The news of the Liao family patriarch being beaten quickly spread throughout Fengjing, and the two yellowed teeth were also presented to the Jiang family.
Although it wasn't explicitly stated who the culprit was, there were only a few people in the Jiang family who could take action, and Jiang Chengyuan, as his direct nephew, was inevitably drawn into the center of the storm.
Jiang Sheng felt a little guilty.
It's all because of her that things have come to this point; she shouldn't stand idly by, neither morally nor logically.
It had been a while since she had visited her grandmother, so she discussed it with Zheng Ruqian and personally delivered two plates of lychee shaved ice to the Jiang family.
One plate for Old Madam Jiang, and one plate for Jiang Chengyuan.
The idea was good, but when they actually arrived at Derentang, they only received a heavy sigh, "Chengyuan has left."
"Gone?" Jiang Sheng exclaimed in surprise. "Where did they go? They were just here yesterday."
Madam Jiang gazed northwest, her expression a mix of satisfaction and melancholy. "Go where he should go, where he should have gone a long time ago."
The Jiang family's children learned martial arts at the age of three, joined the army at the age of five, killed the Tartars at the age of nine, and officially led troops into battle at the age of fifteen.
In comparison, Jiang Chengyuan was too late.
But for any member of the Jiang family, it's never too late to go to the battlefield if they're willing.
"My dear daughter, Chengyuan will never get to eat your lychee ice." Old Madam Jiang turned around, her eyes misting over. "I only hope that on the day he returns in triumph, we can savor it together."
Swords have no eyes, and the battlefield is merciless.
In the heat of battle, who cares which family you belong to, or how many relatives stand behind you? It's either life or death, injury or bloodshed.
No one knows whether Jiang Chengyuan will ever return from the frontier, nor does anyone know whether he will grow into a renowned general or turn into dust, forever forgotten in the northern frontier.
But his family will always pray sincerely for his triumphant return.
Jiang Sheng put down the lychee ice and thought of her third brother, whom she hadn't seen for a long time. Her nose also began to turn red.
"If only there were no wars," she whispered. "If only there were peace in the world."
"Yes, yes," Old Madam Jiang murmured softly, stroking her black hair.
With Jiang Chengyuan not around, they certainly couldn't finish the two plates of lychee ice. Tan Yue picked out one plate and sent it to the west courtyard with a maid. She let the rest soften and then patiently and meticulously fed it to Old Madam Jiang.
Elderly people can't eat too much cold food, so after only two bites, Madam Jiang waved her hand and refused, telling Tan Yue to take it away and share it with the maids and servants.
"I'm too old to eat ice cream." She chuckled, a hint of reminiscence in her eyes. "When I was your age, I would eat whole bowls of Su Shan Ice Cream. My nanny was so worried. She would always take half of it away from me, afraid that I would have stomach cramps after eating it."
Jiang Sheng nodded in agreement.
Yes, yes, that's how Aunt Zhang is. She always keeps her in check and refuses to let her eat too much.
It turns out that it wasn't that Xiao Jiang Sheng was greedy, but rather that all pampered girls were like that.
"Actually, young people are hot-tempered, so it's fine for them to eat more ice, as long as they don't overdo it," said Madam Jiang slowly. "But when you get older, you really can't eat or drink what you want."
Jiang Sheng nodded vigorously again.
Yes, yes, yes, those words really hit the nail on the head.
Just as she was pondering how to tactfully tell Aunt Zhang, a hurried report came from outside. Tan Yue swallowed the lychee ice in her mouth in a few bites, wiped her mouth clean, and came in to report, "Madam, Miss, when Xiao Qiu delivered the lychee ice to the West Courtyard, she saw Madam making a scene in the West Courtyard."
Xiao Qiu is that talkative little maid.
"Madam, it seems she's looking for the eldest son," Tan Yue said cautiously.
Jiang Sheng was stunned again.
Why didn't Jiang Chengyuan inform the Liao family when he left? Doesn't that count as fleeing to avoid punishment?
"She actually went to the second branch of the family to cause trouble?" Old Madam Jiang was furious, and she stood up shakily. "Does this Liao woman really have no shame at all?"
Tan Yue didn't dare to respond, and Jiang Sheng simply supported her silently.
The three of them rushed to the west courtyard.
Standing in the center of the courtyard, Jiang Liao asked, enunciating each word clearly, "I know Jiang Chengyuan has been living in the second branch of the family recently. What I want to know now is, where has he gone? Where is he?"
Jiang Chengfeng wanted to step forward and reply, but was firmly stopped by Madam Jiang.
“Aunt, you’ve come to the wrong place.” Jiang Chengyu said, hands on her hips. “Why aren’t you looking for your own son at home? What are you doing in our west courtyard?”
Jiang Liao suppressed her anger, "I know he's here. Don't try to cover for him. There's a lot of talk in Fengjing about him hitting his own uncle. He should stand up for himself, not hide and be a coward!"
Rumors can't kill people, and the Jiang family can protect Jiang Chengyuan, but reputation is one's own, and so is the path one takes.
As a mother, she couldn't let her child ruin their future because of a fit of pique.
“But Auntie,” Jiang Chengyu said quickly, “aren’t all these rumors spread by your Liao family?”
Jiang Liao's eyes were bloodshot, and she froze.
Madam Jiang covered her daughter's mouth with a helpless expression.
Although the rumors were spread by the Liao family, it is true that Jiang Chengyuan hit his own uncle, and the Liao family was not wrong to want him to stand up and take responsibility.
The problem is, the second wife really didn't hide anyone.
Young Master Jiang has already set off for the northern frontier.
"Mother, tell Auntie, tell her the truth!" Jiang Chengyu shouted indistinctly.
Madam Jiang gritted her teeth, her face full of helplessness.
"What truth?" Jiang Liao became alert. "What happened to Chengyuan? How is he?"
Seeing that Jiang Chengfeng was about to break down, he revealed the truth.
Old Madam Jiang arrived late and announced in a loud voice, "He's gone."
Jiang Liao suddenly turned around.
"He's not in Fengjing anymore; he left last night." Old Madam Jiang stepped forward to play the villain, "You won't find him."
As expected, Ms. Liao became somewhat emotionally distraught.
She was shocked, disappointed, and worried. "Where did he go? Just because of the assault, he's just going to hide like this? He hasn't given the Liao family an explanation, and he hasn't given me, his mother, an explanation!"
Running away from trouble is certainly not the mindset a mature young man should have.
It was Liao's elder brother who was beaten, so it was understandable that she harbored resentment and wanted to resolve the conflict between them.
If Jiang Chengyuan were to go to Anshui County or some scenic spot instead of the northern frontier, his character would plummet, making him unfit for important responsibilities.
Thank goodness.
Old Madam Jiang took a deep breath and, through Liao's tear-filled eyes, uttered two words: "Northern Frontier."
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