Chapter 499: Strange People
The moment the Chu Mansion’s invitation was sent out, the news of Chu Siyun’s survival spread throughout Huang Yang Town.
At the same time, in the Jiang family.
Mdm Jiang was still hiding this from the Jiang family previously. She did not expect them to find out in the end.
At that moment, Matriarch Jiang was sitting on the main seat. She said coldly, “Is that bastard really still alive?”
Mdm Jiang said in a low voice, “Aunt, I know you’re uncomfortable, but he’s indeed still alive.”
“If he’s still alive, wouldn’t my Yao Er have died in vain?”
Matriarch Jiang gripped the chair handle tightly, her eyes filled with fury.
She was Aunt Jiang’s mother. Back then, her daughter was jailed for causing Chu Siyun’s death and was tortured to death.
Back then, she had tried to persuade Chu Hongzhong to release Aunt Jiang.
Unfortunately, the child was Chu Hongzhong’s bottom line. Since Aunt Jiang wanted to kill his son, he naturally would not spare her life.
Even if he knew back then that Chu Siyun was still alive.
“What did he mean by a life for a life? In the end, it was my Yao Er’s life. This Chu Hongzhong is really heartless!”
Mdm Jiang did not dare to speak.
She did not dare to tell Matriarch Jiang that Aunt Jiang’s death back then was actually related to her.
If she had not been bent on killing Chu Sihan, she would not have incited Aunt Jiang to poison him.
If she did not poison Chu Sihan, Chu Siyun would not have eaten the wrong medicine. Aunt Jiang would not have been jailed because of this, much less died tragically.
“Mother, to put it bluntly, if Sister-in-law didn’t have such vicious thoughts back then, she wouldn’t have ended up like that.”
Mdm Jiang spoke gently.
Matriarch Jiang glanced at her and snorted coldly, but did not retort.
She initially thought that her daughter was in the wrong first. Although she was sad that she died in jail, because of Chu Siyun’s death, it was considered a life for a life.
But now, since Chu Siyun was not dead, how could she remain calm?
“Mother, let bygones be bygones. It’s been more than ten years.”
Old Master Jiang and Jiang Yiming also persuaded.
“More than ten years?” Matriarch Jiang smiled coldly. “Not to mention more than ten years, but even if it was more than twenty years, I would remember it. You bunch of heartless things. If you hadn’t coveted the Chu Mansion’s assets, my Yao Er wouldn’t have left me so early.”
Jiang Yiming was in the wrong. He coughed lightly and did not dare to speak further.
Back then, when Aunt Jiang married Chu Hongzhong, the Jiang family had indeed gained a lot of benefits.
The Jiang family and the Chu Mansion only distanced themselves after Aunt Jiang was jailed.
However, with Mdm Jiang around, they did not end up like strangers.
“I don’t like what Mother said.”
Mdm Jiang put down the teacup in her hand and said unhappily, “If you hadn’t agreed back then, would Sister-in-law have married over? At the end of the day, you were also the one who caused her death.”
“You—”
Matriarch Jiang glared at her and wanted to flare up. However, Mdm Jiang was right.
Back then, when she heard from her son that Matriarch Chu intended to make Chu Hongzhong accept her daughter as his concubine, she agreed without thinking.
As for Chu Hongzhong back then, he was good-looking and Aunt Jiang liked him immediately.
At that time, she was still happy when she saw the betrothal gift from the Chu Mansion.
“Mother has nothing to say either, right?” Mdm Jiang smiled faintly. “So, don’t blame others. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself.”
After hearing Mdm Jiang’s words, Mdm Jiang secretly glanced at Matriarch Jiang and realized that her face was red.
She looked like she wanted to be angry, but had no reason to.
After a while, she said angrily, “I don’t care. Anyway, the Chu Mansion has to give me an explanation. Your sister can’t die in vain!”
“I’ve already said this before. Whatever you want to do, don’t bring me along. This has nothing to do with me.”
Mdm Jiang stood up and left.
She knew very well what status the Chu Mansion had now.
Hence, she would definitely not participate in this.
Jiang Yiming glanced at his wife’s back and said to Old Madam Jiang, “Mother, the Chu Mansion is not someone we can offend. If you insist on falling out with the Chu Mansion over what happened more than ten years ago, don’t blame me for severing ties with you.”
Other than Chu Sihan, who was backing the Chu Mansion, there was also the current Prime Minister. How could they, the merchants, afford to offend them?
“You—you—”
Matriarch Jiang almost fainted from anger. She gritted her teeth and said, “Okay! You’re really good!”
“It’s not that I’m heartless, but we really can’t offend the Chu Mansion!”
Jiang Yiming sighed softly and continued, “If we offend the Chu Mansion, our Jiang family will probably be destroyed. Whether we want to take revenge for Sister or protect the Jiang family’s peace, Mother, you have to consider it carefully.”
“Cousin is right!”
Mdm Jiang said in a low voice, “Aunt, although I’m also considered a member of the Chu Mansion, the power behind Chu Sihan is not something our Jiang family can contend against.”
Matriarch Jiang frowned. “I heard that Chu Sihan abandoned Shangguan Linger and married a farm girl? Did this really happen?”
Although they were all from the Chu Mansion, Mdm Chu did not like the Jiang family. Hence, on the day of Chu Sihan’s marriage, she did not send them an invitation.
Mdm Jiang smiled bitterly and nodded. “I guess so.”
“Yes means yes. What’s with ‘I guess so’?” Matriarch Jiang temporarily restrained her anger and asked in a deep voice.
Jiang Yiming was also curious.
“She’s from Liu Yue Village, but her identity is not simple.”
When Jiang Yiming heard this, he was puzzled. “How can a farm girl’s identity not be simple?”
Mdm Jiang said, “Her identity… I’m afraid even if Chu Sihan marries her, he will be out of her league.”
Matriarch Jiang raised her eyebrows. “Is there anyone in Huang Yang Town who is out of the Chu Mansion’s league?”
“Cousin, who is this farm girl?” The more Jiang Yiming heard, the more curious he became.
“She’s the Third Prince’s disciple.”
“What?” Jiang Yiming was stunned.
“Nonsense!” Matriarch Jiang did not believe her. “How can a farm girl be related to the mighty Prince?”
Mdm Jiang said, “But that’s the truth.”
“Did you hear that, Mother?” Jiang Yiming sighed softly. “Chu Sihan is not simple to begin with. Now, he has married the prince’s disciple. What can you get from the Chu family?”
Jiang Yiming paused and continued, “Moreover, that incident back then was Sister’s fault. If she hadn’t foolishly wanted to get rid of Chu Sihan, would Chu Siyun be wrongly poisoned? Now that he’s not dead, that’s because he’s not destined to die. Just because he’s not dead doesn’t mean that Sister was wronged.”
How would Matriarch Jiang not know this? She just could not take it lying down.
—————
After Mdm Jiang returned from the Jiang family, she went to find Chu Silin.
Chu Silin was sitting in the courtyard in a daze. When he saw her enter, he hurriedly stood up. “Mother.”
“Yes.”
Mdm Jiang nodded and sat down beside him. She asked casually, “How’s the situation with the Shangguan family?”
“Father said that it has been settled, but…”
He paused and fell silent.
“I heard that Shangguan Linger is a little confused?” Mdm Jiang asked softly.
Chu Silin nodded. “Yes, I think she was possessed. She kept shouting about ghosts.”
“I can only say that she asked for it.”
Mdm Jiang smiled coldly. “It could be said that we saw her true colors earlier.”
She had never intended for Shangguan Linger to marry Chu Silin.
After all, she did not care about the Shangguan family now.
In order to disgust Mdm Chu previously, she agreed for her son to marry Shangguan Linger. However, after offending Mdm Chu, she regretted it.
Previously, she was still thinking of how to resolve this marriage. She did not expect Shangguan Linger to destroy herself first.
“Son, don’t be sad. There are many good ladies in this world. I’ll find you a better marriage in the future.”
“No need.”
Chu Silin shook his head and said lightly, “I’ll find it myself.”
Mdm Jiang was silent for a moment before sighing and nodding.
—————
Two days later, at the Chu Mansion.
Today was the day to celebrate Chu Siyun’s return to the Chu Mansion.
The Chu Mansion was as lively as Chu Sihan’s big day a few days ago.
Everyone wanted to see the ‘dead’ Third Young Master Chu return after more than ten years.
Hence, before entering, the guests gathered in the hall.
“Why isn’t Third Young Master Chu here yet?”
Someone stood at the door and could not wait for Chu Siyun to come over.
Chu Hongzhong chuckled and said, “My son has been back for some time. Because of some reasons, he had to leave the Chu Mansion for more than ten years. I asked everyone here today to let him get to know everyone, in case he doesn’t know that they’re family when he meets them on the way.”
“Congratulations, Old Master Chu!”
A guest smiled and congratulated him. “The Chu Mansion has been filled with happy news recently!”
“Yes!”
“Congratulations!”
…
Everyone congratulated him.
Chu Hongzhong could not stop smiling. He kept cupping his hands in thanks.
“Old Master Chu, why haven’t we seen Third Young Master Chu yet?” someone asked.
Chu Hongzhong smiled and replied, “My son just came back and is a bit shy. He’s probably with his brother now. He’ll be here soon.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Sihan and Lu Sheng brought Chu Siyun over.
Everyone bowed to Chu Sihan and Lu Sheng before looking at Chu Siyun.
These two days, with Chu Sihan’s guidance, Chu Siyun’s attitude towards strangers had changed.
He no longer hid from others the moment she saw them. Instead, he could barely maintain a smile.
“Third Young Master Chu looks so similar to Old Master Chu when he was young!”
“Indeed, they’re simply carved from the same mold.”
Everyone looked at Chu Siyun and spoke one after another.
Chu Hongzhong wanted to lead Chu Siyun to the side to acknowledge people, but he was afraid that he would refuse. He could only look at Chu Sihan pleadingly.
“There are a few uncles who often interact with our Chu Mansion over there. Go and get to know with Father.”
“Oh!”
Once Chu Sihan spoke, he nodded in agreement.
Chu Sihan smiled lightly. “Go ahead.”
Seeing that he agreed to follow him to get to know people, Chu Hongzhong heaved a sigh of relief.
“He seems to have become more cheerful these two days.”
Lu Sheng looked at Chu Siyun’s back and smiled.
Chu Sihan said coldly, “This family still has to rely on him in the future. He can’t always hide in the back.”
After the guests were seated, the two of them left.
“Lord, someone’s looking for you outside!”
Not long after the duo found a pavilion and sat down, a servant came over to inform them that someone was looking for Chu Sihan.
“Who’s that?”
The servant said, “The person calls himself Gao Xu.”
When Chu Sihan heard that, he hurriedly said, “Invite him in.”
“Yes!”
Not long after the servant left, he brought someone in.
When Chu Sihan and Lu Sheng saw who it was, they frowned at the same time.
It was not Gao Xu, but Lin Jiang, whom they had not seen for a long time.
“You can leave first.”
Chu Sihan glanced at Lin Jiang and did not say anything. Instead, he let the servant leave first.
After the servant left, Lin Jiang bowed to the two of them.
Then, he smiled and said, “I came back a little late and didn’t manage to attend your big day. It’s such a pity!”
“Why did you call yourself Gao Xu?” Chu Sihan asked faintly.
Lin Jiang said with an innocent expression, “Master told me to say that. I don’t know why either.”
“Take a seat first.”
Chu Sihan gestured for him to take a seat.
After Lin Jiang sat down, his smile disappeared.
He cupped his hands at the two of them and said in a deep voice, “To be honest, Master actually asked me to come here today.”
“Did something happen?” Lu Sheng asked.
“Yes!”
Lin Jiang nodded. “This year, I’ve been staying in Nanyi Country with Master. Nothing happened until recently. A strange thing suddenly happened in Nanyi Country not long ago.”
When Chu Sihan heard that, he picked up his teacup and took a sip. Then, he looked up and gestured for him to continue.
Lin Jiang nodded and continued, “Strange things have been happening frequently at the border between Nanyi and Xuan Yue recently. Master and I wanted to come back to attend your wedding, but we didn’t expect to waste time dealing with a few strange people there.”
“Strange people?” Lu Sheng frowned. “What kind of strange people?”
Lin Jiang pondered for a while and said lightly, “They look no different from us on the surface, but they look like puppets who have lost their souls. No matter how we fight, they don’t seem to feel pain. Moreover, they roar and pounce on anyone they see. Unless we break their necks, they can still climb up even if we stab their hearts.”
When Lu Sheng and Chu Sihan heard that, they looked at each other and saw the seriousness in each other’s eyes.
“Recently, many citizens have died miserably under those strange people. In order to protect others, Master took the initiative to stay.”
“He told me to come back and discuss with the Lord and Young Madam Chu to see if I could contact the State Minister and get him to help.”
No wonder there was no movement in Yong Fu Town recently. It turned out that they had their attention on the border between the two countries.
“I understand.”
Chu Sihan looked at him and said lightly, “Go back to the Lin Mansion first. We’ll settle this.”
Lin Jiang shook his head. “Master is still there. I can’t return to the Lin Mansion myself.”
Those strange people were so scary. How could he escape first?
Chu Sihan said expressionlessly, “You can’t help even if you go. You’ll also distract everyone to protect you.”
These words seemed to have entered Lin Jiang’s heart. He pursed his lips and looked a little dejected.
He really could not help much. When he encountered those strange people previously, if his master was not around, he would have long been dismembered by them.
He hesitated for a moment and said lightly, “I’m not returning to the Lin Mansion. I’ll wait for news in Huang Yang Town.”
This was his biggest compromise.