Chapter 73: How many people don't want a promotion?
When Madam Wu heard that the wife of the Marquis of Jiangling had come to visit, she paused for a moment, then strode out, with her daughter Wu Zhenghuan following hurriedly behind.
As she walked, Madam Wu said, "My lord, you shouldn't have told me about such an important matter sooner. It's not good to keep the noble lady waiting."
Wu Ruzhou opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. The most important thing now was why the Lady of Jiangling Marquis had come to his residence. It wasn't that he was overly excited, but rather that he was just a fifth-rank official with no family background, and the powerful and influential Jiangling Marquis's family was beyond his reach even if he tried to curry favor with them.
Of course, he had a daughter who married into the Duke of Chu's mansion, but she married a son born out of wedlock to a concubine who had come from a brothel. The son was also in poor health and was not valued by the Duke of Chu's mansion at all.
His daughter was even more heartless; she almost never returned to her parents' home after getting married. So, over the years, he hadn't gained a single benefit from the Duke of Chu's mansion.
Watching Madam Wu leave in a hurry, Wu Ruzhou paced around the room before hiding behind a screen in the small flower hall. As a man, he felt it inappropriate to receive the Marquis of Jiangling's wife, but he wanted to know why she had come to their house, so he decided to hide and eavesdrop.
Madam Wu hurried to the main gate and saw a carriage parked there, bearing the sign of the Marquis of Jiangling's residence. Two maids and servants stood beside the carriage.
She walked quickly over, curtsied, and said, "Greetings, Lady of Jiangling Marquis."
Wu Zhenghuan also curtsied, her eyes carefully glancing at the exquisite and luxurious carriage of the Jiangling Marquis's residence, which she perceived as such.
At this moment, the old woman standing by the carriage lifted the curtain and helped Lady Jiangling get out of the carriage. Then, Lady Jiangling looked Lady Wu up and down, who was still bowing, and said in a haughty voice, "Get up."
Madam Wu stood up with a smile, her back slightly bent. "I didn't know you were coming, Madam. Please come in."
Lady Jiangling hummed in agreement and walked inside. She didn't think there was anything wrong with not sending an invitation to the Wu family in advance. For a family of a fifth-rank official, her presence was already a huge honor.
Madam Wu didn't think there was anything wrong with her sudden visit. After all, she was the lady of the first-rank marquis's mansion, and she could do whatever she wanted to them.
Madam Wu led Lady Jiangling into her courtyard, had her maids serve the finest tea and snacks, and carefully accompanied her, not daring to ask Lady Jiangling why she had come to their Wu family.
Lady Jiangling looked at the "shabby" little flower hall, then glanced at the steaming tea with some disdain, and said, "I've come today because of your eldest daughter."
Madam Wu and Wu Ruzhou, behind the screen, were both taken aback by the words of the Marquis of Jiangling, then they understood. How could a family like theirs possibly have any dealings with a powerful family like the Marquis of Jiangling? Only their eldest daughter, Wu Zhengyan, who had married out, could associate with such a prestigious family.
If I remember correctly, Wu Zhengyan and the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Jiangling were sisters-in-law. However, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Jiangling married the eldest grandson, while Wu Zhengyan married a son born out of wedlock.
Could it be that Wu Zhengyan got into some trouble and they've come knocking on our door?
Both Madam Wu and Wu Ruzhou felt uneasy at this thought. Just then, they heard the Lady of Jiangling Marquis say, "You must have heard that my daughter has been married into the Duke of Chu's mansion for many years, but has not yet given birth to a son."
The Wu couple, sensing that her tone didn't seem to be one of accusation, silently breathed a sigh of relief. Madam Wu even added with a smile, "Your daughter is blessed; she will have a male heir sooner or later."
Lady Jiangling glanced at her and said, "I won't beat around the bush with you, I'll just get straight to the point. My daughter plans to adopt your eldest daughter's son. That child will be my Jiangling Marquis's grandson and the great-grandson of the Duke of Chu's family, and he will surely be able to inherit the title of Duke of Chu."
A silence fell over the room, not for any other reason than that Madam Wu was momentarily confused. This matter, concerning the Duke's title and heir, seemed to have nothing to do with a family like theirs, even though Jiang Yunkang was born to their married daughter.
Seeing her stunned expression, Lady Jiangling looked at her with disdain and said, "I was afraid that if this matter were mentioned, your daughter would disagree, so I asked you to try to persuade her. Of course, if it works out, you will definitely receive your share of the benefits. I heard that your Lord Wu hasn't been promoted for many years?"
These words made Madam Wu tighten her grip on her handkerchief, while Wu Ruzhou behind the screen clenched his fists even more. Who in officialdom doesn't want a promotion?
However, Madam Wu was still somewhat rational. She said, "However, this is not something a woman like her can interfere with. As long as the Duke of Chu agrees, what objections would she dare to have?"
Lady Jiangling glanced at her again, thinking to herself that this was not someone to be fooled, and sighed, saying, "I'll just tell you directly, anyway, you should know about this soon."
She briefly recounted how Jiang Jiarong and Jiang Jiamu were switched, and then said, "Don't think that your daughter accidentally becoming the legitimate granddaughter-in-law of the Duke of Chu's mansion is a great thing."
This would be a scandal in any family, and the Duke of Chu would certainly try to cover it up. But Jiang Yunkang is indeed the Duke of Chu's great-grandson. And since the Duke of Chu's family has no heir, the best solution now is to have Jiang Yunkang adopted by my daughter.”
After Lady Jiangling finished speaking, the room fell silent again. Lady Wu, having learned of such a momentary lapse in judgment, was momentarily stunned. After a long pause, she finally said, "This...this matter isn't...this isn't something we can persuade about, is it?"
“You are her mother. As long as you and Lord Wu agree, and as long as you are assertive, she will still need to rely on you even though she is married. If you threaten to disown her and sever ties with her, how could she not agree?”
"this...."
"Didn't I say that as long as things go smoothly, what difficulty would there be in getting your Lord Wu promoted?" The Lady of Jiangling Marquis had used a strong medicine.
Madam Wu gripped her handkerchief tightly, head bowed in thought. After a while, she said, "I need to discuss this matter with my husband."
"Yes, you should discuss this quickly, as opportunities don't wait for anyone."
Lady Jiangling got up and walked out. Lady Wu quickly got up to see her off, escorting her all the way to the gate. Only after Lady Jiangling's carriage had disappeared from sight did she turn back thoughtfully.
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