Published at 24th of November 2021 10:46 am

Chapter 384 Who Was the Most Perfect Scapegoat?

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Qiu Yelan went out to the Flower Hall and exchanged pleasantries with Madame Shi and He Shuijin, who indeed came to explain about Wang Qingqian. “We are sisters-in-law! Now that I’m here, I’m going to cut to the chase! Earlier my family’s younger sister was indeed disappointed that she was not chosen as a princess!”

Before she came, Madame Shi was prepared to make amends. It would be more humiliating to beat around the bush and waste time. So, as He Shuijin implied Qiu Yelan to clear the hall, she came right to the point, “At that time, we did want to embarrass Miss Wang and take our revenge! But, this time, it wasn’t me or the Shi family who did it!”

He Shuijin supported her as well, “My sixth sister-in-law has always been a straightforward one. As long as she says no, it won’t be wrong. I can vouch for her!” She must have investigated and confirmed it when she dared to say that.

Qiu Yelan was amazed in her heart, “Wasn’t it the third branch, then? Was it the first branch?” Not knowing the truth and what her husband intended to do with it, she said vaguely, “I naturally believe it as you say so.”

He Shuijin knew that Qiu Yelan didn’t mean it. With some frustration, she made a sign to Madame Shi to leave first and she herself stayed to say something from the heart with Qiu Yelan, “Our sixth sister-in-law is indeed innocent this time. If there were some clues pointing to the third branch, I suppose it should also be done by the first branch. I’m not defending the third branch. It is based on evidence!”

Qiu Yelan frowned, “Evidence?”

“Those people who tried to ruin Miss Wang’s reputation at the entrance to the Lian Mansion came from Jiangnan, didn’t they?” He Shuijin had driven a wedge between Madame Shi and Qiu Yelan before. But back then, there was no conflict between the fourth branch and the third branch and their argument was just a trivial matter in the backyard. So, she could use Qiu Yelan to suppress Madame Shi, the first daughter-in-law of the third branch.

However, the situation was different now. As the fourth branch turned against the third branch, the first branch was also involved. It would be very bad if the third branch became the first target of the fourth branch because of Madame Shi!

How could He Shuijin, such a sensible person like her, stand by and watch the third branch suffer the loss? Since she had dragged Madame Shi here today, she was sure enough to make things clear.

She immediately told the whole story, “Last year a letter from Kui County said that grandaunt fell ill. So, our eldest uncle sent our eldest brother Yayun and Xu’er back to visit and attend to her! Some of those who were with them took advantage of the opportunity to go to Jiangnan!”

Qiu Yelan was a bit surprised, “My fourteenth sister-in-law, you know so much about that!”

“Jiangnan is a prosperous place with a large population. Thus, there are many shops,” He Shuijin said tonelessly. She did not hide the fact that the third branch had been spying on the first branch for a long time, which meant that the fourth branch could be watched by the third branch as well. “And the first branch sent a trusted subordinate who was always with them in the hope of assuring his loyalty. So, the man must be familiar to others. And he was recognized soon after he arrived in Jiangnan!”

“Why didn’t you tell it before?”

“How could I have imagined that it had something to do with the thing about Miss Wang?” He Shuijin set her mouth in a line, “I thought the first branch tried to reach out to someone in Jiangnan! I didn’t remember it until I heard that those who slandered Miss Wang were from Jiangnan! But verbal statements are no guarantee. I had to collect some evidence to show, didn’t I? See, I took my sixth sister-in-law here as soon as I got the evidence!”

What she said made sense while Qiu Yelan knew at once that she wanted to kill two birds with one stone. In this way, the third branch could be cleared in front of the fourth branch and could use the fourth branch to impart a blow to the first branch!

Thinking that Jiang Yashuang told her to give the runaround, Qiu Yelan smiled faintly as she said, “My fourteenth sister-in-law, why do you say so? How could we not believe your words?”

“Anyway, here’s the evidence.” He Shuijin realized that her words were insincere. With a sign, she left a booklet and excused herself.

“I haven’t imagined that my mother-in-law is so powerful!” When Qiu Yelan took the booklet back to the inner room, Jiang Yashuang had come back from the study. She handed over the booklet and told him what happened in the Flower Hall. She said, “My fourteenth sister-in-law said she was there to explain with my sixth sister-in-law because she had finally found all the evidence. But I think they are actually afraid of our mother!”

Jiang Yashuang said with a thin smile, “Of course. My grandmother had said earlier that the family’s women are all wary of my mother!”

It made sense. She didn’t even give a sh*t to Madame Dou. Would she take others to her heart?

“She explained that the thing about Cousin Wang was made by the first branch. And she got the evidence here. It seems to be true,” Qiu Yelan adjusted her hair and leaned on her husband, “doesn’t it?”

“That’s one way to put it!” Jiang Yashuang took the booklet and flipped through it which gave a detailed description of the whole thing. When Jiang Yayun and Jiang Jingxu returned to Kui County to attend to the patient, Jiang Shun, a servant born in the first branch, sneaked to Jiangnan and stayed there for a while. The time and places in it matched with when and where those innocent dupes appeared.

Even though he had never met those dupes… The one who set them up was dead, wasn’t he?

So, it turned out that the first branch had something to do with it!

But as Qiu Yelan thought over what her husband said, she was a bit surprised, “You mean… those in Kui County?”

“Right!” Jiang Yashuang nodded and said calmly, “Since Jiang Shun is indeed a member of the first branch and an old man brought out from Kui County back then, it is clear that our eldest uncle has trapped us again. And it seems that he tries to plant it on the third branch! But in fact, it is impossible. When Jiang Shun followed my elder brother Yayun and Xu’er back to Kui County, the first branch all focused on my grandmother’s life. How could they be so leisurely as to care about such a trifle to set Cousin Wang up”

To tarnish Wang Qingqian’s reputation was such a minor matter for the Jiang Family. Even if it worked, it was nothing, not to mention the fact that it didn’t work.

Faced with the threat that the first branch’s officials were all about to resign, no matter how stingy Jiang Tianao was, he would not try to set her up!

And if Jiang Tianao intended to set Wang Qingqian up, why should he go to Jiangnan and take an indirect route? He could just find several people who were in relationships with the Shi Family and stick to the story that the Shi Family did it. It was much more feasible to do so than to trick several dupes from Jiangnan!

“Did our grandmother claim herself to be ill for this?” Qiu Yelan said thoughtfully, “It seems that our grandmother cannot be reconciled as our second uncle and our fifth uncle are not allowed to be officials.”

Jiang Yashuang said coldly, “Despite her willingness, my eldest uncle has been promoted to such a high position with the support of my grandfather and granduncle. There is no doubt that Yayun, Yayue, Yahong, and Xu’er are all going to have a promising future! But what about my second uncle and my fifth uncle? Now the seniors are still there. Even though they are not allowed to be officials and have to stay in their hometown, they are able to live an extravagant and comfortable life! But in the future…”

When the three of the brothers, Kui Xiannan, Marquis Qin, and Sir Jibei, passed away, with Jiang Tianao’s grudge against his stepmother Madame Han, it would be strange if he didn’t kick his two brothers’ ass!

Even if he could be generous to let go of the second branch and the fifth branch, as he showed any signs of discontent, how could it be possible that his brothers have a good time throughout the rest of their life?

He didn’t even have to show his discontent. All he needed to do was to say that he didn’t care about the two brothers. And the second branch and the fifth branch would be over. Without the shelter of the corresponding power, the estate that the Jiang Family had accumulated over the years could be the death knell for them!

“Since our eldest uncle is like that… No wonder our grandmother schemed against him!” Qiu Yelan sneered and said in a deep voice, “Although my fourteenth sister-in-law has come with evidence pointing to the first branch, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny! It can be found to be the slander from our uncle’s grandmother as we just think about it… Moreover, I remember that you were aware of it before, right? Was it because that those guys who made a fuss in front of Lian’s Mansion confessed?

How many of them would endure the torture?

Jiang Yashuang said, “So, I didn’t say anything.”

Qiu Yelan asked in surprise, “What are you going to do then?”

“Since my grandmother is worried about that, I should give her a hand,” Jiang Yashuang smiled. “Of course, it is right for me, a junior, to relieve the worries of my elders, and vice versa, right?”

“I’m glad that you have made up your mind!” Qiu Yalan was relieved to see his certainty. She frowned, “I haven’t heard from my bother for a long time. Now Shazhou must be in turmoil… I hope everything is well with our brothers and sisters!”

In fact, Shazhou was not as messy as she thought.

The main reason was that the deaths of Jiang Yayue and Jiang Yaqing had scared all the people in Shazhou, including those in the Western Army!

Besides, Sir Jibei rushed to Shazhou in person!

The Western Army, despite that they competed with the Northern Army, heard much about the old General. Even if he hadn’t gone to the Western army by himself, they were taken by him as others heard he was in Shazhou!

In that case, both Han Jishan, the temporary commander of the Western Army, and Huang Si, the miserable new Inspector of Shazhou, put aside all their own affairs. And they put all of their energy to restrain their subordinates and deal with their official duties lest they would do something wrong and become a punching bag for the old General…

So, there was prevailing peace in Shazhou.

But Sir Jibei was in no mood to pay attention to this. Especially all of this was triggered by the deaths of his brothers’ grandsons! What he was most concerned about and torn about at the moment was how to clear up anything after the deaths of Jiang Yayue and Jiang Yaqing!

“Yadan insisted that he killed them and took the poisons out. And he had a reasonable explanation as well,” The old General sat in the tent and said to his trusted subordinates numbly, “If he still stands by his story, I’m afraid that it won’t help to go down this road. He is part of our family, anyway. As he has been dissipated these years, he may not be as strong as me. I can’t kill him by myself… Do you think this is how it’s going to end?”

“If the case is closed like this, the Western Army will be handed over to Qiu Jinglan. But since the nineteenth madame is in the Jiang Family, there is no need to fear that he will burn bridges!” His trusted subordinates looked at each other and then gave an opinion quietly, “And then some adjustment should be made to bring the greater stability to Xijiang… But, each branch in Jing City…”

“If not so, the grudges between each branch in Jing City could not be resolved. Especially Qiu Jinglan was the only brother of the pregnant nineteenth madame. If something happened to him, she would hold a grudge in her heart. I have heard that the nineteenth young master loves his wife… What is most important is the Western Army. Xijiang is far from peaceful. Han Jishan can’t stay long in that position, regardless of his ability or age! If there were another fight, I’m afraid that the Western Army would be damaged…”

Sir Jibei had got what his trusted subordinates meant. They all believed that the real culprit was definitely Qiu Jinglan and Jiang Yadan had just taken the blame for him. But it was better to play dumb for the sake of the greater good.

These trusted subordinates had worked for him for so many years that they dared to say anything. Otherwise, when Jiang Yayue and Jiang Yaqing were not buried, none of them would dare to suggest to Sir Jibei that his nephews’ deaths were fine and they had more important things to worry about!

“But how will Yadan explain to the first branch and the third branch when he returns to the capital?” After a while of silence, Sir Jibei asked.

Two of his grandsons had died, he didn’t want to lose any more of his juniors.

“Now nothing is known in the capital. Maybe we can pin it on others and tell Marquis Qin that the eighth young master is the culprit,” The subordinates had a discussion and made this suggestion, “In terms of martial arts, the second young master and the sixth young master was better than the eighth young master. Normally, who will believe that it was the eighth young master who killed them? Only if we can find the most perfect culprit… the anger of the first branch and the third branch can be shifted! But the fourth branch knows the story well. We can make them stand out and make it up to the first branch and the third branch. But publicly we can say it is because the fourth branch shows kindness for his brothers. As such, the relationships among the three branches will be on better terms!”

Sir Jibei thought for a moment and asked, “Who will be the most perfect scapegoat then?”

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