Chapter 39 The Power of the Butler
After all, Jiang Yunqian was unrelated to the case, and she wasn't involved in drugging Jiang Zhi. If she hadn't been so outspoken and targeted at Jiang Zhi at the banquet, Lu Yuan wouldn't have bothered to take action.
Jiang Zhi nodded, knowing that this matter was beyond Jiang Yunqian's control.
But Lu Yuan continued, "That little maid has some backbone. She only confessed after enduring three tortures. She is more loyal than most men. It's a pity she followed the wrong master. Now she's barely hanging on by a thread. I'm afraid she won't last much longer."
Jiang Zhi felt no pity for the maid.
The victor is king, the loser is villain. If she hadn't been given a second chance at life, she would be the one suffering today.
"What about Yan Wenkang?" Jiang Zhi asked, voicing her deepest concern.
Lu Yuan's voice remained completely flat. "He wasn't tortured. As soon as he entered the imperial prison, the instruments of torture were laid out in front of him, and he was so frightened that he confessed everything."
"The matter of drugging you, the other crimes, and most importantly, the murder of Yin Xian'er, the girl from Qifeng Tower."
Jiang Zhi learned about this matter from Xiao Xuanyou in her previous life.
Yin Xian'er was the lover of Yuan Zhao, a monk at Puzhao Temple. Yuan Zhao had been saving money to redeem her from her servitude. However, just one day before he had finally saved enough money, Yin Xian'er and three other girls from Qifeng Tower were summoned to the East Palace to perform a dance.
The other three girls returned, but Yin Xian'er never came back. When Yuan Zhao finally received news of Yin Xian'er, it was the news that she had been humiliated and abused and died in the East Palace.
Yuan Zhao vowed to avenge Yin Xian'er. As a martial monk of Puzhao Temple, he soon infiltrated the palace into a procession of people chanting sutras to pray for the court. He sneaked into the East Palace and assassinated the Crown Prince when he was off guard, causing the Crown Prince to be seriously injured and fall into a coma.
But in reality, Xiao Xuanyou had no idea that Yin Xian'er existed. The four girls from Qifeng Tower were his subordinates who had tried to curry favor with Xiao Xuanyou. After being scolded by him, they were sent out of the East Palace without even being seen.
The one who truly harmed Yin Xian'er was Yan Wenhong, the eldest brother of Yan Wenkang, who was a supporter of the Third Prince and the heir of the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion.
As Jiang Zhi listened to Lu Yuan's methodical narration outside the carriage, it was indeed almost identical to what she knew in her previous life.
Yan Wenhong originally saw a rare opportunity and wanted to kill Yin Xian'er and then frame the Crown Prince for it, which would lead to Yuan Zhao's revenge.
Unexpectedly, Yan Wenkang witnessed his men kidnapping Yin Xian'er and intending to drown her.
Yan Wenkang, seeing that Yin Xian'er was beautiful and charming, had wicked thoughts. He promised that he would not leave any survivors after he had used her, and forcibly took her away.
The next day, his men found Yin Xian'er's body. Regardless of how she had been treated before her death, they went back to report.
Although Yan Wenhong was annoyed that Yan Wenkang's lust had almost ruined his plans, he only scolded him a few times and then let it go.
Who would have thought that Yan Wenkang's small habit, which left behind one of Yin Xian'er's earrings, would eventually become the fuse that led to the downfall of the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion.
Now that Jiang Zhi had obtained the earring ahead of time and given it to Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan had evidence and easily pried Yan Wenkang out of his mouth.
What happens next is up to Lu Yuan and the Crown Prince; it has nothing to do with her.
When I got home, the Jiang family was in complete chaos.
When Jiang Zhengting saw the evidence presented to him by the Embroidered Uniform Guard that Wang Yuru had conspired with Yan Wenkang to drug Jiang Zhi at the banquet, he was so angry that he threatened to divorce his wife.
"You vile woman, you fool! How could you do such a thing at your own banquet? Are you trying to ruin the Jiang family? If I keep you here any longer, I might as well resign and retire to my hometown! I was blind to have thought you were so weak and helpless and that I married you!"
"My lord, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance!" Wang Yuru knelt on the ground, crying and pleading.
Jiang Zhengting forcefully shook off her hand. "You've turned this Jiang residence into chaos! Lord Lu is right, from now on anyone can come and go as they please in my inner quarters, it's a complete mess!"
Jiang Yunqian had just been brought back from the imperial prison and was so frightened that her face turned pale and she almost lost her mind.
Upon seeing his mother's trusted maidservant, who was beaten bloody and covered in wounds, he immediately vomited.
Seeing that her mother was about to be divorced, she was terrified and at a loss for what to do. "Father, you mustn't! Mother is your wife of many years. Even if she has made a mistake, you can't divorce her after all these years of affection!"
Jiang Zhi almost sneered when she heard these words.
As expected, Jiang Zhengting snorted, "My wife is from a prestigious family, the eldest daughter of the Feng family. Even though the Feng family has declined and moved south, they are still far superior to the Wang family. As expected of someone from a humble background, even her own daughter is raised to be so arrogant, ignorant of hierarchy, and only knows how to spout nonsense!"
"Master, I really know I was wrong, and I will change my ways." Wang Yuru was so anxious that she almost fainted. "If you divorce me now, the old lady will definitely find out. She has just recovered from a cold and her body is not fully healed yet. She can't take any more shocks!"
Jiang Zhengting gave a strict order that no one was allowed to tell the old lady about what happened at the banquet, or they would be sold out of the mansion.
Wang Yuru's words brought Jiang Zhengting back to his senses, which had been clouded by anger.
This matter must not be known to my mother, as she is elderly and suffers from palpitations and cannot tolerate any stimulation.
Seeing that her persuasion was effective, Wang Yuru couldn't help but press on.
"And then there's Ning Zheng. No matter what, he's still your legitimate son, and he's currently studying at the academy. He's at an age where he should be working hard and making progress. If his birth mother is divorced, how will he be able to hold his head up in front of his classmates?"
Wang Yuru wiped away her tears. "If he has a mother who was divorced because of a mistake, even if he passes the imperial examination and enters officialdom in the future, it will become a handle for his political enemies to attack him. Your Excellency, you must think twice!"
“Yes, Father, you can abandon Mother, but you can’t ignore your brother’s future!” Jiang Yunqian realized and joined in the persuasion.
Jiang Zhengting's anger was completely suppressed.
Even if Wang had many faults, she had given birth to a son and a daughter for him, which could not be offset by anything.
For Jiang Ningzheng's sake, he not only had to ensure that Wang Shi could stay peacefully in the Jiang family, but also had to help her cover up the matter and protect the Jiang family's reputation.
Thinking of this, Jiang Zhengting's stern gaze fell on Jiang Zhi, who had remained silent since entering the room.
"Zhi'er is the victim. You tell me, how should we deal with Wang Shi?"
By asking this question, he meant he intended to let Wang Yuru off the hook and leave the difficult problem to her.
She had long known her father's nature; for the sake of the Jiang family, anyone could be sacrificed.
Especially her daughter from his first marriage, who could be manipulated at will like a chess piece.
Jiang Zhi's fatherly affection for Jiang Zhengting has completely vanished.
Nowadays, only what we truly control is the most reliable.
"Father, although I feel wronged, I haven't really been hurt much. For the sake of our Jiang family, I beg you not to hold this against Aunt Ru."
Jiang Zhengting was surprised, but he began to think more highly of his daughter.
But she continued, "It's just that I'm about to be engaged, but I know nothing about the affairs of the inner quarters. I'm afraid I'll be laughed at after I marry into my husband's family. I'd like to borrow the power of managing the household from Aunt Ru for a few days. Once I'm proficient, I'll return it to Aunt Ru. I hope Father will grant my request."
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