It must be said that while Old Jiang was not skilled at arguing and his emotional intelligence was somewhat lacking, his ability to take action… was absolutely top-notch.
Leaving a few people stationed at Old Mrs. Jiang’s door under the pretense of protection but actually to keep watch, the others swiftly searched the belongings of everyone in the residence.
In less than half a day, the results were out.
Looking at the pile of items in Old Mrs. Jiang’s courtyard—so many that it could hardly hold them all—Old Jiang’s anger surged uncontrollably.
“General, these are all items that should have been recorded in the young lady’s ledger but were actually found in other people’s rooms.”
“Among them, many valuable medicinal herbs listed in the young lady’s ledger have already been used up, and fabrics and furs are also difficult to trace…”
Yet even so… there were still so many things left.
It could be said that over the years, Jiang Zhen and Zhou Qiongying, while campaigning abroad, had sent back most of their rewards, fearing their daughter might suffer.
But who would have thought…
“Mother, Eldest Brother, is this how you treat my daughter?!”
Jiang Zhen glared furiously at Old Mrs. Jiang and Eldest Uncle Jiang.
Old Mrs. Jiang looked embarrassed.
“This… these were gifts from Yao Yao to show her filial respect to me. Is there a problem?”
Jiang Yueyao wiped her tears and spoke softly.
“If I didn’t give these things to Grandmother, I’d probably be kneeling in the ancestral hall all day.”
“Besides… many of these items were taken into Grandmother and Eldest Uncle’s storerooms before I even had a chance to see them. Only today did I realize… how much Mother and Father had sent back over the years.”
“Fifth Sister once said I was a pitiful child no one cared for, that Mother and Father didn’t like me and had abandoned me in the old residence to fend for myself. I never imagined… it wasn’t that Mother and Father didn’t love me, but… but Grandmother never treated me as her own granddaughter.”
Jiang Yueyao’s words tore away Old Mrs. Jiang’s veil of pretense.
“You… you unfilial girl! How dare you speak to your elders like that?!”
“I am your grandmother!!!”
“Hmph!”
Jiang Zhen snorted, causing the previously aggressive old lady to instantly deflate.
“Filial piety from a granddaughter should be met with kindness from the elders.”
“My daughter has done nothing wrong!”
In truth, Jiang Zhen thought… his Yao Yao was perfect in every way, except her temperament was far too gentle.
Even when bullied to this extent, she hadn’t uttered a single harsh word.
This child was truly pitiful.
It was all his fault for not taking better care of Yao Yao.
The more guilt he felt, the more determined Jiang Zhen became… to stand up for Yao Yao today.
To let her know she was not an unloved, pitiful child.
“Yao Yao, it was Father’s fault before. From now on, Father is back, and I will support you in everything!”
“Don’t worry, as long as I am here, no one will dare bully you.”
Jiang Yueyao: …
[Uh, Father’s words are really touching…]
[But… could you skip the sentimentality and get to the practical stuff?]
[Divide the family, divide the family!]
[With all the evidence right in front of us, and with such a strong case, if we don’t seize this chance to divide the family, what are we waiting for?!]
[Are you really going to hit your own mother or your eldest brother?]
[Divide the family, divide the family, divide the family, divide the family, divide the family, divide the family, divide the family, divide the family, divide the family, divide the family…]
Jiang Yuehua rubbed her forehead as she listened to the voice in her ear, which felt like a tightening curse.
Yao Yao was absolutely right, but please, stop repeating it.
Her previously clear train of thought had suddenly become tangled.
“Father.”Jiang Yuehua took a deep breath and quickly moved to Jiang Zhen’s side.
“Look at Yao Yao, she doesn’t even dare to look at Grandmother and Eldest Uncle’s family…”
“It must be because they’ve been punishing Yao Yao all these years, making her develop…”
【Yes, yes, yes, my sister, you’re my goddess!】
【As expected, only you understand me best!】
【Look at me, I’ve already been abused into having psychological trauma!】
【Should I put on a pitiful, frightened look now, trembling like I’ve been scared out of my wits?】
No sooner said than done.
Jiang Yueyao secretly glanced at Old Mrs. Jiang, whose face was dark with anger.
Sensing Jiang Yueyao’s gaze, Old Mrs. Jiang immediately glared back fiercely.
All of today’s troubles were because of this wretched girl!
“Ah! I’m scared!”
Jiang Yueyao immediately cried out in alarm, hiding in Zhou Qiongying’s arms while ‘trembling uncontrollably’.
“Don’t be afraid, Yao Yao, Mother is here.”
Zhou Qiongying carefully held Jiang Yueyao, her voice gentle, but her eyes glared angrily at Old Mrs. Jiang.
Instead, she frightened Old Mrs. Jiang into instinctively taking two steps back.
And then…
“Ah!”
First Aunt Jiang, who had been kneeling on porcelain earlier and was quite injured, had been standing behind Old Mrs. Jiang supporting her.
Now that Old Mrs. Jiang stepped back, First Aunt Jiang couldn’t move her legs quickly enough to keep up, and immediately fell straight backward in a clean motion.
At the same time, she pulled Old Mrs. Jiang down with her.
The two originally harmonious in-laws ended up tumbling together in a heap.
Old Mrs. Jiang even vented her anger by punching First Aunt Jiang twice, right on her knees.
Instantly, the screams grew even louder.
【Ahhh, fight, fight!】
【What a pity, I’m playing the pitiful victim now and can’t watch properly】
【But with this front-row VIP seat, just listening to the commotion is quite enjoyable~~】
Jiang Yuehua coughed lightly and stopped Jiang Zhen, who had instinctively moved to help his own mother.
“Father, look, Yao Yao has been frightened into having psychological trauma.”
“If we continue living with Grandmother and First Aunt, what will become of Yao Yao?”
Jiang Zhen froze.
He looked at his daughter hiding in his wife’s arms, then at Old Mrs. Jiang and First Aunt Jiang rolling on the ground together.
He frowned.
His daughter was already afraid of them. Even with his protection, she probably wouldn’t be happy living together.
And besides…
Living with them might corrupt his daughter.
“Then…”
Jiang Yuehua smiled slightly.
“Didn’t His Majesty bestow a residence upon you? It’s nearby, so why not…”
Jiang Zhen clapped his hands.
He had indeed rendered meritorious service at the border this time, and upon his return, the Emperor had rewarded him with a large residence.
Jiang Zhen had originally planned to share this good news with Old Mrs. Jiang today so the whole family could move to the new residence… For this reason, they hadn’t even unpacked their luggage yet, to make moving easier.
Who would have thought…
Before he could share the good news, this incident happened today.
Well then, why not just have their immediate family move there instead.
But…
“If it’s just our family…”
Jiang Yuehua smiled again, “According to tradition, since Grandmother is still alive, we should live together with Eldest Uncle’s family… If we want to live separately, then we can only… divide the family estate.”
“Divide the family estate?!”Jiang Yuehua nodded. “Though it may sound treasonous to say this… we cannot overlook Yao Yao’s situation. For Yao Yao’s sake, what does it matter if we bear some blame? We’ve already failed Yao Yao so much, and how many more years can we accompany her? I don’t want my younger sister to never experience a single happy day before she gets married.”
“Father, what do you think?”
Jiang Zhen was initially stunned, then thought… this family truly needed to be divided.
Though it went against tradition… but what were traditions anyway?!
For his daughter’s sake, why bother with traditions?!
“Someone! Go invite the Jiang family elders!”
Jiang Zhen waved his hand decisively, making his resolution.
“Today, the Jiang family will divide!”