Mrs. Du suddenly raised her eyes and stared straight ahead.

  Don't you know even a little bit of news? Really don't understand if it's because of the embarrassing thing that happened later, or is it to save face and pretend not to know, or is it to avoid being suspected of having an affair with Jiang Changyang and overdoing it?

  Madam Du looked at Peony for a long time without saying a word, and Peony's phoenix eyes gradually revealed a hint of fear, her face also turned pale, looking at her with some trepidation, and said in a low voice: "Madam, I really didn't blame the second master, if what I just said is not good, please take a look at me, what can I do, please instruct me..."

  Mrs. Du smiled warmly, her smile as warm as spring: "Good boy, look at how scared you are. The Duke has been gone for several days and can't be caught up with. This matter... has something to do with him letting Pursuing Wind scare you..." She deliberately paused, seeing Peony's eyes blinking rapidly and her lips slightly opening, as if she had something urgent to say, so she immediately turned around, "However... it's not your fault. It's not just because of this incident, anyway, you were there at the time, such a shameful thing can't be hidden, what hurt the Duke most was that he faked the deer hunting! You know, right?"

  The look on Peony's face clearly showed a sigh of relief, but she immediately put away the relaxed expression and politely said: "At that time, I only heard the noise, I don't know many people, and I didn't dare to cause trouble, so I didn't ask much. I'm not clear about the truth, but I think there must be some misunderstanding."

  She couldn't guess what Mrs. Du was calculating, she only knew that no matter how Mrs. Du calculated, it would be best for her to get involved as little as possible, not to be used by others, not to fight in the vanguard, and not to involve any other people - at least it shouldn't come out of her mouth. Showing weakness, shirking responsibility, and following Mrs. Du's lead was all she could do at this time.

  Mrs. Du looked at Peony's expression and sighed half-truly, half-falsely: "I'm a woman, I wasn't present at the time, so I don't understand all the twists and turns. But my heart aches for my son, it's real, I don't want him to bear such a bad reputation at a young age. Today, I came here for two reasons: first, to apologize to you, second, hoping that you can see your brother saved you, tell me everything you know without hiding anything. If there is even a glimmer of hope to clear his bad name, I will do it."

  Madam Cen coughed softly and said sternly, "Dan Niang, your father and I have always taught you to be grateful and understand the importance of justice. Tell Madam Du everything you know, don't hide anything!"

  "Ah, General Jiang's life-saving grace, I always keep it in mind and dare not forget. Alas, I have no chance to repay him. How could I be unwilling to tell you what I know? However, you also know that the people who went that day were... I was following Eldest Sister-in-law, and the only ones I got close to were her and Xue Niang from General Huang's household. The others, I didn't dare get close to or familiar with. After being frightened by the strong wind that day, I became even more timid. I don't know how to hunt, so during the hunt, I closely followed Eldest Sister-in-law. When we returned to the campsite, except for meal times, I hid in the felt tent."

  She smiled wryly, "To be honest, this hunting trip is really a miserable thing for me, but I have to go because of my aunt's kindness. Since I was young, I haven't been in good health and have been pampered, so living in the wilderness is really uncomfortable, I just want to come back as soon as possible. After riding a horse for a day, my whole body feels like it's falling apart, I don't want to get up after lying down, but there are also mosquitoes, the wind will make strange noises at night, the bed is hard, and I have to share a room with others..."

  Mrs. Du wouldn't listen to Peony's complaints, and as she listened to her ramble on, she couldn't help but furrow her brow and interrupt: "Everyone says that my Zhong'er was framed by someone he trusted, and it must be someone close to him. He's too simple-minded to say anything, whereas an outsider can see things more clearly. When you saw my Zhong'er, who did you see him getting along with the most? Or who did he like talking to the most?" She gazed at Peony with a hint of a smile, "I heard that afterwards, he even came to apologize to you?"

  Mrs. Du most wanted to hear was Peony saying that Jiang Changzhong loved and stayed with Xiao Xuexi together.

  Peony lowered her eyes, pursed her lips and didn't say a word, secretly scolding Mrs. Du as a poisonous woman who had set a trap with just one sentence. If she herself didn't want to drag in Xiao Xuechi, no matter who she said was close to Jiang Changzhong, it would imply that person was the one who framed Jiang Changzhong. In the future, Mrs. Du could completely say to others, "It was He Mudan who told me that," and wouldn't that stir up even more trouble?

  But if she didn't want to answer her first question, she had to get her second question, which was whether Jiang Changzhong had ever mentioned Xue Xi to her. Fortunately, she hadn't listened to Jiang Changzhong finish speaking at the time, and now she could push it off in another direction.

  Mrs. Du saw Peony hanging her head and not speaking, raised an eyebrow, and put down the tea cup in her hand with a moderate force. The tea cup was made of high-quality Yue kiln porcelain, which produced a clear and pleasant sound when it hit the silver tea tray. If someone from the Zhu Guo Gong Fu saw this action, they should know that she was unhappy and about to get angry. Those who knew what was good for them would quickly confess the truth, lest the virtuous and gentle Mrs. Du lose her temper.

  But this is not in the Zhu Guo Gong Fu, and Madam Cen and her daughter are not under her jurisdiction, so they will naturally be ignored. Madam Cen did not hide the unhappiness on her face, she was wooden-faced and didn't speak. Peony also remained silent with her eyes cast down and her lips pursed tightly.

  Mrs. Du looked at Bai Xiang with impatience. Bai Xiang was about to step forward and play the role of scolding people on behalf of Mrs. Du, but just as she was about to take a step, Mrs. Du suddenly remembered that she was a guest in someone else's home, and that she had come to apologize and make amends for Jiang Changzhong, so she couldn't bully others or tarnish the reputation of her noble family, nor could she damage her own image as a gentle, virtuous, polite, and magnanimous person.

  She smiled gently again, and said softly: "Good boy, don't worry, what you said today, I won't tell anyone a single word. And besides, you helped us a lot, I won't forget your kindness either. If there's anything in the future, I'll naturally take care of it for you. Speak up, say whatever you know, and even if you're wrong, I won't blame you."

  This time Peony's face turned red, she twisted and turned, her eyes dodged to other places, and she whispered with her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt: "I really don't know."

  Madam Du's face sank, and she looked at Madam Cen, saying slowly: "It seems that this child has not vented her anger yet. When I get back, I'll have that leopard skinned and sent over to her as a mat. Once she's vented her anger, whenever she remembers and wants to speak again, she can talk to me. What do you think?"

  "Madam, don't be angry with me. How could I be so petty? We've already said that the matter wasn't Lord Two's fault, so why would I want to take his life? I'm not a person who is so narrow-minded and cruel. Lord Two is a kind and gentle person. On that day, he publicly apologized to Snow Maiden and me, and everyone praised him for being humble and courteous, saying that he was good and likable."

  Mrs. Du was determined to get it out of her: "I heard from the servants that he apologized to you alone afterwards and talked to you for a long time? What did you both say?"

  "Madam, at that time, the eunuch with a missing ear was by your husband's side, and this maid was by mine. They both know what we said."

  Excusing herself before Madame Du could speak, she immediately stepped forward and saluted, saying in a crisp voice: "Madame, I was present that day. At the time, it was already late and our mistress was about to retire to her tent. Halfway there, we met Master Jiang and that guard brother. Master Jiang first apologized and then said, 'Hei Niang, this is not a place for conversation, let's go over there to talk.' She imitated Jiang Changzhong's tone perfectly, making it seem as if he was standing right in front of them.

  Mrs. Du's face changed suddenly. Seeing that Yu'er was about to continue, she hastily stopped her and dryly said: "My son Zhong is just such a naive and sincere person, usually being strictly controlled by his father and me, he is somewhat inexperienced in the ways of the world."

  "We were just...” Before Su Er could continue, Peony interrupted her and said seriously: “Exactly, madam is right. So when the second master heard that guard's advice, he immediately bid me farewell. After that, I never spoke to him alone again. As I mentioned earlier, Duke Jiang is my benefactor, you are his family, I will do my best to help with anything I can. It's just that this matter is really beyond my power, please forgive me, madam!” Peony finished her words and bowed deeply.

  Not a drop of water was spilled. Mrs. Du pursed her lips tightly, gazed steadily at Peony for two seconds, and then smiled faintly. There's plenty of time ahead, no need to rush into anything now. A man with wealth, honor, youth, good looks, capability, stability, and a bright future would be the ideal husband every woman wants, especially someone like He Mudan who has been through so much - how could she let such an opportunity slip away?

  No rush, no rush, come slowly, as long as the bait is placed a lot and cleverly, the fish will bite the hook by themselves. This person is still smart, otherwise it's not good to take him to lead Jiang Changyang. Think about it, Jiang Changyang likes that position so much, but even if he gives her a concubine position, it's not enough... So this gun must be sharp and invincible. As long as Peony has moved her heart and is willing to use her, she doesn't care about the final result at all, she just wants to win.

  Mrs. Du smiled slightly: "I thought you would know a little, it seems that I really don't know, and I was rude just now. Please, for the sake of being a mother who worries about her son, let's not mind."

  As a noblewoman, to be so humble and gentle in front of an ordinary girl of seventeen or eighteen years old is truly rare, showing extraordinary upbringing and character. Peony would naturally not hold it against her, if she did, that would be unbecoming.