Chapter 37 (Seeing Brother Shan)
Minister Jiang, who was in charge of the Ministry of Rites, was arguably the most tactful of the six ministers. He could tell from the attitudes of the Emperor and the Crown Prince that he couldn't afford to get involved with the young grandson of the Emperor.
Unexpectedly, the young prince didn't go to see Lord Feng, but instead came to see him.
She took the initiative to befriend his son and even mentioned his name; it seems she's trying to get on his good side.
Just as Jiang Xiuyuan and Minister Jiang were speculating about what the young prince was going to do, Madam Jiang arrived.
"Master, Xiuyuan, I have something to tell you. Madam Ye came to visit today."
After much deliberation, Madam Jiang decided to discuss the matter of the Crown Princess's visit with her husband and son and hear their opinions.
Minister Jiang immediately stood up: "Is this Madam Ye the Crown Princess?"
She is definitely not the current mistress of the Ye family in the capital.
Minister Jiang recalled what Jiang Xiuyuan had told him, and only one person in his mind fit the description: Ye Yun, the Crown Princess who had been resurrected from the dead.
Madam Jiang nodded: "Yes, she still came to see the Second Miss. Master, Jiang Song didn't mention that she had met the Crown Princess and the others in Qingyang. She came to our door and I wasn't even home. I completely neglected the Crown Princess. I don't know if the Crown Princess is angry with me."
Madam Jiang's seemingly genuine but actually feigned complaint drew a deep look from Minister Jiang, who then waved his hand impatiently: "Alright, I just found out myself. I'll go ask Jiang Song later. You all better behave yourselves."
Don't think he's unaware of Madam Jiang's ulterior motives.
We don't yet know the purpose of the young prince's friendship with their family, so it's best not to act rashly.
Madam Jiang said aggrievedly, "Master, you were the one who had her brought back. You can talk to the Duke of Anguo's mansion about it. I don't care anymore."
She was hoping to stay out of things; how could she possibly know that the Crown Princess knew Jiang Song?
Jiang Song has long been estranged from the Jiang family and probably harbors resentment towards them. If she were to get on board with the Crown Princess and the young prince's ship now, it would be very bad for her. Therefore, this blame must not be placed on her.
Minister Jiang sighed: "If you don't want to do it, then don't. Don't worry about her affairs, I'll take care of it."
Mrs. Jiang: ...
She had intended to play the victim, but unexpectedly, Minister Jiang was more than happy for her to ignore it.
Whatever, do whatever you want.
But she was still a little unwilling: "Should I go to the Ye residence again tomorrow to discuss this matter? After all, the Crown Princess made a wasted trip today."
Minister Jiang frowned slightly: "Let's write a letter and ask first. If we go to their door rashly, it may offend the Crown Prince and the Emperor. Right now, the Crown Prince's residence is right next to the Ye residence. The Crown Prince has been staying at the Crown Prince's residence for the time being."
She genuinely didn't want others to have much contact with the young prince and the crown princess, keeping them under the watchful eyes of the crown prince and the emperor.
Seeing that his parents were about to have a fight, Jiang Xiuyuan weakly raised his hand: "Should I go play with the little prince? He said he finished his exams and wants to go out and make more friends."
He was the first person the young prince actively befriended.
I wonder how many people have started to fawn over him.
Madam Jiang hadn't expected this: "What's going on with Xiuyuan? Did he meet with the young prince?"
"right."
Jiang Xiuyuan told his mother about what happened at Jingfulou again.
Neither Madam Jiang nor Minister Jiang could laugh anymore.
When this is connected to the Crown Princess's visit, it's no surprise that the young prince must also know Jiang Song.
"I'm afraid this is related to Jiang Song..."
Jiang Xiuyuan was still smiling, but even he, in his stupidity, realized that he was only able to receive such favor from the young prince because of Jiang Song.
"So, the young prince befriended me in order to get closer to my second sister..."
Jiang Xiuyuan's heart was broken.
Minister Jiang had a bold idea in his mind, and he immediately said, "I will go and make things clear with the Duke of Anguo's mansion. You and Mother should not interfere in Jiang Song's marriage."
Madam Jiang also realized this, and her face turned extremely pale.
Could Jiang Song have been having an affair with the young prince? Even though Jiang Chan married Cui Jianbing, she was still overshadowed by Jiang Song.
Everyone's keeping an eye on Ye Jianshan's marriage these days.
I never expected to get involved with Jiang Song.
"master……"
Before Madam Jiang could say anything, Minister Jiang was already overjoyed. He got up and headed towards Mingxin Courtyard: "I'm going to talk to Song'er. You all need to keep your mouths shut. If your gossip gets overheard and reaches the ears of the Crown Prince and the Emperor, I won't be able to protect you."
Jiang Xiuyuan and his wife both turned pale after being threatened by Minister Jiang.
The two exchanged a glance, sensing that the situation was not good for them.
Jiang Song is too difficult to control. It would be better if it were Jiang Chan, after all, she is Madam Jiang's own flesh and blood and Jiang Xiuyuan's older sister.
But that's Jiang Song.
Mingxin Courtyard: Jiang Song has been back in Beijing for over a month, and the commotion has lasted for over a month as well.
She had originally planned to spend the rest of her life in Qingyang. She liked Qinghe County and Ye Jianshan. She even planned to have her uncle, Master Zhang, propose to Ye Jianshan after he finished his imperial examination. However, not long after Ye Jianshan arrived in the capital, she was brought back by the Jiang family.
They're still trapped in the courtyard, unable to send out a message.
I wonder how Ye Jianshan did on his exam.
As Jiang Song thought about it, she felt like crying. She didn't want to marry into the Duke of Anguo's family.
Ye Jianshan is in the capital, and she wants to see him.
Just as Jiang Song was feeling sad, her maidservant said, "Second Miss, Master is here."
Jiang Song closed his eyes: "I won't see you."
That old geezer must be here to persuade her to get married.
After she returned, all the maids who had always been with her were replaced, and she didn't know where Xiao Lü was now. There was really no one she could use.
On the other side, Ye Jianshan finally returned to the Ye residence. As usual, Old Man Ye and Old Lady Ye came up to greet him. Ye Jianshan talked with them for a while and then started looking for his mother.
Where are my maternal grandparents and mother?
Ye Jianshan asked curiously, "My eldest uncle and third uncle are not here either. Only two old people are waiting for me at the door. This is a bit unusual."
“Your mother is busy with your two uncles. They say they're moving the embroidery workshop to the capital. You'll be living there, so expenses will be high. Our family isn't well-off, and we can't just sit around doing nothing. We need to find a way to make a living…”
Old Man Ye had been worried for several days, and he even wanted Ye Yun to rent him some land so he could go back to his old trade of raising and slaughtering pigs.
Ye Jianshan hadn't expected his family to worry about this, but he really needed to find a way to make a living. His exams were over, and once he became an official, he would have to earn money to support his family.
But the government's salary certainly couldn't support the entire Ye family.
Ye Jianshan comforted him, saying, "You two should just enjoy your lives and leave the money-making to me."
Grandma Ye was overjoyed: "When we grow up, Jianshan will know how to support his family."
"That's right, I'm already sixteen."
"Now that you've finished your exams, it's time to think about settling down."
Grandma Ye couldn't help but say that as she got older, she wanted to see her children get married and start their own families, but the Ye family couldn't interfere with Ye Jianshan's marriage.
Ye Jianshan was embarrassed. He had just finished the test: "Grandma, I know, don't worry."
"It's good that you know, your grandmother won't rush you."
She knew her child was outstanding, but people in the capital were arrogant, and she was still a little worried that her child might suffer grievances or be looked down upon outside.
Ye Jianshan chatted with Old Man Ye and Old Woman Ye for a while before going to find his mother.
Ye Yun was also waiting for Ye Jianshan. When he came to the study, he spoke first: "I didn't see anyone. Madam Jiang is not at home today. Minister Jiang is in the palace."
There was no one in charge of the household, and Old Madam Jiang was in poor health and bedridden at home, so Ye Yun had no choice but to return first.
Ye Jianshan sat down, his brow furrowed, sensing that Jiang Song's situation was not good.
"I met Jiang Xiuyuan today; he is Minister Jiang's son."
"Jiang Xiuyuan? It should be the Third Young Master Jiang, the Eldest Young Master Jiang is an official in another region,"
Ye Yun went out and asked around. It turned out that the second young lady of the Jiang family had indeed returned to the capital recently, but she had been sent to Qingyang since she was a child. In the capital, people only knew that the Jiang family had an eldest young lady, Jiang Chan, but did not know that there was also a second young lady, Jiang Song.
What is his relationship with Jiang Song?
Ye Jianshan asked curiously.
He knew that Jiang Song had an older brother, but from what Jiang Song had said before, her brother was already married, which didn't seem to match Jiang Xiuyuan's age. So, Jiang Song had an older brother who was the eldest son, and he wondered how well Jiang Song got along with this third son.
“He was born to Minister Jiang’s second wife, and was Jiang Song’s half-brother.”
Ye Yun was a little worried about Jiang Song's situation.
Ye Jianshan frowned slightly, not expecting the Jiang family's relationships to be so complicated: "Then why did Jiang Song return to the capital?"
We can't just let her come back for no reason.
"It's for the marriage arranged by the Duke of Anguo's family, right? The eldest daughter of the Jiang family didn't want to marry, so when the time came, Jiang Song was brought back."
Although Ye Yun has been away from the capital for so long, he still has some connections.
Ye Jianshan couldn't quite describe his feelings. His first reaction upon hearing this was anger. Sure enough, there was something to gain from Jiang Song's return.
"Then what are you going to do, Mother?"
Ye Jianshan asked.
Ye Yun: "Let's see Jiang Song first and hear her opinion."
Ye Yun was, after all, an outsider, and was entrusted with this task.
The Jiang family mansion is, after all, Jiang Song's home. It wouldn't be appropriate for her to interfere too much, especially since her current identity is even more complicated.
But she absolutely had to protect Jiang Song.
Ye Jianshan felt a little relieved after hearing his mother's words: "It's good that you have a plan, Mother. Jiang Song is indeed pitiful. She knows I'm in the capital but she hasn't come to see me."
Ye Yun glanced at Ye Jianshan with amusement: "You're feeling down because she didn't come to see you? Weren't you annoyed by her before?"
Ye Jianshan, embarrassed: "I wasn't bothered by her..."
She was just too unconventional; Ye Jianshan had never seen anyone like her before and couldn't handle her at all.
Ye Yun stopped teasing him and told him to go back and rest: "Don't worry about this. You've had exams all day. Go back to sleep."
Ye Jianshan was also exhausted. He had left before dawn and returned after dark. "Then I'll go back now. Mother, you should rest more too. I heard from your maternal grandparents that you and your uncles were discussing doing business."
Ye Yun nodded: "Yes, we can't always rely on others."
Ye Jianshan knew that the other person his mother was referring to was the Crown Prince and the Emperor. He was rich now, but it was all a reward from the palace, and Ye Jianshan would not spend it voluntarily.
The house was a gift from the emperor, but he still had to earn the money himself.
"Okay, I understand."
Ye Jianshan felt he also needed to make money quickly.
After the exams, I had some free time. Since I was idle anyway, I figured I'd need to have money in my own pocket to get things done when I became a prince.
Make money, make money.
Meanwhile, at the Jiang residence, Jiang Song finally met with Minister Jiang. Upon hearing from her father that Ye Yun had come to visit, she excitedly stood up: "Aunt Yun has also come to the capital? By the way, has the imperial examination finished? How did Brother Shan do on the exam, Father? Do you know him?"
Minister Jiang: ...
Brother Jianshan?
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Author's Note: First update is here! No second update today [please!]
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