The boy was clean-cut and refreshing-looking, with clear and bright eyes. When he saw Jiang Segu glancing at him, he gave her a bright, sunny smile.
Jiang Segu frowned slightly, then stopped glancing around.
The boy is the youngest son of Aunt Jiang, named Wan Tianci. He was born in the same year that Aunt Jiang's eldest son passed away, and he is currently her only son.
You can tell from the name how spoiled she was at home, which is why she has such an eccentric personality.
It is said that only Old Master Wan can keep the Wan family in check, while others can only be teased and deceived.
He was usually like a mischievous monkey, jumping around and causing trouble everywhere. But this unruly person was well-behaved in front of Jiang Segu and dared not overstep the bounds in the slightest.
The Wan family, the home of Aunt Jiang, has been scholars for over a dozen generations. The current Master Wan is the headmaster of Songhe Academy in Kaiping Prefecture, and her husband was once the second-place scholar in the imperial examination and is now the prefectural magistrate of Kaiping. Therefore, they look down on the Yin family's status as merchants.
Ever since she learned of her son's feelings, Aunt Jiang Er was so angry at her son's worthless behavior that she almost flew into a rage. Therefore, she never wanted to bring her son with her when she came to the Marquis of Changping's residence.
She had come so many days in advance, thinking that her son would be unsuspecting, and that she could just bring her daughter. But the cunning man had secretly hired a carriage and followed them until they arrived in the capital, at which point her son finally showed up!
Jiang Ergu, who was already in a bad mood, felt even more suffocated when she saw her son staring at Jiang Segu with a silly grin.
“Mother, look, we’ve been so busy talking that we’ve left Second Aunt and the others here. They’ve been learning etiquette from the nannies all morning, they must be tired. Why don’t we let them go and rest for a while?”
Madam Jiang naturally had no reason to disagree.
As Jiang Segu left, Wan Tianci, who had been sitting fairly upright, suddenly became as stiff as if he had a nail in his chair.
He stood up abruptly and bowed to Madam Jiang. "Grandmother, I haven't been here for a long time. I see that the layout of the Marquis's residence seems to have changed, and I'd like to go out and take a look!"
Jiang Ergu's grandmother knew exactly what he was thinking, and immediately scolded him, "You rascal, you only see your maternal grandmother a few times a year, and instead of staying here to show your filial piety, you only think about playing. When we get back, I will definitely tell your grandfather!"
If this were in Kaiping, Master Wan's name would still carry some weight, but this is the capital, so Wan Tianci naturally doesn't take it seriously.
“Look what you’re saying, Mother. I’m doing this for your own good! You’ve never shown any respect to your maternal grandmother all year round. Now is your time to prove yourself. How can I, as your son, compete with you for it?”
Moreover, this is the inner quarters, and if a man like me sits here for too long, it's bound to attract criticism!
Furthermore, every time it's my grandmother's birthday, my fathers are too busy to come, and when we do come, we only stay with my maternal grandmother, leaving my maternal grandfather alone in the front yard, which looks quite pitiful. Going to keep him company is also a way of showing filial piety!
Aunt Jiang felt that she was about to die from anger!
That brat just wants to go find that brat Jiang Segu, what a nice way to put it!
Madam Jiang smiled, her eyes crinkling at Wan Tianci's words. "It's rare to see Tianci so well-mannered these days. It's just that your maternal grandfather didn't know you would be coming today, so he's not in the manor right now!"
"Oh? Grandfather went to the casino again? Grandmother, why don't you keep an eye on him? What will you do if he loses all the family's wealth? I heard that my ex-grandmother was scared to death by debt collectors! Grandmother, please don't..."
"What nonsense are you spouting, you brat!" Second Aunt Jiang quickly reprimanded him, then apologized to Old Madam Jiang, "Mother, it's all my fault for not disciplining you properly, Tianci, quickly apologize to your grandmother!"
"It's alright, Tianci is just telling the truth!" Old Madam Jiang waved her hand dismissively. "Alright, you've traveled for a long time and talked with me for quite a while, go and rest!"
Thus, everyone left Zhaotaiyuan.
As soon as they stepped out of Zhaotai Courtyard, Aunt Jiang said sarcastically, "Second sister, how have you been teaching Tianci all this time? How dare you say such nonsensical things! Are you trying to embarrass Mother, or to make Father lose face in front of all the younger generation?"
Knowing she was in the wrong, Aunt Jiang smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Elder sister, it's because I've neglected to discipline him that Tianci has spoken so rudely. But elder sister, you don't know, boys are not like girls, they are very difficult to manage! If elder sister doesn't believe me, I'll send Tianci to live with you for a couple of days, and you'll see!"
Like Madam Jiang, Aunt Jiang had no sons. However, ten years ago, Aunt Jiang had her maidservant's face opened.
After the maid became pregnant, she was elevated to the status of a concubine. When she gave birth to a son, Aunt Jiang took him in and raised him herself.
Although she was no different from her own child, Aunt Jiang still harbored regrets in her heart.
The two sisters seemed to be incompatible from a young age, always arguing and bickering, and this only got worse as they grew up!
Now that Aunt Jiang the Second was stabbing herself in the heart, Aunt Jiang the First was naturally not going to back down.
"I'm certainly not as fortunate as my second sister. Her husband is a second-place scholar in the imperial examinations and also a prefectural magistrate. I heard that some people are trying to curry favor with him, so they specially sent him a Yangzhou specialty. Unlike your brother-in-law, who has no real talent. He's never even been to Yangzhou, let alone any local specialty!"
Out of consideration for the group of unmarried girls behind her, Aunt Jiang spoke cryptically.
But Aunt Jiang understood perfectly, and was so angry that her teeth itched. She hated the subordinate who sent her husband Yangzhou "skinny horses" even more!
Seeing that Madam Jiang was pretending to be invisible, he couldn't help but vent his anger on her!
"Sister-in-law, you've been married into the Marquis's family for so many years now, how come you haven't given your family a grandson! It's only thanks to Yu Ke's kindness that you're divorced and remarried for not having a child, according to the seven grounds for divorce!"
Yu Ke is the courtesy name of Master Jiang.
Madam Jiang never expected that she would be dragged into this. If it were Second Madam Jiang who said these words, Madam Jiang would definitely not let her off the hook. But since it was her second sister-in-law who said it, she, as her sister-in-law, could only listen.
Grandma Jiang disapproved of Madam Jiang's submissive manner, and seeing the veiled criticism in Second Grandma Jiang's words, she spoke up: "Second sister, you are a married daughter. You should behave yourself and stay at your parents' home. Don't say anything that sows discord and disturbs the peace of the household!"
She then glanced behind her, a sneer playing on her lips, "Elder sister still advises you to take care of your son first! Every time he comes over, he follows Azi around like an annoyance. What's the meaning of this? If word gets out, it will be said that the Wan family, who always prides themselves on being high and mighty, has taken a fancy to the Yin family's wealth and that's why they let Tianci follow Azi around like that!"
Aunt Jiang the Second immediately turned around, and sure enough, she couldn't find her son anywhere. Angered, she stopped arguing with Aunt Jiang the First and hurried off to look for him…
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