bayedsolid Chapter 286 Report to Grandfather!
Chapter 286 Report to Grandfather!
“Mother, what I said is true. Originally, the old lady wanted you to marry Second Uncle.”
"Anuan, are you running a fever? Why are you talking nonsense?" Li Shi still didn't quite believe it and muttered to herself.
“Mother, I’m not talking nonsense! Please listen to me and I’ll explain it to you slowly.”
Even after lunchtime had passed, Madam Li and Mu Xin Nuan remained inside, neither sending a maid in to serve them. Those waiting outside were naturally growing anxious.
"Anuan, is everything you're saying true?" Li's expression was still somewhat abnormal, clearly indicating that she was still unable to accept the information Mu Xinnuan had provided her.
“If Mother doesn’t believe me, I can take you to see Granny Liu in person. Besides, I also have Granny Liu’s signed and sealed testimony.”
"My God! How could this happen?"
"At first, we all thought that Grandfather refused to take a concubine because of his respect for the old lady. But now it seems that in Grandfather's heart, there was only one person he always loved."
Li remained silent, knowing that the person Mu Xinnuan was referring to was her real mother-in-law, Mu Chang'an's biological mother.
"Don't let your father know about this for now. I'm worried he might..."
"Is Mother worried that Father won't be able to handle this blow?"
"Yes. How could he possibly accept that the mother he had served for so many years was actually his mother's killer?"
Seeing her mother's tears, Mu Xin Nuan finally decided to put the matter aside for the time being. If even her mother found it so hard to accept, how much more difficult would it be for her father!
But how much did Grandfather actually know about what happened back then?
“Mother, no matter what, Father is the eldest son of the family, and that will never change. That Granny Liu told me that when Grandfather was down on his luck, he and Grandmother had a marriage certificate. However, his family in the capital didn't know about it, so they arranged another marriage for him with the Song family.”
"If we were to go into detail, my grandmother would be the principal wife, while the current Madam Song would be the secondary wife."
Li shook her head, still unable to recover from the immense shock.
"Anuan, what are your plans regarding this matter?"
“Mother, you should calm yourself down first. The truth will come out eventually. Do you think Father hasn’t been suspicious all these years, even though he hasn’t complained?”
Madam Li was stunned. Thinking back over the years, Mu Chang'an had indeed never spoken ill of the old lady to her. But what was in his heart?
Mu Xin Nuan comforted Li Shi for a few more minutes, then had someone serve her a meal. After eating a few bites, she returned to Yue Xuan.
After returning home, Mu Xin Nuan pondered the matter repeatedly. If this issue remained unresolved, it would remain a hidden danger. If the Prince Ming were to find out, things would become very difficult. What if he used this as leverage to force her father to serve him? Wouldn't that be a greater loss than gain?
Now that I've discovered this secret, I might as well expose it completely.
After taking a short rest, Mu Xin Nuan heard from the servants that the old master had returned to the mansion, so she ordered someone to prepare a pot of fine tea and a box of exquisite pastries and send them over.
In less than fifteen minutes, Rongyue rushed in, “Miss, the old master wants you to go to the study right away.”
Mu Xin Nuan's brow twitched slightly. "I understand. I'll go right away."
When Mu Xin Nuan arrived at the study, she saw the old man staring blankly at the box of pastries, with a piece of paper in his hand. Upon closer inspection, she could see a red handprint on it.
After taking a few steps inside, Mu Xin Nuan stopped and stared at the old man without moving, afraid that he would faint from the shock.
Mu Xin Nuan's palms were gradually sweating; she was now completely gambling!
Judging from his grandfather's affection for his grandmother, he must have overlooked something about what happened back then. Otherwise, he wouldn't have tolerated Song Shi and allowed her to live peacefully until now!
But if she loses the bet, then her life will be difficult from then on.
"Did you have this delivered?" The old man's voice was deep and authoritative like never before, carrying a strong sense of vicissitude.
"Yes, Grandfather."
Where is Granny Liu?
"Outside, my granddaughter arranged for me to stay in a very safe place."
"Good! Well done! You truly are my good granddaughter!"
The old man's voice was somewhat excited and agitated. Mu Xin Nuan wasn't sure whether he was being honest or sarcastic.
Plop!
Mu Xin Nuan immediately knelt on the ground. "Grandfather, I know this is unfilial, but I have no other choice. The reason I saved Granny Liu was simply because I saw a hint of murderous intent in the old lady's eyes. Heaven cherishes life, and I couldn't bear it, so I arranged for someone to save her. I never expected that she would reveal such a big secret. Please punish me, Grandfather."
“Punishment?” The old man chuckled self-deprecatingly. “What punishment? I thought she died in childbirth and couldn’t wait for me to return. Madam Song was very generous and virtuous. She said she couldn’t let my child be left out in the wild and insisted on bringing him back to the manor to raise.”
The old man gave a bitter smile. "I was young then, and I was indeed too naive. After arranging her funeral, I thought that Chang'an was the only child she left me, and I had to raise him well and make him an adult."
“At that time, I was quite famous in the capital. Madam Song said that if rumors spread that I had another wife, it would be bad for my reputation. Therefore, she secretly ordered someone to put her memorial tablet in the ancestral hall. I originally did not agree, but I could not resist the persuasion of my uncles and elders, and in the end, I gave in.”
At this point, the old man seemed somewhat moved, overcome with grief, and his eyes became slightly moist.
Mu Xin Nuan remained kneeling, silent, but she breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that she had made the right gamble this time!
"Get up. This matter has nothing to do with you; it was all my fault! I was wrong to trust that Song woman; I was foolish and misjudged people!"
The old man was practically beating his chest in frustration.
Mu Xin Nuan quickly got up, helped him to sit in the armchair, and then brought him a cup of tea to help him catch his breath.
“When Chang’an turned four, I felt something was off. Later, I accidentally discovered that Madam Song spoiled Chang’an rotten, indulging him in everything! I realized then that she was trying to ruin Chang’an! So, I found an excuse to bring Chang’an with me. Now that I think about it, if I had been more suspicious of Madam Song back then, the truth would have come to light long ago!”