Jiang Zhao returned to the Marquis Mansion with this weighty piece of news.
Previously, she had been eager to find Uncle's bones as soon as possible. Now that she knew the location, she didn't know how to bring it up.
Actually, she didn't feel much sadness. After all, she had no memories of Jiang Changlin when he was alive.
Over the years, she had walked between the yin and the yang, seen too many schemes and deceptions of human hearts, and become indifferent to many things.
What she was worried about was that Jiang Changlin's death had become a deep obsession for the old Lady Jiang.
If the old Lady Jiang knew that her son had died on Jiufeng Mountain, which was so close to home, she might not be able to bear it.
Then Jiang Zhao would become a sinner.
Thinking this way, Jiang Zhao first went to look for Jiang Yunxi.
...
Jiang Zhao came to Jiang Yunxi's room and plopped down on a chair without saying a word.
She just stared directly at Jiang Yunxi, who was fighting crickets.
Jiang Yunxi felt goosebumps all over his body under her stare. He thought long and hard but couldn't figure out where he had offended her in the past few days.
"You, do you have something to say?"
Jiang Zhao nodded. "I'm here to ask for your help."
Jiang Yunxi pointed at himself in disbelief. "Me? You're asking me for help?"
"What can I do for you?"
Jiang Zhao didn't beat around the bush and said straightforwardly, "I've found out where Uncle's bones are."
"What!" Jiang Yunxi suddenly jumped up and didn't even care about the overturned cricket cage beside his feet. "Then what are we waiting for? Hurry up and tell Grandmother!"
Jiang Zhao grabbed Jiang Yunxi, who was about to rush out with his head down. "What are you in such a hurry for?"
"I came to you to discuss a strategy with you."
"Do you know where Uncle's bones were found?"
Jiang Yunxi shook his head. He couldn't tell fortunes or anything. Where would he know?
Jiang Zhao said, "Jiufeng Mountain."
"Uncle's bones are on Jiufeng Mountain."
"Jiufeng Mountain!" Jiang Yunxi gasped, wiped his face, and said in disbelief, "Second Uncle was actually so close to home..."
"Are you really sure that the bones on Jiufeng Mountain must be Second Uncle's?"
"There's no mistake." Jiang Zhao said calmly, "It was Song E who found them himself."
"Precisely because it's so close to home, it's even harder for me to tell Grandmother."
Now they would rather that Uncle had died farther away. Even if it was more difficult to find him, it would be better than this.
Jiang Yunxi wiped his face and understood Jiang Zhao's dilemma. "We've been waiting for so many years. Who would have thought it was right under our noses."
"We really can't tell Grandmother directly. Grandmother's in poor health. If anything happens to her, Uncle and the others will skin us alive."
Jiang Yunxi looked at Jiang Zhao. "Let's go. We still have to let Uncle and my father decide on this matter."
...
In the front hall.
Jiang Changfeng, Jiang Lanzhi, and the Marquis of Ningyuan were all present.
When the Marquis of Ningyuan heard that Jiang Zhao had invited him to the front hall, he immediately felt a headache.
His first thought was that this girl Jiang Zhao had caused another mess and wouldn't let him have a moment's peace!
"What happened?" The Marquis of Ningyuan saw that Jiang Changfeng was also there, so he knew that this matter was of great importance.
Jiang Changfeng played with the new jade thumb ring in his hand. "Sister Zhao and Yunxi insisted on waiting for you, Big Brother, before they would say anything."
The Marquis of Ningyuan frowned and fixed his eyes on Jiang Zhao. "Zhao'er, what's the matter?"
Jiang Zhao and Jiang Yunxi glanced at each other. "I've found out where Uncle's bones are."
Jiang Changfeng couldn't hold back, and the tea he had just drunk sprayed out.
Jiang Yunxi, who was directly sprayed on, silently took out his handkerchief and wiped his face clean.
Jiang Lanzhi lowered his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.
The Marquis of Ningyuan curled his hand hanging by his side, and his expression remained unchanged. "Where?"
He had thought that when Jiang Zhao said she would find Jiang Changlin's bones, it was just talk, and he hadn't taken it seriously.
Who would have thought that she had really found them? But bringing Jiang Changlin's bones back might be disadvantageous to the Marquis Mansion.
Jiang Yunxi said preemptively, "On Jiufeng Mountain!"
"This is the specific route to the cave where Uncle's bones are. You can just follow it to find them." Jiang Zhao placed the route map she had drawn in front of the Marquis of Ningyuan.
Jiang Changfeng was easily moved. After hearing this, he let out a wail and hugged Jiang Yunxi, crying loudly.
The Marquis of Ningyuan glanced at the paper and said with a complicated look on his face, "Back then, Changlin deserted in the face of the enemy and abandoned the city and its people. The emperor was extremely angry."
"Although our family was not implicated, this matter is ultimately a disgrace to the Jiang family. After all these years, if this old matter is brought up again and attracts the attention of the court, there will surely be another upheaval, and it may harm the Jiang family."
As soon as he said this, the crying of Jiang Changfeng and Jiang Yunxi stopped.
So, what did the Marquis of Ningyuan mean?
Jiang Zhao squinted her eyes. "Father, do you mean not to look for him anymore?"
Jiang Changfeng wiped his face messily and said with a sob, "Big Brother, are you really going to let Second Brother be a wandering ghost forever?"
"Big Brother, you promised Mother back then. Now that we've found Second Brother's bones, even if we don't make a big deal out of it, we can quietly bring Second Brother back and bury him."
Jiang Changfeng had always had a good relationship with this second brother since childhood and was closer to him than to his elder brother. But he had been a coward all his life and didn't dare to really resist his elder brother. So he could only bring up the old Lady Jiang.
Jiang Yunxi also frowned and looked at his uncle with a bad expression.
The Marquis of Ningyuan asked Jiang Zhao again, "Zhao'er, are you sure you can find your Uncle?"
Jiang Zhao met the Marquis of Ningyuan's gaze and said firmly, "As long as you follow the route I gave, there won't be any mistake."
"It depends on whether you, Father, want to look for him or not." Jiang Zhao's words were full of implications.
Jiang Lanzhi, who had been silent for a long time, said, "Father, since you promised Grandmother, you should keep your promise."
"Moreover, it's not appropriate for Uncle's bones to be left outside. It's better to bring Uncle back home."
Under everyone's gaze, the Marquis of Ningyuan looked at Jiang Lanzhi and then said, "Fine. Find a few reliable people and go up the mountain at night."
"Let's bring the bones back first. Don't say anything to Mother."
If he insisted on not agreeing, he would be unfilial, heartless, and unrighteous, and even a villain who broke his promise.
His reputation couldn't withstand such a blow.
Jiang Changfeng, Jiang Yunxi, and Jiang Zhao got up and left. Only the Marquis of Ningyuan and Jiang Lanzhi were left in the room.
The Marquis of Ningyuan tightly grasped the route map and watched the backs of the others leaving, his eyes gloomy.
These idiots! The person was already dead. What was so important about the bones? They had managed to get through all these years!
They only cared about the dead and didn't think about what would happen if the truth came out. Would the living still be able to live in style and stay in the capital?
The Marquis of Ningyuan said to Jiang Lanzhi with a straight face, "Lan'er, I know you're smart, but why did you agree to bring back your Uncle's bones just now? Do you know what it means if it's discovered?"
Jiang Lanzhi said respectfully, "I naturally know."
The Marquis of Ningyuan rubbed his throbbing temples. "Fine. Then we'll just say that it's not Changlin's bones."
"After all, so many years have passed. Who can be sure that it's Changlin?"
Jiang Lanzhi disagreed. "Uncle's bones must be brought back."