Chapter 9, No Successor
“Aren’t my brother and I smarter than them? If they go to the Imperial Academy, they will only bring shame to the Jiang family.”
“We are different. In the future, the Jiang family will still have to rely on my brother and me to bring glory to the family. A little madman and a bastard are not worthy of studying at the Imperial Academy.”
Lu Zirou pouted and said matter-of-factly.
Madam Jiang...
What is this child saying? Is he implying that the Jiang family has no heir?
Zhang was very pleased to hear her daughter say that.
“That’s right, Madam. My son Ziyuan has been called a child prodigy since he was a child. He is sure to achieve great things in the future. Wouldn’t it be a waste of such a good talent if Ziyuan didn’t go to the Imperial Academy?”
"Besides, if Ziyuan becomes successful in the future, he can also help his older brothers and sisters!"
Zhang quickly said some nice things, hoping that Marquis Jiang would return soon.
“That’s right, when I become a great general, the Jiang family will still have to rely on me!” Hearing his mother say this, Lu Ziyuan pounded his chest and proudly raised his head.
"Hmph, what good seedlings could the Lu family, a fallen household, possibly have? Why would the eldest daughter and adopted son of the Marquis's mansion give way to the Lu family's offspring?" Old Madam Jiang rolled her eyes and laughed in anger.
"Furthermore, my Jiang family has no rule of recognizing other families' children as legitimate heirs or daughters. I absolutely disagree with this. When Marquis Jiang returns, you can tell him that he will only be in charge of the Jiang family after I die."
Old Madam Jiang smashed a teacup in front of Zhang.
Zhang was so frightened that she shut her mouth.
[Ding dong, congratulations host, you have gained 100 debt collection points, with a balance of 1000.]
Noble families usually send their legitimate sons and daughters to the Imperial Academy, but Marquis Jiang is different; he sends his stepsons and stepdaughters there. Isn't that just making him a laughingstock?
"Mother...why are you so angry!" Jiang Hou rushed in, his face looking rather grim.
During the morning court session, his father-in-law rebuked him in front of the emperor for mistreating his legitimate daughter and for marrying a new woman shortly after his wife's death, calling him an unfaithful and unjust person.
It provided quite a spectacle for the adults.
"Waaah, my husband, you're finally back! You must stand up for me!" Madam Zhang rushed forward and began to cry when she saw Jiang Hou being brought in by the maid.
"You promised me that Ziyuan, Zirou, and Zichen would study at the Imperial Academy, but the Old Madam wouldn't allow it and insisted on giving those three spots to them!"
Madam Zhang immediately grabbed Jiang Hou's sleeve, weeping bitterly.
It's a pity that it has a face that looks like a bee and a puppy; it's really hard to look at.
The Marquis glanced at it and, startled, tactically lowered his head to drink water.
“Mother, I did promise Shulan that those three children would go to the Imperial Academy, but no one in our family is going, so it’s a waste to leave the spot unused!” Jiang Hou frowned.
"So, if no one's going, does that mean my brother and I aren't human? If the young aren't human, then what about Father? The old aren't human!" Jiang Ruanruan was furious, almost bursting with anger.
I've never seen a father like this before; his heart is completely biased.
Lord Jiang glared at Jiang Ruanruan: "Don't you know the rules? Children shouldn't interrupt adults."
"Hmph, Father is so biased. They are Father's real sons and daughters, while my brother and I must have been adopted. Father, tell me, how did you two get these two grown sons when you just got married!"
Jiang Ruanruan pointed at Jiang Hou and launched into a sarcastic remark.
His words were incoherent, yet they implied that his relationship with Zhang was illegitimate before their marriage.
"You child... what nonsense are you spouting?" Jiang Hou was so angry that he grimaced.
The main problem was that the tea was so hot when I swallowed it, and it took me a while to hold it in and not spit it out.
Old Madam Jiang pulled Jiang Ruanruan into her arms and covered her mouth, saying that the child's words were too infuriating.
“Lord Jiang, if Ruan Ruan thinks this way, what should outsiders think?”
“Times have changed. Yesterday’s events must have already spread. For the sake of our Jiang family’s reputation, if you insist on sending your stepson and stepdaughter to the Imperial Academy while not sending your own children, what will the major families think? And what will Prime Minister Xia think?”
“Doing this will only confirm Zhang’s reputation for abusing her eldest daughter. Her reputation doesn’t matter, but what about the reputation of my Jiang family? Doesn’t Marquis Jiang care about that either?”
Zhang... how come her reputation doesn't matter?
[Ding dong, congratulations host, you have gained 100 debt collection points, with a balance of 1100.]
"It's not just that word has spread; this morning at court, my father-in-law complained that I was abusing my own daughter!"
Jiang Hou sighed, looking down; he was really worried about this matter.
My mother has always been favored by the Emperor. Today, the Emperor was furious, and he came to see my stepmother to ask her for advice.
"How could this be? Such a trivial family matter, and Prime Minister Xia actually went to the Emperor to complain about it!"
Zhang's face turned pale. Wouldn't this make her reputation as a wicked stepmother known to everyone, and would affect the marriage prospects of her two children in the future?
"Hmph, look what you've done! I've lost all face!"
Looking at Zhang's face, Jiang Hou felt no pity, only annoyance.
"Father, what does this have to do with Mother? In the end, it's all Ruan Ruan's fault. She disgraced our Marquis's mansion in front of outsiders and still wants to study at the Imperial Academy. She should be kicked out!"
Lu Zirou saw Jiang Hou as if she had seen a savior, and went up to him, tugging at his sleeve and starting to act coquettishly.
"Zirou, she is your sister, you can't kick her out. You need to learn to get along with her!" Jiang Hou looked at the obedient Lu Zirou, his eyes softening.
"Heh, where did this vixen come from, daring to bewitch my father? I am my father's biological daughter, and you two imposters are trying to steal him from me!"
Seeing this, Jiang Ruanruan thought, "This is outrageous! He likes someone else's daughter? What's wrong with him?"
"Father, look carefully! My brother and I are your biological children. From now on, it will be my brother and I who will break the pot for you!"
"These two rascals, no matter how well you raise them, you're still raising other people's children for free!"
"You're talking nonsense! I can also break the basin and send it up the mountain for Father. How is that a waste of money?" Lu Ziyuan said indignantly.
"Then you're not his biological son either. Once your father dies, this inheritance will have nothing to do with you. So why would you truly care for him?"
"You're talking nonsense! My mother said that after Dad dies, this family fortune will belong to my sister and me. You won't get a share. Not only will the family fortune be ours, but even your dowry will be ours!" Lu Ziyuan retorted, hands on his hips.
"You're the ones talking nonsense! Father isn't stupid or crazy. Why would he give it to you unrelated outsiders?" Jiang Ruanruan laughed. Children are most susceptible to being provoked.
Lord Jiang was dumbfounded, completely stunned.
He was still alive, but people had already arranged for him to go up the mountain and start dividing up his property right in front of him.
"Shut up, all of you..." They are all my good sons, Jiang Hou suddenly had a headache. What sins did he commit in his past life?
"Good, very good indeed! This is how Zhang raises her children. The family property belongs to the Zhang family, the school places belong to the Zhang family, and you even have your eyes on the dowry left by Ruan Ruan's mother!"
Zhang... she really didn't say anything.
[Ding dong, congratulations host, you have gained 100 debt collection points, with a balance of 1200.]
"What a cunning scheme! You wish my entire Jiang family would die so your Zhang family could divide up the inheritance, didn't you, Marquis Jiang? Did you see and hear this? This is the kind of wife you chose, how she's instigating the children!"
"If this gets out, outsiders will laugh at you for being useless, unable to even have a son. You're going to be wiped out and have to rely on someone else's son to inherit your family business. My Jiang family is truly without a successor! Old Marquis, please open your eyes and see! What sins has my Jiang family committed to deserve this?"
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