Chapter 101

Jiashan's expression was gentle, but his tone was as firm as a rock.

She had a beautiful face, bright and beautiful, like the sun and moon in the sky. She was noble and gentle, aloof and assertive.

He really looks a bit like someone back then.

Wen Lao Taijun was almost stunned thinking.

Jiashan saw that the old lady had been silent for a long time, and fearing that he might have upset her, he said in a gentle manner, "I'm sorry, grandma."

She paused for a moment before saying, "I shouldn't be talking to you like this at this time."

Wen Lao Taijun unexpectedly smiled and said calmly, "No problem."

"I had guessed you would say that." Old Lady Wen didn't care. Her eyes were calm, as if she was looking at something far away. She said, "It's my incompetence. I didn't manage this family well, and I made the princess laugh at me."

Of course Jiashan couldn't continue speaking along with her words, but he didn't want to speak for the rest of the people in the Anguo Mansion, so he pursed his lips and smiled at Old Lady Wen.

Wen Lao Taijun asked softly, "When Princess came here, did you see the spruce tree at the door?"

Jiashan vaguely remembered the tall tree and nodded, "I've seen it before."

"About fifty years ago," said the old lady in a slow and measured voice, with a hint of hoarseness in her voice, "When I first married into the Anguo Mansion, the then-mother-in-law held my hand and said to me, 'This spruce tree is not easy to grow. It takes a lot of effort to grow it into a big tree. I wonder if the Anguo Mansion has the blessing of living as long as the tree.'"

"In the past fifty years, I believe I have done my best for the Duke's Mansion." She slowly closed her eyes and said softly.

The Duke of Anguo was narrow-minded, and although his wife, Jia, had some tricks, she was too violent and scheming. The Duke of Anguo's son, Zhan Tai, was just a follower, and as for Zhang, she was so rubbish that she was not worth mentioning.

In fact, if Jiashan were to say it, if it weren't for the support of Old Lady Wen, the Duke of Anguo's Mansion would have been in chaos a long time ago.

How can it live up to the reputation of the Duke's Mansion?

Jiashan didn't want to upset Old Lady Wen at this time, so he just said, "You have already done your best."

"It's just that heaven doesn't fulfill our wishes," said Jiashan.

After hearing what she said, Old Lady Wen realized that she couldn't say the following words no matter what. She didn't complain or feel annoyed, but still smiled generously with a very calm expression.

Jiashan, on the other hand, looked a little stern with the corners of her slightly round almond-shaped eyes tilted upwards. She looked cold and said in a low voice, "Grandma, don't blame me for being cruel."

"You have heard it today. If the Crown Prince's wife had any kinship with Yan Qing, and if the Duke of Anguo had any fatherly kindness, I would have agreed to your request."

Thinking of Zhang and Anguogong's behavior outside today, Jiashan's lips and teeth almost trembled with anger. She said coldly: "But not only did they not do that, they also deliberately didn't want to let Yanqing have an easy time."

"During this time, Aunt Fu has been taking care of my pregnancy in the Princess's residence, and I have heard her mention several past events." Jia Shan raised his eyes quietly, and his voice became even slower. "I heard that when Aunt Fu was seriously ill, it was the Crown Prince's wife who interfered, so that the mother and son were ultimately unable to meet."

"You should know better than me what you mean to Yanqing." At this point, although Jiashan has always been tough, there is a hint of sadness in her eyes. She said hoarsely, "If the same thing happens to you again, Yanqing will probably never forgive herself."

"He will regret it for the rest of his life."

Jiashan felt sad when thinking about the scene that might happen.

Fu Shiyu and Wen Lao Taijun were two women who played such an important role in Zhan Yue's life. Even though she and Zhan Yue loved each other to this point, she did not dare to compare her importance in Zhan Yue's heart with these two.

The meaning of family members will always be different for him, who was neglected by his father and lost his mother at an early age.

Fortunately, it was not too late and he did not suffer any regrets or remorse.

Jiashan pulled the corner of her mouth, her expression even more stern and cold, her words were clear, like broken ice under a glacier: "It's not that I'm heartless and don't want to take care of them. It's just that they don't deserve it."

Old Lady Wen's gaze fell on the void. Her smile was pale and weak, and she said slowly, "Yan Qing married a good wife who truly loves him."

"Finally, I didn't let his mother down." Old Lady Wen struggled to pull her hand out from under the quilt and stroked Jiashan's face.

Her hands were like dry old tree bark, with deep wrinkles on her palms, but her touch was very light, which suddenly reminded Jiashan of Madam Zheng.

Although Empress Pei loved her daughter, it was impossible for her to accompany her all day.

When she was a child, she was restless and didn't want to go to sleep. It was Nanny Zheng who used her rough palms to gently stroke her back, enclosing her in that space that was big enough to protect her from the wind and rain.

Perhaps in the past, Old Lady Wen also accompanied Zhan Yue in this way?

The years suddenly peeled off the wall and became vivid.

Thinking of this, Jiashan couldn't help but feel a little soft-hearted. After all, the man in front of him was an old man who was about to die, and he had spent most of his life in the Duke's Mansion.

She might be old-fashioned, or too strong, but she was indeed one of the few sources of warmth that the young Zhan Yue could draw from.

Jiashan's lips trembled, and she was about to speak, but Wen Lao Taijun's eyes suddenly fell on the Nine Dragons Playing with Pearls bracelet on her wrist.

Wen Lao Taijun lowered her hand and slowly stroked the bracelet with her withered fingers, as if those once prosperous times vaguely appeared before her eyes.

There was tenderness in her pupils, and she said kindly, "This bracelet was bought by me and Madam Fu Hou together back then."

"Marquis Fu and his children are all strong-willed, but Madam Fu is different. She is well-known in the capital for her gentleness."

"Perhaps it was to compensate each other. I was very close to her back then, and we married our children to each other very early on. The keepsake is the bracelet and the pearl hairpin you are wearing now." Mrs. Wen paused, her voice changed from soft to desolate, her eyes paused slightly, "Later, the marriage was called off, and the two items were returned to Zhao intact."

"If I were to say what I regret most in my life, it would only be two things." Old Lady Wen was silent for a moment, as if she was very tired. She spoke in a low voice, "First, I shouldn't have allowed Jianhan to break the contract. Second, I shouldn't have allowed him to take Fu Shiyu as his concubine after he broke the contract."

Old Lady Wen narrowed her eyes, which were deeper than those of ordinary people. She smiled and said in a muffled voice, "Nowadays, you reap what you sow. No matter what the consequences are in the future, the Duke's Mansion should bear the consequences."

Next to the inner room of Wen Lao Taijun is an incense hall. The scent of sandalwood used in worshiping Buddha is like gauze and smoke, carried by the wind and lingering in the air.

It almost blinded Jiashan's eyes.

Jiashan sighed, and finally said softly: "Since the Anguo Mansion can marry a master, as long as I am here, as long as no one in the Anguo Mansion participates in rebellion, the whole mansion can at least be guaranteed to be safe."

"As for the rest, I can't promise my grandmother anything."

Although Lady Wen still looked haggard, her brows relaxed slightly. She smiled and said, "Then I will have Princess Lao's protection."

In the eyes of Old Lady Wen, some of the people in the Duke of Anguo's Mansion might be stupid or bad, but no one dared to dare to get involved in rebellion.

With Jiashan's words, the Anguo Mansion can at least maintain peace for a few more decades.

She could never have imagined that not long after her death, the stupid and evil people in the Duke's Mansion would gradually surface.

Jiashan smiled helplessly.

In her heart, she understood that when Old Lady Wen sent Zhan Yue out just now, she was leaving some room for both of them. At this juncture, as long as she said a word, with Zhan Yue's temper, he would be willing to go even if it meant going through fire and water.

But she didn't force him to agree.

After all, she still felt sorry for this grandson who had grown up in her presence, and she didn't want to use the filial piety between grandparents and grandchildren as a shackle to constrain him for the rest of his life.

After receiving Jiashan's promise, Old Lady Wen seemed to have finally gotten rid of a big problem. She smiled faintly, and her body was obviously weaker, leaning back on the bed.

Mother Sheng, who had been serving her, hurried over to support her and help Old Lady Wen to breathe more slowly. Old Lady Wen took a deep breath, but the remaining breath was almost stuck in her chest and she couldn't spit it out.

This made things even worse. Lady Wen suddenly grasped her collar tightly and her eyes began to blur.

Jiashan did not dare to be careless anymore, and hurriedly took over Old Lady Wen from Mother Sheng's hands, and asked Mother Sheng to call in all the people from the Duke of Anguo's Mansion.

Jiashan and Old Lady Wen talked for only a cup of tea in the inner room. But Old Lady Wen looked much more haggard and lifeless than when Zhan Yue first saw her tonight.

It seemed as if the old lady Wen, who had just held Jiashan's hand and told her about Madam Fu, was only giving the old lady her last bit of pity.

At this moment, her pity disappeared, and Old Lady Wen quickly became as weak as a thread.

Mother Sheng didn't dare let her sit for any longer, so she helped her lie down and carefully covered her with a quilt.

Duke Anguo sat down at the head of the bed silently. Jiashan wanted to stand up and let Zhan Yue sit in his seat, but he was pressed down on the shoulder by his hand.

Zhan Yue did not step forward, but just stood behind Jiashan.

He was tall, and his heavy shadow was cast diagonally above Jiashan, blocking all the unfriendly looks at her.

Wen Taijun's breathing was slow and heavy, but there was still a hint of smile on her lips. She said, "Jianhan."

Duke Anguo uttered an "eh" and leaned half of his body over the bedside to listen to what the old lady was saying.

The old lady's lips were parted, and her dark pupils had slowly lost their luster. She took a few breaths, then suddenly widened her eyes and cursed with full force: "You deserve to die!"

Duke Anguo was stunned. He probably didn't expect that his mother would call him to her bedside just to say these words to him before she died.

His face immediately turned blue and red.

Wen Lao Taijun didn't look at him again. She stretched out her hand and slowly said, "Yanqing."

Zhan Yue's voice was low, and he said, "I'm here, grandma."

"Come," said Old Lady Wen with difficulty, "Let me... hug you again."

Zhan Yue walked forward and also knelt down. Mrs. Wen placed her arm on Zhan Yue's back with great difficulty. Her face was old, like a plum blossom withering in autumn.

"You are so worried, grandma... I was worried about you at first, but now... seeing the princess by your side, grandma can feel comforted even after closing her eyes..." After hearing that the old lady's eyes were becoming increasingly weak, she slowly said, "In the days ahead... I'm sure... she will be with you to live a good life..."

Jiashan turned her face to the side, tears finally burst out of her eyes at this moment, she covered her mouth to prevent herself from crying out loud.

Zhan Yue didn't say anything the whole time. He closed his eyes slightly and simply leaned on the chest of Old Lady Wen, just like he used to do when he was a child. Jia Shan noticed that there were still a few tears flashing on his cheeks.

Mother Sheng was the first to notice something was wrong. She put one hand in front of Old Lady Wen's nose and probed, then tremblingly withdrew her hand. She fell to the edge of the bed, tears streaming down her face.

It turned out that the old woman with white hair lying on the bed had ended her strong and courageous life after saying those words to her grandson.

Duke Anguo burst into tears instantly, as if he had completely forgotten what Lady Wen had said, "Damn it," and cried out loudly again and again.

Since he started this, everyone started crying, starting with Zhan Tai. Zhang wiped her face vigorously with a handkerchief, trying to squeeze out her tears in an obvious way.

Zhan Shaoying had a sad face, his head hung, and he looked tired and weak.

Qi was crying silently.

However, Zhan A'li, who had been raised by Old Lady Wen in the past few years, had already cried like a baby in the arms of his mother Yu.

After Yu stopped covering his mouth, Zhan A-li started sobbing and hiccuping, wailing: "Grandma..."

In such a sad atmosphere, Jiashan was not much better off.

Zhan Yue had already stood up from the bed of Old Lady Wen. He walked to Yu's side without saying a word, picked up Zhan A'li from her arms, and coaxed him in a low voice.

He didn't look at anyone, including Jiashan, but just buried his head in Zhan Ali's weak and soft shoulders.

Jiashan walked slowly up to him and lifted his face without saying anything.

Zhan Yuezheng's eyes were filled with sadness, and the unspoken pain was reflected in his eyes. At this moment, he was like a weak and helpless child.

Time flies, and it seems like we are back to the night when Zhan Yue was four years old and lost Fu Shiyu.

But this time, something seemed different.

There was a caring hand on his face.

The fingertips of her hands were very hot, and she carefully and gently wiped away his tears one by one.

With his eyes blurred, he vaguely saw that the owner of this hand had endless tenderness and compassion in his eyes.