The old lady was unaware that the Marquis of Zhongyong was testing her, but she did not intend to say more, nor could she reveal any more information.
He mumbled, "Your father was on a mission in Qingzhou at that time and only returned afterward. But the butcher had already taken the child and left, and it was too late."
Marquis Zhongyong was unable to verify the truth of her words because he realized a problem.
He seemed to know very little about his parents' past, and it was all very vague, especially about his mother's identity.
All that is known is that she was an orphan during a time of war, who met and fell in love with her father and came together with him. She had no maternal family or other relatives.
This is also why, after Liu shielded her from the knife, she wanted to raise Liu as a member of her own family, and neither her father nor he stopped her.
But her kindness towards Fu Jiang was clearly unusual. After a few moments of silence, Marquis Zhongyong said, "If she knew what kind of person Fu Jiang was, she would probably regret not keeping him in the womb."
The old lady felt a lump in her throat, took a deep breath, and reminded herself to be patient.
"You said Yunzhou isn't your child. Is that true, or are you saying it on purpose to protect Ye Zhen?"
She began to ask herself questions she wanted to know.
Marquis Zhongyong's face darkened. "Mother, your son isn't crazy to lie about this."
Moreover, Fu Jiang and Liu Shi had already told Xie Yunzhou the truth.
However, Xie Yunzhou disdained Fu Jiang's identity and refused to acknowledge him, thus leading to a major argument with Madam Liu.
The old lady was surprised, then feigned anger, "How do you know all this?"
When did he find out? He couldn't have known for a long time, could he? Was the matter between Liu Shi and Fu Jiang something he orchestrated?
She immediately had many doubts.
Marquis Zhongyong looked up at her, "Has Mother forgotten Xie Yunzhou's servant?"
When the servant publicly identified Liu, he concealed the truth to save his son's face. Only after the guests had left did he reveal the truth. His son, angered by his concealment, drove the servant away.
In reality, he sent the person to the border.
"They went too far."
The old lady slammed her hand on the table in anger, "I actually treated two ungrateful wretches well!"
She looked remorseful and humbled herself, saying, "Bang'er, it's my fault. I didn't see much of the world when I was young, and later your father protected me too much. I was too stupid and was deceived."
Marquis Zhongyong watched her act and said quietly, "Is Mother still protecting Fu Jiang?"
I feel like slapping him twice.
The old lady looked furious, but fearing that the Marquis of Zhongyong might really want her to deal with Fu Jiang, she quickly continued to probe, "What about Yao'er? Shouldn't she be my granddaughter?"
Marquis Zhongyong shook his head, "Now I'm afraid only Fu Jiang knows."
"how so?"
The old lady was greatly shocked, but she quickly rallied.
“Lan’er must be your son. I was in the capital when she was pregnant with Lan’er. Considering her age, I had someone send her fertility-enhancing medicine. The timing also matches up. Lan’er must be your biological son.”
Seeing that the Marquis of Zhongyong remained silent, she continued, "Lan'er does resemble you somewhat when you were young. Thank goodness, she left me with a grandson."
Then she scolded Liu Shi. The Marquis of Zhongyong watched coldly and thought that the old lady was really greedy. Fu Jiang was already the grandson of the Grand Princess, yet she still wanted to put Xie Lanzhou on his head and covet his title and the Marquis's mansion.
Why did his father want him to treat such a person well and be filial to him?
Marquis Zhongyong couldn't figure it out, so he started to guess the old lady's real purpose in summoning him today.
Soon, the old lady spoke again, "Sometimes you're just as muddle-headed as I am."
I've heard that Ye Zhen has raised many children in the south, and that all of them are very capable, so she must not be a weak woman.
"But all these years she's pretended to be honest and kind. Now that she's gained half of a marquis's estate, she's instigating you to help her cause trouble at the Ye family, and then using your influence to get rid of her lowly parents..."
The old lady looked worried. "Tingzhou just went to her courtyard."
Mother knows you are all kind-hearted, but Mother worries that she will be a second Liu Shi, her heart filled with scheming.
So it was another attack on Ye Zhen, the Marquis of Zhongyong thought to himself.
Then the old lady continued, "Liu Shi mentioned several times before she died that Xie Yunzhou and Feng Mama died suspiciously. If Ye Zhen is skilled, could it be that she did these things?"
If she did all of this, but pretends to be a victim, then she is terrifying.
She gripped the Marquis Zhongyong's hand tightly. "Bang'er, could she be plotting against you or the Marquis's mansion?"
Marquis Zhongyong hesitated, "Really?"
He wondered to himself if Ye Zhen hadn't confessed beforehand, would he have been instigated by the old lady?
But she definitely had some reservations about Ye Zhen. This old lady was wicked; she could never tolerate Ye Zhen and was only after the Marquis's mansion.
Was her former kindness and compassion a facade, or has she changed over the years?
The old lady thought he was wavering, and then pointed out many more suspicious things about Ye Zhen.
The Marquis of Zhongyong's face grew increasingly dark.
The old lady assumed that her instigation had worked and comforted her, saying, "Go and suppress the bandits with peace of mind. I will take care of the Marquis's mansion for you."
Marquis Zhongyong reverted to his obedient son form, nodding, "Thank you for your hard work, Mother. But before we go to suppress the bandits, I must first castrate Fu Jiang and then make him confess in public."
The old lady's expression stiffened. "Your request isn't unreasonable, but will the Grand Princess agree?"
Marquis Zhongyong didn't say anything, only hummed a word, as if he was extremely confident that it would succeed.
This made the old lady very anxious.
at night.
Marquis Zhongyong was drinking with Xie Tingzhou and his son when he told Xie Tingzhou what the old lady had said.
"After I leave, you need to keep a close eye on her, and also keep an eye on Ye Zhen and Aunt Cui."
Both of them had offended the old lady, and after he left the capital, she might do something bad to them.
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