Xiao Man returned to the Water Moon Cottage, and Ying Xue hurried to meet her. "Miss, you're finally back. That Madam Yan is actually dead!"
Xiao Man's expression changed slightly. "Dead? How did she die?"
Ying Xue's expression was grave, and she lowered her voice. "They say she hanged herself. However, our people examined the body. Madam Yan was not hanged; she was strangled to death and then hung up."
Xiao Man's heart was filled with suspicion. "Did Madam Yan's family do it?"
Ying Xue shook her head. "I suspect it was Xiao Ling."
A hint of surprise flickered across Xiao Man's face. She had underestimated Xiao Ling, to be able to deal such a cruel blow to her own mother!
"It seems Xiao Ling will be returning to the manor."
"Returning to the manor?" Ying Xue was confused. Wouldn't Xiao Ling be a target for everyone if she returned now? "Will the Old Madam allow her to return?"
"The Old Madam cannot refuse. Otherwise, why do you think Xiao Ling killed Madam Yan? To mourn her mother, even the Emperor cannot stop it, let alone Grandmother." Xiao Man suddenly admired Xiao Ling a little. To use her own mother's blood to pave a path back to the General's manor for herself, that was truly vicious.
"Just to return to the capital, the Third Miss would kill her own mother? Isn't that too heartless?" Ying Xue simply couldn't imagine how cruel Xiao Ling had to be to kill her own mother.
"Madam Yan has already become a discarded pawn, utterly useless. Those behind the scenes naturally want to make full use of her. I must say, Xiao Ling has truly learned well from her grandmother, and has surpassed her. This manor is about to become lively again." Xiao Man's expression was solemn. She had to worry about Xia Hou Ying betraying her, and also worry about people in the manor trying to kill her. She was truly living on thin ice.
Madam Yan died in the Yan family's ancestral temple. The Yan family, upon learning of this, breathed a sigh of relief instead.
Madam Yan had lost her chastity and was divorced by her husband's family. This was a deeply shameful matter. However, with Madam Yan taking her own life as atonement, it would lessen the impact on others, especially Xiao Ling.
Xiao Ling, clad in hempen clothes and wearing a white flower, knelt quietly before the coffin, burning paper money. In the past, Madam Yan was the madam of the General's manor, with the Virtuous Consort and the Ministry of Rites supporting her. Everyone fawned over her, and she was in boundless splendor. Now, Madam Yan had been divorced, returned home, and met her end. Yet, there wasn't a single person to offer condolences. Truly, human relationships were shallow.
"When one has power and influence, they have acquaintances; when one has no power or influence, they are but strangers." Xiao Ling's expression was cold. "The dignitaries of the capital are adept at fawning over the high and stepping on the low. What parents and relatives? When you are useful, you are a good daughter, a good sister. Once you obstruct their interests, you become a discarded pawn, with not even a path to survival given to you. Now, only I will see you off. But do not worry, I will certainly not be as useless as you, dying silently in this desolate wilderness. And do not worry, I will ultimately seek justice for you. Fare thee well on the road to the underworld."
"Miss, Madam Yan is here."
Xiao Ling remained kneeling, a hint of hatred flashing in her eyes before being hidden.
The Yan family sacrificed her mother to preserve the marriage of the Tenth Prince. This was sacrificing a rook to save the king. Although she understood this in her heart, she couldn't help but resent it.
Madam Yan's eyes were red. Her good daughter was now a corpse. Looking at her sorrowful granddaughter, sorrow overwhelmed her.
"Ling'er, do not be sad. With us here, we will surely not let you be wronged."
Xiao Ling remained silent, continuously adding paper money to the brazier. Her appearance of utter grief, swaying precariously, truly made one's heart ache.
"Ling'er, come back to the Minister's manor with your maternal grandmother."
Xiao Ling shook her head. "Ling'er is a young lady of the General's manor, and naturally must return to the General's manor. I believe Grandmother and Father will not blame me. Maternal grandmother, please do not worry."
Madam Yan thought of Xiao Zhen and couldn't help but grit her teeth. Xiao Zhen truly had no regard for marital affection. Jia Yi had been his wife for over a decade and bore him a daughter, yet he divorced her so readily, showing no regard for his daughter's reputation!
And that Xiao Man, she was no good either! Madam Yan secretly hated. Ever since Madam Yan returned to the manor, she had been saying she was framed, and the one who framed her was Xiao Man. But Xiao Man was just a young girl under sixteen. How could she have such schemes?
But if not her, then who could be so vicious as to set such a poisonous trap?
"Ling'er, when you return to the General's manor, please be careful, especially of your eldest sister. Your mother was schemed against by her." Madam Yan held Xiao Ling's hand. "Now that your father has returned to the capital, you must strive to win your father's favor and find a way to get him to support the Tenth Prince."
Xiao Ling sneered inwardly, but outwardly nodded obediently. "Maternal grandmother, please do not worry. Ling'er knows what she is doing."
A few days later, the Tenth Prince was married, taking as his bride the jewel of the Prime Minister's manor.
The alliance between the two families was a union of strength upon strength. Civil and military officials alike flocked to offer congratulations to the Tenth Prince on his fortunate marriage.
The Emperor himself, accompanied by the Virtuous Consort, personally attended the Tenth Prince's wedding, acting as the officiant and showing great respect to the Prime Minister's manor.
After all, this was a matter where their son had behaved unethically. If the Prime Minister's manor could overlook past grievances and marry their daughter, then as Emperor, he could not chill the hearts of his ministers.
The Crown Prince still smiled with elegant grace, as if the Tenth Prince marrying Wen Moyu changed nothing. If not for his clenched fists betraying his thoughts, everyone would have been deceived by his refined appearance.
"Your Highness." The Crown Princess Xue Ning'er took the Crown Prince's arm, signaling him to calm down. Minister Wen had been withholding this daughter, playing coy. Now that the Tenth Prince had taken her, he must be fuming. Moreover, the Tenth Prince's background was too weak. Even with Minister Wen's support, he couldn't contend with the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had many supporters in court. Civil officials and military generals were always clearly divided, but as the Crown Prince, his supporters included not only civil officials but also military generals. The Crown Prince had extended an olive branch to the Prime Minister's manor many times, but unfortunately, Wen Chang was a very cunning individual. He desperately wanted his daughter to become empress, but how could the Crown Prince give up such a valuable ally as the State Uncle's manor!
"Prince Qin has arrived." Someone called out. Everyone turned towards the entrance. Indeed, Prince Qin strode in. Today, Prince Qin was in imperial robes, exuding a commanding aura that made him appear even more handsome and elegant.
"Little Fourth, you've arrived." The Emperor saw Prince Qin and waved him over. "Later, play a few rounds of chess with me."
Nangong Yu turned his head away, showing obvious disdain. The Emperor was not angry. "Stand aside, don't block the path of the newlyweds."
The Tenth Prince returned from the wedding procession, leading Wen Moyu into the wedding hall. The Virtuous Consort beamed with joy at the feast. What if she was the Prime Minister's daughter? What if she was the jewel of the heavens? In the end, she still married her son! Once she bore him a son or daughter, would the Prime Minister's manor not spare no effort to support the Tenth Prince!
The master of ceremonies announced, and the couple bowed to heaven and earth. The old Emperor seemed very happy. He turned to the Prince Qin standing beside him and asked, "Little Fourth, look at your tenth brother getting married. As his elder brother, you should also put getting married on the agenda."