can protect her this time."
Meng Shilan thought of the small blue cloth bag in the farmer's courtyard.
"Someone threw a blue cloth bag into the yard this morning."
"It looks like a sesame cake."
She thought for a moment, "So early? So early just to deliver a sesame cake?"
“When he took me to hide in a farmer’s house, he was counting the days.”
She paused for a moment, then said, "It's as if... someone had scouted the area beforehand and had him hide there."
Zhou Congxian's eyes darkened.
"His Majesty has not yet woken up, so we must remain silent on this matter for the time being."
"Don't go out for the time being."
...
Zhou Congxian returned to Songhe Hall in the Duke of England's mansion.
Song Jiyun was telling jokes to Old Madam Zhou.
The old lady smiled so much that two more fine lines appeared at the corners of her eyes.
When he appeared with a stern face, there was a moment of silence in Songhetang.
Old Mrs. Zhou is still angry because her grandson humiliated her.
"Now you're thinking of this old woman."
Zhou Congxian's gaze fell on Song Jiyun. "I didn't expect you to have such abilities. You've gotten involved without even realizing it."
Song Jiyun said, "I don't understand what the Crown Prince is saying."
She peeled the last grape clean and placed it in a porcelain white plate.
“Miss Meng is right. Jiyun is now just an orphan living under someone else’s roof.”
"Jiyun is self-aware and now only wants to serve the old lady peacefully."
She deliberately dragged Meng Shilan into this.
Upon hearing this, Madam Zhou slammed her hand on the table in anger.
"I think you've lost your mind, repeatedly causing trouble for Yun'er on her behalf."
"The officialdom is full of deceit and treachery, all about scheming against people's hearts. Why should the crimes committed by her brother be attributed to a young girl like her?"
Zhou Congxian took a step back. "Grandmother, please don't blame your grandson for being rude."
"Men, search!"
A dozen or so officers and soldiers rushed in from outside the door.
"You, you!"
Madam Zhou stood up. "Zhou Congxian! I am your grandmother!"
"You're going to defy the heavens!"
The Imperial Guards only obeyed Zhou Congxian's orders.
The dozen or so people were trained in an orderly manner and divided into several groups to search separately.
Madam Zhou never imagined that the first person to be searched would be her own grandson.
If Song Jiyun hadn't been supporting her, she might have been...
The British Duke rushed over upon hearing the commotion.
He never expected his son to cause such a commotion in his own home.
"Xian'er, what are you doing? Don't frighten your grandmother!"
The elderly are easily frightened.
Zhou Congxian: "Father must already know what happened in the palace."
"Letting him go without warning is a serious matter, especially if it's related to the Duke of England's mansion."
"Do you think His Majesty will be furious?"
"Is it related to...the British Duke's Mansion?"
The Duke was frightened.
"How...how can we..."
Before he could finish speaking, his gaze fell on Song Jiyun, who was being tightly protected by Old Madam Zhou.
His fingers trembled as he raised them. "I knew it. This young woman cannot be allowed to live."
"He brought misfortune to his own family, and now he's bringing misfortune to ours!"
Song Jiyun hid behind Old Madam Zhou.
Her fingertips dug deep into her palms, barely managing to suppress any emotion.
Isn't her current state a direct result of the Zhou family's actions?!
She bit her lip hard and raised her head.
“Jiyun knew he was guilty, so he chanted sutras in his great-aunt’s small Buddhist shrine every day.”
"Only to atone for one's sins."
“My brother was foolish; he followed the wrong master, which led to this terrible disaster.”
"He has already received the punishment he deserves. As for the remaining sins, Jiyun Society will repay them little by little through the quiet life of a Buddhist monk."
At this point, she was already sobbing uncontrollably.
She seemed like a pitiful little thing who had been dragged into this mess.
When Old Madam Zhou looked at her son and grandson, she almost couldn't catch her breath.
"Look at what you're saying!"
"I'm telling you, as long as I'm here, you won't be able to bully Yun'er!"
"grown ups."
The Imperial Guards clasped their hands in a fist salute. "Nothing unusual has been found so far."
The Duke breathed a sigh of relief. "How could a little girl have such great abilities in a place like the Ministry of Justice prison?"
He also knew about the old lady's attempt to ambush her son at the village this morning.
"However, I think your grandmother is right."
"The situation in the palace is unclear right now. If you and Miss Meng can get married soon, it will be a great help to the Meng family. Your two children can also be rightfully included in the Zhou family genealogy."
"A triple win."
Old Madam Zhou disagreed, saying, "I disagree."
"There are so many good girls in the capital, why do you have to pester her?"
"She faked her death and escaped for more than two years. Who knows if she is still a faithful person?"
"grandmother!"
Zhou Congxian glared at him angrily, "You may not like her, but please don't slander her!"
"Then why did you slander Yun'er today!"
Madam Zhou said, "You come in and search without a second thought, showing no respect for your grandmother."
"If I say it's slander, then what about you? You're pinning such a serious crime as treason on Yun'er!"
She held Song Jiyun's hand tightly.
Looking at his grandson, his eyes were filled with disappointment.
"From now on, don't come to my Songhe Hall to pay your respects anymore. Take your people and leave."
Zhou Congxian walked out of the Duke of Ying's mansion and looked at the carriage parked at the gate.
The coachman was sweeping up crumbs from the carriage with a small broom.
He paused, then turned back and walked toward the carriage.
"This carriage was the one that took my grandmother to Dongshan Village this morning."
The driver was sweeping up sesame cake crumbs.
The coachman thought the prince was blaming him for neglecting his duties, as the carriage hadn't been cleaned since it returned.
He immediately explained, "It's this car. Yu Tou was on duty today. He came back saying he had diarrhea, and we haven't seen him yet."
"I noticed this car hadn't been cleaned, so I came to clean it up."
Zhou Congxian narrowed his eyes slightly. "Go and call Master Yu over. I have something to ask him."
"Your Highness!"
Wei Xun returned looking disheveled.
"He didn't realize there were backups! They were all highly skilled, which allowed him to escape."
“Someone is there to meet us.” Zhou Congxian gritted his teeth.
"Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!"
The coachman also returned in a hurry.
"I...I'm dead!"
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