northernbook Chapter 198 Mother-in-law
Chapter 198 Mother-in-law
Nianyao thought of how Liang Qingqing looked when she had her illness before, and then looked at Su Wuming's harmless face: "What does this have to do with me?"
Su Wuming said, "Brother-in-law asked you and Brother Yunting to come to Jingzhao Manor. Now that you're here, do you want to stay out of it?"
Nianyao's eyes widened slightly: "What do you mean?"
Su Wuming guessed it immediately: "So it really was your brother-in-law who sent you? Brother Yunting trusts you a lot, and thought you were genuinely thinking of him."
Nianyao said, "Luo An is my husband. What's wrong with me thinking of him?"
Su Wuming nodded: "That's right. We were worried that my brother-in-law would stay out of it. Now that he's willing to get involved, we couldn't be happier."
Nianyao couldn't understand Su Wuming's thoughts: "Why are you all so concerned about him? Just because he's the late emperor's son? How could he possibly seize the throne of Dongyang?"
Su Wuming said, "He doesn't need to seize it; the throne of Dongyang was originally his."
Nianyao said, "Are you taking advantage of my lack of common sense? There's a difference between legitimate and illegitimate children, and between elders and juniors..."
Su Wuming said, "The current Lord Dongyang is also born out of wedlock, and is the old master's younger brother from the same mother. However, he has recognized Empress Dongyang as his mother since childhood."
Nianyao glared at Su Wuming, who said, "You don't need to doubt me, I won't lie to you."
Nianyao looked away and thought for a while: "That's hard to say. Even Yunting might lie to me."
Su Wuming said, "Sister, that's not called exploitation, it's called a temporary measure. Yun Ting never actually harmed you, did he?"
Nianyao said, "But he has to have the ability."
Su Wuming laughed heartily: "Sister, given Brother Yunting's style, there's nothing he can't do if he wants to. Prince Rui wanted him to take Kunzhou, and he didn't shed a single soldier. This ability is something most people don't have."
Nianyao recalled Duan Mingzhu's imposing manner when she smashed the bracelet: "Without firing a single shot? Lord Su, there is never anything in this world that comes for free."
“Sister is right, there are gains and losses. Regardless of gains or losses, it was Yunting’s own choice.” Su Wuming then changed the subject: “Sister, if Ninth Brother takes the position of gang leader, what do you plan to do?”
Nianyao honestly said, "Luo An didn't say anything. He only told me to come to Jingzhao Manor with Yunting."
Su Wuming smiled: "Sister, your husband sent you to Jingzhao Manor, so he must know that Jingzhao Manor has a connection with the late emperor. If there are any relics of the late emperor inside, wouldn't you like to bring them to your husband?"
Nianyao recalled Luo An's behavior when he took her back to Heaven and Earth, realizing that Luo An cared deeply for his mother. Could it be that Luo An sent him to Jingzhao Manor just to retrieve her mother's belongings?
Before Nianyao could figure it out, she saw servants rushing around searching: "The master is missing! The master is missing..."
When Su Wuming and Nianyao arrived at the West Tower, they saw the First Madam standing distraught in her bedroom. Upon seeing Su Wuming, she immediately rushed over: "You devil..."
The maids and servants around her rushed to stop her. The First Madam pointed at Su Wuming, her finger trembling uncontrollably: "You're just like your father, both bloodsucking demons. The Jing family has already gone bankrupt once because of you, and you still won't leave the Jing family alone..."
Jingrong rushed in from outside and hugged the First Madam tightly: "Mother, don't get agitated, don't get agitated, we've already sent people to look for her..."
Su Wuming coldly said, "Madam, how did Jingzhao Manor become the number one manor in the world? Don't you know how the late emperor and the sovereign have treated you all these years?"
Jing Rong said, "Lord Su, my mother was angry and spoke without thinking. Please be magnanimous and don't take it to heart. I have already sent people to search, and I guarantee that no place will be missed. Please sit here, and I will report to you immediately if there is any news."
Su Wuming smiled and said, "Let's not sit here. We'll go look for it too."
Su Wuming turned and left the west building. Nianyao glanced at Jingrong and the First Madam as they followed. She followed Su Wuming all the way to the edge of Zhenze Lake, where a small island could be seen from the shore.
Nianyao saw Su Wuming staring at the small island: "You suspect that Master Jing went there?"
Su Wuming shook his head: "He's dead."
Nianyao was almost startled: "You killed him?"
Su Wuming turned around, frowning slightly: "Sister, I've been following you the whole time. How could I have had the time to kill him? Besides, I don't know kung fu. How could I possibly kill him..."
Nianyao wanted to refute, but didn't know where to begin, her mouth slightly open as she glared at Su Wuming.
Su Wuming concluded definitively: "The First Madam and Jing Rong killed him."
Nianyao asked, "How did you know?"
Su Wuming said, "Master Jing has taken so many concubines, but only about twenty of his children have survived. Among his sons, only the three sons born to the first wife and Ninth Brother survived. Ninth Brother survived because he was not at the manor for many years. Sister, have you ever thought about why?"
"You mean, the First Madam killed them?" Nianyao thought for a moment, "That doesn't make sense. Even if they killed Master Jing, how come they couldn't even find his body?"
Su Wuming said, "Probably..."
Before Su Wuming could finish his sentence, someone screamed, "Fire! Fire!"
The two turned around simultaneously and saw thick smoke billowing and flames flashing. Judging from the direction and location, it should be the Xuanyuan Palace.
The fire raged fiercely. Su Wuming and Nianyao stood on the outer perimeter, watching Jing Rong lead people to put out the fire. Nianyao looked around; despite the commotion at Jingzhao Manor, Qin Jiu and Xue Yunting were nowhere to be seen.
Nianyao was a little worried: "Lord Su..."
Su Wuming said, "Sister, you can just call me Wuming."
Nianyao sighed, "Heaven has been kind to me. Fearing that I would be lonely after my father passed away, it gave me so many brothers."
Su Wuming smiled and replied, "Of course. My sister has spent half her life in solitude, so she deserves half a life of liveliness."
Nianyao remained silent, turning to look at the fire, which showed no signs of abating. Just as she was feeling puzzled, Su Wuming tugged at her sleeve and whispered, "Let's go."
Nianyao followed Su Wuming to the west building, which was deserted. Su Wuming produced a small stick from somewhere and started tapping and banging on every wall and floor surface.
Nianyao asked, "What's wrong?"
Su Wuming said, "We have people at Jingzhao Manor. The manor lord clearly never left the West Building, yet he vanished into thin air. I suspect there's an underground passage in the West Building leading to Xuanyuan Palace."
Nianyao exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't you say that Xuanyuan Palace was the residence of the late emperor?"
Su Wuming emphasized, "I only have suspicions; isn't it because we haven't found any evidence yet?"
Nianyao thought of the joint burial tomb in heaven and earth and suddenly felt a surge of anger: "If that's how she is, then why does Luo An's father still care about her?"
Su Wuming waved the small stick in his hand: "If Your Majesty is a man, you can have three palaces and six courtyards. If Your Majesty is a woman, you can still have them."
Nianyao said, "If she can have them, then she can have them openly. What's so special about that? The emperor's husband, male concubines, and your father... and now she even has a secret lover... She really is a romantic empress, so carefree."
Su Wuming's expression changed slightly: "Sister, the late emperor was your mother-in-law."
Nianyao asked, "Has Luo An acknowledged her?"