"Hey, isn't this Mrs. Jiang? What, do you also have something to ask the Lady with the Imperial Title?"
Mrs. Jiang was so sure that she had got hold of the Zhao family's handle that she was feeling quite smug. When she said this, there was also a hint of self - satisfaction in her tone.
"I have a very close relationship with the master of this mansion."
"Oh? How close?"
"Master Zhao has told me several times that he wants my daughter to marry his second son. I've been thinking about it and haven't given a reply yet."
Mrs. Jiang was confident.
Now that she had Zhao Luoning's secret in her hands, she planned to offer her daughter to Zhao Luojing in exchange for her silence. She believed that Zhao Luoning would surely agree.
Moreover, to make sure that this secret could only be used by herself, she had already disposed of the other person who knew about it.
However, when the crowd heard what Mrs. Jiang said, they burst into laughter as if they had heard a joke.
"Marriage alliance? The second young master of the Zhao family is as outstanding as a god. Even princesses and noble ladies might not be good enough for him. Do you think he would take a fancy to your daughter?"
Mrs. Jiang remained confident. She wasn't annoyed, but just said,
"Just wait and see. When my daughter marries into the Zhao family, I'll invite you all to the wedding banquet."
"Sure, we'll be waiting."
Among the crowd, a gossiper interrupted and asked, "Mrs. Jiang, you claim to be the in - law of Master Zhao. Then why aren't they showing any respect to you, their in - law? When you come, you still have to sit on the cold bench like us?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Jiang felt embarrassed and quickly said, "It's because Master Zhao doesn't know I'm here. If he knew it was me, he would surely come to greet me in person."
As she said this, Mrs. Jiang cast a look at the doorman who had gone in to deliver the message.
The doorman rounded a corner and was out of sight.
Mrs. Jiang watched his figure disappear, then leaned against the pillar of the porch and started daydreaming about becoming the in - law of the Lady with the Imperial Title.
The doorman walked into the hall.
Since Zhao Luoning's identity had been made public, there had been too many people coming to harass the Ye mansion every day. Zhao Luoning had to pack up and prepare to move out again. So the yard was in a complete mess.
The doorman searched both inside the house and in the yard but couldn't find Zhao Luochun.
When he saw Hua Ci, he quickly stepped forward and asked,
"Auntie, where is Master Zhao?"
Hua Ci asked crossly, "Who is it this time?"
"She claims to be the wife of the Jiang family from the East City and says that Master Zhao will surely see her."
The wife of the Jiang family from the East City?
Hua Ci disliked this woman even more than those who came to curry favor.
Hua Ci walked two steps outside and stood on the veranda. She immediately saw Mrs. Jiang standing at the door, loudly proclaiming that her daughter would marry the second young master of the Zhao family.
Hearing this, Hua Ci's anger flared up. Standing on the corridor with hands on her hips, she started scolding the doorman,
"The second young master asked you to guard the door, not to sit there doing nothing. Why do you bother our master with every Tom, Dick, and Harry who comes to ask you? What's the use of you as a doorman then? Do you think our mansion is a place for anyone to come and go? That opportunistic woman who is desperate to marry off her daughter, do you think our master would associate with such a person? Use your thick head and think!"
Hua Ci's words were merciless. Although she didn't name names, even a fool could understand.
Those waiting at the door all looked at Mrs. Jiang with the expressions of watching a good show.
The doorman was one of Ji Shisu's men, so he wasn't a fool. He understood Hua Ci's veiled criticism and quickly apologized to her. Then he came out and apologized to Mrs. Jiang.
"I'm sorry, madam. Our master is not at home. Please come another time."
Although these words weren't as caustic as Hua Ci's, with Hua Ci's scolding before, his saying that the master wouldn't see her now was extremely insulting.
Mrs. Jiang always lived on her reputation. This was more painful for her than killing her.
Among the crowd, there were some with sharp tongues. At this time, they didn't forget to ask Mrs. Jiang,
"Hey, madam, didn't you say you were the in - law of the Lady with the Imperial Title?"
Before Mrs. Jiang could respond, someone beside her chimed in,
"Have you ever seen a one - sided marriage alliance? I'm afraid Mrs. Jiang is just wishful thinking."
Amid the laughter of the crowd, Mrs. Jiang covered her face and fled in a hurry.
After seeing Mrs. Jiang leave, Hua Ci spat and said, "Disgusting!"
Then she walked inside.
Ya Rong came out with Jian Wen. Seeing the angry Hua Ci, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I saw a rat. It's disgusting."
"Ah? A rat? I have to tell the kitchen to pay attention to the food. If the rat spoils the food, it might not matter to us, but we're afraid it will affect Luoning."
Ya Rong quickly forgot about Hua Ci's strange behavior.
After all, the focus of the whole mansion now was on Zhao Luoning.
On the way back, Mrs. Jiang got angrier and angrier as she thought about it.
Good for you, Zhao Luochun, and you, Zhao Luoning.
Since you're like this, don't blame me for being ruthless!
Unable to contain her anger, Mrs. Jiang lifted the curtain and ordered the coachman, "Go to the yamen."
She was going to report them.
The coachman knew his mistress was in a bad mood and quickly complied.
The wheels rumbled forward. Mrs. Jiang sat in the carriage with her eyes closed, getting angrier and angrier as she thought.
When they arrived at the county yamen, the coachman stopped the carriage and said, "Madam, we're here."
Mrs. Jiang sat in the carriage without saying a word.
The coachman asked again.
"Madam? We're here."
It was only when he asked the second time that Mrs. Jiang in the carriage responded.
"Go to the Ye mansion."
Coachman: "..." Isn't this just torturing people?
However, he didn't dare to disobey his mistress's order and could only resign himself to getting on the horse and driving the carriage.
Of course, the coachman couldn't understand the reason for Mrs. Jiang's change of attitude. On this journey, the extremely angry Mrs. Jiang had already figured things out.
She still had to report them, but she couldn't let go of Zhao Luojing, this highly - sought - after catch.
Moreover, she had already announced in front of so many people that her daughter would become Zhao Luojing's wife. If she couldn't make it happen, not only she but also her daughter would have a hard time getting married.
She wouldn't allow such a stain in her and her daughter's lives.
So, no matter what the Zhao family's attitude was, she was determined to marry her daughter into the Zhao family.
On this journey, Mrs. Jiang also figured out that the Zhao family treated her like this only because they didn't know the trump card in her hand.
But this secret couldn't be made public face - to - face.
Now the Ye mansion was as impenetrable as an iron barrel. She couldn't see anyone, and it would be difficult to even send a letter in.
She had to find a way to let the Zhao family know that she had their family's handle without making a big deal out of it.
She needed an intermediary!
Lord Ye seemed to be a good choice.
Mrs. Jiang was calculating shrewdly in her mind. On the other side, Ye Hua was facing a difficult problem.
A female corpse was found in the suburbs. Ye Hua went to the county yamen to identify the body. It was Zhao Luoyue, the second wife who had been divorced by the Ning family.
Her death was extremely tragic.