Real Empress from a noble family

Jiang Yashuang's guess was right. Qiu Yelan sorted her dress and walked outside. She summoned Madame Tao Junior's servant in, and figured the whole thing out after asking a few questions. Jiang Yadan raped He Shuijin's confidant, Wan, during the chaos last night.

Then, Wan ran out of the Mansion of Marquess Qin and hanged herself in a small forest two streets away.

After hearing it, Qiu Yelan couldn't speak for a long time. Then she asked, "What about now?"

"Wan is important to the Fourteenth Young Lady. She found out that Wan had gone missing this morning and became very worried. She even sent someone to the Mansion of Earl of Jingchuan to borrow the mastiffs to look for Wan. Then Wan was founded." The servant smiled bitterly, "So she knew that it was the eighth young master who… After that, she went to the Madame and cried and asked for help."

"Our young lady has been asking for her forgiveness for half a day, but the Fourteenth Young Lady just refuses to let go of it. As you have a good relationship with her…" At this point, Qiu Yelan got a bitter smile on her face, "No matter how good our relationship is, we've only known each other for a few years. However, your young lady has always been familiar with her. If she can't persuade her, how will I be able to do it?"

Though Qiu Yelan said so, she couldn't just ignore it since her eldest sister-in-law from the same branch had sent the servant to ask for help. So, she said, "I remember your young lady always treats Jiang Yashuang as her real younger brother. How about you go back first? I'll change my clothes and ask Jiang Yashuang if he wants to go with me to greet his grandmother."

She just got married and started to live here yesterday. She hadn't walked around in her yard yet. How would she know where the Madame's yard was?

After she sent Madame Tao Junior's servant back, Qiu Yelan went inside to talk to Jiang Yashuang, who was also speechless. He said, "There are so many maids in the family. Why did he have to rape the maid of Fourteenth Young Lady? I remember that her close maids are also her business helpers. An official who was young and had no children asked the Mayor to be the matchmaker, but she refused. I can't imagine how angry she is now!"

Qiu Yelan sighed, "Otherwise, my sister-in-law would not send someone here to ask for our help. It seemed to be known by the grandmother when we were in the granduncle's Mansion. Grandmother tried to calm them down. However, the problem still remained unsolved."

As Jiang Yashuang said, Wan was not just a maid, but also He Shuijin's business helper. It took time, effort, and even luck to find and cultivate this kind of talent. However, such a good helper committed suicide because of Jiang Yadan. The Fourteenth Young Lady would definitely be mad at him even if she just considered the business, not to mention her relationship with Wan.

"But if we go there, she should take the opportunity to make peace." Jiang Yashuang stood up with a gloomy face, "After all, a maid can't be compared with my brother. She was sad and asked for justice for a long time. She won't keep doing it all night at my grandmother's place. The problem is that even if she gives us face and accepts the apology this time, it's hard to know what she will think about my brother later."

He Shuijin was not easy to be dealt with. Although she couldn't do anything to threaten Jiang Yadan's life to revenge her maid, she could make various troubles for Jiang Yadan frequently.

Especially she was in charge of the internal affairs of their family now. She could think of plenty of ways to make Jiang Yadan pay. Maybe then even Madame Tao Junior and the entire fourth branch would get into trouble.

"We have to go there anyway. Let's deal with this first. As for the grievances of the Fourteenth Young Lady, we can deal with that later!" Qiu Yelan rubbed her forehead and said unhappily.

The two of them went to the main room where Madame Tao lived. As soon as they entered, they heard someone sobbing.

After they got inside, they saw Madame Tao sitting upright. She tried hard to stay focused.

Both He Shuijin and Madame Tao Junior were in a mess. They knelt in front of her, one on the left and the other on the right. The former told her about her maid's innocence and tragic death, while the latter was so ashamed of the husband and was apologizing. Qiu Yelan looked around, but she did not see Jiang Yadan.

"You're finally here." Madame Tao was obviously relieved when she saw them come in. She hurriedly gave a wink over, "Hurry up. Come and persuade them. They've been sad for the whole afternoon. Though the poor maid died, you also have to take care of yourself!"

Jiang Yashuang and Qiu Yelan stepped forward together, coaxing and persuading. Qiu Yelan dragged the two ladies up and made them sit on the chairs. In short, as Jiang Yashuang had expected, after some persuasion, He Shuijin stopped sobbing gradually. She talked about Wan's merits and then said to Madame Tao and Madame Tao Junior, "I know what Jiang Yadan is like. I was too busy last night to notice when Wan was disappeared. Although the maid has served me since I was a kid and she was like a sister to me. She was a servant after all and couldn't be compared with Jiang Yadan. Of course, I dare not threaten his life for the maid."

She sniffed, and said angrily, "I just want to ask him in person. There are so many maids in his backyard and he is familiar with the brothels outside. Why does he have to rape my maid? It's been a long time now. How many servants have you and Madame Tao Junior sent to find him, grandmother? But nobody found him. I know that you and Madame Tao Junior would not lie to me. It's clear that Jiang Yadan is hiding on purpose. How can I bear it?"

Madame Tao Junior didn't know what to say. She repeatedly apologized and promised compensation and help with Wan's funeral. She even said that Wan could be buried in the name of Jiang Yadan's concubine. He Shuijin let out a sigh and shook her head, "I'll thank you for your kindness on behalf of Wan, Madame Tao Junior. However, since she hanged herself, it's clear that she wouldn't want to be Jiang Yadan's concubine. So, let's bury her under her real name!"

Qiu Yelan agreed to it in her heart. Wan killed herself because of the rape. Surely, she didn't want to be Jiang Yadan's concubine.

Madame Tao sighed, "This time, Jiang Yadan should apologize to you and your maid. Your grandfather and I should also be blamed. We failed to teach him well."

"Grandma, what are you talking about? Of course, I wouldn't dare to blame you." He Shuijin said hurriedly.

At this point, this matter was almost over.

The crowd comforted He Shuijin for a little while. Then, He Shuijin accepted Madame Tao Junior's apology on behalf of Jiang Yadan, "What else can I say now? Wan was unlucky herself! I promised her to let her go home after two years so that she could marry her cousin who had waited for her for five years. But now, well, everyone has their fates. So, let's not mention this anymore."

She didn't reject Madame Tao Junior's compensation, "Wan's family is very poor. That's why she was sold to be my maid. After all, she used to be my maid. I will pay to bury her and you don't need to pay anything, Madame Tao Junior. However, I'll accept the compensation that you give on behalf of her and send it to her family later."

Although it was obvious that she still had grievances in her heart, she accepted the apology. Madame Tao saw that it was late already, so she offered to have dinner together politely. After being rejected by the four juniors, she didn't insist, "It's raining. Be careful when you go back."

"Yes!"

After they went out of Madame's yard, Madame Tao Junior asked He Shuijin, "Shuijin, do you want me to send you back?"

"That won't be necessary." He Shuijin shook her head, "My yard is just behind yours. You must be very tired today, right?"

Madame Tao Junior smiled awkwardly. She was not sure whether He Shuijin was being sarcastic on purpose or not. So, she could only be silent.

In Marquess's Mansion, the family members' yards were arranged according to the generations. So, the four of them lived near each other and would go together for a long time.

However, they were all exhausted after such a long day. So, they just walked in silence.

When they arrived at an empty place, He Shuijin suddenly stopped and ordered her servants to retreat and keep a distance.

Madame Tao Junior, Jiang Yashuang, and Qiu Yelan were slightly surprised. After hesitating for a while, they also ordered their servants to do the same. Then they asked, "What's wrong?"

"Yelan, the phoenix hairpin that grandfather gave you today was desired by the first branch who wanted to use it as a dowry for Huizhi." He Shuijin was in a bad mood, and it was getting late now. She didn't want to say too much, so she was straightforward, "But grandmother didn't like Madame Dou's tone at the time, so she didn't tell grandfather about it. However, grandfather gave it to you today. You and the people close to you had better be careful in the future."

When Qiu Yelan was about to say something, He Shuijin continued, "Don't be like me this time. As I wasn't being careful, Wan was hurt by someone and hanged herself. What's more, Jiang Yadan has to take the blame!"

"What?" Madame Tao Junior almost exclaimed. Jiang Yashuang also asked unexpectedly, "Shuijin, do you mean that my brother didn't rape Wan?"

"I don't know if it's him who did it," He Shuijin said with a stern face and sneered, "but it definitely has something to do with Madame Dou!"

Although she was from the third branch and was not close to the first branch, she usually called her "Aunt Yang". But now she called her "Madame Dou". At this moment, she really hated her.

"I was so busy last night and there were so many people. So, they probably thought that I mustn't have noticed when Wan walked away from me and was called away." He Shuijin gritted her teeth, "Those losers have underestimated me. I was in charge of the Jiang Family's account book before I got married. Why? Because I'm better than all the managers combined. Wan left twice last night. And she didn't come back the second time. I also remember the time that she left! Not to mention the servant who took her away.

"At that time, Madame Dou Junior hugged the grandson of Marquess Zhao and made him cry. A group of womenfolk surrounded them. I didn't think they could make him stop crying, so I went to help. There were ten people around, including the servants there. However, with the corner of my eyes, I still saw a servant from the first branch who said something to Wan and then Wan followed him to go outside."

At this point, she shed tears again and sobbed, "I've trained Wan, so I know her. Even if she wanted to kill herself for this kind of thing, she would definitely leave a letter to explain what had happened. She would never commit suicide without letting me know. Besides, Marquess's Mansion is so big. Wouldn't she find a remote corner here to end her life? Why did she go outside? Especially it was so late back then. Wouldn't she worry about running into others again?"

"So, you mean that Wan didn't kill herself at all. She was murdered." Qiu Yelan said seriously.

"Right!" He Shuijin wiped the tears on her face and gritted her teeth, "Why did she hang herself outside Marquess's Mansion instead of inside? It was your wedding day yesterday. If she had died in this Mansion, grandfather and grandmother would have been furious, and would definitely investigate it thoroughly. Then, the fact that the first branch had framed Jiang Yadan would be exposed. But she died outside. Although grandfather and grandmother would be unhappy, they wouldn't investigate it so as not to spoil the joyful atmosphere in the family."

"That's why I was saying that I wanted to talk to Jiang Yadan face to face!" He Shuijin looked at Madame Tao Junior who was pale and said in a low voice, "On the one hand, I did it, so the first branch could see. On the other hand, I really wanted to ask Jiang Yadan. I know that he was drunk yesterday as he drank some wine for Jiang Yashuang. If the servants didn't find Wan's underwear in his hands, he probably would not admit it. But if he thinks about it carefully, he might remember something."

Madame Tao Junior's lips trembled and then she said bitterly, "I'll tell him that later."

"Don't do that!" Jiang Yashuang shook his head, "Since my brother's childhood, the eldest uncle and Aunt Yang have always protected him from getting punished whenever he gets into trouble. So, he always thinks that they are very good to him. Madame Tao Junior, you can only try to make him talk about it to you. You mustn't tell him about Shuijin's suspicions."

"Sorry for making you feel bad today, Madam Tao Junior." He Shuijin calmed down and said apologetically, "Although I think Jiang Yadan was possibly framed, there was no evidence. So, I just went with the play in front of my grandfather. It's just that I didn't have time to tell you in advance. You had to listen to me talk about those things for a long time."

After looking at Jiang Yashuang and Qiu Yelan, she said, "Sorry for troubling you to get here."

"If we hadn't got here, we wouldn't know that as soon as we entered the room, we offended others." Qiu Yelan thought to herself. But she said, "It's all right."

"In short, it is clear that the first branch deliberately tried to use it to provoke the relationship between our two branches. Everybody knows how nicely grandfather has treated the first branch for all these years. How come they are so ungrateful?" He Shuijin let out a sigh and said sternly, "We are all grandfather's offspring. I won't say much about it. It's just that my relationship with Wan and my hard work in nurturing her won't allow me to let go of the first branch. Madame Junior Tao, Yashuang, and Yelan, keep an eye on this kind of thing in the future. Since the first branch intends to provoke our relationship, I'm afraid they won't stop with the killing of Wan!"

When they returned to the yard where they lived, Jiang Yashuang's former maid Caiqi came up to greet him, "I've taken the initiative to set the dinner table in the pavilion on the rockery. It's so stuffy inside. You'll feel better with the wind outside which can make you feel cool."

Both Yelan and Yashuang agreed. When they sat down in the pavilion, they felt really comfortable with the wind and the cool drizzle which seemed to come into the pavilion.

"Things are complicated in the mansion." Qiu Yelan played with the small porcelain cup and watched the huge Marquess Mansion's endless flowers and trees in the rain lit up by the lanterns. She couldn't help but sigh.

Jiang Yashuang knew that she was referring to what He Shuijin had just said about the murder of Wan. After thinking about it, he asked the servants to retreat to the foot of the rockery after serving the dishes, and said lightly, "More complicated than you think. You just got married, so there are a lot of things you don't know in the mansion. Besides, you must be tired today. Maybe that's why you didn't notice that what Shuijin said just now is without evidence. She has got nothing to prove it except her words."

Qiu Yelan didn't know what to say. She stopped playing with the porcelain cup in her hand and looked at him in surprise.

Jiang Yashuang looked at the raindrops outside. He frowned and said, "It's possible that Wan was killed by my brother or the first branch. It's even possible that He Shuijin made her sacrifice herself so that she could tell us what she said today!"

Qiu Yelan suddenly figured it out, "Because… Because of our father's Northern Army?"

"Exactly!" Jiang Yashuang said lightly, "Because of my grandfather's attitude towards the first branch, the eldest uncle has always been more powerful than the third uncle, who wants to change the situation. That's why the third uncle really hopes that our father can be on his side. But my father only wants to manage the Northern Army well and doesn't want to be involved in it. So, no matter what the first branch or the third branch will say in the future, don't believe it too much. Never promise them anything."

"I got it." Qiu Yelan glanced at the surroundings in the dark night again. The exuberant willows and flowers, as well as the golden towers in the daytime looked like endless mountains from a distance. They were complex and deep with evil hidden in them on this rainy night.

The drizzle resembled silver threads in places that were lit up, and the light made the drizzle look really pretty. Those vague halos at night were just like the hearts of the people in the mansion which was complicated and unpredictable.