"Eunuch Deng, thank you for coming."
Little Dengzi took the purse with a smile on his face and said, "Madam, oh no, I should call you Madam Jiang. Congratulations to Madam Jiang on escaping from her predicament. With the protection of the Marquis, Madam Jiang's good fortune is yet to come."
Before he finished speaking, the eunuchs behind him began to carry gifts into the mansion.
Jiang Shu couldn't help but be surprised: "What on earth is going on?"
The Emperor had granted her a letter of divorce in the name of her brother, Marquis Yongding, despite strong opposition from the aristocratic families at court, and she was deeply grateful for this. However, she hadn't expected there would be an additional reward?
"These are gifts from the Empress Dowager. Upon learning of Madam Jiang's and the Duke of Huguo's pity, she sent these nourishing treats. She also mentioned that survival is difficult for women in this world, and that our country's new laws encourage divorced women and widows to remarry. If Madam Jiang is able to find a partner again, the Empress Dowager is willing to personally arrange a match for you."
Little Dengzi deliberately lowered his voice and whispered these words to Jiang Shu.
Jiang Songyi, who was standing next to him, heard everything clearly.
Although this empress dowager possesses a somewhat intense desire for power, stoking suspicions of interference in state affairs, she is single-mindedly committed to breaking the many constraints placed on women in contemporary society. Though her power is limited, and she faces opposition from aristocratic families, her success is limited. However, she clearly intends to leverage Jiang Shu's case to renew the idea of widows remarrying, hoping to foster social change.
Jiang Shu knew in her heart that the Queen Mother was not sincerely trying to provide her with strong support, but was simply trying to set an example and use the Yongding Marquisate to compete with the aristocratic families. However, she was still filled with gratitude and bowed deeply: "Your Majesty, the Queen Mother is kind-hearted, and I am deeply grateful."
Hao Qingzhi and several other sisters were also overjoyed. They surrounded her with laughter and congratulated her, saying, "Congratulations, mother, on regaining your freedom."
Innocent Hao Qingmo asked curiously, "So from now on, will we always live with mother in my uncle's house?"
Jiang Dinglian waved his hand proudly and agreed, "Of course. If you'd like to stay at my uncle's house, you can stay as long as you like!"
The three young ladies were very excited to hear such a promise.
Hao Qingzhi suddenly suggested: "My father and grandmother are not good people. Now that my mother and father are divorced, I want to take my mother's surname."
Hao Qinghe and Hao Qingmo also looked at Jiang Shu and Jiang Dinglian expectantly.
Jiang Dinglian laughed heartily: "Surname Jiang, very good!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Dengzi, who was about to leave, turned around hastily and anxiously warned, "My Lord, this is absolutely not allowed. The Emperor has made an exception and issued an order allowing the Duke of Huguo and Madam Jiang to divorce. Since ancient times, there has never been a precedent for a divorced woman to return to her parents' home with her husband's children."
If he allowed Marquis Yongding to do this, he was worried that the emperor would be subjected to a flood of accusations from the censors.
Seeing Jiang Dinglian's displeasure, Xiao Dengzi quickly lowered his voice and tried to persuade him kindly: "The emperor is in a dilemma. Your Majesty should be more considerate of the emperor."
Jiang Dinglian's dissatisfaction was not directed at the emperor, but rather at the conservative old men from the aristocratic families.
Little Dengzi knew Jiang Dinglian wouldn't stand for a confrontation, so he cleverly employed the strategy of playing the supporting role. "Really, what difference does it make? With the Marquis's protection, what kind of trouble can the Protectorate Duke stir up? If the young ladies of the Duke's Mansion were to reside in the Marquisate for a long time, fulfilling their filial duty, what reason would the Protectorate Duke have to stop them?"
After hearing this, Jiang Shu finally relaxed her tense mood.
She could never let go, her worry for her daughters weighing on her heart like a heavy stone. How could she feel at ease if they continued to stay in the perilous abyss of the Duke's Mansion? Hao Ren was a ruthless man, completely disregarding the safety of his daughters.
Before this, he had put all the blame on Madam Hao for the transfer of the longevity deed, and the theory of ghosts and gods was vague and not enough to serve as evidence to accuse him of abusing his children.
"Besides, being the daughter of the Duke's wife is a valuable asset to the young ladies. All three have already been engaged. When they marry, what difference does it make whether they have the surname Hao or Jiang? As the saying goes, 'A daughter once married is like spilled water,' and that's equally true here."
What Xiao Dengzi meant was that once the three Hao Qingzhi sisters got married, they would be able to completely break free from the constraints of the Duke's Mansion.
After hearing this, Jiang Shu thought it was true.
Hao Qingmo muttered, "I don't care about my status as a young lady from the Duke's Mansion. I just want to be with my mother and sisters."
Hao Qingzhi listened to Xiao Dengzi's words with a look of apology in her eyes. She said to Jiang Dinglian, "Uncle, I don't plan to change my last name. You've done enough for us, and we can't let you get into trouble again."
Jiang Songyi stood aside with his chin in his hand, watching all this.
These cousins passed away early in their previous lives, and she did not have much interaction with them, nor did she have a deep connection with them, but they showed kindness to her during the few times they spent time together.
[I only hope that in this life, my cousins can escape the control of the Duke's Mansion, and with the protection of my aunt, live out their days in peace.]
[However, observing their recent fortunes, it seems their marriage path is not smooth, and twists and turns are inevitable.]
When Jiang Shu heard Jiang Songyi's thoughts, she couldn't help but frown slightly, and a trace of worry rose in her heart.
She had tasted the bitter fruit of wrong reliance and did not want her daughters to make the same mistake.
But when she saw the innocent smiles on her daughters' faces, she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.
Perhaps because they had no connection with Song Yi in her past life, even though they were Song Yi's closest relatives, like her and her brother, they could not hear Song Yi's inner voice. Otherwise, if they could hear Song Yi's hints, perhaps they could be more resourceful and avoid disaster.
In this matter, only she, as a loving mother, could take care of it herself to have a proper outcome.
"My Lord, the Duke of Protectorate requests an audience personally."
As soon as Xiao Dengzi stepped out of the door, the doorman's announcement followed closely.
Jiang Shu frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure on her face: "The Emperor has clearly issued an order, what is the purpose of his visit?"
Jiang Dinglian waved his hand and decisively ordered: "No. Close the door and send the dogs to drive them away!"
The doorman glanced at Hao Qingzhi and the others around Jiang Shu and continued, "The Duke of the Protectorate understands that the Marquis and Auntie don't want to see him. He didn't come here to take Auntie back home, but to welcome the cousins back home."
…
In front of the Yongding Marquis Mansion.
Hao Ren was almost driven mad by the two oral orders from the emperor that Jiang Dinglian had obtained. At this moment, he no longer cared about his dignity and face, and just wanted Jiang Shu and Jiang Dinglian to taste his anger.
"Jiang Dinglian, you've abused your power and bullied me too much, forcing me to separate from Ah Shu. But my three daughters still carry the blood of the Duke's Mansion! As their father, I will bring them back to the mansion today!"
Hao Ren arrived here with great fanfare, attracting many onlookers from the common people and noble families. They gathered outside the door, pointing and talking.
This is exactly what Hao Ren wants.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
