Chapter 183 Empress Jiang’s Worries
Qiu Jinglan grunted, “That’s the one.”
“It is the Kuang Family’s stuff. Why do you ask me to take it meticulously?” asked Qiu Jinglan in a confusion.
“It was sent by Kuang Qingwu, but it’s not something from the Kuang Family.” Qiu Jinglan shook his head and looked indifferently, “It’s from our father!”
Qiu Jinglan was startled.
“The same goes for the medicine inside. I used one this time and there’s one more, you bring it with you just in case,” Qiu Jinglan instructed.
“Did Kuang Shihan grab it from our father?” Qiu Yelan immediately guessed what’s going on.
Qiu Jinglan avoided answering, only saying, “I asked someone to make a small golden lock for the top of this jade box, so it’s perfect to wear a necklace and hang it up.”
“And don’t tell me again!” Qiu Yelan complained, “I have several necklaces in the makeup box. I’ll go and find one later.”
“Young master, it’s time to have the medicine.” At this time, Dongran came in with a lacquer tray made of ebony.
Dongran promptly stood up and took it, “I’ll do it!”
She served Qiu Jinglan with the medicine. When she saw that her brother being tired, she got up and said, “Brother, you rest, I’ll leave.”
“Well, go ahead, see if Ciyi is better, and tell me what’s going on later,” Qiu Jinglan nodded.
As soon as Qiu Yelan went out, he was immediately energized. He asked Dongran who was covering up the door, “Deng Yi killed his aunt?”
“I heard the news when I was boiling the medicine,” Dongran reported in a low voice. “Empress Jiang stopped Mr. and Mrs. Qiu Mengmin at the Hall of Taishi. They are having a big fight with Empress Dowager Gu, saying that they must charge Deng Yi!”
Then she added, “After General Jiang left our house, it seems that he also went directly to the palace.”
Qiu Jinglan nodded her head without saying a word, thinking, “My teacher promised to help in this matter, plus, the Jiang Family determined to let Yelan marry Jiang Yashuang! Hence, regardless of what happens to that Deng Yi, there should be no problem to break off the engagement.” Whether Deng Yi died or not, Qiu Jinglan wasn’t too concerned about it as long as he was out of his sister’s way.
He was pondering on this matter whether the Empress Dowager and her followers had the chance to change the situation. Suddenly, there was a surge of blood in the chest. Before he asked Dongran to hand over a handkerchief, a mouthful of blood vomited on his clothes!
“Young master!” Dongran was shocked. She quickly came up to help him, stroked his back, and passed the tea over to let him rinse his mouth. A long while later, Qiu Jinglan, whose face had visibly paled a bit, laid down again. He sighed and didn’t say anything.
He didn’t say anything, but Dongran couldn’t help but ask, “Young master, are you still thinking about that jade box?”
“I picked that jade box in that year. The medicine inside was also filled in one by one by me when I was holding onto my sister’s hand before my father left for war,” Qiu Jinglan closed her eyes and said indifferently. “Grandmother said that my sister and I are one boy and one girl. It’s really perfect. We packed my father’s things for him, and we were sure to bless him with a safe return. In the end, not only did my father not return, the jade box even took so many years to get back to our hands!”
“Young master, don’t be emotional again!” Dongran anxiously knelt beside his bed, worriedly persuaded. “If you do not think for yourself, think of the revenge of Prince, Princess, and old Princess! Think of your sister!”
Qiu Jinglan whispered, “I know. That’s why when I woke up that day when Qi Shuluo praised the good medicine sent by Kuang Qingwu, although I vaguely guessed what kind of medicine it was, I didn’t ask much. Instead, I changed the topic. Because I was waiting until I felt better before I sent someone to bring the medicine over to verify it. Anyway, I must be alive before my sister marries a good man!”
Dongran was relieved and made up her mind. She was going to remind Qiu Yelan of keeping the jade box carefully and not letting Qiu Jinglan see it again in the future.
This jade box, which meant so much to the siblings, was a great stimulus to Qiu Jinglan. This jade box reminded him of how his originally wonderful and smooth life as a prince had entered a nightmare from which he still felt pains!
Thankfully, he was tough enough and missed his sister. Otherwise, he would have been dead from the stimulus just like Kuang Qingwu hoped!
“Young Earl Ling has been coming over every day these days. Two days ago, he knew you were awake, but he didn’t dare to see you, saying that he was afraid that you might be upset,” said Dongran. She was afraid that Qiu Jinglan still kept thinking about the box although he did not say it out. So, she hurriedly changed the topic, “Since I saw General Jiang today, tomorrow is it possible?”
Qiu Jinglan pondered and said, “If he comes early tomorrow, ask him to wait for me until after noon. I can talk with him when I’m refreshed!”
Dongran nodded, “Yes, young master!”
At this time in the palace, Empress Jiang was returning to the Beijue Hall.
She had just had a heated argument with Empress Dowager Gu. Even though Empress was still in her prime, she felt a little tired. So, when she returned to her hall, she immediately took off her phoenix crown and Diyi, loosened her bun, put on her regular clothes, and called out for someone to massage her.
However, she had only called out to a little maid to massage her shoulders and pound her legs before her nephew took the job.
The one who was so attentive was certainly, Jiang Yashang. He started to smile sweetly before pounding her legs, “Aunt, about that thing?”
Empress Jiang glared at him, “Didn’t you say you were going to give me a massage?!”
Jiang Yashuang immediately began massaging, “I’m doing it! I dare not cheat my aunt!”
“There should be no problem breaking the engagement, but Deng Yi will probably get off the charge,” said Empress Jian. Empress Jiang deliberately let him massage for a while before telling him slowly.
“Really?!” Jiang Yashuang was so overjoyed that he barely jumped!
Empress immediately glared at him, “You said that you will massage my legs?!”
“I am doing it, doing it!” Jiang Yashuang hurriedly half-kneeled down again to continue serving her aunt. The corners of his mouth couldn’t stop curling, “You’re so good, aunt!”
Empress Jiang snorted, “Sweet talk!”
“I can also give a massage.” Jiang Yashuang sweetly said, quickly speeding up the leg massage.
The Empress giggled, picked up the Horsetail Whisk at her hand, and gently hit him, gleefully saying, “You can say sweet words now! You must have learned it from Yadan, the naughty one!”
“I didn’t learn this from him.” Jiang Yashuang smiled wryly, “What I said is the words from my heart!”
Empress Jiang had a small talk with him for a while. Suddenly she became serious. She dismissed the maids and servants and whispered, “Don’t be too happy early about your beloved one is free again! Let me tell you something. Deng Yi and Qiu Yuqing had no grudges in the past, why did he poison her? A lot of people know that. That’s why I’m afraid Commandery Princess Ningyi will have a reputation as a snob. People might think that she thinks Deng Yi isn’t as good as you and she is deliberately trying to persuade you to hurt him!”
Jiang Yashuang was stunned for a moment and said, “Aunt, thank you for the mention. I will figure it out.”
“In the first place, I would have liked to help you out of it completely.” Empress Jiang said with a bit regretful, “However, your grandfather had told me before, saying that I shouldn’t protect you too much and should leave something for you to deal with.”
Jiang Yashuang smiled, “It should have been like this. This was supposed to be my business. Now I’ve bothered Aunt and Grandfather for so many days. I’ve already felt guilty.”
Empress Jiang leaned back comfortably, “No need to feel guilty. I’ve watched you grow up. If I don’t love you, who do I love?” She paused for a while and continued, “By the way, you’re busy around for your sweetheart these days, but don’t delay your own business. How about your preparations for the provincial examination?”
“If I win first place, what will aunt reward me with?” Jiang Yashuang immediately asked.
“So sure?” The Empress lost her smile, “This is fine you say so in front of me, but if you dare to say it in front of your grandfather, it’s fine if you win first place. If not, let’s see how you explain!”
Jiang Yashuang smiled, “I have you to support me. If I don’t get first place, I’ll run here for help. No matter how strict grandfather is, it is certain that he won’t punish me because of you.”
Empress Jiang laughed and scolded, “Well, I thought that you want to be first on the list for the three degrees in succession! Now, you are going to just say something nice to make us happy! I certainly know that you have learned this attitude from Yadan. You used to be so honest that you couldn’t lie, and now you’ve even learned to say big words. Down to business, those are no big deal you used to make us happy. But, if you’re like Yadan and just waste your time on eating, drinking, having fun, and planning to live off the protection of the Jiang Family. I will let your grandfather teach you a good lesson, and when that comes, don’t blame me for not protecting you!”
In the last few sentences, the Empress sat up straightly and said seriously!
Seeing this, Jiang Yashuang also restrained his smile and said, “I will remember Aunt’s words! I won’t let down my grandfather and aunt’s care on me over the past ten years!”
The Empress just eased her look, saying seriously, “Don’t blame us for being tough on you. As you are an adult and only when we two are staying alone, I will talk with your heart to heart. Yadan is actually as smart as you when he was young. He grew up just like you with your grandfather and grandmother in the capital. Speaking of this, your mother even taught him for two years before she went to the north! Why is he acting like this. You might not think about the reason when you were a child, and I think you have the answer by now. Your parents have three sons, and your sixteenth brother is no less of a fool than Yadan. All the people in the fourth branch will be counting on you!”
Jiang Yashuang was about to say something, but the Empress stopped him. She continued, “I’m sure your grandfather has told you about Tao Yinsong who used many tricks when he was alive? But after his death, his family can only be safe and sound depending on what he did, and nothing else. The problem was that Tao Yinsong never sent a girl to marry the royal family while he was alive. He also had nothing to do with the fight for the status of Crown Prince! But the Jiang Family is different. Ever since I entered the palace, our fate has been doomed. If one day, I don’t live in the Hall of Taishi, I don’t say that the Jiang Family will disappear forever, but the best result will be going down!”
“Although you have many brothers, few will have a promising future. So, for the obedient and sensible ones like you, we must double down on them!” The Empress sighed, “Although I often feel sorry for children like you, for the sake of the entire Jiang family.”
“Aunt, we are family,” said Jiang Yashuang. He got up to a table not far away. He served a cup of tea and handed it over to the Empress by both hands, earnestly said, “If there is no grandfather and aunt, our family would not have days like today then. As the saying goes, “If you love me deeply, you will blame me deeply.” How can it be that grandfather and aunt have wronged us? I just hate that my nephew is so young and still hasn’t taken the rural exams, so I can’t immediately share my aunt’s worries!”
Jiang Empress gratefully took the tea, “Good boy, you go back to study. You will stay up late to make up the time you are delaying over here! As for my concerns, I can deal with them in the two years!” This was tantamount to an explicit promise that as long as Jiang Yashang could win first place, the Empress would immediately pave a path to a bright future for him!
Jiang Yashuang took his leave and walked out of the Beijue Hall. After leaving the Hall, Jiang Yashuang, however, did not return to the Marquess Qin’s Mansion or the side yard where Madame Tao lived, but rode to the Governor’s office.
Feng Rugui, the governor of the capital, when heard that Jiang Yashuang of the Jiang Family came, did not dare to give him the cold shoulder, and hurried to welcome him at the door. Although the saying goes, “It was a misfortune to have your boss sitting in your office, In particular, he was sitting there watching you closely.” It demonstrated that the position being a governor of the capital was not an easy job. Fortunately, with the back of the Jiang Family, he determined to be a qualified follower of the Empress. Feng Rugui’s days in the capital were not very difficult.
As for the fact that people had bad attitude to him… Anyway, Feng Rugui didn’t expect that he would be written into history.
Therefore, as soon as Jiang Yashuang asked to see Deng Yi, who was detained here, he immediately understood and said, “I have some men who are good at torture. Young master, do you want?” said him. And he stressed, “I promised that no bruises or injury can be seen after torture. The Empress Dowager can’t find any proof of what we did!”
Jiang Yashuang shook his head, “I meet him first.”
Feng Rugui smiled. While he personally accompanied Jiang Yashuang to the cell where Deng Yi was being held, he gestured for someone to call those torture men over. Jiang Yashuang didn’t refuse him to do so, which meant that he acquiesced to what he did. As a nobleman, you always have to act generously. But behind the generosity, it was Feng Rugui’s thoughtfulness.
Jiang Yashuang, who was upset at the moment, did not realize that Feng Rugui was planning to flatter him. When he arrived at the place, he saw that Deng Yi was alone in a cell with no one was around. Jiang Yashuang nodded and gestured the man to open the door. And then he turned to Feng Rugui and said, “You don’t need to be here with me. I know you are busy. I’ll just have a word with him and leave.”
“Please don’t worry, young master, the men are on their way. Err?” It dawned on him suddenly when he said half of the sentence. He realized that this young master did not mean to torture Deng Yi. He stood there still for a while and said, “Then I will take my leave first. If you need anything, my men are here serving you at any time.”
“Go and do your business.” Jiang Yashuang waved his hand. “Don’t bother us!”