Before Old Qin could return to pick them up, Jiang Ancheng finally arrived with their carriage, his rusty driving skills somehow getting them home. As soon as he dismounted, he began complaining to Jiang Si.
Jiang Si had expected to be scolded by her father, but instead, Jiang Ancheng immediately started berating Jiang Zhan: “That good-for-nothing brother of yours! He recommended someone as a coachman, beating his chest about how reliable and honest the man was. Sure enough, not a single word from that scoundrel can be trusted.”
Jiang Si smiled awkwardly.
When they had hired Old Qin, she couldn’t handle it directly, so she’d asked Second Brother to help. She hadn’t expected him to become the scapegoat now.
Jiang Ancheng grew more irritated as he continued: “What’s even more infuriating is that good-for-nothing let that young constable from Official Zhen’s office take my horse! Hmph, despite his dignified appearance, anyone who associates with your Second Brother must be unreliable.”
Jiang Si’s mouth twitched slightly.
Father’s disdain for Second Brother was so strong that he considered anyone associated with him to be a questionable character.
However, knowing that person was Yu Seven, she couldn’t muster any sympathy.
Yes, let Father’s disdain grow even stronger.
Having vented his anger, Jiang Ancheng felt somewhat better, though he wouldn’t be completely satisfied until his son returned for a proper thrashing.
“Si’er, don’t be frightened by today’s events. They had nothing to do with you. In the future, unless necessary, don’t visit your maternal grandfather’s house anymore.”
“Daughter understands.”
Knowing how dark-hearted First Aunt You was, she certainly wouldn’t set foot in Marquis Yi’ning’s residence again unless necessary.
Seeing Jiang Si’s relatively calm demeanor, Jiang Ancheng finally left with half his worries eased.
Once only mistress and servant remained, A-Man couldn’t help but say: “Young Miss, Second Miss is so wicked, and that missing maidservant in blue—they’re both rotten to the core. Are we letting this go? Won’t they escape punishment for their evil deeds?”
Jiang Si smiled: “Evil deeds will meet their just rewards.”
Su Qingxue had First Aunt You backing her, but now that Su Qingxue’s birth mother had killed Su Qingyi, Su Qingxue’s life under First Aunt would certainly not be easy.
As for the maidservant in blue, Jiang Si had never seen her among First Aunt’s regular servants, suggesting she wasn’t an important senior maid. Most likely, she was an inconspicuous servant chosen specifically for this scheme.
Such minor servants, after doing their masters’ dirty work, typically met one of two fates: silenced forever or sent far away.
First Aunt You, the mastermind behind everything, had already received her punishment. What could be more painful for any mother than losing her child?
What Jiang Si didn’t know was that a few days later, a young maidservant was found drowned in Juhua Lake at the Marquis’s residence. The household was thrown into panic, with people saying Second Young Master had found a substitute soul.
Lady You, the household mistress, swiftly dealt with the servants spreading rumors, finally preventing them from spreading outside the residence.
As Jiang Si had said, evil deeds meet their just rewards. Those who harbored evil intentions to harm others, whether masterminds or mere executors, all ultimately faced their punishment.
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Jingming was stealing a moment to read a novel when moved by a certain plot point, he summoned the ministers of the Six Departments to inquire about the princes’ training progress.
Truth be told, Emperor Jingming had been increasingly irritated by his sons’ occasional mischief. Believing these cubs spent their days idly either watching drama unfold or picking fights, he decided to assign them to the Six Departments for training—at least they’d have something proper to do.
Deep down, Emperor Jingming had never wanted to admit feeling slightly envious of his sons: why could these troublemakers wander as they pleased, fight when they wanted, even flirt with respectable women without consequences, while he had to wake earlier than the roosters, diligently attend court, and review memorials? He couldn’t even read a novel in peace without worrying about censors discovering it and submitting a death-defying memorial of criticism.
How could a father be content when his sons lived more comfortably than their old man? Not!
Emperor Jingming listened to the Six Departments’ ministers’ formal reports with impatience, raising his eyebrows.
The princes were wise and intelligent, modest and courteous… why listen to such obvious flattery? Wasn’t there anything new to report?
The Minister of Justice, being clever, noticed the Emperor’s subtle displeasure and suddenly remembered something: “Your Majesty, Prince Yan assisted the Prefecture Chief in solving a case—the drowning of Marquis Yi’ning’s grandson.”
Emperor Jingming’s interest was piqued: “Oh? What case?”
The Minister quickly summarized the case, concluding with praise: “Even the Prefecture Chief commented on Prince Yan’s attention to detail and natural talent.”
Pleased, Emperor Jingming dismissed the ministers and ordered Chief Eunuch Pan Hai to summon Yu Jin to the palace.
Yu Jin, having just finished drinking with Jiang Zhan and subtly inquiring about Jiang Si’s circumstances, was walking home with his dog when he encountered Pan Hai by the crooked jujube tree at his gate.
“Your Highness, the Emperor summons you to the palace.”
Yu Jin’s eyes cleared instantly: “Thank you for waiting, Sir Pan. Let me change my clothes first.”
Shortly after, Yu Jin, in fresh attire, followed Pan Hai into the palace.
“Your Majesty, Prince Yan has arrived.”
As Yu Jin entered, Emperor Jingming detected a faint smell of alcohol.
The Emperor was immediately displeased.
Drinking in broad daylight?
“Where were you coming from?”
Yu Jin answered truthfully: “Drinking with a friend. I met Sir Pan just as I was returning.”
“Shouldn’t you be at court at this hour?”
“Son was helping Prefecture Chief Zhen solve a drowning case. Feeling pleased with the resolution, I had a few drinks with a friend.”
Looking at his son’s flushed cheeks, Emperor Jingming sighed inwardly.
Children raised outside the palace were indeed less shrewd than those raised within—such straightforwardness could easily lead to disadvantage.
He bore some responsibility for this, he supposed.
With this thought, Emperor Jingming’s gaze softened as he asked: “What friends have you made since returning?”
“Son has made only one friend—the second son of Earl Dongping’s household. Though he doesn’t know my true identity.”
“Earl Dongping?” Emperor Jingming pondered for a while before remembering. “Ah yes, Earl Dongping’s family was to be allied by marriage with Duke An’guo’s household, but Duke An’guo’s younger son died for love with a commoner girl, breaking off the engagement. That’s what happened, right?”
Yu Jin looked completely bewildered: “Son didn’t know about this.”
“You’ve just returned to the capital, it’s natural you wouldn’t know these things.”
Looking at his son, radiant as jade and orchids, Emperor Jingming smiled: “By the way, Duke An’guo’s younger son is your cousin. Seventh Son, what do you think of this matter?”
Yu Jin’s handsome face instantly frosted over as he coldly replied: “Son thinks Ji Three is an irresponsible scoundrel, and that young lady whose engagement was broken off because of him must have had terrible karma from eight previous lives to be entangled with him.”
Emperor Jingming stroked his chin.
Seventh Son’s perspective was unique.
When he first heard about this matter, he had only found it interesting, never considering how the young lady from Earl Dongping’s household might feel about the broken engagement.
Thinking about it now, Emperor Jingming felt that as an enlightened ruler, he should show some consideration.
Hmm, he should find an opportunity to bestow some reward on that young lady.