Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 1058 - 1056_1

Chapter 1058: Chapter 1056_1

The Duchess was taken aback. She wanted to say that he killed for the revenge of his father! But she couldn’t utter these words!

If she admitted it, she would be confirming that her husband deliberately plotted to murder his father in order to take his position as the Duke of Zhen! If she said this, it would mean her family had deceived the Emperor, a crime punishable by death for her entire clan!

Even if her clan was executed, the Emperor would surely pardon Jiang Yuheng, because Jiang Yuheng was his future son-in-law! Everyone knew that the Fifth Princess would rather remain an old maid than marry anyone else! The Duchess of Zhen didn’t want to risk her own life while Jiang Yuheng could still live happily!

"It was you who murdered them, you killed them to take the title of the heir to the Duke’s Mansion!" The Crown Prince’s wife wept at the Duchess’ side, gritting her teeth as she spoke!

She was still young, yet she was now a widow because of him! She had only given birth to two daughters and not a single son. How was she supposed to live in the future?

"What a joke. I was always meant to have the title. Why would I kill for something that was already mine? I thought that when I returned, they would willingly give back what was rightfully mine! We are supposed to be close kin, loving and caring for each other. Why would you think such absurd thoughts, cousin-in-law? Would my uncle and cousin really kill my father and me for the positions of Duke and Crown Prince?" If it was really like this, wouldn’t they deserve to be killed?! Jiang Yuheng added in his heart! He was merely using their own tactics against them!

The two women were choke up at Jiang Yuheng’s words! The Crown Prince’s wife lowered her head guiltily.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Of course, they wouldn’t do such a thing! Your father died in battle, and the emperor even bestowed him a posthumous title!" The Duchess of Zhen quickly defended, anxious that others would get the wrong idea.

"Really? Well, I wouldn’t do such a thing either! Besides, I had amnesia for over a decade, and only recovered my memory when I saw my Uncle. At that time, he was severely injured by bandits. I couldn’t help but step in to save him, and in the process, I was kicked by a bandit and hit my head, which recovered my memory. It was only after waking up that I remembered everything and realized who they were! Otherwise, with such a long time of ten years, I would have returned home early!" Jiang Yuheng sneered in his heart at her words. He spoke lightly, and after finishing, he couldn’t help but cough and spit out a mouthful of blood.

"You’re lying, you’re just worried that you won’t be able to reclaim the title of the Crown Prince of Zhen when you return, so you killed your uncle and cousin!" The Duchess of Zhen insisted that he killed to take back his position of Crown Prince.

"This is too outrageous!" The Fifth Princess who saw Jiang Yuheng spitting blood couldn’t help but curse angrily, wanting to rush over.

Shangguan Xuanyi stretched out his hand to stop her: "No!"

Jiang Yuheng needed to vent, and if the Fifth Princess appeared, it would be easy for others to say that she was taking advantage of her status to pressure them!

"Haha..." Jiang Yuheng laughed instead of getting angry when he heard the Duchess’ words. He looked at the Duchess of Zhen and said: "Do you really think I care for the title of Crown Prince of Zhen? How do you know that with my abilities, I can’t establish another noble title for myself?"

Having said that, Jiang Yuheng deliberately leaned close to the Duchess of Zhen and whispered in her ear: "What if I reveal everything your husband did back then, causing you and your family to be exterminated, would you believe me?"

If it wasn’t for the respect for his grandfather and those loyal servants of the Duke, he would really want to do so, otherwise, he couldn’t calm his resentment!

"Nonsense! I’ll seek justice for my husband and son before the Emperor! You just wait! Even in death, your uncle won’t forgive you!" The Duchess of Zhen tried to regain her composure and retorted. There was no evidence left of the events from the past, so his words were groundless.

"Do as you please. We’ll see where justice stands in the end! What goes around comes around, only the time is not right. I, Jiang Yuheng, have never done anything wrong in my life. Even if someone knocks on my door in the middle of the night, I wouldn’t be scared. I wonder if you feel the same way, Aunt!"

The Duke closed his eyes in pain and said coldly: "Enough! Your husband is still waiting to be put to rest, yet you are here making a fuss!"

The Duchess of Zhen and the Crown Prince’s wife finally closed their mouths and fell to the ground before the coffin, crying pitifully: "Husband, you died so tragically! I will surely avenge your death."

Jiang Weijia watched his cousin, who looked so different from his memory, with conflicted emotions.

The Duke took the coffin back to the Duke’s Mansion, while Jiang Yuheng was summoned to the Imperial Court.

Looking at Jiang Yuheng kneeling before him, the Emperor was filled with mixed emotions!

"Did you kill the Duke of Zhen and the Crown Prince?" After clearing the room of everyone else, the Emperor looked at Jiang Yuheng and asked sternly.

The Emperor’s expression was unreadable, leaving Jiang Yuheng uncertain about his intentions.

Kneeling on one knee, Jiang Yuheng replied without hesitation: "Your Majesty, I did!"

"Are you not afraid I’ll punish you?" The Emperor huffed coldly.

"I am. However, I must avenge my personal and national enmities! Even if it means being punished by Your Majesty, I must avenge my father, the soldiers, and the borderland victims! Otherwise, I would have failed as a son and a subject!" Jiang Yuheng, unable to guess the Emperor’s thoughts, pretended to be calm and recited the words he had rehearsed beforehand.

In fact, if it weren’t for the Duke of Zhen’s scheme, how could Xiyue have been able to harass the citizens for a few more years?

Emotionless, the Emperor stared at Jiang Yuheng. He didn’t speak for a while; he found his justification impeccable!

In fact, Shangguan Xuanyi had already told him everything!

Was he angry? Absolutely. Murdering an important court official who was on his way to defend the nation for personal revenge! The moment he found out, he was so furious that he wanted to throw Jiang Yuheng into the heavenly prison immediately! But when he thought of his daughter, he couldn’t bring himself to hate him. Then he asked himself, if he were Jiang Yuheng, what would he do? Look on as the killer of his father roamed freely? That’s unacceptable. The debt of blood must be paid in blood. Vengeance must be taken! He wouldn’t allow his daughter to marry a man who wouldn’t avenge his father’s murder!

How to take revenge? Rely on the government to seek justice? But if so, the Duke of Zhen would be guilty of deceiving the Emperor! Making use of the national security for personal gains is the act of deceiving the Emperor and it’s enough to exterminate his clan!

For the sake of the Duke and the innocent hundreds of people in the Duke’s Mansion, Jiang Yuheng couldn’t and wouldn’t do such a thing! Some matters should be settled privately. The dignity of a monarch should not be violated. If the matter goes public, the law must prevail, so this issue can only be handled clandestinely!

Beyond the law lies human relations. He was the ruler of a nation, responsible for court officials and upholding the dignity and stability of the nation with legal means. However, he was also the father of a child! Sometimes, when it comes to family vendettas, you have to turn a blind eye.

Hence, the Emperor waved his hand: "You may leave! Send my regards to the Duke, tell him to mourn his loss!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" That was a sign of acquittal. Jiang Yuheng secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then respectfully withdrew.

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