Chapter 296: Chapter 296: Reaction of the Jiang Family

Lord Xu entered Old General Liu’s mansion and took Old General Liu away so easily because Old General Liu himself was waiting for someone to come for him.

Since the men Old General Liu had dispatched did not return, he knew something had gone wrong, and he grew restless.

Once those men failed their mission and were captured, it would spell catastrophe for the Liu family.

The men sent out were all soldiers he had brought back from Jiangnan; they were his personal guard. Moreover, they were his secretly trained private army.

Old General Liu knew disaster was imminent, so he arranged for his sons and grandsons in the mansion to escape overnight, taking the female family members with them.

They fled to Jiangnan, where his eldest son was stationed at the border; that was also their territory.

As long as they reach our territory, what can Xiao Yunjing do to us?

So, when Lord Xu arrived at Old General Liu’s mansion, only Old General Liu himself remained.

Old General Liu didn’t escape with them. He stayed behind, naturally, to buy his descendants time. He reasoned that if he had gone with them, given Xiao Yunjing’s resources, they would certainly have pursued them relentlessly. He estimated that, in that case, no one would have been able to escape.

He stayed to bear all the blame himself.

Lord Xu looked at the composed Old General Liu and wondered what he was thinking. Was he trying to emulate others and rebel? But Xiao Yunjing had inherited the throne legitimately; it wasn’t obtained through rebellion.

He shook his head. Old General Liu, at his advanced age, had still done such a thing. He didn’t know whether to call him old and muddled or simply muddled.

「At the Jiang Mansion.」

Old Master Jiang didn’t believe it when he first heard Old General Liu had been arrested. He thought it was just a rumor.

It wasn’t until Jiang Zhongliang returned in the evening that he confirmed Old General Liu had indeed been arrested.

Old Master Jiang found it hard to believe and couldn’t understand why.

Then, a thought struck him, and he immediately summoned Jiang Zhongcai, asking, “What’s going on with your father-in-law?”

Jiang Zhongcai was also filled with anxiety. How would he know what had happened? He had just been questioning Ms. Liu, but she only kept crying and couldn’t say anything coherent.

She was even making a scene, insisting on going to the imperial dungeon to ask Old General Liu what was wrong.

Jiang Zhongcai said, “Father, your son truly doesn’t know what’s going on. Ms. Liu doesn’t know either. This happened too suddenly, too inexplicably.”

Old Master Jiang stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, “Didn’t you ask that girl, Lile?”

“Lile? What does this have to do with Lile? She’s a girl who rarely leaves the house; what could she possibly know?”

Old Master Jiang glared at him. “You’d better go back and ask her.”

That girl was always a troublemaker. Old Master Jiang had a gut feeling that this matter was somehow connected to her.

Jiang Zhongcai hurried to the Red Cloud Residence. He too was pondering the matter. Could it really be related to his daughter? It was too much of a coincidence. He had just gone to warn Ms. Liu, and immediately afterward, Old General Liu ran into trouble.

「In the Red Cloud Residence.」

When Jiang Lile learned that Old General Liu had been arrested, she knew their plan had failed and been exposed. Right now, she was like an ant on a hot pan, completely at a loss about what to do.

This incident happened because of her; the entire Liu family would surely be executed. She simultaneously blamed Gu Qingli for having such good luck and her maternal grandfather for not sending more men. She had clearly stated in her letter that Gu Qingli had expert protectors by her side.

Jiang Li’an had told her about this, which made her understand why her attempt in Beijing had failed.

Her maternal grandfather had been too arrogant. Now look, they had stirred up a massive disaster! She knew very well how much Xiao Yunjing cared for Gu Qingli. Whenever Jiang Lile thought of Gu Qingli, her teeth itched with hatred. What on earth was that woman made of? Both of her kill-sure plots had been foiled so easily!

Jiang Lile locked herself in her room, crying anxiously. She didn’t want her maternal grandfather’s family to be executed. Her maternal grandfather doted on her, his granddaughter, the most, saying she resembled her mother.

When Jiang Zhongcai arrived, he saw two maidservants guarding the outside of Jiang Lile’s chamber.

“Greetings, Master.” The two maidservants quickly curtsied upon seeing him.

Jiang Zhongcai waved his hand. “Where is your Young Miss?”

“In her room,” a maidservant replied.

“Tell her to come out.”

“Yes, Master. Please wait a moment.” One maidservant went in to call Jiang Lile, while the other poured him tea.

Hearing her father’s voice outside, Jiang Lile, who was in the room, came out immediately.

Looking at Jiang Lile’s anxious expression, Jiang Zhongcai understood a fair bit.

He dismissed the maidservants, closed the door, and, pointing at Jiang Lile with a grim face, demanded, “Your maternal grandfather’s predicament – is it related to you?”

Already frantic, Jiang Lile’s composure completely shattered when her father questioned her so directly. She collapsed onto a chair, nodding and whimpering, “Dad, tell Brother Yunjing it wasn’t maternal Grandfather’s idea! I was the one who asked him to do it! Ask Brother Yunjing to show mercy and spare him! He can’t let maternal Grandfather’s entire family be executed!”

Jiang Zhongcai’s head was buzzing. So, it really was this wretched daughter of his who had caused such a mess! He slapped Jiang Lile hard across the face. “You fool! Are you trying to get the entire family killed? I warned you long ago not to act rashly!”

Jiang Zhongcai was furious. After scolding her, he hurriedly rushed to the Old Master’s study.

Seeing Jiang Zhongcai’s flustered and exasperated state, Old Master Jiang knew something was terribly wrong. He asked, “Was it really that girl, Lile?”

Jiang Zhongcai nodded helplessly. “Father, what should we do now? If my father-in-law implicates Lile, our family will definitely be dragged into this.”

Old Master Jiang remained silent, his mind in turmoil. What a misfortune for the family! Just a few days ago, he had repeatedly warned them, specifically worried that his third son’s wife would go to her maternal family for help. Yet, despite all his precautions, he had never thought to guard against that girl, Lile.

He sighed deeply and said, “Let’s remain calm for now. Old General Liu won’t necessarily expose Lile.”

His decision not to flee indicates he intends to bear all responsibility himself. If he had truly implicated Lile, the Ministry of Punishments would have come to arrest people by now. How could we still be safe and sound?

But Jiang Zhongcai was extremely worried. That was his direct in-law; what if their family was implicated?

He thought for a moment and said, “Father, your son thinks that at a time like this, we shouldn’t rely on wishful thinking. Let’s all go to the Beijiang Kingdom.”

Old Master Jiang shook his head. “Unless it’s absolutely necessary, we shouldn’t leave. If we flee, wouldn’t that be admitting our involvement in this matter? Stay calm, don’t panic, and keep a close watch on that mother and daughter.”

Old Master Jiang had considered going to Beijiang, but that was a path for when they had no other options, a final retreat for them. He had also realized that this escape route wasn’t necessarily reliable. Xiao Ce was Xiao Yunjing’s biological maternal uncle and had largely raised him. If their family were to seek refuge under normal circumstances, it might be somewhat acceptable. However, if they went because they had committed an offense, the outcome would be highly uncertain. After all, Ms. Jiang was only his daughter born of a concubine.

So, Old Master Jiang summoned all three of his sons, explained the full extent of the risks and implications, and they decided to observe the situation quietly and wait for developments.

And just as Old Master Jiang had predicted, Old General Liu indeed did not expose Jiang Lile. He only confessed unreservedly to his own actions.

There was no room for sophistry in this matter; the facts were undeniable.

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