Chapter 37: Ripples

In the evening, Minister Jiang summoned Jiang Jin to his study.

As soon as she entered, Jiang Jin saw Minister Jiang take something from a shelf.

It was about the size of an ordinary book, but thinner.

Jiang Jin stood at the doorway, not immediately walking over to sit by the desk. Only when Minister Jiang turned to look at her did she call out, “Father.”

“You’re here. Please, have a seat.” Minister Jiang nodded and placed the item in his hand on the desk.

Jiang Jin walked over and found a chair to sit in.

Once she was seated, Minister Jiang said, “Jin’er, do you know why I called you here?”

The moment his words fell, Jiang Jin thought of what the man in black had said to her that day.

Moreover, upon closer inspection, the item did indeed resemble an account book.

“I do not know, Father,” Jiang Jin shook her head.

She did not believe Minister Jiang was settling scores over the matter of Third Young Master Cheng. From the memories of her original self, this father, though strict with her, also trusted her deeply.

Even if the servant had said something to him, he would not have believed it easily.

Otherwise, he would not have sent the servant to work as a laborer on the estate the very next day.

Thus, it was almost certainly about the account book.

Minister Jiang stared at Jiang Jin for a while. Seeing that she genuinely seemed unaware, he said, “Your maternal family has been in business for generations. It was only in your grandfather’s generation that someone began to enter officialdom.”

“With the men of the family pursuing official careers, the business fell to the women. Your grandfather had only your mother as a daughter, so she naturally took over the family’s generational enterprises.”

As he spoke, he lifted the booklet in his hand, showing its cover to Jiang Jin.

The four large characters “Cui Family Ledger” appeared prominently before Jiang Jin’s eyes.

Her expression remained unchanged, but her gaze shifted to Minister Jiang, seeking an explanation.

Minister Jiang set the ledger down and continued explaining, “Your mother had intended to personally give you this ledger after you married, but unexpectedly, she…”

Mentioning his beloved wife, Minister Jiang’s mood inevitably dipped, but he quickly regained his composure.

“Your mother once told me she did not wish for you to enter the royal family. In the past, I would not have given you this ledger so early, but now the situation is settled. It is the right time to give it to you!”

With that, Minister Jiang handed the ledger to Jiang Jin, adding a warning, “This ledger not only concerns the accumulated wealth of the Cui family over generations but also involves the financial lifeline of Great Qi. You must never reveal it to outsiders!”

Jiang Jin reached out to take it, nodding in response, “Do not worry, Father. I understand.”

…

On her way back, carrying the ledger, Jiang Jin’s doubts grew deeper.

Minister Jiang was so cautious about the Cui family ledger that even Old Madam likely knew nothing of it.

Yet the man in black was certain she knew about the ledger and could obtain it.

What was his identity, to be so familiar with the Cui family’s affairs?

Filled with questions, Jiang Jin continued walking. When she reached the waterside pavilion, she suddenly saw ripples forming in the pond beneath her feet, followed by cries for help from not far away.

“Help! Someone, help! My young lady has fallen into the water! Save her!”

At the same time, larger disturbances appeared in the pond, as if someone were struggling continuously.

With the evening obscuring her vision, she could not see clearly and was unsure of the identities of those involved.

But at this late hour, anyone still in the Shangshu Mansion must be one of the young ladies of the household, not an outsider.

Yet, what did this have to do with her?

Just as Jiang Jin was about to leave, suddenly…

The maid’s voice grew louder: “Fourth Miss, what were your intentions when you pushed my lady into the water? My poor lady only wanted to visit Eldest Miss out of kindness, but who would have thought…”

Coming to visit her?

Among the young ladies of the Cheng household, apart from Second Miss Jiang Yun of the second branch, who had been staying at her maternal grandparents’ home recently and hadn’t visited, all the others had already been seen.

It seemed the one who had fallen into the water was undoubtedly Jiang Yun.

In the original body’s memories, there had been no such incident of falling into the water in the previous life.

In the previous life, Jiang Jin had been appointed as the Sixth Prince’s consort. Half a year later, she followed the Sixth Prince when he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Wei and became the Princess of Wei. A year later, her second cousin Jiang Yun also married into the prince’s mansion as a secondary consort.

But in the previous life, Jiang Yun had not been favored and had only held the empty title of secondary consort in the prince’s mansion.

As a result, Jiang Jin had never paid much attention to such a person before.

But now, upon careful reflection, the less noticeable a person was, the more likely they were to be the key!

Moreover, although Jiang Yun had accompanied the original body to the imperial mausoleum in the previous life, she had suddenly fallen seriously ill not long after.

Later… when Furong, who had already married and left, came to visit her, she had mentioned seeing a woman in the capital who bore a striking resemblance to Jiang Yun.

Thinking of this, the corners of Jiang Jin’s lips unconsciously lifted slightly. In the blink of an eye, her gaze grew even more resolute.

Not long after, several matrons arrived and quickly rescued Jiang Yun from the water.

Jiang Jin stood in the shadows, avoiding everyone’s line of sight, and watched as Jiang Yun was taken away.

After everyone had left, she walked to the shore where Jiang Yun had fallen into the water.

The grass by the pond was sparse, and the comings and goings of people had already disturbed any footprints left earlier. For the moment, it was impossible to determine whether Fourth Miss had pushed someone or whether Jiang Yun had intentionally fallen into the water.

Suddenly, Jiang Jin seemed to have discovered something. She crouched down and picked up a hairpin from the grass.

At first glance, it appeared to be just a white magnolia hairpin—exquisite but not particularly rare.

Jiang Jin idly toyed with it. As she turned it over, under the moonlight, she could make out a character carved on the hairpin.

“Cui,” she murmured softly, her mind suddenly recalling the original body’s birth mother—the Cui clan.

Was there any connection between these two “Cui” characters?

Jiang Jin looked in the direction of the second branch’s courtyard, and an idea immediately formed in her mind.

The next day, Jiang Jin was summoned early to the Ci’an Hall.

As soon as she entered, she saw Fourth Miss glaring angrily at the maid kneeling on the floor.

“Grandmother, Second Aunt,” Jiang Jin greeted the elders present and then found a seat.

No sooner had she sat down than Second Madam Zhao spoke: “Since Eldest Miss has arrived, let her also judge this matter.”

“What matter is Second Aunt referring to?”

“This matter, Eldest Miss, you should ask your Fourth Sister properly—ask her what guilty deed she has done that she dares not admit!” Madam Zhao’s tone was far from pleasant, and she didn’t even look directly at Fourth Miss.

Following the original body’s personality, Jiang Jin frowned slightly and asked Fourth Miss: “Fourth Sister, what exactly happened? Tell us everything truthfully! If you have been wronged, speak up in front of Grandmother and Second Aunt. We will all stand up for you!”

Although the original owner appeared aloof and difficult to get along with, she genuinely cared for her younger siblings and was quite protective of them.

Before the truth came to light, she would not let her sister suffer unjustly.

Upon hearing these words, Madam Zhao was clearly infuriated once again.