Chapter 103: Grandfather and Grandson

"How could there be 'Tuoluo' in this ancient fragrant silk?"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around exchanged bewildered glances.

Ye Jia'er asked, "Lord Tang, what is Tuoluo?"

"Tuoluo is a plant from the Western Regions," Jiang Li replied before Tang Fan could speak. "It grows in the marshes and has a fragrant scent, but its petals are poisonous. Some have been known to grind these petals into powder to create a toxin, which is then infused into food or clothing. It remains undetected, and over time, the victim succumbs to the poison."

Tang Fan looked at Jiang Li in astonishment. After a long pause, he asked, "How is it that you, Second Miss, know this so clearly?"

"I read about it in a book on Western Region oddities in my father’s study; I simply happened to recall the record," Jiang Li smiled.

As the Chief Grand Secretary of the current dynasty, Jiang Yuanbo possessed a vast collection of books, so it was reasonable for him to have such a rare text. Tang Fan remarked, "I see. You are truly well-read and possess a remarkable memory, Second Miss."

Ye Rufeng and Ye Jia'er exchanged a glance; Jiang Li was younger than them both, yet she seemed to understand far more.

"Does Lord Tang mean to say that the ancient fragrant silk inside these crates all contains Tuoluo?" Ye Mingyu asked.

"Indeed," Tang Fan replied. "There is no doubt it is Tuoluo."

"Tuoluo petals are fragrant, and ancient fragrant silk has its own natural scent. Mixing the ground powder into the silk makes it difficult to detect. Looking at it this way, the reason the silk caused rashes and even death is entirely due to the Tuoluo flowers," Jiang Li noted.

"Second Miss is correct," Tang Fan said, looking at Ye Jia'er. "How could the Ye family's ancient fragrant silk contain Tuoluo?"

Ye Jia'er shook her head. "My lord, this is absolutely impossible. Why would the Ye family ruin our own reputation for no reason? Our silk has been fine for years; for this to happen suddenly, there must be a reason, but it certainly was not done by us."

Tang Fan stared at her. "Perhaps the Ye family accidentally mixed it in during the weaving process?"

"This..." Ye Jia'er hesitated for a moment, then shook her head firmly. "My lord, the Ye family's weaving workshops are inspected piece by piece by my father and uncle personally. It is impossible for there to be an issue. If it were an internal problem, it would have been discovered before the fabric ever left the workshop. It could not have been released."

Just as Tang Fan was about to speak again, Jiang Li interrupted, "Lord Tang."

Even as daring as he was, Tang Fan dared not disregard the words of the Chief Grand Secretary's daughter, so he assumed an attentive posture.

Jiang Li continued, "As far as I know, Tuoluo flowers grow in the marshes in the southern part of the Western Regions. The Western Regions are far too distant from Xiangyang. Moreover, Xiangyang is not like Yanjing, which sees a constant flow of travelers. The weavers in the Ye family workshop rarely leave Xiangyang, so they would not have access to Tuoluo. The same applies to everyone else in Xiangyang. Perhaps you should investigate the merchants entering and leaving Xiangyang annually to see if any came from the Western Regions. If so, the Tuoluo most likely originated from them. Whether it was a deliberate attempt to target the Ye family or an accidental mix-up, such an exotic and dangerous plant is not something commonly encountered."

Hearing this, Ye Mingyu added, "That's right. This confounded Tuoluo flower must be a rare thing. I have traveled far and wide for years and this is the first time I've heard of it. Ah Li, this stuff isn't cheap, is it?"

"A lower-grade Tuoluo flower costs a hundred taels of silver, while a better one can cost a thousand. The more vibrant the color and the stronger the scent, the more poisonous and expensive it is. Since the problematic silk was lethal, it must have been worth at least a thousand taels," Jiang Li said, looking at Tang Fan. "Lord Tang, forgive my forwardness, but a piece of high-quality ancient fragrant silk only costs five hundred taels. It is hard to believe that someone would 'accidentally' mix a thousand-tael Tuoluo flower into a hundred-tael piece of silk. I don't think it is unreasonable to suspect that someone is deliberately framing the Ye family and orchestrating this conspiracy."

She spoke with a graceful smile, yet her words carried significant weight. As Tang Fan listened, his brow furrowed, and his heart grew heavy. What Jiang Li suggested was indeed possible, but if this were truly a conspiracy, the implications were massive. Competition among merchants was common, and underhanded tactics were not unheard of. But the Ye family was supported by the Chief Grand Secretary of Northern Yan, and their shops spanned the entire country. Anyone daring to target them must be bold, and this likely involved powerful figures. On the other hand, the Jiang family was backing the Ye family; this matter could not be left unresolved. Especially with the Second Miss of the Jiang family—she appeared gentle and pleasant, but her mind was sharp. It was impossible to fool her; she had clearly seen through this long ago and was simply waiting for someone to act as a pawn to resolve it.

Realizing he had been drawn into an incredible mess, Tang Fan felt quite stifled. After much thought, he decided he could not simply protect his own interests. Since he had to offend someone regardless, he might as well grant the Second Miss of the Jiang family a favor. After all, the Jiang family’s position in court had been stable for years, and Jiang Yuanbo was a man of good standing. If he helped the Ye family now, Jiang Yuanbo would owe him a favor and speak well of him in the future.

With this in mind, Tang Fan immediately said, "Second Miss is right; this matter is indeed of great importance. Although investigating cases is not the primary duty of the Weaving Office, the official who sent us to Xiangyang did so to thoroughly investigate this matter. The Ye family is the premier weaver of Northern Yan. We will consult with Prefect Tong and, starting tomorrow, conduct a thorough investigation into all merchants traveling between Xiangyang and the Western Regions."

"Will Prefect Tong agree?" Jiang Li asked, her brow slightly furrowed in a display of concern.

"Please do not worry, Second Miss," Tang Fan replied. "This matter concerns the people of Xiangyang, and the presence of Tuoluo is a danger; Prefect Tong will certainly agree." After all, Tong Zhiyang was merely a prefect, while he himself was from Yanjing. Tong Zhiyang was used to being a local tyrant and didn't know how formidable the Second Miss was, but Tang Fan knew well—when the Jiang family was at its peak, half the court were disciples of Jiang Yuanbo. Even if they were more cautious now, they were not to be trifled with.

"Then I shall trouble you, Lord Tang," Jiang Li smiled. "I will write a letter to my father to tell him that everything is going smoothly."

Upon hearing this, Tang Fan felt a surge of energy. His previous hesitation about being dragged into trouble vanished. Jiang Li’s words were practically a guarantee that she would speak well of him to Jiang Yuanbo. Perhaps his path to promotion would be much smoother soon.

It was worth it.

Seeing the flicker of joy in Tang Fan’s eyes, Jiang Li inwardly scoffed. Officials in Yanjing were all accustomed to relying on nepotism to climb the ladder, and the subordinates of the Weaving Office were no exception. Having power certainly made things much more convenient, and she was fortunate that her current identity allowed her to use that power with ease.

Tang Fan and his party left with the problematic silk; as evidence, a portion of it would be taken back to Yanjing. The next step was to investigate where the Tuoluo in Xiangyang came from. Jiang Li was not overly worried about failing to find the culprit. The Ye family had no reason to destroy themselves, and their name would be cleared sooner or later. With Tang Fan now leaning toward her side and the fact that she held leverage over Tong Zhiyang’s concubine, there was little to fear. However, the Ye family's reputation had already been severely damaged. Even if they were exonerated, it would be difficult for them to return to their former glory.

Once bitten, twice shy—the common people would likely avoid the ancient fragrant silk in the future.

Returning to the Ye residence with the family, after Lady Guan and Lady Zhuo heard the entire process, they were both astonished. No one had expected a Tuoluo flower to suddenly appear.

"Who would want to harm our family?" Lady Zhuo asked, puzzled. "The Ye family has always been kind to others, even setting up porridge stalls during disasters. We have never made enemies; who would use such a vicious method to destroy our reputation?"

"Perhaps other silk merchants," Lady Guan suggested. "The ancient fragrant silk business has dominated the market, which inevitably breeds envy."

"If it were just envy, they wouldn't have chosen this time," Jiang Li said. "The Ye family’s business was even more prosperous two years ago. They have put other businesses aside to focus on weaving. If someone wanted to target the Ye family, they would have started two years ago. But they chose the moment right after Cousin Ye entered government service..."

At these words, everyone was shocked. Ye Mingyu looked at Jiang Li and asked, "Ah Li, do you mean someone wants to harm Shijie?"

Ye Shijie was the only man in the Ye family to enter government service and was the family's future hope. With his future at stake, everyone became serious.

"It's not necessarily about harming Cousin Ye," Jiang Li explained patiently. "Cousin Ye has just entered service and is favored by the Emperor. His position is very important. Perhaps someone wants to win him over, or perhaps they want to suppress him. If Cousin Ye were alone, it would be difficult to influence his thinking, but the Ye family is different. If someone wants to use Cousin Ye, targeting the Ye family is the safest and most effective way."

After much thought, she decided to tell the Ye family. Being in the light while the enemy was in the dark was not good for them. It was better to lay it out so they could be on guard.

Ye Mingyu slammed the table. "What kind of nonsense is this? This was done deliberately just to use our family to constrain Shijie?"

"Uncle Mingyu, this is just my speculation," Jiang Li shook her head. "I don't know the specifics. Since we are currently in Xiangyang, there is no need to worry. Since the person behind this wanted to frame the Ye family and the trap failed, they will naturally reveal their flaws. If we follow the clues, we will eventually see the truth."

"Cousin, does my brother know about this?" Ye Jia'er asked.

"He does," Jiang Li said. "In my letter, besides asking him to write to the Weaving Office, I also shared my thoughts. But since Cousin Shijie is currently in Xiangyang, even if someone wants to act, they wouldn't dare to do so openly out of respect for my father. Cousin Shijie is very clever; he will weigh everything carefully."

"Thank you," Ye Rufeng said stiffly, adding, "But you used the name of the Chief Grand Secretary. Will there be no trouble if he finds out?" He refused to call Jiang Yuanbo 'uncle,' using the formal title instead. His feelings were complex; he hated Jiang Yuanbo, but he had to admit that if not for the weight of that name, things would not have been so simple. Tong Zhiyang would not have had any reservations, and Tang Fan would not have been so diligent.

"Don't worry," Jiang Li smiled. "He is, after all, my father. Since he holds such a high office, would it not be a waste not to use his name?"

Besides, this was just a rehearsal. After this, the Jiang family and Prince Cheng would eventually clash. She was merely accelerating the arrival of that day.

...

The arrival of the officials from the Weaving Office brought some relief to the Ye family. The discovery of the Tuoluo flower provided a clear direction for the case.

Three days later, Ye Mingxuan and Ye Mingyu were released.

Tang Fan’s men thoroughly searched the entire Ye weaving workshop but found no traces of Tuoluo. The weavers were all questioned, and there were no suspicious findings. It was unknown how Tang Fan negotiated with Tong Zhiyang, but Ye Mingxuan and Ye Mingyu were allowed to return to the Ye residence.

With the backbone of the family back, the Ye family was overjoyed. Knowing this was the result of Jiang Li’s maneuvering, even the cautious Ye Minghui finally opened his heart to her.

Ye Minghui sighed, "Ah Li, this time, the Ye family is indebted to you. I had many reservations about you, but now it seems I was judging a noble heart with a petty mind. Forgive me." He bowed deeply to Jiang Li as an apology.

Jiang Li quickly stepped aside, indicating she could not accept such a gesture, and smiled, "Uncle Minghui, you frighten me! We are family. If my mother were still alive, she would not have stood by and watched the Ye family suffer. I was young and influenced by others, which hurt the hearts of Grandmother and my uncles. Thinking back, I am deeply ashamed. That you are willing to give me a chance to make amends is something I am already grateful for."

She did not claim credit, subtly mentioned Ye Zhenzhen, and offered a veiled explanation for the past. After these words, the Ye family could no longer harbor any estrangement.

Ye Mingxuan said, "The past cannot be blamed on you. You were young and ignorant, but we were adults who lived so many years only to be swayed by villains. To think we let you struggle in the Jiang family alone, and were treated by that woman..." He stopped abruptly, fearing he had touched a painful memory. The Ye family had simple thoughts; seeing Jiang Li’s gentle and lovely demeanor, they could not believe she was capable of killing her mother or brother. It must have been a frame-up by Ji Shuran.

"Cough, cough," Ye Mingyu waved his hand, wanting to change the subject to avoid hurting Jiang Li. "Anyway, it's a good thing that Eldest and Second Brother have returned safely. We should celebrate. By the way, now that you are back, when will you arrange for Ah Li to see Grandmother? We have delayed it for so long; is there no proper work to be done?"

"That's right," Ye Jia'er remembered, "Cousin should go see Grandmother."

Before Ye Mingyu and Ye Mingxuan were taken away, Jiang Li should have visited the Old Matriarch. But because of Tong Zhiyang’s actions, they were afraid of letting the Old Matriarch discover the crisis, so they had delayed the meeting. Jiang Li had been back in Xiangyang for nearly a month without seeing the Old Matriarch. At first, it was the Ye family’s deliberate obstruction, and later, it was due to circumstances, but now they felt truly guilty toward her.

Jiang Li hesitated, "Is Grandmother’s health up to it?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a kind voice came from behind the hall. "Who says I cannot handle it? My dear granddaughter, let Grandmother see you."

Everyone turned in surprise. Jiang Li looked back and saw the hall curtain lifted. Two maids were supporting a white-haired old woman as she walked toward them.

"Grandmother!" Ye Rufeng called out, "Why are you out?"

Jiang Li froze. This was the Old Matriarch of the Ye family.

Compared to the strict and vigorous Jiang Old Matriarch, the Ye Old Matriarch appeared much kinder and far more aged. Her hair was like snow, and she wore a moss-green gemstone headband. She stood a few steps away from Jiang Li, looking at her with a smile, and called out, "Nannan."

Jiang Li noticed the tears in her eyes and the trembling of her hands.

Subconsciously, Jiang Li replied, calling out "Grandmother," and walked toward her.

When the Old Matriarch saw Jiang Li, her gaze grew distant for a moment. She reached out with wrinkled hands to grasp Jiang Li’s, staring at her as if she wanted to see every detail clearly. She said, "To be able to see Ah Li again in my lifetime—I am truly overjoyed..."

Compared to Ye Minghui’s caution and Ye Mingxuan’s reserve, the Old Matriarch, like Ye Mingyu, seemed to have no estrangement at all, and was even more enthusiastic. Jiang Li believed that in this moment, the Old Matriarch was truly happy to see her long-lost granddaughter.

"Grandmother, do you not blame me for my past mistakes?" Jiang Li asked softly.

The Old Matriarch laughed until tears fell. "How could I? You are our Ye family's granddaughter."

*You are our Ye family's granddaughter.*

At that moment, a swelling, bittersweet feeling surged in Jiang Li’s heart. She could barely hold back her tears, followed by a sense of satisfaction from the bottom of her heart. She didn't know if this was due to the blood connection between the real Jiang Li and the Old Matriarch, but in this moment, she saw pure, unmasked affection in the old woman’s eyes.

Jiang Li was not unloved. Besides her late mother, Ye Zhenzhen, there was still a relative in the world who cared for her. She was not truly alone.

"Mother, why are you up?" Ye Mingxuan stepped forward, looked at Jiang Li, then at the Old Matriarch, and hesitated. "How did you know Ah Li was here..."

The Old Matriarch was happy to see Jiang Li, but not surprised, as if she had expected this.

The Old Matriarch glanced at him. "I knew long ago. From the very first day Ah Li arrived at the Ye family."

Everyone was stunned.

The maid beside the Old Matriarch spoke softly, "When the cousin first returned to Xiangyang, the Old Matriarch knew. Fearing it would disturb the cousin, she told us not to tell anyone that the Second Miss had returned. We thought we would see the cousin in a few days, but then the ancient fragrant silk incident happened."

This was unexpected.

But thinking about it, it made sense. The Old Matriarch had managed the family business alongside the Old Master in her youth; she wouldn't be truly ignorant just because she was old. If there was any movement in the Ye family, she would naturally be the first to know. She had simply held back to avoid distressing Jiang Li, waiting for her to be ready to meet, never expecting Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan to be taken away.

"I intended to ask friends to help save the eldest and second son, but Ah Li stepped forward herself," the Old Matriarch patted Jiang Li’s hand. "I didn't expect Ah Li to be so capable. You are even more capable and clever than your mother. If your mother’s spirit in heaven knows you are so sharp now, she would be greatly comforted."

Jiang Li nodded. She hadn't expected that her every move since arriving at the Ye house had been observed by the Old Matriarch.

Ye Mingyu scratched his head. "Mother, we were trying to figure out how Ah Li should meet you, but you knew everything and kept it from us, causing us so much stress!"

"If I hadn't played deaf and dumb, how would I have seen how useless you all were?" the Old Matriarch sighed. "I told you long ago that a tall tree catches the wind. Since the Ye family is so prosperous, it will attract trouble, and you must be on guard. Who would have thought you’d still let someone find a loophole?"

Jiang Li comforted her, "Grandmother, this time it truly isn't Uncle Mingyu and Uncle Mingxuan’s fault; they have done very well. It is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. This matter is not simple. This event can be seen as a warning for us; now that we have learned our lesson, we will know how to handle things in the future."

The Old Matriarch looked at Jiang Li, half-comforted and half-pained. "Nannan, that you could think of this at your age shows that your life in the Jiang family must have been very difficult. It is our Ye family that let you down. If I had been firmer back then and taken you back to Xiangyang, you wouldn't have suffered so many grievances."

Jiang Li’s intelligence was evident to all, but the fact that she had been spoiled and willful in the past was also common knowledge. To change from a spoiled young lady to someone with such strategy and skill must have been forced by life. Jiang Li had a stepmother and stepsister, and now Jiang Biji; her life could not have been easy. Intelligence always came at a price.

Jiang Li held the Old Matriarch’s hand and smiled. "I didn't suffer, and my life in the Jiang family has been quite good."

The Old Matriarch just held her hand, wanting to say more but stopping. Finally, she said, "No matter what, it's good that you're back."

She was sincerely happy for Jiang Li's return. In her eyes, Jiang Li was just a temperamental child; she had never truly been angry with her. No matter when Jiang Li returned, she would welcome her with a smile, just as she did now.

This was family.

Jiang Li’s eyes grew moist, whether from being moved by the Old Matriarch’s tolerance or from thinking of herself. If Xue Huaiyuan were still alive, would he have forgiven Xue Fangfei for her mistake in judgment? Unfortunately, Xue Fangfei’s family—those who could forgive her in this world—were all gone. She could not find a reason to forgive herself; she could only walk on alone, punishing her enemies and punishing herself.

"Mmh," Jiang Li brushed away the hint of tears in her eyes and instantly wore a gentle smile again. "I'm back."

...

The reconciliation of the Ye family after many years of estrangement could not be hidden from the neighbors.

In the black-and-white mansion near the Ye house, guards crouched on the eaves, watching the servants in the garden digging the soil and planting flower seedlings.

Duke Su, Ji Heng, loved exotic flowers. Even in Xiangyang, even in a temporary residence, his servants dared not be negligent. Xiangyang was not as well-supplied as Yanjing, so the servants went out early and returned late, searching everywhere for unique flowers to plant in the courtyard.

Indeed, the guards, having seen so many flowers in the Duke’s mansion, had felt something was missing in this empty courtyard. Now, with the plants in, it felt much more pleasing, as if a weight had been lifted from their chests.

"The Old Matriarch and the Second Miss have met," Ji said. "Nothing unusual happened."

Nothing unusual meant everything went smoothly.

Beside Ji Heng, Lu Ji asked, "Did they get along?"

"Very well," Ji said. "Like a real family."

Lu Ji sighed. "The Second Miss of the Jiang family is truly remarkable. In such a short time, she has removed all barriers with the Ye family."

The friction between Jiang Li and the Ye family was seemingly simple, but in reality, it was not easy to overcome. Especially after a dozen years, misunderstandings did not simply vanish with time; they tended to grow like a snowball, becoming as solid as rock—hard to even shake, let alone shatter.

Yet, Jiang Li had done it.

"People who share hardships during a crisis are naturally easy to move," Ji Heng said with a careless smile by the window. Though it was a compliment, coming from his mouth, it sounded like mockery.

"Indeed, that is the cleverness of the Second Miss," Lu Ji nodded. "The knot between her and the Ye family was hard to untie, but the Ye family happened to encounter a disaster, and she stepped forward to resolve their urgent need. With the bond of sharing a boat through the storm, the Ye family would never look at her with cold eyes. Moreover, the Second Miss is skilled at handling people; she appears so sincere that I fear the Ye family has already been completely won over by her."

He sighed, "How did she manage to stumble upon such an opportunity? It must be luck."

"What luck?" Ji Heng twirled his fan. "She knew this would happen and was already waiting for the play to start. These days, there are plenty of people who love to move themselves."

Lu Ji was silent for a moment before saying, "My lord, the people from the Weaving Office have arrived. Should we intervene in the Xiangyang matter? Currently, Tong Zhiyang is not a man of substance, and his concubine is held by Ye Mingyu. The Ye family is safe, but the situation may change."

"No need," Ji Heng said.

On the cloudy day, the peony on his folding fan seemed affected by the gloomy weather, appearing a bit dim. Only his red robes remained a bright, vivid splash of color against the world.

"The Li family's children are useless," Ji Heng said slowly. "Not as capable as a girl. Li Lian can no longer interfere with the Ye family's business. As for whether he stumbles, let him pray for his own fortune." A strange light flashed in his eyes. "Though, the Jiang girl... it would be better if she were not surnamed Jiang."