jdhmnovel Chapter 94 Gu Yuan's Scheme
Chapter 94 Gu Yuan's Scheme
The Jiang family set up a mourning hall overnight. White lanterns hung on both sides of the vermilion gate, and the maids and servants all wore white mourning clothes. The entire Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion was decorated in a somber color.
In the mourning hall, Old Madam Jiang cried again and again, while Marquis Zhenyuan insisted on going to court. Only a few of Jiang's children accompanied him there.
Before long, the Duke of Huguo and his wife entered from outside.
The Duchess looked at the kneeling Old Madam Jiang, her tone laced with anger, "Huizhi was perfectly fine, how could he...?"
"Is this how your Jiang family treats my daughter?"
"It was bad enough that they drowned my granddaughter in a pig cage, but now they've gone even further..."
Granddaughter, how ridiculous.
Madam Jiang got up, sat back in her chair, and remained calm.
But she caught a glimpse of Duke Liu looking at her with an extremely unpleasant expression.
Jiang Zhi tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling on the face of Duke Liu, feeling that he looked very much like someone.
His eyebrows and eyes seem to bear a slight resemblance to those of Prince Jing, Gu Yuan.
Jiang Zhi had met Duke Liu in her previous life.
This person is ruthless and even harbors ill intentions towards Yanjing.
Madam Jiang looked at the two people who had come, and simply smiled calmly.
"Huizhi is gone. Shouldn't it be our Jiang family who are saddened?"
"Our Jiang family has lost two women in just a few days."
“An’er and I are naturally more heartbroken than you are.”
Madam Jiang looked at Liu with a solemn expression and said, "Moreover, this Huizhi is cunning and has used the dead child to harm our Jiang family and our Zhi'er."
"You bear the greatest responsibility for Huizhi's death."
“That Biluo was a wolf in sheep’s clothing, had an affair with someone, and killed Huizhi.”
“Biluo is the person you personally chose.”
Liu's face turned ashen, and she angrily said, "How could Huizhi harm Jiang Zhi and the Jiang family?"
"Besides, it's true that I personally selected Biluo, but she has always been obedient to Huizhi, so how could I possibly want to harm her?"
Old Madam Jiang looked at her with a sigh, "Jiang Luan is not a member of our Jiang family, and that child from back then was not a member of our Jiang family either. In that case, it is only right that she, a promiscuous woman, ended up like this."
"With a maidservant added to the mix, would she behave this way? Could she be acting under someone's orders?"
Liu's expression changed. "What does Old Madam Jiang mean by this? Could it be that I would instruct a maid to kill my own daughter?"
The Duke of Liu, standing to the side, said in a deep voice with a sullen face, "Now that the person is dead, there is no point in saying more. I only wish that your Jiang family would give our Duke's mansion an explanation."
Jiang Zhi knelt on the ground, listening to the conversation of the people in front of him, his eyes darting around.
Madam Jiang patted her armchair and sneered, "Lord Duke, do you want the Jiang family to give you an explanation?"
"This Biluochun tea comes from your Duke's mansion. If you want to make trouble, I'll gladly oblige."
"Your Duke's Mansion misjudged people, sending some shady maids to our Jiang family, who caused the death of the matriarch. How will this debt be settled?"
"Or is it that Biluo is acting on orders from your Duke's Mansion to bring disaster to our Jiang family?"
"Why don't we go to His Majesty in person and say it?"
Madam Jiang's voice was extremely cold, and her imposing aura forced those in their seats to remain silent.
Duke Liu's eyes widened immediately. "What nonsense are you spouting? What do you mean by 'we instructed'?"
"Huizhi is my daughter. Does that mean Biluo is on my orders to poison her own daughter?"
Madam Jiang snorted coldly.
“Biluo, after all, you come from your Duke’s Mansion. In this matter, it is your Duke’s Mansion that has wronged our Jiang family.”
Jiang Zhi knelt before the mourning hall, her expression complex.
Everyone drank the soup, and Grandmother even specially had her deliver it to the Liang Prince's residence to avoid attracting attention.
The poison was obviously administered beforehand, and Biluo was even framed for it.
Seeing that things were not going well, Lady Liu immediately gave Duke Liu a look.
After all, it wouldn't be good if it really got to His Majesty's ears.
"What Madam Jiang said is true. It was our Duke's Mansion that failed to recognize talent and brought ruin to the Jiang family."
"We are here to apologize to the Jiang family."
With that, she got up from her chair and quickly left with Duke Liu.
-
News of Lady Liu's death quickly reached the ears of the emperor and Gu Yuan.
Who could have imagined that in just a few days, two important female members of the Jiang family would die?
His Majesty also pondered deeply.
Night falls inside Yongchun Palace.
The Imperial Noble Consort sat in a chair, one hand supporting her forehead, her face showing signs of fatigue.
The door to the bedchamber was gently pushed open, and Gu Yuan walked in.
Seeing the Imperial Noble Consort's worried face, he spoke softly, "Mother, did you look for your son?"
The Imperial Noble Consort looked up at Gu Yuan and handed her a letter.
She gazed ahead.
I remembered the bamboo skewer I had broken.
Is it possible that everything I ask for will not come true?
Now, is it time to begin?
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt, and even her body began to tremble slightly.
"I don't believe it, I just won't believe it."
Seeing her like this, Gu Yuan put down the letter in his hand.
“Mother, since the Jiang family is no longer of any use, we should abandon them.”
"The Guangde Marquis's Mansion and the Zhongjing Marquis's Mansion also have an army under their command."
"They will also use what we need."
The Imperial Noble Consort smiled and said, "The Marquis of Zhongjing has always been plotting for you."
"Now, there are only the Marquis of Guangde, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, and Lu Pingsheng."
"I originally intended for Jiang Luan to marry the eldest son of the Marquis of Guangde, but you went and had an affair with her, causing the Marquis of Guangde to break off the engagement."
"The person is dead."
Gu Yuan poured himself a cup of tea, his face fearless. "The Marquis of Guangde is straightforward. On the surface, he stands by me, but in reality, he only listens to my father."
"It is probably difficult for him to assist me in the future. At worst, I can ask Father to bestow a marriage upon his son, Pei Shangdao."
"As long as the woman we are betrothed to is one of ours, that's fine."
"As for the Zhenyuan Marquis's mansion, the only person who can inherit the title of Zhenyuan Marquis is Jiang Shuyue."
Gu Yuan's expression changed slightly. "As for Lu Pingsheng, I don't believe he can handle the situation with the Northern Di."
Gu Yuan snorted coldly, speaking as if it were nothing.
The Imperial Noble Consort, however, was uneasy.
"Lately, I have this feeling that something is going to happen."
"We, mother and son, have been planning for so long, but nothing has come of it."
She touched her temple and said, "You're not getting any younger, it's time you got married."
"Since Jiang Zhi has already married Gu Liang, you should ask your father to bestow the Prime Minister's daughter upon you in marriage another day."
Gu Yuan frowned.
The prime minister's daughter was not only plain-looking, but she also had a terrible temper.
"Mother, let me think about it some more."
The Imperial Noble Consort nodded and said, "Yuan'er, your mother is doing all this for you. I hope you will think carefully about which path you want to take in the future."
"This autumn, there will surely be some outstanding scholars who come to the capital to take the imperial examinations."
"If we could select a few promising young talents from the top three in this year's autumn examination to work for you, that would be ideal."
"As for Gu Liang, back then, the Imperial Noble Consort was his weakness, but unfortunately she died."
"He couldn't have really fallen in love with Jiang Zhi."
Gu Yuan turned her head and looked at the Imperial Noble Consort in disbelief.
"Mother, please don't say that."
How could Gu Liang possibly fall in love with Jiang Zhi?
Jiang Zhi is this person...
The Imperial Noble Consort sneered: "It's just my guess."
Gu Yuan put down the teacup in her hand.
"Gu Liang".
"I don't believe you'll live much longer."