novelaction Chapter 128 Elimination
Chapter 128 Elimination
Chapter 128 Elimination
Marquis Anshi personally ordered a search, and the guards were even more efficient than usual. In less than an hour, they had searched every corner of the Marquis's residence, except for Lanxin Courtyard.
The Marquis of Anshi's household hadn't even recovered from the joy of having a new child when this commotion broke out, causing quite a stir. It's unclear who started the rumor, but when Ye Pianran and the Marquis of Anshi finally arrived at Lanxin Courtyard with their entourage, their search for the jade hairpin for Ye Pianran took on a strangely different meaning in the eyes of everyone in the Marquis's household.
Ye Pianran did not tell Gongsun Yuan about the lost jade hairpin, so when a servant came to report that Marquis Anshi had arrived outside Lanxin Courtyard with many guards and requested permission to enter the courtyard to search, Gongsun Yuan was quite puzzled.
"What major event has occurred in the manor this time?" she asked.
The maids inside exchanged bewildered glances; even Jasmine was unaware of what had transpired outside. Granny Chen, who had just returned from the kitchen, hesitated for a moment before recounting what she had overheard to Gongsun Yuan:
"I heard that the Marquis suspected that there was something else going on with Consort Meng's premature birth, and in a fit of anger, he ordered a search of the mansion. It seems that he found nothing elsewhere and finally found out about Lanxin Courtyard."
Gongsun Yuan also gave birth prematurely to Ye Yankang. She experienced inexplicable abdominal pain followed by bleeding. She risked her life to deliver the child, but Marquis Anshi only cared about Kang'er. Upon learning that Kang'er was born mentally challenged, he blamed her for not taking good care of the child during her pregnancy, never showing the same level of concern he showed Meng Yiniang. Thinking about this, even though Gongsun Yuan was already disheartened, she couldn't help but feel some resentment.
"Oh, so they've fallen for us?" Gongsun Yuan said coldly. "Go tell the Marquis that letting people in to search is fine, but if they find nothing, remember to kneel down and apologize to me."
Jasmine waited quietly in the corner of the room. Upon hearing her words, she lowered her eyes to conceal her expression.
Chen Mama went out to relay Gongsun Yuan's words to Marquis Anshi without missing a single word, but she didn't expect Ye Pianran to be standing with Marquis Anshi. For a moment, she forgot what she was going to say, and then she heard Ye Pianran say, "Chen Mama, Mother has given her permission, hasn't she?"
Granny Chen came to her senses, hesitated for a moment, and nodded, saying, "Yes."
Ye Pianran looked at Kou Guang, who was standing to the side, and said, "Guard Kou, please come in."
Kou Guang bowed to Ye Pianran, then solemnly led a group of guards into Lanxin Courtyard and began a thorough search.
“They will probably search for quite a while longer. Since Father is here, why don’t you sit down in Mother’s room, have some tea, and wait for the results? Your daughter can keep watch outside,” Ye Pianran said to An Shihou.
She first approached Marquis Anshi for help today, and now she invited him into her house to rest, which reminded Marquis Anshi of her personality before her face was disfigured. A strange sense of emotion arose in his heart, and Marquis Anshi flicked his sleeves, put his hands behind his back, and walked towards Gongsun Yuan's house.
"Then please have a seat."
Without warning, Marquis Anshi entered Gongsun Yuan's room. Gongsun Yuan was not surprised at all. She only looked up at him lightly, her attitude even colder than before.
The last time he stepped into her house was when she vomited black blood after taking the antidote Ye Pianran brought back, and that was more than two months ago. More than two months have passed, and if it weren't for certain matters this time, he probably wouldn't have set foot in her territory at all.
It's ridiculous. They're clearly husband and wife, but they can't even be bothered to act like one.
"Chunli, the Marquis has been working hard all night. Go and bring the tea set over and make him a cup of tea," Gongsun Yuan said calmly.
Chunli obeyed the order and, after Marquis Anshi took his seat, went to fetch Gongsun Yuan's tea set and knelt by the table to brew tea for Marquis Anshi.
Marquis Anshi had not been alone with Gongsun Yuan for a long time, and he still harbored reservations about her. While waiting for the tea to boil, Marquis Anshi felt as if the chair he was sitting on had thorns on it, and he could not sit comfortably no matter how he sat.
"Ahem." Marquis Anshi coughed twice, as if to ease the awkward atmosphere, and said, "The clothes you gave Fu'er today are quite nice. Did you embroider the patterns on them yourself?"
Gongsun Yuan said, "Has Your Excellency truly forgotten? Those clothes were specially made by Your Excellency before Kang'er was even born."
Marquis Anshi's expression changed slightly, as if he had been burned on the buttocks. No wonder the clothes looked so familiar; weren't they the ones he had prepared for Ye Yankang before?
"Why did you give those clothes to Fu'er?" Marquis Anshi asked. He said it casually just to ease the awkwardness, but his tone sounded like he was interrogating Gongsun Yuan.
“Kang’er and Fu’er were both born prematurely. Premature babies are more likely to die young than other children. Although Kang’er is mentally challenged, he is fortunate to have survived to this day. I sent those clothes because I hoped that the child could grow up healthy and without illness like Kang’er. Does the Marquis think I did something wrong?” Gongsun Yuan asked An Shihou coldly.
Marquis Anshi was even more embarrassed: "That's not what I meant. You're overthinking it."
"Whether I'm overthinking it or not, only the Marquis himself knows," Gongsun Yuan said.
"You!" Marquis Anshi hadn't visited Gongsun Yuan's room in a long time and felt somewhat guilty, but he hadn't expected her words to be so sarcastic, which reignited his anger! He slapped away the tea that Chunli had offered him, and roared, "Gongsun Lanzhi, don't be ungrateful!"
The teacup shattered on the floor, but the maids in Gongsun Yuan's room seemed unfazed. Only Jasmine's eyes flickered, as if she was plotting something.
"I didn't beg you to come to my room, why are you making things difficult for yourself?" Gongsun Yuan said with a light laugh.
Marquis Anshi angrily said, "If it weren't for the fact that Ran'er lost her things, I would never have set foot in your Lanxin Courtyard today!"
Gongsun Yuan's smile suddenly froze, and she asked in surprise, "What? Ran'er lost something? What did she lose?"
"You've lost that exquisite jade hairpin with coiled pearls that your father gave you!" Marquis Anshi roared. "What kind of mother are you? You didn't even know something was missing from your daughter's room!"
"So the Marquis sent people to search the manor to find that jade hairpin for Ran'er?" Gongsun Yuan frowned deeply. "Why is there talk in the manor that—" She realized something and suddenly stopped talking.
Marquis Anshi sensed something was amiss and pressed for an answer: "What are you spreading?"
"It is rumored that Consort Meng's premature birth was not an accident, but the work of someone else." Gongsun Yuan looked at Marquis Anshi with a strange expression. "In a fit of anger, the Marquis ordered a search of the Marquis's residence, intending to find out the villain behind the scenes who dared to harm the Marquis's offspring."
Marquis Anshi was shocked: "Is this true? Aunt Meng's premature birth was framed?" How come he didn't know?
Just then, Kou Guang's voice came from outside the door: "Reporting to the Marquis, I have found the person who stole the young lady's jade hairpin. This person is indeed hiding in Lanxin Courtyard!"
Both Marquis Anshi and Gongsun Yuan were startled and shouted towards the door, "Come in and report immediately!"
Kou Guang was not the only one to step inside; Ye Pianran was also there. In her hand, she was tightly holding a jade hairpin that was pure white, exquisite, and crafted with superb skill. It was the very hairpin that Marquis Anshi had personally placed on her head when she came of age.
Upon seeing Gongsun Yuan, Ye Pianran's eyes reddened, and she rushed forward to throw herself into Gongsun Yuan's arms, saying, "Mother, your unfilial child almost lost the jade hairpin that my maternal grandfather gave me..."
"Alright, alright, it's good that it's been found." Gongsun Yuan patted her back to comfort her, then looked at Kou Guang with an ambiguous expression and asked, "Guard Kou, where was the young lady's jade hairpin found?"
Kou Guang raised his head, his sharp gaze fixed on a certain spot, and said, "Reporting to Madam, the eldest young lady's jade hairpin was found in the room of a maid named 'Jasmine' who serves you." He was looking at Jasmine, who was standing obediently in the corner.
Jasmine was stunned when she heard someone mention her name. It took her a while to react before she immediately knelt down and cried out:
"It wasn't me! I served Madam wholeheartedly and never coveted Miss's jewelry! I beg the Marquis, Madam, and Miss to investigate!"
Ignoring her cries, Kou Guang continued in a cold voice, "In addition, I also found these two items in Jasmine's room. Please take a look, Your Excellency and Madam."
After saying that, he took out a small white porcelain bottle and a few gleaming silver notes from his sleeve and handed them to Marquis Anshi and Gongsun Yuan.
Upon seeing those gleaming silver notes, Marquis Anshi's pupils constricted sharply, and he immediately felt his blood rush to his head, becoming so angry that he was practically fuming.
Those silver notes came from the Song family's money shop.