Chapter Fifty: The Truth of That Year

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Madam Wang placed the candied fruit before the matriarch. Lady Zhao was still chatting leisurely with the old lady when she suddenly noticed a peculiar expression on Madam Wang’s face, who then winked at her. Sensing that Madam Wang had something urgent to convey, she quickly found an excuse to take her leave from Lady Lu.

Once back in her chamber, she asked Madam Wang, “What is it?”

Madam Wang cautiously shut the doors and windows before leaning close to Lady Zhao’s ear and whispering, “Madam, I just saw the official files of Minister Jiang in Jiang You’an’s room!”

Lady Zhao’s face turned startled. “She’s investigating her father’s case?”

Madam Wang replied, “That girl is always quiet and reserved, but she works silently on serious matters. She never speaks of her father, but how could her heart be at ease?”

Lady Zhao’s complexion paled slightly. Restlessly, she paced back and forth before suddenly declaring, “No, I must go see Wang Xin immediately.”

In the afternoon, Lady Zhao left her residence and headed to a tavern. She anxiously waited in a private room on the second floor. After a while, the door opened and a slender middle-aged man with a goatee entered.

“Why the sudden meeting, and at a place like this?” he asked.

“There’s an urgent matter,” Lady Zhao pulled Wang Xin into an inner room and said gravely, “Jiang You’an has begun investigating her father’s case.”

“Jiang You’an?” Wang Xin recalled, “Is she the one staying at your residence?”

“Of course. That girl must believe her father’s death was unjust. She’s quietly gathering strength to clear his name! I thought she was just a mere girl, with the Jiang family gone and no one to support her, she couldn’t cause much trouble. But she’s surprisingly capable of stirring things up!”

Wang Xin chuckled lightly. “After all, she is a child honoring her parents. It shows some filial piety.”

Lady Zhao looked at him anxiously. “At a time like this, you’re still so calm? When she uncovers everything, have you thought about how to respond?”

Wang Xin poured himself some tea leisurely and replied, “She’s just a little girl, nothing to fear. You’re making a fuss over nothing.”

“She’s about to become the lady of the Marquis of Yong’an’s household. Before, she had no backing, but now she has the Marquis’s support. Otherwise, where would she get those official files? It must be her fiancé helping her!”

Wang Xin’s face twisted with disdain. “And what of the Marquis of Yong’an? Can he really stand against the Wang residence?”

Lady Zhao calmed down upon hearing this and sat beside Wang Xin.

Wang Xin said, “If she’s going to investigate, she’ll start with Prince Xian. With the prince suppressing her, she won’t find anything. By the time she uncovers anything against us, the prince will have already crushed her.”

Lady Zhao pondered for a moment and nodded. “That makes sense.”

Wang Xin smiled faintly, placing his palm over Lady Zhao’s hand. “Don’t worry. I’m here.”

Lady Zhao sighed softly and leaned against Wang Xin’s shoulder.

...

Since Jiang You’an learned that Prince Xian was involved in her father’s case, she wanted to tell Lu Xuanheng she was giving up the investigation, fearing he might leak her actions to the prince. She had been looking for an opportunity to speak to him, but since she couldn’t visit Lanyue Residence, she only saw him when he came to pay respects to Lady Lu at Rongshou Hall that day.

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After Lu Xuanheng left the main hall, Jiang You’an hurried from the side chamber and caught up to him, grabbing his arm.

“Wait.”

Lu Xuanheng gasped, clutching the upper part of his right arm.

Jiang You’an remembered his injury and quickly let go, looking at him awkwardly.

“How’s your wound?”

Lu Xuanheng’s face darkened. “I’m not dying, so you can stop worrying.”

Jiang You’an sighed helplessly. “It’s been days. Are you still mad?”

Lu Xuanheng snorted coldly, ignoring her.

Jiang You’an pursed her lips. “How about I treat you to a meal?”

Lu Xuanheng raised an eyebrow. “With your little money, what can you afford?”

“You…” Jiang You’an wanted to retort but realized she truly didn’t have much money. The meal she could afford probably wouldn’t meet the standards of Master Lu.

She lowered her eyes and muttered, “If you don’t want to, forget it. I didn’t say anything.”

Lu Xuanheng glanced down at her hair and finally said coldly, “I’ll wait for you at the back gate at the hour of You tonight.”

With that, he strode away.

Jiang You’an watched him leave, pouting and muttering, “Are you really going?”

...

At the exact hour of You, early evening, Jiang You’an tucked her purse away and exited the Lu Residence’s back gate.

From afar, she saw a carriage waiting at the intersection. She approached and climbed in.

Lu Xuanheng was leaning against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, pretending to nap as if unaware someone had arrived.

Jiang You’an didn’t understand what he was playing at and asked directly, “Where do you want to eat?”

Lu Xuanheng opened his eyes. “Let’s go to He Le Restaurant.”

He Le Restaurant was one of the finest taverns in the capital, with high prices, costing several taels of silver for a meal.

Jiang You’an silently touched her purse.

Lu Xuanheng raised an eyebrow. “What, can’t afford it?”

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Jiang You’an stubbornly said, “No, let’s go.”

Upon arrival at He Le Restaurant, they were led to a private room on the second floor.

Lu Xuanheng made no effort to be polite, ordering a dozen dishes lavishly, then passed the menu to her. “I’m done ordering. You order whatever you want.”

This Lu Xuanheng was clearly taking the chance to soak her!

Jiang You’an gritted her teeth. “You’ve nearly ordered every dish on the menu. What else should I order?”

When the dishes arrived, the table was overflowing with food. Lu Xuanheng picked up his chopsticks and ate heartily.

Jiang You’an ate too, but thinking of her money, found it hard to enjoy the meal.

When they had eaten most of it, she put down her chopsticks and said to Lu Xuanheng, “I need to talk to you about something.”

Lu Xuanheng took a sip of grape wine and glanced at her sideways. “Don’t tell me you didn’t bring money.”

Jiang You’an suppressed the urge to roll her eyes and looked at him seriously. “What I want to say is, I think you’re right. I shouldn’t keep clinging to my father’s case. People have to move forward. It’s time for me to let go.”

Lu Xuanheng was somewhat surprised. “What made you suddenly see reason?”

Jiang You’an deliberately said, “Su Mingxiu enlightened me.”

As expected, upon hearing that name, Lu Xuanheng had nothing more to say, sneering lightly.

“Have you finished eating?” Jiang You’an asked.

Lu Xuanheng nodded.

Jiang You’an took out her purse, looking sorrowfully at the silver she still had left.

Just as she was about to call the waiter, Xiu Zhu entered and said to Lu Xuanheng, “Young master, the bill has been paid.”

Jiang You’an was stunned, her delight barely concealed.

Lu Xuanheng gave her a cold glance. “Let’s go.”

Jiang You’an pressed her lips. Since Lu Xuanheng was so generous, she decided not to mention the money.

She nodded and walked out with Lu Xuanheng.

Just as they reached the staircase, they happened to meet an acquaintance.

Li Zhengfu was about to go upstairs when he looked up and saw his prospective brother-in-law and the beauty by his side.