“I am Ah Ling’s own brother. What does it matter if I do these things for her?”
Wang added, "Awan, if you hadn't discovered Yuan's secret, your uncle would probably have suffered the same fate as your mother, falling victim to this old woman's cruelty!"
She sighed.
"Your mother was kind-hearted and knowledgeable in medicine. When she met Yuan Shi in Yuzhou, she must have been deceived by her treacherous nature, which led to her tragic end..."
Jiang Wan lowered her eyes quietly.
A marriage and a life were nothing to Emperor Jingyuan.
Even if she were to appeal to the Emperor and list all of Yuan's crimes, she might not be able to get a divorce, let alone avenge her mother.
"Now that the matter of the traitor has been brought into the picture, His Majesty is furious. It may not be long before the palace announces the punishment for the General's Mansion."
When that time comes, everything will go much more smoothly if she brings up the matter of divorce again.
Jiang Wan chatted with the group for a few minutes, then got up to take her leave.
Before leaving, she said to Ji Rong, "I heard that my mother has a few notebooks in my uncle's possession. I'd like to take a look at them."
Most of Ji Mingling's belongings are kept in the Prime Minister's residence, which Jiang Wan had already looked through last time.
Apart from a few notebooks kept at the Ji residence, she had never read them.
Ji Rong, understanding her longing for her mother, immediately ordered someone to fetch it.
Besides Ji Mingling's notes, there are also books she liked to read during her lifetime, with her own handwritten annotations, each line written in delicate, elegant calligraphy.
Jiang Wan's eyes softened as she carefully accepted the gift, then said to Ji Huaichuan.
“My uncle’s recovery needs a proper explanation, otherwise it will arouse His Majesty’s suspicion. I have already made arrangements. In a few days, someone will come to the capital to ‘detoxify’ my uncle.”
Ji Huaichuan nodded and personally saw her onto the carriage.
It was getting dark.
As soon as Jiang Wan sat down, Biluo opened the book in her hand and specially added a candle, holding it up to illuminate her.
Jiang Wan glanced at the book titles; the first few were all ancient medical texts.
My mother was well-versed in medicine and it was common for her to enjoy reading medical books.
She carefully organized and put away several medical books, and the title of the bottom book was revealed.
Jiang Wan's eyes widened in surprise.
"The Unofficial History of Youzhou?" Biluo read the title aloud, puzzled. "Why would Lady Ji be interested in Youzhou?"
Jiang Wan opened the book.
The Xuan paper is yellowed, and the corners of the book are slightly curled, showing that Mother has read this book many times. There are her own handwritten annotations at the bottom of the pages, indicating that she must have studied it carefully.
“My mother has never been to Youzhou.”
Jiang Wan murmured, her expression somewhat unfocused.
This book, "The Unofficial History of Youzhou," confirms her speculation.
When Aniang met Yuan Shi in Yuzhou, the Jiang family and the Song family did not have a close relationship.
Although Jiang Linyuan was the prime minister, he was not the only option for the Song family if they wanted to help Song Ziyu get promoted through marriage.
So why did the Yuan family choose Jiang Wan?
She even went so far as to use secret techniques to manipulate her mother in order to marry into the general's mansion.
If she was after the power of the Prime Minister's mansion, she had severed ties with her family for many years, and the Song family had not benefited from it.
Moreover, when she married into the Song family, she was just an ordinary young lady.
Jiang Wan was certain that she didn't possess anything special that would warrant the Yuan family's elaborate efforts.
Yuan was willing to take this risk unless her goal was not herself, but... her mother.
Jiang Wan stroked the dusty books, her brows furrowing slightly.
What exactly happened between Yuan Shi and her mother back then?
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