The elder sister killed the whole family, and came back to be beaten to death

Chapter 358 Appearance

The last time the old lady fell ill, everyone rushed to her bedside, fearing that she wasn't taking good care of her. But not long after, everyone started avoiding her as much as possible.

The second wife had her imperial edict taken away and was punished, so she was unhappy and unwilling to serve the sick. The fourth wife felt that the old lady favored the second wife. In addition, the fourth wife had been separated from the palace, and there were several daughters-in-law in the palace, so it was not her turn to serve.

The princess would not get close to the old lady, and the old lady did not dare to order the princess around. The third wife saw that the situation was not good. The old lady fell ill and she caught a cold right after. She could not let her take care of the old lady while she was sick.

It is a pity that the old lady, who was once the center of attention, now has a lonely bedside.

Shen Tang would definitely not go. Normally, she would go to pay respects depending on her mood. The old lady fell ill, and she went while pregnant. She didn't want to get sick. More importantly, she was afraid of angering the old lady. Not going would be a filial piety.

There were some light snowflakes a few days ago, and the sky was clear for seven or eight days, and then it suddenly took a turn for the worse and snowed heavily.

Wake up all night.

The ground is covered in silver and is so beautiful that one cannot help but leave footprints.

Shen Tang, wrapped in a fox fur cloak, stood on the corridor, watching the falling snow. When she coughed in the cold wind, the maidservant became very nervous and said, "Prince's Concubine, please go back to the house and don't catch a cold."

Shen Tang returned to the house, took off his cloak, lit a charcoal stove, boiled tea on it, and boiled tea around the stove, which was quite interesting.

Shen Tang was leaning on a small couch reading a book, while Ginkgo Qiutong was sitting on a low stool knitting. Outside, Si'er came in through the cotton curtains and said, "Prince's Consort, your cousin's aunt and uncle have returned to the capital."

Jiang Ning Jiang Huaizhi is back from Qizhou?

Fortunately, we arrived in Beijing today. If the heavy snow continued for another day or two, the roads would be blocked. It would be so cold and freezing that we would be stuck in the post station and would be very anxious.

Shen Tang couldn't remember how long it had been since he last went to the Jiang family. It was cold and the roads were slippery so he couldn't go. When spring came, he felt heavier and couldn't stand the bumpy ride of the carriage. Shen Tang wondered if he had to give birth to the child before he could go.

But as long as my grandparents are doing well, it doesn't matter if I don't go to the Jiang family.

When the weather gets cold, Shen Tang doesn't even go out. Occasionally, he goes to the garden with Xie Guimo. In case he slips and falls, the consequences will be disastrous, so Shen Tang doesn't dare to take the risk.

But what Shen Tang didn't expect was that Jiang Ning came to see her at Jingyang Palace the next day.

When Si'er came in to report, Shen Tang was roasting oranges and eating them. Si'er said happily, "Princess, your cousin is here to see you."

Shen Tang was stunned for a moment, then realized that it was Jiang Ning, and quickly asked Ginkgo to go out to greet her.

Not long after, Jiang Ning came in, wearing a bright red cloak covered in snow. Shen Tang said, "Come over and warm up."

Jiang Ning sat down and warmed herself by the fire. Shen Tang said, "We just had a bumpy ride back to Beijing yesterday, and it's snowing so heavily. We should have rested up. Why are we here at Prince Jingyang's Mansion?"

Jiang Ning smiled and said, "I missed my cousin, so I came here."

Shen Tang laughed and said, "You weren't like this before. Could it be that you were led astray by Young Master Jiang?"

Jiang Ning blushed.

Her face was still as thin as before she got married. The oranges were baked. Shen Tang took one and handed it to Jiang Ning, "It's for cough prevention. Try it."

Jiang Ning took it and peeled it. Shen Tang asked, "How was the trip to Qizhou?"

Jiang Ning said, "I was very busy. I met countless people."

Qizhou is quite far from Kyoto. This was the first time Jiang Ning had traveled so far in her life. She had some difficulty acclimatizing to the climate in Qizhou. After a few days of recuperation, the Jiang family chose an auspicious day and held a wedding banquet. There were more than 200 tables at the banquet alone, and it was packed with people. Jiang Ning was really not used to it.

During the first half month at the Jiang family, she met people every day, but most of them were forgotten as soon as she met them. Later, life became much quieter. Everyone in the Jiang family treated her very well. The old man and the old lady of the Jiang family gave her many gifts and were reluctant to let them go to Beijing.

I was afraid that they would be delayed and it would snow on the way back to Beijing, so I didn't keep them for long. Fortunately, we hurried and were not stuck on the road due to the heavy snow.

Ginkgo asked, "Is Qizhou fun?"

Jiang Ning nodded, "The scenery is very nice."

Shen Tang smiled and said, "If I have a chance, I'll go and take a look."

Jiang Ning nodded repeatedly.

The cousins ​​gathered around the fire and chatted and laughed.

Finally, Jiang Ning said, "I came here today because I think I should tell my cousin something."

Shen Tang knew that Jiang Ning must have come for something, otherwise Young Master Jiang would not have asked her to come to Jingyang Palace in the snow.

Shen Tang asked, "What's the matter?"

Jiang Ning asked quietly, "My cousin's husband's grandfather, the Duke of Zhenguo, is he really dead?"

Shen Tang felt strange, "Why do you ask?"

Jiang Ning said, "It wasn't me going to Qizhou. Mother was worried, so she asked Madam Du to come with me to take care of me on the way. Later, when the Jiang family held a wedding, Madam Du also brought her maids to help. She told me that among the guests attending the Jiang family's wedding, there was a person who looked exactly like the Duke of Zhenguo. What's even more coincidental is that Madam Du asked around and found out that person's surname was also An..."

"So I suspect the Duke of Zhenguo didn't die, but lost his memory..."

Shen Tang's heart was shocked and he asked, "Mother Du, are you sure that man looks exactly like the Duke of Zhenguo?"

Jiang Ning nodded. "I used to suspect the same thing. Madam Du said that once, when the Duke of Zhenguo led his troops to war and returned to the capital in triumph, she and Madam Li from the mansion went to the city gate to join in the fun. She wouldn't be wrong. Although that man wasn't as majestic as the Duke of Zhenguo, he looked almost like a copy of him. I didn't dare tell the Jiang family about this, but after thinking it over, I still feel that I should come and tell you."

Shen Tang was in high spirits. She quickly looked at Yin Xing. Before she could speak, Yin Xing said, "I will go find the prince."

Soon, Xie Guimo came in and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shen Tang stood up and said, "There's a man in Qizhou who looks exactly like the Duke of Zhenguo, and his surname is also An..."

Xie Guimo was stunned. "Exactly the same?"

Jiang Ning pulled out a portrait from her bosom and said, "I was afraid that Mother Du might have made a mistake, so I asked Huaizhi to draw a portrait of that person..."

Jiang Ning had never seen the Duke of Zhenguo. She was only a few years old when he died. Even if she had seen him, she would have no impression of him.

But the Duke of Zhenguo was Xie Guimo's maternal grandfather. When he died, Xie Guimo was already six or seven years old. He only took a glance and was sure that the person in the portrait was exactly the same as his maternal grandfather.

They have the same appearance and the same surname An, so it is very likely that they are from the side branch of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion.

Xie Guimo said, "I'll tell my father and I'll send someone to Qizhou to investigate."

He took the portrait and turned away.

Jiang Ning looked at Shen Tang blankly.

Shen Tang said, "The old master of the Zhenguo Mansion originally had brothers, but they were separated from their family when they fled due to a natural disaster. For so many years, the Zhenguo Mansion has been looking for other branches."

"If he is really the cousin of the Duke of Zhenguo, you and the Jiang family will have done a great service."

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion had no clan, and even if they had the title, they couldn't find anyone to inherit it. Jiang Ning knew this, but she didn't know that the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion originally had a branch.

She thought the Duke of Zhenguo was not dead...

Shen Tang had never thought of this possibility. The Duke of Zhenguo died on the battlefield, and the prince personally collected the body and sent the coffin back to the capital. The emperor even went to pay his respects in person. It was impossible for him to have faked his death.

I hope it is really a branch of the Zhenguo Duke Mansion and it is not just a false alarm.