Now that Third Miss Jiang has returned unscathed, her son has run into trouble.
Of course, she could understand the hint from the Imperial Noble Consort not only because she is smart but also because she knows what kind of person her son is.
Yihong Tower is an asset of the Mansion of the Duke of Cheng, which is also a relative through marriage. The Third Young Master has a penchant for beauty, and whenever there is a new beauty, he is always the first to sample her.
The Imperial Noble Consort just mentioned that the Emperor also went there, and the newly purchased girl in the tower was the concubine of a corrupt official, who also hid the list and accounts of the corrupt officials.
What kind of trouble could he get into?
Before the girls from the Pei family could react, Madam Zhen had already glared viciously at them and left in a hurry.
She needed to find her in-laws to discuss how to get the Third Young Master out as soon as possible.
Damn Minister Pei of the Privy Council, trying to scheme against the Jiang family without aiming properly. So easily foiled by the Imperial Noble Consort, and now his son is in trouble.
If anything happens to the Third Young Master, she would risk her life to make sure the Pei family pays.
Jiang Xinyue subtly stirred the pot, watching the dumbfounded Pei family members standing in place, and turned to leave with a fake smile.
As the crowd dispersed, Su Ruyue gently tugged at her mother's sleeve and whispered softly, "Mother, I saw..."
"Shh!"
Lady Su pressed her hand down: "Let's talk about it at home."
Their Su family has a special relationship with the Jiang family. If someone hears her daughter talking about the Jiang family, it would harm their own reputation.
A well-bred girl does not gossip behind people's backs.
As soon as Lady Su and Su Ruyue returned to their residence, they saw a young man, as graceful as a jade tree, rushing out in a hurry.
"Second Young Master, stop!"
When the tall figure of the young man reached them, Lady Su's brow furrowed even tighter: "What's with this rash behavior? I sent you to the Imperial Academy to study, have you forgotten the basic etiquette?"
Second Young Master Su stood still, his eyes still anxious: "Mother, I just came from the tutor. I heard that something happened to the Ministry of Rites' Qu family, and Second Miss Qu..."
"It's just a misunderstanding."
Lady Su grabbed Second Young Master Su's arm: "It's late, and I'm sure Miss Jiang has already rested. Although you two are engaged, there are many eyes and ears in the palace. You can't just go to see her in the middle of the night. Even if you're worried, wait until tomorrow!"
Second Young Master Su thought about it and agreed. Such a sudden visit might not be appropriate. Since his mother said it was just a misunderstanding, it probably wasn't a big deal.
He bowed to Lady Su: "Then Mother and sister, have a good rest. I'll go back to my room."
Since they all lived in the same palace, any small movement could be known.
Although the Qu family has not been in official positions for many years, their reputation remains, and with the Mansion of the Duke of Cheng as their relatives, they are always invited during summer retreats.
Now, the old master of the Qu family personally led Madam Zhen and her son Qu Pengfei in a hurried rush out.
"Smack!"
Minister Pei of the Privy Council slapped Pei Sinian across the face: "Useless thing, trying to get revenge but not grasping their weaknesses. You couldn't even keep an eye on a little girl, and let them turn the tables, swapping the girl out. My mother is sitting at home, and you've made an enemy for me outside. What a good son you are!"
If the Qu family were easy to deal with, how could they have received the Emperor's pardon in the previous reign?
For so many years, the Qu family has been causing trouble in Qin Province, and the Emperor has turned a blind eye. In recent years, corrupt officials have been emerging in Qin Province, not just due to the negligence of the Pei family, but mainly because the officials in Guiyang have secretly sided with the Qu family and do not follow orders.
That's why he let Qin Ruofang out in Guiyang to accuse the Emperor.
This way, he could eliminate those officials who used the Pei family's name to embezzle money for the Qu family and arrange for Qin Ruofang to be by Jiang Xinyue's side, killing two birds with one stone.
Jiang Yankun thought that by placing his confidants as the prefect of Qin Province and the magistrate of Guiyang, he could rest easy. It's too naive. They will soon be swayed by the Qu family.
And behind the Qu family stands the Duke of Cheng and the Virtuous Concubine.
Those traitors are not just aiming for the Virtuous Concubine's son, the Emperor's most beloved prince, who has the highest chance of succession.
And this good-for-nothing son of his has offended the Qu family.
"Father!"
Pei Sinian covered his face: "I only wanted to give Jiang Xinyue that bitch a lesson. Originally, I planned to abduct her promiscuous dancer mother, but that woman never leaves the palace. I had no choice but to target her uncle's family."
Sending an unmarried official's daughter to such a place, and claiming it was just to give Jiang Xinyue a lesson.
Clearly, it was meant to take her life and ruin the prospects of all the Jiang girls, which is extremely malicious.
But this is his son, and he was outsmarted. Minister Pei of the Privy Council gritted his teeth in hatred for Jiang Xinyue.
"Father, what should we do now?"
Not to mention how difficult it is to deal with the old master of the Qu family, the Duke of Cheng is known as the cold-faced viper in the capital. Many who have offended the Duke have ended up dead. He is afraid.
Minister Pei of the Privy Council glared at him: "Just wait quietly. Learn from that dancer and don't go out these days, or you might not know how you die."
With that, he put on his official robe and left the garden with a few people. In any case, today's feud with the Qu family must not be allowed to fester.
It would be best to join forces against the Jiang family. Otherwise, if the Imperial Noble Consort ever ascends to the throne, neither of their families will have a good outcome.
"Smack!"
The sound of a whip echoed in the secret prison, and Qu Tianzhong was beaten until he was covered in wounds.
Officials from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Punishment jointly tried the case: "Qu Tianzhong, where did you hide the account book? Confess quickly!"
Qu Tianzhong, a gluttonous fool, didn't even know what his family was up to, let alone where the account book was.
He lifted his head, gasping for breath, and in a daze, he seemed to see his grandfather and father. He cried out: "I don't know, I know nothing. When I got there, the woman was already dead. What account book, I don't know what you're talking about!"
"Still dare to lie?"
"We followed you in, and the woman was perfectly fine in the iron cage. Later, she was taken to the back courtyard by the brothel people. It was you who went in for a while and then screamed, running out saying someone was dead. Since you were the only one in the room, who else could have killed her?"
Qu Tianzhong spat out a mouthful of blood; he didn't know how to explain himself.
He had the habit of bathing before sleeping with women, which the madam of Yihong Tower knew. So when he entered the room, he didn't pay attention to the woman on the bed but went behind the screen to bathe. The bathing water had already been prepared by the madam.
When he finished bathing and looked at the beauty on the bed, he only saw a corpse with her eyes wide open, which scared him so much that he lost his erection.
