Jiang Ancheng, chilled by the cold wind, regained some clarity and asked Jiang Si dryly, “Si’er, is there some mistake?”
Accomplished in both civil and military affairs? A pillar of the state? Who exactly was this referring to?
Jiang Ancheng wondered in confusion.
Old Madam Feng was equally bewildered.
Accomplished in both civil and military affairs? A pillar of the state? Regardless of who it was referring to, it certainly shouldn’t be her eldest son…
Second Master Jiang was even more perplexed, and amid his confusion, he felt a dull ache in his chest.
He had maneuvered in officialdom for so long, yet the Emperor had never given him a second glance. How could his useless elder brother suddenly receive praise as a “pillar of the state”?
Although it was just a polite phrase, when future generations look upon this imperial edict a hundred years from now, who would know what kind of person this generation’s Earl of Dong Ping was?
His elder brother had muddled through life, sitting at home, and a huge windfall had fallen into his lap. What did all of Second Master Jiang’s efforts amount to then?
At this moment, Second Master Jiang felt an urge to point at the heavens and curse loudly.
Heaven was unfair! It was bad enough that his elder brother’s second daughter had become a duchess, but now his elder brother was even granted hereditary status for three generations!
Heaven was truly unjust!
As Second Master Jiang’s expression flickered unpredictably, Old Madam Feng couldn’t help but speak up, “Duchess, do you know what this is all about?”
By now, Jiang Si had calmed down. Her eyes flickered slightly.
Old Madam Feng came to her senses and said, “Let’s talk inside.”
In the blink of an eye, they entered the Hall of Compassion. Old Madam Feng dismissed all the servants and asked Jiang Si seriously, “Si’er, what exactly is going on?”
Jiang Si smiled, “Grandmother, you shouldn’t be asking me that. Doesn’t the imperial edict say it all? Father is accomplished in both civil and military affairs, a pillar of the state—”
“Si’er, this is no time for jokes,” Old Madam Feng said helplessly.
Jiang Si raised an eyebrow, “Grandmother, do you perhaps think Father doesn’t deserve such praise?”
Old Madam Feng’s lips twitched slightly as she glanced at the still-dazed Jiang Ancheng.
Who would believe that someone like her eldest son deserved such praise?
Jiang Ancheng, awakened by Old Madam Feng’s glance, frowned and said, “Si’er, is there any problem?”
He had already lost his only son and no longer cared about inheriting the title for three generations. He was more worried that his younger daughter had suffered some grievance in the royal family and this was compensation.
He had no desire for such an inheritance.
“Father, don’t overthink it. I’ve said before, the Emperor is a magnanimous ruler and has been very kind to me,” Jiang Si said softly, seeing her father’s unease.
Old Madam Feng was suddenly startled and looked at Jiang Si with disbelief, “Si’er, the Emperor truly treats you well?”
Jiang Si’s lips curled slightly, “Grandmother, did you think I was talking nonsense before?”
Old Madam Feng gave an embarrassed smile, her gaze towards Jiang Si becoming more eager, “Grandmother didn’t expect—”
She didn’t expect this headstrong granddaughter to truly gain the Emperor’s favor!
Could the Emperor be blind?
Old Madam Feng suddenly had this thought but quickly suppressed it, leaving only joy.
The fact that the Earl’s title would end with her eldest son had always been a thorn in her side. She had dreamed of ways to continue the Dong Ping Earl’s title, and after seeing her eldest son’s mediocre talents, she had pinned all her hopes on her second son, secretly wishing for him to achieve great things and earn this honor for the family.
She never imagined that what she had been yearning and dreaming for would suddenly come true, so quickly that it caught her off guard.
Old Madam Feng’s gaze toward Jiang Si became increasingly affectionate.
The fourth girl was right; there was no use in thinking too much about the future. The benefits right in front of them were real.
The fourth girl had only married into the royal family for a short while, yet she had already earned the Earl’s mansion hereditary status for three generations. Wouldn’t the Earl’s mansion be able to advance even further in the future relying on her?
Old Madam Feng’s thoughts surged.
“Grandmother, Father, I should return to the Prince’s mansion now.”
Old Madam Feng hurriedly tried to keep her, “Duchess, stay for a meal before you go.”
“No need, A’Huan gets fussy when I’m away for too long.”
Old Madam Feng smiled good-naturedly, “Then hurry back. Yi’er, see your sister off.”
“Mm,” Jiang Yi agreed obediently and walked Jiang Si out.
Watching her two granddaughters leave arm in arm, Old Madam Feng felt for the first time that having her eldest granddaughter living at home wasn’t such a bad thing.
Previously, she had felt that having such a granddaughter was embarrassing, but now she saw that Jiang Si and Jiang Yi had a deep sisterly bond. As long as Jiang Yi remained in the mansion, Jiang Si wouldn’t neglect the Earl’s family.
“Madam Feng, go tell the kitchen to prepare a feast,” Old Madam Feng instructed in high spirits.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Old Madam Feng was startled and looked at Jiang Ancheng.
Jiang Ancheng wiped his face and said flatly, “There’s nothing to celebrate.”
Old Madam Feng’s face darkened, “Eldest son, this is a tremendous blessing. What are you saying?”
Jiang Ancheng’s tone grew colder, “What does it matter if the title is inherited for three generations? Zhan is gone…”
At this point, the burly man’s expression became desolate.
“Foolish!” Old Madam Feng rebuked, then suddenly remembered that she couldn’t treat the eldest branch of the family as before. She softened her tone, “Being able to pass down the Earl’s title for three more generations is a great honor for our ancestors. How can you be so short-sighted?”
What did it matter if Zhan was gone? The eldest son was still young. As long as he was willing to remarry, wouldn’t he be able to have more sons?
Even if the stubborn eldest son refused to remarry or take concubines, they could always adopt one of the second son’s two boys to inherit the title in the future.
There was no need to mention these things now, lest the eldest son become irritable.
Jiang Ancheng didn’t refute Old Madam Feng’s words. He calmly said, “I have matters to attend to, so I won’t stay for the meal. Mother, if you wish to celebrate, go ahead.”
Watching Jiang Ancheng leave, Old Madam Feng instructed Second Master Jiang, “Your elder brother is grieving. In the future, have Cang’er and the others pay their respects to him often.”
Second Master Jiang understood and quickly replied, “Rest assured, Mother. I understand.”
Meanwhile, as Jiang Yi escorted Jiang Si out, she examined her younger sister’s flawless profile and couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, “Fourth Sister, the Duchess of Qi—”
Jiang Si looked over, her voice barely audible, “She tried to harm me.”
Jiang Yi shuddered, then relaxed her brow.
She admired her fourth sister’s courage. The Duchess of Qi was indeed not a good person!
After bidding farewell to Jiang Yi and returning to the Prince’s mansion, Jiang Si had just comforted A’Huan when Aqiao hurriedly entered, her face pale as she reported, “My Lady, something has happened at Lu Sheng Xiang.”
Before Jiang Si could speak, Aman rubbed her palms together and asked fiercely, “What happened? Who dares to cause trouble at Lu Sheng Xiang?”
It shouldn’t be possible. The entire West Market Street knew that the owner behind Lu Sheng Xiang was the Duchess. How could anyone dare to make trouble?
“What happened at Lu Sheng Xiang?” Jiang Si asked, still relatively calm.
Aqiao said in a low voice, “Miss Xiu has gone missing.”
Miss Xiu was the tofu vendor who had lost her daughter in the case of the Marquis of Changxing’s heir murdering ten women. It could be said that Jiang Si had opened Lu Sheng Xiang initially to provide for this poor mother.
Upon hearing that Miss Xiu had disappeared, Jiang Si immediately furrowed her brow.