Jiang Yashuang adored his wife. He couldn’t even say a harsh word to her. How could he stand others who offended her?
Madame Sun herself came to apologize the next day and kept saying nice things. Xue Chang also apologized for his daughter’s inappropriate behavior when he met Marquess Qin in the Palace two days later. But Jiang Yashuang didn’t intend to let Xue Fangmi off the hook so easily. He instructed his subordinates with a sneer, “It’s not over as long as that b*tch is still in Jing City. Considering that Yelan pleaded for the Xue Family, let’s not touch her before she gets married. But after she marries into the Li Family…”
Since the Jiang Family had changed from the “Half Regime Jiang” to the “Whole Regime Jiang”, everyone surely obeyed Jiang Yashuang’s order. They all promised that they would make Xue Fangmi restless once she got married.
Xue Chang heard about it soon after. He found it troublesome even though he was the prime minister of great eminence. Judging by the fact, Xue Fangmi was in the wrong. Judging by the power, his family was inferior to the Jiang Family. Judging by the seniority, Jiang Yashuang was his junior. Xue Chang couldn’t deign to beg Jiang Yashuang to cool down for his daughter no matter how good-natured he was, could he?
As for asking Marquess Qin for help, everyone knew that Jiang Qianchuan would always defend his own children. It was good enough that he said he would let it go after Xue Chang apologized when he knew that his granddaughter-in-law was wronged. How could he restrain his grandson from retaliating?
“Alas! Chunjun isn’t here!” Xue Chang was upset, “If he were here, he would surely make up for Xue Fangmi’s fault by interceding with Commandery Princess Ningyi!” Thinking of Qiu Jinglan, he thought of Xue Nongying as well, “If Ying’er were fine, he also could go and intercede with Jiang Yashuang. They’re about the same age and of the same generation. Even if Jiang Yashuang doesn’t agree at first, it’s not shameful for Ying’er to badger him long enough!”
He then thought of Madame Sun’s complaint. She accused Xue Fangmi of deliberately misleading Cheng Guoxi by saying that Xue Nongying was a cripple. It was a pain in Xue Chang’s heart that his grandson who he had high hopes for became like that. But his daughter was so heartless, which made Xue Chang very disappointed. Thus, he didn’t adore his daughter like he used to, “Fine. Every time she causes trouble, I only scold her and always clean up her mess in the end. That’s why she’s so spoiled that she became foolish and reckless! She’s about to marry into the Li Family. It’s hard for her to be a good wife judging by her personality. If she causes trouble for the Li Family, they will hate her more, won’t they?”
So, he instructed his henchman, “According to tradition, Fangmi will return home three days after her marriage. Arrange a job outside Jing City for his husband to send them away after that!”
The henchman knew that he wanted Li Xuan to take Xue Fangmi away to avoid trouble. Jiang Yashuang could still hurt them even if they hid elsewhere. But Xue Chang showed the white feather by sending his daughter and son-in-law out of Jing City. If Jiang Yashuang kept going after them, Xue Chang had a reason to ask Marquess Qin for a favor.
However, although the Li Family didn’t know that Xue Fangmi had despised them already, Jiang Yashuang didn’t mind telling them. As Xue Chang was in Jing City, Li Xuan probably didn’t dare to say anything even though he was angry. But when they went to other places, it would be inconvenient for Xue Fangmi to tell on him. It was difficult to say if Li Xuan would still yield to her.
The Li Family had a decent family tradition and Li Xuan was also generous. But how could anyone with integrity stand what Xue Fangmi said? The truth was that Li Xuan’s marriage with Xue Fangmi was planned by Xue Chang. Xue Chang gave the Li Family a hint and the Li Family proposed the marriage after discussion. The Li Family didn’t play up to the prime minister’s family deliberately!
“With Li Xuan’s temper, he probably won’t scold or hit Fangmi. But he may take mistresses.” Xue Chang pondered, “That may be good. Fangmi will only reflect on what she did when she’s neglected! Otherwise, she’ll bring disaster if she keeps being so willful and vicious!”
After making up his mind, he said to his henchman, “Arrange someplace far away from Jing City… But choose a good place. Li Xuan is innocent after all.” Not only was he innocent, but Xue Chang also needed to allay his anger causing by Xue Fangmi’s despise.
So, his job must be good to fully show Xue Chang’s intentions of cultivation and compensation.
But Xue Chang didn’t know that Jiang Yashuang wasn’t mad when he heard that Li Xuan left Jing City to take office hastily three days after he got married. Instead, he smiled faintly, “Did they really arrange a job for him elsewhere? Where?”
“Xizhou.” the subordinate answered respectfully, “His position is assistant to the governor.”
Seeing that Jiang Yashuang smiled meaningfully, the subordinate said flatteringly after some thought, “Xizhou is prosperous. The Prefectural Governor is a member of Prime Minister Xue’s party. They can benefit from that place and don’t need to worry about their superior giving them a hard time. Prime Minister Xue really thought it over for them. But it’s a pity that he doesn’t know that you meant to let him send them away as you said that you wouldn’t let it go as long as his daughter was still in Jing City.”
“You did a good job!” Jiang Yashuang smiled, “Go get ten taels of silver from the accountant. Keep an eye on them. Do it when they arrive at Xizhou.”
Qiu Yelan walked out from the inner chamber after that subordinate left. She said with worry, “I threatened Xue Fangmi at her home that I would kill her. But Prime Minister Xue would hold a grudge against us if we killed her. Most importantly, if he is forced to turn against us for the sake of his dignity… Our grandfather has told you that our country needs him, hasn’t he?”
“Don’t worry!” Jiang Yashuang said lazily, “I won’t get my hands dirty for her… I know what I’m doing. I won’t kill her, but I’ll make her suffer!”
Qiu Yelan was curious, “What’s your plan?”
“You’ll see.” Jiang Yashuang smiled and hugged her, “You say our grandfather values Xue Chang’s management skill. I have an idea now.” He wasn’t pleased with how Xue Chang educated his daughter. So, he referred to this famous prime minister by his name and didn’t respect Xue Chang as he used to.
“Don’t change the subject!” Qiu Yelan always had a good intention for Prime Minister Xue because of her brother. But she didn’t want to care about such a trifle. She continued to ask him after hitting him, “What kind of arrangements have you made in Xizhou?”
Jiang Yashuang hugged her tightly and squinted, “Listen to me. I’m wondering if our grandfather is going to go to war with Beihu and the western savages.”
“Huh?” Qiu Yelan was stunned. She lost interest in Xizhou at once and asked in surprise, “It’s a big deal. Where did you hear it?”
“Xue Chang is good at running our country. But our eldest uncle is also capable of being the prime minister. Of course, he is not as good as Xue Chang!” Jiang Yashuang smiled, “Our eldest uncle has been dying for the prime minister position for years. Now Gu was finally executed. Our aunt became Empress Dowager. With our family’s current power, our grandfather can ask Xue Chang to resign just by saying so! You know that our grandfather is always partial to our eldest uncle. This time he doesn’t do that, but he also treats Xue Chang like before. How couldn’t there be a reason?”
Qiu Yelan said with doubt, “Maybe it’s because Prime Minister Xue is old and has a good reputation. Besides, there were nasty rumors before Gu was executed. So, our grandfather wants him to work for a few more years.”
Judging by the time, it hadn’t been a year since Jiang Tianluan became the Empress Dowager. Although the purge of the rest of Empress Dowager Gu’s party went well, there were still a lot of secret pawns left. Let alone that the power struggle in the Western Army hadn’t come to an end… Considering going to war with the foreign countries at that moment was too hasty, wasn’t it?
Jiang Yashuang said, “You don’t know that our grandfather’s lifelong desire is to deport Beihu and make Beihu afraid to invade our country again. Besides, Xue Chang is old. It makes sense to cultivate our eldest uncle. Otherwise, if something happens to Xue Chang and our eldest uncle can’t take charge, things could easily go wrong!”
“If our grandfather is thinking of going to war, and just as you have said, something happens to Prime Minister Xue because of his old age, will it cause chaos then?” Qiu Yelan didn’t think that he was right, “Besides, have you forgotten the Western Army? The power struggle there hasn’t come to an end! We can think of going to war only when our country is stable, right?”
“That’s why it’s just my assumption.” Jiang Yashuang muttered, “Our grandfather intends to sharpen me. So, he doesn’t tell me things directly as he used to. He just leaves clues for me to figure it out by myself. Otherwise, I can just ask him.”
Qiu Yelan frowned, “If it’s true, your brother will be in trouble!”
If Marquess Qin really wanted to go to war, he definitely wasn’t patient enough to wait for the power struggle in the Western Army to end. He would apply pressure in person. And he was surely partial to the first branch which was bad for Qiu Jinglan.
“It won’t happen soon!” Jiang Yashuang shook his head after hearing that, “Going to war with Beihu is a big deal and an opportunity. Our grandfather won’t let me miss that chance. So, he won’t declare it until I go to the army. He said that I should work in the Royal Court for at least three years before I can go to the army. After all, my father can teach me the military stuff. As for the government affairs, our grandfather feels he should teach me himself!”
“It has been almost two years since you joined the Hanlin Academy!” Qiu Yelan rubbed her forehead, “How could my brother take over the Western Army within a year?”
Jiang Yashuang comforted her with a smile, “He has us… Besides, our eldest uncle doesn’t have any capable candidates. Jiang Yayue has talent. But the Western Army and the Northern Army don’t get along well with each other. He once spent some time in the Northern Army. But his mother’s family is guilty of collaboration. Even if he goes to the Western Army, it’ll be hard for him to keep a foothold. Moreover, he hasn’t been able to go yet!”
Even if he were able to go, he would have to get past Kuang Qingwu, after which he was qualified to compete with Qiu Jinglan. But Jiang Yashuangdidn’t say it out.
Su He ran in, lifting her skirt, to report before Qiu Yelan could say anything, “Madame Tianhe came back! Madame Tao asked you to come over, Madame!”
“Here comes the first branch’s big trouble!” Jiang Yashuang’s smile widened after hearing that. He said to his wife, “Judging by the time, Aunt Tianhe definitely came back without halting to rest! Cousin Xin will have an easy life since she has taken your advice. But some people will have a hard time!”
“Don’t say that I gave Cousin Xin any advice!” Qiu Yelan complained, “Do you want the first branch to hate me? What if our grandfather blames me for meddling?”
“There are just the two of us in our yard. I’m just teasing you.” Jiang Yashuang said in a hurry, “I said it was all Cousin Xin’s ideas and it had nothing to do with you when our grandfather asked me last time.”
Qiu Yelan tidied her dress, “That’s more like it! I don’t want to be their target!”
After asking about what she should avoid mentioning in front of Jiang Tianhe, she took Su He and Chen Shui and went to Madame Tao’s yard.
When she arrived, she saw a lot of well-dressed strangers standing in the corridor. They all looked tired with their dusty looks. Did Jiang Tianhe come straight here to seek justice for his daughter without going to her mansion first?
She went in while thinking of that. She saw Madame Tao smiling lovingly and talking affectionately to a well-dressed woman.
When she saw Qiu Yelan come in, she stopped talking. She smiled to that beautiful woman and said, “This is Qiu Yelan. She and Fubing knew each other before Fubing was married.”
She then instructed Qiu Yelan, “Come and meet your Aunt Tianhe.”