"Mother, I'll go with you."
Jiang Lingtian walked in from outside the door, his face cold.
He heard everything that was said inside the house.
He knew about his mother's grievances over the years, knew that his grandmother looked down on his mother and Jiaojiao, and knew that his father only had eyes for Jiang Xue and Jiang Liu.
But only now do I realize...
They looked down on more than just his mother and Jiaojiao; he and his elder brother also had the blood of lowly merchants flowing in their veins, which, in the eyes of these noble families, was their original sin.
Although His Majesty issued a decree in the year he ascended the throne, allowing merchants to take the imperial examinations and become officials.
But to this day...
In the imperial court, there was not a single merchant. In the eyes of these noble families, imperial favor was a disgrace, and they would stop anyone who wanted to cross social classes.
With just a tap of a finger, a merchant can be rendered forever obsolete.
Be their money bag obediently.
"You—you unfilial son!"
Jiang Qingyun was furious, even angrier than when they were divorcing. "Don't think that just because you've become Master Li's disciple, you've risen to the top! Once you leave the Marquis's mansion, you're nothing! You can forget about ever stepping into the imperial court!"
"Foolish!"
Madam Jiang angrily rebuked, "Now that you've become Mr. Li's student, you're sure to pass the imperial examination this year! A man should prioritize his future! How can you accomplish anything if you're preoccupied with personal feelings!"
"Ling Tian..."
Jin paused, her face showing hesitation. Although she also wanted him to come with her, they were right. It was too difficult for the son of a merchant to become an official through the imperial examination. Back then, her parents had arranged for her to marry into the Marquis's mansion with a grand wedding procession, hoping that their child's future would be smooth.
Jiang Jiaojiao never expected that her second brother would choose their mother.
She had been given a second chance at life before she finally realized that the people in the Marquis's mansion were either human or ghosts.
The second brother was never very close to his mother, and he was ashamed of being the son of a merchant.
Reborn?
Is this some kind of ghost?
Jiang Lingtian looked at his mother, whose eyes were red, and Jiang Jiaojiao, who was standing there dumbfounded.
If there are no male members in the family, the mother and sister can only return to their parents' home. If they go together, they can live independently, support their mother, and take care of their sisters.
Jiang Jiaojiao is a troublemaker.
If left unattended, it will fly into the sky.
“My mind is made up. My father and grandmother are supported by my eldest brother and third brother, while I will stay with my mother and Jiaojiao.”
"Ling Tian..."
Jin burst into tears. The grievances that had been lingering in her heart for many years finally found an outlet. How could she not know or feel pain from the children's estrangement and disdain over the years?
"Mother……"
Jiang Jiaojiao patted Jin's back reassuringly, then looked at her second brother, thinking that he was smart enough that the "leg-stretching and eye-glaring pill" hadn't been given away for nothing.
"Okay, okay!"
Jiang Qingyun trembled with anger, "So you've really grown wings! Do you think that just because you've joined Master Li's tutelage, you'll definitely become an official?"
"Did you know that the headmaster of Bailu Mountain Academy personally accepted your third brother? He's sure to be on the list of successful candidates this year, bringing glory to our family!"
Madam Jiang's face darkened, revealing undisguised disgust. "You've been indecisive since childhood, and that's where you'll end up. My Marquis's mansion doesn't need another pedantic scholar. If you want to leave, then leave. Don't regret it later!"
She disliked the second child from a young age.
He was timid and hesitant, lacking any of the noble air of a young master from a noble family. After all, he had the blood of a merchant. So be it, she didn't only have him as her grandson.
With the new bride entering the household, she might have a few more adorable grandchildren, and she'll be short one more to inherit the family fortune.
Outside the door, a series of footsteps approached.
A bunch of Jin family boys rushed in, shouting, "We're here to take Aunt (Sister) back to the manor!"
"presumptuous--"
Jiang Qingyun roared, "Get out!"
Jin Shi roared, "Take our Jin family members and belongings away, and we will never set foot in your manor again!"
"It's just a dilapidated marquis's mansion. We won't even go in, even if they beg us to!"
"If it weren't for our Jin family, this Marquis's mansion—bah! It wouldn't even be a mansion anymore! Marquis, my foot! It'd be a monkey show in the street!"
"Take everything in this mansion that belongs to the Jin family!"
"Load up the things, let's go! We'll take Auntie to the government office to get the divorce papers!"
Jin Shiqi snatched the divorce papers, fearing the Marquis's mansion might renege on its promise. With a shout, a group of servants rushed in, some even with red silk sashes around their waists, banging gongs and drums.
Surrounded by Jin Shi, Jiang Jiaojiao, Jiang Lingtian, and Wenshu, they walked away.
Old Madam Jiang couldn't catch her breath and fainted from anger.
Jiang Qingyun quickly sent someone to fetch the imperial physician.
Half an hour later.
The servant returned and reported that the family physician had left with the Jin family, as had all the servants and old women who had entered the mansion with Jin.
...
On the long street.
A procession of red processions, accompanied by the sounds of gongs and drums, escorted an exquisitely crafted carriage toward the government office.
Pedestrians stopped walking.
Strangely, there were no wedding attendants or sedan chairs at the front of the wedding procession, but rather a luxurious carriage that looked somewhat familiar.
Someone actually recognized it and exclaimed, "Isn't that the carriage of the richest man in the Jin family?"
"The four pendants are no ordinary pearls, and this horse, I've heard, is a fine steed from the Western Regions. It is indeed pure white, without a single blemish!"
"Is the Jin family marrying off their daughter? Or are they taking a bride?"
"We haven't heard any news! Hurry! Let's go and see. The Jin family is the most generous; such a grand display must have brought a lot of money!"
"Let's go, let's go..."
People, whether they knew him or not, all gathered around, ignoring everything and simply saying "Congratulations!"
really.
Several baskets of copper coins were carried out from the procession and scattered among the crowd!
While scattering the confetti, he shouted, "Today is the auspicious day for our daughter's divorce! Everyone, grab a drink and celebrate!"
"Thank you so much! This is truly wonderful news!"
"Today, our young ladies will escape this sea of suffering and the den of wolves, and from now on, their lives will surely be smooth sailing!"
"..."
The crowd fell silent for a moment before a voice finally broke through.
"Did I hear that right? Divorce? Not marriage?"
"The Jin family consists entirely of young masters; where would they find any young ladies?"
"Was it because of my posture when I got out of bed this morning? Or was I dreaming?"
"We can't all be doing it wrong, can we?"
"...The carriage and the red-clad woman seemed to have come from the Yongchang Marquis's residence."
"hiss--"
The news was so explosive that it spread throughout the entire capital in an instant. By the time the carriage carrying the divorce papers entered the government office, the long street was already packed with people.
It's been so many years since we've seen such a lively scene.
Oh no! This kind of excitement! I've never seen anything like it before!
I've seen wedding processions and wedding parties, but I've never seen a wedding procession with a ten-mile-long red bridal procession!
This is hardly a slap in the face to the Marquis's mansion!
It's like rubbing the Marquis's face in the dirt!
Soon, all sorts of rumors began to circulate.
"Lord Yongchang is dissatisfied with the Jin family merchants and has already chosen a new wife. This is to make way for the new wife."
"The eldest daughter of the Yongchang Marquis's mansion offended a noble person in the palace, which implicated the Jin family in their divorce."
"The eldest son of the Marquis of Yongchang committed a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his family and was brought into the palace. This is the Marquis's family drawing a line between themselves and the imperial family."
...
Rumors are rampant.
When Jin received the divorce papers stamped with the official seal, her eyes reddened. She returned to the Jin residence and wept bitterly, breaking the hearts of the old lady and the old master of the Jin family.
People of all ages jumped up and down, cursing angrily.
The cursing reached the Yongchang Marquis's residence, and the old lady Jiang, who had just woken up, fainted again upon hearing the noise.
Jiang Qingyun smashed all the porcelain in the room.
No one came to clean it up.
When they were starving, the old steward finally arrived, leading several old and young people to clean the house and serve some congee and side dishes.
The old steward bowed and said, "My lord, the kitchen staff has left. These vegetables were bought from a farmer by my son. Please make do with them for now."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingyun felt dizzy.
A buzzing sound filled my ears.
Kim is so heartless!
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