Part 1: A Dream Within A Dream / Rebirth of Ill Fated Concubine

Chapter 046 Scapegoat

Jiang Li and Jiang Susu were also very happy, but Jiang Susu was calm and composed, but she couldn't stop smiling. Although Jiang Quan was not kind to her, his legitimate daughter, he really loved Jiang Susu. In his previous life, he would rather offend the emperor in the palace to protect Jiang Susu. 

This can be seen from the fact that Jiang Susu should be the proudest daughter of Jiang Quan. He did not hesitate to give all his love to Jiang Susu, and even used Jiang Ruan to pave the way for Jiang Susu. Now thinking about it, she didn't know whether she should be sad or angry.

It can only be said that Jiang Quan may really like Xia Yan, so he loves their daughter so much, and Jiang Chao is the same. On the other hand, for Jiang Ruan and Jiang Xinzhi, Jiang Quan never paid attention to them, didn't beat or scold them, and didn't get close to them, like two insignificant outsiders. Even Jiang Li could get a good face from Jiang Quan because of the power of the second aunt's family, but they were not like that.

It makes sense. Zhao Mei had severed her relationship with General Zhao long ago, and she could not help him in the officialdom. At the beginning, it was Zhao Mei who took the initiative to ask for marriage, and she did not gain any advantage in terms of love and power. How could Jiang Quan have any sympathy for her? 

So he wanted her and Jiang Xinzhi to become stepping stones for Jiang Susu and her brother. If they blocked the road to success for Jiang Susu and her brother, they would be eliminated without mercy.

Thinking about these things absentmindedly, Jiang Ruan forgot about the tea in her hand and accidentally spilled a few drops. Zi Su on the side saw this and hurriedly said, "Miss, be careful."

Jiang Ruan came back to her senses, straightened the teacup, and said, "Is father back?"

Lian Qiao walked in from outside and heard Jiang Ruan's words and said, "Just came back and was talking to the old lady." She glanced around and lowered her voice and said, "But he doesn't look very good, as if he encountered something unpleasant."

Zi Su was surprised and said, "Maybe it's something about official business."

It happened that Lu Zhu rushed in with a sly smile on her face. Lian Qiao scolded, "What are you doing without thinking? Aren't you afraid of disturbing the girl?"

Jiang Ruan said, "Just say whatever you want to say."

"Miss is amazing." Lu Zhu blinked, "I just went to the front to ask around and found out why the master is so unhappy."

Lu Zhu is a sweet-mouthed person with a quick mind. She is very smooth in her dealings with people in the market, and it is easy for her to get along with the maids and old women. Jiang Ruan often asks her to go out and keep an eye out for some news, so that she will not be completely in the dark in the Jiang Mansion. Lu Zhu is also smart and can always find out some news.

This time Lian Qiao didn't care about scolding her and listened to her carefully.

"I heard that he had a quarrel with Minister Shen for some reason. Minister Shen was extremely angry, and the master also had a red face and thick neck. The strange thing is that despite the quarrel, Miss Shen specially wrote a note to the third lady, inviting her to come to the mansion to play. However, the master was furious. Not only did he not allow the third lady to leave the mansion, but he also confined her to her room."

"What does this mean?" Lian Qiao asked curiously: "That day, I saw that the third lady and Miss Shen did not have such a good relationship. Why didn't she invite the second lady, but only invited the third lady?"

Lu Zhu smiled mysteriously: "The servants are saying that something was lost in the Shen Mansion. This behaviour seems to be suspected of the third lady." 

The maids in Ruan Ju all complained about Jiang Li. Jiang Li was arrogant and spoke in a bad tone. She was far from being a good person like Jiang Susu. The maids and old women in the mansion were all annoyed with her. Therefore, when she got into trouble, many people gloated over her misfortune.

Zi Su said: "It's no wonder that the master is furious when he suspects Miss Jiang Li. If the third Miss went, wouldn't it be a slap in the face of the Jiang family and admit that they stole something? But why did the Shen family use Miss Shen to send a note to the third lady?" 
 
"Can we find out anything? I think the third lady is a bit domineering, but she is not a person who steals things. There are many strange things. Besides, the master and Lord Shen have a deep friendship, so they won't quarrel like this for a little thing. What exactly is missing from the Shen family?"

What is missing? Jiang Ruan smiled slightly, took a sip of tea slowly, and said: "It should be something very important."

The Shen family quarrelled, but it was just that the matter was unexposed, and Minister Shen found that his account book was missing. At that time, she was an outsider who came to the Shen family for the first time and naturally didn't know the layout of the Shen family. Only Jiang Li left the table in the middle, so it was hard not to suspect Jiang Li. But Jiang Li would not go to get the account book for no reason, so it was Jiang Quan's idea. It was understandable that Shen Shilang thought so. 

The friendship between the Shen and Jiang families involved a lot of unclear interests. If Jiang Quan got hold of Shen Shilang's handle, Shen Shilang would be inferior to Jiang Quan from now on. But this matter was extremely unkind, no wonder Shen Shilang wanted to tear his face.

Jiang Quan was really wronged now, and this matter really had nothing to do with him. Jiang Ruan smiled. The relationship between people was extremely fragile. Even if Jiang Quan and Shen Fu could barely maintain a friendly relationship because of the account book, today's incident would be like a thorn deeply buried in Shen Shilang's heart. This thorn will sprout one day, and the battle line between Jiang Quan and Shen Fu has begun to break at this moment.

Jiang Li wanted to harm her, but she made her a scapegoat, which was also a small punishment. From then on, the Shen family regarded Jiang Li as a thorn in their side, and Jiang Quan would not be happy in his heart. This was also Jiang Li's own fault.

In the previous life, Jiang Quan finally took the Shen family's account book and held the Shen family's weak spot, but at that time, the Jiang family was already thriving, and the Shen family had no choice but to bow down. Now it's still early in this life, and the Jiang family still needs to rely on the Shen family's help for many things. The premature breakdown of the alliance is a disaster rather than a blessing for Jiang Quan.

Jiang Ruan patted her clothes and stood up: "Since father and second brother have returned to the mansion, we can't help but go and see them. There is no need to say that we are rude and unfilial. Let's go. I haven't seen my father and second brother for six years. I don't know what they look like now."

In the flower hall, Xia Yan was wearing a lotus-coloured satin short jacket and a green silk fan skirt, which made her waist look even more fragile. Although she was already a mother of two children, she still looked like a young woman. Her skin was plump and moist, slightly decorated, and her hair was also beautiful. In front of the concubines in the room, she was like a graceful lotus. With the light bookish air she brought, she was really a rare beauty.

Jiang Quan looked at her with a softer look, and said, "You have worked hard," with a look of pity in his eyes. The second concubine on the side couldn't bear it, and raised her carefully decorated eyebrows, deliberately softening her voice and said, "Master, you are finally welcomed back."

The second concubine was actually a beauty, but her beauty was a little sharp. Her face was thinner, so she looked a little mean, unlike Xia Yan's gentleness and affection. And such flattery seemed a little artificial. Jiang Quan was a little impatient and responded lightly. Seeing this, the second concubine twisted the corner of her clothes fiercely with her hands.

Tongfang Lianye wore a straight dress that was washed white, with a humble smile on the corner of her lips, and retreated timidly to the side. Compared to the two beautiful maids around Xia Yan, she was just a second-class maid with mediocre looks. 

Jiang Quan didn't even look at her, and Jiang Susu stepped forward and said with a smile: "Dad is back."

(End of this chapter)

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