Published at 3rd of March 2022 6:02 am

Chapter 463 Family Matters

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After meeting Madame Tao, Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan went to Sir Jibei’s Mansion to visit Madame Ou with their cousins. At the same time, they also paid a visit to Jiang Tiancan and his wife and met with Jiang Yabi and his wife.

Because Jiang Tiancan was still observing his mourning, many treasures and other furnishings were removed. The whole mansion looked empty. But the vastness and the grandeur of the mansion still amazed the younger generation who came from afar.

“In a twinkling of an eye, so many years have passed. I remember when you two were born, I held you and you were so small.” Madame Ou didn’t feel well since her husband died. At the moment, looking at Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan, she kept herself awake and recalled, “Now your children have grown taller!”

“My youngest grand aunt, please forgive us that we couldn’t come to pay final respect to our youngest grand uncle when he passed away!” The last time Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan saw Madame Ou, they were babes. So, they would not remember that Madame Ou had held them in her arms. Madame Ou had been bandits together with her family when she was young. And she had been on guard with her husband for decades in Beijiang. As such, she was somewhat savage in her manner. Usually, even Jiang Yadan and other grandnephews who grew up in Jing City had to be careful when they came to her, let alone Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan.

So, at this moment, they answered carefully, “Ashes to ashes. Please take care of yourself, my youngest grand aunt…”

“It’s not your fault. It was originally our decision as elders not to let you come.” Madame Ou shook her head. Since she had to conceal the news that Sir Jibei, the youngest brother, had died before Kui Xiannan who was still alive at that time, how could she let her nephews and grandnephews who were far away in Kui County come to offer their condolences?

After a few greetings to each other, Jiang Tiancan and his wife quickly took the conversation when they saw Madame Ou was tired. They talked for a while, and it was almost noon. So, they kept them for lunch in Marquess’s Mansion before letting them go.

The moment when Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan left, Jiang Tianhe came to the door to “visit” her mother.

“I heard that people from the second branch and the fifth branch had come to Jing City. Was that true?” Jiang Tianhe had not spoken a few words when she asked.

Madame Ou glanced at her, “That is why you came here in such a hurry, isn’t it?”

“Didn’t the second branch and the fifth branch say they wouldn’t be officials?” When Jiang Tianhe’s purpose was recognized by her mother, she was not ashamed. Instead, she simply laid it on the line, “Now why are they here again?”

“Your eldest uncle did not allow them to be officials but he did not forbid them from coming to Jing City!” Madame Ou snapped, “They just arrived here. We haven’t even talked about whether they will be officials or not. And you are so anxious to… How can you treat your relatives like this?”

Jiang Tianhe felt aggrieved, “There are only a few positions with real power, which are not enough… However, if they want to get in it, then…”

“It seems that there are two branches. But your two cousins are at this age. They have no rank in the imperial examinations. And they need to care for their old mother. How could they also come to Jing City?” Madame Ou frowned, “There are only two nephews and two grandnephews. The two grandnephews are still young. Even if we make arrangements for Yazhao and Yawan immediately to help them enter the court, they only take up two positions! The second branch and the fifth branch have been suppressed for so many years. Can’t we give them such a small advantage?”

Jiang Tianhe went to her side and tugged her arm to pamper her, “It’s not right that I really don’t want to see the second branch and the fifth branch live a good life. I am just worried about your only granddaughter! Mother, do you know that the second branch and the fifth branch were brought to Jing City by the first branch? Who would believe it that they buried the hatchet and joined hands with the first branch? No one!”

“This time the reason why they went to Jing City is to escort Jiang Huizhi. It is obvious that they want to fight against your granddaughter! Your son-in-law has always let us down. You are the only one that can protect your granddaughter!”

Jiang Tianhe shook and pulled her mother, pleading, “You have to give justice to your granddaughter. Please do not let the branch of the eldest uncle hurt her!”

Madame Ou sneered, “Huizhi hasn’t entered the palace yet. Even if she does, Empress Dowager is still in the palace! Emperor has always treated Fubing well. And Fubing has given birth to the first trueborn prince. Does she need to be afraid of Huizhi? You don’t have to talk about them on the pretext of protecting your daughter. You think I don’t know that you are just doing it for the Xin Family!”

The Xin Family began to expand since they had Empress in their family. Originally, the Xin Family was not prosperous. But as the family rose, all kinds of relatives came to the door. For the grand ambition, Jiang Tianhe and her husband never declined. Relying on Empress Xin, the Xin Family developed rapidly. However, although they became the family of Empress, the family of the former Empress, the Jiang Family, was still in the ascendant. The Xin Family was unable to take the first share and had to compete for the greater good. As such, Jiang Tianhe, who was a proud woman, had long felt unhappy!

Now the Jiang Family actually had a few more people to take up the share, so how could she not be anxious?

“No, I don’t! I just care for your granddaughter!” As what Jiang Tianhe truly thought was revealed by her mother, she also felt a bit embarrassed. She muttered and let go of Madame Ou’s hand, “We cannot make her aggrieved as she is honest and generous, can we? Even though the second branch and the fifth branch did not come to Jing City for her, others will think Jiang Huizhi has the support of these two uncles! How can they not underestimate Fubing?”

“Two elders are not officials. Even though Jiang Huizhi has their support, how can others underestimate Empress?” Madame Ou said so. But in her heart, she thought, “Although Tianhe has always plotted, Fubing is a sensible child… At such a young age, she knows about hard decisions. If she had not firmly made the oath in front of Kunlun, Kunlun would not have died peacefully.”

With that, Madame Ou sighed and said, “In a couple of days, I will write a letter to Tianchi and talk to him about the establishment of the crown prince… When the little prince is past his first birthday, we will find an opportunity to mention this, okay?”

Jiang Tianhe was very happy. Thanks to Empress from their family, the Xin Family could have the current situation. Once Empress Xin’s son was appointed as the crown prince, that meant she would be Empress Dowager. Did they have to worry that their family could not go any further? Even those who had joined the Jiang Family, particularly, all the younger ones, should think about it. Should they now stay in the Jiang Family and never catch up with the senior Jiang Family party? Or should they look more at the long term and turn to the Xin Family as a patriarch?

She happily rushed to leave and went home to share the good news with her husband and son. But she did not know that Madame Ou was looking at her back with a complicated gaze, “Yazhao and Yawan have just come to Jing City. And Tianhe is so eager to squeeze them out! She is so competitive and refuses to forgive. How can she dissolve her grudge against the sixth branch?”

According to Jiang Tianhe’s nature, in the future, once her daughter was in power, she must immediately liquidate her enemies. And Madame Mi would probably be the first in line!

In the end, Madame Mi was only her daughter-in-law. Madame Ou was not very heartbroken. But she was afraid that Jiang Tianhe would get Jiang Tiancan and his son involved.

“What should I do?” It was hard for a judge to make an accurate decision on family matters. Madame Ou had never had such a headache in her life!

When Madame Ou was having a headache, Jiang Yashuang was also having a headache.

There was no other reason. When Jiang Yashuang got off work and heard that his two cousins and their families had arrived, he went to the yard where they lived to pay his respects.

However, before they could say a few words, Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan pushed their sons to him at the same time, “We’ve heard for a long time that our nineteenth brother is very talented. You entered Hanlin Academy as the third-place in the imperial examination at the age of twenty. If you hadn’t been suppressed by the Gu Family, you must have won the first-place and be one of the top talents in our family. While Jingmu and Jingman are not much clever, they are diligent. Brother Yashuang, as they are your nephews, please give them some advice!”

If it weren’t for the war in Beijiang and Jiang Tianchi’s changed plan, Jiang Yashuang would already be in the Northern Army now. Although he did not leave now, he had lots of things to do. He was the most beloved grandson of Marquess Qin and the most useful youngest son of Sir of North. Who dared to make him a figurehead or snub him?

Except for his official business, he had a young nephew and his little son with him. And as Qiu Yelan got pregnant again, he needed to take care of children and chores in the yard. It could be said that he was overwhelmed. When he had time, he had to pay attention to his aides and staff, consolidate and expand his power, and teach his preordained student, Lu He, in his study… How could he have the time to care about another two nephews?

Especially, he had given discreet help to them before. And he knew that his two nephews thought no matter how well they did in study, Juren would be the best result for them as they were born in the second branch and the fifth branch of the Jiang Family. So, why should they put more efforts in it? They were about the age of Lu He. But in terms of academic levels, they were not even as good as Lu He when he was eight or nine years old.

Jiang Yashuang came from a noble family. And since childhood, he was a good student. Naturally, he set high standards for students. He didn’t think they were qualified to be his students. And according to the level of these two nephews, they could have some Xiucai at the street teach them. If they had Jiang Yashuang as their teacher, Jiang Yashuang would be overqualified. And it was also not suitable for Jiang Jingmu and Jiang Jingman.

As such, Jiang Yashuang was going to decline.

However, Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan wore Jiang Yashuang down and insisted that their sons should be taught by him!

“My fourth brother and fifth brother, I don’t want to spoil your face. But I’m full of lots of things. I don’t have much free time. And I’m afraid that I’ll not be helpful to my two nephews’ prospects!” As Jiang Yashuang found out that he could not decline them, he compromised, “If you insist that they should be taught by me, I can only instruct them once in a few days. And the instruction time is not guaranteed!”

Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan were overjoyed, “And then it’s settled!”

Seeing this, Jiang Yashuang was really speechless. He looked at the two nephews who were also full of joy and kindly reminded, “I cannot always instruct you two. You’d better hire a teacher to teach you in usual time, so as not to waste the study!”

“It does not matter. My nineteenth brother, you are so talented and learned. As long as they can learn a little from you, it will be enough!” Jiang Yazhao and Jiang Yawan obviously did not take his words to heart.

With that, Jiang Yashuang shook his head and thought to his heart, “I have told you that I don’t have much time to teach your sons. But you don’t listen. When you notice that they do not improve in their study a few days later, you will know that it is a delay for them.” However, as he taught them every few days, it was already April after three or five times of teaching. Jiang Jingmu and Jiang Jingman’s study was not much better than before. And because they did not see Jiang Yashuang in the middle of the time, they started to be lazy and seemed to be regressed.

But when Jiang Yashuang wanted to remind his two cousins…

“It has been more than ten days since I met your fathers last time?” Jiang Yashuang asked in confusion, “Is that true or not? I didn’t hear that they had a long journey!” According to the two cousins’ characters, as they were in Jing City, temptations were almost everywhere. It was common that they did not return for several days as they stayed in brothels. However, there was something seriously wrong as they didn’t come back for a dozen days!

Jiang Jingmu timidly said, “My mother said my father and my fifth uncle were staying at the Spring House these days. It was my eighth uncle’s treat…”

“No wonder they didn’t come back for more than ten days. So, it was my eighth brother who took the lead… I don’t know who will pay for the expenses. If it is going to be paid by the public account, I’m afraid that my fourteenth sister-in-law will hate my eighth brother!” Jiang Yashuang was so angry. After a while, he said, “In short, you should currently ask a teacher and study every day…” With that, he suddenly thought, “Or, you can go to the clan school of our Jiang Family, right?”

The Jiang Family had lots of descendants and followings. So, there was a clan school.

But the clan school took the model of large class. And as the teacher invited there knew that all students were noble, they didn’t dare to discipline them. Back then Jiang Yadan studied there. And relying on the love of the first branch, he got used to indulging himself and ended up in a debauched person…

So, when Jiang Yashuang was young, Marquess Qin and his wife took him around to teach him personally and did not let him go to the clan school.

That was why he just remembered the clan school.

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