No one could have predicted that Jiao Sanlang would grow up to be so...rebellious!
He was perfectly fine one day, but the next day he could just leave without saying goodbye and go to a place thousands of miles away.
He was the first scholar and military champion since the founding of the Great Qing Dynasty. The late emperor had high expectations for him, but these expectations were never fulfilled until he became the retired emperor.
He went through all six departments in a long process, but none of them offered him a job he liked.
He spent two years at the border, fighting on the battlefield, commanding troops and leading generals. After returning victorious, he hurriedly returned his military command and laid down his armor, and then spent half a year in leisure.
What do you do in your free time?
Whether it's painting a picture or composing a tune in the mansion, or taking a class or choreographing a dance at the Holy Academy, what remains are classics, and what takes away are legends.
The new emperor was furious, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The only one who could control Sanlang was Jiangshan, but Jiangshan gradually felt that he was not up to the task.
This kid is too smooth-talking; Jiangshan can't out-argue him at all!
Jiang Shan felt powerless and once looked up at the starry sky and asked a soul-searching question: Where did her lovely, well-behaved and sensible younger brother go?
When Jiao Sanlang was eighteen, the threshold of the Grand Tutor's mansion was never repaired again.
It's been under repair for three years and cost a lot of money, but finally it doesn't need repair anymore!
No matchmaker in the capital dares to step into the Grand Tutor's mansion anymore!
They didn't think they had that much face!
The top scholars, whether in the civil or military fields, never repeat themselves when rejecting matchmakers. They make you feel comfortable, yet you genuinely feel that the woman and the top scholar are not a good match.
Yes, it's just not suitable!
This refusal lasted for three years, until Jiao's mother, in a fit of anger, decided to stop caring about this rebellious son!
When Jiao Sanlang returned from the border, he was already twenty years old, but he still hadn't been able to get a proper job.
Fu Qiyuan's original words were, "Sanlang has great talent, don't restrain him too much."
What can Jiangshan do when his own younger brother is involved? He can't bear to hit or scold him, so he can only spoil him!
If I don't want to take the job, then I don't want to take the job. Anyway, my family doesn't lack that little bit of salary.
However, he could no longer act as he pleased regarding marriage. Even if they weren't in a hurry to get married, they had to first settle down with a woman, since matchmaking was an extremely long process for Sanlang.
Sanlang dared not be too presumptuous in front of his sister. After a heated argument, Sanlang gave in and agreed to go on the blind date.
Overjoyed, Jiao's mother pulled Jiang Shan along and made a lot of novel and unique new clothes for Sanlang!
The woman he was set up with was a niece of the Duke of Rong, who was sixteen years old and had just arrived in the capital from Jiangling a few days ago.
I have seen the landscape.
The young lady has a good temperament; she's a true lady from a respectable family, and she's quite a good match for Sanlang.
Jiang Shan put a lot of thought into creating a pleasant environment, choosing Hanshan Temple outside the city as the location for the matchmaking event.
Gu Yuchun brought back the news that he had personally escorted the young master to Hanshan Temple and only returned to report after seeing the young master and Miss Rong meet.
Jiang Shan nodded in satisfaction and sat in the courtyard with Jiao's mother, waiting for good news.
At three quarters past 5 PM, Sanlang finally returned.
Jiang Shan and Jiao's mother happily went to greet them.
Sanlang got off the carriage, ignoring his mother and sister, and turned around to help a woman out of the carriage.
It actually worked!
This speed is a bit unexpected. How did they bring the person back so quickly? They haven't even exchanged birth certificates yet!
Jiao's mother's smile was a little stiff, and her gaze towards the girl was somewhat strange.
Jiang Shan sized up the girl beside Sanlang, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Something's not right!
The girl's bright, large eyes darted around nervously; she didn't seem like the typical lady of a respectable family!
Her hair was simply styled into a bun, adorned only with a cheap silver hairpin, and her shoes were covered in mud.
This is not a girl from the Rong family!
Jiang Shan gasped in shock.
"Mother, sister, let me introduce you. This is... Ran Xiaoqi. Her family sells fish."
He then whispered to Ran Xiaoqi, "This is my mother, and this is my sister."
The fishmonger... so what?
Jiao's mother looked blankly at her son, then at her daughter.
Jiang Shan smiled, stepped forward, and said, "What's going on? Didn't you go on a blind date? Why did you bring back a girl?"
Before Sanlang could speak, Ran Xiaoqi blurted out, "Madam, Madam, my brother and I encountered a bully while selling fish at the temple. It was this Young Master Jiao who saved me and even bought me new clothes. My home is in the north of the city, dozens of miles away from Hanshan Temple. We didn't have money to stay at an inn, and the temple's woodshed wouldn't let us stay there either, so Young Master Jiao brought me back."
After Ran Xiaoqi finished speaking, she turned to look at the carriage and waved inside.
The carriage curtain was pulled back, and a small head timidly peeked out.
A little boy got off the carriage. He had some difficulty walking, was thin, and seemed malnourished.
He slowly walked to Ran Xiaoqi's side, tightly grasped her hand, looked timidly at Jiang Shan, and pursed his lips without saying a word.
"Xiao Jiu, quickly greet them. This is Young Master Jiao's mother, and this is Young Master Jiao's sister. Call them Madam and Madam."
The little boy stepped back, pursed his lips, and hummed twice as softly as a mosquito.
Looking at the siblings, Jiang Shan was immediately reminded of her past with Sanlang.
She glanced at Sanlang, stepped forward, took the little boy's hand, and said softly, "Your name is Ran Xiaojiu, right? My surname is Jiang, you can call me Aunt Jiang. This is Grandma Jiao. Don't be afraid, it's safe here, no one can bully you and your sister."
Ran Xiaojiu looked up at her sister, seemingly a little bolder, and actually reached out to touch the hairpin in Jiang Shan's hair.
"You haven't eaten yet, have you? Come on, let's go in and eat with Aunt Jiang!"
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