Everyone in the study went silent again after Jiang Yashuang asked that question.
Marquess Qin said in a calm tone, “Your branch doesn’t trust the first branch and the third branch. The result of the investigation will be discredited if I send any of you there. As Deputy Premier, Tiancan shouldn’t go on a long journey for our family business. Jiang Yalan is younger than Jiang Yayue and Jiang Yaqing. I think your branch will also have a problem if he goes there. As for Tianxiao…”
Speaking of which, he glanced at his youngest son, Jiang Tianxiao.
Jiang Tianxiao who had been avoiding being drawn into the crisis was shocked when his father looked at him at that moment, “Father, although I’m Jiang Yazhu and Jiang Yashuang’s uncle, I’m only a few years older than them. Besides, I have little talent and learning. I’m only where I am because of you and my brothers.”
Was he kidding? How couldn’t people know that the culprit was in one of the three branches after listening to their quarrel? Since the fourth branch had fallen out with the first branch and the third branch, Jiang Tianxiao would offend one side or the other when he found out the culprit. He didn’t want to get caught up in their fight.
Marquess Qin didn’t say anything about what he said. He looked towards Sir Jibei and said in a sad tone, “Qianqiu, you have trouble with your legs. I know that you have come back to Jing City to rest. But this time…”
Sir Jibei nodded slightly and said flatly, “It is not like I’m going to war. I’m just going there to investigate. It can give me a chance to see if the Western Army can compete with our fine soldiers in the north.”
“Your youngest grand uncle has spent a lot of effort in cultivating your father who he is today,” Marquess Qin looked towards Jiang Yazhu and Jiang Yashuang. “I’ll ask him to go to Shazhou to investigate. Do you trust him?”
Jiang Yazhu meant what he said. After hearing the question, instead of answering, he looked towards his younger brother at once, showing that he would follow Jiang Yashuang’s lead. Jiang Yashuang bowed to Sir Jibei and sobbed, “Grand uncle, please seek justice for Jiang Qizheng, Xing, and Ling Zui.”
Before Sir Jibei could say anything, Marquess Qin asked the first branch and the third branch, “I think you know how well Qianqiu has been treating you both for all these years. How about you two? Do you trust him?”
“Uncle Qianchuan, you’re too cautious. How can’t we trust Uncle Qianqiu?” Jiang Tianao said in a hurry. Could he say no at that moment? Besides, Sir Jibei did treat him well.
Jiang Tianqi said, “Father, I’ll follow your and Uncle Qianqiu’s lead.”
“In that case, Qianqiu, get ready and leave tomorrow,” Marquess Qin closed his eyes indifferently. “You all can leave if you don’t have anything else to say. I’m tired.”
Jiang Yashuang ignored the first branch and the third branch after leaving the study. After saluting Jiang Tiancan and Jiang Tianxiao, he and Jiang Yazhu walked away.
“I thought he should be a sensible kid since Uncle Qianchuan has been teaching him for years. However, he is… Tut!” Looking at Jiang Yashuang’s back, a gloomy look flashed through Jiang Tianao’s eyes. But his tone was kind and a little disappointed, “Uncle Qianchuan’s efforts are in vain.”
“He is still young.” Jiang Tianqi smiled and then said flatly, “It worries me that Uncle Qianqiu is going to Shazhou on a snowy day.”
Jiang Tianao squinted, “Let’s go back to our places and see if there is anything that he may need which we can pack for him.” While they were talking, they inevitably left together and went to discuss their plan.
Jiang Tiancan and Jiang Tianxiao stood not far away and they looked at each other, smiling bitterly. And then they went their separate ways.
Marquess Qin whose face was expressionless stood behind the window of his study with his hands behind his back.
Sir Jibei sat on the bed and sighed, “With what happened today, no matter what I find out… Things between the first, the third, and the fourth branches…”
“So, the person who incited Kuang Qingwu to attack Yadan and others must not be from the first branch and the third branch, nor Qiu Jinglan!” Others all left within a short while. In the snowy courtyard, a red plum in the corner bloomed brightly. Its bright red color looked ominous. Marquess Qin stopped looking outside and went back in. He sat opposite his brother and said calmly, “It must be someone else! So that they could reconcile.”
Sir Jibei frowned, “How could you expect them to reconcile at this point?”
He reminded, “The source of the fight between the first, the third, and the fourth branches isn’t what happened today.”
He paused and then continued, “Besides, what do you plan to do with the Western Army? In my opinion, you may as well let me run a thorough investigation. Whoever did it should leave the Western Army and hand over the military power to the other side as compensation. And no one shall bring it up ever again!”
Marquess Qin shook his head and said, “The first branch and the third branch probably did it together. Tianchi doesn’t have many kids. And Jiang Yashuang isn’t the kind of person who will exchange his siblings for military power. Without their approval, Qiu Jinglan won’t trick his sister like that. The fourth branch already has the Northern Army. What do you think will happen if they have the Western Army as well?”
“Qiu Jinglan isn’t one of us!” Sir Jibei said, frowning, “Although his only sister is Jiang Yashuang’s wife, they will only be as close as a family in their generation. He’ll build his influence in Xijiang if the Western Army is handed over to him. His kids won’t be close to Qiu Yelan if he doesn’t send them back to Jing City. When the next generation is in charge in a few decades, there won’t be much love between them. It’s more of a relationship of interest. In my opinion, instead of worrying that the fourth branch will have so much power that they will prevail over others, you should consider how to make Qiu Jinglan hand over something in exchange for the Western Army.”
Marquess Qin said flatly, “I didn’t mean that. I’m willing to let nature take its course if the first branch and the third branch didn’t go after Jiang Qizheng and the others. After all, Qiu Jinglan values Qiu Yelan a lot. He won’t offend us easily if he has the Western Army. Giving him the Western Army isn’t so bad if the first branch and the third branch aren’t capable of controlling it. But like you have said, the fourth branch will never let the first branch and the third branch off the hook after what happened today. How can’t I give them something to protect themselves?”
He sounded extremely tired, “We are old after all.”
Sir Jibei was silent. He said after a long time, “I’ll draw people’s attention elsewhere. However, it mustn’t happen again. Even though Jiang Qizheng is married, she is still our blood. Jiang Yazhu was right. Tianchi and his wife only have this one daughter. How can we abandon her?”
“That’s why I have agreed to run a thorough investigation.” Marquess Qin said flatly, “I want to remind Tianao and Tianqi that they are over the line.”
“…” Sir Jibei wanted to say something but he didn’t. He thought, “I know you want to warn Tianao and Tianqi. However, the trueborn daughter of the fourth branch is now dead. How can you scare them by such a gentle warning?”
Jiang Tianchi and his sons weren’t the kinds of people who were willing to suffer in silence. Since you were so unfair, how couldn’t they seek justice for themselves?
“Fine. Since he is hellbent on doing so, I don’t think anything I say will make a difference.” Sir Jibei sighed inwardly, “I’ll make a decision after I arrive at Shazhou and find out what really happened. I don’t have to follow his lead. He always lets his kids suffer in order to mediate. How couldn’t his kids hold grudges? Things definitely will go wrong since they hold grudges!”
When their conversation was over, Jiang Yashuang was inviting Jiang Yazhu into his study.
“Yazhu, I’m sorry that I offended you just now. Thank you for mediating for me.” Jiang Yashuang poured a cup of tea by himself and handed it to Jiang Yazhu with both his hands. He said seriously, “Thinking of Jiang Qizheng and others, I was so furious that I forgot I should let you speak first.”
Jiang Yazhu took that cup of tea and said in a complicated look, “You’re overthinking it. You know that I hardly ever deal with that kind of situation. And our two uncles were so aggressive… I truly didn’t know what to say back then. If you hadn’t defended us, they would have gone too far bullying us.”
Actually, Sheng Shishui urged him to say those words when he was getting dressed in the inner chamber after being informed to go to the study to join the discussion.
Sheng Shishui didn’t know what happened to Jiang Yadan and the others. But she still reminded her husband, “Our grandfather never asked you to join their discussion in his study. I’m afraid that today’s topic is tricky. So, you may as well follow Jiang Yashuang’s lead. Let him answer for you if you feel uncertain.”
Jiang Yazhu felt his spirit was soured at that moment. So, he said angrily, “Although Jiang Yashuang is favored, I’m still his older brother.”
“That’s what I’m worried about,” Sheng Shishui knew how easily his pride could be hurt. She wouldn’t have said that at any other time. But she had to say it at that crucial moment to prevent any trouble, “Your parents are absent all the year round. Now that Jiang Yadan isn’t here either. We only have two men, you and Jiang Yashuang, in our branch. They summoned you suddenly. Do you think they did it because you are older than Jiang Yashuang? Don’t say anything when you get there. Just follow Jiang Yashuang’s lead.”
“Do you want me to change into servant’s clothes and be Jiang Yashuang’s servant?”
Sheng Shishui inhaled, “Please don’t be mad! Your parents are in the prime of life. Please allow me to say something inappropriate. Your mother can ruin your life just by using filial piety as means if she wants to. Besides, Jiang Yashuang treats us well. Why do you have to go against him? Please do listen to me this time! If someone taunts you by saying that Jiang Yashuang doesn’t respect you as his brother, you can say that there is a difference between a trueborn son and a concubine’s son. Don’t feel embarrassed. We can’t afford to stand on our dignity now. Even if your parents can’t give you anything better than the outsiders can, they can take it away. As a member of the fourth branch, your root is here. Intentionally or not, you can’t be used against our branch by others. You’ll ruin your future if you do that.”
She lowered her voice, “Jiang Yashuang is sophisticated. He’ll make it worth your while if you help him by admitting the difference between a trueborn son and a concubine’s son. Didn’t our grandfather ask you to go to Beijiang? Your mother is there. She would be less upset if she knew what you did.”
“Do you want to ruin your whole life by acting on impulse or swallow your pride in exchange for the future of our family? Yazhu, please think twice!”
Thinking of his wife’s earnest advice before he left his place, Jiang Yazhu smiled bitterly, “If Shishui hadn’t reminded me, I would have…”
Judging by his personality, he should be eager to project himself since it was his first time to join such a formal family meeting. But he found out about the topic after he went into the study. It was about the attack on Jiang Yadan and others. And Jiang Qizheng was probably dead.
If Sheng Shishui hadn’t urged him not to stand out, he would have been tricked by Jiang Tianao from the beginning.
His fate was predictable if he fell into that trap. He was already the least valued son of a concubine in the fourth branch. Even his father, Jiang Tianchi, would despise him when he was accused of ignoring his sister’s death, let alone his official mother, Madame Zhuang’s reaction.
However, what about now?
Although he admitted that he was inferior to Jiang Yashuang, as Sheng Shishui said, Jiang Yashuang wouldn’t let his effort be in vain. It was the first time he set foot in his brother’s study. He knew of that study. Besides Jiang Yashuang and his wife, Ou Bicheng was the only one allowed to come in and out at his will.
It didn’t seem like a big deal that Jiang Yashuang brought him in. In fact, it meant that he was qualified to participate in the affair of the fourth branch.
It was extremely important for a member of the fourth branch to have that qualification.
Besides, Jiang Yashuang was more generous than that.
“Since Grand Uncle Qianqiu is going to investigate the matter of Shazhou, there is not much we can do at this moment. We have to wait for his news,” Jiang Yashuang was being euphemistic. The truth was that he could meddle but Jiang Yazhu couldn’t help at all.
So, he said to Jiang Yazhu, “Our grandfather arranged for you to go to Beijiang to join the army. Since you’ve never been to Beijiang before, I’m afraid that you don’t know much about the Northern Army. I store all the letters our father sent from Beijiang here and I’ve begun to sort out letters about the Northern Army. You can come by and go through these letters every day. This study is separated from the backyard living area anyway. It’s fine for you to come here even if I’m not here.”
“There is one more private matter,” Jiang Yashuang paused because he was pondering. He looked up at his brother and said as gently as he could, “I miss our parents so much since I haven’t seen them for years. I want to write to each of them before you go. I hope you could give them my letters.”
Did it mean that Jiang Yashuang was going to plead for him with their parents?
Jiang Yazhu inhaled deeply, “My grandmother didn’t trick me on my marriage.” Sheng Shishui came from an awkward and humble background. But she qualified as a good wife by reminding him on that day.