Chapter 1342 - 21: Passing the Buck
Wenyuan Bo Mansion.
Young Master An fell off his horse, which worried everyone, knowing it was just a broken leg. Once the bone is set, he’ll be fully recovered in three months, and everyone was relieved.
Especially Mrs. Jiang and Cai Die, as the heartless Young Master bullied their young lady, he deserved some retribution.
Amidst their relief, they found the incident too coincidental.
Uncle Wen Yuan is a military general, guarding a region, without legitimate sons. He places high hopes on his two illegitimate sons, nurturing them carefully.
Although his martial arts are not the best, there’s no issue with riding. Young Master was riding since nine, and the horse he chose was gentle. How could it suddenly go mad and throw him off?
This... could it be the handiwork of Second Young Master Shen from the Jibei Marquis Mansion?
The more Mrs. Jiang thought about it, the more she felt her suspicion was accurate.
Just yesterday, she had sent Cai Die to complain to Second Young Master Shen, and today Young Master fell off his horse. It would be hard to dismiss it as unrelated.
Mrs. Jiang hesitated whether to report it to Yun Chu, fearing Yun Chu would be angry at her for acting without permission.
However, Mrs. Jiang knew that what annoyed Yun Chu more was Young Master An getting too close to the Empress Dowager’s faction, regardless of the wrongs against his father. They didn’t expect him to achieve greatness and glorify the family name, just not to tarnish Old Master’s reputation and let the hard-won family foundation slip away again.
Inside, Yun Chu leaned by the window, watching the fallen leaves swirl outside.
Mrs. Jiang put down the porridge and said, "Miss, I made some porridge; have a little to eat."
Yun Chu had no appetite.
Cai Die lifted the lid and said, "Mother, it’s lotus seed soup again. Miss likes bird’s nest soup."
Mrs. Jiang glared at Cai Die, indicating she should speak less at inappropriate times.
Cai Die puffed out her cheeks angrily.
She knew the reason; bird’s nest is expensive, and Eldest Young Madam is unwilling to let Miss eat it.
Before, when Old Master and Madam were around, Miss would have a small bowl of bird’s nest daily. Since Young Master took over the mansion, Miss was left with only a little monthly salary.
The bird’s nest eaten before was sent by a cousin from Jibei Marquis Mansion. Now that it’s used up, they can only have lotus seed soup.
"Lotus seeds are good for reducing heat," Mrs. Jiang said with a smile.
She served a bowl to Yun Chu, "Miss, don’t worry about Young Master. A blessing in disguise maybe."
"Miss doesn’t worry about Young Master," Cai Die murmured.
Mrs. Jiang continued giving her a warning look.
Is this talk for Miss’s ears?
It’s said for those eavesdropping maids and matrons outside.
After all, Young Master is Miss’s brother. How can she not be concerned if he broke a leg?
Seeing no outsiders in the room, Mrs. Jiang planned to confess to Yun Chu about reporting to Shen Junshan, "Miss, I have something to tell you."
Yun Chu looked at her, "Go ahead."
Just as Mrs. Jiang was about to speak, a maid ran in, "Miss, Second Young Master from Jibei Marquis Mansion is here to see Young Master."
Mrs. Jiang’s mouth twitched hard.
Yun Chu quickly got up, took a few steps, then turned back to look at Mrs. Jiang, "What were you going to say?"
"Nothing, nothing, a trivial matter not worth mentioning. You go ahead," Mrs. Jiang replied hastily.
Yun Chu hurried away.
Since the matchmaker’s visit yesterday, Yun Chu hadn’t eaten properly; she felt weak, getting dizzy when moving too quickly.
Yet she couldn’t delay. Based on what she knew about Shen Junshan, he disliked her brother more than she did.
Her brother got hurt, and instead of secretly gloating, he’s now visiting...
Yun Chu was a bit anxious. Shen Junshan wasn’t someone whose intentions could be easily understood. Instead of guessing, it was better to see.
This is why whenever Shen Junshan visited Jibei Marquis Mansion, Yun Chu would show up, even if she’d been avoiding him.
As Yun Chu entered, Shen Junshan frowned as he saw her, "Why do you look so pale?"
Yun Chu shook her head, "I’m fine."
"Fine? You look like you’d collapse from a gust of wind," Shen Junshan said.
Yun Chu gathered her strength to ask, "Why are you here?"
Shen Junshan glanced at Young Master An, "I heard your brother broke his leg, so I came to visit."
"Young Master An’s leg-breaking is really unexpected."
Shen Junshan maintained a serious expression.
Although he often joked with a straight face, this was his first time doing so with Yun Chu, feeling somewhat strange inside.
Eldest Young Madam An had long suspected, "I said someone’s causing trouble behind the scenes."
"I haven’t offended anyone," Young Master An said.
Though he had many envious of him, those who could inherit Wenyuan Bo Mansion besides him weren’t many, and since taking over the title, he hadn’t put on airs and hadn’t quarreled, unlikely to have grudges.
Of course, he knew what Eldest Young Madam An was implying, suspecting the second branch of plotting against him.
It’s not that he looked down on his second brother; even if he had the guts, he wouldn’t dare.
The Emperor had shown leniency considering the wrongs suffered by Wenyuan Bo Mansion, allowing inheritance without demotion. If he were to die, even if his son inherited, it wouldn’t go to his second brother; at most, he’d get a general’s title.
For now, he’s Bo Mansion’s second man, which sounds more impressive than just a general, so it couldn’t be him.
But who else, he really couldn’t figure out.
Having just inherited the title a few days ago, he hadn’t mingled with many nobles in the Capital, not to mention making enemies.
Young Master An, seeing Shen Junshan personally visiting, mentioned his fall, "Second Young Master Shen is good at investigating. Can you find out who’s doing me wrong?"
Shen Junshan seemed lost in thought.
Mrs. Jiang and Cai Die exchanged confused looks.
They were puzzled; would Second Young Master Shen harm Young Master and come to show goodwill?
If he were behind the fall and took the case, wouldn’t he be investigating himself?
But if it wasn’t his doing, why bring it up? What Miss said was true; even if you knew Shen Junshan’s inner thoughts, predicting his mind was tough. For others, it’s impossible to guess.
Shen Junshan looked at Young Master An’s leg, "Before coming, I wondered if your broken leg was my fault."
Young Master An’s eyes widened, "What do you mean by that?"
Shen Junshan explained, "You know my unruly nature, often causing trouble. My mother, unable to control me and fearing I might end up dead on the street, every few days would get a divination for peace of mind."
"When I helped Yun Chu with your mansion’s case, my mother only allowed it after confirming there was no danger involved. Recently, I heard her mention that the case would be aided by someone out of the blue in resolving all challenges, but this benefactor hadn’t appeared."
"With your ties to the Empress Dowager’s faction, I couldn’t proceed with the case. Whenever I went out, people said my involvement was unnecessary, causing them to wonder why I’m concerning myself over another’s vengeance when the son wasn’t; it upset me a bit. Then you fell, unable to rise for three months, I pondered maybe Old Master is the benefactor in spirit supporting me."
Shen Junshan seriously shifted the blame onto the future father-in-law resting in peace.
This shift nearly buried Young Master An alive on his sickbed.
No.
It was infuriating.
Young Master An turned purple with rage.
He’s the son!
His father in spirit won’t protect his son, preferring an outsider?!
Yet he couldn’t utter these words, for Shen Junshan was the benefactor of Wenyuan Bo Mansion. Without his efforts in Liangzhou investigating the case, they couldn’t clear the framed charges.
Shen Junshan’s work was to avenge Old Master. As a son, he should be immensely grateful, with no right to anger.
Mrs. Jiang held back her laughter, quickly replaced by sorrow.
If only Old Master were alive, Shen Junshan’s character would suit him well. Unlike now, the chance of two lovers becoming a couple is uncertain.
Compared to Shen Junshan’s arranged marriage bestowed by the Empress Dowager, Yun Chu’s betrothal by Young Master An was trivial.