Chapter 448 You really hooked up with Prince Rui
After returning home, Jiang Yu asked the servants if his mother, Lu Yifang, had rested yet. Receiving no answer, he headed towards the backyard. Upon reaching the entrance to Lu Yifang's courtyard, he saw Jiang Chengye pacing back and forth.
"Father." Jiang Yu bowed to him. Jiang Chengye was startled, but when he saw it was her, an awkward expression appeared on his face. "You... haven't rested yet?"
"I have something to tell my mother," Jiang Yu said calmly, taking a step to go inside. But she had only taken one step when Jiang Chengye grabbed her sleeve. Turning back, she saw him forcing a smile and saying, "I'll be with you, so I can hear what it is."
He spoke very carefully in his next sentence, and Jiang Yu thought for a moment before saying, "Alright, Father, please listen too."
"Ah? Okay, okay." Jiang Chengye had only been forcing himself to make an effort, never expecting Jiang Yu to agree. Now he was so surprised he didn't know how to smile, his expression quite strange.
Jiang Yu glanced at him, then turned and walked inside. Jiang Chengye was actually quite pitiful now; his wife and children didn't respect him, and he was hesitant and timid in everything he did. But this was all his own doing; he couldn't blame anyone else. This is a classic case of "the pitiful often have their hateful aspects."
As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, Granny Feng came to greet them. She was taken aback when she saw Jiang Chengye come in as well, but she quickly regained her composure, bowed respectfully to the two of them, and then smiled and said to Jiang Yu, "Madam was thinking that you would come after you returned to the manor, and she was waiting for you."
Jiang Yu nodded and walked inside, with Jiang Chengye quickly following. Upon entering the small flower hall, Lu Yifang was also taken aback when she saw Jiang Chengye, but then acted as if she hadn't seen him at all. She pulled Jiang Yu's hand and sat her down beside her, a look of worry on her face.
Jiang Yu knew that she was worried about the Empress Dowager speaking to her at the banquet today, so she smiled and said, "Mother, there's no need to worry. It was Prince Rui who told the Empress Dowager that he was fond of me, but I didn't respond to him. Perhaps the Empress Dowager is too anxious about Prince Rui's marriage, which is why she said those things to me."
......
The words silenced the room. Lu Yifang froze, while Jiang Chengye's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. After a moment, he stood up, staring intently at Jiang Yu, and asked, "You really hooked up with Prince Rui?"
Jiang Yu: "......."
"Should we let him fall for you first, and make him think you don't even like him?" Jiang Chengye really admired his daughter. It was one thing for her to be ruthless and cunning in officialdom, but he never expected her to be so adept in matters of the heart.
He gave Jiang Yu a heartfelt thumbs up!
At this moment, Lu Yifang also realized what was happening. She held Jiang Yu's hand and carefully asked, "You and Prince Rui really...?"
Jiang Yu nodded, and Lu Yifang jumped up, slapped her handkerchief hard, and exclaimed, "Great! That's wonderful!"
Jiang Yu: "......."
Is such a strong reaction really necessary?
Lu Yifang was overjoyed for a moment, but then her face showed worry. After sitting down, she looked at Jiang Yu and asked, "So, the Empress Dowager agrees to your relationship with Prince Rui, but what about the Emperor? And... your family!"
She didn't say the last two words; they were Jiang Yu's responsibility in inheriting the title, and also her burden.
Jiang Yu patted her hand reassuringly and said, "The Empress Dowager's agreement is already one hurdle. As for the Emperor, the Prince and I will figure something out."
Lu Yifang's earlier joy had vanished, and she let out a heavy sigh. Prince Rui was indeed wonderful, wonderful in every way. But precisely because he was so wonderful, being his wife was incredibly difficult.
“Mother,” Jiang Yu pulled Lu Yifang back to reality, then looked at Jiang Chengye and said seriously, “The prince and I are in love. The reason why the prince spoke to the empress dowager in that way was just a roundabout way of doing things.”
Lu Yifang nodded after hearing this, and Jiang Chengye gave Jiang Yu a thumbs up, this time also praising Prince Rui. Jiang Yu ignored him and said to Lu Yifang, "Mother and...Father, don't worry. If I marry the Prince, I will still be the Duke of Chu until Yun Kang grows up and can take over the Duke of Chu's mansion."
Upon hearing this, Lu Yifang panicked and quickly explained, "I...I didn't..."
“Mother,” Jiang Yu said in a reassuring tone, “My inheritance of the title of Duke of Chu is the result of a variety of reasons. But I cannot deny that this title has brought me great convenience and benefits. I did not inherit this title out of necessity. So, our family does not owe me anything. It can be said that I helped the Duke of Chu’s mansion, which was on the verge of crisis, through the crisis, but the Duke of Chu’s mansion also made me who I am.”
These words were spoken earnestly and bluntly, leaving Lu Yifang speechless. Jiang Chengye was once again shocked by Jiang Yu's words, or rather, shocked that Jiang Yu so openly admitted that the Duke of Chu's mansion had made her who she was.
In his mind, many people, even if they benefit from something, will still try to play the victim. If it were him, he would absolutely not admit it.
“It was agreed between my grandfather and me that Yun Kang would inherit the title when he came of age.” Jiang Yu felt a pang of sadness as she thought of her grandfather’s dying wish. She suppressed her sorrow and said, “I’m not saying this for any other reason than to keep you from worrying about me and the future of the Duke’s mansion.”
Lu Yifang held her hand tightly, her voice choked with emotion, and said, "You've suffered so much before. Your mother only hopes that you can live a happy and fulfilling life in the future. I used to worry about your marriage, but now that you and Prince Rui are in love, I feel much more at ease."
Jiang Yu smiled and then looked at Jiang Chengye, "My affair with Prince Rui is not something that outsiders should know right now. The reason I'm letting Father know now is to prevent you from being misled."
"I know, I know everything," Jiang Chengye quickly assured him. "I won't tell anyone."
Jiang Yu nodded, "Daughter trusts her father."
As she spoke, she stood up and said, "It's getting late, Father. Let's go so as not to disturb Mother's rest."
"Ah," Jiang Chengye looked at Lu Yifang with pleading eyes, then said to Jiang Yu, "You...you go first, I...I still have to talk to your mother."
Jiang Yu frowned and raised her arm to pull Jiang Chengye away, but Lu Yifang waved her hand and said, "Yu'er, you should go back and rest first."
Jiang Yu's gaze lingered between the two for a moment, then she bowed to them, turned, and walked away. Let her parents resolve their own relationship issues.
After Jiang Yu's figure disappeared, Jiang Chengye walked quickly to the door, peeked out to confirm that Jiang Yu had left, closed the door, hesitated for a moment, and then bolted the door shut.
Lu Yifang was startled by what she saw, "What are you doing?"
Jiang Chengye pursed his lips and remained silent, walking towards her step by step. Lu Yifang's heart jumped, and she took a step back, saying, "Jiang Chengye, don't do anything stupid. Yu'er just left."
Jiang Chengye remained silent, only walking towards her step by step. Lu Yifang was so frightened that she was about to call for help, but then she heard a "thump" and Jiang Chengye knelt down in front of her.
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