Chapter 97 Men are the most fickle and heartless.
"Zhi'er, what do you have to say about this?" Jiang Zhengting ignored Shen Ci'an and stared intently at Jiang Zhi. "This concerns the future of the Jiang family. Are you willing to send your mother's memorial tablet to Puzhao Temple?"
"Yes, elder sister. If the memorial tablet stays in the Jiang family, it doesn't matter if I suffer from some yin energy, but Father is the pillar of our Jiang family. If he is affected, can you be at ease?"
Jiang Ningzheng didn't dare to confront Shen Ci'an, so he only chose to coerce Jiang Zhi, who seemed gentle and easy to talk to.
"Father, please allow me to think about it some more."
"What's there to consider?" Jiang Zhengting glared angrily. "Is a dead man's memorial tablet more important than your father?"
Jiang Zhi sneered inwardly.
Forget about memorial tablets, he couldn't even compare to a scrap of clothing left by his mother.
But he was, after all, her father, and the pressure of filial piety rendered her powerless.
"As expected, a married daughter is like water spilled from a cup; eldest sister no longer considers us family." Jiang Ningzheng sighed.
“I urge Young Master Jiang to be careful with his words. Is this the behavior of a gentleman? If the Jiang family insists on this, I will submit a memorial to His Majesty tomorrow and see how he decides to proceed,” Shen Ci’an said coldly.
“Lord Shen, this is my family matter. Unless His Majesty issues an edict, no one can sway it. If you insist on obstructing me, I will have no choice but to cancel the marriage, so as to prevent you from interfering in our Jiang family’s affairs.” Jiang Zhengting was no pushover either.
Shen Ci'an's expression was solemn, and he was about to say something more, but Jiang Zhi stopped him.
"I understand my father's worries, and I don't want to put him in a difficult position," Jiang Zhi sighed.
"It's best that you think that way," Jiang Zhengting said with satisfaction. "She really is my daughter, so understanding."
"Then there's no need to wait. Let's send the memorial tablet away tomorrow."
Jiang Ningzheng was secretly very pleased with himself.
My mother is really something. It's one thing to lose to an unmarried woman, but surely she can't even win against a dead man?
He could make Jiang Zhi restless and helpless with just a few words.
Shen Ci'an clearly sensed that Jiang Zhi wouldn't compromise so easily, so he remained silent.
As expected, Jiang Zhi shook her head. "I just think this matter needs to be handled properly. Since the master said that my mother's memorial tablet has a lot of yin energy, it means that my mother must have some grievance to appeal. If this matter is not resolved for my mother, I'm afraid that even if the memorial tablet is moved, the Jiang family will never have peace."
"What nonsense are you spouting?" Jiang Zhengting immediately rebuked. "She's been dead for so many years, how could there be any injustice?"
"Mother must have known that if her daughter got married, she would never be able to appeal her grievances again, which is why she was in a hurry to remind her daughter."
A smile appeared on Jiang Zhi's lips.
Isn't it just superstition and supernatural phenomena? They're trying to coerce her with this kind of thing, and she can certainly fight back.
She had long suspected her mother's death.
She was young then, and now so many years have passed that the evidence has been almost completely destroyed, so she has never been able to find an excuse to properly investigate.
Now that Jiang Ningzheng has delivered himself right to her doorstep, wouldn't she be letting down her good brother if she didn't take advantage of him?
“Father, I agree to temporarily place Mother’s memorial tablet at Puzhao Temple, but you must also agree to let me investigate what happened back then. Otherwise, I will be disregarding Mother’s last wishes, which would be extremely unfilial, and I will not be able to live in peace for the rest of my life.”
"This is utter nonsense! Your mother died of illness, what else is there to investigate? Isn't the Jiang family already chaotic enough?" Jiang Zhengting said sternly.
"Lord Jiang refuses to let Zhi'er investigate, is it because he's afraid she might actually find something out?" Shen Ci'an stood beside Jiang Zhi. "Zhi'er, don't be afraid. If Lord Jiang insists on not doing so, I'll accompany you to the Dali Temple to file a complaint."
Jiang Zhengting was in a real bind.
How did such a small memorial tablet get involved with the Dali Temple?
"Thank you, Master," Jiang Zhi curtsied to Shen Ci'an. "I will go and fetch my mother's memorial tablet now. I would be grateful if you could accompany me to the Dali Temple."
"Wait, I didn't say you couldn't investigate." Jiang Zhengting was furious.
If it were just Jiang Zhi, it wouldn't be so bad, but Shen Ci'an insists on getting involved. The Dali Temple might actually take on the case, and then I won't be able to explain myself.
Moreover, Feng Lanzhen died of illness, so he wasn't afraid of being investigated.
"Let's get this straight, I'm only giving you one month. If there's no progress in a month, you're not allowed to mention this matter again."
"Alright, thank you for your kindness, Father."
"Come over tomorrow and remove your mother's memorial tablet. It's really troublesome even after someone has died!" Jiang Zhengting glared at her fiercely.
The next day, Jiang Zhi bathed and cleansed herself, dressed in plain clothes, and specially invited a high monk from Puzhao Temple. After burning incense and chanting sutras in the Jiang family ancestral hall, she invited Feng Lanzhen's memorial tablet to Puzhao Temple.
The eternal lamp of the mother was already burning in Puzhao Temple, and Jiang Zhi was generous enough to donate a large sum of money for incense oil to Puzhao Temple. The monks then happily welcomed Feng Lanzhen's memorial tablet into the Hall of Rebirth.
Throughout the ordeal, Shen Ci'an stayed by Jiang Zhi's side. Seeing her staring blankly at the memorial tablet with a solemn and pale face, his heart ached, and he could only silently take her hand to comfort her.
But then I discovered that her hands were also frighteningly cold.
Shen Ci'an frowned.
"Take care of yourself. Aren't you still investigating the case for your mother?" He gently rubbed her hand in his palm.
"Master, how can there be such a heartless person in the world?" She didn't know whether she was asking him or herself.
“She was clearly his first wife, but he ignored her when she was sick, and after she died, he immediately brought a second wife into the mansion. Now he won’t even let go of her memorial tablet.”
"As people say, men are the most fickle and heartless; you can't believe a single word they say."
Shen Ci'an sighed, knowing that nothing he said would make a difference, so he could only reach out and hug her.
“Whatever you want to do, I will help you,” he said firmly. “Go ahead and do it.”
After a while of feeling sad, Jiang Zhi recovered.
She was young when her mother passed away in her previous life, and many of her memories are blurry. When she grew up, she had some doubts and secretly checked her mother's medical records, but found nothing.
The most urgent task is to find the servants who served my mother at the time, so that we can know the general outline of what happened.
She composed herself and withdrew from Shen Ci'an's embrace.
"Thank you, Master. I feel much better now. Let's go."
The two walked out of the Rebirth Hall side by side. Just as they reached the entrance, they saw a young novice monk leading a handsome and dignified man toward them.
Jiang Zhi's pupils flickered when she saw the person clearly.
It was Xiao Xuanyou.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince." Shen Ci'an and Jiang Zhi immediately bowed.
When Xiao Xuanyou saw Jiang Zhi, his previously cold expression relaxed a little, but when he saw Shen Ci'an standing next to her, his phoenix eyes narrowed immediately, and the atmosphere around him became tense.
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