Chapter 227: 227, Marriage Alliance (2)_1 Chapter 227: 227, Marriage Alliance (2)_1 Jiang Fan nodded awkwardly, gave an embarrassed smile, and put the teacup on the desk.
“Grandpa, what did you need me for?” Chu Ruohan bounded down the stairs, a sweet smile on her face.
Jiang Fan looked up at his daughter and tried to signal her with his eyes, but Chu Ruohan simply didn’t get it.
“Ruohan, come here. I have something to ask you,” said Chu Yan in a calm voice.
Chu Ruohan looked at her mother, then back at her grandfather and finally began to realize that something was off.
She slowly made her way to her grandfather, meaning to cozy up to him like she usually did, but his face displayed a slight irritation so she opted to just stand there respectfully.
“Grandpa!”
“Ruohan, what have you been involved in these past few days?” Chu Yan asked sternly, his gaze sharp like a blade.
Chu Ruohan mentally cursed, but kept her smile on. “I haven’t been busy with anything; I have just been at home these past days.”
“Yes, I can vouch for that. Hanhan has been at home quite a lot these past two days,” spoke up Jiang Fan.
“Be quiet and don’t intervene,” Chu Yan said coldly.
Jiang Fan’s face darkened and he stood silently to one side, humiliated in front of all the servants.
“Ruohan, I will give you one more chance to tell the truth. What were you doing yesterday?” Chu Yan turned to her, his voice dropping lower.
“Grandpa, I … I really didn’t do anything. Has someone been badmouthing me to you?” Chu Ruohan’s face displayed a touch of grievance and she spoke in a soft voice. “I am your granddaughter, you shouldn’t believe the words of outsiders so easily.”
Chu Yan’s gaze hardened, and he smacked the table.
“Bang-”
The loud noise shook the teacup, causing a few drops of water to splash out.
The servants, looking scared, all lowered their heads.
It was times like these when it was best to blend into the background.
“Even now, you still refuse to tell the truth!” Chu Yan berated her.
“Grandpa, what truth am I supposed to tell you? What have I done wrong?” exclaimed Chu Ruohan, her eyes starting to redden.
Jiang Fan watched from the sidelines, worrying for his daughter but not daring to speak up due to the presence of his father.
“You tell me, did you have anything to do with Jian Qing’s photos, and all that online slander?” Chu Yan asked harshly.
He was puzzled as to why Master An had invited him over for tea so early in the morning; it turned out that he was there to redress a grievance. The innocent brother-sister relationship had been slandered into a romantic entanglement, and furthermore, the spread of these unsavory rumors turned out to be the work of his own family.
Jian Qing, who was held in high regard by Quan Jingwu, was the victim of such slander. This meant the Chu family had now incurred the wrath of both the An and Quan families. Chu Yan felt extremely embarrassed as he had never lost so much face in his life.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fan’s face registered shock and he hurriedly turned to his daughter.
“Hanhan, is what your grandfather said true? Did you really do this?”
Although she too disliked Jian Qing, it was said that ‘when beating a dog one should see its master first.’ With both Master An and Quan Jingwu backing Jing Qing, one shouldn’t act recklessly. If they were found out, the consequences would be very serious.
“Chu Ruohan, tell me, have I wronged you?” Chu Yan demanded. He might have doted on her, but he would not tolerate her acting recklessly.
Chu Ruohan kept her head down, her eyes filled with shock. How could her grandfather know?
Could it be the reporter from yesterday had betrayed her?
“Ruohan!” At the sight of his father-in-law about to lose his temper, Jiang Fan softly cautioned.
With her scheme now revealed, she decided to go all in.
She raised her head and looked at Chu Yan, confessing, “Yes, it was me who planned all of this. But I didn’t slander Jian Qing. Jian Qing’s promiscuous relations with men are well known. All I did was let people know the truth.”
“You have no repentance!” Chu Yan looked at her disappointedly. “Who told you that there were any improper relationships between that man and Jian Qing? I should tell you that this morning Master An had a meeting with me. The man in the photo is Jian Qing’s brother from the same mother, what the hell were you thinking?”
“What …. what?!” Chu Ruohan could hardly believe her ears. “How is it possible? That man can’t be Jian Qing’s brother, this isn’t the truth.”
Jiang Fan was also surprised by this. But now that she thought about it, she recalled hearing that back then, Jian Qing’s mother did give birth to a pair of twins.
Now that the incident had reached Master An’s ears, this time it seemed Ruohan had really gotten herself into big trouble.
“Hmph …” Chu Yan snorted. “How could it not be? Do you think Master An is lying? Look at the wonderful mess you have made! It was you who brought Master An into this, now our family’s reputation is ruined. And we still don’t know how Jingwu from the Quan family will react. Tell me, how are you going to sort this out?”
Chu Ruohan appeared dazed, a far cry from her earlier confident demeanor.
How did it come to this?
Her plan was supposed to be foolproof. How was that man Jian Qing’s brother…
“Young Master!”
At this moment, Chu Yihen walked in. The servants all greeted him in unison.
“Yihen, why are you back?” Jiang Fan looked surprised, seeing her son, who was supposed to be on a business trip in S City, suddenly appear.
Ignoring his mother, Chu Yihen looked at Chu Yan and said, “Grandpa, let me handle this matter.”
Seeing Chu Yihen, Chu Yan’s face softened a bit, and he nodded with a stern look on his face.
“Ruohan, remember what I warned you about last time in A city?” Chu Yihen turned to Chu Ruohan, who was standing across the room, looking lost.
Recalling the scandalous rumors from yesterday, Chu Yihen’s aura emanated an even darker fury. If it was not for the fact she was his sister, he would have never let her off so easily.
“Brother!” Chu Ruohan looked at Chu Yihen, her thoughts flashing back to his warning back in A City, a hint of fear in her heart.
“From today onward, if you dare to execute any reckless plans against Jian Qing, you can prepare yourself to be sent abroad. Also, I have listed a few young masters from reputable and influential families in Beijing for you. Start meeting them from tomorrow onwards,” said Chu Yihen, devoid of emotion and leaving no room for argument.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Fan’s eyes widened. Just as she was about to speak, she met her son’s gaze and immediately swallowed her words.
Chu Yan never had any objections to Chu Yihen’s decisions.
“No, I won’t, brother, you can’t treat me like this!” Tears flowed down her cheeks, as Chu Ruohan rushed forward, grabbing onto his arm, crying, “Brother!”