Chapter 110 Arranging the Wedding
The guard nodded with a dark look in his eyes. "I see clearly. It's the secret guard who used to serve His Highness the Crown Prince. I've been working in the palace for many years and saw him once before."
"Just as I expected."
Xiao Yunheng raised his hand to look at the mottled bloodstains on his fingertips from digging so hard, and the corners of his lips unconsciously curled up slightly.
An unfavored legitimate daughter of a high-ranking official's family has a female bodyguard trained by the Crown Prince with countless efforts.
He would never believe that there was no connection between the two.
Things are getting more and more interesting.
"Go and carefully repair the railings of the library, making sure there are no traces of damage," he instructed.
The guard accepted the order and then asked, "Should we call a doctor to examine the prince's hand injury? The princess will be heartbroken if she finds out."
"It's just a minor injury. To uncover such a hidden matter, it would be worth any injury."
He casually wiped the blood off his hands with a handkerchief, as if he himself were not the one who was injured.
Upon returning to the manor, Jiang Zhi immediately instructed An Yue to follow Chen Mama's recollections and find a doctor surnamed Fan in a small town ten miles from the capital.
According to Granny Chen, Doctor Fan originally practiced medicine in the capital, and he had been taking care of my mother's illness. However, not long after my mother passed away, Doctor Fan also left the capital.
It is unknown whether he is still alive.
A few days later, Jiang Zhengting used the excuse that the old lady was unwell to summon Jiang Zhi back to the Jiang residence.
But when Jiang Zhi returned, she heard that her grandmother had gone up the mountain to worship Buddha, and that she was not feeling unwell at all.
Jiang Zhengting asked Jiang Zhi to stay for dinner, saying he had something to discuss with her.
Jiang Zhi couldn't help but sneer.
Isn't it just about the mother's dowry?
It just so happens that she also needs to see him today.
The dinner table was bustling with activity. Jiang Zhengting, Jiang Ningzheng, Jiang Yunqian, and even Wang Yuru, who had been confined to the ancestral hall, were all present.
"Come, come, sit down. Zhi'er hasn't been home for a long time. Let's have a good family reunion today," Jiang Zhengting said.
Jiang Zhi said calmly, "I don't think I'm related to them, am I?"
"What are you saying?" Jiang Zhengting was about to reprimand him, but thinking of what would happen next, he held back. "Why aren't you taking your seat yet?"
"Father, please speak freely if you have any instructions. I have other matters to attend to at home, so I will not have dinner with you."
Jiang Zhengting had just picked up his wine glass when he heard this and slammed it heavily on the table. “Go back to the manor? This is your home. You’ve only been away for a few days and your mind has become wild! Why don’t you move back here right now? Go ask around and see which young lady lives alone outside the manor. You may not care about your reputation, but I do.
"Where does the father think his daughter should stay when she returns?"
Her Chuntang Garden has never been repaired and remains as it was when she left the mansion.
"You and your sister can squeeze in for now. Once the repairs are done, you can move back to your Chuntang Garden," Jiang Zhengting said irritably. "You're getting married soon, and you'll be leaving the Jiang family mansion eventually. Bring all your dowry back and take a good look at it. Don't let outsiders take advantage of the situation."
Jiang Zhengting said earnestly, "Your wedding also needs to be arranged. Once you return to the Jiang family, you don't need to worry about these things anymore. Leave everything to your mother. As an unmarried daughter, you should stay in the Jiang family and wait to be married. Your father will not mistreat you."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a soft "bang" was heard as the wine cup shattered.
Jiang Zhi suddenly grabbed a wine glass from the table and smashed it on the ground.
Everyone present was taken aback.
"What are you doing? You've only been in charge for a few days and you've already become lawless?"
Jiang Zhi's face was gloomy, and her pupils flashed with an uncontrollable fire. "I can't let a murderer who harmed my mother arrange my marriage. Give up."
"Stop spouting nonsense here!" Jiang Zhengting rebuked.
Jiang Zhi didn't even flinch.
Jiang Ningzheng, who was standing nearby, spoke up, "Big sister, you can't make things up without evidence. Your mother was close to my mother when she was alive, how could she possibly harm her?"
Jiang Ningzheng had barely finished speaking when Jiang Zhi slapped him across the face. "Although my mother has passed away, you still have to respect her as your legal mother. Who allowed you to be so rude?"
"You!" Jiang Ningzheng was furious. He had been pampered since birth. When had he ever been beaten like this by a woman?
He raised his hand to strike back, but a strange woman appeared beside Jiang Zhi at some point and easily grabbed his wrist, rendering him unable to move.
"Fine, fine, fine, I see you've really grown up, daring to lay a hand on me at home," Jiang Zhengting also lost his temper, "Guards, seize this unfilial daughter!"
However, the guards who entered were all forced back by Ruying and Anyue beside Jiang Zhi in an instant, and none of them could get close to her.
Jiang Zhengting was furious, but found himself powerless against her.
At this moment, Wang Yuru wiped away her tears with a handkerchief and sobbed, "Miss, I know you have never liked me, but your mother and I are close friends with a deep bond. How could you slander me like this?"
“Slander? Do you know this person?” Jiang Zhi clapped her hands, and Qing Xing led in a man in his forties or fifties.
Upon seeing his face, Wang Yuru's pupils dilated violently, and she stood frozen in place, feeling a chill run from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.
How did he end up here?
She barely managed to control her expression, and said guiltily, "Who is this? How could I possibly know him?"
"You used to visit my mother often when she was sick, so you should have met this Dr. Fan before. How come you don't recognize him now?"
Wang Yuru avoided her gaze, saying, "So many years have passed, I've long forgotten about it."
"Jiang Zhi, what exactly are you trying to do? Are you trying to turn the world upside down?!" Jiang Zhengting's chest heaved violently.
He couldn't understand how his daughter, who had been so gentle, considerate, and sensible before, could become so aggressive and unreasonable after staying away from the manor for a while.
"I just want to seek justice for the deceased." Jiang Zhi's voice carried a chilling calmness.
“Wang Yuru and Doctor Fan colluded to deliberately add bitter almonds to my mother’s prescription and also deliberately made my mother eat chestnuts frequently. Since the two are incompatible, my mother’s poisoning worsened day by day, and she died.”
"I'm giving you only two choices today—" Her gaze swept over Wang Yuru, whose face was stiff, and Jiang Zhengting, who was glaring at her angrily. "Kill Wang Yuru and avenge my mother, and I will let bygones be bygones. If Father insists on protecting her, then I will have no choice but to submit a petition directly to the Dali Temple and see if the imperial law can give me justice!"
After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, she glanced at An Yue.
With a swift movement, Dark Moon cleaved the table in front of her in two, shattering the dishes and utensils on the floor.
This is outrageous! It's truly outrageous!
Jiang Zhengting's whole body was trembling, and he raised one hand high to slap Jiang Zhi's face.
He refused to believe that Jiang Zhi would be so rebellious as to send her maids to stop him!
But before his hand could fall, a shrill announcement rang out from the doorway, "Imperial edict has arrived—"
Everyone froze, their eyes fixed on the doorway.
A tall man with broad shoulders and a narrow waist walked into the main hall. Even before he got close, the stench of blood seemed to fill the air.
Behind him followed four pale-faced, beardless eunuchs, carrying bright yellow imperial edicts and several gilded lacquer boxes.
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