Chapter 36: Farewell
Since they would be traveling and on the road, they couldn’t bring too many complicated or excessive items—everything had to be convenient and simple. With the experienced Jiang Chenghan helping, it only took them half a shichen (1 hour) to pack two large bundles of luggage.
Inside were five sets of undergarments, three sets of durable and stain-resistant outerwear, and considering the increasingly cold weather as they headed north, they also packed two sets of cloaks and blankets. Additionally, they prepared emergency medicine, seasonings, and other essentials. As for necessary items like water pouches and dry rations for the journey, those would be prepared on the day of departure.
By the time everything was ready, the night had grown late, so the two of them went to sleep for the time being. The next morning, Yan Jingshu continued organizing their belongings while Jiang Chenghan went to the West Market to find Xi Muyuan and bring him back.
Gathering all the servants in one place, Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu informed them and Xi Muyuan that they would soon be following Kou Shijun back to Ningcheng. Due to the urgency, only the two of them would leave first, while the others would follow later with Xi Muyuan’s merchant convoy.
Everyone was surprised, but since Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu had given the order, they naturally obeyed. With the people settled, arrangements for the house before their departure also had to be made.
Since Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu were leaving soon, the small rented courtyard they currently lived in needed to be vacated in advance. Fortunately, Yan Jingshu had a dowry property in the capital, so they decided to have the servants temporarily move there.
As for their belongings, Jiang Chenghan’s money had been spent on the wedding, and most of the furniture and decorations in the house belonged to the original owner. Only some cups, bowls, tea sets, candles, charcoal, and firewood had been purchased later—none of which were valuable enough to take. However, Yan Jingshu’s dowry and his personal daily items needed to be packed and transported.
The Dowager Lady Yan had known Yan Jingshu would eventually head north, so his dowry consisted mostly of gold, silver, properties, and farmland, with few decorative trinkets. Yan Jingshu decided to personally carry the banknotes, land deeds, and property deeds, while the bulkier, more fragile items would be stored in the five-courtyard mansion. Only a few small, delicate items he particularly liked, along with some books, paintings, fabrics, and his daily necessities, would be transported to Ningcheng later with Xi Muyuan.
As the orders were relayed one by one, the small courtyard quickly buzzed with activity—some packing boxes, others bundling items, and some even going out to hire carts for transport. In the midst of the bustle, one of Jiang Chenghan’s colleagues arrived and informed him that the court had already issued an edict for Kou Shijun to depart for Ningcheng the next day.
Jiang Chenghan had expected this and wasn’t surprised, but his colleague looked somewhat odd upon hearing that Yan Jingshu would also be accompanying them. Still, he said nothing, merely patting Jiang Chenghan’s shoulder before leaving.
With their departure set for the next day, Jiang Chenghan and Yan Jingshu went to the Duke’s residence in the afternoon to bid farewell to the Dowager Lady and the Duke of Anguo.
However, upon arriving, they received unexpected news—Yan Jingshu’s maternal grandparents were also present. Exchanging a glance, the two of them had a vague suspicion.
Sure enough, when they reached Rong’an Courtyard, they heard the Dowager Lady’s voice, her tone unreadable, from behind the door:
"...The two of you have already met Xie Shi. I presume you understand the purpose of my invitation today. Xie Shi is your daughter. Previously, she poisoned me, her mother-in-law, and out of consideration for the ties between our families, I did not publicize it. Now, not only has she obscured the true bloodline of the Yan family, but she has also attempted to use this to threaten an old woman like me. Such a venomous daughter-in-law cannot be tolerated any longer. Do you, my in-laws, have anything to say in her defense?"
After a brief silence, an aged voice, tinged with resignation, replied:
"...We failed in raising our daughter, causing you and the Duke’s household to suffer repeatedly. Her crimes are unforgivable, deserving of death ten thousand times over. However... I beg you, for the sake of Yan’er and Yu’er, to show mercy—at least spare my unfilial daughter’s life so she may have a chance to repent and make amends. I swear that from now on, we will keep her under strict supervision, never allowing her to commit further disgraceful acts that would shame both families."
Jiang Chenghan glanced at Yan Jingshu, who silently mouthed three words: "Maternal grandfather." Though he rarely saw his maternal relatives, he still remembered his grandparents’ voices.
Jiang Chenghan nodded, inwardly sighing. Xie Shi’s crimes were undeniable, and her father did not attempt to justify them. However, by using Yan Jingshu’s true origins as leverage, Xie Shi’s actions would damage not just the Duke’s household but the Xie family most of all. After all, if it became known that a daughter of the Xie family had deceived her husband’s family about their bloodline, who would dare marry a daughter of the Xie family in the future?
Yet despite this, Xie Shi’s father still pleaded for her life—such deep paternal love was indeed rare.
The Dowager Lady, however, remained unmoved, her tone steady as she replied:
"Repent and make amends? Forgive my bluntness, but with Xie Shi’s vicious nature, if I continue to tolerate her, I fear she will utterly ruin the Duke’s household. As for your supervision... when Xie Shi miscarried yet passed off another’s child as the Yan family’s heir, deceiving us for over a decade—can you truly claim ignorance? That child was born under your roof."
Silence fell once more before Xie Shi’s father spoke again, his voice even more defeated:
"You are right. My wife and I knew of this matter. In fact... the child, Jingshu, was one we sought out ourselves..."
At this, Jiang Chenghan felt Yan Jingshu’s body stiffen beside him, his lips pressed into a bloodless line. Heart aching, Jiang Chenghan took his hand, gently unfurling his clenched fingers and soothing the deep nail marks left in his palm.
The voices inside continued:
"...At the time, I was gravely ill. Yu’er’s mother, despite being pregnant, returned home to see me, only to suffer a premature birth—and the child did not survive. Overcome with guilt, fearing my daughter could not bear the truth and unable to face the Duke’s household, I... in a moment of delusion, sought a newborn to pass off as her own. Later, I wanted to confess, but seeing how much you and my son-in-law cherished the child... I could no longer speak the truth."
"So you’re saying Xie Shi was entirely unaware and blameless?"
"At first... yes, Yu’er’s mother truly did not know. But a mother’s instinct is strong—she eventually realized the truth. Yet by then, what was done could not be undone. She kept silent for my sake and her mother’s... but in the end, the fault lies with us. We wronged the Yan family, wronged you, and wronged my son-in-law..."
By the end, Xie Shi’s father was choked with sobs, his face a picture of remorse and self-reproach, as if he had no place to hide his shame. Yet, the Dowager Lady Yan remained composed and indifferent. The Duke of Anguo, seeing his aged father-in-law in such a state, felt a pang of pity.
But recalling Xie Shi’s misdeeds, he could only sigh deeply, avert his gaze, and refuse to look at him any longer.
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