Chapter 93: Lao Jiang Takes Li Laosi Away from the Capital

Chapter 93: Old Jiang Takes Li Laosi Away from the Capital

"Mother, I was wrong."

Regardless of where she went wrong, admitting fault first was the way to go. Old Jiang quickly jumped in to defend his daughter.

"This really can't be blamed on our girl. It's Li Laosan who didn’t handle the job properly and let those censors catch wind of it. As the old saying goes, you learn from your mistakes, right? Next time, our daughter definitely won’t make this kind of error."

"That’s called 'a fall into a pit, a gain in your wit'!"

Xu Shi shot her husband an angry glare.

"The children have learned from you to be recklessly bold all day long, acting without considering the consequences. How can that be acceptable?"

"Of course it’s not acceptable, but our children are still young, aren’t they? These things take time to teach. Come on, let’s go eat first. We can talk about everything after the meal."

Old Jiang led the way, coaxing his wife along with sweet talk, while Xiao Jiang trailed behind, quietly smiling with narrowed eyes.

After resolving the major worry, Jiang Wan settled down at home. In the mornings, she studied literature and martial arts with her tutor, and in the afternoons, she brought her younger sister along to learn household management from their mother.

Since the matters in the palace had been settled, the children of civil and military officials no longer had to study in the palace. Empress Qiao, straightforward by nature and without the overcalculations of noble families, adopted a laid-back attitude: you do you.

Those who wished to continue their studies could go, while those who didn’t want to study in the palace were not forced. As a result, a large number of families who wanted to avoid trouble or had other reasons hired tutors to teach their children at home.

In truth, everyone understood clearly: being a companion to princes and princesses was no easy task.

At first, when provincials first entered the city, they could make do with everything together. But now, as the situation gradually clarified, rules had to be established and etiquette emphasized. Those who didn’t know had to learn slowly, and nothing could be overlooked.

The Jiang family, after all, was a ducal household, and with one of their own firmly destined to become a princess consort, they had to be especially careful in every aspect.

So, Jiang Huailiang followed the trend by leaving his son in the palace as a companion to the Fifth Prince, while his two beautiful daughters were smoothly brought back home.

Lacking the resources to hire good tutors?

No problem, kind-hearted people were there to offer help. Sir Qin, who deeply valued old friendships, sent literature tutors, martial arts instructors, covert guards, and overt guards.

A refined gentleman through and through, he surprisingly hit it off with Old Jiang, a warrior who might not even know how many characters he recognized. They became as close as brothers from different parents.

This even prompted the emperor, that shrewd ruler, to subtly remind his second son several times. But what started as advice soon turned into envy, all within the span of just half a month.

Why? Simply because the gifts were too generous.

Lao Qin, with the integrity of a scholar, emphasized brotherly loyalty. He adhered to the principle of "if you need it and I have it," even going so far as to wish he could pack up his family’s ancestral chef and send him to the Jiang household.

The emperor suspected multiple times that this guy might have ulterior motives, so he investigated covertly several times. But Qin Zhenning never once visited the Jiang home, let alone met Xu Shi. He only had direct contact with Jiang Huailiang outside, leading the emperor to finally conclude one thing:

He was just showing off his abundance!

As the main lineage of a centuries-old noble family, the things he casually brought out were items provincials had never seen—some they hadn’t even heard of!

So, during this period, the emperor grew increasingly displeased with his sworn brother who had scored such a great deal. With a wave of his hand, he didn’t even let him spend the New Year's at home, issuing an imperial decree to send him to Dongling Prefecture to deal with remnants of the previous dynasty.

Old Jiang cheerfully accepted the decree. Leading his troops and a son-in-law who was weeping and reluctant to leave, he chose an auspicious day with bright sunshine, banners furled halfway, and marched out of the capital.

There was no need to worry about the capital for now. Since the emperor intended to use him, he would surely protect his family. Moreover, with Qin Zhenning keeping an eye on things, and his wife and eldest daughter being extraordinary individuals, they certainly wouldn’t suffer any losses.

Half a month after the army departed, the New Year approached.

The matriarch was busy every day managing gift exchanges with various families and handling household affairs, truly overwhelmed with work. Fortunately, her daughters were somewhat capable and could pitch in.

The mother and her two daughters were in the flower hall copying gift lists.

"Sir Qin is so refined. He either doesn’t give gifts, or when he does, it’s nothing ordinary!"

Jiang Wan held a newly acquired master's copybook, feeling quite impressed.

"Mother, this calligraphy book in my hand is a one-of-a-kind edition, isn’t it? How deep is Sir Qin’s friendship with our family that he’s so generous with his gifts?"

"Exactly, Mother! Look at this set of ink, brush, paper, and inkstone—it seems very exquisite too. Sir Qin is so wealthy! It’s really enviable!"

This was undoubtedly Jiang Han’s heartfelt words. Having known poverty as a child, the young girl firmly believed one thing: rich people were always enviable!

Xu Shi flipped through the gift list in her hand and smiled in response to her daughters’ comments.

"His gifts are indeed generous, but they aren’t exceptionally valuable. For example, this one-of-a-kind edition might be precious elsewhere, but among noble families, it’s not particularly remarkable. The ink, brush, paper, and inkstone I used when I first started learning could also be considered the work of famous masters!"

"Alright, Mother, stop talking!"

Jiang Han clutched her chest as if in pain, her other hand sorting through the scholar's tools in front of her. Jealousy gradually twisted her delicate features.

"You had it so good when you were young! It’s just that Big Sister and I weren’t born at the right time. If we had been born before the Xu family declined, how great would that have been? I could’ve flaunted the status of a noble lady too!"

Jiang Wan turned to glance at her.

"What’s wrong now?"

"Nothing."

"I’ll count to three. One—"

"Last time when we attended the banquet at the Marquis of Jinxiang's residence, that little girl from the Liu family mocked me and Qing Qing, saying we were provincials who just entered the city and that we’d make people laugh just by opening our mouths!

I was really furious at the time. If I weren’t so proper and well-bred now, I definitely wouldn’t have let it slide!"

She complained indignantly to her mother and sister about the whole incident. Xu Shi exchanged a glance with her eldest daughter before gently comforting her second daughter with a smile.

"The Liu family has produced many literary laureates and is a family with a long heritage. They have the right to look down on us—why get angry over it?

Let her say whatever she wants. Mocking someone to their face is already in poor taste. If you don’t take it to heart, that’s one thing. But if you nurse a grievance, sooner or later you’ll find a way to get even.

So, by getting in a few digs, you’ve inadvertently made another enemy. Tell me, who loses out in the end—you or her?"

Jiang Han knew her mother made sense, but she still couldn’t help muttering discontentedly.

"I just think that girl, with her small-mindedness, doesn’t act like a noble lady at all. Even though we really are provincials without much experience, does mocking us to our faces reflect good breeding? I think she’s even less sensible than I am, a provincial!"