Chapter 458 The Next Year
This night, Jiang Yashuang served a bowl of medicine to Marquess Qin. Suddenly, Marquess Qin asked, “Kui Xiannan died?”
“What do you say?” Jiang Yashuang was taken aback, considering if somebody serving him just now leaked. Jiang Yashuang disagreed in the mouth, “My eldest grand uncle can’t get up now. But it’s no big deal. And for the return of the eldest uncle’s family, my eldest grand uncle gets a higher spirit and becomes healthier.”
“I dreamed that he said goodbye to me.” Marquess Qin said weakly.
Jiang Yashuang kept calm, “You must worry too much about my eldest grand uncle so that you dreamed about him at night. It can’t be real.”
“Just go into mourning!” Marquess Qin closed his eyes and said weakly, “He is the eldest brother of our generation. Don’t trifle his mourning things for me. And pay attention to the people of condolence. Don’t send children of grandsons to temporize him. Your generations go in condolence. Make sure his funeral is fine.”
“…” About this, Jiang Yashuang knew the death of Kui Xiannan couldn’t be covered. He answered with his heart sank, “Yes, grandfather.”
Actually, the Jiang Family all thought Marquess Qin would go with his two brothers. Now Marquess Qin dreamed about Kui Xiannan’s death and made sure it was true. The whole people regarded it as a bad omen.
“All in all, let’s try our best!” Jiang Tianqi listed the names for condolence and signed to his two sons, “Luckily, Empress Dowager supports our family.”
Empress Dowager Jiang could have such a high status nowadays was because of her father’s power. The Jiang Family’s thriving didn’t rely on her. So, when Marquess Qin was well, Empress Dowager was just so-so. No matter how graceful she was, she was just n.o.body as Marquess Qin was in charge of the court. Especially, she showed partiality to the fourth branch, which made her in the way of other branches. But once Marquess Qin went by, she was the best support to defend the political attacks.
Nothing in life was certain.
There were many uncertain things. At that time Jiang Jingzhan was a.s.sa.s.sinated and Kui Xiannan was ill in bed after hearing the news. Now the Jiang Family made the same preparations as they thought this time Marquess Qin would probably go with Kui Xiannan. However, after two days’ sleep, Marquess Qin looked healthier than before.
The whole Jiang Family, including Madame Tao, all thought Marquess Qin was the gasp near collapse and began to tear secretly.
But days went by. Almost the end of June, Marquess Qin was still alive.
At this time, Dr. Lin confirmed the diagnosis, “Old Master isn’t the last gasp near collapse. He indeed becomes healthier.”
“…” Ready to hear the second death, the Jiang Family didn’t know how they should behave.
The most regretful one was the third branch who thought Marquess Qin must die. They tried to get the support of Empress Dowager Jiang and sent their secret p.a.w.ns who were unknown in the court to Empress Dowager Jiang. But now, a few days went by, Marquess Qin’s health condition becomes much better.
Regrets were useless and they couldn’t tell these losses to Marquess Qin. After all, n.o.body would be happy to know that his children were eagerly seeking other support when he got close to death.
“Anyway, my father is well. The Jiang Family is stable. It’s great.” The third branch could just console themselves like this.
At the beginning of July, Empress Xin gave birth to the eldest trueborn son in the Summer Palace on Mount Dizi. Empress Dowager and Emperor overjoyed and called to grant a general amnesty to all people in the country and then asked servants to send the news to frontiers to celebrate the successors of Darui.
The little prince’s banquet of his first month of life’s completion was held in the Summer Palace on Mount Dizi. On that day, Empress Dowager Jiang herself named “Shao” for her grandson, which meant grace.
Hearing the news in Jing City, the couple of Qiu Yelan released, “As long as this prince is well, after years, we try to apply him as the crown prince. And then Jiang Huizhi can’t mount any conspiracy.”
In the middle of August, Emperor took Empress and prince back to Jing City. Compared with the news that Marquess Qin became well and the country had a prince, the replacement of the Imperial Guards by new people hardly drew people’s attention.
Maybe too many things happened in the first half of the year, almost taking the quotes of the whole year. So, nothing great happened in the last half of the year for some people. Ou Qinglan didn’t want to be delayed by the wars in Xijiang and thus waste her youth. So, she decided to get married to Qiu Jinglan in Xijiang. And Madame Zhuang was going to return to Beijiang in September. These events were big. But from the broad situation, these two things were private matters.
Time flew as trees and gra.s.s grew and withered. Another spring came.
Under brilliant spring sunshine, Qiu Yelan half opened the windows to watch her two kids walking unstably in the yard. Smiles showed on her lips, “It’s rare for them not asking me to play with them for such a long while.”
“Two junior young masters are playing with Nianxue and Whitey. Nianxue and Whitey are super cute. Junior young masters love them at first glance.” Mujin ground the ink and smiled respectfully.
Mujin was one of Qiu Yelan’s dowry maids. Qiu Yelan didn’t want to delay the youths of her maids so she gave marriages to her maids like Su He and others, including Chunran and Xiaran who claimed that they wouldn’t marry all their lives.
And then in the last half of last year, after arranging Su He’s marriage, Qiu Yelan chose four maids from the little maids, changed their names as Mujin, Mumian, Mulan, and Mulian, and asked Su He to teach them. They used to serve at the yard and learned many of Qiu Yelan’s love and habits. So, Qiu Yelan got used to them quickly.
But as they have neither the relationship like Su He who grew up with Qiu Yelan nor the experiences that Chunran and Xiaran had with Qiu Yelan. So, they could still play jokes with Qiu Yelan too but not so suitable and close as Su He.
Hearing that, Qiu Yelan laughed and rebuked, “They are catching the cats all around the yard now. When they grow older, the cats will not have a place to rest.”
Mujin smiled with no appropriate words to reply.
At this time, Su He came behind curtains, “My madame, the Lian family has sent the invitation card for Miss w.a.n.g’s birthday party next month, asking you to go with two junior young masters.”
“Get it. You can write me the name list of the gifts.” Qiu Yelan was practicing her handwriting and asked, “How about your own things? Or I list the gifts myself. Your time is worth.”
Su He became shy and pouted, “I’m free now and always. You can ask me to do anything safely.”
“But there are only five or four days left and you still worry about these. I can’t give this thing to you.” Qiu Yelan stopped her brush, asking Mujin, “Ask Mrs. Zhou about the process of Su He’s marriage.”
Mujin chuckled, “Yes!”
After Mujin left, Su He complained, “I said I didn’t marry and served you all my life. If you don’t need maids, then it’s ok. But you marry me outside the mansion and have burned my slave contract. I can’t serve you forever. There are just a few days to do something for you. How can you drive me away?”
And then her eyes became red.
Seeing her grievances, Qiu Yelan put her purple blush down, holding her hands, “We grew up together. You know our relationship. I never regard you as a maid. But I had a baby. Lang’er was a thorn in many people’s eyes. So, he was not safe and I was afraid that no trusted people accompanied me. Or I should have married you two years before. Saying about the ages, you are a few months younger than me, Now Lang’er can call others but you haven’t married. How can I delay it?”
And then Qiu Yelan said again, “Although you marry outside our mansion, can’t you come back to see me? Who doesn’t know you at our mansion? Who dares to stop you? Tell me at my drowsy store. I must stand for you.”
“But the Huang family have some industries. You know, after my marriage, I must manage his family. With so many trifles, how can I have time to see you?” Su He got upset, “I don’t want to depart with you. Can’t you find a servant in our mansion for me? And then I can serve you after marriage.”
“What the silly words are! Your talent would be wasted if you married a causal servant.” Qiu Yelan patted her hand, “Huang Muyuan only has the reputation as a Xiucai, but he has brilliant character and family finance. His parents have pa.s.sed away. He doesn’t live with his brother’s family. When you marry him, you can do things as you want. You will surely lead a free and happy life. If you have something difficult, you can tell me at any time.”
Qiu Yelan lowered down her voice, “After two years, if he treats you well, we can help him to get a higher position. If he can do better, maybe he can earn you the t.i.tle of n.o.bility.”
With much comfort, Su He felt better and asked about Chunran’s marriages. She and Qiu Yelan chattered for a while. Jiang Yashuang came back and then Su He left.
“Su He doesn’t want to leave you at all. Why do you marry her outside?” Jiang Yashuang Seeing their red eyes with tears, Jiang Yashuang didn’t know to blame or laugh. He undressed his clothes with the help of Qiu Yelan and said, “If you want to give her a t.i.tle of n.o.bility, you can choose a good servant, giving him a chance to be an officer outside our mansion. And then she also can get the t.i.tle.”
“Who doesn’t feel sad when marriage? After she gets married, when her life becomes better, she will not be upset anymore.” Qiu Yelan cared less about the sadness, “Our family can give the servant an office. But how can they compare with people who gain his own reputation?”
Jiang Yashuang just mentioned casually and then he followed, “This year Yongfu will end her condolence. For months of last year, the Ministry of Rites has prepared. Today I heard Princess Royal Lexin will marry in July, two days after Emperor’s birthday.”
“Princess Royal Lexin marries after Emperor’s birthday. Won’t it be too hurry?” Qiu Yelan was surprised.
“When both Princess Royal Lexin and Prince of Wei get married, then it’s Yongfu’s turn. Counting the age, Yongfu has been twenty. How can’t my fourth aunt worry?” Jiang Yashuang explained, “And if Princess Royal Lexin marries after Emperor’s birthday, Ministry of Rites can save much arrangement. After all, both of them are great events. They can just adjust a little.”
This couple started to discuss the gifts. There are many good things in the imperial family. These three were delayed by the deaths of the former emperor and Empress Dowager Gu. There were sisters and brothers who were younger than Emperor, two or three of who needed to be arranged marriages.
If nothing happened, the weddings would be held from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
“This is also a big expense. We have won wars in Beijiang one by one, but Beihu doesn’t give up. Some wars in Xijiang failed. But luckily without a huge loss, then good news comes now. I wonder when the firework will end.”
So, the weddings didn’t mean good things. “According to our country’s default rules, if sons or daughters have his or her own mansion after marriage, they will be given hundred thousand for their setting. Just Lexin, Prince of Wei, and Yongfu, these three would cost at least two million silvers. Yongfu is the only daughter. Empress Dowager will surely give more than one or two million to Yongfu! Counting the next, the national treasury may be empty.”