With a smile, Xiao Zhan watched Jiang Wei enter the Jiang residence. He took the reins from Qingfeng, mounted his horse, glanced at the closed gates, and rode away.

As Jiang Wei entered, she was greeted by her father, who walked towards the door with a smile on his face and a brisk pace. Upon seeing that the person who entered was Jiang Wei, he...

His expression changed swiftly, and he called out to Jiang Wei with a cold face.

Jiang Rou didn't want to pay him any attention. She was too tired to go straight to her own courtyard to rest.

However, Jiang Zai Shui had no intention of letting her go so easily. Seeing that Jiang Wei was not listening to him, and after glancing at the door and finding no one else there, he started cursing.

"You unfilial daughter, stop right there! Can't you see your father standing here?"

They don't even have the most basic manners?

"You can't even greet me properly anymore?" Jiang Zai Shui looked at Jiang Wei with disgust, his hands behind his back.

"Rou'er said you didn't return home all night, and I didn't believe it! I didn't expect you to be so indiscreet, only returning at this time the next day."

how?

In just a few days, he has learned those businessmen's habits and mannerisms.

It's true what they say, old habits die hard!

"No wonder like mother, like daughter!" He cursed Jiang Wei as if she weren't his child, and it was all Chen Xuening's fault.

Jiang Zai Shui waved his hand and said, "You'd better stay put today and don't go out and embarrass yourself."

Jiang Wei couldn't suppress her anger at all!

"Businessman's style? You've wasted too much of my maternal grandfather's money."

What kind of businessman should they be like? Should they be like you, eating from the bowl and then cursing the cook?

My maternal grandfather and his family really didn't have the skills of a traditional Chinese medicine doctor!

Like mother, like daughter? Then what about the father? What is he? Is he none of my business? Indeed, he has nothing to do with me. I was born from the pain of my mother's death, and the money spent raising me came from my maternal grandfather's family.

"So what did my father give me?" Jiang Wei stared intently at Jiang Zaishui.

“My mother died early and I had no one to raise me, so my father looked down on me. I am naturally not as good as your daughter who had an affair without a matchmaker, and your son who started learning to read at the age of four but still can’t read many words, yet you like him.”

After all, they have your blood and Aunt Liu's blood in them, that's why they're so useless! Father should be extremely satisfied! Jiang Wei will not show Jiang Zai Shui any mercy.

Jiang Zai Shui was furious. He walked up to Jiang Wei and said, "Do you think that just because your maternal grandfather and his family have come to the capital, they can make decisions for you? Do you think you can be so arrogant and domineering at home? Don't forget that I am your father, and I am in charge of your affairs."

I am a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Rites, while they are nothing but lowly merchants. Do you really expect them to stand up for you?

What a joke!

Jiang Zai Shui slapped the wooden box in Jiang Wei's hand, knocking it over onto the grass beside him.

Jiang Wei couldn't hold back any longer and took a step forward, shouting in a loud voice, "Father!"

"Your daughter only tolerated your nonsense here because of some blood ties. Since you look down on the Chen family's wealth, you should move out tomorrow!" Jiang Wei's face was stiff and devoid of any emotion.

"Don't live here comfortably while looking down on these things. That's despicable and shameful."

After Jiang Wei finished speaking, she saw a figure at the door and went to pick up the wooden box that Jiang Zai Shui had knocked to the ground. Without waiting for Jiang Zai Shui to speak, she went to her own courtyard.

The Vice Minister of Rites entered through the door and spotted a figure in the distance.

She was slender and graceful, and even though he couldn't see her face clearly, she still stirred his heart.

His wife was from a prominent family. Although she was not the eldest daughter, her direct lineage was much stronger than that of the collateral branches. She was also loved by her parents, who doted on her.

Over the years, because he married this lady, he received a lot of help from her family, which enabled him to become the Vice Minister of Rites at a young age. Moreover, the Minister of Rites would retire and return to his hometown in less than two years, so that position was practically in his pocket.

He benefited greatly from marrying this woman; the only drawback was that she was infertile.

They've been married for several years and haven't had a single child. His wife's health hasn't been good these past few years, so they're probably destined to be childless.

His wife then thought of taking him a concubine so that their family could have more children.

He wouldn't easily agree; he'd definitely have to put on a good show.

He kept postponing the marriage, vowing to marry only her for the rest of his life, and that if they had no children, they would have no children at all.

This way, she would be more willing to go to her parents' home for him, which would be more beneficial to his career.

As expected, after several rejections, his wife became even more determined to find a suitable candidate for him.

After searching high and low, she turned her attention to her maternal family again. He would be happy to have another concubine from a prominent family, as this would strengthen his relationship with them and prevent things from escalating after his wife's death.

The powerful families would not help him.

But she couldn't find a suitable candidate, so the matter was delayed.

A few days ago, I heard Jiang Zaishui say that he had a daughter who was engaged to the heir of the Marquis of Chang'an, Song Shizi. After the engagement was broken off, her reputation was ruined and she had difficulty finding a husband.

He became interested after thinking about it, and tentatively told Jiang Zai Shui that he intended to take her as a concubine. Unexpectedly, Jiang Zai Shui agreed.

When he went back and told his wife, she also said that they should check his virginity before he married into the family.

If she is a virgin, they can have sex and have a child on the same day. If she is not, they should wait two months to make sure she is not pregnant before having sex and having a child.

Anyway, it's just one concubine, it doesn't matter. If she's not satisfied after giving birth, just get rid of her.

"Lord Jiang, was that Miss Jiang who just passed by?" asked Xiao Zhijie, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites.

Jiang had just had an unpleasant encounter with Jiang Wei due to water pressure.

Seeing that Xiao Zhijie had spotted Jiang Wei and was asking him with some anticipation, Jiang Zaishui smiled and said, "Nephew, please come in. The one who just greeted me here is my eldest daughter, Jiang Wei."

Xiao Zhijie returned the greeting and followed Jiang Zai Shui inside.

The two began to discuss the process of taking a concubine.

Xiao Zhijie said to Jiang Zaishui, "Originally, taking a concubine would have been simple—just a sedan chair with tears in its eyes would have sufficed. But for Jiang Zaishui's sake, we'll give them some betrothal gifts and choose an auspicious day to carry Jiang Wei there. He will personally come to fetch her."

This was already a rare privilege for a concubine.

Jiang Zai Shui saw that Xiao Zhijie still gave him some face, and he nodded happily.

I was overjoyed. He had become the father-in-law of the Minister of Rites, and I had hope of climbing the ranks again.

Chen Xuening did do a good thing.

………………

When Jiang Wei returned to Breeze Courtyard, Lu Zhu and the others hadn't slept all night and had been looking out the door many times.

Seeing Jiang Wei return, Lu Zhu ran up to her and whispered, "Miss, you're back! I was so worried!"

Dewdrop helped Jiang Wei into the house.