Chapter 257 Trying to Protect Her?
Meng Shilan spoke those words very softly, as softly as a feather, drifting down.
But in Zhao's heart, it stirred up a huge wave.
Her hand holding the teacup trembled almost imperceptibly, and the warm tea spilled out, scalding her fingertips.
That burning pain instantly pulled her back to reality from the turmoil.
A stiff smile was forced onto Zhao's face.
"Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about?"
“Song Jiyun is just a weak woman who rarely leaves her home. How could she possibly be involved with such a desperate criminal?”
She gently set down the teacup, the porcelain clinking against the table with a crisp sound that masked her momentary loss of composure.
She casually changed the subject, her gaze sweeping gently around the room.
"Where are Fu'er and Little Fatty Xi?"
"Such a big thing happened, are the two children scared? Let me take a look."
Her tone was concerned, but deep in her eyes lay a hint of urgency that even she herself hadn't noticed.
Deep down, she still hoped that the little grandson was indeed Xian'er's bloodline.
Meng Shilan is now the only bloodline of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and is about to marry into the Zhou family. If the child's background is unclear, it will definitely cause countless troubles in the future.
Meng Shilan lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes concealing the sharp glint in them.
"Thank you for your concern, Auntie."
"Fu'er went to the Imperial Academy early in the morning. Her maternal grandfather hoped that she could read more books and understand more about things."
"Pangxi just fell asleep not long ago."
She paused for a moment, then gently returned to her original tone, as if stating something utterly ordinary.
"As for Miss Song..."
"Perhaps I'm just seeing things."
"I only caught a glimpse of it that day, and the gang of thugs were meeting with a masked woman. Her figure... really did look seven or eight parts similar to Miss Song."
Meng Shilan was unaware that the plan to kidnap the child was a joint scheme by Zhao and Song Jiyun.
In her mind, Zhao hated Song Jiyun so much that she wished she could get rid of him as soon as possible.
What she wanted was to use Zhao's words to subtly spread the news that Song Jiyun was involved.
Song Jiyun, this pawn unwittingly planted in the Duke of Ying's mansion, was in close proximity to Zhou Congxian and had the advantage of being close to him. He should have been a priceless spy.
But she did such a foolish thing because of her personal grudge.
Meng Shilan was almost certain that the abduction of Xiao Pangxi was Song Jiyun's unauthorized action.
She's gone mad, so she's no longer of any value.
As long as Zhao spreads this "suspicion," those who are eager to find Song Jiyun will be unable to restrain themselves in order to confirm her life, death, and value.
At that time, sneaking into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion at night would be their only option.
She had already laid out a large net, just waiting for them to walk right into it.
Upon hearing Meng Shilan's words, Zhao's heart leaped into her throat once again.
Testing!
This is definitely Meng Shilan testing her!
Zhao's face twitched uncontrollably several times.
She suppressed her panic and abruptly changed the subject again.
"Perhaps you were frightened and overthinking."
“That girl Song Jiyun, ever since she came to the manor, has been staying by the old lady’s side every day, either chanting scriptures or embroidering. She’s very quiet and reserved.”
"How could she possibly know such a vicious person?"
"This matter should not be mentioned again."
Zhao's tone carried an air of unquestionable authority.
But this explanation sounded different to Meng Shilan.
Meng Shilan slowly raised her head, her eyes, red and swollen from crying, now held a clear and undisguised scrutiny.
She looked at Zhao Shi thoughtfully.
Something's not right.
Didn't the Zhao family hate Song Jiyun the most?
On the day of Madam Zhou's birthday banquet, Song Jiyun attempted to frame her and her child, and the disgust and anger on Zhao's face were not feigned.
Why are you making excuses for her at every turn today?
This protective stance is far too obvious.
The atmosphere in the flower hall suddenly became subtle.
The air seemed to freeze, with only the occasional birdsong coming from outside the window.
Just then, a slight noise came from the doorway.
"Miss He, please take your time."
A maid wearing a light blue vest carefully helped a pale-faced woman slowly walk in.
It was He Ran.
She was wearing a nightgown with only an outer robe over it, clearly having heard the commotion and insisted on coming despite her injuries.
Her face was as white as paper, her lips were bloodless, and with every step she took, fine beads of cold sweat seeped from her forehead.
But her eyes were as sharp as knives.
"Junior He Ran greets the Duchess of England."
She broke free from the maid's support and slightly bent her knees towards Zhao Shi. The movement aggravated the wound on her back, causing her to gasp in pain.
Madam Zhao quickly said, "Miss He, please don't stand on ceremony. Your health is the most important thing."
He Ran stood up straight, his gaze sharp, and looked directly at Zhao Shi.
Unlike Meng Shilan, she didn't need to worry about the future mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, and she spoke more directly.
"Madam, my father often taught me that soldiers should speak their minds directly and not beat around the bush."
"Since the Song family was raided, Song Jiyun has been living in the Duke of Ying's mansion under the protection of the Zhou family. This is common knowledge in the capital."
Her voice wasn't loud, but every word was clear and resonant.
"May I ask, Madam, how could an orphaned girl living under someone else's roof manage to bypass the Duke's mansion's layers of guards and collude with desperate criminals outside the city?"
"Or has the gates of the Duke of England's mansion fallen so low that an outsider can come and go as he pleases?"
"Or perhaps..."
He Ran paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Does Madam intend to protect her?"
Zhao's face drained of all color in an instant.
She opened her mouth, but something seemed to be blocking her throat, and she lost her voice for a moment.
An unprecedented panic gripped her heart in an instant.
She regretted it.
If she had known that Song Jiyun was such a fool who was good for nothing and good for nothing, she shouldn't have been so blinded by greed and gotten involved in this mess!
She originally thought that Song Jiyun was still the eldest daughter of the Song family who was devoted to Xian'er and willing to do anything for the Zhou family.
But she forgot that times have changed.
Song Jiyun was once Zhou Congxian's rightful fiancée and the future wife of the heir of the Duke of England's mansion.
Now, however, she has become a concubine without any title or status, and her position has been completely reversed with Meng Shilan, who was once just a concubine.
This humiliation and resentment would be enough to burn away any woman's reason.
Once the child is caught, how could she possibly cooperate with him to do a blood test for paternity?
What she wanted was clearly to seize control of Meng Shilan's lifeline, and use that control to threaten and retaliate!
Zhao's mind was in chaos, and cold sweat instantly soaked her back.
She suddenly stood up from her chair, the movement so forceful that her sleeves ruffled the tea and snacks on the table.
"Miss He, what do you mean by this?!"
She spoke sharply, trying to use the volume of her voice to mask her guilty conscience.
"Although Song Jiyun lives in my Duke of Ying's mansion, how could I possibly show her favoritism?"
"Shi Lan is my future daughter-in-law. As her elder, how could I not understand the difference in importance?!"
She took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Meng Shilan and He Ran's faces, her eyes filled with anger and authority at being wrongly accused.
"What happened today is outrageous, and the Duke of Ying's mansion will never sit idly by!"
"But everything must be based on evidence!"
"If you truly have evidence to prove that this matter is related to Song Jiyun, you can directly take the complaint to the Prefect of Jingzhao and to the Dali Temple to sue her!"
"My Zhou family has no objections!"
"But if there is no evidence, and you only rely on the guess of 'similar build' to try to throw this mud at my Duke of Ying's mansion and make unfounded accusations that my mansion is protecting the daughter of a disgraced official..."
Zhao's voice suddenly rose, revealing an undeniable sharpness.
"Then don't blame me; I'll argue with you to the bitter end for the sake of the British Duke's reputation!"
Zhao spoke quickly and sternly, sounding just like an innocent elder who had been wronged.
Her chest heaved with anger, her eyes glaring at He Ran as if she wanted to devour her alive.
He Ran snorted coldly, his pale face showing no fear, and was about to retort.
Meng Shilan shook her head almost imperceptibly.
The scene was momentarily frozen.
Zhao didn't stay long; she said a few words of blessing and then left.
At this moment, Meng Shilan and He Ran exchanged a glance, both seeing the same surprise and doubt in each other's eyes.
Something's not right.
Zhao's dislike for Song Jiyun was a long-standing one.
How could a person undergo such a dramatic change in just a few days?
Excessive protection becomes an attempt to cover up the truth.
In a flash, the fog in Meng Shilan's mind was suddenly cleaved open.
She remembered.
At Madam Zhou's birthday banquet, the guests enjoyed themselves immensely, with toasts and laughter filling the air.
With a kind smile, Madam Zhao asked her seemingly casually why she hadn't brought Fu'er and Pangxi with her, so that everyone could see them and share in the joy.
At the time, she took it as just a casual greeting and didn't think much of it.
But now I realize how eagerly I was testing him, hidden beneath that gentle tone!
From that initial question to the current group of thugs targeting the child.
From Song Jiyun's face as he appeared beside the carriage, to Zhao's hasty and unseemly attempt to exonerate herself.
An invisible thread suddenly connected all the seemingly unrelated fragments.
At the birthday banquet, Song Jiyun publicly hinted that Xiao Pangxi's identity was unknown.
Zhao was the mistress of the Duke of England's mansion and Zhou Congxian's biological mother.
She could never tolerate her son raising a bastard child of unknown origin for someone else!
Thinking of this, Meng Shilan felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight up to the top of her head.
I see.
It turns out this wasn't just Song Jiyun's madness.
Her heart sank suddenly, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
She slowly turned her head, her gaze passing over Zhao's face, which was contorted with anger, and landing on Guo Fan, who was standing in the corner of the flower hall.
Her voice was soft, yet carried an unyielding coldness.
"Guo Fan."
"Go check."
"Investigate thoroughly the movements of those around Lady Zhao, the Duchess of Yingguo."
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