The sickly son died young? After the marriage exchange, I will bring prosperity to his entire clan f

"I want to borrow some manpower from my father. Once my people are trained, I'll have them come back?"

Why not?

Du Mingxian said frankly, "It's not that you don't have to pay it back, but it's not easy for a father to raise a person, let alone someone who can manage things and teach."

“The witness is still my father’s. Once I’m done, my father can still use it.”

Lord Wen had spent some time with Du Mingxian and knew her temperament and thoughts, so he waved his hand and said, "Alright, it's just two people, it's not a big deal."

"Besides, one of the people I gave you before was a menace. Since I sent the message back, I've cleaned out the Wen family. The ones who remain are all fine, so you can use them with confidence."

“I will give four people: one in charge, one teaching nanny, two teachers, one skilled in literature, and one skilled in medicine.”

Du Mingxian was deeply moved, especially by the one who was skilled in medicine. "Father, are you really going to give him to me? He is a truly talented person."

Not to mention the ones mentioned earlier, it takes a lot of effort to cultivate someone who is good at medical theory.

"Since I said I'd give it to you, I'll give it to you. Don't worry, just accept it."

"Then thank you, Father."

"Why are you thanking me? I'll have someone look for you later."

Du Mingxian waved her hand, "Father, I just want them to do things for me. It's not convenient for them to come over where I live now. I'll arrange things for Chunfeng, who is by my side, and let Chunfeng take them to settle down."

“I would like to go myself, but I haven’t been to the workshop for several days.”

Du Mingxian then realized that she hadn't told Lord Wen about the workshop, so she briefly explained what had happened there, saying, "I'm afraid if I don't go now, it will be difficult to get in."

Lord Wen remained silent after listening. “The court is not peaceful. Although there may be no problem with the Crown Prince’s succession, he has been ill recently, and everyone assumes that another prince will sit on the throne.”

"Who would have thought that the Crown Prince, who was rumored to be short-lived, is now in excellent health? Those who are secretly resentful are naturally not convinced."

Du Mingxian understood. It was like a peach; everyone assumed the patient couldn't eat it, but everyone else considered the peach their own.

But who knew that one day the patient would suddenly stand up and even reach out and grab the peach, trying to pick it off? Naturally, the other people who were eyeing the peach were not going to stand up for it.

This has wiped out all their years of planning, hard work, and expectations.

Who can be willing?

"Father, who did this in the workshop?"

Lord Wen shook his head, "It's hard to say, but there are definitely not many people who act so mysteriously and are so generous."

"Yes, that's why the Crown Prince ordered me to investigate this matter thoroughly."

"You're being asked to investigate?"

“Well, I used to work in the workshop, and now I live in a tenement. In every respect, I meet their requirements perfectly, so it’s the easiest for me to investigate.”

"I haven't qualified to go to the inner court yet. If I keep doing this until I have the opportunity to go to the inner court, I won't know what they are doing."

Lord Wen was somewhat worried. “It’s fine to investigate thoroughly, but you must protect yourself. Those people have rebellious intentions and are certainly not kind. If anything happens, run away as soon as possible. I’m afraid you’ll risk your life for investigating such a small matter.”

"Father, you must trust your daughter. I am capable too. Besides, even if I go in to work, I won't do anything rash. Don't worry, Father."

Lord Wen knew this, but as an elderly father, caring for his child was an instinct.

"Alright, it's good that you know. Just come and ask me if you need anything. By the way, you saw the strange thing about the old lady when she saw your mother, right?"

"Yes, I saw it. I wonder if Father asked Grandmother why after we returned home?"

Lord Wen nodded, "I asked, but... I couldn't get any information. My mother is hiding something from me."

“I don’t know what my mother’s family did before, but they got separated from her when they were fleeing famine, and my mother was later adopted and raised by others.”

"Since the old lady knows them, is it possible that they are my mother's biological parents?"

This is Du Mingxian's guess, but it is very likely. Since Madam Wen has already agreed to Lord Wen's request to take her mother as her goddaughter, it is impossible for her to show any unusual behavior because she dislikes her or has other issues.

Therefore, there is only one possibility: Madam Wen must have known her maternal grandfather or grandmother, which is the only way to make sense.

I just don't know where my maternal grandparents were from, because I've never heard of any famine in the capital.

Such famines usually occur in places far from the capital.

Because if there were any signs of famine near the capital, the imperial court would immediately send people to deal with it. Only in places far from the capital would the relief funds be distributed and then exploited at each level, leaving little in the end, so that the people would think of fleeing the famine to find their own way to survive.

The problem is that Madam Wen has been born in the capital, and when she leaves the capital, she can only go to the estates outside the capital or to temples.

I never go to places that are too far away.

The old lady never went anywhere else in her life, so how could she know her maternal grandfather or grandmother?

But if my maternal grandparents' family were from the capital, why would they have fled to other places to escape famine? This doesn't make sense.

No matter how you explain it, there's a problem.

Lord Wen agreed with Du Mingxian's statement, "Don't worry, since your grandmother has agreed, she will definitely do it. She's just acting a little strange now. Even if your grandmother knows your maternal grandfather and the others, it's still a good thing."

Du Mingxian didn't think so. If she really knew someone, she would definitely be happy. But her grandmother's strange behavior that day was clearly not happiness, nor was it the joy of seeing a familiar descendant.

This only proves that... the old lady is unhappy.

Maybe they're enemies?

That's going to be a bit difficult.

Under Du Mingxian's constant watchful eye, Lord Wen also guessed this possibility. Having served in the court for many years, he had long seen further than many others, and as a veteran official, he was naturally exceptionally intelligent.

Naturally, one would lean more towards one's enemies.

If... if they really are enemies, then wouldn't he be unable to recognize Du Mingxian as his daughter?

Throughout his life, it seems he never lived for himself. It was only when he was over fifty that he met this girl and found someone he could confide in.

But... he always felt like God was playing a joke on him.

Du Mingxian also thought of it.

The two men's faces grew increasingly grim, and they remained silent, sitting quietly without uttering a word.

Finally, the butler came in. "Master, all the people you asked us to summon have come. Shall we come in now?"