Chapter 113 Chapter 113 "You are a promising father...
"What did mother say?" Fang Ying asked Ji Yanlang.
"I asked my second brother to write a letter to Dad and send it out quickly."
After Ji Yanlang finished speaking, he saw Fang Ying still staring at him, waiting for the next word. He smiled and said, "Mother said it wasn't a big deal. At most, she would blame father for his poor parenting and dismiss my third brother from his post."
Considering the contributions Ji Guangting had made after surrendering to Chen, he would not be dragged down by such an incompetent son. However, although this incident was caused by Ji Yanchang, Feng Jinyu reported it to Jiang Chonghai.
Fang Ying asked thoughtfully, "Feng Jinyu sued Jiang Chonghai because of his uncle. Even if father doesn't protect him, he still has to be concerned about General Jiang, right?"
"It's already reached the Imperial Court. Even Gu can't do anything about it. My father is far away in Zhenzhou. How can he know who is right and who is wrong in Yanmen?"
Ji Yanlang himself felt that it would be best for his father not to get involved in the dispute between Feng Jiang and Feng Jiang, and to submit a letter of apology, blaming himself for his poor parenting. However, his mother did not allow his second brother to write his thoughts in the letter, and only asked him to state the situation clearly.
"Your father will make the decision," said Li.
Fang Ying asked, "How do you think the government will deal with this?"
"They will most likely try to persuade for peace. Jiang Chonghai has been stationing troops along the Yanmen and Sanjiao lines to repel the enemy since the battle in Youzhou, earning him great trust from the government. Feng Jinyu is also a formidable general, having slain a major Hu general this time and earned a promotion to Inspector General."
"Then Third Uncle..."
"To appease Feng Jinyu, he must be transferred. It all depends on whether he's questioned about his previous crimes." Ji Yanlang finished speaking, then couldn't help but add, "It's his own fault."
Seeing that he was still a little annoyed, Fang Ying tried to persuade him softly with a few words, and then told him the inside story of Prince Wei's marriage that she had heard from Zhou Congshan during the day. Only then did she finally get Ji Yanlang to forget about his trouble-making third brother for the time being.
The next day, the sisters-in-law met and talked about this matter. They were all worried about An and the children.
"We've only been settled for a few months, and this has happened." Yue Qing'e sighed, "If Sanlang is really dismissed from office because of this, wouldn't her mother's efforts be in vain?"
"If I am really dismissed from office, do I have to return to Beijing?" asked Gao.
Fang Ying said, "Isn't he going to be dismissed from office?" But if it was really as Ji Yanlang said, she would definitely not be able to stay in Daizhou. She couldn't help but sigh, "I'm afraid I'll be transferred to a more remote place."
Yue Qing'e had always been at odds with the An family, but in this matter, she couldn't help but blame Ji Yanchang, "He's used to being flattered under his father's command, but he doesn't even obey his immediate superior, who was appointed by the government. He doesn't even consider whether he has the ability or not. When has he ever achieved any merit on his own?"
Gao remained silent, and Fang Ying didn't want to criticize her uncle in public, so she simply said, "I hope he learns a lesson this time."
She was also worried that women and children would suffer, but she still hoped that Ji Yanchang would suffer a harder fall this time so that he would learn his lesson, rather than causing a bigger disaster next time.
Unexpectedly, when Ji Yanlang returned home from duty, he brought back the news: "As I predicted, the government still wants to mediate and has sent Uncle Gao to Daizhou."
"He's really a suitable candidate." Fang Ying thought about it and sighed.
Gao Xingfeng has several identities. To Jiang Chonghai, he is an old official of the government; to Feng Jinyu, he is the government's brother-in-law and an imperial commissioner; to Ji Guangting, he is a close relative by marriage.
There is indeed no one more suitable than him to smooth things over.
Ji Yanlang said, "Uncle Gao has always obeyed the orders of the government. Even if he were to persuade peace, he would not side with either side. The priority should be to secure the border."
"That's great."
It is not a good thing that the enemy troops have just retreated and there is a conflict between the generals at the border.
Ji Yanlang smiled and said, "Don't worry, it won't be a big deal. Feng Jinyu filed this complaint out of helplessness. He won't persist. Otherwise, he could have just executed first and reported to the police later."
Fang Ying was startled: "Not really?"
Seeing her eyes widen, Ji Yanlang thought about what he had said and couldn't help laughing: "I'm not talking about beheading her."
Fang Ying: “…”
"Third brother's crime isn't that serious." Ji Yanlang wanted to laugh more and more, but seeing Fang Ying glaring at him, he had to force himself to hold back his laughter and explain, "I'm saying that Third brother has always looked down on Feng Jinyu, and this wouldn't be the first time he's disobeyed orders. If it were me, I would have dealt with him in front of the battle to establish my authority."
"So, if the reward is given out and Third Uncle doesn't make a fuss..."
Ji Yanlang nodded: "Maybe Feng Jinyu will put up with it. Let's tolerate him for a while."
It seems Feng Jinyu is still concerned about the Ji family. Fang Ying was thinking about it when Ji Yanlang pulled her hand and said with a smile: "It's not hot outside now. Let me walk with you to the garden."
Fang Ying woke up from her nap and had indeed been staying in her room without going out. She stood up with him and listened to him continue, "Let the adults worry about these things. We don't need to worry about them anymore."
As Ji Yanlang said this, he turned around and stroked her bulging belly, asking if the child was safe today. As soon as he finished speaking, he was kicked in the hand.
“…”
The couple looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
"Well..." Ji Yanlang shook his head and pointed at Fang Ying's belly, "You'd better be a little girl, otherwise I'll show you how your father will deal with you in the future!"
"As a father, you have a promising future." Fang Ying laughed at him.
Ji Yanlang took her hand and walked out slowly, sighing softly, "There's nothing we can do. The example is there. If we don't discipline our son well, he'll get into big trouble when he goes out in the future."
He said he didn't want to talk about it, and he went back to the topic. Besides, who was he talking about for not disciplining his son properly? Fang Ying smiled secretly and didn't say anything.
Ji Yanlang took a few steps and came to his senses. He quickly cleared his throat and turned the conversation back to Fang Ying, "But at least I haven't tormented you for the past two or three months. It's not as hard as the first three months."
"Who said that?" Fang Ying didn't feel much better now than in the first three months. "Do you know how tired my waist is with such a big belly? I can't even sleep well. It's just that my appetite is better now."
Ji Yanlang hurriedly apologized: "I said the wrong thing. I'll give you a good massage when we get back later."
Fang Ying didn't want to argue with him about right or wrong, she just wanted to say a few words since the conversation had come to this point. After hearing what he said, she nodded in agreement and chatted about some other trivial matters.
Seven days later, there was finally a result in Daizhou.
"Feng Jinyu apologized to Jiang Chonghai and admitted his fault. My third brother was demoted and moved to Cangzhou. Father and Jiang Chonghai each submitted a petition to the emperor to apologize."
It was pretty much what he expected. Fang Ying asked, "How many ranks was he demoted? Is Cangzhou closer to the capital?"
"Two levels. Can it be closer than a hundred miles?" Ji Yanlang calculated and answered.
"Is Zhenzhou the closest?"
Ji Yanlang nodded: "From Daizhou to Cangzhou, we just happen to pass through Zhenzhou."
Ji Yanchang was only demoted, and the Cangzhou he moved to was still an important city. Ji Guangting's apology was also appeased by the government. This result was not bad for the Ji family. The only one who was dissatisfied was probably Ji Yanchang himself.
This was not Fang Ying's own conjecture. Ji Guangting's family letter, which was delivered half a month later, mentioned this matter.
"Father didn't mince words in his letter, calling him 'rebellious son,'" Ji Yanlang recounted to Fang Ying with a smile, "He said he originally called my third brother to meet him because he wanted to teach him a lesson and make him behave himself when he went to Cangzhou. But he didn't expect my third brother to accept his words and was hoping that my father would find trouble with Feng Jinyu to vent his anger."
"What did father say?" Fang Ying asked.
Ji Yanlang replied with a smile: "Father naturally took matters into his own hands and gave Third Brother a good beating."
Fang Ying also laughed, but deliberately said, "It's just for show, right? Doesn't Third Uncle have to go take up his new post?"
"Father didn't pretend to do it, hehe," Ji Yanlang laughed twice and said slyly, "I specifically asked the person who brought back the letter, and he said that when Third Brother left, he couldn't get on the horse and went to Cangzhou by carriage."
Fang Ying felt relieved - Ji Yanchang didn't suffer any physical pain. She didn't know about others, but she was really unhappy and felt anxious when she thought about it.
And the beating really worked. Ji Yanchang went to Cangzhou obediently. In June, he sent a letter back to Li to express his greetings and to say that his whole family had settled down.
Yue Qing'e whispered to Fang Ying privately, "From what I see, does he still want some money?"
"I also think that since Third Uncle was demoted and they left Daizhou in such a hurry, they'll need some money to resettle in Cangzhou."
Fang Ying paused briefly before continuing, "But Third Uncle has been by Father's side for so many years, it's impossible that he doesn't have any private money, right?"
Yue Qing'e grabbed Fang Ying's hand and said, "That's what I'm saying. If nothing else, their two families went to Daizhou and Sanjiao to settle down last year. Father probably didn't give them a penny, so did he let them go?"
Fang Ying felt relieved: "So my second sister-in-law has also thought about this."
"I've thought about it a long time ago, but your second uncle wouldn't let me say it." Yue Qing'e looked unwilling, "He always says we're brothers and sisters, and we're not broke. Why are we calculating these things? He never thinks about how others are calculating us."
"Let's just think about it. We didn't do anything, so how can we be calculating?" Fang Ying held her sister-in-law's hand and comforted her, "Let's talk about it between the two of us from now on, and not tell them."
Yue Qing'e agreed: "Yes, when men talk about this, they always talk about blood brothers, as if you and I are outsiders who are deliberately trying to sow discord between them."
Fang Ying couldn't agree with her to criticize her second uncle. She should have said a few words about Ji Yanlang, but he was really not like Ji Yanshou who ignored brothers' disputes and talked about brotherly love and respect all the time.
Fortunately, Yue Qing'e had been holding these words in for too long, and she felt relieved after she finished speaking. She didn't say anything more, let Fang Ying rest, and went back to her room.
Fang Ying thought about it for a while, and when Ji Yanlang came back, she told him about her conversation with her second sister-in-law.
"Hmph, he's dreaming!" Ji Yanlang, unlike Ji Yanshou, started talking about his third brother. "He's still asking the government for money. How much money can you afford to settle down in a place like Daizhou or Cangzhou? He doesn't even buy a house or land. He's just greedy."
"Yes, with the previous experience in Daizhou, we are not sure how long we can stay in Cangzhou. We can just rent a yard. It won't cost much."
"I'll talk to Mom soon. Never mind him. He's the one who caused this. And he still has the nerve to ask for money."
"But if mother really doesn't give it to me, father won't..."
Ji Yanlang said, "Father wouldn't give it up even if he knew. It's better when times are tight, so he doesn't have to act like a major general all the time."
Fang Ying didn't say anything else.
Ji Yanlang did what he said and told Li about it in the evening, but Li did not listen to him.
"Mother said that if I were the third brother, she would never give me this money. She must make me remember this lesson." When Ji Yanlang said this, his face darkened slightly and his brows knitted unconsciously. "But she is the legal mother and doesn't want to be criticized."
But this is the Ji family's family affair, outsiders have no way of knowing, so how can they point fingers?
Fang Ying did not answer. It would be better for him to solve the riddle himself.
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The author has something to say: Happy Double Festival to everyone~!
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