Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots-Chapter 1455 - 274, Cooked Rice (16)

Anyway, after discussing so many doubts, Lady Jiang could not help but believe in her daughter’s words. Moreover, Le Yao had also told her that if she did not believe it, she could go and ask Chen Haigang for confirmation—after all, Chen Haigang had participated in the competition of the Imperial Merchants and had naturally seen the princes, but he disdained to engage in ingratiating behavior, so even when he returned home, he did not tell Lady Jiang anything about how the princes were.

Lady Jiang slapped the table violently, frustrated and angry, "I knew that Tao Hua was no good from the start! Who goes around persuading people to become someone’s little concubine? This liar—I was just wondering why as soon as I sent someone to inquire about getting close to the Third Prince, this old woman showed up? It all makes sense now; it was all prearranged!"

Le Yao did not know how Tao Hua had come to be involved, but Lady Jiang did. On that day, she had just instructed a trusted aide to find out who the best matchmaker was among the matchmakers. Then, someone claiming to be Tao Hua, supposedly the lowest ranked but most reputable person in the Matchmaker Circle, had approached her. They even said that she had arranged matches for the offspring of officials, which made Lady Jiang trust her even more.

Yet, she had not expected her to be a swindler!

Thinking of how long she had been calling such a vulgar woman "big sister" and how many silvers she had given her, Lady Jiang felt both furious and resentful.

"No! I must teach this woman a lesson!"

Yet Le Yao quickly held her mother back, whispering, "Mother, we must take our time with this matter and devise a way to bring them to justice without exposing our own involvement."

Lady Jiang suddenly realized that yes, the most important thing now was not the silver nor settling scores, but her daughter’s reputation. If people found out that she had gone on multiple dates with a man she did not know, her reputation would be ruined forever.

"What should we do then?"

Le Yao squinted her eyes slightly, "She has been persuading me to enter the Third Prince’s mansion, hasn’t she? Let’s do as she wishes and see what she truly wants."

The next day, Lady Jiang quietly made some inquiries. This time she did not limit herself to the matchmakers but also talked to some locals for a long time. Sure enough, the information she gathered did not match what Tao Hua had told her. Was she the best matchmaker in the Capital city?

She was nothing but a hustler, always hanging around flower lanes and willow alleys, specializing in finding attractive little concubines for the wealthy families’ sons.

Hearing this news, Lady Jiang was so angry her nose was nearly crooked, "It’s bullying! They really are bullying us because we’re from out of town!"

But along with her anger came regret. If she had gone to ask around about Tao Hua when she first called at her door, she wouldn’t have been deceived by the matchmakers, nor would she have fallen for Tao Hua’s tricks!

Though furious, Lady Jiang was truly determined to make Tao Hua face the consequences.

Despite despising Tao Hua thoroughly, when she saw the woman again, she remembered her daughter’s words and still acted obsequiously, giving no hint of her awareness of the deceit.

After personally pouring a cup of tea for Tao Hua, Lady Jiang scolded herself inwardly, "You really are despicable! How did I not see how much you debased yourself before? Groveling before a swindler like this!"

Had she not learned the true nature of Tao Hua, Lady Jiang would never have realized how lowly she had been acting before when she ingratiated herself with Tao Hua!

"Big sister, I’m only reminding you because of how well we get along, that the Wu Family has already set the date, on the sixth of next month—a good day! How about our dear niece? Has she still not made up her mind?"

Who gets along with you? Swindler!

Lady Jiang cursed inwardly, but her face showed a troubled expression, "Yes, that girl just makes things difficult for people. I’ve told her that Wu Hanyu is about to enter the Second Prince Mansion, but she’s not anxious at all. She insists on entering with proper status. Ah, what should I do?"

Had this been a previous occasion, Lady Jiang would certainly have said, "Ah, big sister, what should I do?" But she had just hesitated for a long while and decided to leave out "big sister," fearing she might vomit right then and there. ƒreewebɳovel.com

Tao Hua, wholly focused on Le Yao, did not notice that Lady Jiang had not called her "big sister" today.

She sighed heavily and said, "Ah, this child, why is she so stubborn? Look at Miss Wu, now she’s a real clever one!"

"Yes, yes."

Lady Jiang nodded repeatedly, but her smile was cold. She had already sent someone to gather information, and Tao Hua’s identity was not only fake, but the story she told about Wu Hanyu was also falsified. What involvement did she have with the Second Prince? She had already found a suitable gentleman in the Capital city, and it was said that it would soon be finalized!

Had she not randomly encountered Lady Du outside that day, who boasted to her, Lady Jiang wouldn’t have believed the news so readily. After all these years of competing with Lady Du, she knew whether what was said was truth or just an act.

Seeing Lady Jiang nodding continuously but taking no further action, Tao Hua scolded her inwardly for not following along and leaned in mysteriously, "Big sister, let your older sister give you a piece of advice, how about that?"

When Tao Hua leaned in, Lady Jiang instinctively wanted to pull away, but upon hearing the woman’s words, she immediately became alert, "What advice?"

The corners of Tao Hua’s lips curved, and she glanced at the maid in the room.

Lady Jiang understood and waved for the maids to leave.

When only the two of them were left in the room, Tao Hua began to speak unreservedly, "This advice might be a bit unscrupulous, but, after all, you are a mother, and as long as it secures a good marriage for your daughter, you should dare to do anything, right?"

Lady Jiang blinked, feeling that she should nod in agreement.

"Yes."

Pleased, Tao Hua pulled out a small white porcelain bottle from her sleeve. The bottle was only as long as half a finger, but it was not small in girth. Lady Jiang could tell that it definitely contained something.

Waving the small porcelain bottle in front of Lady Jiang, Tao Hua smiled, "This can make your great-niece fall into a temporary sleep. We can take advantage of her sleeping state to send her to the Third Prince’s Mansion. Once the rice has been turned into cooked rice, hehe, even if the great-niece is reluctant, she will have to stay by the Third Prince’s side. Eventually, who says she cannot be a concubine? Once the day comes that the Third Prince ascends to greatness, her being named a formal wife is within reach!"