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Chapter 209 The First Branch is to Blame. What Does It Have to Do with Me?

Marquess Qin immediately regained his calmness, and said lightly, “If I don’t press it down, it would be what Jiang Yashuang said just now: Even if Xue Chang sides with us, the Gu Family hasn’t been destroyed yet and who will be Crown Prince is still unknown. We don’t know who will be the new Emperor at all! If I allow them to fight with each other in the family now, will there be hope for the Jiang Family?”

“You already have an idea in your mind, so I won’t talk about it anymore.” Sir Jibei was startled when he heard the words, and said, “But Tianao has done a lot of bad things these years. I’m afraid that the feud between him and Tianchi is not very easy to get rid of.”

“Let’s get rid of the Gu Family first.” Marquess Qin said lightly, “No matter how difficult it is, they are related by blood. Yadan has just been raised to be a loser. He is still alive. We will still be around for a few years. There is always a way to solve their problem. After so many years of fighting, we have destroyed so many strong enemies. Won’t we be able to deal with the children we raised?”

Sir Jibei retorted, “You are not in a hurry, but Jiang Yashuang is involved now, and he will take the exam in the spring!”

“He should know what is more important and what he can do. If he can’t figure it out and needs me to tell him, then it means I’ve wasted my time to teach him all these years.” Marquess Qin was not worried at all, “He’ll have to go through this kind of thing one day. Who doesn’t plot in such a big family? Since he is willing to tell me the truth without concealing it, it can be seen that he knows how far he can go. Just let him do it now. Anyway, it’s our life to clean up the mess of our children.”

Marquess Qin complained to Sir Jibei that the children and grandchildren were not virtuous. He had to worry about sibling rivalry at such an old age. Meanwhile, Jiang Yashuang, who just returned to his yard, was attentively listening to Ou Bicheng talking about what he had seen and heard in the Northern Army when he had been home for the exam, “My cousin has been promoted half a rank because he married Jiang Qisheng, and is now eligible to participate in the discussion in the Army’s tent. However, your cousins are well protected by your father. They don’t have much to do. Speaking of which, your father is doing it for you. He deliberately prevents your cousins from going to the battlefield. In this way, when you go to the north after you pass the exam next year, they will have no advantages when confronting the enemies from the north as they know nothing except some common-sense knowledge.”

Jiang Yashuang shook his head, “I want to stay in Hanlin Academy for two years before joining the army.”

Ou Bicheng was confused and then said, “Do you want to be the premier? Is that why you want to go to Hanlin Academy?”

“Indeed!” Jiang Yashuang didn’t hide his ambition, “I want to become someone who can be a general in the battlefield or a premier in the court. Since there is an opportunity, I’ll take it. Anyway, my father is still middle-aged. He can wait for another two or three years.”

“Isn’t the position of Premier supposed to be what I am pursuing?” Ou Bicheng chuckled, “You will be the general and I’ll be the premier and we will control the world. This is what we have agreed upon since childhood. Why are you planning to be both now?”

Thinking the scene of their childhood, Jiang Yashuang smiled slightly, showing the expression of reminiscence, and then he retorted, “You? Pass the provincial examination first!”

“I told you not to mention it. Do you want me to end our friendship?” Ou Bicheng complained, but there wasn’t any annoyance in his tone. Obviously, he didn’t take the provincial examination very seriously. After all, the previous generations of the Ou Family were horse thieves and the titles and official positions were all based on military merit. Some of the elders in the family didn’t even recognize their names. Ou Bicheng, who was a Xiucai at such a young age, had already made the Ou Family proud.

So, he pretended to complain for a while and then continued, “In this case, you won’t be able to join the army for at least another three years. We won’t know if anything will happen during the three years. Maybe you can stay for a shorter time in Hanlin Academy, like a year and a half. Anyway, Darui’s rules only require the premier to have experience in the Hanlin Academy, but they don’t specify for how long.”

“I don’t want to just get experience in Hanlin Academy.” Jiang Yashuang shook his head and said, “I want to take advantage of being with my granduncle these years to inquire about the Northern Army in detail. I can learn all the rules in advance. When I join the army later, it will be much easier for me.”

Ou Bicheng nodded, “That’s true! Now it seems that your father has no intention to pave the way for you. Even if you go to work for him, he probably won’t explain it to you clearly. It’s better to be in the Hanlin Academy to get the experience and get Sir Jibei to tell you the rules.”

At this moment, he was a little sleepy and yawned, “There is nothing else to tell you. I’m going to the guest room!”

Jiang Yashuang opened the book at hand, “Go ahead. I have some unfinished homework today. When I’m done with it, I’ll also go back to my room.”

“Don’t get too tired. There is room for a weak person in the Northern Army.” Ou Bicheng rubbed his eyes and walked out. But he stopped halfway and said, “By the way, when you go to greet your grandmother tomorrow, tell Xing to come back. I heard from my grandmother yesterday that she hasn’t been home for a long time. She is not a little girl anymore and others may gossip about her if she always stays outside.”

In order to revenge that Jiang Yashuang had just laughed at him for not passing the provincial examination, he continued, “Especially about you and your brother’s reputation!”

“I see. I will definitely tell her what you said when I’m there tomorrow. You can leave now.” Jiang Yashuang couldn’t laugh anymore and called Jiang Tan to prepare some ink.

However, he felt a weird atmosphere, which was not as usual, as soon as he got into the courtyard of Madame Tao the next day.

After walking a few steps forward, he was stopped by four maids with serious looks, “Jiang Yashuang, the Madame is asking about things inside. Please go to your yard and have a rest. When the Madame finishes asking questions, I’ll come to get you!”

“Then I’ll go to see Jiang Qizheng.” Jiang Yashuang glanced suspiciously at the tightly closed doors and windows, lowered his voice, “What’s wrong?”

“You should go back to your yard. Her Highness is inside!” The maid knew that Madame Tao liked him, so she secretly revealed, “It seems that Her Highness has spread some rumors that shouldn’t be spread. The Madame is very angry. She is asking her about it right now.”

Jiang Yashuang felt a little worried when he heard this, and said, “Then I will wait here.”

The Maid asked him to go back to take a rest for several times, but he only said that he was not tired. After standing there for more than an hour, he saw that the door opened, and Jiang Qizheng and Ou Qinglan staggered slightly with their eyes red. They must’ve knelt for a long time in the room. Being supported by the maids, they came out in a daze.

“Qizheng! Xing! What happened?” Jiang Yashuang hurriedly asked.

“Go to ask your grandmother!” Jiang Qizheng saw him and she felt more like to cry. Then she lowered her head silently. Ou Qinglan wanted to say something, but shook her head, and took Jiang Qizheng’s arm, “Let’s go back.”

When Jiang Yashuang saw this, he hurried into the room and asked Madame Tao, who had just left her seat and was about to go to the inner chamber to relax, “Grandma, what were Jiang Qizheng and Xing here for?”

“I’m about to send someone to tell your grandfather! Since you are here, I’ll tell you. Then you can tell your grandfather.” Madame Tao looked upset and got rid of the servants who had just come in with a gloomy look. She said, “Qizheng was rescued by Qiu Feng in the earthquake. At that time, she drowned and could not breathe. In order to save her, Qiu Feng had touched... Touched her. So, later he gave the credit to your wife and her brother, lest Qizheng’s reputation is ruined!

Speaking of which, Madame Tao secretly gritted her teeth, “Qizheng said she had only told two people about this matter. One was Xing and the other was me. But it was heard by someone. In short, now everyone is talking about her and Qiu Feng in the mansion.”

Jiang Yashuang’s look changed, “A servant won’t be so bold. Someone must be targeting Jiang Qizheng!”

“You’ll decide whether to tell your grandfather or not depending on the timing. This may be done by the first branch again!” Madame Tao said angrily, “When Prince of Qi was no longer a candidate for Crown Prince, your Aunt Yang and Jiang Qiyun were furious. They even wanted to cancel the engagement once. You know, because your sister was entitled as Princess by Tianluan, many people were jealous of her in the family. Those losers now know that she was touched by a person of low social status and they will surely gloat!”

“The first branch has gone too far!” Jiang Yashuang showed a stern look and gritted his teeth, “This is something that might affect my sister for a lifetime. Although Qiu Feng has a very good character, we don’t know if he likes my sister or not. However, they dared to...”

“Calm down!” Madame Tao patted his hand hurriedly and reminded, “Your grandfather has always been very fond of the first branch. Even if you show him the evidence, your grandfather will let them frame some servants for their crime, not to mention this is merely my speculation. Now your father and mother are not in Jing City and he is always your elder. Don’t do anything irrational and let him get to you!”

Jiang Yashuang took a deep breath and said, “I understand what you said, grandmother. It’s just that my sister has got hurt. I can’t just stand by and do nothing.”

“Who told you to do nothing?” Madame Tao sneered, “Madame Dou thought that her youngest daughter was married, and her granddaughters were still young, so it would not affect her much if she made the reputation of the Jiang Family’s daughter bad. Did she forget who Jiang Qiyun’s mother-in-law is?”

Taking a look at her grandson, she said, “I just asked Mom Hu to go into the palace to ask your aunt to teach Jiang Qiyun a lesson! Anyway, there are many in-laws in our family. Even if Prince of Qi can’t be Crown Prince, he is still a prince. Many girls are satisfied with being an ordinary Princess instead of being the Crown Princess or the Empress. There’s no need to worry too much about the niece!”

“Grandma, even if you retaliate against the first branch this way, how can my sister’s reputation be restored?” Jiang Yashuang didn’t feel like these words comforting. Compared with the first branch, he was more concerned about Jiang Qizheng’s marriage in the future, “Although the reputation of our family is a bit undisciplined, the rumors are all about boys.”

The daughters of the Jiang Family had a reputation for being domineering, but they never had a bad reputation in terms of their innocence.

This was mainly because mothers weren’t confused enough to let their daughters mess around as their sons.

The Jiang Family’s daughter could marry anyone she wanted as long as the elder agreed. But if a man was forced to get married against his will, how would they live a happy life together?

The corner of Madame Tao’s mouth twitched, “I have ordered someone to thoroughly investigate the source of the rumors. I hope it hasn’t been spread outside the mansion!”

When Jiang Yashuang retreated and left, Mom Hu helped Madame Tao into the inner chamber and lay down. Half of the bed-curtain was put down. Seeing Madame closed her eyes, Mom Hu was about to tiptoe out. Madame suddenly asked softly, “Have those rumors been spread out?”

“Yes, they have. However, because our family has a powerful background and Her Highness is the Empress’s favorite Princess, I’m afraid that it will take a few days for the rumors to be discussed in the streets.” Hearing the Madame’s question, Mom Hu hurriedly got back to the bed, half-kneeled, and whispered on the side of the bed.

Madame Tao said, “They are competing for Crown Prince at the time. It is not a good thing for the Jiang Family’s girl to have a bad reputation. Chaohai will surely find out about Qiu Feng’s character. Then he’ll have Zheng’er married to him in order to quickly settle the matter, not to give the Empress Dowager a chance to make a move!”

Mom Hu hesitated: “Your letter will soon reach Beijiang. What if Old Master Tianchi and Madame Zhuang object?”

“What does it have to do with me? I treat their daughter as a treasure. I even met Qiu Feng personally and asked Qianbin to ask her future daughter-in-law. I did everything that I could, but their daughter was unlucky and got into the first branch’s trap. How can they blame it on me?” Madame Tao opened her eyes, and her usually kind face was full of coldness and contempt at this moment, “If they want to blame, they should blame the first branch, who not only ruined their legitimate eldest son but also their legitimate daughter.”

After letting a sigh of relief, Madame Tao glanced at the speechless Mom Hu, and slowed down, “Do you think I’m cruel to sacrifice the girl that I raised just to make the fourth branch hate the first branch more, regardless of her future happiness?”

Mom Hu’s look changed, “I dare not to think that way!”

“Tianluan does not have a son, so she can only support a concubine’s son to get the throne.” Madame Tao looked at the top of the tent and said lightly, “Even if she becomes the Empress Dowager, she is still a woman who lives in the palace. She’ll need to rely on the Jiang Family in the court and in the army. Jiang Tianchi has not returned from Beijiang for many years. Tianluan and the elder brother have basically never been together. Even though she treats his children well, will Jiang Tianchi definitely help her with everything? As for Jiang Tianqi and the others, Tianluan doesn’t get along with them well because they don’t have the same mother and they have the age difference. Moreover, Tianluan always talks to Chaohai directly when discussing court affairs. She rarely meets with her brothers and cousins.”

“When Chaohai dies in the future, she’ll need the help of them. But nobody knows if they will be reliable at that time. Especially according to Chaohai’s way of dealing with things. When Crown Prince is settled, he will definitely try to solve the problems among the children and the grandchildren.” Madame Tao sneered, “When the descendants of the Jiang Family are united, who will care about Tianluan in the future?”

“Thinking about it, I figured I should make the hatred between them deeper, so deep that Chaohai can’t resolve it at all!” Madame Tao squinted and said lightly, “In this way, they will keep fighting with each other and Tianluan will mediate. She can live up to her name as a regent. My daughter has been in the palace for many years for the family. She was hurt by Empress Dowager Gu and almost died giving birth to Yongfu. I won’t let her be a puppet for the Jiang Family again. No way!”

Mom Hu lowered her head and didn’t dare to say anything.