Upon hearing Jiang Wan's words, Biluo was startled and stared wide-eyed, speechless.
Zhuque remained calm, clearly having already suspected this.
Only this reason can explain the various strange phenomena she discovered in Youzhou.
The reason why Grand Secretary Teng frequently extended a helping hand to the Yuan family is now clear.
Because the Yuan family member who married General Song was a Miao princess who was on good terms with him.
“This…” Biluo paused, “I heard that General Song was clearly in love with the young lady of the Prince of Youzhou’s mansion. How could he have accepted Lady Yuan into the family? And how could Minister Teng have watched his beloved marry into the General’s mansion? How do you explain that?”
Jiang Wan stroked Ji Mingling's notebook, her brows furrowing slightly.
My mother's diary contained a lot of old history about Miao territory and Youzhou, so it seems she had also sensed something and was investigating it in private.
Perhaps it was because he knew these secrets that he was silenced by the Yuan family.
Zhuque said, "Time is limited, and this is all I could find."
“Only those who were involved truly know the truth about what happened back then,” Jiang Wan instructed. “Send the evidence we found regarding the crimes committed by the Teng family’s descendants to the Teng residence.”
She included many fabricated charges in this evidence, enough to sentence the entire Teng family.
If Grand Secretary Teng is intelligent, he should be able to see the threat in it.
Jiang Wan guessed correctly.
That evening, news came from the Teng residence, inviting her to come over for tea the following day.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Wan wrote letters to her father and uncle, asking them to go together.
Because it was related to the cause of Ji Mingling's death, the two of them took it very seriously. The next day, the three of them went to the gate of the Teng residence together.
The main hall was very quiet; not even a servant was in sight.
Only Grand Secretary Teng sat alone on the wooden chair. When he saw the group of people enter, he turned his head away quietly.
He looked at Jiang Linyuan and Ji Rong in turn, and finally his gaze fell on Jiang Wan.
"You're the daughter of the Ji family, aren't you?" He studied her for a while and murmured, "You look a lot like your mother."
Jiang Wan: "Have you met my mother?"
Grand Secretary Teng did not answer. His cloudy eyes shifted slightly, as if lost in distant memories, and he spoke to himself.
“I told Ah Ling at the time not to touch Miss Ji, or something bad would happen, but she wouldn’t listen.”
"As expected, as expected... karma is a wheel, and retribution is inevitable."
Jiang Wan's mind raced.
The eldest princess of Miao territory, with the title of Lingshou.
This must be the "A-Ling" he mentioned.
Perhaps it was the stirring of past memories or perhaps it was due to his advanced age, but after saying a few words, Elder Teng coughed heavily.
Jiang Wan stepped forward and placed her hand on his wrist.
Grand Secretary Teng avoided the question, saying, "Thank you, child. But I am old and half-buried, and even the imperial physicians are helpless."
"My medical skills are superb," Jiang Wan said calmly. "I can cure diseases that even the imperial physicians cannot."
Grand Secretary Teng paused for a moment, then glanced at Jiang Wan and asked.
"Now that you've come here, you must already know something about what happened back then. Do you think you can save me without any reservations?"
"That depends on what you say later."
Jiang Wan raised her eyes, her voice calm.
"In your letter, you said that you were willing to reveal everything that happened back then in exchange for the safety of the Teng family descendants."
“If you have nothing to do with my mother’s death, I can save you. Otherwise, if you become an accomplice of the Yuan family, you will die a more painful death.”
Grand Secretary Teng laughed: "You're quite frank."
He looked at her intently.
“You resemble your mother, yet you are not.” He sighed. “Perhaps this is fate.”
"Back then, Miss Ji rescued A-Ling, who had suddenly fallen ill, by the roadside in Yuzhou. The two became acquainted from then on. Afterward, Miss Ji often delivered medicine to the Song family for A-Ling. They hit it off immediately and often met to drink tea and admire flowers. It was a kind relationship until later, when she accidentally discovered A-Ling's secret..."
Teng Ge Lao's voice gradually lowered.
His voice was slightly hoarse, as if he were telling a long-ago story.
A cold wind is rising, blowing fallen leaves all over the ground.
Jiang Linyuan and Ji Rong sat on either side, their expressions growing colder as they listened to Elder Teng's words.
It was already dark when the three of them left.
Jiang Linyuan's expression stiffened, and Ji Rong remained silent for a long time.
No one could have imagined that Ji Mingling had suffered such a thing.
"The girl from the Jiang family."
Teng Ge Lao's voice suddenly came from behind, stopping the group in their tracks.
Jiang Wan guessed what he wanted to say and said directly, "You keep your word. I will not make things difficult for the descendants of the Teng family."
Grand Secretary Teng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"And, and..."
He seemed to be trying to stand up, but his legs gave way, and he spoke shakily.
"What happened before was Ah Ling's fault. I'll pay for the sins she committed. Can you please forgive her, forgive her..."
Before he could finish speaking, the old man with completely white hair coughed up black blood and collapsed.
Ji Rong was startled and quickly stepped forward to check.
Jiang Linyuan stood in front of Jiang Wan, fearing there might be some conspiracy involved.
“It’s alright, Father.” Jiang Wan glanced at the dark blood on the ground and frowned. “He committed suicide by poisoning himself.”
Elder Teng's lifespan is nearing its end; even without this poison, his time is almost up.
He chose to take poison and die in front of several people, simply to use his own life to buy a way out for the Yuan family.
Jiang Wan sighed softly to herself.
Regardless of anything else, Grand Secretary Teng was truly infatuated with Lady Yuan.
Even on his deathbed, he was still scheming for her.
Jiang Wan stepped forward and personally closed the old man's eyes.
"You're mistaken, I'm not a soft-hearted person."
She said calmly.
"The sins committed by the Yuan family can only be repaid by her own conscience."
Teng Gelao left a will beforehand, and soon someone came to dispose of his body.
Jiang Linyuan and Ji Rong saw Jiang Wan off from the Teng residence, their faces grave.
Ji Mingling was the closest person to the two of them, and now that he learned that she had been harmed by villains, he naturally wanted to seek justice for her.
Teng Ge Lao was not the instigator; his death could not quell the hatred in their hearts.
The punishment of exile for Yuan Shi was too lenient.
"Father, Uncle."
Jiang Wan's voice pulled them back to reality.
"His Majesty bestowed upon me the title of First-Rank Imperial Consort, but I have not yet gone to the palace to express my gratitude."
Jiang Linyuan snapped out of his reverie and said in a deep voice, "Indeed, being granted the title of First-Rank Imperial Lady is an honor, and we should choose a suitable day to enter the palace to express our gratitude."
"I will also make some preparations, and I will go with you then."
Ji Rong also seemed to realize something, and narrowed his eyes slightly.
"A banquet will be held in the palace on the winter solstice, with all the officials present; it is a good time."
"However, exposing past events requires evidence, and now that Minister Teng is dead..."
"Uncle, don't worry, I've already prepared everything."
Jiang Wan said.
"Now is the time."
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