The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

Bai Jianan paused, stiffened, and turned around, only to hear Jian Yue's barely perceptible chuckle. He twitched his eye and looked at the still vigorous Shangguan Ting.

This man is my maternal grandfather, so I can't hit him or scold him. But he wants to take my wife away from me. What should I do?

Murong Qianqiu noticed Bai Jianan's embarrassment and felt a slight tightness in his chest. He then coughed softly to acknowledge his presence.

“That’s right, the old general is right, and this matter is not over yet; it needs to be brought to a close.”

Bai Jianan immediately scoffed, "What do you mean, 'finish'? Give the Qiu family an explanation? Or give the Shangguan family an explanation?"

Murong Qianqiu was speechless for a moment. Murong Yu then stood up and said with a smile, "Cousin, don't be in such a hurry. This matter needs to be clarified eventually. After all, you don't want your sister-in-law to be harassed by the Qiu family again after you go back, do you?"

The word "sister-in-law" softened Bai Jianan's icy demeanor considerably, though it was still much colder than when he faced Shangguan Ting.

"Then tell me, how do you plan to finish calculating this?"

He looked at Murong Yu with a roguish grin. Murong Yu smiled and then turned to Qiu Zhenzhou, who was still kneeling, and said, "Then it depends on Lord Qiu. After all, the sixth young lady of this mansion has suddenly become the granddaughter of the Shangguan family, and it also involves the Shangguan family's young lady who has been missing for fifteen years. There must be an explanation for this."

As for my sister-in-law, it's said she lost her memories. Perhaps she was originally a daughter of the Qiu family, and something happened that caused her to suddenly lose her memory. This matter needs to be investigated. Even if the investigation has nothing to do with the Qiu family, it will still help in investigating what exactly happened fifteen years ago.

Murong Yu smiled like a fox. This matter had nothing to do with him. The investigation was just to see who was behind it all, and maybe they could find out something interesting.

But saying that would only bring up the issues that hadn't been discussed before, which was the same as not saying anything at all. Bai Jianan raised an eyebrow and squinted at Murong Yu. The other party looked like he was watching a good show, which made him feel itchy to do something.

Murong Qianqiu looked at Qiu Zhenzhou, whose body trembled slightly, and then said, "Your Majesty, this old minister really does not know what happened. Back then, the Shangguan family's daughter was supposed to marry into our Qiu family, but unfortunately she disappeared beforehand. Our Qiu family can also be considered a victim."

Now, Miss Shangguan's daughter has suddenly appeared and impersonated my Qiu family's daughter. Originally, this old minister suspected there might be a conspiracy, but now, this old minister feels that even if there is no conspiracy, this old minister must be given an explanation.

This old minister asks for nothing more than that this young lady, in consideration of the many years my Qiu family has raised her, speak a fair word so that I may die knowing the truth.

At this moment, Qiu Zhenzhou finally understood. Jian Yue had never spoken ill of the Qiu family from beginning to end. If it wasn't because she wanted to stay in the Qiu family, then she must have had some concerns.

This concern should be directed at Shangguan Linglong. As long as Shangguan Linglong remains in his hands, Jian Yue will not dare to act recklessly or do anything bad to the Shangguan family, and Shangguan Ting will not dare to make any moves.

Therefore, he became more confident and looked at Jian Yue with a mixture of confidence and questioning in his eyes.

Jian Yue also saw the hidden threat from this. She lowered her eyes and smiled coldly in front of everyone. Then, she raised her eyes and said with red eyes, "What Lord Qiu said is true, but I am also telling the truth. After all, when I woke up that year, I had this letter in my arms, and I have nothing else on me that can prove my identity except for this letter."

Moreover, on my way to the manor, I encountered some heartless bandits who robbed me of all my money and nearly killed me. How could I possibly have the mind to plot against the Qiu family?

Murong Chuan frowned slightly and looked at Jian Yue, asking, "If that's the case, you think you're the daughter of the Qiu family, but after entering the capital you find out you're the granddaughter of the Shangguan family. But just now, when Lord Zhang inquired about you, you said your mother was well. So, you must have been in contact with your mother, Shangguan Linglong. Otherwise, wouldn't your words be contradictory? And your name, Jian Yue, you call it so naturally. You must have used it for a long time; it doesn't seem like it was chosen randomly."

Jian Yue suddenly looked up, staring at Murong Chuan with disbelief. Murong Chuan was taken aback, then opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped himself. He then saw that Jian Yue had already looked away and begun to answer his question.

“I admit that I have been called Jian Yue for a long time. I was called by this name when I was on the estate. But I chose this name for myself. I only thought that my mother was a gift and I should cherish her. But after returning to the Qiu family, I naturally cannot use the name I chose myself. That is why I asked my father to give me a name.”

As for my mother, aside from my childhood memories, I have never seen her at all. Lord Zhang's question just now was met with that kind of politeness, which was perfectly reasonable. I wonder what Your Highness, the Crown Prince, truly wishes to ask?"

She stared at Murong Chuan, her earnestness and disappointment clearly visible in her eyes. Murong Chuan looked at her and suddenly found himself speechless, somewhat regretting the question he had just asked.

Before he could answer, Bai Jianan sauntered over again, looking at Jian Yue with a resentful expression, and said, "My lady, how can you flirt with other men?"

Jian Yue was stunned and looked at Bai Jianan blankly: Which eye of yours saw me flirting? I was clearly glaring at someone, okay?

Seeing this, Murong Qianqiu coughed lightly again to make himself more noticeable. He was puzzled as to why he was being completely ignored in front of this guy.

"Alright, since that's how things are, let's leave it at that. As for Miss Shangguan's matter, I'll have a good talk with the old general after this welcoming banquet. Now, let's continue and not let these trivial matters spoil our mood."

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately returned to their seats, some drinking, some chatting, their behavior utterly fake, yet all happy to play along with the Emperor. Qiu Zhenzhou was also exceptionally allowed to rise and return to his seat. Sun Shi, supported by Qiu Lingfeng, sat behind Qiu Zhenzhou, her eyes blankly watching as someone entered and carried away Qiu Lingrong's body. The blood on the ground was wiped clean in an instant, as if the bloody incident had never happened. In a moment, the scene before them was filled with clinking glasses and bustling activity.

After Qiu Lingfeng helped Sun Shi sit back down, her eyes went straight to Jian Yue. Jian Yue had already sat down. When she saw Qiu Lingfeng looking over, she smiled at her, raised her cup to her, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Qiu Lingfeng bit her lip, hiding the hatred in her eyes. She then looked up at Jian Yue with a stiff smile, picked up the wine glass on the table, and drank it down.

Madam Sun looked up blankly at Qiu Lingfeng and said, "Feng'er, your sister is dead? What are we going to do?"

Qiu Lingfeng lowered her eyes, rested her head on Sun's shoulder, and whispered, "Mother, don't be afraid. Feng'er will avenge my sister. Mother, wait, it won't be long."

Upon hearing this, Madam Sun's eyes flickered, and she simply hummed in response before falling silent, staring blankly at Qiu Zhenzhou's back as if she were in a daze.

Murong Chuan sat in his seat, holding a cup of wine instead of tea, drinking one cup after another. He glanced at Jian Yue out of the corner of his eye, but Jian Yue never gave him a look. She just kept talking to Shangguan Ting, sometimes smiling slightly, sometimes nodding. Her behavior made his memory somewhat hazy.

Murong Yu looked at the absent-minded Murong Chuan, smiled, and then ran to Bai Jianan, offering him a toast with a cheerful smile and saying flattering and congratulatory words.

Immediately, more people came over to congratulate him. Bai Jianan, looking bored, held his wine glass and drank one glass after another, but his eyes kept wandering over Jian Yue. He also took in Murong Chuan's gaze.

Murong Yu smiled and said, "Cousin, your sister-in-law isn't going to get lost. Aren't you tired of watching over her like this?"

Bai Jianan glanced at him and said coldly, "What do you know? People change once they meet someone they like. I used to be a womanizer, but now, I never thought I would fall for it. But I fell for it willingly. Tell me, what's going on?"

He seemed to be pondering something, continuing to stare at Jian Yue, but in his heart he was thinking about how to let Murong Chuan suffer another loss.

Upon hearing this, Murong Yu burst into laughter. Bai Jianan ignored him and simply raised his wine cup, saying, "Let's drink. I don't want to hear anything else."

"Okay, I won't say anything, let's drink together, brother."

Murong Yu squinted and then sat down next to Bai Jianan. The two seemed to be drinking together like brothers, while Bai Jianan was still thinking about his little wife.

At this moment, Jian Yue was sitting upright next to Shangguan Ting, with Shangguan Han Que on the other side. The grandfather and granddaughter protected Jian Yue in the middle, not allowing anyone to get close. Their posture was as if they would tear anyone who tried to get close.

Jian Yue sat next to Shangguan Ting, talking to him with her head down, nodding from time to time. Shangguan Hanque would also lean in from time to time to listen, sometimes frowning, sometimes showing displeasure in his eyes, and occasionally even murderous intent.

Seeing this situation, Bai Jianan felt that it was probably impossible to get his wife back today, and the thought made him feel sad.

Should we sneak into the general's mansion tonight and steal back our little wife?

How could Jian Yue not feel his burning gaze? But at this moment, Jian Yue had no time to pay attention to him. It was the first time she had met her maternal grandfather, and she could clearly sense the old man's emotions. She also understood that the bond between blood ties was truly unbreakable. Even though she had never met him, she could feel his care and love at first glance.

Therefore, at this moment, she really didn't want to leave this person who, besides her mother, was the first elder to bring her gentleness.

"You've really had a tough time these past few years, kid."