At the Mei family, Master Mei's face was rather grim. He wondered why the Second Young Master Mei hadn't returned home yet. Did his son still intend to stay at the farm and continue hanging out with the Jiang family?
Such a big thing happened to the Jiang family, who knows if it will drag down the Mei family.
Master Mei looked at Madam Mei and asked, "Why hasn't the second son come back yet?"
"He doesn't know about these things yet," Madam Mei said. "There's no point in telling him about them now. They're all Jiang family matters and have nothing to do with him."
"What do you mean it has nothing to do with him?" Lord Mei was speechless. "Jiang is his concubine."
If Master Mei hadn't been a high-ranking official, he might have helped the Jiang family to make the announcement. But even if they hadn't, it didn't mean the Mei family didn't know anything.
They did not allow the Jiang family to be spared, but they knew about the crime but did not report it and even helped to conceal it, which is also a crime.
If anyone wants to deal with the Mei family, they can take advantage of this.
Master Mei now hopes that Master Mei will go find Madam Mei as soon as possible so that the two of them can reconcile quickly. This incident was discovered by the court when it was investigating corrupt officials, but it also made Master Mei terrified.
He didn't take bribes much while in the Imperial Academy, but he was afraid. He tried to transfer to another position, but failed.
If he was implicated this time, not only would he be transferred elsewhere, he might even lose his official position. How could Lord Mei accept this? He had worked so hard to pass the imperial examinations and had spent so much time in the Hanlin Academy. How could he be willing to lose his official position just like that?
"Where's he? Why don't you send someone to find him?" Lord Mei said anxiously. "A loving mother often spoils her son. A loving mother often spoils her son."
At this time, Master Mei began to blame his wife, not considering how Mrs. Mei could have done that if it weren't for his connivance. Ultimately, it was Master Mei himself who was at fault.
Mrs. Mei didn't dare to say that it was Lord Mei's fault, so she could only remain silent. Even if she said something, she could only say it was her own fault.
"Quick, go find him." Lord Mei said again, "What are you standing here for?"
"Okay." Mrs. Mei nodded. "I'll send someone right away."
"Don't send anyone else, go yourself." Lord Mei said, "No, I will go myself."
Master Mei thought he couldn't just sit at home any longer. He had to go out and see what happened to Second Young Master Mei. As for Jiang, they couldn't keep her any longer. She had to go back to the Jiang family.
For the sake of his own career, Lord Mei thought that the money in Jiang's hands was of no use. If he lost his official position, no amount of money could replace it.
Mrs. Mei sensed Master Mei's anger, so she could only signal others to hurry up and find the Second Young Master Mei. Mrs. Mei asked someone to find the Second Young Master Mei first and let him be prepared.
When the second young master Mei saw someone coming to his house, he was still wondering if his wife had gone home.
"Second Young Master, the master is coming." The visitor said hurriedly, "Something big has happened to the Jiang family. The eldest young master's affair has been exposed and he has been thrown into prison."
"What?" Jiang was right next to the Second Young Master Mei. After hearing this, she was completely stunned.
How could it be that her brother's affair was discovered so quickly?
Jiang Shi was somewhat disgusted with the people in the Jiang family, who forced her to be someone's concubine. But Young Master Jiang was her biological brother after all, and this biological brother treated her well, so her feelings towards this biological brother were very complicated.
"Young Master Jiang has been thrown into jail." said the visitor.
"How could this happen?" Jiang stumbled back two steps. Her brother's affair had been discovered so quickly, so what was the point of her being a concubine? They had originally hoped that her brother would get better. Jiang felt like she had become a joke.
If the incident involving his brother were to be exposed, these people would not let him go.
Jiang knew that she would never be able to get along well in the Mei family. Lord Mei valued power so much, and he would definitely ask her to leave.
Go away, that’s fine.
Jiang Shi didn't want to be someone's concubine, even if it meant going back with grievances. She couldn't possibly leave the Jiang family's belongings to the Mei family. If something happened to her brother, it would be fatal.
Even if the Jiang family spent a lot of money to rescue Young Master Jiang, Young Master Jiang might not be able to stay at home. He would have to be exiled anyway.
If you don't want to die, you will at least hurt your body.
Criminals like Young Master Jiang have to do hard labor after being exiled. Young Master Jiang cannot escape such heavy and dirty work.
Otherwise, if a person kills someone and then gives money, then he can continue to live happily. How is that possible?
Before Jiang could think too much, Lord Mei rushed in with Madam Mei.
"You are here indeed." Lord Mei was very angry. Why was his son still here? "Why don't you go back quickly?"
"Father." The second young master Mei was a little scared.
Master Mei glanced at the wife of the Second Young Master Mei standing beside him and said, "You, our family can't afford to have you say such things. Please pack up your things and go back to the Jiang family."
The Mei family wouldn't kill Jiang just to take possession of her dowry. Given the Mei family's current situation, they should be more careful. It would be best to cut the Gordian knot and stop harassing Jiang. It would be better to let Jiang go back to the Jiang family.
"Father..." The second young master Mei had just heard that the eldest young master Jiang was in trouble. Before he could turn around, his father came. Even though his father said this, the second young master Mei still couldn't bear to leave the Jiang family.
"Write a letter to release my concubine and let her go back." Lord Mei said coldly, "Don't ruin your entire family for a woman."
"Okay, I'll go back." Jiang said.
Jiang thought that since she was still in charge of the dowry shops, the Mei family would be unlikely to argue with her in order to get her out as soon as possible. She could still take those things, and she couldn't let the Mei family get away with it.
She returned to her mother's home, not knowing whether her mother would give her anything else.
Jiang knew that she had to hold on to the things in her hands and not let others take them all. She had to consider her future.
The second young master Mei looked at Jiang, he couldn't bear to leave Jiang.
"Second Young Master, we are not destined to be together. It's my bad luck." Before leaving, Jiang Shi did not forget to say this. She wanted Second Young Master Mei to remember what happened and make him miss her all the time.
"You...you go back." The second young master Mei was upset. How could things turn out like this?
That day, Jiang packed up her things and returned to the Jiang family. Master Mei had someone keep an eye on her, wanting her to return home as soon as possible, so how could she stay here any longer?
The Mei family's farm is not the Jiang family's farm. As long as the Jiang family continues to stay here, it is inevitable that people will think that the Mei family is still involved with the Jiang family.
Even though the Mei family's treatment of Jiang Shi might make people think they were heartless and ungrateful, they had treated the Second Young Master Mei's wife in the same way before, so they could treat Jiang Shi the same way now.
When Mrs. Jiang saw her daughter return, she was shocked. After a moment's thought, she understood why the Mei family had acted so harshly. The Mei family was known for their ruthlessness and lack of loyalty. This was evident in the fact that they had previously refused to allow Jiang to marry into the family, instead marrying the daughter of a marquis.
Even so, Madam Jiang still let her daughter become the concubine of the Second Young Master Mei, because her son was useless. Her son had made a big mistake, and she wanted to send her daughter to the palace. It would be better for her to be a concubine of the emperor than to be a concubine of the Second Young Master Mei.
However, since Jiang was not chosen, they had no choice but to let her marry the second young master Mei.
"You came back just like that?" asked Mrs. Jiang.
"That's right," Jiang said. "Don't count on the Mei family to help. They can't help, and they can't help. Did you give them money again?"
"It's ten thousand taels of silver." Mrs. Jiang said.
"No wonder. With the ten thousand taels you gave them, there was no need for them to keep an eye on my dowry." Jiang sneered, "No wonder they sent me back so quickly. They were afraid I would get them into trouble."
"As for your brother's matter, well, it's only ten thousand taels, nothing." Madam Jiang didn't care about the ten thousand taels of silver. The Jiang family had millions of taels of silver. "Now that you're back, the Mei family can't be trusted. The most important thing now is to save your brother's life. This silver is the only thing that can be of some use to the family."
Mrs. Jiang thought that she could donate most of her family's property to the court as long as the court allowed her son to live.
"I've had someone take inventory of our family property," Mrs. Jiang said. "I originally thought those people might be of some use, but they're useless. All I can do is give more money to the court."
Mrs. Jiang could only think of this; they had no other way to go.
"Then give it to me." Jiang Shi couldn't stop her own mother from rescuing her brother. Money was only a thing outside of her body. She was also a woman, and it was impossible for her to inherit the Jiang family's wealth. "Have you found someone?"
"The Crown Princess and Princess Zhaoyang often go to the research institute," said Madam Jiang, "so I'm going to wait for them at the entrance."
Mrs. Jiang knew that her family had no connections, and it would be difficult for them to submit a petition. She was afraid that they would meet bad people and their money would be embezzled.
So Mrs. Jiang thought of the Crown Princess and Princess Zhaoyang. She did not think of Princess Rongning because Princess Rongning was young and was only in charge of the research institute's affairs.
The Crown Princess and Princess Zhaoyang were much better off. Mrs. Jiang wanted to use them to let the Crown Prince and the Emperor know the Jiang family's attitude.
The Jiang family has so much money, and that money should not be a small amount for the national treasury. That money is enough for the court to use for a long time, which is also very good.
"Now that you're back, what are your plans?" asked Mrs. Jiang.
"What else can I do in my current situation? I can only run a small business," Jiang replied. "I can't get into graduate school, so I can't do those things."
Jiang knew her own abilities. She simply didn't have the ability to do research. If she applied to the research institute and failed, she would only be laughed at by others.
The imperial court did not stipulate that people who had been concubines could not take the examination for the academy, nor did it stipulate that people who were currently concubines could not take the examination.
However, whether these people can take the exam depends on the host family. If the host family does not allow them to participate, then they cannot go. The host family will not let them go unless they have extremely high talent.
Otherwise, it would be impossible for the people from the research institute to keep an eye on them. The people from the research institute can help them temporarily, but not forever.
"You are also a smart person." Mrs. Jiang felt sorry, "If your brother can survive, he will most likely be exiled. If he is exiled, I will follow him."
Ancient emperors often exiled people, especially those who committed serious crimes. The emperor would exile them if not their lives. Many remote areas, originally sparsely populated, were populated only by these exiles.
"I don't know whether it is northwest or south." Mrs. Jiang said.
When we talk about the south, it basically means the southernmost part, which is a very desolate place.
Central Plains, Central Plains, they are really in the middle of this land from north to south and east to west. The coastal areas with good development are basically in the central coastal areas.
Hainan is different now. The emperor has sent people there to study rice cultivation. Hainan is infested with mosquitoes, so malaria is a common problem. Doctors there know how to treat malaria with Artemisia annua.
No matter what, the emperor had to send people to develop Hainan. Since he already knew that there was a good way to grow double-season rice and more food, why didn't he send people there?
No matter how desolate a place is, as long as there are people to cultivate it, it will become a little popular.
Mrs. Jiang would take the money with her wherever they went. If her son was exiled and had to work hard, she would pay for it and find a way to make it easier for him.
"Fortunately, your brother still has a son." Mrs. Jiang sighed.
Although the child was just a bastard, Madam Jiang was satisfied. She was afraid that her son would have an accident and leave no grandchildren, which would be bad.
"Yes." Jiang nodded. She knew her brother had children. She hadn't returned home to fight with her nephew for the family fortune, and she couldn't do it.
Since she already has a nephew, her family would not allow her to marry into the family.
Jiang understood that she was more like a tool to this family.
At the Marquis of Jingning's Mansion, Lord Mei personally brought the Second Young Master Mei to the Mansion. They were there to pick up the Second Young Master Mei's wife.
"It's all my son's fault. I've already told him off," said Lord Mei. "He won't dare do anything like this again."
The second young master Mei knelt on the ground. He didn't dare to get up and waited for Marquis Jingning to speak.
But before Marquis Jingning could speak, the wife of the second young master Mei arrived.
"Father." Mrs. Mei looked at the second young master Mei who was kneeling on the ground. The swelling on her face had subsided, but there were still some marks. It would take a few days for the swelling to completely subside.
"Jiang has returned home," said Master Mei. "Those dubious people around him have also been sent away."
Lord Mei was just short of saying that from now on, the Second Young Master Mei would only have Madam Mei as his wife. He did this on purpose to let the people in the Jingning Marquis' Mansion feel his sincerity.
Marquis Jingning understood what Lord Mei meant. The Mei family had driven those people away now, but the Second Young Master Mei might still take a concubine in the future, and the Second Young Master Mei might not be so good to his wife in the future.
But those are all things for the future, and it’s impossible to say anything for sure now.
"Father." Madam Mei Ershao looked at Marquis Jingning.
"Is that okay with you?" Marquis Jingning was tired. Before he could say anything, Madam Mei Ershao came running over.
Marquis Jingning wanted to scold Second Young Master Mei harshly, but when he saw Second Young Master Mei's wife rushing over, if he hadn't been standing there, Second Young Master Mei's wife would have gone to help Second Young Master Mei up.
This made Marquis Jingning very disappointed. Madam Mei was afraid that he would say too much about the second young master Mei and that they would have trouble getting along in the future.
At this time, Liu Yulian was sitting and drinking tea with Princess Zhaoyang.
The New Year is approaching, and Liu Yulian has been receiving fewer invitations lately. Previously, she received more invitations. When people held banquets and sent invitations to the Jingning Marquis's Mansion, they sometimes wrote three invitations.
Princess Zhaoyang was a daughter of the royal family, so to show their respect, they gave her a separate letter and another to the Marquis's Mansion. They also felt that Princess Rongning was a first-rank academy director, so they had to respect Liu Yulian as well.
So they sent so many invitations to the Jingning Marquis' Mansion, and Liu Yulian rarely attended those banquets. Liu Yulian went to the research institute from time to time and did other things, so where did she have so much time to do these things?
Liu Yulian also set a rest day for the researchers, that is, two days off in a seven-day week. Of course, those people can continue to do research, that is also allowed.
Liu Yulian just didn't want to stay in the research institute all day long and didn't want those people to work too hard. Health is the capital of revolution.
"Just watch it go by like that." Liu Yulian sighed. Mrs. Mei Ershao was sitting there just now.
When Mrs. Mei heard that Master Mei was coming, she couldn't wait to go over.
Liu Yulian felt that Mrs. Mei shouldn't have rushed over so hastily and should have left the second young master Mei alone. Liu Yulian wasn't married yet, but she also felt that the Mei family was not good and that women should be more reserved.
"It's fine for her to go there," Princess Zhaoyang said. "She doesn't care about what kind of people her husband's family is like, or what kind of people she is like. Even when she comes to her parents' family, she's still so picky."
Princess Zhaoyang disliked Mrs. Mei, the second young master's wife, who had no sense of propriety. Princess Zhaoyang thought that Mrs. Mei liked to act arrogantly at home, and such a person would never dare to act arrogantly in public.
If Princess Zhaoyang had not married into the Marquis's mansion, then Madam Mei Er Shao would have been very afraid of her. But after Princess Zhaoyang married into the Marquis's mansion, Madam Mei Er Shao was no longer so afraid of her.
Mrs. Mei Ershao felt that she was Liu Yanjing's sister and Princess Zhaoyang was her sister-in-law, so Princess Zhaoyang could not do anything to her.
"She should be going back today," Princess Zhaoyang said. "If she doesn't go back soon, she'll have to spend the New Year here."
The Mei family must be hoping that the second young master's wife will return home soon, as they are worried that the Jingning Marquisate will vent its anger on the Mei family.
Princess Zhaoyang thought that the Mei family was overthinking it. If the court really wanted to deal with the Mei family, then the people from the Jingning Marquis' Mansion would not plead for them, but they would also not add insult to injury.
The Mei family did not help the Liu family in the beginning, and later they even helped the second young master Mei marry a concubine, which can be considered as adding insult to injury.
The Jingning Marquisate does not owe the Mei family anything, nor does it owe the wife of the second young master Mei.
"If you get married in the future, you must not do this to her," Princess Zhaoyang said. "How can you just go to a man when he beckons you? He will only cherish you less."
“…” Liu Yulian blinked.
"Don't think your fiancé is good. Husband and wife will always have arguments in the future." Princess Zhaoyang said, "Even husband and wife quarrel at the beginning of the bed and make up at the end of the bed. But if it's really not good, don't keep enduring it. Divorce should be made."
Liu Yulian subconsciously looked at the road on the side. Good, He Xiyuan didn't come today.
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