Chapter 360: 360: The Truth Behind Jiang Zhi’s Mother’s Death (Second Update)
Downstairs in the old lady’s room, incense was burning, emanating a very faint scent of osmanthus.
Luo Changfang and her daughter stood in front of the bed.
“Mom, please help .”
Xu Jiuru got off the bed, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea to clear her mind, “How can I help?”
Luo Changfang pleaded, “Get Chen Taiyuan to keep his mouth shut.”
Xu Jiuru glanced at her, her eyes shimring coldly, “You make it sound so easy. He’s at the police station; how am I supposed to intervene?”
There was nowhere the old lady of the Jiang Family couldn’t reach her hand into.
Luo Changfang understood her mother’s refusal but couldn’t give up, pushing her request, “You must have a way, please help your daughter-in-law this once.”
Xu Jiuru remained indifferent, remarking as if it was none of her concern, “If you knew this day would co, why bother having crooked thoughts in the first place.”
How cleanly she distances herself.
Luo Changfang scoffed with a cold smile, “I’m the one with crooked thoughts?” Her gaze heated up, and her tone beca sowhat aggressive, “Mom, you’re burning bridges too quickly. Without your instructions, would I dare to gamble with the reputation of the Jiang Family? Are you going to throw under the bus now?”
Xu Jiuru put down her cup with displeasure, “Changfang, you can’t just say whatever you want.”
Luo Changfang t her gaze angrily.
Jiang Fuli stepped forward, taking over the conversation, “Grandma, let’s not talk about this for now.” She took a mobile phone from Luo Changfang, “Soone sent so nonsense to my mom’s phone, take a look, what is all this.”
Xu Jiuru’s expression changed with just one glance, and she exclaid, “What sort of nonsense is this!”
That reaction was too much.
Jiang Fuli spoke calmly, “Isn’t this Uncle Weixuan’s handwriting?”
The Jiang Family’s ancestral hall still had Jiang Weixuan’s calligraphy, not just Jiang Fuli, the Jiang Family mbers had all seen it.
With a shove, Xu Jiuru smashed the phone on the ground, fuming, “Ridiculous.”
Guilty conscience or bluffing out of panic?
Luo Changfang picked up the phone, which now had a shattered screen, and brushed it off, barely hiding the smug expression on her face, “Whether it’s ridiculous or not, it depends on whether Brother Zhi believes it.”
Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.
“Grandma.”
It was Jiang Zhi.
Xu Jiuru promptly stood up, giving Luo Changfang a cold glance, warning her, “Changfang, watch your mouth.”
Jiang Zhi just happened to catch that sentence as he walked in, “What are you talking about that I can’t hear?”
Xu Jiuru was about to speak—
“Grandma,” Jiang Xiaolin had also arrived, saying, “The police have sent soone.”
After that, the sound of chaotic footsteps grew closer.
Luo Changfang abruptly turned around.
Four people from the Criminal Investigation Team had co, with Captain Cheng in the lead, holding a pair of handcuffs, “Ms. Luo Changfang, you are suspected of being involved in a dical murder case, here is the arrest warrant, please co with us.”
They were casting aside after using …
Luo Changfang panicked and instinctively denied it, “What murder case, it has nothing to do with !”
Captain Cheng tucked away the warrant after showing it and grabbed her hand to cuff her, “Chen Taiyuan has already confessed; if you have anything to say, say it at the police station.”
Luo Changfang struggled briefly, her eyes blazing with anger, “Xu Jiuru, did you betray ?”
The other party remained unperturbed.
Captain Cheng glanced at Jiang Zhi and ordered his subordinates, “Take her away.”
Zhang Wen and Xiao Zhong, on each side, restrained her.
“Mom,” Jiang Fuli stepped forward, advising, “Don’t say anything; I will have a lawyer go there.”
Luo Changfang nodded. As she passed by Jiang Zhi, she deliberately stopped, “Do you see my fate? Brother Zhi, be careful not to end up like your mother, not even knowing how she died.”
No sooner had she finished than Xu Jiuru imdiately retorted angrily, “What nonsense are you spouting!”
Distraction and self-incrimination, must be desperation.
Luo Changfang laughed triumphantly, “I’m spouting nonsense? Xu Jiuru, dare you say that Guan Wansu’s death has nothing to do with you?”
Jiang Zhi looked up at Xu Jiuru.
She hastily explained, “Brother Zhi, don’t listen to her trying to sow discord.” After speaking, she turned to the officers of the Criminal Investigation Team, her eyes growing stern, “Aren’t you going to take her away?”
Ah, family scandals should not be publicized.
The Criminal Investigation Team took Luo Changfang away.
As soon as she was gone, Xu Jiuru gave the order, “Everyone leave, Brother Zhi stay here.”
Jiang Xiaolin, indifferent as if it was not his concern, left without saying a word.
However, Jiang Fuli did not move.
Xu Jiuru reprimanded, “Get out!”
She glanced at Jiang Zhi, her lips curving into a aningful smile as she slowly made her way out.
Xu Jiuru gave a aningful look toward the door.
Understanding the signal, a mber of the Gui Family closed the door.
Now that they were alone, Xu Jiuru sat down, her expression complex as she reflected for a long while, “Your second aunt blas for not helping her smooth things over, and she holds a grudge against . That’s why she deliberately said such things.”
Jiang Zhi didn’t respond, the light in his eyes flickering chaotically.
Xu Jiuru sighed, “It’s also my fault. If I hadn’t been so intolerant of her back then, insisting on driving her out, she wouldn’t have ended up in trouble. It’s only right for you to bla .”
He said nothing in response, his deanor cold and detached, “I’m going back now.”
Xu Jiuru didn’t try to keep him, and only after he had gone so distance away did she call out, “Jiang Chuan.”
Jiang Chuan entered the room and shut the door.
“Ah Gui, go to the kitchen and bring my dicine.”
“Yes, Old Madam.”
After sending away the Gui Family mber, Xu Jiuru asked in an extrely low voice, “The suicide note from Weixuan, did you burn it?”
Jiang Chuan was taken aback for a mont, “I did.”
She was skeptical.
Jiang Chuan reiterated with grave earnestness, “Old Madam, I really burned it.”
“Then how could soone else know about it?”
If it had truly been burned, what was the explanation for the photo on Luo Changfang’s phone? It was clearly the handwriting of the third…
Jiang Chuan shook his head, equally clueless.
Fiddling with the prayer beads on her wrist, Xu Jiuru pondered for a long ti before saying, “Go and call Li over.”
Jiang Fuli was just outside the room, having not gone far.
When she ca in, Xu Jiuru beckoned her over and simply said, “You’re smarter than your mother. You should know what to say and what not to say.”
Jiang Fuli had been uncertain before, but now she could be sure that the death of Guan Wansu must be connected to this old lady.
She nodded, “I understand, grandma.” Without ntioning a word about Guan Wansu, she asked, “What about my mother?”
It was a blatant threat.
Xu Jiuru exhaled deeply, concealing the look in her eyes, “I’ll think of sothing.”
Jiang Fuli smiled gracefully, bowing to express her gratitude, “Then, on behalf of my mother, thank you in advance.”
The Jiang Family residence was built with four courtyards, each fronting the next. The rooms in the rearmost courtyard were largely obscured by the main house and seldom received sunlight, remaining gloomy all year round except for a sliver of light that reached the second floor at noon.
The second floor was uninhabited. Jiang Fuxi had turned it into a studio, scattering watercolor pans around. She had her hair up in an elegant bun as she painted.
The Gui Family mber stood by and comnted, “The Old Madam is currently trying to silence the second house.”
“What use is silencing the second house if Brother Zhi is clever enough?” she said, adding an intense stroke to her painting.
The suicide note was a forgery. In fact, Jiang Weixuan had indeed left a suicide note, but it had been burned by Jiang Chuan at the ti. Besides Xu Jiuru and Jiang Chuan, only the Gui Family mber had seen it. There were just two sentences in the note:
Mother, I died to repay your debts. Don’t spend the rest of your life too comfortably.
Weixuan’s final words.
People knew Jiang Fuxi for her unparalleled talent in traditional Chinese painting, but little did they realize that her skill in imitating handwriting was equally impressive.
“ow.”
“ow.”
He Xi lay on the windowsill, lazily calling out.
In Jiang Zhi’s room, Zhou Xufang was also present.
Ever since Jiang Zhi had left Xu Jiuru’s place, he had been silent.
Zhou Xufang had overheard only bits and pieces, “Jiang Zhi, do you believe what Luo Changfang said?”
He looked at an old photo on the table. The woman in it bore a striking resemblance to his eyes, “Belief depends on whether she can make it out or not.”
Zhou Xufang didn’t understand.
He picked up the photo, suppressing the torrent of emotions in his eyes, “If she returns unhard, that ans what she said is true, because the Old Madam will have to use the reputation of the Jiang Family to silence the second house in exchange for her safety.”
They didn’t stay for dinner. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang—and the remaining photo of his mother—back ho.
That very night, he received a call from Qiao Nanchu, “Chen Taiyuan has recanted his testimony, claiming he acted on his own initiative to relieve his master of worry, solely responsible for his actions, and that it had nothing to do with Luo Changfang.”
After taking a shower, Zhou Xufang ca out and saw Jiang Zhi standing on the balcony, lost in thought. She called him twice, but he didn’t respond.
She walked over and hugged him from behind.
“Xu Fang.”
“Hmm.”
He stared out the window, where the stars twinkle in his eyes yet appeared dim and lifeless, “My mother’s car accident wasn’t an accident. It was preditated murder by Xu Jiuru.”
She stayed silent, burrowing into his embrace, as she enfolded both him and the moonlight in her arms.
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