Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 173 Canglan Ferry (43)

Madam Zhang was an extremely intelligent woman. Upon hearing what Granny Lu said, she knew that Old Madam Lu had come down the mountain specifically to testify for Jiang Li and her daughter and to quell the rumors.

She was deeply grateful, but put on an act, saying, "I see."

As she spoke, she covered her face and wept.

Madam Lu asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Madam Zhang burst into tears: "Last night, Lan'er and Miss Jiang stayed overnight at Chongyang Temple. It was nothing serious, but Yan from the Duke of Dingguo's mansion made a big fuss about it, spreading rumors all over the capital that my Lan'er and Miss Jiang were kidnapped by bandits on their way to Qingshan Temple, intending to ruin them..."

Madam Lu's face darkened: "No wonder she was so aggressive just now, demanding that a living woman commit suicide in front of everyone as an apology. Yan, you are also a woman, how could you be so vicious!"

Yan Jinhe was stunned the moment she came out of the old lady of the Pingxi Marquis's house; her mind was in complete chaos.

She never expected that Old Madam Lu, who had been practicing asceticism at Chongyang Temple for three years without descending the mountain, would personally return to the capital to clear Jiang Li's name.

Madam Lu was not only the mother of the Marquis of Pingxi, but also a first-rank imperial consort personally bestowed by the Emperor. She did many good deeds and held an extremely high position in the hearts of the people.

She personally testified for Jiang Li, proving that she had not been kidnapped by bandits but was staying at Chongyang Temple, so no one would question or refute her.

Jiang Li has now secured a powerful backer that even Grand Tutor Yan cannot shake.

Faced with Madam Lu's accusations, Yan Jinhe's face slowly turned pale.

She couldn't understand how Jiang Li could be so lucky, always managing to escape danger and survive against all odds.

Is she here to bring misfortune upon herself?

Hearing this sudden reversal, the people present believed Madam Lu's words without a doubt and immediately turned their attention to Yan Jinhe.

"What deep-seated grudge could lead someone to use such despicable means to ruin another's reputation?"

"I'm afraid it's because the wives and concubines are vying for the man's favor. Yan couldn't win, so she wanted to destroy the women."

"How despicable and shameless! The wife of the Grand Secretary must not be let off easily!"

"Yes, send her to see the authorities!"

Amidst the fervent anger of the crowd, Yan Jinhe panicked and vehemently denied it: "I didn't spread rumors! It wasn't me. I only heard rumors and mistakenly thought that Sister Jiang had been defiled by bandits. I was worried that it would affect the reputation of the Duke's Mansion, so..."

"Yan, have you no shame?!" Madam Zhang interrupted her. "You clearly admitted it at Jinxiu Garden just now, but now you're denying it?"

Yan Jinhe seemed to have found a new direction for his defense, and straightened his back and said, "When did I ever admit it? Mrs. Zhang, I understand that you love your daughter, but you can't throw all the mud at me."

"You..." Madam Zhang was utterly stunned by her shamelessness. "You're determined to deny it to the death, aren't you? Those people who spread rumors are still being held in custody at my residence. Let's go see the officials together. I will definitely seek justice for my Lan'er today!"

As she spoke, she reached out and grabbed Yan Jinhe, intending to drag her to see the officials.

Yan Jinhe's heart tightened as she felt her sleeve being grabbed, and she quickly backed away, saying, "Let go of me! If you dare to touch me today, my father will not let you off..."

As the two were struggling, someone shouted, "The prince is back!"

Madam Zhang paused, and Yan Jinhe stopped struggling.

The onlookers spontaneously made way for Pei Ji, who was dressed in official robes, riding a horse followed by a troop of soldiers.

Upon arriving at the Duke's mansion, Pei Ji dismounted and first bowed to the eldest lady of the Pingxi Earl, who was the most senior among them. Then, he glanced at everyone and exchanged a knowing look with Yan Zhen.

Finally, he walked up to Yan Jinhe.

Yan Jinhe instinctively had a bad feeling. She took a step back and looked at Pei Ji warily.

Now, all she has left for her once loving husband is a deep sense of doubt.

Pei Ji met her wary gaze, sighed cryptically, and then waved his hand: "Take her down."

Several officers rushed forward and captured Yan Jinhe in front of everyone.

Yan Jinhe was stunned and struggled violently: "What are you doing? Pei Wangzhou, what are you doing?"

Pei Ji said, "Grand Tutor Yan used a dyeing shop in the suburbs of the capital as a cover to abduct and imprison young girls to bribe officials in the court, form cliques for personal gain, and is suspected of treason—the Yan family has already been raided, Yan Jinhe, you are the last one."

These words immediately caused an uproar among the people.

"Treason? The Yan family has audacity!"

"This is a capital offense."

"She deserved it!"

Amidst the commotion, Yan Jinhe felt as if she had been kicked in the chest; her face turned deathly pale, and she trembled all over.

Only one thought remained in her mind.

How did this get discovered?

A terrifying thought flashed through her mind, sending a chill down her spine—

As if to verify her thoughts, Yan Zhen stepped forward, his back to the crowd, and looked at her with a half-smile, saying in a low voice, "Speaking of which, the fact that the young master discovered the Yan family's treason is all thanks to you, Yan Jinhe. If you hadn't sent people to intercept and kill me and Lan'er, the young master wouldn't have gone up the mountain overnight to search, stumbled upon Fuming Mountain, witnessed the dirty deals in the manor, and thus implicated your father and brothers..."

Yan Jinhe's blood was boiling; her eyes were bloodshot as she stared intently at Yan Zhen.

"Impossible! This is impossible..."

"The young master reported to the court in time, which is why the Duke's mansion was not implicated. Yan Jinhe, you really know how to ruin your father."

Yan Jinhe raised her head and met Yan Zhen's provocative and mocking gaze. Anger surged in her chest, and she lunged forward like a madwoman.

She's going to kill that bitch!!!

The officers and soldiers immediately pinned her to the ground.

Pei Ji waved his hand and said in a deep voice, "Take him away and lock him up in the Dali Temple prison."

Yan Jinhe was shackled and dragged away. As she left, she turned back with a face full of resentment, her voice hoarse and desperate.

"Jiang Li, I'm going to kill you! You wait, I'll definitely kill you!!!"

After the farce ended, Madam Zhang took Zhang Shulan away. Upon receiving the news, the Pingxi Marquis's Mansion also rushed over and invited Old Madam Lu back.

Before long, most of the people at the entrance of the Duke's mansion had left.

Madam Feng was a woman of good character. When Yan Zhen returned safely and the unpopular girl from Jinxiu Garden was arrested again, she immediately and cheerfully had a brazier prepared and placed at the entrance so that Yan Zhen could step over it to ward off bad luck when she entered.

Yan Zhen accepted her kindness with a smile and, with Pei Ji's help, stepped over the brazier.

Just as I entered the gate, I heard footsteps behind me.

Yan Zhen and Pei Ji turned around and saw that Pei Yuanhong, who had finished his shift, had returned.

"father."

"father."

Pei Yuanhong's expression was not good. He nodded perfunctorily in response and then hurriedly went back to the courtyard.

Yan Zhen sensed something amiss from his reaction. After entering the bamboo garden with Pei Ji, she dismissed the servants and asked in a low voice, "Was Pei Yuanhong involved in the things the Yan family did?"