Xiang Family, Mourning Hall.
After bowing to the coffin, Jiao Lianyu's face grew even paler, and his body staggered. Fortunately, Qiu Huaixin, who was beside him, supported him.
"Gui Zhang, your injuries have not healed. Take care of yourself." Qiu Huaixin looked at the ashen-faced Jiao Lianyu with concern. That knife had almost taken Gui Zhang's life. Today, he had come to the Xiang family to pay his respects. He had been fasting since yesterday and, to show his sincerity, had dismounted from his carriage at the alley entrance. His body must be suffering from the walk to the Xiang family.
Another young man in a blue long gown quickly took the three sticks of incense from Jiao Lianyu's hand and helped insert them into the incense burner.
Unlike Qiu Huaixin, who wore brocade clothes and jade pendants, Qi Changlin came from a humble background. If not for Jiao Lianyu's financial assistance, let alone studying, his paralyzed mother lay bedridden at home, and he had two young children to feed. His wife was also sickly. The entire Qi family would have starved to death.
During Jiao Lianyu's injury period, Qi Changlin specifically took leave from the official school's tutors. Every evening, he would visit the Jiao residence and verbally recount the day's lessons to Jiao Lianyu. Afterward, they would study together. Qi Changlin also stayed in the guest room of the Jiao residence and brought Jiao Lianyu's homework to the official school the next day for the tutors to review.
If Qiu Huaixin was Jiao Lianyu's good friend, then Qi Changlin was definitely his confidant and followed Jiao Lianyu's lead.
Today, he was also worried about Jiao Lianyu coming alone to the Xiang family to pay respects. Although Xiang Changshou's death was due to natural causes, who knew if the Xiang family would vent their anger on Gui Zhang? Qi Changlin was also worried that his two fists couldn't defeat four hands, so he specifically went to Qiu Mansion to contact Qiu Huaixin, and the three of them came together.
Leaning on Qiu Huaixin, Jiao Lianyu recovered his strength after a while and looked at the desolate mourning hall. "I did not kill Bo Ren, but Bo Ren died because of me."
"If it weren't for your stepmother trying to control your marriage and scheme against you, this one..." Qi Changlin said indignantly, but before he could finish, Jiao Lianyu interrupted him.
From studying in private school to their acquaintance of ten years, Qi Changlin knew everything about the Jiao residence. Naturally, he knew how difficult it was for Jiao Lianyu, a son born to a concubine, in his home. If it weren't for Magistrate Jiao's fairness, Gui Zhang might not even have kept his life.
What made Qi Changlin angry was that even though Jiao Lianyu was so accommodating, his stepmother, Madam Jiao, still wouldn't let him go. The rumors in Qianzhong Road a few days ago, Gui Zhang...
Since the marriage was called off, there was no room for negotiation. Jiao Lianyu looked at the visitor. "That jade pendant is sealed in the yamen's storeroom. I can do nothing about this matter."
Qiu Jingyuan, that fool, had used this jade pendant to negotiate with Zhan Feiyu before. Jiao Lianyu was certain that the Forbidden Dragon Guard must be watching in secret. To make a move at this time would be to court death.
"Second Young Master, there's no need to refuse. The marriage is off, but there are ways to retrieve the jade pendant," the visitor said in a deep voice. Seeing Jiao Lianyu, who had become instantly vigilant, a flash of disdain quickly crossed his eyes before returning to calm.
"Second Young Master, don't forget how many messages Li Li secretly passed to you over the years, and you even got to read Magistrate Jiao's letters first."
"You?" Jiao Lianyu's face turned pale again. He suppressed his anger with all his might, but his slightly trembling fists showed his inner turmoil. "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. I am inferior to you and willingly concede defeat!"
"Second Young Master, why get angry? Zhan Feiyu is close to the eldest young master. If you make a little effort in the future, do you think you will still have a future in officialdom?" The visitor looked at the sullen and indignant Jiao Lianyu and continued, "If Second Young Master thinks this is alarmist, you can choose not to listen."
Jiao Lianyu remained silent with a dark expression. Although the words were unpleasant, they were the truth. He was a son born to a concubine, and his mother was just a concubine. However, in private, they could gather the servants and even guards in the mansion, precisely because he would inherit the Jiao family in the future, and these people had pledged allegiance to him in advance.
Zhan Feiyu was a disciple of Scholar Gu, a powerful Grand Secretary in the cabinet and a trusted minister of the Emperor. As long as Zhan Feiyu let slip even a word, the old foxes in the officialdom, in order to please Zhan Feiyu, would inevitably suppress him and prevent him from rising.
Jiao Lianyu's eyes churned with ambition and desire. His father was, after all, only a fourth-rank magistrate. He could still have some influence in Qianzhong Road, but when placed in the Ministry of Personnel or the imperial court, a fourth-rank magistrate was merely a petty official.
As the son of a petty official, he had offended a disciple of Scholar Gu. Being suppressed was the least of it. If he encountered someone who wanted to curry favor with Zhan Feiyu, they could easily frame him with a false charge. Not only would his future be ruined, but his life might also be in danger.
Conversely, Jiao Lianping was on good terms with Zhan Feiyu. Not to mention anything else, after his injury healed, his elder brother would definitely not be assigned to a barren and impoverished place. As the saying goes, having connections in court makes things easier.
...
Zhan Feiyu had no idea that Jiao Lianyu was so wary of her. After Qiu Jingyuan's marriage was called off, she was now free.
"Miss, I just received news that Xiang Changshou has passed away." He Nuan heard many people talking about the Xiang family when she returned from outside this morning. Xiang Changshou had ultimately not overcome this hurdle.
Her hand paused slightly, and a drop of ink fell onto the paper, creating a smudge. Zhan Feiyu put down her brush and set aside the spoiled paper. "Was it man-made or a natural death?"
He Nuan knew that although her young lady was young, she was experienced in handling matters and did not need to sugarcoat her reply. "After Madam Xiang instigated the Lisu people to attack Miss, Xiang family father and son were filled with fear and anxiety. Later, the yamen apprehended Madam Xiang and her associates. Xiang Changshou vomited blood at that time, and his condition worsened, with no medicine being effective."
In the end, Xiang Changshou died due to illness, but Madam Xiang's arrest was the last straw that broke the camel's back, directly causing Xiang Changshou's death. Otherwise, if he had taken good care of himself, he might have lived for another three to five months.
Zhan Feiyu nodded understandingly. She did not feel guilty because Madam Xiang was arrested. The country has its laws. Madam Xiang dared to commit murder, which destined her to be imprisoned. As for Xiang Changshou, it was fate and destiny.
He Nuan looked at Zhan Feiyu again. Seeing that she did not show any self-blame, she continued, "Given the current situation of the Xiang family, they do not plan to hold a wake. The third branch of the Qiu family and Second Young Master Jiao intend to pay their respects."
Zhan Feiyu took the cup handed by He Nuan and sipped the honey water. She reviewed the entire matter in her mind.
The abbot of Changhua Temple gave Qiu Jingyuan a prophecy of a noble destiny. This was a scheme by Xu Shi of the third branch, who had spent money to arrange it, intending to sell Qiu Jingyuan at a high price.
Madam Xiang offered a betrothal gift of five thousand taels of silver, intending to marry Qiu Jingyuan to Xiang Changshou for good luck. This was originally "mutual consent," but who knew that Jiao Lianyu would intervene.
Overnight, the news that Qiu Jingyuan was to marry Second Young Master Jiao spread throughout the Jiao residence and the streets and alleys of Qianzhong Road. Madam Jiao, who had been slandered, took advantage of the situation and arranged their engagement.
The third branch of the Qiu family broke the engagement. Madam Xiang did not dare to resent the prefect's family and vented her anger on herself, which led to her subsequent imprisonment and, ultimately, Xiang Changshou's premature death.
"Have you investigated the means of protection that Qiu Jingyuan mentioned?" Zhan Feiyu asked. With the means of the Forbidden Dragon Guard, even though Qiu Wenlan was dead, based on her circumstances before her death, by unraveling the clues, they might still find some traces.
"Not yet. Before Qiu Wenlan committed suicide by poison, she only spoke a few words to Qiu Jingyuan and did not give her any tokens, so Qiu Jingyuan herself might not know."
He Nuan recalled the scene when Qiu Jingyuan came to the villa to negotiate with Miss. Miss threatened to hand Qiu Jingyuan over to the Forbidden Dragon Guard, and she fled in terror.
From this, it seemed that Qiu Jingyuan truly did not know, otherwise, she would never have dared to come to the door.
"This is the brilliance of Qiu Wenlan. If Qiu Jingyuan really knew, she would probably have died long ago. Now that various forces are watching, no one dares to act rashly, and Qiu Jingyuan is反而 safer." Zhan Feiyu also recalled Qiu Jingyuan's pale and terrified escape, her eyes changing slightly. "A Nuan, why do you think the Old Master arranged for Jiao Lianyu and Qiu Jingyuan to be engaged?"
He Nuan was stunned. Miss had already analyzed this matter before. It was nothing more than paving the way for Jiao Lianyu to use him in the future.
This was also a test for Jiao Lianyu, to see if he would submit and obey.
Moreover, with Qiu Jingyuan as his wife, it might not be easy to find fault with Jiao Lianyu in the future, but it would be easy to find fault with Qiu Jingyuan. Husband and wife are one, and Qiu Jingyuan is a rope around Jiao Lianyu's neck, so he would not dare to disobey.