Chapter 78 Children are meant to be teased...
Because Jiang Liangxu was there, Zhao Xian specially ordered several extra dishes for dinner. With so many dishes, she ate a few bites of each so that it wouldn't be noticed.
Since he is still faking illness, it's best not to cause any further trouble.
After having dinner and reading for a while, it was almost time to wash up, and the sky outside had completely darkened.
Jiang Liangxu, however, showed no sign of leaving.
Zhao Xian urged, "Aren't you going back to your study?"
Jiang Liangxu shook his head, his voice filled with grievance, "I have been waiting for my wife in the study for several days, but she has not come to visit me. I suppose it is because Haitang Residence is too far from Yanchi Studio. As a man, I should be considerate of my wife, so I came to keep her company. But my wife is determined to send me away. I am so heartbroken."
She doesn't blame anyone; men who have been holding back for too long are terrifying.
Seeing his affected expression, Zhao Xian frowned: "Lord Jiang, have the meals at your residence been too oily these past few days? They're practically overflowing."
Jiang Liangxu: "...Madam, that was a rather vulgar insult."
This reminded him of a handsome young male prostitute they had once met, who had used similar words and explained their meaning to him.
Zhao Xian glared at him, "Then why don't you speak normally?"
Jiang Liangxu chuckled, got up and stretched his limbs. His voice was normal now, no longer affected as before. It was gentle and steady as he said, "Madam has tried the couch in the study. It's really too hard. I've been lying on it for eight or nine days in a row. My old bones can't take it anymore. Please take me in, Madam."
Upon hearing the words "she also tried that bed," Zhao Xian couldn't help but recall the events of those two days, and her ears turned red.
He glared at Jiang Liangxu, "If I take you in, you'll be my bed too."
"It's alright, I can climb into bed by myself, Madam, you don't need to worry."
Zhao Xian: "..."
Did he suffer some kind of shock while he was in the border town? He's become much more outspoken since he came back; he wasn't like this before.
Jiang Liangxu's words were quite suggestive, but after washing up, he obediently went to sleep on the soft couch, and Zhao Xian had no idea why he insisted on staying in the room.
In the middle of the night, Zhao Xian was half asleep when she felt a lot of noise in her ears, a buzzing sound, like chanting.
The sound disappeared after the slap.
Jiang Liangxu smelled the fragrance in her palm, smiled, and placed his hand on the back of her hand before moving it to his cheek.
Before they knew it, the sound of the night watchman's gong came.
It was midnight, the second day, and his birthday had arrived.
She once said that wishes made right after midnight are the most effective.
When they first got married, he was studying, but that was also the least busy time of his life. He could spend time with her when he came home in the evenings. They celebrated many birthdays together, always keeping vigil at midnight to give their blessings.
When did they stop keeping vigil and blessing each other at midnight?
It started around the time he was transferred to a post outside the capital, and that was also the first time they didn't spend each other's birthdays together.
Since then, it seems like a vicious cycle; most of the time he's too busy to have any free time.
When he had time to stay by her side, he discovered that she had forgotten about the midnight blessing, or rather, she no longer cared.
Jiang Liangxu couldn't bear to wake her again, because he was the one who broke his promise first.
Listen to the third strike of the clapper.
Jiang Liangxu leaned down and kissed Zhao Xian's cheek: "This year's wish..."
--
Jiang Liangxu's birthday is May 13th, and his birthday has passed for seven or eight days.
The raids and arrests in Jin'an were halted. Almost a month after Jiang Liangxu returned to Jin'an, the city had undergone a bloody ordeal.
Treason is a serious crime, especially since the city's defenders and generals were using the lives of ordinary people to gain military merit—it was simply an act of evil.
In Jin'an, not a single one of those who covered up for the city's garrison commander was spared by the Emperor.
At the end of May, Lord Lu was released. As Jiang Liangxu had said, he was not exiled. While the house was being searched and people were being arrested, the Lu family members were not implicated.
Jiang Liangxu was right about one thing: Lord Lu was demoted and banished from Jin'an.
It's essentially the same as being demoted and then transferred away from headquarters.
After the incident came to an end, Jiang Liangxu publicly 'woke up,' but because he had been in a coma and seriously injured for a long time, he could not fully recover immediately, so he even dug out the wheelchair he had used before.
"I find that you're really good at faking illness." Zhao Xian looked at his sickly appearance. If she hadn't already known, she probably would have been fooled as well.
"It's all thanks to Madam's excellent teaching." He had seen her feign illness quite a few times, and she even taught some children to fake illness. After they became familiar, she even taught him. She often said that she had accompanied artists to classes, and she could do all of this with ease.
Zhao Xian had no recollection of this and didn't pay much attention. She was now concerned about something else. She took out the date that had been calculated for her and said, "Now that Lord Lu has been released, can we talk to him about your son's and daughter's marriage? It would be best to ask Lord Lu when he will take up his post and get the children's marriage arranged before he leaves."
Before Jiang Liangxu could speak, a maid's voice called out to the Second Young Master from the doorway.
Zhao Xian laughed: "Your son always comes back at crucial moments. Does he have clairvoyance?"
"I have a feeling he will definitely ask to marry Lu San Niang again. Should we make a bet?" I've been anxious for a while, but because Lu San Niang is not yet an adult, the Lu family won't budge.
Seeing that she was in a good mood, Jiang Liangxu replied, "Okay."
Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Heng burst in like a gust of wind. "Mother, your son who has done a great service is back. Did you miss me?"
Jiang Heng had a wide smile on his face, almost reaching behind his ears, and he said things without any shame.
Walking around the screen, Jiang Heng saw that his father was also there. His smile froze, and his cheerful voice instantly turned into a muffled one. "Father is here too."
That joy has visibly diminished.
Jiang Liangxu: "Then I'll leave?"
"No, son wouldn't dare." Jiang Heng pursed his lips, hesitated, and finally knelt down in front of the two of them, bowing and saying, "Son greets father and mother."
Such a grand gift? Is there something important you have to say?
When Jiang Liangxu spoke, Zhao Xian realized something was wrong. That's right, in their family, greetings didn't go as far as kowtowing, and Jiang Heng wasn't the type to follow the rules.
He looks like he needs something from me.
After kowtowing, Jiang Heng did not get up. Instead, he knelt on the ground, looked up at his parents, and after what seemed like a struggle, said:
"Father, Mother, I have heard that Uncle Lu has been demoted. The place is far from Jin'an. I want to marry Yingying as soon as possible. Please give me your permission."
Zhao Xian winked at Jiang Liangxu, "Look, he's got a top-tier love brain, he's alive!"
At the same time, he reached out his hand, indicating that it was time to give her a bet.
Jiang Liangxu touched the jade pendant on his body and placed it in her palm.
After Jiang Heng finished speaking, he realized that no one was paying attention to him.
They were still up to their old tricks, saying, "Father, Mother! Are you even listening to me?"
Zhao Xian was startled by the sudden shout.
Jiang Liangxu reached out and patted her back, speaking coldly to Jiang Heng, "What are you shouting for? You're not a child anymore, don't you know how to be mature?"
Jiang Heng pursed his lips, "My son wants to marry Yingying, and I humbly request my parents' consent."
Jiang Liangxu: "What if you don't agree?"
“My son has done a good job this time and can choose a place to take up a post. If you disagree, my son will continue to work as a patrol officer for my father-in-law.”
Jiang Liangxu gave him a disdainful look: "You're really something."
Jiang Heng was at a loss. "So what do you guys think? Anyway, I'm not breaking off the engagement."
Zhao Xian felt that Jiang Liangxu had finished saying what she wanted to say, which made it seem like he was leaving behind a peacemaker's words: "Even if you hadn't said it, we were already discussing going to the Lu family to ask for a date."
Lord Lu has been demoted, and Madam Lu will definitely go with him. The journey is long, and if the marriage between the two families is delayed, it will be quite troublesome to travel back and forth.
Zhao Xian didn't want to wait any longer.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Heng's expression lit up. "Really?"
Zhao Xian couldn't help but tease him: "It's fake."
Jiang Heng: "..."
The three of them discussed sending out visiting cards first, and then going to visit the door in person the next day.
Jiang Liangxu decided not to go. He had used his son as an act last time. If he went to the Lu family looking sick, it would make people think that Jiang Heng was unfilial, neglecting his father for the sake of a woman.
Zhao Xian's involvement presents a different story, at most earning her the title of "loving mother."
The saying "a doting mother spoils her son" suddenly makes perfect sense.
The family of three has reached an agreement.
As a result, the next day, just as dawn was breaking, the Lu family's visiting card arrived first.
The post also mentioned that they would come to visit soon, which actually saved them the trouble.
"Do you think the Lu family is here to discuss the marriage between our two children?" Zhao Xian asked while putting on her earrings.
The Lu family must be anxious too.
Jiang Liangxu toyed with the eyebrow-drawing stone in his hand. "Hard to say."
After having breakfast, and waiting for the servants to announce the arrival of the Lu family, Zhao Xian led Cui Tingyue to the hanging flower gate to greet them.
The steward then led Lord Lu and his eldest son to Jiang Liangxu's study.
Zhao Xian greeted Madam Lu, saying, "Please come inside quickly."
Lu Zhaoying curtsied and greeted her, saying, "Auntie."
Zhao Xian noticed that the Lu family members had all lost weight. Madam Lu and her eldest daughter-in-law looked very thin, their clothes were almost empty. Lu Zhaoying's once lovely face had become narrower, and her jawline had become thinner.
"Thank you, thank you," Madam Lu finally dared to say.
She looked tired, but the spirit in her eyes was still good, and she hadn't given up.
This May was incredibly difficult. Countless homes in Jin'an were ransacked, heads were scattered everywhere, and a large number of people were exiled.
The Lu family was extremely worried, but in the end they found that they had survived. Although the master had been demoted, this was obviously the best possible outcome.
All of this would not have ended well without the Jiang family's prior assistance.
The Lu family was genuinely grateful to the Jiang family.
"It's all in the past," Zhao Xian comforted her.
The group arrived at the flower hall, where a maid brought tea and snacks.
Madam Lu looked at Zhao Xian, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.
Zhao Xian felt awkward about being too eager as the other party was a relative of the bride. She believed that such an important event as marriage should be initiated by the groom's side. Just as she was about to bring up the marriage of their children, she said, "By the way, Heng'er and..."
As if she had made up her mind, Madam Lu said, "Madam Jiang, let's call off the marriage between our two children."
Zhao Xian was stunned for a moment, her voice almost losing its natural quality, "Give up?
Is this all about breaking off the engagement? No, if there was no exile, how come a different story has unfolded!
Is Jiang Heng destined to follow the heroine of a sweet romance novel and protect her for three years?
Madam Lu nodded, her face full of apology, and said, "This matter is all thanks to Lord Jiang's reminder. Erlang is an excellent child, and Lord Jiang and you are both very, very good people. You would certainly be the best father-in-law and mother-in-law. However, we will soon be going to our post with the master. Third Sister is not fortunate enough to be associated with the Jiang family."
Does Madam Lu not want her daughter to marry into the Jiang family? She certainly does. What mother doesn't want her daughter to marry well?
But the Jiang family helped them too much, and for this, Lord Jiang was seriously injured because of his son.
If Jiang Heng marries San Niang, the censor will surely find fault with him for being unfilial, and then the Lu family will not be repaying a debt of gratitude but seeking revenge.
Zhao Xian doesn't want to break up this couple. Finding a partner for the child is such a troublesome thing. She has a case right next to her, and she's already having a headache from thinking about it.
Cui Tingyue seemed to sense an indescribable gaze, which lasted only a short time.
Zhao Xian patiently advised, "Lord Lu is going to a far place to take up his post, so he shouldn't bring Third Sister along. It's too much trouble for him to travel back and forth. Why don't we get the two children married as soon as possible? That way, you parents can fulfill your wishes."
"We appreciate your kindness, Madam, but it's too late." Madam Lu was actually somewhat surprised that the Jiang family was willing to honor the marriage agreement without any hesitation.
They had already discussed it since the master came out, and the marriage with the Jiang family had to be called off.
Since they spoke first, the fault lies with them, thus sparing the Jiang family from trouble.
After all, the master's official rank was directly demoted from the fifth rank to the seventh rank, and the master is much older than Lord Jiang. It is uncertain whether he will be able to return in the future.
Why gamble on the Jiang family's attitude and conscience? If they are pragmatic, they can leave a good impression on the Jiang family.
Zhao Xian: "How can it be too late?"
Don't break up the official couple! Everything can be discussed.
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Author's note: I'm having a terrible time.
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