Jiang Zhao took Jiang Changfeng's hand to get up and didn't push him away. "Thank you, Uncle San."
Jiang Changfeng waved his hand generously. "We're all family. No need to say thank you."
"If you need anything in the future, just tell Uncle San!"
This gesture made him seem even more enthusiastic than the Marquis and his wife of Ningyuan, who had been silent since Jiang Zhao entered the room.
In fact, Jiang Changfeng truly liked this niece from the bottom of his heart. She was so good - looking, much prettier than his own troublesome sons. She would surely be the pride of the Marquis Mansion in the future!
Hearing this, Wang nudged Jiang Changfeng in the stomach with her elbow. "Her parents are here. How could they treat Sister Zhao badly? It's not your turn to show off, Uncle San."
"I've never seen you be so generous to our own children."
Rebuked by his wife, Jiang Changfeng felt embarrassed and fell silent.
Wang's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for everyone in the room to hear.
Old Madam Jiang didn't say anything. She knew that her third daughter - in - law was as stingy as a person with a heart smaller than a needle's eye, like a mythical beast that only took and never gave. But she didn't have any malicious intentions.
He looked at Jiang Zhao with a mixture of disgust and helplessness.
Bringing so much trouble as soon as she came back home. What would happen in the future!
The Marquis of Ningyuan looked serious and said calmly, "Yun Xi and Xi Hua, I got a new landscape painting a few days ago. I'll have someone send it to Yun Xi later."
Yun Xi was the eldest son of Jiang Changfeng and Wang.
There were quite a few people in the Marquis Mansion of Ningyuan. The first wife, He, alone had given birth to three sons and two daughters. The Marquis of Ningyuan also had several concubines, but among them, only one concubine had a son out of wedlock.
The third branch had a son and a daughter.
Jiang Changlin of the second branch had never married or had children in his life.
Hearing this, Wang immediately beamed with joy. "I, your concubine, thank big brother on behalf of Yun Xi here."
"Alright, Sister Zhao, come here to grandmother." Old Madam Jiang waved to Jiang Zhao.
Jiang Zhao stepped forward obediently. "Grandmother."
Old Madam Jiang took Jiang Zhao's cold hands and rubbed them. "Why are this child's hands so cold? Let grandmother warm them up."
"Zhao'er, can you really bring your Second Uncle back?" After a long while, Old Madam Jiang asked carefully.
The thing she couldn't let go of most in her life was her second son.
Unlike his elder brother who was obsessed with power and his younger brother who was mediocre, Changlin was a natural general and the pride of their Marquis Mansion.
When Jiang Changlin was only fourteen years old, he led troops to fight and made great military achievements. He had fought on the battlefield for many years without seeking fame or fortune, only to defend the country.
The Marquis Mansion of Ningyuan was able to keep its current title, and the Marquis of Ningyuan was where he was today, mostly relying on Jiang Changlin's contributions.
Who would have thought that the gods envied his talent. People said that back then, Jiang Changlin abandoned the city, his soldiers, and the common people to save his own life and fled alone.
But no one remembered that most of the common people had survived that great battle, nor did they remember the military achievements Jiang Changlin had made over the years.
After Jiang Changlin's death, he was branded as a traitor who colluded with the enemy, and even his body was never found.
Old Madam Jiang knew exactly what kind of person her son was. She would never believe that Changlin would collude with the enemy and betray the country.
Jiang Zhao nodded. "As long as you wish, Second Uncle can come home."
Old Madam Jiang was so overjoyed that she shed tears. "Good, good, good. We can't let your Second Uncle stay away any longer. Once we find his body, we'll choose a good day to bury him with full honors."
As soon as Old Madam Jiang finished speaking, He suddenly shouted angrily at Jiang Zhao, "Jiang Zhao! What's on your mind!"
"Do you have to ruin our Marquis Mansion to be satisfied?!"
Although people's hearts were made of flesh and Jiang Zhao was also a part of her, He did feel sorry for her.
But this girl had caused so much trouble as soon as she came back. How could He tolerate her.
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room fell silent.
Old Madam Jiang immediately darkened her face. "He, what do you mean by this?"
He glanced at the silent Marquis of Ningyuan and then said, "Mother, you have to think twice about this matter."
"I understand that you feel sorry for Changlin, but this child, Jiang Zhao, has been strange since she was a child. She likes to play tricks."
"Who knows if what she said is true or false? I think she just wants to stir up trouble in our Marquis Mansion!"
He didn't dare to speak ill of Jiang Changlin directly, so she shifted all the blame onto Jiang Zhao.
Seeing this, Jiang Changfeng wanted to say a few words in defense of Jiang Zhao, but Wang quickly twisted his waist.
Jiang Zhao lowered her eyes and looked coldly at her biological mother who was speaking ill of her. She said calmly, "Didn't mother see Second Uncle last night? Do you want to meet Second Uncle again?"
Seeing the Marquis of Ningyuan frowning tightly, He then changed the topic. "Mother, even if what Jiang Zhao said is true."
"But the person has passed away. You can't only think about Changlin. Your second grandson just entered the Imperial Academy this year, and he hasn't even settled in yet. You also have to think about your living sons and grandsons!"
"Second brother was convicted as a traitor. Our Marquis Mansion has finally been able to catch a breath these years. Now, if we were to bury Second brother's body with great fanfare, wouldn't that be a blatant slap in the face of the emperor!"
Last night, the Marquis of Ningyuan had told her that it was absolutely impossible to bring back Jiang Changlin's body.
Moreover, Lan Ge'er had just entered the Imperial Academy. For the sake of her three sons and daughters, she would never allow Old Madam Jiang to do as she wished!
Wang came to her senses and for the first time, she was on the same side as He. "Mother, I also think what big sister - in - law said makes sense."
"Second brother's matter is a foregone conclusion. Since Second brother's accident, so many eyes have been on our Marquis Mansion."
"You can't ignore the future of the younger generation."
Old Madam Jiang looked around at her daughters - in - law and said coldly, "Changlin is my son. Do you want me to watch my own son continue to be a wandering ghost?!"
The Marquis of Ningyuan stepped forward in time to comfort her. "Mother, don't be angry. Take care of your health."
"The emperor's words are final. In my opinion, it would be better to find a beautiful place and quietly bury Second brother."
"At least it's better than risking the whole family."
Jiang Zhao didn't say a word, but she had to admit that their concerns were reasonable.
Even if Second Uncle was really wronged, since he was already dead, they still had to consider the living.
Old Madam Jiang was silent for a long time. Two lines of hot tears rolled down from her eyes.
She just wanted her poor son to come home. How did she become the sinner who would ruin the whole family.
"Fine, just do as the eldest son said. As long as he can come back, that's good."
Seeing Old Madam Jiang give in, everyone in the room finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Since Old Zhang is gone and Sister Zhao is not a little girl anymore, there's no reason for her to continue living in the charity hall." Old Madam Jiang changed the topic to Jiang Zhao. "Sister Zhao, from today on, you'll move back to the Marquis Mansion to live."
Jiang Zhao lowered her head slightly, with a half - smile. "Naturally. After all, the Marquis Mansion is my home."
He opened her mouth to object, but was stopped by the Marquis of Ningyuan's look. "Zhao'er is right. You're the eldest miss of the Marquis Mansion of Ningyuan. Naturally, you should live in the Marquis Mansion."
"But the Marquis Mansion is different from the charity hall. In the future, when you speak and act, you should put the reputation of the Marquis Mansion first."
How could Jiang Zhao not hear that the Marquis of Ningyuan was warning her.
She would surely liven up this Marquis Mansion.
"He, you'll take care of all of Zhao'er's daily needs." The Marquis of Ningyuan turned to Old Madam Jiang. "Mother, I still have official business to attend to. I'll take my leave first."
The Marquis of Ningyuan glanced at Jiang Zhao. He originally wanted to ask what she meant by what she said last night.
But as soon as he saw her listless look, his chest felt tight. He was afraid that he would be angry to death.
He gave Jiang Zhao a fierce look and respectfully sent the Marquis of Ningyuan out.
Old Madam Jiang was already in poor health. As soon as the Marquis of Ningyuan left, she went back to her room to rest.
Jiang Changfeng and Wang also left.
He passed by Jiang Zhao and said unhappily, "What are you standing there for? Follow me!"