Jiang Yushan's face was covered in tears, her eyes were red and swollen, and her face was distorted. She ran out barefoot, trembling and shouting, "Oh my God, why did father send my engagement letter to the Pei family? He's too much, he's deliberately pushing me into the fire pit!"
"Yushan, stop!"
"Hey, child, where are you going barefoot? Come back soon." Mrs. Xu accidentally let the cat out of the bag and secretly regretted it. She hurriedly grabbed her daughter and dragged her back, comforting her, "Calm down. Don't panic. Well, the engagement letter has been sent, but if mother doesn't approve, the marriage won't happen."
"Really? Mom, can you really convince my dad?" Jiang Yushan was panicked.
Xu was unsure, but her expression remained calm. She coaxed, "Of course! I only have one daughter in my life. How could I bear to see you marry into the Pei family and suffer? Don't go to your father and complain about your grievances. That old stubborn man always pays attention to rules and etiquette. If you make a scene, you will definitely be scolded and nothing good will happen to you."
"Then what should I do? I, I would rather die than marry Pei Rui." Jiang Yushan slumped over the embroidered cushion, trembling. She raised her hands to cover her face, her fingertips pierced with crimson nail polish, the jade bracelets on her wrists gleaming. She cried heartbrokenly, "Ever since my sister was exiled to Xicang, my father has become increasingly dissatisfied with me. He's been critical of everything, scolding me at every turn, and even forcing me to jump into a fire pit... Mother, do you think he knows everything about that incident?"
Her husband knew it all, and so did Mrs. Xu, but they only argued privately, never publicly. She opened her mouth, feeling a wave of insecurity, and feigned calmness. "Even if they knew, what would it matter? I've given birth to two sons and a daughter for the Jiang family, toiling away for half my life. Even if I haven't contributed anything, I've worked hard. And you're his biological daughter. As the saying goes, 'Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs.' Is there any father in the world who truly hates his daughter?"
"But what exactly does he mean by forcing me to marry Pei Rui?" Jiang Yushan pouted, pounded the table angrily, and then cried breathlessly and almost fainted.
Xu hugged her daughter lovingly and comforted her, "Shan'er, don't cry. You'll make your eyes swollen. No matter what, I will try to convince that stubborn old man!"
Noon
The garden is full of lush flowers and trees, and the cobblestone path leads to the study in a winding manner, which is quiet and elegant.
Xu was plump, surrounded by pearls and emeralds, and she walked hurriedly with a lot on her mind.
Maids and servants surrounded the mistress, some holding tea trays, some carrying food boxes.
In the study, Jiang Shisen was wearing a loose robe with loose sleeves, with a long beard under his chin, and was reading a letter with his head down.
There was a sudden knock on the half-open door, and Xu raised her voice slightly, "Sir?"
"What's the matter?" Jiang Shisen was concentrating on the letter from his eldest daughter without even raising his head.
Mrs. Xu pushed the door open and walked in, carrying the lunch box herself. She said virtuously, "Take a break. It's time for lunch. It's hot, so I asked someone to make some porridge and some side dishes. Would you like to try some?"
"Put it aside until I'm done with my work." Jiang Shisen said with a smile, concentrating and reading the letter carefully word by word.
Mrs. Xu personally set the food on the table. She glanced at her husband sideways and asked, "Has Xi Cang sent another letter?"
"Hmm, it's from Hong Lei." Jiang Shisen finished reading it, raised the letter, and asked seriously, "Jiang Qing! Have you heard of it?"
Xu frowned and asked in confusion, "Who is Jiang Jun? I'm so ignorant and have never heard of her."
"Hahaha~" Jiang Shisen laughed happily, feeling extremely proud. He said seriously, "Jiang Jun is not a person, but a medicinal herb with miraculous hemostatic effects! It was discovered by Yu Shu, so she named it 'Jiang Jun'."
Xu was stunned. "Oh? Yushu found it?"
"That's right!" After sitting for a long time, Jiang Shisen stood up to stretch his muscles, pacing with his hands behind his back, sighing: "After a hundred years, ordinary people will only have a spirit tablet and a skeleton left. No one will mention it except their descendants. But with the saying of 'Jiang Jun', it's very different. Even if it is passed down for a thousand years, people will still remember that this good medicine is related to the Jiang family!" He stood in front of the window and sighed lovingly:
"Yushu's actions can be said to bring honor to the family. As a married daughter, she is bringing glory to her family. Not bad, really good."
Xu didn't take it seriously, but since she had come with a request, she feigned joy and agreed, "It's really hard on her!" After a pause, she asked, "Calculating the date, Wen Feng should have arrived in Xicang to take up his post long ago. What did Yushu say in the letter?"
"What?" Jiang Shisen glanced at his step-wife's expression, his face stern, and said indifferently: "Wen Feng has just taken up his new post, Yu Shu is diligently cultivating the land, and the two children are busy with their own things. They haven't seen each other at all."
Xu suppressed her anxiety and leaned closer, sighing, "Wenfeng is such a willful and stubborn kid. He won't listen to anyone's advice and went to Xicang with all his heart. I wonder how he's doing now?" @Infinite good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
Jiang Shisen paced a few steps before sitting down, burying his head in collecting the correspondence. "I've just taken office, and I'm very busy."
Xu pursed her lips and asked cautiously, "Does your Excellency really want to marry Yushan to him?"
"How can we joke about our children's marriage?" Jiang Shisen frowned, suppressing his impatience as he spoke earnestly, "Wen Feng volunteered to serve his country at the bitter cold frontier. His Majesty praised him and appointed him as the Tongzhi of Xicang, a sixth-rank official upon his entry into the government. Such a talented young man, how could he not be worthy of Yushan?"
Xu's brows furrowed as she replied anxiously, "Your Excellency has misunderstood. I don't dislike Wenfeng. On the contrary, it's him who dislikes Yushan!" Furious at being disdained for her beloved daughter, she said unhappily, "You just sent your daughter's engagement letter, and the Pei family immediately returned it. And now you sent it again, and the Pei family simply ignored it. What the hell is this? They're so rude."
Jiang Shisen leaned back in his chair, his face expressionless, and retorted, "Everything has a cause and an effect. You know better than anyone why Wen Feng was so angry. The child was furious at the time and angrily snatched the engagement letter and returned it, but his father-in-law and mother-in-law would never let him do that. Just wait patiently for the answer."
Father-in-law and mother-in-law?
Humph, Pei Wan'er has been dead for more than ten years, and you are still respectful to her parents, but you are becoming more and more cold towards my parents... The ghost of the original wife is lingering around!
Xu had been sullen for half her life, always regretting being a second wife. She gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, clutched her handkerchief, and said worriedly, "Sir, Yushan is already sixteen. A girl's blooming period is short, so we can't afford to waste time. What exactly does the Pei family mean? If they agree, we can discuss the marriage. Otherwise, give us an answer as soon as possible. What's the point of dragging it out?"
"I have my own ideas about this matter. You don't have to worry about it." Jiang Shisen took a sip of tea.
Xu suddenly became anxious and could no longer bear it. She said aggrievedly, "Who in the world would marry off their daughter like this? Being so humble, begging again and again, and asking for favors—"
With a bang, Jiang Shisen threw the teacup down and demanded harshly, "Now that things have come to this, isn't it all your fault? Humph, the 'good deeds' you've done have made me ashamed to face my father-in-law and mother-in-law, and even made my colleagues in the court laugh at me behind my back!"
Xu had been slapped before, so when she saw her husband angry, she instinctively shrank back and said, "What are you laughing at?"
Jiang Shisen's face darkened, his anger blazing as he gritted his teeth and replied, "You've been clinging to the Marquis of Jingyang's mansion, selling your daughter for fame; the mansion is in trouble, and you've lost more than you gain; your two daughters are fighting for a husband, and you've failed to educate them properly—I've always been a diligent official, but because of your selfish behavior, my reputation has been tarnished, and I've become a laughing stock!"
"I'm just gossiping, don't pay attention to me." Xu lowered her head in embarrassment, avoiding his gaze.
Jiang Shisen stood up suddenly, his dignity brooking no room for questioning, and said coldly: "In short, Yushan's marriage is decided by me. I said wait for the reply, you just wait." After speaking, he turned away, too bored to eat lunch.
"What if the Pei family drags it out until next year, the year after, or three to five years? Are we just going to wait there?" Xu was so angry that she almost burst into a curse.
Jiang Shisen stopped and replied calmly, "The Jiang family owes the Pei family a debt of gratitude. Yushu's reputation was ruined, and I couldn't force the Pei family to tolerate and take her in. As an apology, I can only betroth Yushan to Wenfeng. Let's give it a try, and at least try to restore some of our reputation."
"Besides, my father-in-law has been very kind to me. He is both my mentor and my adoptive father. I must give him an explanation."
"You, you—" Xu's eyes widened, she gasped with anger, and asked angrily in a trembling voice, "Are you crazy? You dare to use your own daughter to apologize?"
Jiang Shisen didn't respond, stepped out of the door and left without looking back.
Jiang Yushu was completely unaware of the constant quarrel between her father and stepmother.
The spring sunshine was bright and the warm breeze made the tourists intoxicated. They talked and laughed, and after traveling for more than half an hour, they arrived at the river bank.
The Cang River surged southeastward, its water rumbling and splashing across steep rapids. A cool breeze blew down from the river, and standing there for a while left one's entire body drenched in mist, their hair damp.
"Whoa!"
"Haha, we're here!" Zou Gui jumped off the carriage and tied the horses in the shade of a tree with Hu Gang.
Cuimei got out of the car first, turned around and helped Jiang Yushu, and the two of them couldn't wait to run to the riverside.
"Oh, it's so cool!" Cuimei jumped and looked around excitedly.
The river bank is lush with vegetation, and on the gently undulating slopes, colorful wild flowers bloom in full bloom, competing with each other for splendor, pleasing to the eye and beautiful beyond words.
Jiang Yushu lifted her skirt slightly and walked towards the gentle slope, her dress and hair fluttering in the wind. Amid the sound of wind and water, she exclaimed loudly: "I think this is a paradise on earth!"
@Unlimited good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
Hu Gang and Zou Gui were very excited. They pulled each other and rolled around in the pile of flowers and plants, and then ran to support the sick.
"Yes, what a natural garden! Even the most skilled craftsman in the world couldn't create one!" Guo Hongzhe praised it endlessly. He followed him up the gentle slope and said excitedly, "I'll dig up a few good-looking ones and take them back to plant."
“Good idea!”
"It's a rare visit, so I'll get some more flower petals and ask Sister Xiaotao to make them into cakes. She's a good cook."
Guo Honglei, standing side by side with his wife, shook his head and warned, "You can enjoy the food, but don't eat it carelessly. It's poisonous."
Jiang Yushu nodded in agreement.
After a while, they reached the top of the hill, feeling relaxed and happy, and smiled at each other.
The river wind was so strong that she couldn't hold her veil steady. She simply took it off and held it, leisurely admiring the scenery along the riverbank. She sighed, "I'm so lucky to have a half day of leisure in my busy schedule. Such a beautiful view is truly unforgettable. We are so lucky."
The corner of Guo Honglei's robe fluttered as he bent down, picked a crimson flower bud, and handed it to his wife.
Jiang Yushu happily accepted it and said, "Thank you."
"Slow down, be careful with your steps, the ground here is not flat." Guo Honglei supported the person naturally.
"Um."
After a long stroll, Jiang Yushu felt tired and rested under the shade of flowers. She gazed across the river and asked with concern, "How's the battle going lately? Is everything going well?"
"We can't recover the lost territory in a short time." Guo Honglei looked across the river, raised his hand and pointed, whispering, "His Majesty has issued an order, ordering all the soldiers of Xicang to reclaim Yongzhou within this year, otherwise everyone will be punished."
Jiang Yushu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "The Northern Qi have lived a nomadic existence for generations. Not only do they lack food and fodder, but they also have so many tribal leaders that it's difficult for them to work together. They won't be able to hold out for long. As the saying goes, evil has always triumphed over good. Sooner or later, Yongzhou will be returned to Dagan."
Guo Honglei suddenly felt proud and raised his head, saying, "This is inevitable!"
It was not until the sun was setting that the group headed back reluctantly.
By the time we arrived at the gate, it was almost dark.
"The Master is back!"
"To the left, a little to the left." Zhou Yan looked up and stared at the people hanging red lanterns.
Guo Honglei, exhausted from travel, was stunned the moment he stepped into the main hall. He glanced in surprise at the large red "囍" character on the wall and the red candles on the table, and asked in confusion, "What is this for?"
Jiang Yushu glanced at Nanny Pan and understood immediately. Before she could say anything, Xiaotao whispered, "Young Madam, please take a bath and change your clothes." After that, she and Zhou Yan's wife left arm in arm.
"Young Master, great joy!" Nanny Pan beamed as she quickly handed Wang's handwritten letter and said with a smile, "This is what the old lady meant. You'll understand it at once!"
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