After leaving Chang Le Palace, Jiang Zhixu asked Gu Jinchuan.
"Judging from your expression just now, it seems that you and the Imperial Advisor have known each other for a long time."
They weren't acquaintances, they were enemies.
Jiang Shumiao was being held by him, still chewing on some snacks, her eyes darting around as she glanced at Gu Jinchuan.
We'll still be rivals in love in the future.
Jiang Zhixu had just returned to Beijing and was unaware of his daughter's broken engagement. Upon hearing this, his expression was indeed somewhat bewildered.
Gu Jinchuan had already adjusted his mindset and smiled.
"We're not that close, we've only met once."
Jiang Zhixu, however, became interested. "I've heard that the Imperial Preceptor is a hermit cultivator. Even His Majesty doesn't know his background, yet he still values him highly. This shows his talent. If Jin Chuan knows anything about him, please don't keep it to yourself."
Gu Jinchuan was speechless.
"Lord Jiang, you flatter me. These are just some old matters, which I'm sure the Grand Preceptor wouldn't want to bring up. If I were to gossip about them behind their backs, wouldn't that be ungentlemanly? I beg you not to make things difficult for Jin Chuan."
Jiang Shumiao was eating lotus seed cake, with crumbs falling from time to time.
She nodded repeatedly upon hearing this.
My future brother-in-law is an upright and honest man, and he is a good match for my sister.
Jiang Zhixu also admired Gu Jinchuan, but she was not happy about the thought that he was secretly eyeing her daughter.
However, seeing that he was unwilling to say more, I did not press him further.
Jiang Shumiao kept glancing at Gu Jinchuan.
[My future brother-in-law is surprisingly handsome, no less so than the male lead. Most importantly, he's much more devoted than that fickle male lead.]
Wen Zhixuan and Shen Zhixian were in love and had a son.
Later, under the guise of repaying a debt of gratitude, he kept Jiang Shuman as a mistress, discovering that some people, even when fallen from grace, do not lose their integrity. Despite their dire circumstances, they remained true to their original aspirations. Their unwavering character is truly admirable.
If Jiang Shuman was a ray of light that fell from the sky when Wen Zhixuan was in despair, then later she became the bright moon that fell into his heart.
It will endure and shine forever.
He abandoned his first wife and betrayed Shen Zhixian, intending to make this woman his empress.
It was this action that completely enraged Shen Zhixian.
Tragedy, a tragedy in the grandest sense.
Jiang Zhixu understood; the male lead her daughter was talking about was probably the Imperial Advisor Wen Zhixuan.
So after getting into the carriage, he asked, "Miaomiao, do you not like the Imperial Advisor?"
"I don't like it."
Jiang Shumiao had a snack in her mouth, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster. The few words she spoke, though indistinct, were delivered with unwavering conviction.
"He's bad."
Jiang Zhixu smiled. He was very handsome, and his eyebrows and eyes were somewhat similar to those of the old lady. He was thirty-six years old, but his charm was no less than it had been in his younger days.
"You're so young, how do you know who's a good person and who's a bad person?"
“To convey the Way.”
Jiang Shumiao only had her baby hair shaved once since birth, and has refused to have it shaved since. Her hair grows quickly and thickly, and now it can be combed into two longevity peach knots. The way she shakes her head is very cute.
“He had malicious intent towards me.”
Jiang Shumiao said this very seriously.
What kind of person would have malicious intent towards a child under one year old?
Jiang Zhixu paused for a moment, then remained silent.
Xiao Yitang had already instructed the servants to clean the courtyard, waiting for Jiang Zhixu to return.
Jiang Shuman and her mother were also waiting in the front hall.
Jiang Zhixu walked in carrying her daughter, her face beaming with smiles.
Xiao Yitang got up and walked to the door.
Jiang Shuman called out.
"Father."
Jiang Yiqing and Jiang Yining were still at the Imperial Academy and returned in the afternoon.
Jiang Zhixu patted his eldest daughter's shoulder first, then looked gently at his wife and said, "I'm back."
We've been married for many years, so there's no need to elaborate.
"Come inside, don't stand outside."
Jiang Zhixu spoke briefly about quelling the rebellion, about the clash of swords and the carnage, yet he spoke of it calmly, not wanting his wife and children to worry.
Xiao Yitang understood him, so she simply listened with a smile.
After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Zhixu added, "I'd like to pay my respects to my mother later."
Xiao Yitang nodded.
"Of course. It's just..."
She frowned as she thought of Shen Zhixian.
Jiang Shumiao innocently said, "Bad Auntie is dead."
Jiang Zhixu was taken aback.
Jiang Sixian had been dead for almost a year, and he had just returned to Beijing. He hadn't heard a single word about it, which was quite shocking.
Xiao Yitang then recounted everything that had happened over the past year.
Jiang Zhixu's expression grew increasingly grim.
He remained silent for a long time before sighing, "I was careless in thinking about the Qin family's matter back then; I should have told you first."
"I see."
Xiao Yitang did not criticize her harshly. "Zhou Hui and you are comrades-in-arms. It is only right that you help her out at the request of an old friend. However, her status is awkward, so the fewer people who know about her, the better."
Jiang Zhixu was very grateful for her thoughtfulness.
“The princess knows me.”
Xiao Yitang continued, "Jiang Sixian has brought this upon herself, but the Emperor did not hold a grudge against her for it. Instead, he pitied her plight and granted permission for her eldest son to be included in the Zhou family genealogy. He also bestowed gold and silver upon her and allowed her to leave the capital and return to Sichuan."
My uncle handled this matter unfairly.
Just as Jiang Zhixu was about to nod, she heard her daughter complaining.
While Qin Shi was indeed pitiful and her situation worthy of sympathy, Madam Zhou had also properly followed her parents' wishes, undergoing the proper betrothal and elaborate wedding ceremony to become the Zhou family's principal wife.
[She could tolerate Qin Shi being kept outside the home, but now her uncle is forcing her to accept an illegitimate child.]
So they just took advantage of her generosity and thought she was easy to bully.
Jiang Zhixu's expression was somewhat unnatural.
Zhou Hui was an upright man, and his biggest stain on his life was keeping Qin Shi as a mistress.
He initially felt it was inappropriate, but the world was unfair to women. Qin was the descendant of a foreign race and a Han Chinese, and her parents were deceased, yet she was also exceptionally beautiful.
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