Chapter 403: Tightly Controlled
evening.
When Jiang Yunze received the imperial edict.
Still in the office.
As the Minister of Rites, he was very conscientious and responsible.
From a poor scholar, he climbed up to his current position step by step. He had experienced so many hardships, endured so much ridicule, and been looked down upon so many times.
Only he himself knows the answer.
Everything that happened in the past was like yesterday's death, and he didn't want to dwell on it anymore.
A general's success is built on the sacrifice of thousands of soldiers. Along the way, I owe many people and let many people down.
But he had no choice.
Precisely because the road to climb up was so difficult and painful, he cherishes it so much.
He won't let anyone or anything stand in his way.
Be it ungrateful or unfaithful.
He won't regret it.
People always have to look forward.
It is said that God rewards hard work, and God has never let him down.
People feel refreshed when good things happen to them. Jiang Yunze has been smiling and in a particularly good mood these days.
Because the Jiang family has double happiness.
There are three joys in life: passing the imperial examination, having a wedding night, and meeting an old friend in a foreign land.
The Jiang family had two good things.
When his son passed the imperial examination, all his colleagues in the Ministry of Rites came to congratulate him.
In the past, it was said that he had reached his current position thanks to the Qi and Lu families, and that he even gave them some leverage during the imperial examinations.
That's ridiculous.
He borrowed some power from the two families, but relied more on himself.
Who knows the efforts he made behind the scenes? He gets up earlier than the chickens and sleeps later than the dogs. None of his colleagues in the office works as hard as he does.
Even when he was the Minister of Rites, he still had to do the work of his superiors.
Who has ever seen these hardships?
But this time, Yan Ge'er earned back all his face for him.
His own son, a boy who was not even fifteen years old, won the first place in the autumn examination.
He is probably the youngest Jieyuan in the history of Daliang.
It brings honor to the family. My father would be happy if he knew about it.
He was actually quite surprised.
I knew Brother Yan was smart, but I didn't expect him to be so powerful.
It made him more prestigious in the Ministry of Rites.
After the imperial examination cheating incident, the Ministry of Rites underwent a major reshuffle.
Most of the Qi family's disciples have passed away. The current Minister of Rites, Lu, is a man of the Left Prime Minister Yan Fu, and he is quite caring towards him.
Perhaps it was because King Chen had greeted him.
Sure enough, clinging to anyone is not as effective as clinging to a powerful prince.
It was not in vain that he gave birth to this daughter.
Jin'er also knew to send him money to supplement the family expenses, and asked Prince Chen to help him find a marriage.
Although the Zhou family's daughter is a widow, her family background is as high as that of the Lu family.
The most important thing is the generous dowry.
To Zhou, he was the hero who saved her from danger.
He had visited Zhou before. She was a noble lady from a prominent family, the eldest daughter, well-educated and well-mannered, and was no problem for her to manage the household affairs.
Moreover, her ex-husband died suddenly and did not leave any children with her, so there was no connection between them.
There is also King Chen who acts as a matchmaker.
So the marriage went smoothly. He and Zhou were willing to do so, each got what they wanted, and they hit it off immediately.
Now everything has been settled, and now we just have to wait for the engagement to take place before we can marry her.
But he hasn't told Taomei about getting married yet.
I think Taomei will understand, after all, with her identity, even if she didn't have that incident with her father.
Still can't be the mistress of the house.
He cannot be without a wife, and the Jiang family also needs a presentable mistress.
Seeing that the time was almost up, Jiang Yunze packed up the documents on the table and prepared to leave the office and go home.
Just took a few steps out.
Then someone came from the palace and read out the emperor's oral order.
The man who came was Eunuch Yu. "Sir Jiang, the Emperor has decreed that because you have treated your wife and children poorly, you will be fined three years' salary. The three years' salary will be given to Lu and her three sons as compensation."
"Three years' salary deduction?"
Jiang Yunze was bewildered.
Why does it take another three years?
Because of Jin'er's involvement, he has already been punished for three years. If he is punished again, it will be six years.
Isn't he working for the government for nothing?
Then I thought about it and felt that it was not right. Why should compensation be given to Lu Qingyao?
"Eunuch, did you hear me right? Why would the emperor care about such trivial matters? Besides, I have already divorced Lu?" Jiang Yunze really couldn't understand.
This is ridiculous!
When buying this house, Lu Qingyao had already cheated him out of several thousand taels.
Now I still want his salary.
So shameless!
Eunuch Yu didn't intend to say much, only saying: "Of course, we will settle the accounts later. This account will be settled even if we divorce. Lord Jiang, please take care of yourself."
Jiang Yunze didn't ask too much.
This eunuch Yu has always been very tight-lipped, and it will be useless no matter how much silver you give him.
He could only blame himself for his bad luck.
There is no way to disobey the imperial decree.
I'm afraid I have to sell some of my shops, otherwise how can I marry Zhou...
Back home.
Talk to Taomei about Fenglu and Zhou's marriage.
I thought she would help me come up with a solution.
Tao Tao was sewing clothes for her child. When she heard Jiang Yunze's words, she accidentally pierced her fingertip with the needle.
But she felt no pain.
With a look of surprise, she said, "Husband, who are you going to marry?"
"Zhou Qin, the eldest daughter of the Zhou family of Ding'an Marquis Mansion, will be engaged next month and will be married after the beginning of spring after the New Year. I'd like to trouble you to help with some arrangements."
Tao Tao sneered in her heart, lowered her head and stopped talking.
She knew very well that Jiang Yunze was not discussing with her, but coming to inform her and ask for her help.
It seems that all the vows made in the past have become a joke.
Jiang Yunze had already put it out of his mind and forgotten it completely.
And she didn't want to think about it anymore.
Because those words constantly reminded her that she was silly and naive when she was young.
What childhood sweethearts.
What does it mean to hold hands with you and grow old together?
How could she, a concubine, be the one to spend her old age with her husband?
Stupid, so stupid!
Since ancient times, there have been many people who can share hardships but not happiness. How could someone like Jiang Yunze be an exception?
"Sister Tao, I'm sorry for wronging you. I... I will definitely compensate you." Jiang Yunze reached out to pull Tao Tao, but she dodged him.
He knew that Tao Tao must be feeling bad.
After all, the Jiang family has a mistress, and Tao Tao can no longer be as comfortable in the Jiang mansion as before.
There will be constraints from the mistress, and you have to offer tea and kneel down to her, and put her first in everything.
But he couldn't let his new bride down, so he could only let Taomei down temporarily.
"How do you want to compensate me?" Tao Tao had tears in her eyes. She turned her head away, trying hard not to let the tears fall.
She knew that with her status, she had no right to ask or demand anything from Jiang Yunze.
Even more powerless to stop it.
But she still asked that question without giving up.
"You know, I married Zhou just for a marriage of convenience. Zhou is the legitimate daughter of a marquis, and she has always been on good terms with the noble ladies in the capital. The officials' wives have to rely on her for daily interactions. I want my official career to go smoothly, and I cannot do without the help of this lady from a noble family. But I only have you in my heart, and no matter in the past or in the future, there is only room for you." Jiang Yunze didn't want to say it so bluntly.
But this is the fact and it cannot be changed.
Although he is now the Minister of Rites, his family background is still not high. The wives of his colleagues of the same rank are either ladies from wealthy families or daughters from high-class families.
However, Tao Tao's family background meant she could not become the legal wife.
"Tao Mei, I know you're upset, but you have to think about me. It's not easy for me to get to where I am now..."
How could Tao Tao not understand the meaning behind the words?
She is just a peasant girl, and no matter how much she learns, she will never become a lady from a wealthy family.
It’s impossible in this life, it’s determined at birth.
But she doesn't want it.
I don’t care about Jiang Yunze’s love anymore.
In this mansion, Xiaoshu is her only relative. She still stays here, not for anything else, but just for her daughter.
Tao Tao turned her back to wipe away her tears, then said to Jiang Yunze: "Congratulations, my husband, you have won the heart of a beautiful woman. You will have a bright future ahead of you."
"I feel relieved that you think so." Jiang Yunze held her in his arms and stroked her cheek.
He knew that Taomei was the most sensible and well-behaved.
Tao Tao looked up at him with a slight curl of her lips, "Husband, but there is one thing that may be difficult to handle..."
"What is it?"
"Have you forgotten that the Jiang family's genealogy is in the hands of the clan leader, Uncle Fu? If you want to add the new wife's name to the family tree, you have to get Uncle Fu's approval. But Uncle Fu is no longer the same Uncle Fu as before. He only listens to Lu Qingyao now. Not only Uncle Fu, but the villagers of Taoxi Village now only listen to their boss. I'm afraid..."
After Tao Tao said this, she felt so happy.
This happiness was all given by Lu Qingyao.
She was full of admiration for this woman, who was able to keep her ex-husband under control even after the divorce.
There is only Lu Qingyao.
Jiang Yunze is really a failure. He doesn't care about the future and has forgotten his roots.
Just for two hundred taels of silver, the clan members turned against each other.
Now he is deserted by everyone.
She looked at her husband with a pale face and wanted to laugh. Finally, the time came for him to ask for help.
He was still asking for help from his ex-wife whom he had once despised.
Jiang Yunze gnashed his teeth and slowly uttered a few words, "Then I won't be included in this family tree."
He felt very upset.
Let him ask Lu Qingyao to add the bride's name to the Jiang family tree.
This is absolutely ridiculous.
If he had to say what he regretted, he would regret it so much now. Why did he let her go to Jiangzhou in the first place?
He actually let his own people restrain him.
I never realized that Lu Qingyao was so cunning and treacherous before. I really underestimated her.
Tao Tao pursed her lips to suppress her smile: "Husband, I'm afraid the new wife won't agree."
Jiang Yunze: ...
He doesn't care about all this and just wants to marry her first.
Tao Tao sat up and looked at Jiang Yunze, "My husband, if we let a concubine organize the main wife's wedding, it would be a laughing stock if it got out or if the Zhou family found out. It would also make the new wife unhappy. It would be better to let my mother-in-law take full charge. After all, she has organized banquets for the Lu and Qi families before..."
She doesn't want to be the one who gets taken advantage of.
If you help that stingy old lady, she will definitely be picky and even have to pay for some things.
She had worked so hard to save up the money for Xiaoshu, and didn't want to let others take advantage of it.
"Okay, then you just stay in the backyard and don't have to show up." Jiang Yunze felt a little unhappy.
Relying on his mother will definitely not work.
He had personally arranged for Lu Qingyao's marriage, as the Lu family was a military family and didn't have so many requirements.
Lu Qingyao arranged the marriage of Naqi Caiwei. Since she was a concubine, she only held a small banquet and did not make a big fuss.
But the Zhou family is a civil family, so the complexity involved is self-evident.
Jiang Yunze thought about it and decided to ask Minister Lu for help. Mrs. Lu also came from a big family. With her guidance on this matter, there shouldn't be any mistakes.
Besides, Minister Lu had a daughter who was about the same age as Yan'er, and he had even asked him about Yan'er in person.
The thoughts are self-evident.
Thinking of this, Jiang Yunze glanced at Xiaoshu who was still sleeping.
He walked away with a dark face.
Looking at Jiang Yunze's back as he walked away, Tao Tao's smile fell.
Before it got completely dark, she handed the baby to a trusted maid, changed into some coarse clothes, and quietly went out.
I found the smallest pharmacy in the capital and asked, "Boss, do you have any medicine that can kill people?"
The shopkeeper raised his eyes and glanced at her. Her face was covered with a veil, leaving only her eyes visible.
But when he saw her coarse linen clothes and her delicate hands, he understood instantly.
"Do you want to use it yourself or give it to someone else?"
Tao Tao felt a little embarrassed and said casually, "Yes...it's for men."
The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment.
I've only seen women from big mansions buying it to win favor, but this is the first time I've seen it bought for a man.
This will cut off my family lineage.
"Girl, there are three types of unfilial behavior for a man, and the worst is having no offspring. Even if you hate someone so much, there's no need to be so angry..."
Seeing that the shopkeeper was not very willing to sell it to him, Tao Tao took out an ingot of silver.
"To be honest, shopkeeper, I bought this medicine for my husband. My family used to be in business, but now we've lost everything. We still have six or seven children to raise, and we don't want to have any more children, so I had no choice but to give my husband some of this medicine."
"Yes, wait a moment." The owner of the drug store felt relieved after hearing this.
Her appearance seemed to be explainable, as long as it didn't cause the extinction of her family line.
He didn't want to get into this kind of trouble.
It is understandable, and there is no reason for the shopkeeper not to make money.
After a while, he took out a small bag of herbs from the inner room and handed it to Tao Tao, "This is called Rongrong. Eating it can make people infertile. It is effective for both men and women."
Then he repeated the usage and dosage to her.
Tao Tao was secretly delighted. She didn't expect that there really was such a medicine.
She knew that if she asked a doctor to prescribe medicine, he would have to see the patient in person and ask a lot of questions, so he would definitely not be able to prescribe medicine.
These medicines may not be available at large pharmacies.
The more inconspicuous a small pharmacy seems to be doing poorly, but it can still stay open for a long time, it must have these rare and unique things.
It really does exist.
As long as she pays enough, the shopkeeper will sell it to her even if he doesn't believe her.
She would not stop Jiang Yunze from getting married or even taking a concubine.
But she didn't want Zhou or any other woman to give birth to another child for Jiang Yunze.
If she gave birth to a few legitimate daughters like Jiang Zijin, she didn't know whether there would still be a place for Xiaoshu in the Jiang family.
It's good for now.
Xiaoshu is the only child in the mansion, even if Jiang Zifeng and his brother will be the head of the family in the future.
She wasn't worried either.
Even though she has no other children, Xiaoshu is still Jiang Yunze's most beloved youngest daughter.
Lu Qingyao's three children were well educated, and Xiaoshu posed no threat to them.
Don't worry that they will bully Xiaoshu.
Early the next morning.
Tao Tao came to the kitchen with great interest.
I want to cook and stew mutton for my husband myself.
This went on for several days, stewing chicken, duck, and pigeon...
Jiang Yunze suddenly felt that Tao Mei was more gentle and considerate than before.
The servants in the mansion were talking about it.
Knowing that the master was going to marry a new wife, did Aunt Tao feel a sense of crisis and start to curry favor with the master?
…
On this side, Jiang Ziyan had already quietly returned to the capital ahead of time.
He didn't even show up on the day the results were announced, and it was Sun Yanshu who went to check the list.
After learning the news that he had passed the imperial examination, he first sent a letter back to Beijing to announce the good news, then bid farewell to his mentor, and returned to the capital alone without even waiting for Jiang Qiaoer and her husband.
He couldn't wait to see his mother and sister.
…
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com