The cousin's family is extremely wealthy; she deserves to be a concubine.

She glanced cautiously at the elders of the Jiang family. "I was worried that bystanders might discover my cousin, so I called some people and quietly carried my cousin and that fat girl away."

Finally, she couldn't resist making another excuse, "My original intention was not to ruin the reputation of the Jiang family, nor did I ever intend to implicate His Highness the Second Prince."

I truly know I was wrong this time. I never imagined that the person who handed me the note had such malicious intentions, actually trying to implicate the Second Prince... Waaah..."

The Great White Lotus also pleaded for mercy from the side, crying with tears streaming down her face.

Master Jiang showed no mercy. Now that he knew what had happened, he immediately ordered the old woman to take the woman back and keep her under strict guard.

Pei San suddenly spoke up, "Wait a minute."

The group looked at Pei San, who then spoke, "And about the jade pendant, it was Miss Qin who gave it to me amidst the chaos."

I thought this might be a clue to catching the thief.

Master Jiang glanced at Pei San, then looked at Miss Qin. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "By the way, is that suspicious note still there?"

Miss Qin was almost at the door when she turned back to continue her reply, first addressing Master Jiang's question.

"I destroyed the note after reading it. I was afraid of giving someone something to use against me."

Pei San visibly breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, but Master Jiang frowned inwardly. Although he had already guessed the outcome, he was still inevitably disappointed.

Miss Qin was very good at reading people's expressions at this moment, and then said, "As for the jade pendant, I originally thought that no matter whether things succeeded or not, it would eventually make the old ancestor have a bad impression of Miss Rong."

Therefore, no tokens or similar items were prepared.

I found that jade pendant on my way to the flower hall. It had the character "Rong" engraved on it, so I figured it must belong to Miss Rong.

Mr. Jiang was taken aback. "Found it?"

Is there really such a coincidence in the world?

Miss Qin looked at Jiang Yilan, who had no choice but to bite the bullet and testify.

Mr. Jiang gave his niece a cold look, which frightened Jiang Yilan so much that she shrank back like a quail.

Miss Qin wasn't much better off. She tried her best to make amends, saying, "I think that jade pendant was probably deliberately left in front of me by someone from the Muqing Marquis's mansion who doesn't get along with Miss Rong."

Mr. Jiang said "Oh," signaling her to continue.

Miss Qin quickly explained, "I carefully observed the figures in that area and made a note of them. When we arrived at the flower hall, I noticed that the maidservant beside the seventh young lady of the Marquis's mansion was extremely suspicious."

Mr. Jiang nodded and noted it down. "Alright, you may all leave now."

After everyone left, he looked at Pei San and said, "I will find time to visit the Second Prince. As for the thing you were caught doing, you can confess to your master when you get back."

I won't interfere.

Once only a few members of the Jiang family remained in the room, he said to Madam Jiang, "I'll have to trouble you, sister-in-law, to teach Lan'er properly."

Madam Jiang, despite her advanced age, was quite embarrassed. She agreed to her brother-in-law's words and led Jiang Yilan away quickly.

Only Madam Jiang remained in the flower hall, and Master Jiang spoke more directly, "If Qinqin and her daughter find out things they shouldn't know, I will send them to a more remote estate to live on."

Madam Jiang trembled slightly. "It's just a guard's weakness, it can't be that serious, can it?"

"We've raised them for so many years, it wouldn't be right to just send them to the countryside like this."

Mr. Jiang's solemn expression made Mrs. Jiang dare not say anything more.

“This concerns the Second Prince, so it is no small matter.”

"Our eldest sister is gone. If we can't protect Han-ge'er now, how can we face him as his relative and protector?"

Thinking of her daughter who had died young, Madam Jiang fell silent.

The reason she doted on her cousin was simply because she thought of her deceased daughter and extended that affection to her daughter as well.

Mr. Jiang still had some patience for his mother. He explained, "Regarding today's events, I also tend to agree with what Rong'er said. Someone with ulterior motives is manipulating all of this in the dark."

They attempted to use various means to associate themselves with the Second Prince, hoping to hinder his path to advancement.

Madam Jiang had a question: "Could it be that harming Rong'er was also intentional?"

"Is the Muqing Marquis's residence really that important to our Han-ge'er?"

After a moment's thought, Master Jiang replied, "As long as the Second Prince comes to the manor today, this framing will surely succeed. As for whether it's Pei San or Rong Jie'er, I don't think it's intentional."

"The other side is in the dark, while we are in the light."

How can we be sure that the other side only has leverage over Pei San? "Who knows, whoever accompanied the Second Prince to the Jiang residence today, is in for trouble."

"As for Sister Rong, I think it's more of a coincidence."

Coincidentally, the thief knew that Qinqin was dissatisfied with Rongjie, so he took this opportunity to instigate her to commit the crime.

As for the jade pendant, I believe it's true the Marquis's mansion was stolen, but Rong'er's jade pendant was likely stolen by someone from the Marquis's mansion, simply trying to take advantage of the situation.

Without realizing it, Mr. Jiang thought of He Zhizhu, Hua Sirong's cousin.

"It is precisely because I saw Rong'er's isolation and helplessness today that I decided to betroth her to Ji'er."

Upon hearing this, Madam Jiang nodded, "It's perfectly reasonable for you to act as matchmaker for the two of them."

But Ji-ge'er still has his own parents. Aren't you overstepping your bounds by doing this? It won't be easy for Rong-jie'er to make a living under her mother-in-law after she marries into the family.”

Master Jiang was taken aback. "This... I really didn't think it through. I'll call Ji'er to his house right away and tell Sister-in-law Jiang."

Madam Jiang looked at her youngest son with affection, nodded, and said that if she needed to intervene, she should just let her know.

-----

Second Prince's Mansion

After the second prince's wedding, he left the palace to establish his own residence, but the emperor was stingy with titles, so the second prince remained the second prince.

After receiving guidance from Jiang Huaiji, the Second Prince hurriedly returned to his study in the mansion and summoned his trusted advisors to begin deciphering the secret of the rare book.

After working for most of the day, he couldn't stop smiling when he saw the finished product.

When Pei San returned with a letter from Master Jiang, the Second Prince Pei Enhan realized that he had left the guard behind at the Jiang residence in his excitement.

After quickly glancing at the letter sent by his uncle, Pei Enhan's smile vanished, and he looked at Pei San with a serious expression.

"What kind of leverage do you have that makes you so hesitant and timid?"

It's terrifying to think that a guard with weaknesses, who can be easily manipulated and threatened, is protecting his safety!

Moreover, the Emperor is unwell. Although the brothers appear to be on good terms, they are all secretly plotting to bring down the other.

Pei Enhan even unconsciously distanced himself from Pei San.

He was afraid that Pei San might be controlled by someone again, and that this might directly harm his master. Wouldn't he be like a lamb entering a tiger's den?

Pei San was already a master of martial arts, and Pei Enhan's actions were not concealed, which deeply hurt him.