Chapter 53: Laying the Cards on the Table

Given Jiang Qingzhou’s meticulous mind, if she truly wanted to hide Fu Yue well, it wouldn’t have been so easy to discover him. Even some of the male relatives with status in the mansion knew she was keeping an outside lover. Fortunately, Qin Shi wasn’t a jealous person. If he were, who knows how much drama there would have been.

It was evident that Fu Yue was intentionally pushed out by Jiang Qingzhou. The purpose was to use this newly acquired, exceptionally favored outside lover to divert attention and conceal her mysterious whereabouts during this period.

As expected of a career-driven powerful woman.

Jiang Yang thought, the matter of rebellion was probably planned by her mother Jiang Shuiping since more than a decade ago. Even the rebelling troops in this uprising were likely her handiwork.

As Jiang Shuiping’s confidant and legitimate daughter, Jiang Qingzhou bore an even greater responsibility. Since she wasn’t in Lingnan now, she must have gone to Yingchuan Shen clan, her second sister-in-law’s territory.

Over the years, her second brother’s position had stabilized. The legitimate daughters and sons were all born by her sixth brother and given to her second brother to raise. No matter how you look at it, they all had Jiang family blood.

With this relationship, the Jiang clan of Lingnan and the Shen clan of Yingchuan were naturally bound together on the same boat. Whether the Shen clan of Yingchuan was willing or not, even if they weren’t, if the Jiang family’s rebellion failed, the Shen clan of Yingchuan would suffer the consequences. But if the Shen clan of Yingchuan were to betray their relatives for righteousness… Jiang Qingzhou’s trip this time was probably to persuade the Shen clan of Yingchuan.

Jiang Yang naturally believed in Jiang Qingzhou’s ability to convince the Shen clan of Yingchuan. However, life is unpredictable. If the Shen clan of Yingchuan didn’t want to take risks, they might decisively behead Jiang Qingzhou and send her head all the way to the capital. In that case, the Jiang family would inevitably face the fate of execution of the entire clan.

Jiang Yang silently worried for Jiang Qingzhou.

Beside her, Chi Mei was still catching up with Fu Yue, recounting the details of their days apart. When it came to emotional moments, Fu Yue also took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears.

But they didn’t know how precarious their current situation was.

After returning to the Jiang family, Jiang Yang first went to visit Qin Shi, probing indirectly, but couldn’t glean any useful information from Qin Shi’s words.

Of course, how could her mother Jiang Shuiping possibly tell Qin Shi about such confidential and crucial matters? Even in this vast Jiang family, only Jiang Qingzhou knew about it.

Back in Huixue Residence, Jiang Yang felt restless. After all, the great crime of executing the entire clan was like the sword of Damocles hanging over their heads, not knowing when it would fall. It was like walking a tightrope over a thousand-foot cliff, each step as if treading on thin ice, one misstep could lead to irreversible disaster.

The silly fish was still immersed in the joy of reuniting with Fu Yue, completely unaware of Jiang Yang’s complex emotions at this moment.

“A’Yang, did you see the little fish my brother gave birth to? They’re so small, so pink, so cute. Their eyes are big and round, looking at me with watery eyes, even smiling at me… Our children in the future will definitely be even more beautiful than my brother’s children, right?” The silly fish recalled the feeling of holding his brother’s two children in his arms, his latent paternal instincts stirred, wishing he could get pregnant and give birth right now, at this moment.

Thinking this way in his heart, the silly fish acted accordingly. He nimbly slipped into Jiang Yang’s embrace like a swimming fish, pressing her onto the bed in one motion. The bed curtains were pulled down, thinly covering the two of them. Chi Mei’s breathing grew heavier: “My brother’s children, one named Yinzhu, one named Yinyu, such beautiful names. A’Yang, shall we have two as well?”

“Beautiful? Do you know why your sister gave the two children these names?” Jiang Yang suppressed her worries and smiled faintly.

“I don’t know.” Chi Mei shook his head, the crimson gossamer bed curtains falling between his hair, his eyes bright with affection, like an exotic dancer.

“Yinzhu, Yinyu, they contain your sister’s hopes for a daughter. Your eldest brother-in-law Qin Shi hasn’t been able to give her a daughter yet, and Fu Yue gave birth to twin boys. She wants a daughter so badly that she gave these names to her two sons.”

“So that’s why.” Chi Mei suddenly understood. His eyes flickered with a gleam, and he said with a beaming smile: “A’Yang, I will definitely give you a daughter.”

Jiang Yang laughed: “…That doesn’t seem to be the main point.”

“It is the main point! I will definitely do better than my brother.” Chi Mei pulled down the obstructing bed curtains, untied his clothes, the warm, flickering candlelight falling on his ink-black hair, revealing his firm, white chest, appearing particularly dazzling and eye-catching in the ambiguous, lingering candlelight.

Hot breath spilled over her ear, the hazy moonlight lapping like tides, again and again.

After tossing and turning all night, the two lazily got up when the sun was already high in the sky. Originally, Xianqi was to help her dress and groom, but Chi Mei took over these tasks as well.

“The young miss and Chi Mei gongzi’s relationship is so good.” Seeing Chi Mei thoughtfully arranging Jiang Yang’s clothes, his gaze filled with tender affection wherever it fell, Xianqi couldn’t help but smile.

Jiang Yang smiled faintly without speaking.

“By the way, young miss, the eldest young miss returned to the mansion early this morning. She specially came to Huixue Residence once, wanting to invite you to have lunch together at Lengyue Pavilion,” Xianqi said.

“Go to Lengyue Pavilion?” Jiang Yang asked in surprise.

Being able to return alive from the Yingchuan Shen clan meant that Jiang Qingzhou had already persuaded the Yingchuan Shen clan to collaborate on the great undertaking. This was good news for the Jiang family, at least for now, the lives of the several hundred people in the Jiang family were saved.

But why did Jiang Qingzhou want to see her?

She had quite a lot of interaction with Jiang Qingzhou when they were young, after all, being a transmigrator, her mental age was definitely more mature than the local natives. The young Jiang Qingzhou’s personality was quite adorable, but as they both grew older, they unknowingly grew apart.

Especially after Jiang Qingzhou married her husband, there was even less contact between them. But it wasn’t that there was no affection at all. Her return from being stranded on a deserted island was thanks to Jiang Qingzhou’s efforts. Sometimes Jiang Yang couldn’t figure out Jiang Qingzhou’s attitude.

“Yes, not just you, the eldest young miss specifically named Chi Mei gongzi to accompany you. The eldest young miss said it’s rare to see the second young miss actively take in a small attendant, and she also wants to see what kind of extraordinary person he is,” Xianqi added.

“…Alright, I understand. We’ll go over in a while,” Jiang Yang said.

Regarding Jiang Qingzhou specifically wanting to see Chi Mei, Jiang Yang didn’t feel surprised. It seemed that after Jiang Qingzhou returned to Lingnan, she should have already met Fu Yue. This time, specifically naming to see Chi Mei was firstly to meet her lover’s younger brother, and secondly to seal their lips, so that neither of them would reveal that they are merfolk.

Lengyue Pavilion was as cold as its name, the courtyard as cold as a crescent moon, with only a cluster of white plum blossoms in the corner of the yard showing a hint of cold vitality. The servants in the yard were extremely disciplined under the management of the eldest brother-in-law Qin Shi. Even when guiding Jiang Yang and Chi Mei, they didn’t dare to raise their heads to look at them.

The servants led Jiang Yang and Chi Mei to the hall of Lengyue Pavilion, where a sumptuous meal had already been prepared. Jiang Qingzhou sat in the main seat, having changed out of her heavy armor into simple, casual clothes, her long hair tied up in a simple high ponytail, looking both valiant and reserved.

The eldest brother-in-law Qin Shi sat beside her, wearing a light blue brocade robe embroidered with white magnolias. Seeing Jiang Yang enter, he immediately stood up with a warm and gentle smile: “Second sister has arrived, please sit, please sit. Is this Chi Mei gongzi? It’s the first time we’ve met. No wonder he’s the young man that caught second sister’s eye, truly a rare beauty.” Qin Shi held Chi Mei’s hand, speaking warmly and hospitably, the signal of goodwill couldn’t be more obvious.

Chi Mei, hearing Qin Shi’s string of compliments, was already in a daze. He immediately developed a good impression of Qin Shi. However, fortunately, he still remembered Jiang Yang’s instructions and his own brother Fu Yue’s status. He quickly sobered up, bowed politely to Qin Shi, and then stood behind Jiang Yang.

A small attendant’s status was humble, incomparable to that of an official husband.

An official husband could dine together with his wife-master, but a small attendant didn’t have this privilege and could only stand aside to serve.

“We’re all family, there’s no need for such formalities. Especially at your eldest brother-in-law’s place, there’s even less need to be restrained. Come, sit down quickly, let’s have a casual meal together and chat about family matters,” Qin Shi warmly pulled Chi Mei to sit down.

Chi Mei was flattered, his hands and feet tense, instinctively looking towards Jiang Yang.

Only after Jiang Yang nodded did he relax a little.

Qin Shi was far from being a pure good person without any schemes. Just look at those extremely disciplined servants in the yard and you’d know he was also a person of great capability. How could someone like him, a young master from a prestigious family who became the official husband after marriage, truly respect someone who was just a small attendant?

Jiang Yang glanced at Jiang Qingzhou, who was still sitting in the main seat without speaking, knowing that all this was just her instructions.

After the meal, Qin Shi took Chi Mei to appreciate the white plum blossoms in the courtyard. Qin Shi’s appearance was elegant and refined, standing next to the dazzlingly beautiful Chi Mei, it was as if all the light was gathered on Chi Mei alone, making Qin Shi seem lackluster in comparison. To date, the only person Jiang Yang had seen who could rival Chi Mei’s beauty was his brother Fu Yue.

“Yangr, come with me to the study for a walk?” Jiang Qingzhou’s gaze was on the two people in the courtyard, but her words were directed at Jiang Yang.

Go to the study? Wasn’t her purpose to see Chi Mei? What did she want to do in the study? Jiang Yang was puzzled, but still followed Jiang Qingzhou.

This was Jiang Yang’s first time in Jiang Qingzhou’s study. The lighting in the study was poor, even with candles lit for illumination, it still seemed dim and gloomy, like a dark room.

Unable to guess what Jiang Qingzhou wanted to say, Jiang Yang simply didn’t open her mouth, waiting for Jiang Qingzhou to speak first.

The study was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard clearly. Jiang Qingzhou had her back to Jiang Yang, her silhouette appearing calm and elegant in the dim light. Suddenly, she laughed softly and slowly turned her head: “Yangr, I really underestimated you.”

Jiang Yang’s face didn’t show a hint of expression as she asked, “What do you mean, sister?”

Jiang Qingzhou tilted her head slightly, with a half-smile, and asked back, “What do you think I mean?”

Jiang Yang dug her nails into her fingers and said in a suppressed voice, “I met Chi Mei when I was shipwrecked. He saved me, and we developed feelings over time, which is why I brought him back to the Jiang family. I didn’t intentionally hide it…”

“It’s not about that,” Jiang Qingzhou looked at her.

Jiang Yang: “…”

“Our family, one better at acting than the other. If mother hadn’t told me, I would have really thought…” Jiang Qingzhou shook her head and laughed, after laughing, she walked step by step towards Jiang Yang, her eyes condensed with too many emotions: “Yangr, you’ve had it hard these past ten years or so. From now on, you don’t need to pretend anymore.”