The floods and the resulting damage caused much stress and exhaustion for the people in the capital city, especially as the spring rains continued to fall ceaselessly. However, the continual efforts in the past few days of Eighth Prince and Second Young Master of the Grand Councillor’s fu to manage the water level were beginning to show preliminary results. Added to this, more and more people had joined the group distributing congee, so the situation had somewhat stabilised. The capital city gradually resumed its usual sense of order.
For instance, this afternoon, the Guan family troops had returned to the capital in triumph from the border, earlier than expected. The orderly mass of solemn-looking troops covered almost the entire capital; they were led by the daring and energetic, tall and powerful, Guan Liang Han. Riding abreast of him was an extremely handsome young man. Although a military man, he did not appear crude and boorish. On the contrary, he had the air and grace associated with a younger member of the nobility, but he was unfamiliar to many. At the rear of the troops came a horse carriage, but no one knew what manner of person sat within.
The Zhao uncle and nephew, together with Xiao Shao, had already left. Jiang Xin Zhi heeded Jiang Ruan’s advice and rode around the capital. He did not think much of it; he simply thought that Jiang Ruan, being a young girl, just wanted to show off. Jiang Ruan sat in the carriage while Lian Qiao surreptitiously pulled aside a corner of the curtain to peep outside. She exclaimed in surprise, “Eldest Young Master is really awe-inspiring; the people are all looking at him.”
Bai Zhi also smiled as she said, “Now that Eldest Young Master is back, only happy days will follow Miss from now on.”
Lian Qiao rolled her eyes and a crafty expression flashed across her face. “That person in Yan Hua Yuan will be so angry that she’ll kick up a terrific fuss.”
Jiang Ruan smiled faintly but declined to comment. When Xia Yan saw Jiang Xin Zhi returning intact, she would not merely be angry. This matter would not be concluded so easily. However, if she really wanted to scheme against Jiang Xin Zhi, then she should not imagine that she would herself leave this game unscathed. As for Xuan Li and Li An, she had a big gift for them in the future.
At present, Jiang Xin Zhi was a young man who showed great promise. Looking at his bearing as well as that of Guan Liang Han, it was easy for people to guess that he was the Deputy General who had risen internally through the ranks due to his military achievements, but they had never expected him to be so young. Many of the young ladies and married women who were lining the streets blushed as they tossed silk flowers onto his horse. Jiang Xin Zhi concealed a smile. After so many years of experience, his self-control was excellent. At first glance, he looked just like a confident scholar.
Among the onlookers were also furens and young ladies from the families of government officials. When they witnessed this scene, they started making inquiries as to the identity of this Deputy General. It was at this time that some unknown person in the crowd suddenly yelled, “Isn’t he Eldest Young Master from Minister Jiang’s fu? I heard he joined the army five years ago; never imagined that he would return to the capital with military accolades!”
One pebble can stir up a thousand waves. As soon as this remark was uttered, everyone began to comment.
“I was just saying that he looked familiar, and it turns out that he is the eldest son of the Jiang family. Tsk, since there’s been no news of him for so many years, for him to appear today must be cause for great pride and elation.”
“So it turns out that the Jiang family has this eldest young master, but it seems like I’ve never heard the people in the Jiang family talk about him.”
“Eh? What’s there not to understand about this situation? Right now, the stepmother is the one calling the shots in the Jiang family. When all is said and done, he is not her flesh and blood. Wasn’t there also no news about Eldest Jiang Miss for five years or so? On thinking about it, I’m afraid that Eldest Young Master Jiang did not leave home voluntarily at the time.”
“In the end, everything is all good. Eldest Young Master Jiang has achieved military merit, and Eldest Jiang Miss is as precious and beautiful as jade[1]. In comparison with Second Young Master, Eldest Young Master Jiang’s prospects are much better. I have no idea what Minister Jiang was thinking about, favouring that Second Young Master over such an outstanding Eldest Young Master.”
[1] Yu ( 玉 ) – jade symbolises beauty, grace, and purity. According to this article, Confucius said that there are 11 virtues represented in jade – benevolence, justice, propriety, truth, credibility, music, loyalty, heaven, earth, morality, and intelligence.
“You don’t understand the situation. What good is there to say about men always spoiling their mistresses and neglecting their wives. When the former mistress of the household was still around, the current Jiang Furen was just a concubine.”
Tongues were wagging fast and furiously in the crowd and all manner of things were being said. Most of the comments were in praise of Jiang Xin Zhi and his sister, while disparaging Xia Yan’s family. In the carriage, Jiang Ruan smiled faintly to herself. Trampling on those who had fallen while flattering those held in high esteem was always the tendency of the people. At present, Jiang Xin Zhi was a young man who showed great promise, and the prospects of his official career were good. Naturally, the air would ring with praise and accolades. Moreover, the more outstanding he showed himself to be, the more incapable Jiang Chao would seem.
* * *
In Yan Hua Yuan, Xia Yan was slowly sipping her tea as she reclined on the soft couch. Today, she had made arrangements to take care of the one thing that she was concerned about. Given the combined efforts of the Xia and Li families, she had no cause to believe that Jiang Xin Zhi could escape this calamity. She pursed her lips as she swallowed a sip of tea; just like that, Jiang Xin Zhi would die. As for Jiang Ruan, she had nothing to worry about. When she had time, she would tidy up that loose end as well. However, for some unknown reason, when she had woken up early that morning, she had felt a faint sense of unease, which was reflected in the slight fretfulness that tinged her expression without her realising it.
Upon seeing this, Fei Cui said, consolingly, “Furen does not need to be anxious, this endeavour will not fail. We simply have to wait for the good news.”
Before Xia Yan could say anything, she saw that the door curtain was being pushed aside. Lin Lang hurried into the room, and with a panicked expression on her face, she said, “It’s not good, Furen! Eldest Young Master has returned!”
“What did you say?” Xia Yan stood up immediately, her beautiful face suffused with a fierce malevolence. In one swift move, she grabbed Lin Lang’s shoulder and said, “Jiang Xin Zhi has returned? How can this be? Did you see wrongly?”
“Furen, this is absolutely true!” Lin Lang continued, “General Guan and Eldest Young Master led the troops in a parade around the capital’s streets; everyone has seen them and the people are talking. It is indeed Eldest Young Master, there’s no mistake.”
Xia Yan reeled and collapsed onto the soft couch, muttering, “How can this be! There’s no way this could happen unless Jiang Xin Zhi is receiving supernatural protection.”
As she was saying this, Xiao Si rushed in from outside and said, “Furen, Eldest Young Master is at the entrance of the fu, and General Guan and the troops are with him. Furen had best hurry over to welcome them before misunderstanding and gossip arise.”
“Me, welcome him?” Xia Yan could not hold back the shriek which escaped her mouth. God knows, she was dying to kill him at the moment, but she had to slap on a smiling face, pretend to be a caring mother, and welcome him! If she did not do so – and this was the cause of the mighty struggle within her now – her standing in the eyes of the people would drop, and who knows what nonsense about evil stepmothers she would have to deal with!
“Fine, I’ll welcome him,” Xia Yan gritted her teeth and said. “I’m on my way right now to welcome my good son!”
Lin Lang and Fei Cui stood to one side, not daring to say or do anything in the current atmosphere.
Xia Yan had just led her servants to the entrance, when she heard Guan Liang Han’s booming laugh as he said, “Xin Zhi, since you’ve returned to the fu, I won’t inconvenience you by staying longer and will leave now. Later, when you present yourself before the Emperor, this General[2] will definitely say many good things about you, such that His Majesty will confer you a high government position. I’m off!”
[2] Ben jiang jun ( 本将军 ) – similar to the Crown Prince in earlier chapters who referred to himself as bengong, Guan Liang Han refers to himself as benjiangjun (jiang jun = General) i.e. ‘this general’.
Xia Yan walked to the doorway, but Guan Liang Han had already mounted his horse and merely eyed her coldly. Being on the receiving end of that cold glance, Xia Yan could not stop herself from engaging in a cold war, but before she could say anything, Guan Liang Han had already raised his whip. With a ‘jia!’, he led the way in departing, and the troops hastened to keep pace with him.
The entrance to the Jiang fu was surrounded by people who were there to catch the action. Xia Yan quickly walked to stand in front of Jiang Xin Zhi. The frail youngster of the past, who had not even been as tall as she was, was now a tall military hero. When he looked at her, there was a chilling, blood-thirsty expression in his eyes. Xia Yan made a great effort to repress the unease deep in her heart. She looked him up and down, then gently smiled and said, “Xin Zhi, you have finally returned after so long. In all these years, how is it that you never once sent a letter home? Your father misses you very much. What could there be between father and son, that would necessitate your leaving home, and for five years at that? He is your father, after all.”
Her words were gently and cordially spoken, and her expression was also affectionate, but every word accused Jiang Xin Zhi of being unfilial, of having left home in a huff after an altercation with his father, of being cold-hearted and unfeeling. The Great Jin Dynasty valued filial piety above all else; even if an earth-shattering situation were to occur, one could not conduct oneself in an unfilial manner.
Jiang Xin Zhi did not even spare her a glance. Without ceremony, he walked over to a carriage which had stopped at one side, gently drew open the curtain, and smilingly said, “Ah Ruan.”
When the person in the carriage had been helped out, everyone could see that it was indeed Jiang Ruan.
Xia Yan was taken aback. She smiled and said, “Ruan niang, how is it that you’re here? Weren’t you out with Miss Wen selecting jewellery?”
Jiang Ruan smiled apologetically and said, “I should have done so, but I saw Dage leading the troops while I was on my way there and I felt such great emotion that I returned to the fu together with him.” She walked to Xia Yan, faced her and said, “I also asked Dage the same questions as Mother did just now. Father always knew that Dage did not have the makings of a scholar, and that’s why he put his heart and soul into guiding and teaching Second Brother, and he knew everything that happened in the fu. When our biological mother was still alive, Father was already teaching Second Brother to read and write from a young age, but Dage was unsuccessful in his attempts. What’s more, he wasn’t interested in martial arts. However, when our biological mother died, he became brash and impetuous, and decided he might as well leave and chase after his future. Who knew that, in the end, he would actually return as a Deputy General. Mother, please don’t rebuke him any further, some good did come out of this setback. What’s more, the lands of the front border are bitterly cold, and Dage did not want his family to worry about him, which is why he did not send us any letters. Father must have thought the same way as well, so he did not write letters to inquire into Dage’s circumstances either. It was all to discipline Dage’s temperament!”
All of Xia Yan’s words were malicious through and through, and Jiang Ruan’s reply was appropriate. After all, when the original furen was still alive, Jiang Quan had made every effort to instruct Jiang Chao, and gave his own eldest di son the cold shoulder. Even if a fu’s eldest di son was a no-good scoundrel, he would still inherit the family property. What then would compel an eldest di son to take refuge in the army barracks, and strive for his future prospects? The meaning behind Jiang Ruan’s words really caused others to ponder deeply. It could be assumed that Jiang Quan did not actually miss his own eldest di son, otherwise, in this long period of five years, why had he never made inquiries about Jiang Xin Zhi’s location, or sent him a letter from home? The crowd looked at Jiang Xin Zhi and started talking among themselves again. So what if Jiang Chao had received all of Jiang Quan’s careful, heartfelt instruction? When all was said and done, he had failed the imperial examination, and unexpectedly did not measure up to this Eldest Young Master who could only depend on his own hard work and effort, and had honestly achieved military merit.
