Chapter 57 A vixen resides in Minister Jiang's residence…
Jiang Yinyue waited all night for her brother's return. From being full of anticipation to being completely calm, her emotions remained undisturbed. Even when she saw her father and husband off the next day, she was serene and composed.
On her way back to the backyard, Jiang Yinyue overheard the head housekeeper and the steward, Uncle Lü, whispering together—
"Why hasn't the servant you sent out returned with a message yet? Did the young master change his route at the last minute? Master and Miss have been waiting all night."
"Perhaps there was a delay on the way."
Jiang Yinyue crossed the covered walkway without asking any further questions. She returned to the back room, and like Cui Shihan, climbed onto the roof, immersing herself in the magnificent late autumn scenery, where the reds and greens had faded but the colors still shone brightly.
The person was unusually quiet.
I guessed my brother's route.
Before the tomb of Madam Yu, the matriarch of the Jiang family, a tall figure knelt there until sunset, then slowly rose, rubbed his numb legs, and turned to leave.
The man, dressed in a gray-black outfit, was tall and imposing, exuding a commanding presence, but his sharp eyes were more striking than his imposing stature.
As dusk settled over the night, Wei Qin stopped by the shop selling mint cakes on his way back to his residence.
A long queue formed outside the cramped little shop, and the closer you got to the front, the more you could smell the rich aroma of the pastries.
When it was Wei Qin's turn, he took out a copper coin, pointed to the last piece of mint cake, and said, "Pack it up."
"A gentleman should help others achieve their goals; would you mind giving the opportunity to me?"
Wei Qin turned his head to a cold, detached voice. "Sorry."
After taking the packaged paper bag, Wei Qin left without offering any courtesy.
Jiang Xiaoniangzi, her cheeks bulging with delight as she ate the mint cake, was about to give a thumbs-up to praise the shop's authentic taste when she heard the stewardess's report from outside the door, her joy barely concealed: "Miss, young master, the young master has returned to the manor!"
Jiang Yinyue suddenly stood up and hurriedly ran out of the room. The dark butterfly pattern on her fluttering skirt was faintly visible. Her hair was askew as she ran, and her cheeks were flushed.
"Miss, please slow down."
The old women and maids followed closely behind.
Jiang Yinyue lost her composure and quietness from the daytime. She passed through one moon gate after another and met her brother, whom she had not seen for five years, in front of the crabapple tree in the second courtyard.
The man was darker, stronger, and taller, weathered by time, his appearance had changed three-tenths, becoming even more upright and resolute.
"elder brother!"
Jiang Yinyue choked back tears and rushed forward, only to be caught steadily by her brother, who lifted her high under her arms and carried her through the air.
Just like when I was a child.
Jiang Song stood to the side, a forced smile mixed with tears in his eyes.
The son stayed away from home for five years to guard the border, and couldn't even attend his mother's funeral. Only those who have experienced this can understand the regret.
Wei Qin stood in the covered walkway, watching his brother-in-law lift up his wife, his hands hanging at his sides tightening slightly.
Jiang Taolue's resolute face was filled with pride as he lifted his sister up, but the smile vanished the moment he caught sight of the man in the corridor.
"Niannian, I bought you some mint cakes."
Jiang Yinyue, feeling slightly dizzy after landing, helped her brother up and hummed in response, looking puzzled.
"Your favorite mint cake."
"oh oh."
Ignoring the delicious food, the young woman ran to Wei Qin and pulled him in front of her brother, saying, "Brother, this is Wei Qin."
Jiang Song added with a smile, "Taolue, Father mentioned him to you in his letter; this is your brother-in-law."
Jiang Taolue took the initiative to reach out and put his hand on Wei Qin's shoulder, patting him gently.
Father and daughter exchanged a glance, understanding each other without saying a word; the old jealous man wouldn't easily accept an... stranger.
Wei Qin silently endured the pain in his shoulder and nodded in acknowledgment, "Big Brother."
"Niannian, go get some snacks."
Jiang Taolue led his sister by the wrist toward the guest hall in the second courtyard, remaining unmoved no matter how Jiang Yinyue tried to subtly praise Wei Qin.
"elder brother."
"Have some snacks."
Jiang Taolue stuffed another piece into his mouth. Looking at his sister, whose cheeks were bulging like a squirrel's, the man thought of his mother's worries.
In the last letter his mother sent him, she wrote these words: Niannian married Wei Qin out of spite after being provoked by the Crown Prince. I am worried that she will regret it one day, and I am also worried that Wei Qin is taking advantage of her and wants to use Niannian as a stepping stone to rise to the top.
It wasn't that Yu was judging a gentleman by his own petty standards, but rather that an experienced person, upon carefully examining his son-in-law, discovered that his son-in-law was a man who wouldn't allow others to pry into his thoughts, hiding his brilliance and biding his time, seemingly harboring a deep-seated, unspoken hatred.
Yu had a disagreement with Jiang Song over the selection of a son-in-law. She wrote her concerns in a letter to her son and passed away not long after, without ever getting to know her son-in-law.
Jiang Yinyue, who was burping from eating, put down her snacks and said, "I can't eat anymore."
"Then I won't eat it." Jiang Taolue handed her a cup of tea and wiped the crumbs from the corner of her sister's mouth, his sharp and stern demeanor fading in tenderness.
Jiang Song then went into the guest room and reminded his son that he should go to the palace to meet the emperor as soon as possible.
The father and son rode to the palace. Jiang Taolue listened with his eyes closed to his father's praise of Wei Qin, and said calmly, "Whether it's good or bad, I will judge for myself."
"You have a fiery temper, and I worry that my son-in-law will suffer from your temper."
“In these five years, my child has long since smoothed out his rough edges.”
Jiang Song leaned back casually, his peach blossom eyes seemingly smiling but not quite. "That's good. When you see the Crown Prince later, be sure to remain calm. Even if the marriage doesn't happen, there are still benefits to be gained!"
Jiang Taolue's closed eyelids fluttered slightly as he followed his father into the inner court, searching for familiar faces among the unfamiliar palace servants.
Withered leaves fall, things have changed, and people are no longer the same.
Upon meeting Jiang Taolue, Emperor Shunren abandoned his stern demeanor, pulled the young man aside, and inquired about many important matters concerning the northern border, including the current situation of high-ranking officials with military power such as the Pacification Commissioner, in order to rule out any false reports from his trusted confidants far away on the frontier that might deceive him.
"Let Taolue accompany me on the hunt in a few days."
This was an immense honor for an official, but Jiang Taolue merely cupped his hands in greeting without showing any joy.
The emperor had the father and son dine in the imperial bedchamber, and then left Jiang Song behind, instructing Jiang Taolue to go to the Eastern Palace to meet the crown prince.
Jiang Song coughed and reminded his son to be respectful.
Jiang Taolue bowed and withdrew from the sleeping quarters, led by a royal eunuch carrying a lamp, heading straight for the East Palace.
Wei Xichen, who had been waiting for a long time, personally welcomed his friend into the hall.
But my mood is not as good as before.
The awkward conversation tormented the crown prince, who was adept at navigating social situations.
"Everyone, step back."
The servants filed out.
"Strategy doesn't require a stern face; you can pour out your heart to anyone who has any grievances."
"This humble general dares not. His Majesty sent this humble general to the Eastern Palace to test whether this humble general harbors any resentment towards the Eastern Palace."
“Resentment can also be vented, for example…” Wei Xichen smiled faintly, taking a sip of tea, “about the old debt I owe Niannian.”
Jiang Taolue's sharp eyes were like torches, his piercing gaze impossible to conceal. He slammed down the teacup, the celadon porcelain tearing between his fingers.
Jiang Taolue, who had just left the East Palace, had bruises on his cheekbones and blood on his finger bones. His anger had not subsided. When he saw the boy running towards him, he walked past him indifferently.
The energetic Wei Yangwan turned on his tiptoes and caught up, shouting, "Jiang Taolue!"
Who are you?
The year Jiang Taolue went to the northern border, Wei Yangwan was just a twelve-year-old child, following behind these newly rich nobles who frequently entered and exited the palace, acting like a spoiled brat.
In the eyes of a twelve-year-old, Jiang Taolue was a valiant and indomitable general, except for his fiery temper.
"Five years have passed in the blink of an eye, and this prince has become even more handsome and dashing. No wonder you were blind... Oh dear..."
The boy, who had been tackled by Jiang Taolue with one hand, seized the opportunity to grab the man's leg, sat cross-legged on the ground, and moved forward following Jiang Taolue's steps. "Do you remember me or not?"
"I don't remember."
"Stubborn! Our names have something in common: fame and fortune, both literary and military prowess. With this powerful alliance, we are bound to achieve great things."
Listening to the Third Prince's words of winning people over, Jiang Taolue impatiently grabbed him by the back of the neck, ignoring the boy's screams, and swung his arm.
Go for it.
When the valiant general returned to his residence and was questioned by his father, he simply replied, "We had a fight."
Jiang Song rubbed the back of his neck; none of them gave him any peace of mind.
"No further instructions, I'll go back to my room now."
Jiang Song lifted his eyelids slightly, "You and your brother-in-law should be as close as brothers."
His mother's worries echoed in his mind once again. Before leaving, Jiang Taolue turned to the side and asked, "Father, have you thought this through? Perhaps I am raising a wolf in sheep's clothing?"
Before his father could answer, Jiang Taolue went to the back room. After looking around, he did not see Hongmei. Just as he was about to leave, he heard his sister's voice coming from the corridor.
"elder brother."
Where is Hong Mei?
"My sister is away for a few days."
Jiang Yinyue didn't consider herself skilled at smoothing over other people's romantic relationships, so she stepped forward and shook her brother's arm, "Brother, will you be staying a little longer this time?"
"To convey my brother's words on behalf of Hong Mei?"
"no......"
"His Majesty wishes to keep me here for a while, so I will not leave the capital for now."
"real?"
"Have I ever lied to you, brother?" Jiang Taolue's sharp eyes swept across the room, landing on the brightly lit window of the boudoir, where he caught sight of a figure. "There are only two men in the world who would never lie to you."
"Mmm-hmm."
"Aren't you going to ask who these two people are?"
Jiang Yinyue flattered at the opportune moment, "Of course it's Father and Brother."
Jiang Taolue gently ruffled his sister's hair, not mentioning the fight with the Crown Prince. "It's cold, let's go back inside. There's a caged bird inside."
"elder brother!"
"Your husband is still inside."
Jiang Yinyue's expression softened slightly. "Father had already instructed Uncle Lü to clean up my brother's room, leaving everything exactly as it was before he left."
"Okay, you little nag."
Jiang Yinyue jogged back to her boudoir, and as soon as she entered, she immediately comforted the other person in the room.
"Don't worry about your brother. He'll get used to it in a few days and stop giving you that grumpy look."
Wei Qin cupped his wife's face in his hands, looked her up and down, and asked, "When will you set off, elder brother?"
"how?"
"I need to give myself some time to please my brother-in-law."
Jiang Yinyue smiled broadly, thinking he hoped his brother would leave as soon as possible. "It's enough that you have this intention. Don't wrong yourself."
Jiang Yinyue extended two index fingers and placed them on the corners of Wei Qin's mouth, "Smile more."
Wei Qin leaned down and embraced his comforting wife, stroking her long black hair with his large hand.
The man's slender figure was reflected in the lamplight on the wall with its window lattice, and in the eyes of those in the courtyard, he looked like a fox.
Jiang Tao stared at it for a while, then turned and left.
While Wei Qin was taking a bath, Jiang Yinyue stepped out of the room, intending to instruct the steward to add a few capable servants to her brother's courtyard. However, she saw a canary perched on the railing.
"They flew back?"
She reached out her hand and watched the canary fall into her palm.
Quietly, she put the canary back into its cage in the second courtyard. Staring at the bird that kept drinking water, she felt both amused and annoyed. Wei Qin was not a canary; he was a hawk soaring high in the sky.
The Eastern Palace.
Wei Xichen touched the bruised corner of his mouth in front of the mirror, and then stared at the bowing and scraping sorcerer behind him.
"I heard that Father Emperor is taking sleeping pills? Made by you few sorcerers?"
"Your Highness, this is indeed the case." The sorcerer stared at the prince's lips. "Your Highness's injury... I am unworthy, but I happen to have a miraculous medicine to remove blood stasis. It will heal the injury quickly."
Those amber eyes reflected in the bronze mirror were cold and desolate; this injury was nothing compared to being publicly whipped by the guards last time.
"You guys are quite capable."
She managed to gain the trust of her suspicious father and replace thirteen imperial physicians in serving at the emperor's side.
The imperial physicians were like ants on a hot pan, worried about the effectiveness of the calming pills.
Unlike the imperial physicians, Wei Xichen was not anxious. "What else can you do?"
"To exorcise evil spirits."
"Oh?" Wei Xichen smiled faintly. "Where are there any evil spirits?"
The sorcerer calculated with his fingers, "The evil spirit closest to Your Highness is in Minister Jiang's residence, and it resembles a fox spirit."
Wei Xichen didn't believe in unorthodox methods; he simply wanted to confirm with the sorcerer whether his father had taken any so-called elixirs. He casually asked, "How can one ward off evil?"
The sorcerer stepped forward and whispered in his ear, "Evil spirits fear fire."
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Author's note: 50 small red envelopes~
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