Chapter 436 Elder Preference
After Jiang Tianchi fell and was carried back to the fourth branch, Jiang Yadan and Jiang Yashuang took turns taking care of him for two days and nights before he woke up.
After waking up, he still asked about Sir Jibei, “Is my uncle buried?”
It happened to be that Jiang Yashuang was guarding him at this time. He saw that although Jiang Tianchi was awake, his energy was damaged, and he did not fully recover. He whispered softly to comfort him, “Father, don’t worry. My youngest grand uncle’s mourning hall is still there. Grandfather and my youngest grand aunt both said that since you were back, they must bury my youngest grand uncle after you could get better.”
“When my uncle was dying, did he feel relieved?” Jiang Tianchi closed his eyes. His voice was not high but very oppressive as he was accustomed to commanding thousands of troops.
“My youngest grand uncle pa.s.sed away peacefully but not contentedly.” Jiang Yashuang, who had been with Marquess Qin since his childhood, had been accustomed to it and he was not affected. He said calmly, “My youngest grand uncle hoped that we could get along well with each other and get back together. But this is impossible right now!”
Jiang Tianchi was silent for a while before he said faintly, “Help me up!”
After getting up, he was served by Jiang Yashuang and drank a bowl of chicken soup stewed with old ginseng. Jiang Tianchi regained some energy and asked about Marquess Qin and his wife, “How are your grandfather and grandmother?”
“My grandmother is all well, but my grandfather got ill two days ago. At that time…” It was at night and it was not convenient to visit the elders. Jiang Yashuang asked someone to make ginseng tea and briefly told him the situation in Jing City. When he was halfway through his sentences, Jiang Yadan came and saw that his father was awake. He was overjoyed, “I pay homage to my father!”
After arriving at the Mansion of Sir Jibei, Jiang Tianchi was solemn all the time. He was reticent and serious that people were afraid to get close. Even when speaking to the youngest son after waking up, he had the same expression. But at this moment, seeing the eldest son, he became soft suddenly and greeted him, ” Dan’er, you don’t have to be polite. Get up!”
He even struggled to sit up and pretended to help him up at this time. As a father, his son and he had been separated for many years and finally they met now.
At this time, Jiang Yashuang had already got up and gave a salute to his elder brother. He left the place that was closest to the bed and retreated to another place.
Jiang Tianchi let his two sons sit down and looked at them. He had a strong feeling for them, especially for Jiang Yadan. Although his face was still calm, his eyes were filled with uncontrollable excitement, and tears were hidden in his eyes, “I never thought of seeing you again. You grow up!”
Jiang Yadan was a little bit embarra.s.sed and frustrated. He lowered his head and said, “It’s a pity that I am stubborn and silly, which disappoints you, father!”
As the eldest son, he was known as a dude and a family sc.u.m. His younger brother was so talented. Compared with him, he looked so silly. Jiang Yadan was accustomed to these judgements over the years. He didn’t care about others’ views, but it was different now because he cared about his parents’ views.
Thinking of Madame Zhuang who scolded him as a disappointing person a few months ago, he couldn’t help shrinking his head. Madame Zhuang was a mother. No matter how bad her son was, she scolded him a few times but was reluctant to beat him. But fathers were different, especially Jiang Tianchi’s job was a general of the Northern Army. If he were merciful, He might be incapable of charging the army. Could he not beat his son?
“We were not in Jing City for these years, and you were inevitably set up by others.” Jiang Tianchi didn’t scold him but comforted him with good words when Jiang Yadan was upset. “Jiang Yashuang could be protected by your grandparents, but you were trapped by the first branch from the beginning. How old were you then? The elders deliberately set you up. How could you handle these? We are not good and fail to protect you.”
Speaking of this, Jiang Tianchi turned his face away, as if he couldn’t help himself. He choked with sobs.
Jiang Yadan was stunned and helplessly tried to persuade, “Father, it’s my fault!”
Jiang Yashuang was shocked but said, “Father, you have traveled a long distance and you are too sad in front of my youngest grand uncle. And you… Take care of yourself please!” But he thought, “What does father mean that I was protected by grandparents, but Jiang Yadan was set up by the first branch from the beginning?”
“Does he complain that I was raised and taught by my grandparents and led a good life while not caring about Jiang Yadan? Is it possible?” He was twelve years younger than Jiang Yadan. At that time, Jiang Yadan followed bad examples and even Marquess Qin couldn’t help him!
Jiang Tianchi would never ask the youngest son to start persuading his elder brother to be kind when he was a baby, right?
“Does he imply that I have not suffered as much as my brother?” This was a very unfair description. Jiang Yadan was raised in the first branch and the intention of the first branch was to make him a worthless person so they satisfied his every request!
Jiang Yashuang was brought up by Marquess Qin and Madame Tao in person. Both of them sincerely hoped that he would be good, but they never spoilt him. Since Jiang Yashuang was three, his daily homework was much. He was allowed to have holidays only on Lunar New Year’s Eve and Mid-Autumn Festival. He never stopped learning and practicing martial arts, and he would be beaten whenever he was slack. So, in terms of hardships, Jiang Yashuang worked much harder than Jiang Yadan.
Of course, for the people who wholeheartedly raised them, Jiang Yadan did suffer a lot.
“Why does father say this?” Jiang Yashuang felt very puzzled. His father said that his young son suffered far fewer grievances than the elder son in front of them. He must have his purpose. Jiang Tianchi was not a person who would say words that provoke his son’s suspicion.
“I have never been mad with Jiang Yadan, nor have we fought for anything. When father came back, he hinted that Jiang Yadan suffered more grievances than me. What does he mean?”
If the two brothers were bad to each other, Jiang Tianchi’s words were not surprising. He wanted to persuade them to settle their dispute.
But now they were very good. What Jiang Tianchi said made Jiang Yashuang think much, “Is it for the succession of the t.i.tle?”
Jiang Tianchi currently had no t.i.tle of n.o.bility. He only had the t.i.tle of Great General of North. Although Marquess Qin had not decided his heir yet, according to the Jiang Family’s custom of elder preference, even if the power of the fourth branch overwhelmed the third branch, Marquess Qin would not set Jiang Tianchi as his heir. But this did not mean that Jiang Tianchi had no hope of getting the t.i.tle because he returned to Jing City in person this time.
Just for the purpose of being close to the fourth branch, Empress Dowager Jiang would definitely give Jiang Tianchi a t.i.tle of n.o.bility.
In the past, some people even wanted to deduct the customary rewards of Sir Jibei. Now everything was different because the Jiang Family had real power. The t.i.tle of n.o.bility was possible.
“Jiang Yadan is the eldest trueborn son so he should be the heir for the estate and t.i.tle.” Jiang Yashuang thought of this with a feeling of sadness. “Even if I take over the Northern Army, it is because Jiang Yadan cannot do it. Am I the kind of person who s.n.a.t.c.hes things from my brothers?”
He was thinking about finding an opportunity to confess his thoughts to his father, but Jiang Tianchi suddenly said, “Is Dan’er here to change your brother’s shift?”
Jiang Yadan was so anxious and he was willing to turn away from the topic just now, so he immediately replied, “Brother Yashuang has been here for a whole day so I am worried about him.”
“Shuang’er, you go back to the house and have a rest! Just leave Dan’er to take care of me.” Jiang Tianchi looked at his younger son. Although his eyes were gentle, he loved Jiang Yadan more. Jiang Yashuang was a child trained by Marquess Qin. How could he not notice this difference?
Since he was young, he had always been preferred in front of the elders, especially Madame Tao and Empress Dowager Jiang, who would satisfy all his requests. Madame Zhuang, who returned to Jing City a few months ago, said that she loved her two own sons the same, but she also made it clear that she was disappointed with the elder son’s debauchery and sincerely satisfied with the young son’s outstanding ability.
But when he was in front of father, how did everything change?
Jiang Yashuang went back to his yard with sadness and puzzlement. He had a family of three members so it was not convenient to live in Madame Tao’s inter-yard. Fortunately, there were many empty courtyards in the Mansion so a courtyard had been cleaned up these days for them to live in first. They could move back when their courtyard was repaired.
Qiu Yelan put the child to sleep and went back to the inner room. Hearing that he was back, she greeted him and asked, “How is father?”
“He’s awake,” Jiang Yashuang said and nodded slightly, “Is there any food in the kitchen?”
“I have asked Mrs. Li to keep it for you.” Qiu Yelan called someone to get the meal. She noticed that her husband seemed to be in a bad mood and was very worried. She asked quietly, “Anything wrong with father?”
This was really terrible. If Marquess Qin died now, the Jiang Family would be in an internal fight and others would seize this chance to take power when the Jiang Family lost its current strong power. If Jiang Tianchi wasn’t well, there was no need to fight with each other anymore because the fourth branch needed to think about how to save their lives first!
Fortunately, Jiang Yashuang shook his head, “Father is okay. He should be fine.”
Qiu Yelan breathed a sigh of relief, stopped talking, and served him in person.
After Jiang Yashuang went to bathe and everything was settled, the couple returned to the room together. After a while, Qiu Yelan asked him why he was unhappy.
Hearing Jiang Yashuang talking about the difference in Jiang Tianchi’s att.i.tude, Qiu Yelan also felt it was strange. They were both sons and the young son was preferred by everybody because of his outstanding abilities. Jiang Yashuang was young and outstanding, but Jiang Yadan wasn’t so good at all! How could Jiang Tianchi do this?
“Unless Jiang Yashuang isn’t his son…” Qiu Yelan hurriedly stopped the idea before thinking more. This was really impossible. Jiang Yashuang’s appearance was similar to Jiang Yadan’s and they looked very similar to Marquess Qin so they were definitely from the Jiang Family!
Unless Madame Zhuang had an infidelity with the other person in the Jiang Family whose son looked like Jiang Yadan… But was Jiang Tianchi a person who could bear infidelities for more than 20 years?
Apart from other things, Madame Zhuang’s family was not a famous family. If he wanted to worry about it, he could kill her anytime!
“Did someone provoke it?” Qiu Yelan thought for a while and made a guess, “Otherwise, you are both his sons. Even though Jiang Yadan is the eldest son and father thinks highly of him, there is no need to say that to make you suspicious!”
Suddenly, she thought of Jiang Yazhu and his wife who were secretly sent to Beijiang by Marquess Qin a few months ago. “This couple arrived in Beijiang two months earlier than their mother-in-law. How dared them provoke this! Would my mother-in-law not find this after she arrived there? If she finds it out, can she let them go?”
Moreover, Jiang Tianchi was the Great General of North. He was believed by Marquess Qin and Sir Jibei, and they even let him take charge of the Northern Army, so how could he believe his son of a concubine and the daughter-in-law?