The Ningguo Duke's Mansion, oh no, the Ningguo Marquis's Mansion, Zhao Shu remembered that after the reduction of the princes in the nineteenth year of Mingde, the Ningguo Duke also participated in seeing his father off on his final journey. A founding noble, hehe.
However, the Ningguo Marquis's mansion was shrouded in gloom at this time. The old lady of the Marquis's mansion, Madam Jiang Liu, along with the heads of several branches of the family and the heir, gathered together.
Jiang Jingming, the fifth young master, was kneeling on the ground. "Please punish me, Grandmother. I know I was wrong." Jiang Jingming took the initiative to admit his mistake. He already knew that because of his careless words, he had made the princess apologize to Qingge, insulted Prince Yong, and disregarded imperial authority. As a result, the Duke of the First Rank had been demoted to a Marquis of the Second Rank, a drop of several ranks.
Mother said that he had made such a big mistake that the only way out was to take the initiative to admit it. Otherwise, being kicked out of the house would be too lenient.
Hmph, it's all because of that Princess Jun! She dug a pit for him to fall into. I'll definitely find a chance to teach that arrogant brat a lesson someday.
"Bang!" A teacup flew over and hit Jiang Jingming on the forehead. "You unfilial son!" Jiang He was so angry that his veins bulged. The emperor had been trying to take back power these days, and he had been very careful, never giving the emperor any faults. He had been working diligently and cautiously in the court, but what was he doing all this for?
It wasn't even the entire Duke's mansion yet. Now, the Duke, who was originally a super-rank Duke, has been demoted to a second-class marquis. Is the Duke's mansion going to decline under his leadership?
No, we absolutely cannot let that happen!
Jiang Jingming had a gash on his forehead, and blood was flowing down his cheek, making him look even more disheveled and defeated.
Jiang He couldn't help but think of Zhao Shu, whom he had seen in the Taihe Hall; her son was actually inferior to a little girl.
The Duchess felt sorry for her son, and tears kept falling. But at this moment, she could not plead for him, nor could she help wipe the blood from his face. She could only watch with tears in her eyes.
Why wasn't Prince Yong imprisoned? Why did Zhao Shu die with her short-lived mother?
It has to be said that birds of a feather flock together; at this moment, everyone in the Ningguo Marquis's mansion, big and small, hated Zhao Shu and her father to the bone.
"Brother, Jingming committed such a grave mistake that our family was demoted. The elders intend to expel Jingming from the family and make him no longer a member of the Jiang family." These words were spoken by Jiang Wen, the second master of the second branch of the Jiang family.
Lady Ji, the wife of the Marquis of Ningguo, was furious. The old lady and the Marquis hadn't even spoken yet, and the second branch of the family was already so eager to interfere in the affairs of the first branch and even wanted to expel his youngest son from the Marquis's mansion.
Do you think she's dead?
"Second brother, you should think carefully before you speak, lest others think that the Jiang family is heartless and ungrateful. Today's events were clearly a scheme by Prince Yong and his daughter to harm Jingming. Second brother, you must not let your enemies rejoice and your loved ones suffer." Ji Shi gritted her teeth and emphasized the words "heartless and ungrateful".
Upon hearing this, Jiang Wen's face turned pale and then red, looking extremely unpleasant. "I was only thinking of the family. What do you mean by that, sister-in-law? Wasn't it my son who caused my brother to be demoted?"
Jiang Qian, Jiang He's younger brother, frowned inwardly. Couldn't his second brother use his brain a little? The Emperor said that his elder brother had failed in his duty to educate his son and ordered him to stay home and teach him. What's the point of teaching him now that he's been expelled from the family?
“Mother, elder brother, the best we can do now is wait until things calm down. Let the anger of the Prince Yong’s mansion dissipate first. If the Empress Dowager is happy, the Emperor will naturally not forget our mansion.” He interrupted the two who were about to continue arguing.
It must be said that Jiang Qian, as the most studious son of the Marquis of Ningguo, was already a close minister of the emperor and a fifth-rank official in the Imperial Secretariat at the age of thirty. Jiang He was willing to discuss anything with this younger brother.
Ji gave Jiang Qian a grateful look, then glared at Jiang Wen. Hmph, the second wife? Just you wait!
She wisely kept quiet. As long as her son wasn't kicked out of the house, how severe could the punishment be? Once the storm had passed, wouldn't she be able to do whatever she wanted?
Jiang He was very satisfied with Ji Shi's sensibility. Ji Shi felt sorry for her son, and so did he. How could she possibly kick her son out of the house?
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Jiang Wen. This second brother was truly useless.
“Jingming, go to Prince Yong’s mansion right now and apologize. You must get the forgiveness of the prince and the princess. Eldest son, you go with him too. Since the emperor has condemned you for failing to educate your son and for disrespecting imperial authority, you must change. Don’t think about those other things. Our Duke’s title didn’t fall from the sky. It was bestowed by the Emperor Taizu himself. He made great contributions to the Dayong Kingdom by risking his life for his country. It is a hereditary first-class Duke of the highest rank.”
The old lady, Jiang Liu, was not in particularly good spirits. She seemed a little out of breath as she spoke. She had been worshipping Buddha in the Buddhist hall for more than three years when she suddenly received the ominous sign of being demoted. She rolled her eyes and fainted. When she finally woke up, she was too exhausted to listen to her son and daughter-in-law arguing.
However, before Jiang Jingming could go to Prince Yong's mansion to apologize, the person that Ji had sent earlier returned. When the old lady heard that her daughter-in-law had only sent a steward to Prince Yong's mansion, she fainted again.
Jiang Shun, who was sent to Prince Yong's mansion, was accompanied by two delicate young ladies and Granny Guo. He was led into the Begonia Garden by the chief steward of Marquis Ningguo.
Haitangyuan was the courtyard where the old lady lived. When the whole family discussed important matters, it was always in Haitangyuan.
After a flurry of activity, Old Madam Liu slowly woke up. Her third daughter-in-law, Wu, wiped away her tears and said, "Mother, you can't fall ill. The Marquis's mansion can't do without you."
As expected of an old lady who had served as the wife of the Duke of Ningguo for decades, Old Madam Liu took a sip of ginseng tea and forced herself to sit up. Madam Ji wanted to help her up, but was frightened back by a sharp look from Old Madam Liu.
Are the people from Prince Yong's mansion still around?
"Yes, I am. Granny Guo from Prince Yong's residence said she won't go back unless she sees you, Old Madam," Madam Wu replied, wiping away her tears.
"Bring her in," the old lady ordered, and soon someone came out to lead Granny Guo inside.
Granny Guo was a nanny in the Prince's mansion, favored by the Princess, who in turn was loved by the Empress Dowager. Therefore, she looked down on everyone she met.
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