As Jiang Zhong saw Jiang Changyang refuse, his anger flared even more. Just as he was about to severely reprimand him, a crisp voice came from nearby: “Young Master, Madam is in a temper. She says she’s come from afar, yet you haven’t prepared good food and wine to welcome her, and she hasn’t even seen your shadow. She wants you to hurry back and dine with her, or she won’t forgive you.” It was Yingtao, Madam Wang’s maid.
“She’s already arrived? So quickly? I thought she’d arrive tomorrow at the earliest,” Jiang Changyang’s face lit up with joy. He glanced at Jiang Zhong, knowing they must have already met, and Jiang Zhong had likely been put in his place. He chuckled and cupped his hands towards Jiang Zhong, “My mother has come from afar, and we haven’t seen each other in a long time. I miss her dearly, so I must go see her first. Please, take your time leaving.”
Jiang Zhong watched helplessly as Jiang Changyang walked past him, chatting and laughing quietly with the maid who had come to fetch him. Their joyful laughter rang out, clearly expressing his delight at his mother’s arrival. Involuntarily, Jiang Zhong recalled Ayou’s earlier words about how there were no secrets between mother and son, and how close their relationship was. Yet when Jiang Changyang saw him, his face was either dark or expressionless, never exchanging a casual word. He never told Jiang Zhong anything, big or small, and Jiang Zhong had to hear about his whereabouts from others. It made everyone look at him strangely. Even the Emperor had specifically reminded him to be partial and only care for his younger son.
What kind of father was he? He couldn’t even compare to an outsider. It wasn’t his fault; back then, he hadn’t refused to raise Jiang Changyang. He had only given in to Ayou’s threat of death, agreeing to let her take the child away. He had hoped that Ayou, who had never experienced hardship, would realize the difficulties of life and return. They could have lived as before. But he never imagined that Ayou would never look back, and would raise his son to be like this! Was she satisfied now that father and son had become enemies? After so many years and so much that had happened, couldn’t she be a little more open-minded instead of holding such a grudge?
The more Jiang Zhong thought, the angrier he became. As soon as the gate opened, he whipped his horse hard, letting it gallop wildly through the empty streets. He allowed his clothes to be soaked with sweat as if only this way could he release the pent-up frustration in his chest.
Jiang Changyang listened with a smile as Yingtao chattered away, describing everything that had happened since their arrival. She said that Lord Fang had wanted Madam to take it easy and stop to rest properly if they encountered rain or snow, but Madam wouldn’t listen. She wanted to see the Young Master as soon as possible, so they continued even through heavy snow. When the snow got too deep for the carriage, Madam abandoned it and rode on horseback, managing to enter the city just before sunset.
Hearing this, Jiang Changyang felt a warmth in his heart. He casually asked, “When will Lord Fang arrive?”
Yingtao was taken aback, “I don’t know. Before we left, Madam had just quarreled with him. She even tore up the shoes she had made for Lord Fang. But the next morning, Lord Fang still came to see us off. He said ten sentences to Madam, but she didn’t respond. Only when the carriage started moving did she say, ‘Go back.’ Then Lord Fang left happily.”
Thinking of his mother’s unyielding temperament, Jiang Changyang couldn’t help but shake his head with a light laugh, “You little minx, how do you know Lord Fang said exactly ten sentences to Madam?”
Yingtao replied seriously, “This servant counted. When they argue, I get scared and don’t know who to persuade, so I find something to do. I count how many sentences they exchange in total.”
Jiang Changyang laughed, “You naughty girl. Be careful, if Madam finds out, she’ll skin you alive.”
Yingtao smiled mischievously, “Young Master, that Duke just spoke ill of your future wife to Madam. That’s why Madam is angry. Do you want to know what he said?”
Jiang Changyang’s heart skipped a beat, but he replied, “I’m not afraid of anything he might have said.”
Wu scolded, “Yingtao, you insolent girl! You’re getting more and more disrespectful. Is this how you speak to your master? Hurry up and tell us!”
Yingtao gave him a sidelong glance, “Xiong Sao came too. Last night I saw her sharpening needles, saying she wanted to see if your old skin had gotten thicker.”
Wu, afraid of his wife Xiong Sao, saw the ambiguous smiles on Jiang Changyang and Shun Hou’er’s faces. Feeling embarrassed, he scolded Yingtao, “You wretched girl! Madam has spoiled you so much you don’t know your place. One of these days, I’ll have the Young Master marry you off to some brute who’ll beat you to death.”
Yingtao stuck out her tongue, “I’m afraid before I get beaten to death, you’ll already have been stabbed to death by Xiong Sao’s big savage needle.” Then she turned back to Jiang Changyang, whispering worriedly, “Young Master, don’t be angry when you hear this. That Duke said the young mistress is… is…” She blushed, after all, as a young girl, it was a bit awkward to talk about such things.
Jiang Changyang’s expression darkened. He waved his hand, signaling Yingtao to stop talking. He hadn’t hidden anything about Mudan’s background from Madam Wang, except for the issue of Mudan’s infertility. If there was anything that Jiang Zhong would use as a hammer to strike and make Madam Wang angry, it would be this.
Seeing his displeased expression, Yingtao obediently closed her mouth.
Jiang Changyang entered the house silently. Everywhere was brightly lit, with people coming and going. Servants were happily whispering about the rewards they had received. It was completely different from when he lived alone; now everywhere was lively.
He walked through the small path paved with Wukang stones and stood beside a clump of bamboo bent low by snow. Looking up at the brightly lit small building not far away, he knew Madam Wang was inside waiting for him to explain, waiting for him to convince her. He felt nervous. His mother was usually very reasonable and easy to talk to, but once she became stubborn, she was like a bull. What if she didn’t agree? According to his plan, he hadn’t intended to mention this matter to her. He had planned to wait until it was a fait accompli before telling her, believing she would come to like Mudan. But this plan had been foiled. He had to marry Mudan, but he also didn’t want his mother to be hurt. So he needed to have sufficient reasons to convince her.
Jiang Changyang paced back and forth around the bamboo clump with his hands behind his back, nervously thinking about how to persuade Madam Wang. He hesitated to take that step forward. He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice when Madam Wang tiptoed up behind him.
Looking at his furrowed brow and pensive expression, was he so fond of that He Mudan? Was he considering how to convince her? Madam Wang pursed her lips, grabbed a few stalks of green bamboo nearby, and shook them hard. The snow fell off in a flurry, covering Jiang Changyang from head to toe. Not satisfied, Madam Wang made a snowball, grabbed Jiang Changyang, who was smiling at her ingratiatingly, and stuffed the snow down his collar.
Jiang Changyang shivered violently from the cold. He looked at Madam Wang pitifully and shivered exaggeratedly a few more times, but didn’t dare to remove the snow from his collar. He let it melt and trickle down his back.
Madam Wang snorted coldly and stormed into the building. Jiang Changyang hurriedly followed, trying to take her hand, “Mother, dear mother! I’ve missed you so much. I calculated that you’d arrive tomorrow at the earliest, and was planning to go out early to meet you. Who knew you’d miss your son so much and arrive so quickly? When I heard Yingtao’s voice earlier, I was overjoyed.”
Madam Wang didn’t look at him and pushed his hand away, “It doesn’t look like it. I only saw someone who didn’t want to see me, circling outside for ages.”
Jiang Changyang chuckled, undeterred, and took her hand again, “Mother, I know I was wrong.”
Madam Wang ignored him and sat down at the table, preparing to eat. As soon as she looked at the chicken, her favorite chicken wings were in her bowl. When she glanced at the shrimp, they were already peeled and placed in front of her. Just as she was about to take a sip of wine, a cup of perfectly warmed wine was brought to her lips.
From childhood, he had always been sensible and never gave her cause to worry. But this level of fawning only happened when he wanted something from her. Was that woman so important to him? Madam Wang looked up sharply at Jiang Changyang, who was holding chopsticks in one hand and a wine cup in the other, looking at her with pure, innocent eyes, “Mother, as soon as you arrived, this room became so lively. Isn’t that strange?”
A man in his twenties, old enough to be a father himself, yet still putting on such an act. Madam Wang felt like laughing but held it back, saying coolly, “Are you saying I’m noisy?”
Jiang Changyang smiled, “I love noise!”
Madam Wang pursed her lips, “Alright, alright. Seeing how sincere you are, I’ll spare your life for now.”
Jiang Changyang immediately sat down next to her and called out sweetly, “Mother… Dan Niang picked two stems of some kind of brocade flower for you. You can’t buy those outside.”
Madam Wang slapped him lightly, “You rascal! Such a big matter, why did you hide it from me? You made me unprepared today, I almost lost face.”
Although she said it this way, she was asking him about this matter indirectly. Jiang Changyang was silent for a moment, then looked up at Madam Wang, “Mother, I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you wouldn’t agree.”
Madam Wang’s face turned cold, “You planned to present me with a fait accompli, forcing me to agree? Don’t you know that’s what I hate most?”
Jiang Changyang lowered his eyes and said softly, “I know. Do you remember the small dagger I had as a child? He gave it to me, and I loved it so much that I slept with it. When we left, you didn’t take anything and told me not to take anything either, saying we didn’t need their things. I couldn’t bear to part with it, but I was afraid you’d be hurt if you saw it, so I hid it in my clothes. We walked and walked, and you still found out.” His voice choked a little, “I thought you would scold me or beat me, but you didn’t. You said I was a silly child, that you were already heartbroken enough, how could you bear to see me heartbroken too… Since I liked it, I should keep it.”
Madam Wang’s eyes suddenly reddened. She stared at Jiang Changyang, “Is she that important?”
Jiang Changyang looked at her earnestly and said firmly, “To me, you are equally important. I can’t bear to see either of you unhappy.”