But what Jiang Yao wanted was precisely for this matter to spread.
As long as the news got out, and everyone was certain of her deep relationship with Xie Yunian, could the Regent Prince still act to break up this couple? Furthermore, the Xie Residence wasn’t a family to be trifled with.
Jiang Yao stood up and swung Jiang Mingji’s sleeve from side to side.
“Yao’er…”
Feeling the weight pulling on his arm, Jiang Mingji’s heart felt tender and sore, and his voice trembled slightly. After Qiu Yan passed away, he returned to the capital holding the infant Jiang Yao. Because he had just taken up his new post and was busy with court affairs, he had entrusted Jiang Yao to his mother’s Jingya Hall to be raised. Perhaps because she was premature, Yao’er’s health was always frail when she was little.
He still remembered how every time he returned from duty, he would see Jiang Yao, a small bundle, sitting by the entrance of Jingya Hall. The moment she saw him, she would try hard to stand up, her eyes shining as she called out, “Father is back!”
But as she grew older, Jiang Yao became increasingly distant from him. They didn’t even have the chance to sit down and talk properly, let alone her holding his sleeve and acting spoiled.
Thinking of all this, and then seeing Jiang Yao’s smiling, bright eyes before him, Jiang Mingji couldn’t stop the stinging bitterness in his own eyes. He had no mind left to listen to anything Jiang Yao was saying, only nodding foolishly.
Jiang Yao felt that if she were to ask for the stars in the sky right now, Jiang Mingji would find a way to pluck them down for her.
After coming back to his senses, Jiang Mingji thought for a moment, then negotiated with Jiang Yao, “But you cannot go alone. Your father will go with you.”
Jiang Yao thought: What should I do when my father is too clingy?
For Jiang Mingji, the Minister of Revenue, to lead his own daughter to a Marquis’s residence—what sort of business was that?
“Father, if you go personally, what will the person above think once word spreads? Even for A-Jie’s sake, you cannot rashly visit an official’s residence.” Jiang Yao pointed a finger upward.
Jiang Ying had just settled her engagement with the Prince Jin. If Jiang Mingji were to personally “visit” the Marquis Chengbo, and if someone were to intentionally slander him, it would be seen as forming a faction for selfish gain.
“Did your A-Jie tell you this?”
“It was my own idea!” Afraid that Jiang Mingji wouldn’t believe her, Jiang Yao continued, “Not only that, your daughter also guessed that A-Jie agreed to the engagement with Prince Jin to benefit the Jiang family.”
Although the Emperor had taken over some government affairs, the Regent Prince still controlled the major ones, and the court could still be considered a one-man show under him. The Prince Jin was the Emperor’s younger brother and deeply trusted by the Emperor. The Jiang family’s alliance with him was a declaration to the world that the Jiang family stood with the Emperor.
She had to admit, her cheap father really made the right choice. Who could have imagined that Xiao Wuheng, who currently seemed far removed from court and was considered a carefree prince, was the male protagonist of the book?
It was a pity that the subsequent imprisonment incident severely damaged the Jiang family’s vitality. Otherwise, Jiang Mingji might have also achieved a position second only to one man. Jiang Yao suspected that the Regent Prince Xiao Jing’s apprehension toward the Jiang family was also a factor; he feared the Jiang family would oppose him, which was why he fabricated a corruption charge against Jiang Mingji and threw him in jail.
However, since the Jiang family stood with the male protagonist, they would surely be cleared of their false charges later. But she didn’t know if her cheap father’s health could hold out until then. In her view, rather than struggling in court, he would be better off enjoying his old age at home sooner.
Jiang Mingji was surprised that Jiang Yao, who never cared about court affairs, could articulate such a clear perspective. He had never discussed the current political situation with Jiang Yao, yet she was now analyzing it logically, and was concerned about him and the entire Jiang family.
“Then how can you, a young lady, just…”
“Then I will go with Mother! Isn’t Mother due to visit the Xie Residence in a few days?” Jiang Yao quickly cut in.
She had already inquired and found out that Madam Shen’s older sister had married a scholar surnamed Wei years ago. She had hoped the scholar would pass the imperial exams and get promoted, but fate had other plans. The scholar failed the exams repeatedly, became heartbroken, and passed away. This left her and her daughter, Wei Yuning, helpless and alone, so they returned to the Huaiyang Shen family. Her daughter was a year older than Jiang Ying and was still unmarried.
Somehow, Madam Wei’s sights had fallen upon Xie Yunian. A few days ago, Madam Wei heard that Xie Yunian had fallen from his horse and was still lying in a coma, so she wrote to Madam Shen, asking her to inquire about the situation at the Xie Residence. If Xie Yunian truly couldn’t wake up, she would be able to make other plans earlier.
Truthfully, Madam Shen was originally unwilling to make this trip. The Xie Residence was so noble—how could they possibly favor a minor family like the Wei family? However, Old Madam Shen also sent a message, speaking on Madam Wei’s behalf. Left with no choice, Madam Shen had submitted an invitation to the Xie Residence.
Hearing the word “Mother” from Jiang Yao’s mouth, Jiang Mingji’s expression froze, and he stammered, “You called Mother? You—you are willing to go with your mother?”
Ten years had passed, and he was finally hearing those two words from his daughter’s lips again. As a father, what Jiang Mingji wanted most was for his daughter to let go of her resentment and integrate into the family. He never expected this day to arrive so suddenly.
After Jiang Yao left, Jiang Mingji returned to the main house and told Madam Shen about the matter.
Madam Shen’s tone was gentle, but she could not hide her astonishment. “I’m going with Yao’er?” Jiang Yao always avoided her mother like the plague; how could she agree to go out with her?
“Does Yao’er really like that Young Master Xie this much?” Madam Shen didn’t believe that Jiang Yao and Young Master Xie were genuinely in love. She suspected this claim was merely Jiang Yao’s own fabrication. This wasn’t because she was biased against Jiang Yao, but because the whole affair seemed odd. Based on her understanding of Jiang Yao, these statements were probably made up after she heard about Jiang Ying’s engagement with the Prince Jin. Or perhaps it was one-sided love, and Young Master Xie being in a coma meant he couldn’t contradict her.
Hearing Madam Shen’s words, the smile on Jiang Mingji’s face faded. He thought of his daughter breaking so many precedents just for Young Master Xie, and his heart ached again.
Madam Shen had been married to him for years and could easily guess his thoughts from his expression. “Husband, don’t be too sad. Although Young Master Xie has a cold temperament, his talent, appearance, and family background are well-known to both of us,” Madam Shen consoled him with a smile. “Besides, Marquis Xie has only this one son. If Yao’er marries him, she will enjoy a life of prosperity.”
Furthermore, if Jiang Yao, a concubine-born daughter, could truly establish a connection with Young Master Xie, anyone would see it as a significant step up.
“But he is still in a coma right now. What if he never wakes up…”
“Husband,” Madam Shen interrupted Jiang Mingji, “Regardless of the situation, since you have already promised Yao’er, why not wait until she has visited the Xie Residence before deciding?”
Her husband was excellent in every way, but whenever Jiang Yao was involved, he became indecisive.
Fine, she would personally take Jiang Yao to the Xie Residence and see what this was all about.