Chapter 51: The male lead and the second male lead are good friends!
Granny He immediately understood and smiled, "Madam is so happy. A mother and son are of one heart. The two young masters have been away for so long, Madam must have been very worried. It's good that they're back, it's good that they're back."
Zhao Xian folded the letter and said to Yingchun, "Go and inform the eldest young mistress that the two young masters are returning. The letter mentioned that they have met a friend who will be staying at our house for a few days. Prepare a guest room and courtyard, change the rooms as needed, and get ready to welcome them."
Yingchun Fushen responded with "good" and left the courtyard to deliver the message.
“Zhu um.”
Jiang Shuxiu clung to Zhao Xian's arm, stood up on her two little legs, and then reached her cheek with her small hands.
Zhao Xian reached out and put her arm around her, but didn't hug her too tightly, just protecting her from falling. "Oh my, our Xiu'er can stand up now, that's great."
Jiang Shuxiu pressed her face close to Zhao Xian's, calling out "Grandmother" in a garbled voice.
She comforted her grandmother with her small body.
Zhao Xian held the child in her arms; how could she have such an adorable baby?
As night fell, Zhao Xian handed the letter to Jiang Liangxu: "Your two sons are coming back."
After the Empress Dowager's birthday celebration, Jiang Liangxu stayed at home for only a few days before going to court, even though his leg injury had not yet healed.
It was only then that people started using rumors to suppress other rumors, and it was he who sent people to arrange that batch of cotton and linen clothes.
Before we knew it, almost a month had passed.
"Jiang Wei's birthday is August 27th. He was in Changzhou at the time, so I couldn't celebrate his birthday. Jiang Heng's birthday is in December, so I can celebrate it when I come back. But I don't plan to have a big celebration. Just a meal with family will do. But you have to make up for the gift. Don't forget."
When they come of age, they will have a grand celebration. As for their annual birthdays, they will be celebrated by their own family, but the necessary gifts will still be given.
We cannot let Jiang Wei grow up to look like the character in the book.
Jiang Liangxu: "Okay."
After talking about matters in the manor for a while, Zhao Xian seemed to be giving instructions, but Jiang Liangxu pretended not to know and listened carefully.
Zhao Xian looked at Jiang Liangxu, who was still sitting in a wheelchair, and asked, "By the way, are your legs paralyzed?"
I couldn't even stand up in Changzhou. After coming back and calculating carefully, including the time spent traveling, it's been almost two months, and there's no sign of improvement at all.
"No, no, I am conscious," Jiang Liangxu immediately clarified.
"Did the imperial physician say when the rehabilitation will begin? If you keep sitting, your calves might atrophy, making it difficult to stand up later."
Jiang Liangxu also felt that there was no point in pretending any longer, and said, "Once the physician changes the dressing and removes the board, you can try walking."
His leg was originally fine, but the wound looked serious. Fortunately, no bone was broken.
I never intended to hide it, but I only pretended to be sick after hearing that she wanted a divorce.
However, this trick didn't work on Zhao Xian, who had lost her memory.
Jiang Liangxu lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly.
The weather is getting colder day by day, and the snow in Jin'an came a little late this year, only at the end of November.
A chill swept through the land, and Zhao Xian had already instructed the steward to prepare a second batch of clothes from the gifts bestowed by the Empress Dowager, which were then sent to the disaster-stricken areas under the Empress Dowager's name.
And on the very day that snow fell in Jin'an.
King Yu, who had been both high-profile and low-profile in Jin'an, finally left with his son.
He was high-profile because he refused to accept that the real culprit had died so easily. He would jump around in the palace every day, crying every three days and making a big scene every five days, expressing his grievances and challenging the bottom line of the emperor and empress dowager.
Keeping a low profile means that they have kept the topic of their son's injury a closely guarded secret.
As a prince with a fiefdom, he shouldn't have lingered in Jin'an for long, but he still managed to stay an extra month under the pretext of recuperating his son's injuries.
According to Jiang Liangxu, the reason why King Yu refused to leave was probably because he regretted surrendering his military power and mines in order to save his son.
But once something has entered the emperor's hands, it's not something he'll easily relinquish; in the end, King Yu did not get his wish.
The father and son left quietly, just as they had come.
When the first snow fell, Jin'an was covered in a silver coat.
The earliest blooming wintersweet has already filled the garden with fragrance.
Outside Jin'an City, a group of people rode along on horseback.
Before even reaching the gates of Jin'an City, Jiang Heng was already itching to go. Finally, after passing through the city gates, he couldn't help but say, "Brother, Brother Qi, I have something to do. You go home first and don't wait for me. Tell Mother I'll be home later."
With that, he spurred his horse, turned, and rode away with his attendant, Liu Feng.
Qi Zhengheng, who was addressed as Brother Qi, raised his hand and said, "How about we make a bet? I bet he's going to see a girl."
He was so impatient, especially since he had noticed that Jiang Heng seemed to have dressed up carefully that morning. The sachet he usually tucked into his clothes was now hanging on his waist, and his clothes were not the ones worn by the city guards, but his own.
Jiang Wei: "Yes, he is engaged to the third daughter of the Lu family."
Qi Zhengheng: "I guessed right."
Jiang Wei: "No reward."
Qi Zhengheng: "Boring."
-Lu Family-
Jiang Heng arrived at the Lu family's residence with ease and climbed over the bamboo grove behind the boudoir.
The familiar piano stand has been replaced with pink gauze curtains, making it stand out against the snowy landscape.
He had only been there a short time when snow began to fall.
Jiang Heng also held three pebbles in his hand.
Unlike before, this time the window opened after he threw in just one pebble.
After waiting for quite a while without seeing anyone come down, Jiang Heng, who had been lazily leaning against the piano stand, began to feel a little worried.
Just as he was wondering whether he should barge into the woman's room, he heard hurried footsteps approaching.
Looking up, he saw a beautiful woman rushing towards him through the wind and snow.
Upon entering the Qintai Pavilion, Lu Zhaoying stopped three steps away from Jiang Heng, slightly out of breath, and slowly looked up.
Those beautiful eyes, like fine, soft feathers, brushed against Jiang Heng's heart, making him feel a tingling, ticklish sensation.
"I knew this cloak suited you so well, it looked really good on you."
"Silly boy." Lu Zhaoying glared at him, but her joy was evident on her face.
Since he went to Changzhou, he's been gone for several months. It would be a lie to say I wasn't worried.
Her heart leaped into her throat the moment the window was knocked on. Her usual attire suddenly felt incomplete, and she dared not face him looking like that, taking a long time to tidy herself up.
"A gift." Jiang Heng took out a box from behind him and opened it. Inside was a gold and jade hairpin. Jiang Heng said apologetically, "I wasn't home for your birthday this time, so the gift is late. I hope Yingying isn't angry with me."
Lu Zhaoying glanced at him and said, "When have I ever been angry with you?" She lowered her head, her eyes shyly hiding their embarrassment, and said in a slightly coquettish voice, "Aren't you going to put it on for me?"
Inserting the hairpin into his hair bun, and looking at the fair and rosy cheeks of the person in front of him, Jiang Heng bent down and kissed him.
Lu Zhaoying was initially taken aback by his sneak attack, but then became angry and reached out to slap him: "Jiang Heng, you're so mean."
"Ouch."
Jiang Heng suddenly shouted.
Lu Zhaoying's expression changed. "What's wrong? Did I hit you hard? Where does it hurt?"
She didn't seem to hit very hard. "Are you injured? How serious is it? Why didn't you say so sooner? Where are you hurt?"
Lu Zhaoying was extremely anxious and pulled him around to check where he was injured.
"Pfft... Hahahaha."
Jiang Heng's composure crumbled the moment his waist was touched.
Lu Zhaoying realized he was lying to her, "Jiang-Heng—"
"It's been months since I last saw Yingying, and she's become distant with me. Didn't she used to call me Henglang?"
"I didn't, I was calling for the Second Young Master." Lu Zhaoying found him to be very glib now. "You came back and deliberately teased me. I'm ignoring you."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Jiang Heng grabbed her around the waist and hugged her. "I'm not lying to you. I really was injured before, and I was almost assassinated."
"Is it that serious? Are you alright?"
"It's alright. Those people were trying to stop me from rescuing Dad, but my older brother dealt with them all." Jiang Heng said, leaning his head on Lu Zhaoying's shoulder. The white fox fur on the cloak tickled his face. "Yingying, I miss you so much. Do you miss me?"
Lu Zhaoying was suddenly hugged by him. Because she had been distracted by talking about the assassination, she came back to her senses and said, "No, let me go quickly, or people will see us."
"So what if I went to see her? We're engaged, and you're going to be my wife. What's wrong with me hugging you? Who dares to say anything?"
"You're full of twisted logic." Lu Zhaoying had never noticed this person's shameless nature before, but the fact that he was able to climb over the wall already proved his shamelessness.
But he had never crossed any boundaries with her before and always respected her. Could it be that things are different now that they're engaged?
Jiang Heng: "This is not a fallacy."
Woof woof—
A few barks rang out, and before Lu Zhaoying could pat his hand, Jiang Heng had already let go of Lu Zhaoying and leaned back against the zither platform.
A maid's voice rang out: "Miss."
Lu Zhaoying emerged from behind the bamboo grove. "Where have you been?"
The maid waved a yellowish object in her arms. "Miss, look, the young master said he found a puppy outside and took pity on it, so he brought it home. However, he needs to study and it's inconvenient for him to keep it. He would like to ask you to help take care of it for him."
"Such a clean dog, hmm, it's even been scented with spices. Are you sure it was found? Or was it bought by someone to please another?"
The maid was slightly taken aback when she saw Jiang Heng, and then said, "Young Master, you're back."
Jiang Heng sensed something was wrong when he heard the words "Young Master Biao".
Upon hearing the other party's request, he couldn't help but complain that the little maid was stupid, unable to see through such a simple trick.
She instantly became happy because of her calling him "son-in-law".
"Your son-in-law just came back and didn't bring any gifts. Here's some silver, it's a reward for you." With that, he tossed a bag of silver over.
The maidservant grabbed the money pouch that had been thrown into her arms, weighed it in her hand, and smiled: "Thank you, young master."
“I’ve taken this puppy. I’ll go back and tell that young master that your young lady is too busy to take care of it, as she’s busy preparing her wedding dress. I’m free to take care of your son-in-law, so that when he’s tired of studying and wants to see a dog, he can come to the Jiang family and I will treat him to the best of hospitality.”
Lu Zhaoying covered her mouth with her handkerchief and laughed, how mischievous.
As soon as the maid left, Jiang Heng's expression changed. "Still laughing? Luckily I'm back. Tell me honestly, what else did he give you?"
Lu Zhaoying teased him, "You sent quite a lot, poems, flowers, paintings and the like."
"So stingy?" Jiang Heng realized he had said the wrong thing and corrected himself, "You accepted them all?"
Seeing his expression, Lu Zhaoying knew she couldn't tease him too much. "How could I dare?"
Jiang Heng was extremely concerned about the suddenly appearing cousin. After asking, he learned that although he was called a cousin, he was actually far removed from the Lu family.
They were staying at the Lu family's house for the purpose of the imperial examination next year.
Before leaving, Jiang Heng weighed the little yellow dog in his hand, saying, "If he wants the dog, tell him to come to the Jiang family to find me."
They're all men, who doesn't understand those little tricks? He'll see if the abacus beads dare to jump in his face.
On the other side, after Jiang Heng left with his attendants...
The absence of two people did not affect the others' itinerary, and the group entered Jin'an and headed straight for the Jiang family.
Upon receiving the news, people were already waiting to greet them at the Jiang family's gate.
Zhao Xian initially didn't pay much attention to the friends mentioned in Jiang Weixin's letter. Everyone has the right to make friends, and she wouldn't object if the other party wanted to stay at her home.
It was only when Jiang Wei brought his friend to pay her respects that Zhao Xian suddenly realized what was happening.
Qi Zhengheng, isn't that the name of the second male lead in a tragic romance novel?
"Mother?" Jiang Wei greeted her mother, but found that she was lost in thought and did not speak.
Zhao Xian was still lost in thought. The male lead and the second male lead are friends. Was this mentioned in the book? I don't recall.
The second male lead actually appears in the book after the main characters in this tragic romance novel have divorced.
I glanced at the second male lead in front of me; why is he also bringing up his appearance now...?
The plot has completely gone awry! So, is this a good thing or a bad thing?
After being called out by Jiang Wei, Zhao Xian ended her brainstorming session. Never mind, she could only deal with whatever came her way: "Ahem, young master Qi, there's no need for such formalities. Please sit down."
Zhao Xian couldn't help but wonder if this person had any strange quirks. She didn't want to encounter another pervert; it would be best to get along with him peacefully.
Qi Zhengheng cupped his hands in thanks: "Thank you, Auntie."
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