Good family marriage
"Second Sister!" Jiang Ru called out to Jiang Jin. Even in the sweltering heat of midsummer, Jiang Ru was still wearing a thin cloak.
"Is there anything I can help you with, Third Sister?" Jiang Ru turned her head slightly, and the maid behind her tactfully withdrew.
"Second sister, would you have time to come with me to the pavilion at the front for a chat?" Jiang Ru asked Jiang Jin in a weak voice, as if she had mustered up her courage.
"Alright, Third Sister, how have you been feeling lately?" Jiang Jin waved her hand and helped Jiang Ru into the pavilion, while the maid stood guard outside to prevent anyone from getting close.
"Second sister, Liang Erlangjun sent a message a while ago..." Jiang Ru hesitated for a moment but made up her mind, "He said he wanted to meet me, but he wouldn't let me bring any maids. Second sister, I'm afraid that if I don't go, I'll anger him, but I'm also afraid that if I go, something might happen."
"Third Sister, you should explain this to Mother and let her make the decision." Jiang Jin didn't understand why Jiang Ru was suddenly saying this to her.
"Because my mother is also from a respectable family, I'm afraid..." Jiang Ru has always been gentle, which is why she was bullied by Jiang Su. Jiang Jin, however, dared not agree to this.
"I'll go with you to find your mother. Don't worry, she's always fair and won't favor her own family." After much deliberation, Jiang Ru finally nodded.
"Second sister, you are someone who can serve as an official in the imperial court, I believe you." Jiang Jin's heart softened, and she led Jiang Ru into her mother's courtyard.
"Mother, Third Sister and I have something to report." Jiang Jin saw the maid lift the curtain and pulled Jiang Ru into the room.
"What's wrong?" Jiang's mother was looking at the account books on the table and was curious about what was going on between Jiang Jin and Jiang Ru.
"Third Sister, you should tell Mother yourself." Jiang Ru looked into her mother's eyes, gritted her teeth, knelt down and reported: "Mother, Liang Erlangjun asked to meet me, but he didn't allow me to bring any maids."
"What!" Jiang's mother looked up at Jiang Ru in surprise. "Where's the letter? Go and have someone bring the letter to your mother to see."
“Mother, my sister is not well. Perhaps she should sit down first, and I will kneel in her place.” Jiang Jin lifted her skirt and knelt before her mother.
"You've got some nerve! I wouldn't dare make you kneel!" Mother Jiang turned her face away, refusing to look at Jiang Jin again.
"I knew Mother loved me dearly and couldn't bear to see me kneeling." Jiang Jin pulled Jiang Ru down to sit, and soon Jiang Ru's personal maid came in with a box.
Jiang's mother casually opened a letter and frowned in disbelief, saying, "Third Sister, has Liang Erlang always treated you like this?"
"Yes... ever since the engagement, Young Master Liang has been sending people to deliver messages." Jiang Ru wanted to kneel down to beg for forgiveness, but Jiang Jin stopped her.
“Mother, this is Liang Erlang’s fault, it has nothing to do with Third Sister.”
"Of course I won't blame Third Sister, it's just that Liang Erlangjun is somewhat unworthy of the title." Mother Jiang looked worried and inwardly resented this tactless Liang Langjun.
“Mother, why don’t we play along? I’ll go to the appointment in place of my sister, and you can go and invite Father and Liang Dalang. Our family can’t just suffer this loss in silence.”
Jiang Jin patted Jiang Ru's hand, "However, since the respectable family is so arrogant, we can't let them off lightly. If Third Sister is confused, this could be a handle to use against the Jiang family!"
"Third Sister, have you replied?" Mother Jiang was afraid that Jiang Ru had written something inappropriate.
"Mother, don't worry. I only made some impolite excuses and didn't say anything out of line." Jiang Ru looked at Jiang Jin with some concern. "Second sister, won't this harm you? Will General Wei be angry?"
"It's alright. I even dared to kill Wang Juesong, what's a good young man?" Jiang Jin smiled slightly at Jiang Ru. "Third Sister, don't be afraid. We'll catch you like a turtle in a jar, and maybe we can even bring this marriage back on track."
"Third Sister recently injured her hand, so let her maid write it for her." Madam Jiang gave a look, and the maid took out paper and pen and wrote down the date herself.
"I've injured my hand, so I'm able to go out. See you at Yangchun Tower tomorrow at noon." Madam Jiang looked at the letter with satisfaction and instructed someone to deliver it to the Liang residence.
"I'll send someone to wait at Yangchun Tower. We'll see then. You must all be tired today, so you should head back now." Mother Jiang wearily rubbed her temples. The past few days had been filled with one problem after another, truly exhausting.
"Then your daughter will take Third Mother back first." Jiang Jin pulled Jiang Ru up, curtsied, and the two walked together outside the courtyard. Jiang Ru looked somewhat fearfully in the direction of her mother's courtyard.
"Second sister, if Father and Mother insist on arranging a marriage with a respectable family, what good will come of it for me?" Jiang Ru knew very well her position in the Jiang family; being an unfavored daughter was no big deal.
"Mother is only angry that Liang Erlang has ruined the Jiang family's reputation, just as Father is angry that my words in the main hall would hinder your marriage and harm the Jiang family. But Third Sister, would you like to find another husband?" Jiang Jin quietly pulled Jiang Ru to the courtyard where she had originally married.
"Second sister, what does this mean?" Jiang Ru asked, somewhat puzzled. "Whose husband will you choose?"
“Since it was Liang Langjun who caused this trouble, then the Liang family should bear the responsibility. We can’t just dump a piece of trash on our Jiang family.” Jiang Jin tapped Jiang Ru’s forehead with her finger. “If Erlangjun is a spoiled brat, do you really want to ruin your life?”
“The eldest son of a good family is to become the future wife of the clan chief. I think Third Sister doesn’t want to be tied down by social obligations and family affairs all day long, so Third Young Master is a very good choice.” Jiang Jin gently persuaded her, still feeling a bit sorry for Jiang Ru in her heart.
"If Father gets angry, just say you were born with a weak constitution and are unwell, and pretend to be frail." Jiang Jin gently brushed a stray hair from Jiang Ru's forehead.
"Third Sister, you'll need to rely on yourself after marrying into a respectable family. You can ask Mother to find some capable nannies, but you still need to be clear-headed." Jiang Jin knew Jiang Ru was always timid, but Jiang Ru knelt directly before her.
"Second sister, I want to marry a respectable young master from a good family. I want to become the mistress of the family and live in harmony with him." Jiang Ru's eyes were resolute, showing no trace of coercion.
"Third Sister, begging me is useless. I have no power to influence the marriage of a respectable young master." Jiang Jin was somewhat surprised; she hadn't noticed Jiang Ru's ambition.
Jiang Jin sighed, "The most important thing is not family but good family. Do you know that the position of wife of the eldest and third sons of a good family is reserved for daughters of prominent families? I, the third son, can still make some plans for my sister, but I, the eldest son, am truly powerless."
"I won't make things difficult for Second Sister. I only ask that you allow me to go to Yangchun Pavilion myself tomorrow; perhaps there's still a chance to turn things around." Jiang Ru trembled inwardly, afraid that Jiang Jin would notice.
"Third Sister seems to know a lot about the eldest son of a respectable family?" Jiang Jin frowned and helped Jiang Ru up. "I don't know what your plans are, but I want to advise you that scions of noble families, especially the successor of the clan, will never give up their interests for love."
“Second sister, I know. I saw Liang Langjun from afar when I was offering incense at the temple, and then I met him again when I was offering incense later. I was wearing a veil and he was wearing a mask, so I could only see the jade pendant at his waist.” Jiang Ru’s face remained expressionless, as if she were simply stating an ordinary matter.
"Later, I saw him every time I went to offer incense. I don't know if it was a coincidence or something else. It wasn't until he came to deliver festival gifts that I saw the jade pendant on his waist and realized his identity. I played the zither in the pavilion to attract his attention, but I also knew that with his abilities, finding out my identity would be a piece of cake." Jiang Ru sighed deeply and looked at Jiang Jin.
"It's a pity he still proposed marriage for me on behalf of his brother. At that moment, I knew that this was the end for us. But since what happened today has already happened, I want to take a gamble." Jiang Ru said she wasn't acting out of love, but her eyes were full of affection.
"If you lose the bet, would you still be willing to marry into a respectable family and face a respectable young man every day?" Jiang Jin stroked Jiang Ru's hair. "You should think it through yourself."
"It's alright, Second Sister. It's just a few meetings, nothing to worry about." Jiang Ru forced a smile. "It's better to be able to turn back than to not be able to."
"Be careful tomorrow. Although Mother will send people to guard the place beforehand, you should also be aware of the risks involved." Jiang Jin took out a small packet of sleeping pills from her pocket and placed it in Jiang Ru's hand.
"This contains a sleeping potion; it can protect you if necessary." Jiang Jin understood that this might be the bravest thing Jiang Ru had ever done.
"Thank you, Second Sister. I think what you said in court was very good." Jiang Ru reached out and hugged Jiang Jin.
“In this family, my second older sister has always protected me. When my fourth younger sister bullied me, my second older sister would step in to stop her and even give me her share of food.”
"Because you're my sister," Jiang Jin gently patted Jiang Ru's back. "Of course I want you to be happy."
"I will." Jiang Ru's eyes were a little moist, but she still held back the urge to cry. "Second sister, I will pray for you every day and wish you a meteoric rise to great heights."
"Alright, I also wish my third aunt all her wishes come true and everything goes smoothly." Jiang Jin looked at Jiang Ru's face and felt a little guilty. "Alright, I should go back now. You should rest well and don't think too much."
"Second Sister, take care." Jiang Ru, now showing a glimmer of life, looked like a withered tree blossoming in spring. Jiang Jin walked to the entrance of the Jiang residence and saw the unmoved carriage; a warmth filled her heart.
"General." Jiang Jin lifted the curtain and saw an unexpected person.
"Greetings, Second Mistress." Liang Dalangjun was sitting in his carriage, drinking tea. Wei Shu, who looked weary, only relaxed upon seeing Jiang Jin.
"Cousin Liang?" Jiang Jin was taken aback, then tentatively asked, "Did you receive a letter from Mother?"
"What letter? Is there something you need, Aunt?" Liang Langjun looked at Jiang Jin with some curiosity.
"It's nothing, but since my cousin is here, why don't we go in and see Mother? I think Mother will be happier to see her family." All Jiang Jin could do was let her son-in-law go and meet her mother in person.
"I have other matters to attend to today. I just happened to see General Wei and took the liberty of coming to pay my respects. I will prepare gifts for my aunt later." Seeing that Liang Langjun was about to leave, Jiang Jin stopped him.
"Cousin Liang, you should go see Mother." Jiang Jin looked at Liang Langjun's gentle gaze with mixed feelings.
"Some things are better discussed face-to-face," Jiang Jin said, leaving it at that, as further discussion would be pointless.
"Then I will take the liberty of disturbing you, Aunt." Liang Langjun wasn't stupid; he could naturally see that Jiang Jin was hiding something. He had no choice but to get out of the carriage and request an audience with Jiang's mother.
"Calling him 'cousin' so affectionately, you really are!" Wei Shu said coldly, avoiding looking at Jiang Jin.
"So, do you want me to call you Lord Wei or Cousin Wei?" Jiang Jin sat down next to Wei Shu, poured him a cup of tea, and fed it to him. "Don't be jealous. I am your wife. Everyone else is just a passerby."
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