Jiang Ancheng approached Old Madam Feng and greeted her, “Mother.”
Old Madam Feng nodded, carefully examining Jiang Zhan. Seeing that he was not only unharmed but also dressed in clean clothes, she felt a twinge of suspicion and asked, “Where was he found?”
Jiang Ancheng’s eyes cut into Jiang Zhan like knives as he replied hoarsely, “Let’s talk inside.”
The group bustled back into the Hall of Compassion.
Jiang Si took the opportunity to squeeze next to Jiang Zhan. As soon as she opened her mouth, tears rolled down her cheeks, “Second Brother—”
Seeing his sister cry, Jiang Zhan panicked and quickly reached for a handkerchief to wipe her tears, but came up empty-handed.
Only then did he remember he had changed his clothes.
“Fourth Sister, don’t cry. Look, I’m fine,” Jiang Zhan patted his arm, “Not a scratch on me, strong as an ox.”
Jiang Si glared at Jiang Zhan fiercely before turning away.
The crying was fake, but the anger was real.
Seeing that scene on the pleasure boat, she finally understood how unjustly her Second Brother had died in her previous life, having been intoxicated, molested, and then pushed into the river.
In her previous life, if it weren’t for the Crown Prince’s later demotion implicating the Minister of Rites’ family, causing fragments of Second Brother’s story to spread, she would never have become suspicious. Her Second Brother would have truly died with unresolved grievances.
Thinking of last night’s events, Jiang Si felt both heartache and anger towards her brother. She silently vowed to teach Jiang Zhan a lesson this time, hoping it would deter him from mingling with those fair-weather friends in the future.
“Fourth Sister—” Jiang Zhan quickly moved to follow her, but a glance from Jiang Ancheng made him immediately behave.
As the group entered the main hall before anyone could speak, Jiang Zhan knelt of his own accord: “It’s all my fault. I’ve worried all the elders.”
Jiang Zhan’s calves trembled involuntarily at the thought of what Yu Jin had told him about his father searching for him for most of the day.
This time, he had caused big trouble!
“Zhan’er, what exactly happened last night?” Old Madam Feng asked, supporting herself on the grand chair as she sat down.
Jiang Zhan knelt obediently and replied, “Last night, Yang Shengcai and the others invited me to join them on the Golden Water River. I drank a lot, and when I woke up, I found out I had been rescued. It turns out the pleasure boat caught fire and everyone fell into the water…”
Of course, Jiang Zhan remembered that he had been pushed into the river by Yang Shengcai, but the fire on the pleasure boat was what Yu Jin had told him.
Prompted by Yu Jin, he knew he couldn’t tell the whole truth.
Yang Shengcai was already dead. If he said he was harmed by Yang Shengcai, all sorts of troubles would ensue.
Although Jiang Zhan was impulsive, he could take in reasonable advice from a good friend.
“It’s good that you’re safe. Go back and get ready for dinner,” Old Madam Feng said after hearing Jiang Zhan’s account. She thought to herself that this grandson was indeed blessed with great fortune, but there might be some trouble with the Minister of Rites’ family.
Old Madam Feng was a person who understood well the treachery of human hearts.
In her view, if Jiang Zhan had been rescued promptly like the children from the other three families, it would have been fine. But Jiang Zhan and Yang Shengcai were the only two who couldn’t be found, causing a great commotion. In the end, Jiang Zhan returned home safe and sound, while Yang Shengcai’s body was fished out. Even if the Minister of Rites’ family knew it wasn’t Jiang Zhan’s fault, they would still feel resentful.
It wasn’t hard to imagine their thoughts: both fell into the water and went missing, so why did their child die while the other family’s child was completely unharmed?
Thinking of this, Old Madam Feng instructed, “Eldest son, after dinner, you should pay a visit to the Minister of Rites’ mansion. Bring some gifts.”
Jiang Ancheng’s expression was wooden as he replied, “Son is tired.”
Old Madam Feng frowned in displeasure. Seeing her eldest son’s dull demeanor, she felt somewhat dispirited and turned to Second Master Jiang instead, “Second son, then you go. Remember to offer many words of comfort.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. I know what to do,” Second Master Jiang replied, his mood somewhat sour.
They had all gone boating and fallen into the water, but while the grandson of the Minister of Rites had died, Jiang Zhan had survived. Even if the Yang family didn’t say anything out loud, they would surely harbor resentment towards the Earl of Dongping’s mansion, which would undoubtedly affect his career advancement.
Old Madam Feng also instructed Second Madam Xiao to prepare some silver as a thank-you gift for Jiang Zhan’s rescuer: “We can’t let people think our Earl’s mansion is ungrateful. However, we must also maintain distance to prevent any inappropriate thoughts.”
Jiang Ancheng, feeling annoyed, said flatly, “Mother, I’ll go change my clothes first.”
Outside, the sunlight was scorching. Jiang Ancheng squinted, feeling as if he were in a dream.
Even now, he could hardly believe that his troublemaker son had returned safe and sound.
Though Jiang Ancheng’s thoughts were numb, his feet moved quickly.
Jiang Zhan kowtowed twice to Old Madam Feng before running after his father.
Only then did Jiang Si speak up, “Grandmother, granddaughter will go check on Father and Second Brother.”
“Go ahead,” Old Madam Feng said impatiently.
Thinking about how they had inexplicably offended the Minister of Rites’ family, Old Madam Feng became even more displeased with the eldest branch of the family.
She could see that it would be good enough if this branch of the family didn’t cause trouble; expecting any of them to amount to something was nothing but a fool’s dream.
Following Jiang Ancheng to his quarters, Jiang Zhan fell to his knees with a thud: “Father, please beat me. It’s all my fault!”
Jiang Ancheng looked at his kneeling son without a word.
He had thought that every time his son caused trouble, a beating would relieve his anger. But this time, he didn’t even have the desire to raise his hand.
This good-for-nothing was about to take a wife and have children. If he didn’t have the heart to repent and improve himself, could he be beaten into shape?
No, he didn’t even hope for him to improve or achieve anything anymore. He would thank the heavens if this scourge could just live a peaceful life without causing trouble.
Jiang Ancheng felt deep disappointment.
Jiang Zhan looked up, only to meet those eyes full of disappointment.
“Father—” Jiang Zhan felt a bit panicked.
He had never seen his father like this before, and it inexplicably frightened him.
“Go back and have dinner,” Jiang Ancheng said flatly.
Jiang Zhan remained kneeling, “Father—”
He looked at Jiang Ancheng expectantly, wishing his father would beat him severely as usual.
All would be well then.
But Jiang Ancheng didn’t do so. He turned around and walked into the room with his hands behind his back.
Jiang Zhan stared blankly at his father’s retreating figure, suddenly realizing that the father who had seemed as tall as a mountain in his memory was now shorter than him, and even more frail than he remembered.
At this moment, Jiang Zhan awakened as if from a dream.
His father had grown old, while he had refused to grow up, ultimately disappointing everyone.
Jiang Zhan raised his hand and slapped himself hard.
How could he have been so foolish? Even if he didn’t have outstanding talent or superhuman perseverance, at least being a son his father could rely on and a brother his sister could depend on wasn’t difficult.
But he hadn’t even managed that much.
He was a bastard!
Jiang Zhan raised his hand to slap himself again but was stopped by Jiang Si.
“Fourth Sister?”
Jiang Si sighed deeply, “Second Brother, please don’t hang out with those fair-weather friends anymore.”
She truly didn’t expect her brother to achieve great things; it would be enough if he could just live a good life.
Jiang Zhan nodded heavily.
He had been too stupid, always valuing brotherhood above all else. Now he realized that not everyone could be a friend; some people were born to never see eye to eye. You might treat them like brothers, but they wouldn’t even treat you as a human being.
Once he got into trouble, it was his family who would be heartbroken, not those so-called “friends.”