Chapter 616 Brother and Sister Meet for the First Time

"But Jiang Yi, I know you are kind-hearted. You will definitely feel sorry for her and treat her very well..."

"That's for sure. Between the two of us, you only have this one close relative left. Abandoned Mother, don't worry."

"I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about Aunt Du."

"Hmm?" Jiang Yi's expression changed slightly. "You think there's something wrong with your mother-in-law?"

"She's a good person, but she's a little soft-hearted." Lu Qiniang spoke frankly. "Besides, everyone is vain. She longs to enjoy life with the Fifth Young Master, which is also human nature. However, if you flatter her too much, I'm afraid she might act like a mother-in-law to you in the future."

Jiang Yi has a hot temper and cannot stand being wronged.

Lu Qiniang was worried that there would be a rift between her and the Fifth Young Master because of her mother-in-law.

"I don't know if what I think is right or not. I just said it casually, and you can just take it as it comes." Lu Qiniang took Jiang Yi's hand and said, "If you take her back, you must treat her well. But she is not your real mother-in-law, do you understand what I mean?"

Jiang Yi was sensible in order to give Mrs. Du an honor higher than that of a concubine.

But she couldn't come up, so she was treated as the old lady in the mansion.

People need to have some awe before they can develop a grateful heart.

Otherwise, it will be taken for granted and become worse.

People who are easily influenced may become complacent if provoked by others.

"I'm not saying Aunt Du is bad, she's really nice. I just don't want to see you two good people have a strained relationship in the future."

"I know." Jiang Yi smiled and patted Lu Qiniang's hand. "Qi Niang, we've known each other for so long, don't I know who you are? Others wouldn't say this. Only because you treat me like a sister would you teach me this way."

"Just don't be suspicious. I've thought about it over and over again, and it went around in my mind for who knows how many times before I dared to tell you. In the past few years, it's thanks to you taking care of Daya and Si Ya. I know everything." Lu Qin's face was moved.

"If you tell me those strange things, I won't be happy." Jiang Yi said with a smile, "It will make us feel distant if we talk about these things."

She asked about Xiaoman again.

"Did you recognize him?"

"No." Lu Qiniang smiled bitterly.

"You can't force it. You should be happy. Zhang Heyao is really good to him. When he grows up, he will understand your good intentions."

"Um."

"I guess the emperor wants to use Zhang Heyao." Jiang Yi continued, "I heard from my husband that many people have recommended him to the emperor, hoping that he can return to the court. Maybe even enter the cabinet."

"That's a good thing."

"It's good for the court, but not necessarily for you. In that case, can you still get Xiaoman back?"

"He will eventually have to marry and have children of his own," Lu Qiniang said. "You know that princess from before was unreliable..."

Jiang Yi secretly thought that when Zhang Heyao entered the cabinet again, he might be able to snatch more than just Xiaoman.

He was too obsessed with Lu Qiniang, perhaps because he didn't get her.

Lu Qiniang didn't think about those things either.

If it can't be solved, what's the point?

When Lu Qiniang took Jiang Yi back, Xiaoman also came.

He was circling around Si Ya, wanting to go forward, but was probably a little reserved.

But Si Ya smiled at him obediently, calling him "Brother" and giving him some of her candy.

"Why are you here at this time? Aren't you going to study?" Lu Qiniang asked with a smile.

"My second sister said that my younger sister is here and asked me to come over." Xiaoman replied.

"Okay, play with your sister and don't bully her."

"I will never bully my sister. I am her older brother and I have to protect her." Xiaoman said solemnly.

"Yes, yes, yes."

Xiaoman's confidence grew after receiving the compliment. He walked up to Si Ya and tried to act like a steady older brother: "Chi Chi, have you studied?"

Si Ya nodded, her voice soft and thin: "Yes, I did. I studied in the academy for three years."

She stretched out three white and tender fingers and gestured, with a hint of pride in her big eyes.

"Oh, three years." Xiaoman imitated Zhang Heyao's way of testing him. He put his hands behind his back and paced twice, then stopped and looked at Si Ya seriously. "Then let me ask you, there's a saying in Mencius: 'If you believe everything in books, it's worse than having no books at all.' What does this mean? And how should it be applied in academic research?"

The air suddenly became quiet.

Si Ya's beautiful big eyes blinked again and again, and her long eyelashes fluttered like frightened butterfly wings.

The shy smile on her little face slowly froze and disappeared, replaced by a deep sense of confusion and helplessness.

She tried hard to search for words like "Mencius", "Exerting One's Mind", and "Believing in the Book of Faith" in her little head, but they were like clouds floating in the air, which she could not catch, let alone understand their meaning.

What is "understanding"? What is "practice"? What is "scholarship"? These words are like heavenly books to her.

She had just said that she had studied for three years, but in the blink of an eye she was stumped by the test. She felt embarrassed and ashamed, and her big eyes were instantly filled with tears.

"Xiao Man!" Daya spoke immediately with a helpless smile, "My sister has just started learning. The question you asked is too difficult for her."

Erya also hurried over, gently hugged Siya's slightly trembling shoulders, and coaxed her softly, "Don't be afraid, Chichi. Brother is not testing you, he is just saying it casually. Brother is still learning himself! Right, Xiaoman?"

She glared at Xiaoman.

Xiaoman was a little scared of this powerful second sister and stopped talking.

But after returning, when Zhang Heyao asked about what happened today, he said distressedly: "My sister is very beautiful, but she doesn't seem very smart."

"How do you say that?"

Xiaoman then told her about today's conversation.

Zhang Heyao was also at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

After a long pause, he said softly, "Xiao Man, not everyone needs to rely on studying to make a living and govern the country. My sister has her own path to follow. In the future, she will be a wife and mother. She doesn't need to learn such profound knowledge."

"oh."

"Also, you need to be more patient with the little girl. She's your sister, you need to treat her well..."

Don't let her be snatched away by others in the future because of the little benefits she receives from others.

Xiaoman doesn’t quite understand.

He asked, "Dad, can I go play with my sister again tomorrow?"

"Well, go ahead." Zhang Heyao nodded.

They should be returning to Beijing soon.

He wanted to go back early.

He didn't want to see with his own eyes Lu Qinniang being carried away in Xiao Yan's big red sedan chair.

Yes, Zhang Heyao knew what Erya was planning.

He is never alone.

He had his own spies, both in the court and in Changzhou.

He even knew the queen's plan.

So he also knew that he and Lu Qinniang would have another chance in the future.