The Jiang family mansion is located on North Street. It is spacious and magnificent, with white walls and black tiles stretching endlessly.
Jiang Wan and Song Yu presented their visiting cards and waited quietly at the door.
Her face remained expressionless, but her fingers clenched the handkerchief slightly.
This was her first time returning to the Jiang family mansion since her marriage in her previous life, and her feelings were inevitably complicated.
Song Yu noticed her nervousness, walked to the side, and took her sleeve.
A moment later, the butler came out to greet them personally.
The steward of the Jiang family was a kind-looking man over fifty years old. Upon seeing Jiang Wan, he seemed very excited and called out to her, "Miss."
Jiang Wan was slightly taken aback, then followed him inside.
Wandering around the winding corridors, the courtyard is dotted with rocks and the garden is full of color, gradually overlapping with distant memories.
Jiang Linyuan sat in the main hall, his face as stern as ever.
Even after the two entered the room, he didn't show a single smile.
Before Jiang Wan could speak, Song Yu placed the prepared gift on the table, knelt down with a thud, and said in a clear voice, "Grandfather, please accept my bow."
Jiang Linyuan was taken aback.
After a long pause, he said, "Why bring so many things? The Prime Minister's residence never accepts gifts."
However, they didn't correct his form of address.
Song Yu smiled and opened the pear wood box: "Grandfather, there's nothing valuable inside. It's a tea bag that Mother personally selected, as well as a purse and jade pendant that she specially embroidered for you."
Jiang Linyuan couldn't help but glance into the box.
"My skills are not very good, Father, please don't mind," Jiang Wan said.
Jiang Linyuan showed no mercy: "Indeed, not skilled."
After a long pause, he added, "Like your mother, he dislikes the arts of music, chess, and calligraphy, and instead spends his days with a medical book."
Jiang Wan's mother's surname was Ji, and her given name was Mingling.
Her maternal grandfather's family were not doctors. It was only when she was young that she had the opportunity to become an apprentice of a traveling doctor and learn medicine from him for several years.
Jiang Wan didn't want to bring up the past, fearing it would upset him, so she said instead, "Yu'er's victory this time is largely thanks to Father's care."
Jiang Linyuan snorted coldly.
Song Yu replied, "What are you saying, Mother? In this world, our maternal grandfather is the closest to us. If he doesn't take care of us, who will he take care of?"
"Didn't Mother come to visit today to cook some delicious dishes and specially invite Grandfather over for a meal?"
Jiang Wan readily agreed, "That's right. In a few days, I'll set up a table at home and invite my father to try my cooking."
Jiang Linyuan glanced at her, his face still stern, but his tone was no longer cold and hard.
"Let's skip the meal, but the Song family's place is so awful that I can't stand it for a second. I never want to set foot there again in my life."
Jiang Wan frowned slightly.
She had intended to leave her father at the Xingzhiyuan on the day the Donglai people attacked the capital, so that she could personally take care of him and ensure his safety.
I never imagined he harbored such deep resentment towards the General's Mansion.
My father is stubborn, and no amount of persuasion will change his mind.
After drinking tea, a subordinate came to inquire about official business, so Jiang Linyuan went to his study.
Jiang Wan did not want to stay long. Before leaving, she noticed a bright red coral on the main table. Its color was vivid and its texture was crystal clear. It was obviously a top-quality coral.
"This was a gift from His Majesty on the Master's birthday last year."
The housekeeper explained it to her.
"In recent years, the gentleman has become fascinated with coral and has a great love for collecting such hand-held ornaments, which he finds quite obsessive."
Jiang Wan nodded, her eyes flashing.
Upon returning to the general's mansion, she immediately wrote a letter and had Biluo deliver it to the Shixu Department.
Before a reply could be received, someone else arrived at the door.
It was the Sun family.
Hearing that she hadn't invited the Shang family and had come alone, Jiang Wan understood what was going on.
Jiang Wan personally brewed tea and exchanged pleasantries with her, but Madam Sun was absent-minded and often lost in thought.
"Sister, did you come today for that purple jade Guanyin statue?" Jiang Wan asked. "I have already mentioned it to the general, but we still need to wait for news."
Hearing this, Madam Sun looked surprised: "That Guanyin statue... Young Master Song delivered it to the Minister's residence the day before yesterday, didn't you know, sister?"
Jiang Wan shook her head: "I only mentioned this to the general. Perhaps the general asked him to send it over."
Sun's expression changed, and she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"No wonder, so you didn't know. That makes sense."
Song Lin did send the Purple Jade Guanyin, but he didn't actually meet her. Instead, he inquired about Minister Pan's whereabouts and presented the jade to him directly.
Sun originally intended to pay the money herself, and even with the help of the General's Mansion, it was just a small favor that she could repay in many ways.
Song Lin's actions today, sending such an expensive gift, are tantamount to bribery.
Minister Pan was displeased, but knowing that Madam Sun was a devout believer in the Guanyin statue, he accepted it nonetheless.
Madam Sun sighed: "My husband has always been fair and just in his dealings, and he never accepts bribes."
"He has been thinking about it for the past two days, not knowing what to do with Young Master Song. I thought that since Young Master Song was originally raised by you, you must know him very well, so I wanted to hear your opinion."
Jiang Wan patted her shoulder, her gaze softening.
Sun was so well protected by her husband that she was simple-minded, which was quite rare.
"Sister, don't worry. In my opinion, this is not difficult to handle."
She said.
"Song Lin's move is nothing more than seeking an official position. Currently, there are many descendants of officials seeking positions in the capital. Some government offices, such as the Xiaoji Camp and the Military Equipment Bureau, have even explicitly stated that they are recruiting descendants of military officers."
Madam Sun was taken aback: "But the official positions that my sister mentioned are all below the eighth rank."
Even if Song Lin were to apply himself, he would still be selected.
Jiang Wan smiled and said, "Song Lin is a good boy. He won't be overly ambitious. The career path of a military officer's son is not as good as that of a civil official. He has to take a solid step one by one so as not to give people something to talk about. This is also for his own good."
She said softly.
“For example, the Military Equipment Bureau. Right now, there is no war in the Great Yong, so it is a leisurely place. Let him stay there for a while, and when he has gained experience and made contributions, it will not be considered overstepping his bounds if Minister Pan wants to promote him.”
"This way, we can repay his favor without violating Minister Pan's principles of official conduct."
Sun's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly.
“My sister is right. This way we can have the best of both worlds. I will go back to the manor now and discuss it with my husband.”
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