Chapter 33 Fair Competition for Resources
Jiang Yu sat opposite the Duke of Chu and heard him say, "You were too bold in the Imperial Study."
Jiang Yu sat upright with her head down, looking as if she knew she had made a mistake, but she said, "My granddaughter just thought the opportunity was good and wanted to take a gamble."
The Duke of Chu remained silent, his aged gaze fixed intently on her. Jiang Yu met his eyes, her expression confident and resolute, and said:
“You said that the current emperor is one who listens to advice. When I arrived at the Imperial Study, I saw you sitting there and the Earl of Qingshan and the others kneeling there. The Empress Dowager’s concern for me seemed genuine, so I decided to take a gamble.”
"Why gamble?" The Duke of Chu looked at her sternly. "Given the situation today, when you get to the Imperial Study, you don't need to say anything. Just put on a wronged look, and the Emperor and the Empress Dowager will stand on our side and punish the Earl of Qingshan and Qi Yuanhong."
Jiang Yu lowered his head and remained silent for a while before saying, "That's not me, that's not my style. Grandfather, how many things in the court are truly certain of success? When you were an official, did you ever gamble like I did today?"
The Duke of Chu leaned back on the couch, one arm propped on a small table, his gaze fixed intently on Jiang Yu for a long, long time. Jiang Yu remained calm, her gaze resolute, sitting upright as he looked at her.
After an unknown amount of time, the Duke of Chu sighed and said, "That was still too audacious."
"Yes," Jiang Yu replied earnestly, "My granddaughter will be more careful in the future."
The Duke of Chu fell silent again. "Do as you see fit. I'm old and timid."
Having served in the court for many years, he knew all too well that climbing the ranks often involved taking a gamble. It was simply a gamble for those with strong abilities and extensive networks, one with something to rely on.
"This time we have completely offended the Marquis of Qingshan. What are your plans for the future?" asked the Duke of Chu.
Jiang Yu pondered for a moment and said, "From the moment the Qingshan Marquis's Mansion arranged for Su Yuezhen and Qi Yuanhong to get engaged, and from the moment you asked me to acknowledge my ancestors, we have been enemies with the Qingshan Marquis's Mansion."
If we swallow this insult, we'll become a laughingstock in the capital, and more families will take advantage of your health to humiliate the Duke of Chu's mansion. Enmity with the Earl of Qingshan's mansion is inevitable.
Moreover, I think that in the future, it won't be us who will be in a passive position, but rather the Qingshan Marquis's Mansion. It's true that they have Consort Su and the Eighth Prince, but they probably want much more.
The greater their ambitions, the greater the risks they face; failure would be an unbearable consequence. We simply need to continue doing what we're supposed to do, but... the Eighth Prince absolutely cannot succeed.”
It goes without saying that both the grandfather and grandson knew perfectly well what the Eighth Prince couldn't achieve.
"Do you think the Eighth Prince will succeed?" Jiang Yu asked.
The Duke of Chu tapped his fingers on the table, pondered for a long time, and said, "There is a chance, but it will be quite difficult."
After hearing this, Jiang Yu smiled and said, "I am over fifty years old now and in good health. I can say that I am in my prime and have a long time ahead of me."
"Yes, there's still quite a while." The Duke of Chu smiled, then waved his hand and said, "Go back and rest. You've exhausted yourself today."
Jiang Yu stood up. "Alright, Grandfather, you should rest well too."
The Duke of Chu waved his hand again, and Jiang Yu bowed to him before turning to leave. After she left the courtyard, Li Zhong went into the study.
The Duke of Chu waved for him to sit down, then sighed and said, "Now it seems that Master Yuantong was right!"
Li Zhong sat upright and said with a smile, "Then you can rest assured."
The Duke of Chu sighed and remained silent for a long time...
......
Jiang Yu left the Duke of Chu's courtyard and headed towards her own Yunfeng Courtyard. On the way, she encountered her biological mother, Lu Yifang, and her sister-in-law, Zhang Xiangling, both of whom had worried expressions on their faces.
Jiang Yu stepped forward to greet them, and then, as they walked, she gave them a general account of her journey to the palace. However, she omitted the part about telling the emperor the story of Qin Shi Huang.
After sitting down at Yunfeng Courtyard, Lu Yifang took Jiang Yu's hand and said, "The Empress Dowager is a close friend of your grandmother and has long disliked Consort Su. It is only natural that she would side with you in this matter."
“That’s right,” Zhang Xiangling said with a smile. “That Su Si, relying on her aunt, the Imperial Concubine, and the favor of the Earl of Qingshan, did all sorts of arrogant things in the capital. This is her retribution.”
She looked at Jiang Yu and smiled, "Little sister, you're really capable. If this had happened to someone else, they might have had to swallow their anger for the rest of their life."
Jiang Yu looked at her and smiled, "It was my grandfather who stood up for me, which led to the current outcome."
“Yes, the Duke really dotes on his younger sister; even your older brother can’t compare to you.” Zhang Xiangling’s words carried a hint of bitterness. Jiang Yu looked at her and smiled, but didn’t respond.
At this time, Lu Yifang said, "When Zhu'er was little, she was very much loved by the Duke. At that time, the Duke even said that he would personally teach Zhu'er. After Zhu'er was lost, the Duke even fell ill. He never gave up looking for Zhu'er."
Jiang Yu listened to this with a smile, while Zhang Xiangling's smile, though still present, had clearly faded considerably. Jiang Yu pretended not to notice.
She returned to the Duke's mansion without intending to seize anyone's resources. It was clear that the Duke of Chu had already given up on Jiang Chengye and Jiang Jiarong. Moreover, even if the Duke of Chu hadn't abandoned them, they were all direct descendants of the Duke of Chu's mansion, competing fairly for resources; she owed no one anything.
After talking for a while, Lu Yifang said, "I heard you're looking at houses?"
Jiang Yu didn't intend to hide this matter. She said, "My parents want to move out."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiangling immediately asked, "But what did I do wrong that made my aunts and the others uncomfortable staying at the mansion?"
She was the steward of the Duke's mansion, so it was normal for her to ask that question.
Jiang Yu smiled and said to her, "No, it's because my parents don't want to live in the mansion all the time. It's always inconvenient to live in a place that isn't their own home."
“That’s true.” Zhang Xiangling seemed relieved. “The Duke said that my aunt and the others are benefactors of the Duke’s mansion, and I’ve always been worried that I haven’t taken good care of them.”
Jiang Yu: "Sister-in-law, you did a great job."
“I have a house near our Duke’s mansion,” Lu Yifang said. “You don’t need to buy it. Just have someone transfer the house to your name later.”
She spoke sincerely, and Zhang Xiangling still smiled, but her hand clenched her handkerchief tightly. Just then, Jiang Yu said, "No need, I've already chosen, I'm just waiting for the transaction to begin."
“I’ve always wanted to thank them. They need a house, so wouldn’t it be better if they used mine?” Lu Yifang said anxiously.
Jiang Yu took her hand and said earnestly, "Mother, my greatest reward is to be filial to them. Besides, the house I bought with my own money is cheaper to live in."
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