"Why did you choose it?" Jiang Wan asked.
"This has... the lady's scent."
The boy carefully looked up, a little shy, but his eyes were bright as he looked at Jiang Wan.
“That year, when I first entered the manor, I accidentally broke the old lady’s vase. It was the lady who pleaded for me and spared me from being whipped. I am grateful to her.”
He clutched the purse tightly in his small hand: "My lady has been gone for so many years, and I... miss you very much."
Jiang Wan's eyes flashed: "What's your name?"
"Song Yu".
"Pack your things and move into Qingfeng Garden."
Jiang Wan's eyebrows and eyes were gentle and soft.
"Also, from today onwards, call me Mother."
"...What?"
Song Lin, who was playing with the golden toad, jumped up.
That was his residence, spacious and grand, representing the pampering and importance he received.
The other children had to squeeze into the shared sleeping quarters in Rong'an Hall, which was cold in winter and hot in summer, making it very uncomfortable.
He was able to escape that environment because he gained Jiang Wan's favor.
"What nonsense is Mother talking about? He lives there, where am I supposed to go?"
Jiang Wan said calmly, "Naturally, you should go back to where you came from."
Song Lin ran away with his face flushed red.
Feeling that he had been wronged by Jiang Wan, he hurriedly ran to Cuizhu Hall, wanting to find Zhou Shi to complain about Jiang Wan.
Unfortunately, the Green Bamboo Hall was also in complete disarray.
"What? You actually sent your private soldiers to attack her? You...you're out of your mind!"
Zhou was so angry that she slammed her hand on the table.
Song Ziyu is not such an impulsive person.
She cast a disapproving glance at Gu Yurong: "Did you instigate this?"
Gu Yurong's face turned pale.
“It has nothing to do with Arong. She is kind and timid. How could she have come up with the idea of killing someone?”
Song Ziyu looked at her with pity and shielded her behind him.
"It was me. I knew in advance that Jiang Wan was going back to the city, and I thought it was a golden opportunity, but who knew..."
Who knew things would turn out this badly?
Not only did they fail to kill the person, they also caused such a huge disaster.
Song Ziyu gritted his teeth and said, "The Prefect of the Capital is so ungrateful, he doesn't even give face to my General's Mansion. I must investigate this to the end!"
Be careful what you say!
Zhou rebuked him.
"The Prefect of Jingzhao is a man of Crown Prince Yongning. How dare you speak ill of him so casually?"
The room fell silent at the mention of the Crown Prince.
Prince Yongning, with his dragon-like appearance and phoenix-like demeanor, was a person of noble status and a famous figure in the capital.
"I will try to see the Crown Prince and see if he can make an exception."
Song Ziyu frowned.
"However, the Crown Prince was assassinated three years ago and has been recuperating abroad for a long time. He has no connection with our household, so I'm afraid..."
“Husband, I have an idea,” Gu Yurong suddenly said, looking troubled. “But… it will require Sister Jiang to go through the trouble.”
Song Ziyu asked, "What?"
“If my sister is willing to change her story and say that she was not attacked that day and that her husband’s men went to fetch her back to the manor, then everything will be fine.”
Upon hearing this, both Zhou's eyes lit up.
Gu Yurong said, "As for that Buddha statue, if the Crown Prince investigates it, I'm afraid my sister will suffer some physical pain. I wonder if she's willing to accept that..."
"It's settled then." Song Ziyu narrowed his eyes. "She has no choice but to agree!"
Jiang Wan was quickly summoned over.
Upon hearing Song Ziyu's explanation, she almost burst out laughing.
She knew the Song family was shameless, but she never expected them to say such shameless things so confidently.
"What are you laughing at? I'm not discussing this with you!" Song Ziyu's face darkened.
“Yu Rong and I are mutually in love. If it weren’t for the late emperor’s decree, I would never have married you.”
"If you agree, you will be a wife of equal rank to Yu Rong, and the General's Mansion will still have food to eat."
"Otherwise, I can only demote you to a concubine, or issue you a divorce decree, making you a discarded woman!"
When Gu Yurong heard that she and Jiang Wan were both equal wives, her eyes revealed resentment, but she quickly concealed it and put on a considerate demeanor.
"This shows the general's tolerance towards his sister."
“My sister has been wandering outside for many years. If she were an unmarried woman, she would never be able to get married in her life. The general would never want a woman who has lost her chastity.”
"So, you're going to kill me because of this?" Jiang Wan sneered.
“Ziyu is your husband, how could he harm you? I’ve already said that what happened that day was just a misunderstanding.”
Zhou smiled and spoke earnestly.
"What will you gain by making a big fuss? As long as you back down this time, we'll still be family in the future."
"The family banquet five days from now will be a good opportunity. The Prefect of the Capital will be coming to the mansion, and I will also send an invitation to His Highness the Crown Prince. You should write a statement to 'clarify' this matter."
Jiang Wan was about to refuse, but upon hearing her words, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.
"...Crown Prince Yongning?"
"Exactly."
Gu Yurong smiled.
"Sister has just returned to the capital and doesn't know about Crown Prince Yongning yet, right? He's a very important person, so you'd better bow down and apologize properly. If you can help your husband gain his favor, the Song family will have a bright future."
Song Ziyu was gratified: "Yu Rong understands my heart best."
Jiang Wan sneered inwardly.
So that's what they were planning.
That's really... courting death.
She lowered her eyes, feigning hesitation: "I'll think about it."
"However, I have one condition."
Seeing that she was softening, Zhou hurriedly said, "What are your conditions? Tell me."
Jiang Wan said, "I want to adopt Song Yu as my stepson. In the future, he will be the eldest son of the General's Mansion."
Song Lin, who was standing to the side, became anxious and was about to cry out when Zhou Shi pressed him down.
These are all minor matters.
Once the storm has passed, I'll have plenty of ways to deal with Jiang Wan.
She herself will be in danger, let alone a child, so there's nothing to fear.
Zhou agreed: "As you wish, I will go to open the ancestral hall tomorrow."
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