20demayo Chapter 74 The Yang Family
Chapter 74 The Yang Family
It's too cold now, and the elderly folks who love gossip no longer insist on gathering at the village entrance to exchange information.
It was nearly evening when Jiang Xiaoqi and his group entered the village, so no one noticed the long procession of horse-drawn carriages entering the village.
The Jiang family had already received the letter and knew that the young master, mistress, and young ladies had returned home in the past two days.
The new steward, the eldest son of the Wen family, led the servants to clear the snow from the front door of their house.
As soon as Jiang Xiaoqi stepped off the carriage, the gatekeeper, with great perceptiveness, opened the door and welcomed him inside.
The light snowflakes melted silently the moment I stepped inside.
The group greeted Old Master Jiang and Old Madam Jiang, tacitly avoiding mentioning the danger they had encountered outside the city.
The two sisters only picked out interesting things about the city to share with their grandmother, while Jiang Xiaoqi followed her grandfather into the study.
"Grandfather, what happened at home?"
"Oh? Why do you ask that, Mingfei?"
Jiang Changshou was somewhat surprised. He hadn't said anything yet, but his grandson had already heard the news beforehand?
“Normally, at the end of the year, the family would buy clothes and decorations well in advance. With the twelfth lunar month approaching, the house is too bare.”
Sunzi is very meticulous, and Jiang Changshou doesn't know whether to be happy or worried. Such a young child already has a heavy workload, why bother to worry about other things?
Ah well, this matter is related to the imperial examinations, so it's not really anything else.
We still need to talk to the children about it, after all, we need to let our grandchildren take precautions early.
The future of their family line depends on their grandson to carry on the family name. They cannot treat their grandson like an ordinary child; he is the future head of their branch of the family.
Jiang Changshou patted Jiang Xiaoqi's head: "A few days ago, the families of the most learned students from several private schools in the county suffered misfortunes, and they may not be able to participate in next year's county examination."
Mingfei, you will also be taking the county examination in Changshou County next year. Your grandfather is just a little worried about your safety.
Jiang Xiaoqi looked up and saw the worry in her grandfather's eyes: "Grandfather, do you know something?"
Jiang Changshou paused in his tea-serving hand, seemingly considering whether or not to tell his grandson everything.
Jiang Changshou sighed and put down his cup: "Someone intervened and didn't want them to participate in next year's county examination."
The methods were ruthless and flawless. One or two families suspected something was amiss and reported it to the authorities, but the government couldn't find a single clue!
Jiang Xiaoqi was startled and immediately thought of the public opinion battles that had taken place in the clan school and Xinghe Prefecture.
Jiang Changshou looked out the window and said slowly, "If they can participate in the county examination, they will all have a chance to win the top spot in Changshou County."
The person behind this probably coveted the position of top scholar in the county examination, so they used some means to prevent these potential threats from participating.
Jiang Xiaoqi: "Such behavior is no longer a matter of fairness or unfairness. Destroying someone's future is like killing their parents. This is a blood feud!"
The person behind this probably wants more than just the position of county-level top scholar; they're likely eyeing the positions of prefectural and provincial-level top scholars as well!
Otherwise, Xinghe Prefecture wouldn't have caused that mess! It seems this person is going to take the county exam in their Changshou County and then the prefectural exam in Xinghe Prefecture.
Jiang Changshou nodded: "Who can argue with that? But the people behind this matter wield immense power. What can ordinary people like us do?"
Jiang Xiaoqi's eyes were firm: "Grandfather, don't worry, I will definitely study hard for the exam and not let the evildoers succeed."
Jiang Changshou smiled with satisfaction: "My grandson has ambition, and your grandfather naturally believes in you. But remember, the premise of everything is to protect yourself first."
“Master Lin and Master Zhao will be staying at our home for a while, which is also to protect our grandson closely.”
"It's good that you have made arrangements. Should we go to the county's security escort agency and hire a few more skilled bodyguards?"
"Alright, Grandfather can arrange it."
Jiang Xiaoqi didn't think the bodyguards in the county could be that powerful, after all, not everyone was a retired military commander.
Even a martial artist as intelligent and skilled as Lin Feng would cherish resources, but it would be good if it could put his grandfather's mind at ease.
The inner palace of the capital
"Your Majesty, newly blooming peonies have been delivered to the greenhouse. Shall we place them on the table?"
The palace maids stood in a row, each holding a potted peony of various colors, and each pot was in full bloom.
"let it go."
The elegant and noble woman wore a sorrowful expression, and the frown lines between her brows were faintly visible.
Although she carefully concealed it with makeup, the traces of time were still visible.
"Your Majesty, take things easy. No matter how beautiful the peony is, it is not a flower that can be displayed in a refined setting."
"Flowers don't bloom for a hundred days, but she has remained popular until now, showing no signs of fading or withering!"
Now it's even more magnificent, not content with just flowering, it has also borne fruit!
"Your Majesty, I am still a concubine, even if I am a Noble Consort!"
A son born to a concubine is an illegitimate child; how can he compare to a legitimate son? A legitimate son is the most honorable!
Yes, she is the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and her child will be the one to sit on that throne in the future!
At that point, what will those eyesores be? Won't you be favored? Won't you win the Emperor's heart?
Hmph! Then go underground and keep the old emperor company!
Thinking of this, the frustration in my heart eased a little. I cut off the best-blooming peony and put it in my hair.
The Empress's personal maidservant withdrew, and someone immediately came forward to greet her.
"Aunt Wanrong, how is it? Have you reported to Her Majesty? Is Her Majesty willing to lend someone?"
Wanrong was getting impatient. These members of the Yang family dared to come to the palace and bother the Empress with such trivial matters!
She didn't tell the Empress at all that she hadn't slept a full night since that woman gave birth to the prince.
The Empress is already troubled enough; she can't let such a trivial matter add to her worries!
"I told you, why didn't I? To bother Your Highness with such a trivial matter, how can your patriarch act like this!"
"Oh dear, who knew that fifty people would be lost at once, and not a single one of them came back. These are the people we can't replace for the time being."
Otherwise, we wouldn't have bothered Your Highness. It's just that our master wants the younger generation to succeed, all for the sake of the children!
Wanrong was getting impatient. These things were not worth mentioning in her eyes, let alone the Empress.
"Alright, don't forget, you are not Her Majesty's true maternal family. Don't forget to know your place. Since Her Majesty can support you, she can also bring you back to your original state!"
It's just a matter of the Empress's whim. Go back and tell your master to consider his own capabilities before acting.
If things really get out of hand, Her Majesty wouldn't mind putting on a show of upholding justice and even betraying her own family before the Emperor!
"Uh...! Yes! I understand! I understand!"
The visitor wiped the cold sweat from his brow, realizing that his master had indeed intended to test the Empress.
However, it's true that he wants to borrow people, since the last threat to his young master hasn't been eliminated yet, and he doesn't have many useful subordinates left.
Although they bribed the government to redeem everyone, several skilled martial artists had their tendons severed, rendering their skills useless!
Jiang Mingfei from Changshou County, this so-called child prodigy, is really hard to kill!